Thursday, October 17th, 2019

Salt Lake City, Utah

4th operating temple

Dedicated: 6-24th Apr 1893

By: Wilford Woodruff

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd

1 Peter 5:4

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 7:1-14

How and why is Satan trying to divide people today?

New Testament: "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me": Colossians 1 & Philippians 4:13 I can find joy in Christ, regardless of my circumstances

General Conference

Honoring His Name

Lisa L. Harkness

"With covenant identity and belonging, we are called by the name of Jesus Christ"

James went out this morning looking for elk. He was gone for a couple of hours and said he saw four bulls. Here is the photo he gave me:

I see two bulls

My year to date sales on Amazon: $10,201.27

I sold two more books today.

I listened to the webinar today where they announced the winners of the textbook season sales, etc. My girl Kathy got two awards which included the Randy award. She won $1,000 plus a new office chair. Randy was the first person to make it big in this business. He is known for his big comfy chair. The person who gets the Randy award gets a trophy with a guy sitting in a comfy chair and a new office chair. I think it's more about the prestige than anything else. The $1,000 was for getting second in lifetime sales. Andrew, Jim and Herman, got first and won $2,000. Jim and Herman are partners.

James took the compressor out to fill the tires on the skidsteer. I was a little upset with him because he is not supposed to lift anything over 10 lbs. and he couldn't wait for me to come and help. 

I got a text from Stacy today saying she was in the hospital. Her heart is racing and her blood pressure is high. They did a Cat scan and an EKG and a chest X-ray. They couldn't find anything wrong with her heart and so they sent her home. She thinks it could be a panic attack brought on by her financial problems. Skyler, her employer owes her over $7,000. His funds were frozen so he has no money. His uncle loaned him money but the bank wouldn't accept him on the LLC because he wrote several bad checks four years ago. Skyler got someone else to sign on the LLC but it takes 10 days for the corporation commission to accept the signature. This has been going on since August 23rd when they did the first Vivace treatments. Skyler is dishonest and any money he gets, instead of paying Stacy and the office manager, he uses to buy more equipment or pay for advertising. Hopefully the money will come through but in the meantime the creditors are at the door.

Last night was the last night for Stacy and Paul to pay Salt River Project for their electric bill. They had called and asked for an extension but since they were already three weeks late the answer was no. The tension was so high in the house that Stacy went outside to think. As she was thinking and praying as to what she could do to keep her electricity from being turned off she got the thought that she should read her scriptures. As she was reading from the Book of Mormon the impression came to her four different times that she should call again and asked if she could pay in the morning. Paul would have money from his job at Amazon in the morning. She kept putting the thought off  because she had already done that. When it came the fourth time, she made the call. At first the answer was no, but as she continued to tell her story, the person asked for her to hold for a minute. When he came back, the answer was yes. Stacy listened to the Spirit and as a result their electricity was not turned off. I told her this was one of those spiritual experiences she needed to record in her journal. 

James sat at the table this evening and made at least 20 calls asking for people to help clean the temple. We need approximately 20 people. Since this is fall break many people are out of town. He will need to make calls again tomorrow. Thank goodness he has not had laryngitis since his surgery.

 This is so adorable! She loves her

baby, a baby which is almost as big

as she is!

 Why? 

Wednesday, October 16th, 2019

Manti, Utah

3rd operating temple

Dedicated: 21-23 May 1888

By: Lorenzo Snow

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd

1 Peter 2:25

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 6:15-30

Why is it so important to follow our leaders, especially in these the latter days?

New Testament:"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me: Philippians 4 & Philippians 3:5-14 The Gospel of Jesus Christ is worth every sacrifice.

General Conference

Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me

Reyna I. Arburto

"I testify that 'thru cloud and sunshine' the Lord will abide with us, that our 'afflictions can be swallowed up in the joy of Christ.'"

I got up around 5:30. I said my prayers and studied "Come Follow Me" and then I did some blogging and paid a couple of bills. At 7:30 I took a shower, ate some breakfast and around 8:20 I left for the hospital. Just before I got to Highway 60 I stopped by the side of the road to call James. Just at that time I received a text from him that said: "I guess I'm walking out of here without you?"

I immediately called him and asked if he had seen the doctor and been released from the hospital. When he told me yes, I told him I was on my way.

When I walked into his room James was dressed and sitting on the couch waiting for me. I told him I was sorry I had kept him waiting. Mirna, the nurses aid, walked to the car with us. She told us yesterday that she is from El Salvador and went to high school at Blue Ridge. Her husband played football and Blue Ridge. Now they live in Show Low and her son plays for Show Low. She said it is hard for them to sit on the Show Low side when they play Blue Ridge but they do it for their son. I told her my nephew was the coach at Show Low.

Before going home James and I went shopping at Walmart. He has to be on a liquid, soft diet for the next week or two. We bought things that we don't normally buy for him to eat.

Later we learned he can't have the frozen pineapple or any

fresh fruits or vegetables. He just bought about 10 bananas the day

before his surgery. I guess I will have to make banana nut bread and put it in the freezer. The milk is mine. He's got ice cream, pudding, yogurt, jello and eggs. The eggs will have to wait a few days too. The hardest thing is he can't have any chocolate for 30 days and no nuts. He loves Equate dark chocolate shakes with walnuts.

Our next stop was to get gas and wash the car. It took a while at the carwash because there were two cars ahead of us. James was quite patient I must say. We stopped at CVS and picked up a prescription for pain that Dr. DeLange called in. 

We stopped at the post office to pick up the mail. I had no books. Brother Brady said it was a perfect day and he was glad he rode his quad to pick up the mail. He had one of his grandsons with him.

When we got home James watched "DWTS" with me. It was my second time but his first. He doesn't usually watch it but he will watch Disney night.

James went outside to get some air and do a little walking. He still has pains from the gas and they told him walking would help. 

He spent this afternoon getting more paperwork to Quicken loan.

We watched a Flower Shoppe Mystery this afternoon while I walked and James rested. He says that nothing is helping with the pain. I read to him from our Aunt Dimity book.

I talked to Cathi today about family history. It was nice to hear her voice and visit with her.

Stacy, Kim, Sheri, Kacey and Trina all asked about James today. They and their families have been praying for him.

 Kacey says she climbs on the table

quite often and does this.

 Hospital volunteers made this pillow for

James. When he needs to cough he holds

it next to his stomach.

 Is this true?

 Part of my "Inklings" homework.

Kacey had to explain to me that the

Hebrew definitions are found in the Old

Testament scriptures and the Greek in 

the New Testament scriptures.

Tuesday, October 15th 2019

Logan, Utah

2nd operating temple

Dedicated: 17-19 May 1884

By: John Taylor

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd

Hebrews 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 5:16-6:14

How can we avoid falling into the pride cycle?

New Testament:"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me":Philippians 3 and Philippians 2:12-13: Do we work out our own salvation?

General Conference

Standing by our Promises and Covenants

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"I invite you to consider the promises and covenants you make with the Lord, and with others, with great integrity, knowing that your word is your bond."

We left the house around 5:30 to be at the hospital to register for James's surgery at 7:30. James complained because he had to be there so early but they kept him busy right up until the time the doctor came in to talk to him before the surgery. I like Dr. DeLange, he seems like a good doctor.

The first thing I did after saying goodbye to James was take my two merchant fulfilled books and drop them off at the post office.

I came back to the hospital and waited for awhile. The doctor said it was going to be a two hour surgery so I thought I had time to walk over to Walmart McDonald's and get some breakfast, which I did. I had a bacon, egg, cheese biscuit, hashbrowns and a diet Coke.

Does that sound like a healthy breakfast? Maybe the egg. But it was satisfying and delicious.

When I returned to the hospital James's number was not on the screen. So I asked where he was. He was still in recovery. He had some pains in his upper chest so they did some tests to make sure his heart was okay. The pains turned out to be from the CO2 gas they pumped into him to do the lapro-scopic surgery. The man at the desk told me to go up to room 204 and wait for him, which I did.

The first person I saw on the second floor was my friend Pam who works at the hospital. She is knee deep into her knew job and is loving it because it is challenging her. I told her about James's surgery she asked me who the surgeon was she said, "Oh, Dr. DeLange is great, he own's the place." (Figuratively speaking)

I asked Pam how Jenny was and she said, "not good." Since Pam has left their little room with no window she has a new person to work with. Pam says she has had a break out of lupus. Jenny's family has so many health issues, the most serious one is her daughter who suffers from brain tumors. She is such a nice woman I wish I could do more to help her or had the courage to bear my testimony and give her a Book of Mormon.

Pam invited me to go to lunch with her and Jenny but I said I needed to wait for James to come up. I wanted to be in the room when he got there.

When they brought James up he was swarmed by nurses. I barely had a chance to say hello. One of the nurses with the last name of Ellertson, a name I recognized in my teaching at Curry School, was friends with the Peeler's. She and her husband worked with Donna and Owen at the cannery in Mesa.

I stayed with James for awhile and then decided I needed to go home and pay a bill and pick up the mail. I left at 1 and told him I would be back by 4.

I made a DQ drive-thru for a box of cherry Dilly bars and ate one on the way home. After stopping at the post office I went home and paid the trailer tags which are due today online. Afterwards I rested for awhile and began watching "DWTS" Disney night. I left and was back to the hospital by 4.

James is still pretty miserable. I read to him several chapters from "Aunt Dimity Digs In". He says it helps take his mind off the pain.

I debated if I should spend the night but James encouraged me to go home because he said I wouldn't get any rest if I stayed here.

I left for home around 8:15. One the way I stopped for a smalll burger at McDonald's. When I got home I finished watching "DWTS" and then because I didn't feel sleepy, I watched a Hallmark Movies and Mystery movie starring Brooke Shields called, "The Flower Shoppe Mysteries." By the time it was over I was ready for bed.

I couldn't lock the door going out to the bbq grill so I pushed the loveseat up against it and made sure my bedroom doors were locked.

I miss James.

 Can you tell this is before surgery?

 Waiting for James to come to his room

Conference Quotes

Dancing with the Stars Disney Night:

 Sailor and Val

 Karamo and Jenna

Sean and Lindsey

 Ally and Pasha

 Lauren and Gleb

 Kate and Pasha

 Kel and Witney

 Hannah and Allen

James and Emma

My Steps:

Monday, October 14th, 2019

St. George, Utah

1st operating temple

Dedicated: 6-8 April 1877

By: Daniel H. Wells

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd

DC 10:59

I am he who said - Other sheep have I which are not of this fold - unto my disciples, and many there were that understood me not.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 5:1-15

New Testament: Philippians 1-2: "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me"

General Conference

After the Trial of Our Faith

Elder Jorge M. Alvarado

"As we follow God's voice and His covenant path, He will strengthen us in our trials."

The following is from Emily Belle Freeman's book 

"Making It Through the Middle"

"Do not question too much, dear friend,

For the God who ordained the beginning

Can safely be trusted with the end,

As well as with all that lies between."

Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned by name over fifty times in the four chapters of Philippians.

James had an elk answer around 6:30 this morning so he went out "camera stalking" for about two hours.  Here are some of the photos he took:

 If you look closely he has an x on his nose.

 Looks like he's been in the mud.

I asked James what a satellite bull was. He said it's a bull that 

follows the herd bull and his herd, hoping the herd bull with 

share a cow or two with him.

As I was walking this morning I got a call from my brother Harold. He was out walking his dogs and was just checking to see how I was doing since we haven't seen each other for awhile. How thoughtful. We talked about the Show Low football team and how they have been riddled with injuries, including Quentin, Monte's youngest. They are down to their third string quarterback and Harold says he doesn't think they will make it to the playoffs for the first time in a long time. At the beginning of the year they were very hopeful that they would be one of the better teams in the league.

I don't think I got enough sleep last night because I was extremely tired this afternoon. I sold my Catmopolitan magazine and James went to the post office to mail it not realizing that it was Columbus day. Now I have another book to mail, "The Warded Man." I guess they will both have to go out tomorrow.

James went over to the Kostusiak's to help finish the ramp they are building for Dave's wheelchair. He saw Colin DeWitt there and Colin said he would help clean the temple Saturday night. Let the recruiting begin!

James went to town and got what he needed to fix the woodsplitter. He got some wood split before it broke again. I told him I didn't think he should leave it out in the elements. He needs to get a cover for it.

I bought two books this evening.

Brother Curtis and Sean Hunsaker came over this evening and gave James a blessing of health. He is having surgery in the morning for his hiatal hernia.

We watched "Crossword Mysteries" this evening starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott.

Cousin Randy update:

 Wendy Arnett's husband

Time flies so quickly!

 This drawing was done by Kelly Reynolds.

She was one of my young women.

 Go Charlie, go!