Sunday, February 3rd, 2019

Palmyra, New York

77th operating temple

Dedicated: 6 April 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Mark 3:11

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 22:11-31

What are some things you are looking forward to during the Second Coming and the Millennium?

New Testament 

Review and "Repentance" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, 10/11

General Conference

Lift Up Your Head and Rejoice

M. Joseph Brough

"Forgiving those who may have caused our hard thing and reconciling 'ourselves to the will of God' can be very difficult. It can hurt most when our hard thing is caused by a family member, a close friend, or even ourselves."

I forgot something very important in yesterday's blog. Sheri received a letter from Ben's mission president regarding Ben being chosen as a trainer after only being out five months. Here it is:

So sweet!

I fasted this morning and re-read Ben's January 21st letter about the Savior and I cried. I am so grateful that Ben is having these experiences on his mission and I wish all of my grandchildren could have spiritual experiences like he is having. 

Trina stayed home with Ruby and Lola this morning. It was windy and rainy and cold and she wanted to make sure Ruby was well. Darrel, Addy, and Rowan joined us at fast and testimony meeting. 

It does my heart good to see Andy W. bless the sacrament and Curtis Wilhelm pass the sacrament. Curtis just turned 11 in December. 

I felt the Spirit prompt me to bear my testimony, so I did. I lost control of my emotions as I told about Ben. Somehow I managed to finish and James said I did a good job. I am not so sure but I hope Heavenly Father knows that our family needed Ben right now and we are so grateful. Another blessing and gift our family needed is Charlie. We are so grateful for both of these blessings.

After sacrament meeting James was nervous about downloading a video for his class. While he went to singing time I went to his classroom and downloaded a video of the Savior's baptism for him. I really didn't need to download because he brought our wifi with him but I did anyway. He only had two children today, Andyn and Amaron. 

I went in to Sunday School where Sister Wood was teaching the lessong. I sat by Holly and Charlie Gordon. Pam seemed very organized in teaching the lesson and had the class divided into three groups, one to discuss John the Baptist, one to discuss Luke and one to discuss Mark.

When we got home I went in to change my clothes and hurried into the kitchen. I had told Ruby and Lola that I would make them waffles. I ended up making them for Addy, Rowan, and Darrel too.

I played a game of Five Crowns with Addy and Trina. This time I won!  Ruby felt much better today and asked if I wanted to play the match game. I suggested Uno instead. We played three rounds. I won two and Ruby one. Lola wanted me to play Barbie's so I said I would. We went over by the fireplace and Ruby showed up so I did not have to play too long. I needed a nap. 

I made two no-bake cheesecakes this afternoon using cream cheese and whipped cream with vanilla wafer crusts. They took six hours to set up so while we were waiting for them James and Rowan made a blackberry and cherry cobbler. James is so funny. He has to add almond extract, brown sugar, and oatmeal just to make it a little "fancy." Rowan made a great sou-chef. It turned out delicious!

Putting pats of butter on top of the cake mix.

While Darrel had the Super Bowl on Trina, the girls and I made Valentines. At one time James also joined in the fun. We peaked over and saw the half-time show with Adam Levine with his shirt off showing off his tatooes. I was not impressed. I did think that Gladys Knight to a good job singing the National Anthem. 

The Patriot's ended up beating the Rams 10-3. It was a bit of a boring game if you asked me. We would never have watched it if Darrel and Trina had not been here. This is the sixth Super Bowl win for Tom Brady so everyone is comparing him to Michael Jordan. Oh brother.

Trina put chicken in the crockpot and shredded it and put in bbq sauce for dinner. Darrel made hamburgers and hotdogs and with the desserts we had plenty to eat. The cobbler was delicious and everyone loved it. The cheesecake was mighty fine too. We ate one and left the other for tomorrow.

Sunday cuties

Lovebugs!

 Love the "Heart" Hog Ruby

 Lola made all of her valentines for her
best friend, Charlie.

Trina made this quilling flower with the

quilling ribbon James bought for me.

 Helping Addy with her owl.

All the guys were watching the game and just as 
I decided to take a picture James got up and left.

That is a big mama bear.

Guess who's a Patriot fan.

I thought Cathi was his best friend.

Saturday, February 2nd, 2019

Louisville, Kentucky

76th operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Mar 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Hebrew 5:5

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 21:22-22:10

What does it mean that the Gentiles will nurse Israel back to health? What are some examples you have noticed?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and FHE

Matthew 3; Matthew 3:11-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22

General Conference

Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"The new home-centered and Church-supported curriculum needs to influence more powerfully family religious observance and behavior and personal religious observance and behavior. We know the spiritual impact and the deep and lasting conversion that can be achieved in the home setting. Years ago, a study established that for young men and women the influence of the Holy Ghost most often accompanies individual scripture study and prayer in the home. Our purpose is to balance the Church and the home experiences in a way that will greatly increase faith and spirituality and deepen conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

This is how my morning went: scriptures and prayers with James. Unloaded the dishwasher, took a shower, and at 9:50 left to visit Vanessa H. with Kerri. We had to wait a few minutes for Vanessa because she had gone to the church to help the Scott's and the Wood's clean the church.

We had a nice visit with Vanessa who is trying to recover from a bad marriage and a soon to be divorce. Her husband was addicted to drugs and never much of a husband or father to their 5 year old daughter Raelynn.

Raelynn lost her first tooth. She is so sweet, she offered to and gave the prayer in RS a few weeks ago. When I left today she gave me a hug.

After our visit I called James and asked if he wanted to join me on my trip to town. He said no, he was doing a deep clean of the stove and had removed several cups of grease from underneath the surface.

I shopped at Walmart for food for our company, Darrel's family, who are on their way up today. I bought food for 7-layer dip, roast, chicken tacos, and cheesecake. While checking out at Walmart I got a call from my brother Dennis inviting me to lunch at El Rancho for Harold's birthday at 2:30. I had to decline because that is about the time Darrel and Trina are arriving. 

I stopped at Dollar Tree before going home. They have lots of stickers, etc. for Valentine's day and they are all $1.

I forgot marshmallows for s'mores. I texted this message to Trina:

I got stuff for chicken tacos, a roast, stuff for 7 layer dip, strawberries, blueberries, brownie mixes, green beans, broccoli, Hershey bars and graham crackers, forgot marshmallows, Hershey kisses, conversation hearts, bisquick to make waffles, might need more milk.

All I wanted them to get was marshmallows and more milk. My text was confusing and Darrel thought I needed Hershey kisses, conversation hearts, and Bisquick. He called about the Bisquick and I told him I got that so he got Hershey kisses, conversation hearts, and milk. He forgot the marshmallows...

Ruby got carsick and came right in holding a Polar Pop cup for barf, and laid on the couch. The first thing we did was put in "Mary Poppins" for Lola. While watching someone asked where grandpa was and I said outside splitting wood. Immediately Trina, Darrel, Addy, and Rowan went out to help him. 

James split the wood, everyone else stacked it in the Razr and then came down and stacked it on our porch. 

 Trina posted this.

Thank you guys so much!!

Lola, Ruby, and I stayed inside and watched "Mary Poppins."

Trina, Darrel, and Addy came in and played a game of "Settlers."

Rowan got out the collectors "Settlers" game and played with it. After winning her game with mom and dad, she went over and played with Rowan.

Not sure what Darrel is doing here...but Addy won!

Rowan loves to make faces at the camera.

I shredded a roasted chicken and made chicken tacos. We had flour tortillas and corn tortilla shells. I steamed some broccoli and we also had fresh strawberries. Addy loves strawberries!

I started watching episode one of season 3 "Victoria" with Darrel and Trina but James wanted me to go to bed, so I left.

I was sad to see that my Hallmark new Saturday night movie, "Valentine in the Vineyard" did not record. I looked at the program guide and it is playing again on Thursday so I set it to record. All is well. 

I finished my steps in the bedroom before going to bed.

So many cute ideas for Valentines!

Cute little heart animals

 Super cute!

 Niagara Falls is frozen

Friday, February 1st, 2019

Tuxtla, Gutuirrez, Mexico

75th operating temple

Dedicated: 12 Mar 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Matthew 14:33

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

1Nephi 21:1-21

When have you had the chance to be an everyday missionary?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Jesus Christ was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness"

General Conference

Opening Remarks

President Russell M. Nelson

"This morning we will announce a new balance and connection between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church. We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth. And scriptures make it clear that parents have the primary responsibility to teach the doctrine to their children. It is the responsibility of the Church to assist each member in the divinely defined goal of increasing his or her gospel knowledge."

I got up at five o'clock this morning excited to write down some goals for our book business. I am determined that we are going to make it work!

I had my personal prayers and studied the "Come Follow Me" lesson segment on the baptism of Jesus. 

I had a shake and a cinnamon roll for breakfast and before we left for the valley James gave me a diet Dr. Pepper. We left at 6:45 after having our family prayer. 

There was some rain in Globe. We arrived at the Arizona Arithritis and Rheumatology Associates at 10 and my appointment is at 10:30. I had to wait a little while before Frances called me back. 

It's Frances and Angie today like it has been the last several times I have been there. 

Angie had a hard time finding the vein in my left arm this time. When she did she took four viles of blood before putting in the Actemra infusion. 

The infusion takes about an hour. When the timer went off and Angie came over to take out the tube she said, "Oh, you have a tire." I looked at my arm and it was swollen around the infusion site. She told me to keep the tape on until about 2 or 3 this afternoon. She also said that next time we are going to have to choose another vein. 

James was outside walking when I was finished. We got in the car and he took me directly to Dr. Shah's on Ray between Dobson and Price. The doctor looked at my implant and said the tissue looked pink and healthy and that he would see me back at my next appointment around the first of May. He also told me to keep the incision site clean by using the mouth rinse 2x a week. When he left the nurse told me not to use it everyday. It is great at killing bacteria but it also turns your teeth brown. Well I certainly don't need my teeth to be brown!

James went to Kim and Brian's before they left for the Guster concert in California. They had a birthday card for him and a $40 Amazon card. Thanks Kim and Brian. Be safe on your trip.

I texted Stacy to see if we could come by and drop off Joshua's charger that he left at the cabin. She said she was upstairs and in a lot of pain. I told her we would just drop it off and that I was sorry she was in so much pain.

Our next stop was Hobby Lobby to look for stuff for Valentine cards. James loves this store too. While I was looking at the card stuff he found a quilling kit he bought for me. Quilling is the art of taking ribbon and wrapping it tight around a quilling pen to make designs. The set he got came with directions on how to make quilling flowers.

On to Joe's BBQ in Gilbert for lunch. James has been wanting to use the gift card he got for his birthday and today is the day. 

I ordered sliced brisket because I remember how moist and delicious the sliced brisket was that Brian got for me at Dickie's. I also ordered coleslaw and macaroni and cheese. 

James ordered chopped brisket, scalloped potatoes and beans. His lunch, every dish, was better than mine. The sliced brisket was dry and tough, the coleslaw had to much mayo, and the macaroni and cheese was just average. 

The chopped brisket was moist, and the beans and potatoes were delicious. James had to finish my brisket for me.

We stopped at a Shell station with a McDonald's in Apache Junction. While I used the restroom James bought us ice cream. A cone for me and a cup for him. His cost 3x more than mine and that upset him.

We made it home with no incidents. I slept part of the way and read to James part of the way. It's always good to be home.

I had quite a bit of walking to do this evening since I was in the car or a doctor's office most of the day.

Way to go Alice!

Ideas for Valentines for Darrel's kids

 I told Darrel and he said he would never have to do this.

 So cute!

Best friends...Happy Birthday Drea and Adrienne

Such a sweetie!