Friday, March 8th, 2019

Monterrey, Mexico

110th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Apr 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

I am a little overwhelmed with life right now and have decided that I need to simplify my blog so that I have time to do other important things, such as, family history and our book business. I will continue to read and study the gospel as before but will not be posting so much of my gospel study on here. I will continue to post the temple pictures. 

"Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice"

Bishop Dean M. Davies

"The chief cornerstone and building block of the Church and for our lives is Jesus Christ. This is His Church. President Nelson is His prophet. President Nelson's teachings witness and reveal for our benefit the life and character of Jesus Christ. He speaks lovingly and knowingly of the Savior's nature and of His mission. He has also borne frequent and fervent testimony of the divine calling of the living prophets - the Presidents of the Church - under whom he has served."

James, Rowan and I left the house around 6:45. No one inside was awake. As we were sitting in the car getting ready to go Trina came running up. I guess she had been outside running. It was nice that Rowan got to see his mom before we left. She made my day because she said to me, "Oh Karen, you look pretty." It was probably surprising to her to see me with my hair done and makeup on.

We had to drop off something in Mesa at James's jobsite before heading to Chandler to pick up Max, Evan, and Joshua.  We got to Sheri's before 8 and she and the boys weren't there. I told James they probably went to get gas and drinks. I was right. While we were waiting for Stacy to show up with Joshua, Ollie got out and ran down the street. Sheri, Evan and I hurried after him. Of course he went straight to Cathi's and Sheri was able to get him. It was a little scary for a minute because when he was running down the street the garbage truck was headed right for him.

I went for a walk and when I got back Stacy was there with Joshua and their three dogs in the car. I went over to say high to the dogs and they went crazy in the car. 

We are trading cars with Sheri for the week because all of the boys won't fit in our car. Rowan forgot his Sunday clothes so Sheri got some of Evan's for him to wear. 

After we left Payson Rowan said he had to go to the bathroom. He had to wait until we got to Heber. It rained from Heber until we got to Show Low. In Show Low we went to Subway for Evan and to KFC for everyone else. We just ordered the chicken to take home with us. 

After we got home and everything was unloaded I headed back for town to do some grocery shopping and to pick up the Razr tire at Center Tire. I ran into the tire store and got soaking wet just to find out that it won't be ready until Monday. 

I bought groceries at Walmart to feed these boys until next Wednesday. I bought bacon, pork chops, steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken. I also bought chicken tenders and pizza rollups, cereal and milk, and snacks. I think I would rather have too much food than not enough.

James grilled hamburgers and hotdogs outside for dinner. I made corn and beans to go with them.

The boys wanted to play ball on the driveway so

they swept it off. It started raining before they could play.

 Quilt

I think that puppy is real. All they need 

is Lola in the mix.

 I read this today as part of the "Come

Follow Me" lesson for the week.

Thursday, March 7th, 2019

Lubbock, Texas

109th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Apr 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

2 Corinthians 1:19

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 26:31-27:11

What do you think it means, the books shall be read upon the house tops?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matt 8:28-34; 9:32-38; Mark 3:21-30; 5:1-21

"Balm of Gilead" Boyd K. Packer, 10/1977

General Conference

"Firm and Steadfast in the Faith of Christ"

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

"Always remember the promise of good things to come, both now and hereafter, for those who are firm and steadfast in the faith of Christ. Remember, eternal life, and the joy of the saints. 'O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.' In the name of Jesus Christ, amen"

We sold "To Kill a Mockingbird," and "Joseph Smith, A Rough Stone Rolling." 

Darrel works from 9-9 today and Trina from 10-10. We stayed home with Lola and took her to preschool at noon. We picked up Ruby at 12:30 at the bus stop because today is a half day. We were going to go to IHOP but we realized we did not have enough time because we had to pick up Rowan at the bus stop at 1:30. We went to Peter Piper and ordered some pizza to take home instead. We picked up Rowan at 1:30 then took Ruby and Rowan home. 

We picked up Lola from preschool at 2:30. She has some pizza and joins Ruby and Rowan in watching Studio C. James left to have a meeting with Armando but was back before I had to pick up Addy.

James went upstairs and took a nap and I picked up Addy around 4:30. What a schedule and to think that Trina does this everyday, unless she's at work. On our way home Addy and I see grandpa holding hands with Ruby and Lola walking home from the park.

Lola 

After we got the kids settled at home James and I left to visit Donna in Scottsdale at the hospital. 

Donna is on the same floor of the hospital where James was, the fifth floor. He was in room 6 and she is in room 18. She was in the room alone, sitting up in bed, just finishing her dinner. She looks well and she says she feels well which is such good news. She has suffered so much for so long. 

We had a nice visit with Donna but did not want to stay too long. We said goodbye and headed for Menchie's, the place I went yesterday to get the lemon and mango frozen yogurt.

We went to the Menchie's off the Power and the 202. I got pineapple, pistachio, and the original flavor. James got the mango and lemon. He liked it but not as well as I did.

Back at home we went walking. Lola went with us and laughed at her shadow most of the time.

Started out as the Primary Presidency now
Sister Bingham is the General RS President,
and Sister Cordon is the YW's President.

 Wedding day

 Summer is graduating

Wednesday, March 6th, 2019

Snowflake, Arizona

108th operating temple

Dedicated: 3 March 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Acts 9:20

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 26:12-30

How do you recognize the subtle flaxen cords around your neck before they become too strong?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 8:18-27; Mark 3:31-55; 4:35-41

"Spiritual Healing:," James E. Faust, 4/1992

General Conference

Truth and the Plan

President Dallin H. Oaks

"Our loving Heavenly father wants His Children to have the joy that is the purpose of our creation. That joyful dstiny is eternal life, which we can obtain by pressing forward along what our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, often calls 'the covenant path.' Here is what he said in his first message as President of the Church: 'Keep on the covenant path. Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere.'"

Jesus performed more miracles in Capernaum, the Savior's own city, than anywhere else. Jesus used the title "Son of Man" 80 times in reference to himself. 

We left a little after 9 for the valley this morning. We stopped at Walmart in Show Low to pick up the shakes James left in our cart on Monday. I go for a little walk and get a drink at McDonald's while James is getting the shakes

On our way we stop at the McDonald's in Globe so I can use the little girl's room. This is what we saw in the parking lot.

So many motorcycles on the road. I said to James that a lot of 

people in Globe love to ride and he said I will bet most of them are from out of state. Sure enough, I started checking, Ontario, Canada, New York, Minnesota. I guess that's one of the reasons people like to come here in the winter.

We met Sheri and Kimmy for lunch at the Cafe Rio in Chandler. Stacy couldn't come because she had a doctor's appointment. James ate lunch and then left for his doctor's appointment at the Southwest Sonoran Spine center in Tempe. 

After lunch I saw a set of missionaries go in to Mechie's frozen yogurt next door. Sheri said they were the missionaries from their ward and she had just fed them the other night. She went in and paid for their yogurt. While she was doing that I tried the mango and lemon yogurt mix. It was delicious!

Kim and I dropped Sheri off at work and then went to park on Washington St. by the high school to wait for Max to get out of school. There was a house for sale and I thought it would be perfect for James and I when we come down to stay. Too bad we don't have any money.

This is the next door neighbors yard.

On the way to take Max home Kim tells a funny story about when she and Brian were in Nebraska for his grandma's funeral. They were out in the middle of nowhere when the neighbor lady came out and rang a bell. Kim said hundreds of cats came running and she doesn't know where they came from. She looked at Brian and said, "What just happened"?  Anyway, it was funny when she told it. I guess you had to have been there.

While I a waiting for James to pick me up from Kim's I scanned a few of her books. She has some nice art books but she doesn't want to sell them. 

After James arrives and picks me up we drive to Scottsdale to Shea Honor hospital to see if our friend Donna from Vernon is out of surgery. She is not but we visit with her husband Owen and our neighbor and Owen's good friend Chuck. We stayed over an hour waiting for her but then we had to get back to Darrel and Trina's to keep an eye on Ruby and Lola. Addy, Rowan and Trina are all going to Mutual and of course Darrel is at work. Trina was just called as the Young Women's president. When they moved from their old ward she was the Primary president. You just can't get away from the fact that you are pretty awesome Trina.

We took Ruby and Lola to Peter Piper Pizza. They had already eaten dinner and weren't hungry for pizza so we ordered a cinnamon dessert pizza and played some games.

I guess Max is pretty upset that we aren't leaving for the cabin tomorrow night.  We promised Owen we would come back tomorrow and see Donna and we won't be able to go until evening because we are babysitting and picking up kids for Darrel and Trina tomorrow. Darrel was supposed to have the kids but one of the guys he works with needed to switch with him. Darrel says this guy always accommodates him so he wanted to do this for him, hence I said I would babysit.

 Susan is a friend from Chandler. James used to

do repair work for her at her house all the time.

Her daughter Christine was married to Cody Birch.

 Our dear friends the Tolman's and their grandchildren.

 Lola lookin' good in a blue sports car.

 Darrel & Trina's rental house. A few more

weeks and they will be gone from this house.

I brought each of the kids a surprise egg.

The frog is Lola's and the bunny is Ruby's.

Rowan got Star Wars and we aren't sure what

Addy's was.

 Love this face!

 She's waving!

Tuesday, March 5th, 2019

Columbia River, Washington

107th operating temple

Dedicated: 18 Nov 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Acts 8:37

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 25:27-26:11

*What are some prideful actions I might get caught up in and not realize it's prideful? (See "Beware of Pride," E.T. Benson, 4/1989

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 9:18-31; Mark 5:22-43; The Savior can heal infirmities and sicknesses; "The Savior's Touch," M. Russell Ballard, 10/1980

General Conference

Gather Together in One All Things in Christ

Elder David A. Bednar

"I began my message by highlighting the strength that is created as individual strands of material are twisted or braided together into a rope. In a similar way, I promise that increased perspective, purpose, and power will be evident in our learning and living of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as we strive to gather together in one all things in Christ - even in Him.

All opportunities and blessings of eternal consequence originate in, are possible and have purpose because of, and endure through the Lord Jesus Christ. As Alma testified: 'There is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world."

We sold another book today. This one is by Wayne Dyer, "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life." The sale of our anatomy and physiology book has still not gone through. It is listed as pending and I am getting a little concerned.

I went with my friend Catherine to the temple this morning. She asked if I would take her. Today is the 9th anniversary of the day she buried her husband and she wanted to talk to him in the celestial room. After our 11 o'clock session she sat down in a chair in the celestial room and bowed her head and folded her arms. After a few minutes she got up and said that she had received her answer and we could go now. Such faith.

We stopped at Dollar General on the way home so I could a container to take dinner over to the Campbell's this evening.

I just had time to read Ben's email to Sheri when I got home and then I had to start preparing dinner. Here is the email:

For dinner I made homemade alfredo sauce with fettucini noodles. James grilled some chicken breasts to go with it. I also had breadsticks, a salad, and some homemade sugar cookies with pink frosting.

The Campbell family consists of: Candi, the mom, Terry, the dad and stepdad, Marie the 19 year old daughter, Jasmine the 12 year old daughter, and Winter 4, and Cassie who is 2, and Candi's grandmother Lucretia. As we were taking the food in Winter asked if we had anything for her. I told her if she ate her dinner I made her a pink cookie she could have for dessert. 

Candi had surgery yesterday morning for her breast cancer.  

James was so sweet when we returned from the Campbell's. He knew I was tired so he volunteered to clean the kitchen and do the dishes. I really do appreciate him.

I walked and watched "Love in Paradise" starring Luke Perry. As I was watching James said, "You know Luke Perry died this week." I didn't know but I checked on the internet. He was only 52 and he died of a massive stroke at his home in Beverly Hills. Very sad. He left behind a daughter and a son.

We watched the finale of this seasons "Victoria." The last scene is Albert collapsing on the floor as Victoria cries, "Albert, Albert." I know he dies young but I didn't think it was his time yet but just to make sure I checked on the internet. In this episode he just finished the Great Exhibition. He still has ten more years and a couple of more children to father.  Stacy says they just needed a cliff hanger.

 Luke Perry is holding a pig.

He plays a western movie star 

in this Hallmark movie.

Scarlett made corndogs with her mom today.

She only got put in time out one time.

 Water over the spillway at Fool's Hollow, the

lake where James proposed to me over 50 years ago.

 She looks like she is so proud of herself

for drinking from a bottle.