Thursday, August 1st, 2019

Veracruz, Mexico

93rd operating temple

Dedicated: 9 July 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Moses 2:26

And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man inn our image after our likeness;; and it was so. And I, God said: Let the have dominion over the fishes of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Book of Mormon

Alma 43:27-40

New Testament "A Minister and a Witness"

Acts 25:13-27; 26

General Conference

How Can I Understand

Ulisses Soares

"When we accept the Savior's invitation to 'come and see,' we need to abide in Him, immersing ourselves in the scriptures, rejoicing in them, learning His doctrine and striving to live the way He lived. Only then will we come to know Him, Jesus Christ and recognize His voice, knowing that as we come unto Him and believe in Him, we shall never hunger nor thirst. We will be able to discern the truth at all times, as occurred to those two disciples who abode with Jesus that day."

We left for the valley a little before 7 this morning. Michael was up sitting on the couch. He says he never sleeps more than 4 or 5 hours. Sean was also up. Sheri was up too. She was out running.

James dropped me off at Dr. Douglas's office around 10:30. My appointment is at 10:45 to get my teeth cleaned with Shelly, the new hygienist. Their computers were down so they were running late.  

I have two crowns in the very back on my left side that need to be replaced, one on the upper and the other on the lower part of my mouth. Dr. Douglas says the top one the tooth is crumbling and will need to be pulled. I said that was fine but I could not afford to get an implant. On the bottom they will take off the crown and replace it. All of this is going to cost around $1,200.

When James picked me up we went to Fry's to get me some dry mouth lozenges. They also told me I needed to drink more water so I got a bottle of water. I looked for the hot and sweet pickles that Sister Bradshaw brings to the temple but there weren't any so I bought bread and butter instead. 

We drove to the Firebirds in Gilbert where I had a lunch date with my friend Karen S. We go to lunch in February for her birthday and August for mine. I had what I always have at Firebirds, the coconut shrimp with mango habernero chutney and an ice cream sundae for dessert. Karen told me how much she loved the book I gave her for her birthday and then she gave me two books.

I have an entire collection of Aunt Dimity books.

Karen got me started on them several years ago.

Karen and I had a nice visit and then it was time to go. James spent some time at Stacy's while I was at lunch working on the door he installed. Stacy gave him a card and a dark chocolate hazelnut bar for Father's day.

We went to Darrel and Trina's next. James dropped me off while he went to mail the book we sold merchant fulfilled. I just walked in the house thinking no one was home but Addy was there. She just had her first day of school and she looked so cute. Here is what she wore her first day:

James and I were both tired so we took a nap. When Trina came home she and I decided we would go to the 7 pm showing of "Lion King". Rowan had football practice until 6. James did not feel well so he stayed home while we went to the movie. Trina put Lola in her pajamas. 

At the movie I bought a big bag of popcorn to share with the kids and drank my water instead of a soda. 

No hot and sweet pickles

 Our old bank in Chandler

I don't think so!

 Today's rain in Vernon

We ended up having to sit on rows 1 and 2 because we were late. I liked the movie. I forgot what a good message it has.

Meanwhile back in Vernon. Ian and his brother Sean worked on fixing the Razr for over six hours. Sheri went in and bought a new battery and they got it started but it doesn't sound good and it won't go very fast. They cleaned it all up and just left it parked in the garage. I know they were disappointed they couldn't get it running but I am so grateful to them for all they did and for trying.

They had a huge rainstorm, a gully washer and the lights went out for over two hours. Sheri said they remembered the stove was gas so they cooked dinner in the dark. 

Wednesday, July 31st, 2019

Meridian, Idaho

92nd operating temple

Dedicated: 8 July 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

DC 110:4

I am the first and the last I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.

Book of Mormon

Alma 43:15-26

New Testament "A Minister and a Witness"

Acts 24-25:12

General Conference

Closing Remarks

President Russell M. Nelson

"God's objective should be our objective. He wants His children to choose to return to Him, prepared, qualified, endowed, sealed, and faithful to covenants made in holy temples."

I want to share something I read in the New Testament Student Manual regarding Acts 24:24 -26. "When I Have a Convenient Season." Despite his corrupt nature, Felix was deeply moved by Paul's testimony of Jesus Christ but delayed hearing him further, saying that he would call for Paul later when he had a "convenient season" (Acts 24:25)

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled Church members to make decisions based on more than mere convenience: "Sometimes we are tempted to let our lives be governed more by convenience that by covenant. It is not always convenient to live gospel standards and stand up for truth and testify of the Restoration. It usually is not convenient to share the gospel with others. It isn't always convenient to respond to a calling in the Church, especially one that stretches our abilities Opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways as we have covenanted to do, rarely come at convenient times. But there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants" ("Like a Flame Unquenchable," Ensign, May 1999,86). 

We had a little rain today but not too much. It seems to rain all around us but not on us. 

I had planned on spending the day cleaning and getting ready for our company this evening. Sheri, Ian, Max, Evan, Ian's brother Sean, and his daughter Mattea, Michael, Allie, Sam, Eli, and Frasure are all coming. Michael is Ian and Sean's brother from England and they are in the valley visiting and wanted to come up and see the mountains. Allie is Michael's wife and they have two boys of their own, Eli and Frasure and Allie's son from a previous marriage, Sam. Eli is 12, Frasure 9, and Sam is 17.

I cleaned most of the morning. In the early afternoon I had to make a visit for the bishop who is out of town. Tamara and Kerri are both out of town so I was asked to visit this new sister who is asking for welfare assistance. The bishop wants me to "assess the situation."

I asked James to go with me for two reasons: 1) I don't know anything about Amanda and her situation,  2) Vernon addresses are notoriously hard to find and Google just doesn't work.

This is the description I had: An unfinished two storage home in Winchester Trail, ACR 3177, Lot 59. 

James and I went up and down 3177 and there was no Lot 59. We did see an unfinished two story house with a red roof and that is where Amanda was. I believe it was Lot 88. Oh well, we found her. She was staying in a trailer in the back at her friend, Ken McClaran's property. When she came out we went into the big room of the unfinished house and she sat up a lawn chair for me and began telling me her story. It was a sad story about a life spent going from man to man to take care of her and being on drugs and being taken advantage of. She has been homeless for awhile and just came to Vernon because of her friend Ken. She is hiding from the man who last took advantage of her. She told me she had no water and no food and no electricity. She said her mother had disowned her because the last man she was with had made some sex tapes of her while she was on drugs and she was unaware of the tapes. They were sent to her mother. She says she doesn't blame her mom. In spite of this sister's past I couldn't leave her there with no food or water. 

I told her I would report our visit to the bishop and the Relief Society president. I told her I was going down to the Dollar Store to get her some water and a few groceries. She seemed most appreciative. 

At Dollar General I got her four gallons of water, some eggs, bread, peanut butter and jam, and some applesauce. Since she has no electricity it had to be all non-perishable items. 

When we dropped the items off she was in the back but Ken was there. As we were leaving I saw her come out and get the items. She texted me later to thank me and say that I was her hero.

I told the bishop and Tamara about my visit and said I thought she needed a food order. Bishop ask Tamara to do a food order and she will do one on Friday when she returns home. The storehouse is open on Saturday.

Amanda joined the Church in 2016 in Duncan, Az, and was married to a Mormon man for awhile. I think he saw the tapes that were made of her and now he wants nothing more to do with her. 

She told me her dress clothes were left behind in Springerville and she had no way to get them. We may have to have someone from the ward go get them for her. I told her I was sure that the bishop would want to meet with her.

I got home and continued cleaning the basement and then upstairs. James helped me put the sheets on the bed. He also cleaned off the driveway, garage, deck and patio with the power sprayer and washed some windows. We finished just before our company arrived. James also replaced all of the burned out light bulbs.

Michael was in awe of the house and so was Sean. Michael took pictures and put them on Facebook. After meeting everyone and visiting for a little while James and I said good night and went to bed. We are getting up early in the morning to go to the valley.

Michael's post

Adam was ordained an elder and will be 

serving as a missionary in Jamaica.

  

Tuesday, July 30th, 2019

Suva, Fiji

91st operating temple

Dedicated: 18 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

DC 93:21

And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;

Book of Mormon

Alma 42:26-43:14

New Testament "A Minister and a Witness"

Acts 23

General Conference

Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"When we build a fortress of spiritual strength, we can shun the advances of the adversary, turn our backs on him, and feel the peace of the Sirit. We can follow the example of our Lord and Savior, who, when tempted in the wilderness, said, 'Get thee behind me, Satan.' We each have to earn by the experiences of life how to do that."

Sold two more books this morning!

After morning gospel study and doing a little blogging, I listened to the book business webinar which featured six figure leaders, Kris and Kathy, two of my favorites. It was a good session in spite of the fact that Kathy kept osing her internet connection.

After the webinar I got ready to go to lunch with my friend Jean. 

I arrived at Jean's around 11. We had to wait for Tom to get home to give Jean some money. Jean loaned her credit card to one of her granddaughters and that's why she needed money from Tom. He gave her $40. Jean said, "I don't need that much," and Tom said, "You might want to buy Karen's lunch too."

Jean wanted to check to see if Mountain Thai was open so we went to Lakeside. It was raining pretty hard so I was a little relieved when Mountain Thai wasn't open because I forgot my umbrella. 

On to Native on the other side of Show Low near Licano's. No rain in Show Low. Jean and I each ordered a salad and five wings to share and then Jean ordered a salad to take home to Tom. Long story short, I ended up paying over $13 which was fine because I had planned on paying for my lunch anyway. Jean is always doing things for everyone else and she was a little embarrassed to come up short but I told her not to worry.

This afternoon I helped James place an ad on Craigslist for our cemetery plots. He couldn't figure out how to do it. He and computers just don't get along very well.

I made lemon brownies for a snack/dinner today. James loved them, I liked but not as much as he did. 

We got a little bit of rain and a lot of humming birds today. James has to fill the feeder just about everyday.

This evening we watched the latest episode of "The Good Witch."

 This is Mr. Carl. Tanner has spent the summer working with him on his little farm. He is 93 years old and has been outside working right alongside Tanner. Even on the hottest of days! In just a couple of months Mr. Carl has imparted more wisdom to tanner than I probably could in a lifetime. They've become the best of buds. It makes my heart so happy to hear all the stories at the end of the day. Of all the experiences Tanner will have in his lilfetime, I know he will always treasure his time with Mr. Carl.

Charlie is watching something!

C

 Little Lola

Our friends the Hatch's

 I'll take her if you are giving her away!