Tuesday, November 19th, 2019

Seoul, Korea

37th operating temple

Dedicated: 14 Dec 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 133:4

Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves; gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 2:1-16

New Testament

James 1::19-2:1-13; I/F: 1:2-4; 5:5-11 Patient endurance leads to perfection. SS: Same

10/19 General Conference

"Spiritual Treasures"

President Russell M. Nelson

Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God. Those who are endowed in the house of the Lord receive a gift of God's priesthood power by virtue of their covenant, along with a gift of knowledge to now how to draw upon that power."

Jared, Kacey, and Charlie had to leave today to go back down to the valley. Their plane doesn't leave until tomorrow but today they are going back to Darrel and Trina.s. Before leaving we played a game of Five Crowns. Jared's luck from yesterday's game did not carry over to today. He lost. In fact he was the big time loser!

We were so sad to see this little family leave. We love them so much and wish they lived closer so we could see them more often. 

It was such a joy to have them here with us!

Jared's eyes are sensitive and were giving him grief

this morning.

Charlie having fun with Grandpa.

The rest of the day, these are some of the things I did:

Watched some "Come Follow Me" YouTube lessons, CWIC, and Don't Miss This. I told Sheri about Emily and that she has a son with diabetes and knows the struggles that she is going through. Emily and Dave now have a podcast and Sheri said she would listen to this week's lesson.  I also listened to Melanie Wellman on "Come Follow Me For Us." 

I walked, worked on my blog, and did some book repricing. I read two chapters to James from "Aunt Dimity Detective." 

The day turned cloudy and it started to rain. 

I am thankful that Kacey sent us some pictures from Darrel and Trina's.

We watched a Hallmark Christmas movie, "Writing Christmas."

We were in bed before 10.

Saved the best for last:

Monday, November 18th, 2019

Johannesburg, South Africa

36th operating temple

Dedicated: 24 Aug 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 124:94

And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph;

Book of Mormon

Mormon 1:1-19

New Testament

James 1:1-18; I/F: Introduction and Who Was James? SS: James 1:5-6 When We Ask in Faith, God Gives Liberally.

10/19 General Conference

"Two Great Commandments"

President Dallin H. Oaks

"I begin with what Jesus taught were the two great commandments.

'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.'

This means we are commanded to love everyone, since Jesus's parable of the good Samaritan teaches that everyone is our neighbor. But our zeal to keep this second commandment must not cause us to forget the first, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We show that love by 'keeping His commandments.' God requires us to obey His commandments because only through that obedience, including repentance, can we return to live in His presence and become perfect as He is."

Day 7: Pure Thoughts - Philemon 4:8 NKJV

Dear Heavenly Father, Please help Max to think about and focus on what is true, honorable, and right. Help me to guard him from the perverse things that Satan is trying to put in front of him. Show me practical ways to put true, pure, and good things in his path."

Kacey, Jared, Kim, Brian and I played a game of Five Crowns before Kim and Brian left to go home. Jared won.

James would have played Five Crowns too but he had an esophagus test to take in town. They are trying to determine if he needs another surgery to get rid of the pocket in his throat. The tests determined that he did not need surgery, which was a little disappointing because James keeps getting pills caught in this pocket.

Before Kim and Brian left I gave them a jug of James's punch to take home with them.

 Thanks Kim and Brian for coming and for

putting up, putting the lights on, and

decorating my tree.

We had leftovers for lunch. After lunch Jared, Kacey, and Charlie left in the rental car for Green's Peak. I wanted to go but I was so tired that I stayed home. After Green's Peak they came home through Springerville and stopped at Western Drug where Charlie tried on a skunk hat. They also stopped at Basha's and found some Dr. Pepper 10. They brought home a 12-pack for me. I was so happy!

 Charlie called the big satellite receivers on Green's Peak: 

"Moons"

One busy little girl. Dad has a hard

time keeping up.

It was nice outside this afternoon so Kacey and I went out with Charlie. Jared went out also to help James split wood but James was still on the roof putting the new trim around my office window. When they started splitting and stacking the wood I ask Jared if he wanted to use my gloves but he declined. He was lucky that he didn't get any splinters.

Charlie really is such a joy. Kacey said that when Jared gave her blessing when she was sick he said that she had been very close to her Savior and as a result of that she would bring joy in to the lives of others. She really does.

While we were outside James built a fire in the firepit and we came up with the idea of roasting hotdogs for dinner. I have not hotdogs so I went to Dollar General and bought a package of hotdogs, hamburger buns, and plain and bbq potato chips. Hotdogs was the perfect alternative to leftover turkey.

Charlie picked up a comb and started combing her hair. She said, "I pretty." I showed her a picture of herself on my phone and she said, "I cute." I think her favorite thing to say is "thank you." She says it if you give her something and if she hands something to you.

Someone, I think it was Jared, taught her how to say, "Merry Christmas." 

For F.H.E. we watched a story of Hope on the church's website. Afterwards we watched "Christmas Under the Stars" starring Jesse Metcalf and Autumn Reeser.

Kacey and I watched "Dancing with the Stars." There was a little drama with Hannah and Carrie Ann and Hannah ended up apologizing to her.  The big story of the night was James Van Der Beek's wife's miscarriage. You could tell he was very upset but his wife wanted him to dance, so he did, only to get eliminated. He was in the final two with Ally and Ally offered to go home so he could stay. Of course the judges wouldn't allow that but it was a nice gesture. She just might win. The judges give her the highest points although she does not always get the most votes from the audience. These are the dancers who will be in the finale: Kel and Witney, Hannah and Allen, Ally and Sasha, and Lauren and Gleb. I like all of them, Hannah probably the least. I would like to see Ally and Sasha win because Sasha has never won and Ally is a good dancer.

Charlie loves to sit in baskets

 Cooking a hotdog with mama

Playing with dad

Charlie also likes to be the centerpiece
on the table.

I wanted to stay up and get 10,000 steps but James

wanted me to go to bed. I went to bed with the plan

to get up before midnight and finish to 10,000.

When I woke up it was 11:50. I went into the bathroom and 

walked as fast as I could but when I got to 9,921, the

counter turned backed to 0 because it was midnight.

Sunday, November 17th, 2019

Chicago, Illinois
35th operating temple
Dedicated: 9-13 Aug 1985
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 124:41

For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times.

Book of Mormon

4 Nephi 1:23-49

New Testament

Review Hebrews 7-13

10/19 General Conference

"Covenant Women in Partnership with God"

"Speaking to sisters, President Russell M. Nelson gave a wonderful summary of the Lord's call to you to join Him in His work. President Nelson described your call in this way: 'The Lord said, 'My work and my glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.' (Moses 1:39) So His devoted daughter-disciple may truly say, 'My work and my glory is to help my loved ones reach that heavenly goal.'

"To help another human being reach one's celestial potential is part of the divine mission of woman. As mother, teacher, or nurturing Saint, she molds living clay to the shape of her hopes. In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation. It is ennobling, edifying, and exalting."

Day 6: Obedience - Hebrews 13:17

Jesus says, "'If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15). Pride keeps us from submitting to God. There is freedom in obedience. When we give our whole souls unto God like it says in Omni 1:26, we find joy and peace.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Help me teach obedience to Max by my example. Help me to show my love for thee and thy Son by keeping thy commandments.

Today was the Primary Children's Sacrament meeting program. Kacey, Jared, and Charlie sat by us. Kim and Brian sat on the other side of the chapel in the back. Ed Miller had to take some time for stake business. He said he was grateful to be in his home ward on what he called, "Grandparents Day."

At the end of every song, Charlie clapped and say Yay! It was so cute. Here are some of the songs the children sang: "Come Follow Me," "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus," " Faith is Knowing," " I Wonder When He Comes Again," " Jesus Walked Upon the Water," " Choose Him Again." The last song is new and it was beautiful!

Lannie Gillespie got up at the beginning and introduced the program with this scripture: 2 Nephi 25:26 - "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Lannie said the program was based on the children's testimonies of the Savior. She said it was based on the "Come Follow Me" course of study for this year, the New Testament. The children would share their favorite stories from the New Testament and testify of them.

My favorite story was told by Traven Westbrook who is 8. He told the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and what a miracle it was. He told the story without looking at a paper, in his own words in detail. It was so good. You could tell that he loved the story.

My second favorite was my sweet friend Andyn Miller. She told the story of Jesus's baptism. At the end she said that Heavenly Hosts came down from heaven to attend Jesus. Her closing statement was, "and Heavenly Hosts can come down and attend us too."

After the program was finished Bishop Miller got up and spoke for a few minutes. He told about a book, "The God Who Weeps." He also quoted from 3 Nephi 17 when Jesus wept and blessed the children. 3 Nephi 17: 11 - And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought. 12 - So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him. 13 - And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground. 15 - And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him. ... 18 - And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome. ... 21 - And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. 22 - And when he had done this he wept again: 23 - And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. 24 - And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

The bishop also talked about being quick to forgive and told the story of Corrie and Betsy Ten Boom. He said, "Be quick to observe and obey the voice of the Lord. Show love for our enemies or those who abuse us and we will have angels round about us to bear us up, as Andyn said in her talk." It was a great meeting! The only thing I missed was the Grapp kids. Liana had a big part and she would have been great but the family is in Idaho today. Also, Charlie didn't get to meet Leland like I hope she would.

Kim and Brian went home after sacrament meeting. Jared, Kacey, and Charlie and I went to the gospel doctrine class taught by Brother Judd. The lesson was from Hebrews 7-13: "An High Priest of Good Things to Come." Jared made a comment during the lesson he said in Omni there is a scripture (vs.26), that says we need to give our whole souls unto God. He said that is personal and unique to each individual person. It was such a good comment. I was proud. Kacey was out in the hall with Charlie so she didn't get to hear the comment.

This afternoon was spent getting ready for our Thanksgiving meal. As soon as we got home from church and changed our clothes, James and I put the turkey in the roaster oven. Kim made her pumpkin delight dessert, and the stuffing. Brian brought two containers of cranberry celebration from Fry's. One for the family and one for James. I made mashed potatoes, gravy, and smothered green beans. Kacey made the mashed sweet potatoes with butter and pecans. James made his famous punch. Jared and Kacey bought the ingredients yesterday. Yesterday I baked the rolls, and I'm glad I did. Everything was delicious and it was wonderful to sit down to a nice meal surrounded by two of our children and their spouses and little Charlie. 

This evening we watched the Face to Face with Elder Gong regarding the new youth program. It was quite long, but very good. Afterwards everyone wanted dessert. As Kacey was putting Coolwhip on her pumpkin delight Charlie looked at it and said: "I want some." It was clear as day.

Brian and Kim put the finishing touches on the tree. Here is my favorite picture of the week. Charlie is looking at Brian putting the star on top of the tree. Kim took the picture.

I love how she's holding an ornament and the look on her face,

and her little foot. I love everything about this picture.

The magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Kacey studied the "Come Follow Me" lesson for next week. She subscribes to the Redheaded Hostess lesson helps. I listened to and watched "Teaching with Power" for James 1-5, next week's lesson.

Charlie loves steps and stairs. She also loves to
carry this basket on her arm.

Here she is sitting in the basket.

 Sunday with adorable Scarlett

Throwback Memories:

My friend Chloe

 This is Jordyn, one of my former 
young women.

Trenda, another of my young women, and

her husband Emery.