Sunday, August 11, 2019

Wednesday, August 7th, 2019

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
99th operating temple
Dedicated: 17 Sept 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained
Revelations 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Book of Mormon
Alma 46:29-41
New Testament "The Power of God unto Salvation"
Romans 3


General Conference
The True, Pure, and Simple Gospel of Jesus Christ
President M. Russell Ballard
"Loving God and loving our neighbors is the doctrinal foundation of ministering; home-centered, Church-supported learning; Sabbath-day spiritual worship; and the work of salvation on both sides of the veil supported in the Relief Societies and the elders quorums All of these things are based on the divine commandments to love God and to love our neighbors. Can there be anything more basic, more fundamental, and more simple that that?"


There is a picture in the book, "Insights from a Prophet's Life," of President Nelson's daily journals. They are small notebooks like my small notebooks that I write in daily,  only his are leather bound and mine are spiral bound. I can identify with him because he is a journal writer. In every other way he surpasses me but in this one aspect of his life I can identify with him! I keep notes in my journals and then I transfer them to my blog.

 Look how tiny that writing is!


The notebook I am using right now

My leather bound notebooks I use
for other things than my daily journal.
I have 24 of them all together.

James and I took my shipment of books into town today and dropped it off at UPS. On the way in to town we stopped at Aliberto's and James ordered me a breakfast burrito with bacon. It was really good but not as good as Tony's Special at Burger House.

I did some shopping at Walmart while James was on the phone in the car. He came in and I told him he was in charge of buying the fruits and vegetables for the week. He was in and out before I was finished. We got gas on the way home and I read from our books, "Insights from a Prophet's Life" and "Aunt Dimity and the Heart of God." 

I spent most of the afternoon walking, trying to get at least 10,000 steps before 5 pm when I had to get ready to go to a stake Relief Society meeting. I also worked on proposed ministering changes that Tamara authorized me to make. 

We met at the church at six and Kerri drove our presidency to the stake center in Lakeside. This is a meeting called by the stake presidency and they presided, for Relief Society and Elders Quorum presidencies. We sat on the back row with Brother Curtis and President Grapp. Kerri passed them on the way and Brother Curtis mentioned how slow President Grapp drives.

All of our stake presidency are doctors; President Beeler is a dentist, President Miles an opthamologist, and President Wright a medical doctor. At one point in the meeting President Wright was conducting the discussion and he got a phone call. He said it was important and he had to take it. Up to that point I had not known he was a medical doctor but Sister Thompson, our secretary who was sitting next to me told me. He was the one that treated Sister Barton in our ward when she got bit by a dog. Sister Barton is 92 years old and was very sick because of this dog bite.

The theme of this meeting was: "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ" 2 Nephi 31:20. It was a meeting about ministering and how to handle certain problems and situations. 

The following scriptures were used on the agenda:
DC 43:8-9 
8 And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given. 
9 And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me - 

Each member of the stake presidency spoke to us. We also read from the handbook. At one point President Grapp, our ward elder's quorum president told about how when he ministers he tries to make it a family affair because family time is so precious to him. He also said that his 5 year old looking up at someone and saying "I love you." Is better ministering than he could ever do. President Beeler, our stake president, loved this idea and he says that he tries to do it too with his children who are teenagers.
President Beeler told us to go back and look at the talk Elder Holland gave in April 2018, "To Be With and Strengthen Them."
He said the principles mentioned in this talk will help us to understand ministering better. 
President Beeler also talked about "Dispensational Priorities" and he said they are: 1) To catch the vision and be inspired ministers, 2) Missionary work, 3) Family History and Temple work, and 4) Teaching. 

President Miles talked about the importance of the ministering quarterly interviews and how they cannot be delegated to anyone else.

It was a great meeting. Kerri drove the back roads to get home. It was after 9:30 when I arrived home and James was worried. We weren't that tired so we stayed up and watched another episode of Jane Doe.





 The fence our neighbor put up along one side
of our property. 




 James's photo of the sunset



 Ian took these pictures. I love that 
the sunflower is bigger than the house!



Back to reality

 Crushing the chips



 I love this!


My friend Amy took this picture
from her deck.

















Friday, August 9, 2019

Tuesday, August 6th, 2019

Birmingham, Alabama
98th operating temple
Dedicated: 3 Sept 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained
1 Peter 1:20
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 
Book of Mormon
Alma 46:11-28
New Testament "The Power of God unto Salvation"
Romans 2


General Conference
A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells
President Henry B. Eyring
"In addition to your example of growing in faith, your praying as a family can play a crucial part in making home a sacred place. One person is usually chosen as voice to pray for the family. When the prayer is clearly to God in behalf of the people kneeling and listening, faith grows in all of them. They can feel expressions of love for Heavenly Father and for the Savior. And when the person who prays mentions those who are kneeling in that circle who are in need, all can feel love for them and for each member of the family."

This morning my Meridian Magazine had an article entitled: "When Pancho Villa Appeared Asking for Temple Work."
Just like the article yesterday about the Madison's, I read this one to James. We really enjoyed it. I would encourage all of my children to read it to our grandchildren. I already asked Sheri to read it to Max and Evan. 

I listened to the book arbitrage webinar this morning. Luke and John were the featured speakers. They are the owners of the company. They talked about textbook season and prizes for those who sell the most books both in the newbie category and the veteran category. I don't consider myself belonging to either of these groups. I am more of an intermediate. I have not intention of buying truckloads of books to up my inventory. Most of the big sellers probably have around 10,000 books and they are in the six and seven figure club. I will be happy if I can make a couple of thousand dollars a month doing the business. I actually love it but I would love it even more if I could make some money!

James took birthday cards to the post office today for Molly, Rowan and Joshua. Molly will be ten on the 8th and Rowan and Joshua will both be 13. I can't believe they are teenagers! They all had new addresses this year.

Today after lunch during our rest time we watched an episode of Jane Doe starring Lea Thompson. This is from a few years ago so some of the things are outdated like the cell phones. Jane Doe is an undercover agent for the Central Security Agency. She is an expert puzzle solver and always solves the case. 

I got to Facetime with Jared, Kacey, and Charlie today. Charlie likes to blow kisses and she did patty cake with me. I loved it and I am so grateful that Jared asks me to do this from time to time. She is growing up so fast!

I spent the evening putting books into my Amazon inventory to get them ready to ship tomorrow. I have about 13 books to send in.

James spent the evening helping Greg Anderson and Michele Tesarek on Family Search.

We got some bad new regarding Randy this evening via Facebook.






 Throwback to dance recitals in June













 This is her "stink eye" face


Ben's Letter 














Monday, August 5th, 2019

Houston, Texas
97th operating temple
Dedicated: 26 Aug 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained
Hebrews 5:5
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest: but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
Book of Mormon
Alma 45:15-46:10
New Testament "The Power of God unto Salvation"
Romans 1


General Conference
Just as He Did
Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
"In modeling our ministering after Jesus Christ, it is important to remember that His efforts to love, lift, serve, and bless had a higher goal than meeting the immediate need. He clearly knew of their day-to-day needs and had compassion on their current suffering as He healed, fed, forgave, and taught. But He wanted to do more than take care of today. He wanted those around Him to follow Him to know Him, and to reach their divine potential."

I receive Meridian Magazine emails everyday. They have some great articles and stories about people. Their website is: latterdaysaintmag.com if you want to sign up for their daily emails.
Today I read about James and Dolley Madison. James Madison is known as the father of religious liberty. He helped write the Federalist papers and the Constitution. He was the fourth president of the United States. Dolley opened the President's house on a weekly basis inviting friends and foes alike to festive gatherings. Dolley had a way of making everyone feel important. James regularly attended Dolley's good will gatherings, adding his skills to hers. Dolley was ever gracious and James was ever respectful of the views of others. James listened carefully to the arguments of his opponents in a manner that demonstrated that he was determined to understand the reasons behind their opposing views. He was sometimes attacked for speaking quietly and deliberately, but those traits strengthened his capacity to listen and understand, enabling him to build bridges of agreement where angry differences had once prevailed. 

Dad-by-day, James and Dolley drew on their respective talents responding in a manner that collectively quelled the anger that was consuming a divided nation, slowly leading the American people into the so-called Era of Good Feelings, when divisive partisanship was displaced by a sense that we are all Americans. James's favorite scripture was Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." 

This is what we need in America today! A President who listens to others and tries to understand. Someone who can be a peacemaker and heal the heart of our divided country.

This article was written by Rodney K. Smith who directs the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University and is the author of: "James Madison: The Father of Religious Liberty" and, "Dolley and James Madison: An Unlikely Love Story that Saved America." 

James and I made a trip to town today to deposit some money and to do a little shopping. 

Our first stop was at Aliberto's because I had a craving for a bacon, egg, potato and cheese breakfast burrito. It was delicious!

I went into the bank to deposit some cash that James received from Mr. Chacon. Afterwards we drove to Walmart where I did some shopping. James was on the phone in the car for awhile and then he came in and shopped in the produce department while I covered the rest of the store. 

On the way home we read from our books "Insights" about President Nelson's life, and the Aunt Dimity book that Karen S. gave me for my birthday. 

At home after putting the groceries away James and I had our rest time. We watched the newest Aurora Teagarden mystery, "The Cat and Mouse Game." It is on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel and stars Candace Cameron Bure. We liked it.

I walked this afternoon and worked on Relief Society ministering changes with the permission of our President Tamara and first counselor Kerri. 

I had corn on the cob for lunch as did James. It was delicious. I only wish we had more!

The Grapp family came over this evening and we watched the first two episodes of this seasons "When Calls the Heart." They brought us a loaf of homemade bread and popcorn and cookies. 
The Grapp family consists of: Thomas the father, Cammy the mother, Liana who is 10, Benson 9, Tildy 7, and Emsley 5. 
Since we are calling this our FHE, Benson gave us an opening prayer. They will be back again next week.






Resting up for the next days adventures!