Saturday, November 30th, 2019

Hong Kong, China
48th operating temple
Dedicated: 26 May 1996
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

Romans 16:16

Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 9:22-37

New Testament

2 Peter 2-3; FSS and FHE and additional resources and videos

10/19 General Conference

"Fruit"

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"What does the tree in the Tree of Life vision with its most precious fruit symbolize? It represent 'the love of God' and proclaims our Heavenly Father's marvelous plan of redemption. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'"

Closing Remarks

President Russell M. Nelson

"We know the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will bring hope and joy to people who will hear and heed His doctrine. We also know that each home can become a true sanctuary of faith, where peace, love, and the Spirit of the Lord may dwell."

I woke up at 5:08 this morning. I had almond cake with caramel rum sauce for breakfast. I read an article in the Ensign while I was eating by sister Cristina B. Franco, "Be of Good Cheer." I also had some camomile tea. What a way to start the day!

One of the first things I saw on Instagram was Allison Hoker and her husband Twitch dancing. The caption read, "Cause everyday is a celebration."

The snow levels increased overnight. In other weather related news three tornadoes touched down in the Phoenix metropolitan area, one near Darrel and Trina. They gathered all of the children into the master bedroom with them. Luckily nothing came of it.

Our friends Tom and Jean Howard are snowed in. Tom called James and asked if he could come and help them get out, which he did.

I listened to several BYU-Idaho devotionals today, including one by the school president, President Henry J. Eyring, President Henry B. Eyring's son. One of the things I remember about his talk is that he writes in his journal every night before he goes to bed. I love these devotionals and could listen to them all day!

The sun began to shine today and of course the snow began to melt. When James got home from the Howard's he realized he needed to shovel snow out of our drive way or we would not be going to church in our car tomorrow. He shoveled lots of snow today, not only the driveway. He shoveled it off the front porch off the sidewalk in the back and off the patio. He got a good workout.

We watched a Lifetime movie this evening called, "Staging Christmas." We also watched a Hallmark movie, "Check Inn to Christmas", starring Rachel Boston and Wes Brown.

We started our fast earlier but we said another

prayer and included the Rawlings' family

in our fast.

 Family meal at Serranos to start the Christmas season

Friday, November 29th, 2019

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Jan 1995

By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 33:5

And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this church have I established and called forth out of the wilderness.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 9:1-21

New Testament

2 Peter 1; I/F: 2 Peter 1:1-11 Through the power of Jesus Christ, I can develop my divine nature. 

10/19 General Conference

"Take Up Our Cross"

Elder Ulisses Soares

"To help His disciples to understand that devotion to His work includes submission and suffering, the Savior emphatically declared:'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lost it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

RWC: Bear you testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to your children.

Ensign: "Mary, Mother of the Savior" by Margot Hovley

It is snowing fast and furious this morning, it looks like a blizzard or a white out. Anthony, who was supposed to come to dinner tonight with the missionaries, cancels. The missionaries text and confirm this morning and then a couple of hours later they cancel too. All because of the weather. 

I spent most of the day preparing food and listening to BYU-Idaho Devotional Podcasts. 

We got the money for our loan in the account today but still have not received the check to pay off our creditors. The checks were supposed to arrive by UPS by now but I am supposing they are delayed because of the weather.

I made a green chili stew this morning, chicken enchiladas with white sauce, and Dennis's spanish rice. I also heated up the delicious refried beans from LaCasita. James and I had a wonderful lunch and we will have a refrigerator full of food for a few days. 

Vernon had some more electrical outages because of the storm. Most of them seem to be on the other end of town. 

Kim and Brian went to the David Arculetta Christmas concert this evening and Kim loved it. She said that it really put her in the mood for Christmas. She knows he is coming to Show Low on Monday and she wanted to encourage me to go see him. I would love too but I just don't know if it will work out. 

We watched a Christmas movie this evening before going to bed as is our custom.

The sun trying to break through but it

didn't last.

Christmas in Evergreen

I got 10,111 steps today.

Thursday, November 28th, 2019

Orlando, Florida

46th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Oct 1994

By: Howard W. Hunter

Moroni 6:4

And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith."

Book of Mormon

Mormon 8:26-41

New Testament

1 Peter 5; 1 Peter 3:18-20; 4:1-6 The gospel is preached to the dead so they can be judged justly; SS: 1 Peter 1:13-20; 2:1-12 We are called to be "the people of God."

10/19 General Conference

"Power to Overcome the Adversary"

Elder Peter M. Johnson

You are elect sons and daughters of God. You have the power to overcome the adversary. The adversary, however, is aware of who you are. He knows of your divine heritage and seeks to limit your earthly and heavenly potential by using the three Ds" Deception, Distraction and Discouragement."

RWC: ...notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation."

I listened to a October 2011 General Conference address by President Nelson called "Covenants." I also listened to Sheri Dew give the talk her book "Worth the Wrestle' is based on at BYU-Idaho. I listened to several devotional talks given at BYU-Idaho, too many to list.

I made Zuppa Tuscana soup and a gingerbread cake with caramel rum sauce. The sauce was good but not as good as I had expected it would be. It seemed a little runny, and grainy, although the flavor was good. We had it over the gingerbread cake. James and I both decided we really aren't big fans of gingerbread cake. It was a little too strong and the molasses gave it a licorice flavor.

I spilled water on my computer this morning. I thought I got it off before it did any damage until I was typing along and all of a sudden my e key wouldn't work, and then the l key. I tried to dry it out with my blow dryer. I made the mistake of sitting the blow dryer on the keys and leaving it. When I came back the keys had melted. There were several. Next it was the battery wouldn't charge. James told me to order a new computer so I got on Walmart online and ordered two computers, one for me and one for James all for under $1,000.

I blogged today, worked on books and walked. This evening James and I watched "Christmas at the Plaza" starring Ryan Pavey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Come on let's Turkey Trot!

That face and that ruffled behind

 I love the look on Charlie's face.

She adores Scarlett.

 Jared, Kacey, Summer, Tanner, Autumn, Palmer, Scarlett, and Charlie

 Monte's family

Wendy and Sean

 Lucretia's family

Wednesday, November 27th, 2019

San Diego, California

45th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 April 1993

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

Mosiah 27:13

Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 8:12-25

New Testament

1 Peter 3-4; I/F: 1:3-9; 2:19-24; 3:14-17; 4:12-19 I can find joy during times of trial and suffering. SS: the same

10/19 General Conference

"Giving Our Spirits Control Over Our Bodies"

"I suppose most of us fail to fully appreciate what others do for us until they are gone. I knew Barbara was always busy, but I did not fully understand the constant family, Church, and community demands upon her time. There were daily consecrated efforts repeated thousands of times through the years that kept our family functioning. And through it all, no one in our family ever heard her raise her voice or say an unkind word."

RWC: There are few coincidences for covenant people, and therefore no important person is in our lives by accident.

Ensign: Four Gifts from the Savior, by Russell M. Nelson

Love, Forgiveness, Eternal Life.

I found a Book of Mormon with Sheri's testimony in it when she was 11 years old:

"I believe that there is a Father, Son, and a Holy Ghost. They guide us throughout our lives, and help us each day. I also believe that sometime soon Jesus Christ our Savior will come again and visit the earth. I hope that you can cherish this book as much as I have. Read through it and pray about it and you will know it is true. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost I say these things, Amen."

-Sheri

Sheri also wanted to fly over Russia and drop Book of Mormon's in a time when missionary work was not allowed in that country.

I also found a Book of Mormon in which I wrote in the front, 28 Truths Found in the Book of Mormon.

I am on a quest to find rum extract. I texted my friend Debbie and she said she thinks she got it at Bashas in Taylor. So I headed for Taylor on a cold and blustery day. 

If you can't find something at Safeway or Walmart, Bashas will have it. Kacey and Jared found my Dr. Pepper 10 at the Bashas in Round Valley and now I found my rum extract at the Bashas in Taylor. I also went across the street to Walmart and bought some blankets, and things I forgot to get yesterday. I also bought Olaf to show to Charlie on Sunday.

We tried to take cookies and the Thanksgiving game to Tanna but she was not home. She did tell us earlier in the month that she was going to be gone hunting on Thanksgiving. We also went to the Howard's and had a nice visit with them. We took them chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and enough Thanksgiving cards for six people to play the game. We visited for awhile and then headed home. The wind was blowing and it was cold!

We got a box from Autumn today. It had blueberry apple and strawberry toppings, two magnets with Scarlett's picture on them, and a handprint of Scarlett's little hand with the date on it. What a kind and thoughtful gift. We are so grateful for Autumn and the love she has shown to us.

Two Christmas movies today:

Lifetime: "Christmas Pen Pals" starring Sarah Drew and Niall Matter.

Hallmark: "The Christmas Club"starring Elizabeth Mitchell, and Cameron Mathison.

 The Church has a new video out about the 

First Christmas. We have not seen it yet.

Tuesday, November 26th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

44th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Aug 1990

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

Mosiah 26:22

For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 7:1-8:11

New Testament

1 Peter 2; finish reading 2 Peter using New Testament Student Manual

10/19 General Conference

"Knowing, Loving, and Growing"

Elder Hans T. Boom

"Wherever you are on the path of life, some of you might feel so overburdened that you do not even consider yourself on that path. I want to invite you to step out of the darkness into the light. The gospel light will provide warmth and healing and will help you understand who you really are and what your purpose in life is."

I read an article in the December Ensign: "Ministering Principles: What the Christmas Story Teaches"

Before leaving for town I actually made a shopping list. 

Our first stop in town was at LaCasita for lunch. I had what I always have, a chicken enchilada with red sauce with a side of beans and rice. James ventured out and had a green chili mixed burros, enchilada style. He ate every bite.

I found most of the items I needed at Walmart except for rum extract to make the caramel rum sauce recipe my friend Debbie gave me.

We saw several of our friends in Walmart today: Catherine and Kerri, Blain Curtis, Jean and Tom Howard, and Stefani Hunsaker and her daughter Camrie with Camrie's little boy Parker.

 James picked up his prescription at CVS while I was shopping. I told him we had to go back to that side of town to check to see if Safeway had any rum extract. They didn't. We went home and James unloaded and I put away. On the way home we read from "Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday."

While I was working on my blog posts for today I listened to Emily Freeman and Barbara Gardner talk about DC 84. It was great. I also listened to Greg Matsen talk about 1st Peter. 

I did some book repricing and a little buying. This evening James built me a fire and we watched "Our Christmas Love Song" starring Alicia Witt and Brendan Hines.

The high today was around 36. We had to pull up the carpet under the dresser downstairs because the planter leaked again. GRRR.

 Paul's sisters Trish and Tara with Dallin,

Michael, Joshua, and Adam

 Our ward prayed him back to life.

 Are those homemade Lion House rolls?

 I love the look on her face

 They grow up so fast!