Wednesday, July 17th, 2019

Fresno, California

78th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 April 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Hebrews 12:23

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Book of Mormon

Alma 34:1-16

New Testament "The Word of God Grew and Multiplied"

Acts 13

General Conference

Where Will This Lead?

President Dallin H. Oaks

"Where will this lead?" is also important in choosing how we label or think of ourselves. Most important, each of us is a child of God with a potential destiny of eternal life. Every other label, even including occupation, race, physical characteristics, or honors, is temporary or trivial in eternal terms. Don't choose to label yourselves or think of yourselves in terms that put a limit on a goal for which you might strive."

Sold a book this morning.

James left early this morning to pick up his friend Anthony. A while back Anthony bought a cat that he thought was a girl and he named her Clare. Well, it turns out that Clare is a boy and has been renamed Clarence. Clarence had an appointment to be "fixed" at the vets today at 7 a.m. Anthony needed a ride so James took him. I guess Clarence was quite vocal about not wanting to be at the vets. He only knows Anthony and his personality is more like a dog than a cat. For example, at home while Anthony is on the computer Clarence will bring a ball in his mouth and sit on the computer and look at Anthony. Anthony throws the ball and Clarence retrieves it.

I picked up my friend Catherine this morning and took her to the Compass Medical Center in Snowflake. Catherine is 85 years old and has diabetes. She has experienced severe neuropathy in her feet and was told if she didn't do something she may face amputations. 

She began doing treatments on her feet about 3-4 months ago. Today was her checkup to see how the treatments had been working. I guess the results were amazing! The doctor said he had never seen anyone make so much improvement. Before she had very little feeling in her feet and now she said when the doctor touched her feet it really tickled. They asked her to write a testimonial and when she came up front to check out a big cheer went up. 

While Catherine was at her appointment I went shopping at Walmart for the dinner I am fixing for the Nicoll family on Thursday. I finished just a few minutes before Catherine. 

Catherine bought me lunch at Sonic. We both had the hotdog, Catherine had tater tots with hers and I had french fries with mine, and a diet cherry limeade. 

They are painting the lines on the highway and we were slowed down for a bit. I really do enjoy visiting with Catherine, she has a lot of personality and is quite talented as a seamstress and she loves to cook. She said she has a list that says, "I'm dead, now what?" She is going to add me on that list to inherit her recipes.

I forgot to mention some news that happened yesterday. Sheri texted me and said that she was just promoted to office manager. I guess Chris, the current office manager, took a job with Shamir to be a lens rep. He and Sheri are good friends and I am sure that he recommended Sheri for office manager. I told Sheri that now she knew how Ben feels and that the advice she gave him regarding getting help from the Lord, also applied to her. She said she never thought of that but it was true. I am very proud of Sheri and know she will do a great job.

This afternoon I took a break from books and fixed dinner. I tried out the goulash recipe I am going to fix for the Nicoll's tomorrow night. James loved it and so did I. I also made green beans and they fit right in with the goulash. The recipe calls for Rotel which is a little spicy. Tomorrow I am going to use diced tomatoes instead and add some Prego sauce. 

I alternated walking with working on books and ended up walking 15,000 steps. I also read several chapters from our book, "Love Unscripted," to James and watched Christmas movies. 

"Mingle All the Way"

"A Gift to Remember"

"The Perfect Christmas Gift"

James has finished taking his prednisone and now he is miserable again. The doctor who did his swallow test said he needed to go in and get a kenolog shot and I have been trying to convince him to do that.

 Michael is unique

 Next best step to being there is these daily photos

 This girl loves berries!

Tuesday, July 16th, 2019

Palmyra, New York

77th operating temple

Dedicated: 6 Apr 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Hebrews 1:6

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Book of Mormon

Alma 33:12-23

New Testament "The Word of God Grew and Multiplied"

Acts 11

General Conference

The Power of Sustaining Faith

President Henry B. Eyring

"President George Q. Cannon gve a warning that I pass on to you as my own. I believe he spoke the truth: 'God has chosen His servants. He claims it as His prerogative to condemn them, if they need condemnation. He has not given it to us individually to censure and condemn them. No man, however strong he may be in the faith, however high in the Priesthood, can speak evil of the Lord's anointed and find fault with God's authority on the earth without incurring His displeasure. The Holy Spirit will withdraw himself from such a man, and he will go into darkness. This being the case, do you not see how important it is that we should be careful?'"

James left at 5 a.m. for Ramah, New Mexico. He is taking his dad's headstone to place on his grave. Waiting for him there are his cousins Lee, Sherrel, and Dane. They did a good job.

 Lee and Sherrel

(No picture of Dane)

James says there is a huge new high school in Ramah out near the graveyard. Two girls walked by and Dane said: "There go two of my skinny granddaughters." Lee is 88 years old and James says he doesn't have a gray hair.

I am reading a talk in the Ensign by Whitney Clayton about religious freedom which is being threatened in society today. Very informative and interesting.

I read this quote by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin on faith:

"Faith exists when absolute confidence in that which we cannot see combines with action that is in absolute conformity to the will of our Heavenly Father. Without all three - first, absolute confidence; second, action; and third, absolute conformity - without these three, all we have is a counterfeit, a weak and watered down faith."

We had a little rain this morning. It almost lasted five minutes. 

I watched these Christmas movies today while walking and then working on my book business:

"A Heavenly Christmas"

"Love at Christmas"

"A Made to Order Christmas"

James got home in the early afternoon. I was on the phone with Stacy so he went straight into the bedroom and laid down on the bed to take a nap. 

He did get up and go outside to walk and then came back in and watched the last Christmas movie with me.

A sister in our ward is being induced tomorrow and I have been asked to bring in dinner on Thursday. That changes my plans a little. I decided I would make "Kid friendly" goulash, green beans, rolls, a salad, and chocolate chip cookies. I will go shopping tomorrow in Taylor. I'm taking my friend Catherine to an appointment in Snowflake.

James is leaving early tomorrow to take his friend Anthony into town. More about that story tomorrow.

 This morning's sunrise

 Beauty and Innocence

 I love that she has a hat but no shoes!

 Interesting story.

Monday, July 15th, 2019

Louisville, Kentucky

76th operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Mar 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Colossians 1:15

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Book of Mormon

Alma 33:1-11

New Testament "The Word of God Grew and Multiplied"

Acts 10 and Gospel Topics; "Revelation"

General Conference

Look Unto Jesus Christ

Elder Kim B. Clark

"When we live our covenants, they influence everything we say and do. We live a covenant life full of simple, everyday acts of faith that focus us on Jesus Christ: prayer from the heart in His name, feasting on His word, turning to Him to repent of our sins, keeping His commandments, partaking of the sacrament and keeping His Sabbath holy, worshiping in His holy temple as often as we can, and exercising His holy priesthood to serve God's children."

James talked me into going to town with him this morning.  

Kaitlin's birthday is this week and I wanted to make her a cake so I went with him. While he was at Home Depot I went to Walmart. I decided Monday morning is a good time to visit Walmart because things aren't too crazy. James bought lumber for something at the Howard's. They left this morning for Illinois where they are going to visit Tom's 92 year old mother.

I finished shopping while James was in line at Firehouse Subs. I ordered a steak and cheese sub. I waited for James in the parking lot and did some walking while I was waiting. 

My sub was delicious...James had the Hook and Ladder, which is turkey and I think he was wishing he would have ordered what I got. I did save him a little bite.

As soon as I got home and put the groceries away I began making Kaitlin's cake. It is a rainbow chip cake and then I made homemade cream cheese frosting. 

I made a round layered cake and didn't allow it to cool long enough because I thought the kids were leaving and consequently, the cake cracked. I told Kaitlin it was "farmhouse rustic."  We had a little party and sang to Kaitlin and had cake with cookies and cream and mint chocolate chip ice cream.

27 years old

The kids hung around for awhile and I asked everyone to bring down their sheets and towels. 

Chris was going to show me how to work the TV upstairs but we couldn't get it to come on. I'm not sure why. I will look into it when Darrel gets here this weekend. It's a Smart TV and it's smarter than I am.

They left around 3-4 this afternoon and I told Adam to let me know when he got home. I guess he forgot but I assume everyone made it home safely.

I spent the next hour or so walking and watching a Christmas movie, "Christmas at Homestead," starring Taylor Cole and Michael Rady. 

For FHE we read from the New Testment Student Manual about Acts 10 and then I read to James from President Nelson's biography.

Chris and Kyle in the back, and

Kaitlin and Adam in the front

 Ben said he didn't have much time to write but

he will send a letter next week.

 San Diego temple

Sunday, July 14th, 2019

Tuxtla, Gutierrez, Mexico
75th operating temple
Dedicated: 12 Mar 2000
By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Book of Mormon

Alma 32:21-43

New Testament "What Wilt Thou Have Me To Do?"

Review Acts 6-9

General Conference

The Quorum: A Place of Belonging

Elder Carl B. Cook

"Disciples of Jesus Christ are often gathered a few at a time, as invited by their friends. Anciently, when Andrew found the Savior, he went quickly to his brother Simon and 'brought him to Jesus.' Similarly, soon after Philip became a follower of Christ, he invited his friend Nathanael to 'come and see.'"

We made some new ministering assignments for our sisters this week and I ran off slips to give to the sisters that are in my district.

Adam and his friends came to sacrament but they didn't stay for the second hour. Adam and Kaitlin said they wanted to stay but they felt obligated to take Chris and Kyle back to the cabin.

I had two sisters ready to teach Relief Society today, Becky and Diana. Diana looked at the old schedule and she was prepared and had already handed out assignments to the sisters. Becky was fine with letting her teach. I need to make a new lesson schedule so this does not happen again.

The lesson was based on the talk given by Elder Christofferson on preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We talked about the Book of Mormon being the instrument that opened up the gathering of Israel and I told Ben's experience of staying up and reading from it most of the night and then deciding to go on a mission.

The lesson went well and Diana had lots of participation.

Yesterday James and I had steak and brussel sprouts. It was my first time with the little sprouts and suffice it to say it will probably be the last. Even the Barefoot Contessa's recipe couldn't convince me that I really liked them. Next time we will have cabbage instead.

Today we share the other steak we bought and I made a salad which suited me just fine. 

The kids went on a Razr ride but I guess no one wanted to go all the way to Green's Peak except Adam, so they didn't. It started to rain on them so they came back.

Adam and Kaitlin made Kaitlin's tater tot casserole for dinner. I had a taste and I must say it wasn't too bad. James liked it but I don't think I liked it well enough to ever fix it for dinner.

My eating was pretty much out of control today. I need to take some action to get it under control.

This afternoon we FaceTimed with Jared and Charlie. I sang the Eentsy Weentsy Spider and showed her my sheep and made sheep noises. She seemed to stay interested in us a little longer than usual.

Jared has two job interviews this week. One is in Texarkana and the other is in another smaller town. 

Brother and Sister South spoke in our sacrament meeting today. Sister South said she came from a family of 16 children and her mother always gathered them for family prayer and scripture study. She said that as a result, they recently had a family reunion of over 220 descendants and most all of them had served missions and had been married in the temple. "Out of small things proceedeth that which is great." I say, don't sweat the small stuff, just do it!

I read several chapters from President Nelson's biography, "Insights" this evening. He had a very close relationship with President Kimball. He said next to his dad no other man had influenced him as much as President Kimball.

We thought we were going to get some rain today but the clouds just hung in the sky and didn't share any drops of water on us. It probably rained in other places nearby but I guess it wasn't our turn today. 

I love getting photos of these two on

Sunday mornings!

This moth was outside on the porch window.

His body was half striped and half polka dot

Such a sweet adorable girl!