Thursday, September 5th, 2019

Twin Falls, Idaho

128th operating temple

Dedicated: 24 Aug 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

John 17:5

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Book of Mormon

Alma 62:1-18

New Testament "God is Not the Author of Confusion, But of Peace" 1 Corinthians 14-16

Today: 1 Corinthians 15:21-34

General Conference

Just as He Did

W. Christopher Waddell

"Whether we serve as ministering brothers or sisters, or simply when we are made aware of someone in need, we are encouraged to seek the guidance and direction of the Spirit - and then to act. We may wonder how best to serve, but the Lord knows, and through His Spirit we will be directed in our efforts. Like Nephi, who 'was led by the Spirit not knowing beforehand the things which he should do,' we will also be led by the Spirit as we strive to become instruments in the Lord's hands to bless His children. As we seek the guidance of the Spirit and trust the Lord, we will be placed in situations and circumstances where we can act and bless - in other words, minister."

Jif, our little mouse, ate the peanut butter, and sprung the trap and got away. James set it again before we left this morning for the valley.

I read Ian Wanlass's missionary letter today. He got to watch the Prophet speak in Argentina. He said he began speaking in English and then switched to fluent Spanish. Ian's last statement was: "The gift of tongues is alive and well"!

We left a little after 7 this morning. We have to be at Lola's school at 11 o'clock for grandparents day. 

We stopped at Burger House. James ordered a green chili mixed burro and I ordered a Tony's Special breakfast burrito. James ate his and half of mine. I guess he was hungrier than I was.

We arrived at the new Silver Valley Elementary School right on time. We are here to celebrate grandparents day with Lola who is in kindergarten. We had to wait on the playground while the kids had recess and then we went into the cafeteria to have lunch. Lola and her friend Ricky (a girl) whose grandparents weren't able to come sat with us. I asked them if this was a brand new school. Lola said yes because her teacher said so. Ricky said no it wasn't new. She then looked at Lola and said, "I think we are both right." Kids.

When I asked Lola the grandparents were at her school she said, "I think they were supposed to bring Chikfila."

Sorry honey, we didn't know.

 Lola and her friends playing tag

 James and his new friend examining a squished bug.

The little boy wanted to know why there was popcorn coming out of the bugs behind. James said that was his insides. And he kept saying yeah, but why is it popcorn.

 The popcorn bug

 No Chikfila at this table.

Lola's favorite part of her lunch was her drink.

After saying goodbye to Lola and Ricky we headed for Darrel's house to unload our suitcases and to rest for awhile until our appointments at 2 o'clock in Chandler.

I dropped James off at Chandler Eyecare and then I drove over to Dr. Shah's so they could take an xray and the doctor could check my implant. I was reminded that I need to be using a water pick twice a day, an electric toothbrush, and their periodontal rinse at least once a week. I guess I need to do better. Dr. Shah did say that everything looks great and that he would see me in 3 years.

Back at Chandler Eyecare I got to talk to Nancy and Sheri while I was waiting for James. James will be getting new glasses and Medicare paid for them. Nice.

We stopped in at Culver's on the way to Stacy's for a bite to eat. It's on the corner of Willis and Arizona Avenue. We love their fish dinner. 

James wanted to talk to Stacy about what was left for him to do on the doors he installed in Jared Ammon's room. She wants him to come back and paint them so he said he would.

We were going to go over to see James's mom after Stacy's but couldn't reach her on the phone. So instead we took the cake Stacy made for me and headed back to Darrel's where James dropped me off while James went to a meeting in Tempe about a remodeling job he is bidding. 

When the kids got home from school, Addy, Rowan, and Ruby, they were watching "Once Upon a Time" on TV. I used to really be in to the show but quit watching because the plot had so many twists and turns I couldn't keep up with who were the bad guys and who were the good guys. Lola was gone to dance class.

Darrel got off work at five today for his birthday. When Trina and Lola got home Trina began making one of Darrel's favorite dinners, meatloaf and peas. I played with Lola while Trina fixed dinner. Lola, Ruby and I helped cut up strawberries. I also worked with Lola on her sight words. 

 Lola danced for me

 Trina fixing meatloaf

 Lola licking frosting off the cake

41 candles

 Darrel and I are sharing the cake so Trina

insisted we get a picture together.

 The one picture of Addy. She was busy doing homework all evening.

The fire alarm didn't even go off.

 ASU T-shirts from us, a Fitbit watch and a blanket from Trina

money from Trina's parents. 

Lola played music for me while I walked

after the party. We also did a unicorn puzzle

together with grandpa's help.

 Take time to smell the flowers

Charlie heard it was Darrel's birthday so

she celebrated too.

 Trina's mom brought Ruby Taco Bell for 

grandparents day lunch. I guess she got the memo.

 Last year at Ben's farewell

He's been out one year!

Wednesday, August 4th, 2019

Panama City, Panama

127th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Aug 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Book of Mormon
Alma 61:6-21
New Testament "God is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace"
1 Corinthians 14-16
Today: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20

General Conference

Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bless you with the confidence to be a living testimonial of gospel values, with the courage to always be recognized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the humility to assist in His work as an expression of your love for Heavenly Father and His children."

James got an email from Lynn Massey this morning, the person interested in buying the cemetery plot from us. She said she was sending a check via UPS and gave us the tracking number. It got James out of bed this morning. He was pretty excited when I read it to him. 

James was going to town to do some errands and to take my book shipment in but he wanted to wait until the check came so he could deposit it. He wanted me to go in and have my signature notorized signing the cemetery plot over to Lynn Massey. I said, "when we get the check and it clears the bank, I will have Brian notorize for me when we are in the valley." I really didn't want to go to town because I had things to do here since I am going to be gone the next two days. 

James went to the post office before going to Show Low because sometimes UPS delivers there. Nothing. He came home and layed down on the bed while I was finishing up my book shipment. After a few minutes he got up and checked the front porch. Walla! There were two white envelopes delivered by UPS. When we opened them we discovered there were two identical checks, one in each envelope. I'm not sure why there were two copies, but here is the real surprise. Instead of being made out for $6,000 they were for $7,650.00. James texted Lynn and asked why. She said, (we are assuming Lynn is a she) that she made a mistake and paid the burial fees to us too and could we please deposit the check and when it clears send her a check for $1,650.00. Red flags all over the place here for me. Another red flag was the fact that this check was written on an account for a 3M company. We had asked for a cashiers check.

James took the two checks to the bank and showed them to the teller. She asked him if they were asking for money back and when he said yes, she said it was a scam. After they receive the $1,650, they stop payment on the check. So disappointing. When James told Lynn he wasn't going to send her a check she started threatening to involve the FBI, blah, blah, blah. He told her that was probably a good idea. So disappointing. We could have really used that money right now.

On a more positive note I read something President Nelson said to a group of missionaries. He said when they give investigators a Book of Mormon to read to have them begin reading in 3 Nephi 11 where they can read Jesus Christ's important words that promote baptism, prayer, the doctrine of Christ, the Sacrament and the importance of seeking the kingdom of God. I had heard before that this was a good place to start but to hear it from the Prophet puts even greater emphasis on it. I think I will share this with Ben.

 Happy Birthday Aaron!

 Two of the three amigos!

(Jon is the other one) 

All born in the same week and the best of friends!

 Charlie sleeps while mom walks!

 The Bishop Horne and Cheryl,  friends from our days in Chandler

 I like this for a ministering idea

 Congratulations Palmer!

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019

Curitiba, Brazil

126th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 June 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

JS-M 1:36

And, as I said before, after the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken then shall appear the sign of the Son of Mn in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the couds of heaven, with power and great glory;

Book of Mormon

Alma 60:29-61:5

New Testament "God is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace"

1Corinthians 14-16

Today: 1 Corinthaisn 14:28-40

General Conference

Answers to Prayer

Brook P. Hales

"Brothers and sisters, sometimes our prayers are answered quickly with the outcome we hope for. Sometimes our prayers are not answered in the way we hope for, yet with time we learn that God had greater blessings prepared for s than we initially anticipated. And sometimes our righteous petitions to God will not be granted in this life As Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, ''Faith also includes trust in God's timing.'"

Books, "CFM", Pork Chops, Read, Railings, Steps

My total books sales is right at $8,000 for the year. I hope by the end of the year I will be over $10,00 and will be part of the five figure club. I listened to the webinar today with Jim, Herman, and Ricardo. I also started getting my shipment ready to send off. This evening James and I both found more books to buy.

I made creamy pork chops today in the crockpot. They were very delicious. James liked them too. This will be a repeat recipe.

Jif the pantry mouse is still avoiding the trap. One of these days he's going to slips up though. If you play with fire long enough you are bound to get burned.

I finished Aunt Dimity and the Duke and started Aunt Dimity Digs In I read to James from "Insights" and Aunt Dimity's Death.

James worked on the railings outside and when he was inside he worked on a remodeling bid for the people Armondo told him about. He says his thumb hurts. Another surgery he will probably have to have.

Watched a Chopped episode where part of the Brady Bunch cast were the judges: Peter, Cindy, and Marsha.

 Scarlett looks worried or scared.

 They make mice look so cute and lovable

in storybooks.

Monday, September 2nd, 2019

Rexburg, Idaho

125th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Feb 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Matthew 24:30

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Book of Mormon

Alma 60:14-28

New Testament "God is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace"

1 Corinthians 14-16

1 Corinthians 14:1-28

General Conference

Careful vs. Casual

Becky Craven

"It's impossible to live a perfect life. Only one man was able to live perfectly while dwelling on this telestial planet. That was Jesus Christ. Although we may not be perfect, brothers and sisters, we can be worthy: worthy to partake of the sacrament, worthy of temple blessings, and worthy to receive personal revelation."

Well the contest is set. It's the mouse against the human (James).
James has set two traps in the pantry with peanut butter on them. So far the mouse has licked the peanut butter off the traps five times and not been caught. James has devised a new trap for the mouse in the storage room who is as evasive as the one in the pantry. Here is the trap.

He definitely had to explain this one to me.

He said he would put a plank on the ground

leading up to the top of the bucket. 

The mouse would walk out on the Slimfast bottle to 

get the peanut butter and the bottle would turn

and the mouse would fall to the bottom

of the barrel where he would eat the poison James

had placed there and die. Quite ingenious I

must say. Hope it works but I think it's too big

to work in the pantry. 

James went out to visit his friend Anthony today. Anthony has a police scanner and told James all about the escaped convicts. It seems they shot and killed a man in Tucson and took his 100 guns. They were caught in Utah and while being transported back to Arizona they escaped and tied up the two guards. They were last seen in a red GMC truck they got from a friend in St. Johns. 

The real clencher is that they are residents of Vernon and members of the Hells Angels. Anthony says they have friends in the area and could be hiding out in someone's garage. So far they have avoided an arrest.

After leaving Anthony's James went into town to get gas in the car. He was lucky he made it because the gauge said he could only go another 20 miles. He got an extra 10 gallons to have on hand.

Since I went to sleep at 2 am I slept in until after 8 this morning. I'm not sure what happened to me last night but it was the worst case of insomnia I have ever had. I was so tired that I asked Cammy if we could wait until next week to continue our watching of "When Calls the Heart." She of course said yes and that relieved a little stress for me.

Stacy sent me a video of Ricky Nelson singing in the movie "Rio Bravo" which made me want to listen to some Ricky songs so I downloaded an old album from I-tunes and listened while I worked.

I only sold one book today but I have improved my Inventory Performance Index. It went up from 480 to 511. This is because I have sold so many books and I keep repricing. I looked for books to buy. My goal is to buy 3-5 books every weekday.

I walked this afternoon and evening while watching episodes of Chopped. One of the chefs on one of the episodes was from Bourbon and Bones in Scottsdale where Jared Ammon works. He didn't do very well and was the first one to be chopped.

For FHE James and I listened to David and Emily on YouTube discuss 1 Corinthians 14-16. We also listened to the next presentation by someone else called, "Teaching with Power." It was a totally different approach than David and Emily's but we love it too. He focused on the importance of the resurrection of Christ as discussed in 1 Corinthians 15.

James and Sheri both got letters from Ben today. Here they are:

                                      Grandpa

Sheri's letter and Ben's answer:

 Missed my friend Catherine at church today.

She was in Mesa for a baby blessing.

 Happy Cat Monday!

 Brings back memories of being a teenager

and laying on my bed listening to Ricky.