OUR FAMILY

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Saturday, March 9th, 2019

Campinas, Brazil

111th operating temple
Dedicated: 17 My 2002
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Today's gospel study included: John 4:14; 2 Nephi 28:1-16; Mark 4:1-34; "The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom" by Jeffrey R. Holland, 10/1996, and "One in Christ: by Ulisses Soares, 10/2018.

One in Christ

Ulisses Soares

"My beloved companions in the work of the Lord, I believe we can do much better and should do better in welcoming new friends into the Church. I invite you to consider what we can do to be more embracing, accepting, and helpful to them, starting this very next Sunday. Be careful not to let your Church assignments get in the way of welcoming new friends at Church meetings and activities. After all, these souls are precious before the eyes of God and are much more important than programs and activities. If we minister to our new friends with our hearts full of pure love as the Savior did, I promise you, in His name, that He will assist us in our efforts."

We left for the temple around 5:45. James was pretty "stressed out" because he wanted to leave by 5:30. We started off with a beeping noise in Sheri's van. We stopped twice to try and close the doors. The back door on the driver's side does not completely close. I wonder if it was like that when we got the van. Finally the beeping stopped and we were able to listen to two conference talks on the way over. We made it in plenty of time for our preparation meeting at 7 which was presided over by President and Sister Palmer.

One of the first people to welcome me back was Debbie Vance, my friend from Chandler. Sister Cochran and Sister Humphries also said they were glad to see me. I missed seeing Sister Bowers and Sister McCleary. Sister Bowers is taking a leave of absence. I'm not sure where Sister McCleary is.

My schedule went something like this: ASD - Assistant sealing director. I sat under the stairs in the corner at a desk and assist people when they come in to do sealings. I was only there from 7:30 - 8 and assisted three different people. I had to go up and down the stairs to the sealing room three times. Too bad I don't have my phone with me. I was also a greeter a couple of time, and worked in initiatory two times. The third time was at the end of our shift and the afternoon workers had someone to take through so I was excused early.

I dressed and went outside to wait for James. He was at the recommend desk so I was able to tell him where I was. As I was walking around the parking lot I noticed a fellow worker, Sister Blank, who is a young adult returned missionary, sitting in her car calling someone on the phone. I didn't think too much of it until a few minutes later when a police officer showed up. I guess she had something stolen from her car. The last time I heard of this happening it was at night. This time it was done in broad daylight. We must remember to lock our cars!

On the way home I texted Max to make sure everything was okay. He said it was and that they were fine so James and I went to Walmart to pick up my thyroid prescription. While James was at the pharmacy, I walked in the McDonald's entrance and ordered him a quarter pounder and got myself an ice cream cone. He seemed very appreciative because he was quite hungry.

When we got home the boys were playing hide and go seek outside. It was great to see them doing something besides playing video games.

I cooked steak for dinner in my cast iron skillet. James cooked some on the grill and I thought they were better. The boys were already done eating by the time the ones on the grill were done.

This evening I worked on my blog and watched the Hallmark movie, "Harvest Moon."

The boys watched Harry Potter in the family room.

In other news, President Nelson and President Ballard were able to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican today. It is the first time a President of the Church has met with the Pope.

This little girl brings so much joy!

Saturday, March 16, 2019

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.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

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.