OUR FAMILY

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Sunday, August 4th, 2019

Caracas, Venezuela

96th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Aug 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained

John 16:5

But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

Book of Mormon

Alma 44:16-45:14

New Testament "A Minister and a Witness"

Review Acts 22-28

General Conference

Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"These five suggestions; 1) Draw close to God, 2)Fill your heart with love for others, 3) Strive to walk the path of discipleship, 4) Share what is in your heart, 5) Trust the Lord to work His miracles,

will help you to do what disciples of Jesus Christ have done since ancient times. His gospel and His Church are an important part of your life and of who you are and what you do. Therefore, invite others to come and see and come and help, and God will do His saving work, and they will come and stay."

I read an article from the August Ensign this morning by Sister Bingham entitled, "Catch the Vision, Share the Vision"!

Sister Bingham talks about our need for spiritual vision. She says: "Just as physical vision is important in this life, spiritual vision is critical in our quest for eternal life. Proverbs 29:18 tells us, 'Where there is no vision, the people perish.' The truth is, we all need help learning to see clearly with our spiritual eyes."

I wish I could share this truth with all of my children and grand children. If we don't have a clear vision of why we are here and where we want to go, we will perish spiritually.

During our fast and testimony meeting Sister Camrie B. bore her testimony. Camrie is in her late twenties and is a single mom to three small children, the oldest is 8. Her husband was unfaithful to her while she was pregnant and she has been able to forgive him through the power of Jesus Christ's Atonement. Her testimony is powerful and sweet.

Sunday School today was taught by Brother Applegate. He did a great job, he was both dynamic and engaging! I sat by Tamara, his wife and she said she wish that this was his calling because he loves preparing and studying for the lessons so much.

After church we broke our fast with steak, mashed potatoes and rolls that Sheri left. Thanks for providing us with our Sabbath day feast Sheri!

This evening James wrote a letter to Ben while I tried to do some catchup on my blog. We also read from President Nelson's biography.

Rowan's face is so funny!

I love the Sunday photos!

Clouds on our way home from church.

Clouds mean rain, right?

Saturday, August 3rd, 2019

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

95th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 July 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Foreordained

John 7:33

Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you and then I go unto him that sent me.

Book of Mormon

Alma 44:1-15

New Testament "A Minister and a Witness"

Acts 28

General Conference

Answers to Prayer

Brook P. Hales

"Sometimes, the answer to prayer that we so righteously, desperately, and earnestly seek is not given in this life."

Bishop Miller sent out an email today and ask the ward members to please include the Kostusiak family in our fast. Dave has taken a turn for the worse and is no longer breathing on his own. He also had to have a blood transfusion.

The McMillan's left this morning after breakfast. They were most appreciative of staying with us and expressed their gratitude. We really enjoyed having them here. Eli is staying and going home with Sheri and Ian this afternoon.

The McMillan family

Michael: Has gone to Africa to help build schools.

Aly: Plays the piano and works for a charity business.

Sam: Prayed when the electricity went out.

Eli: Played 5 Crowns with us and he's a human calculator

Frasure: Just turned 9 and wants a guitar so he can play like Max.

Frasure is also into martial arts.

Sheri, Max, Eli and I played a game of Five Crowns. For being his first time Eli did very well and he added up scores in his head faster than I could do it on my phone calculator. He told us a couple of family secrets and it was fun listening to his British accent.

Sheri and I watched "Love in Rome" and then it was time for her to get ready to go home. They left around 2 or so.

Ian: An artist and UPS driver

Sheri: Mom and office manager at Chandler Eyecare

Max: Plays the guitar and sings. Excellent memory.

Eli: Lives in Birmingham, England in a 111 year old house just down the road from the Cadburry chocolate factory.

Evan: Obedient, quiet, conscientious and a great artist. He doesn't like bats in the house. I don't either so that's why I'm ordering a sonic blaster to scare him off.

Can you find Max with his guitar?

James and I started our fast, walked, and watched the newest Hallmark movie this afternoon and evening. We also did a little work outside and on the computer.

We need more dads like this one

She loves to climb!

August 3rd, 2013

The day of the infamous Razr ride

Sheri and Ian finished the puzzle before they left

but not before Frasure left. He was a little

disappointed ... but not too much.

What is it about climbing?

Ruby the hip hopper

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Friday, August 2nd, 2019

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

94th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 July 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained

Matthew 15:24

But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Book of Mormon

Alma 43:41-54

New Testament "A Minister and a Witness"

Acts 27

Paul, in a perilous voyage, travels toward Rome - An angel comforts him - He uses the gift of seership - He is shipwrecked.

General Conference

Careful versus Casual

Becky Craven
"As I reflect upon obtaining lasting happiness, I realize that sometimes we do find ourselves in the gray. Mists of darkness are inevitable as we journey along the covenant path temptation and casualness can cause us to subtly divert our course into the darkness of the world and away from the covenant path. For the times when this might happen our beloved prophet, President Russell M Nelson has urged us to get back on the covenant path and to do so quickly. How grateful I am for the gift of repentance and for the power of our Savior's Atonement."

I missed saying goodbye to everyone at Darrel and Trina's except Trina. I caught her before she went out running and said goodbye, and thank you for allowing us to stay and for taking me to the movies last night. The kids were all gone to school and Darrel was gone to work before I came out of the bedroom.

I had my infusion this morning. I arrived at the AARA office in Mesa at 10:30 and Angela came and took me right back to the infusion center. I lost 6 lbs since the last time I was here. Woohoo!

Frances informed me that beginning in January they are going to a four day work week so I will have to change my Friday appointments. I am trying to decide between Monday or Thursdays.

After my appointment I walked over to Popeye's Chicken because James wasn't here yet. He picked me up in their parking lot.

He got a gift card for Father's Day to either Carrabas or Outback. We chose Carrabas and drove to the one on Market St. in Gilbert.

I ordered the caprese pasta with grilled shrimp and James ordered Mahi Mahi fish with broccoli.

Very yummy!

Sourdough bread is delicious!

We each also had the house salad with parmesan dressing and we share strawberry drizzled cheesecake for dessert.

When we walked in to Carrabas I noticed that Crumbl cookie was just across the way and I mentioned to James I wanted to go get a cookie afterwards but I was too full after the cheesecake.

We arrived back in Vernon around 5 pm. Our company had spent the day in Greer and it was time to fix dinner when we arrived.

Sheri had baked rolls. She also made mashed potatoes and Ian cooked steaks on the grill. I made some broccoli and corn. The dinner was quite delicious. Thanks Sheri and Ian.

After dinner James made a fire in the fire pit and the group roasted marshmallows and made smores. Max played the guitar and sang.

James and I walked.

Sheri said that both Ian and Evan saw the bat last night so they join this summers "Cabin Bat Club" along with Darrel and Trina. Ian thought the bat was cool, Evan, not so much.

Greer: