Tuesday, January 7th, 2020

Dedicated: 4 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Isaiah 45:17

But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 2

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Watchful Unto Prayer Continually"

Elder David A. Bednar

"Satan 'is the enemy of righteousness and of those who seek to do the will of God.' All day, every day, his only intent and sole purpose are to make the sons and daughters of God miserable like unto himself. The Father's plan of happiness is designed to provide direction for His children, to help them experience enduring joy, and to bring them safely home to Him with resurrected, exalted bodies. The devil labors to make the sons and daughters of God confused and unhappy and to hinder their eternal progression. The adversary works relentlessly to attack the elements of the Father's plan he hates the most."

I read an interesting article in Meridian magazine this morning. The title: "How the Lord Can Give Us Renewal Instead of Resolutions"

by Wallace Goddard

"We yearn to be better. If we are not careful, we map out our lives and form a resolve that makes us less available to God. What right do we have to take charge of our lives if we have previously given ourselves to Him?

Make God a partner in your planning. We belong to Him. Seek the renewal that comes from having God govern your life. Rather than focus on goals and timetables, we may turn our hearts to faith and submission. Seek guidance and power from Him. Renewal is less about setting goals than about submitting to His will."

At 9 a.m. I had an appointment to get four fillings in my front teeth filled at Dr. Douglas's in Chandler. Of course she starts out by giving a couple of shots to numb the areas. Then it's the drillin' and the fillin.' She found another tooth that needed a filling and did it too. It only cost me $425. Why is everything so expensive?

When James picked me up I asked him if he got the oil changed and he said no. It was too expensive. 

Our next stop was at Bill Valentic's yard on Arizona Avenue just south of Willis. James needed to count stakes. He said there were only 40 when there should have been 20. I guess he needs to check with Armando.

Next stop, Lucille's Smokehouse in Tempe Marketplace. We have not been there in years but Dawn gave us a gift card for Christmas so of course we went.

I got the brisket salad. James ordered deviled eggs as an appetizer and then the fried chicken and mashed potatoes. I forgot how good their food is plus they give you biscuits with honey butter. 

I especially loved the gravy for James's mashed potatoes. I'm sure I ate more of it than he did. 

 Look at that pile of chicken. 

Normally they would cover it in gravy

but James asked for the gravy on the side.

Here I am trying to be good with my half salad and

James sticks his gravy right in front of me.

It's a hopeless cause.

Next stop was Bass Pro Shop. Nice that it's very close to Lucille's. James got a gift certificate from Sheri and Ian for Christmas and he wants to get some new shoes. He came out with low top boots. They look nice though. I was going to wait in the car but I got bored so I went inside to get a drink. I ended up buying vitamin water. James was a little upset because he couldn't find me and I wasn't answering my phone. 

It would have been nice if we could have just headed out of town but we left our stuff at Darrel and Trina's plus James wants to go by Mario Chacon's tire shop to talk to him. He is the guy building the two houses and James is doing some of the work for him.

I waited in the car while James went to talk to Mario and I think I might have seen a drug deal go down. I'm just sayin. An African-American gentlemen got out of his car, grabbed his fat wallet out of the inside door of his car and went inside. When he came out he no longer had a fat wallet. He had a little blue package. Now you tell me, does that sound suspicious?

Here is James speaking to Mario. There is a language barrier so James uses his hands quite often when he is speaking.

I'm not sure what James said but he came back with a check for $3,400. $700 was for materials James already bought and the rest was for a down payment on the first house. It's nice to have some operating cash.

From Mario's we went back to Darrel and Trina's to nap and pack up to go home. Darrel is home installing ceiling fans. We got to say goodbye to Darrel, Ruby, Rowan, and Lola. Trina was at work and Addy wasn't home from school yet. 

We stopped at Burger House and picked up burros and when we got to Show Low we stopped at Walmart to get my prescriptions. While James was at the prescription counter I bought him a Yoda stuffed animal for his birthday. When Star Wars first came out Yoda was his favorite. I was pretty tricky sneaking it out to the car and into a big garbage bag I had. When I got home I put it on the shelf in the garage so James wouldn't see it when he unloaded the car.

We stopped at the Halcomb's to pick up Relief Society birthday cards for me to sign. 

After everything was put away I did some "Come Follow Me" studies, walked and then we went to bed.

 McKellk Miner's little boy as Batman

reminds me of how Michael used to be.

 Scarlett enjoying life in Arkansas

Former friends and neighbors Joe and LueDean

Andersen and their children. They ended up having one more.

The second little girl, the one on the front row is Treva. She

is Stacy's age.

Monday, January 6th, 2020

Dedicated: 21 May 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Isaiah 45:21

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time: Who hath told it from that time: Have not I the Lord" And there is no God else beside me; A just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

Book of Mormon

"Come Follow Me" 1 Nephi 1

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Unwavering Commitment to Jesus Christ:

Elder Dale G. Renlund

"Being converted unto the Lord means leaving one course of action, directed by an old belief system, and adopting a new one based on faith in Heavenly Father's plan and in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. This change is more than an intellectual acceptance of gospel teachings. It shapes our identity, transforms our understanding of life's meaning, and leads to unchanging fidelity to God. Personal desires that are contrary to being anchored to the Savior and to following the covenant path fade away and are replaced by a determination to submit to the will of Heavenly Father."

"Trust in the Lord"

President Dallin H. Oaks

"Resurrection for all in the spirit world is assured by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22), though it occurs at different times for different groups. Until that appointed time, what the scriptures tell us about activity in the spirit world principally concerns the work of salvation. Little else is revealed. The gospel is preached to the ignorant, the unrepentant, and the rebellious so they can be freed from their bondage and go forward to the blessings a loving Heavenly Father has in store for them."

My Thoughts and Actions

Can I experience peace and happiness through healthy eating?

Joseph did not let his questions paralyze his faith.

I spent three hours this morning blogging Christmas Day. Then I went for my infusion at the Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates.

The Door

My infusion is based on my weight. So I always have to weigh. I feel the after Christmas blues coming on as I look at the scale.

The same time I am having my infusion James is at the Sonoran Spine Center for his checkup. Because of the aching in James's upper back and ribs the physician ordered an MRI. 

After our appointments James picked me up and we headed across Baseline to Ironwood behind the Home Depot on Baseline and Country Club to a little place called Crackers where Laura and Cathi were waiting for us for lunch. 

Years ago, before Chandler was inundated with restaurants I used to come to Crackers with Cid Elmer. They are open for breakfast and lunch and specialize in sandwiches, soups and salads. I had a chicken salad, Laura had chili, Cathi had artichoke spinach soup with half a roast beef sandwich, James had vegetable beef soup with half a tuna melt sandwich. Everything was delicious. James should have gotten a whole sandwich because evidentally a half one didn't fill him up. He finished off my salad for me.

It was great to reconnect with two of our favorite people. We said our goodbyes and headed for James's mom's house in Tempe.

Lois was there waiting for us. She had candy and nuts on the counter and of course I had to grab a handful. We are here to pick up the massager that Dawn bought for us. I made out a check for $219 and gave it to Lois. When visited a few minutes and then had to be on our way because James has a meeting with Armando at the jobsite in Mesa.

On our way over Armando called to say he wasn't going to make it. James was a little disappointed. The meeting was regarding work that was done that the engineer did not approve. It is a frustrating situation. It involves how much dirt was taken out of a retention basin. First, the engineer never staked it, second when we followed his stakes he said we were too deep. This problem has gone on for weeks and is impeding progress.

We had some time to kill. We are supposed to pick up Joshua from the Circle K on Queen Creek and McQueen at 3:20. I suggested we go to Deseret Book so I could use my gift card that Sheri got me for Christmas. We did and I did. I bought the next volume in The Joseph Smith Papers and a Book of Mormon Study Guide that EmilyBelle Freeman recommended. I also bought a cherry drink that tasted like medicine.

Next stop, Circle K. When Joshua wasn't there by 3:20, honestly, I thought someone was dropping him off, I looked at my phone and I had received a text from him. He asked if I could pick him up at the school because the sidewalks are closed. I then realized he was walking, which under normal circumstances would have been fine because it's just a little over a mile. But these were not normal circumstances. All along Queen Creek Rd there is construction and all of the sidewalk is closed, just like Joshua said. 

We drove down Queen Creek to Gilbert Rd and took a right and went about a quarter of a mile to Joshua's school. There he was waiting for us. We took him home and I offered to stop at Circle K for a treat but Joshua declined because he wanted to "get right home and start his homework." What kid passes up a treat for homework.?

Stacy started cosmetology school today and that's why she needed help with Joshua. I guess Kim will probably wind up helping. 

Finally, back to Darrel and Trina's and my comfy clothes. Ruby, Addy, and Trina are at home. We have a little discussion about war and Trump ordering a terrorist to be assassinated. Ruby is studying some of the things that happened in WW11.  We also talked about the Second Coming of the Savior and walking to Jackson county Missouri. Trina said she didn't want to walk to Missouri because it was cold. 

Trina made tacos for dinner and then took Ruby and Lola to tumbling. I talked a little bit with Addy about being the Laurel class president of 14 girls. She is thinking about who she is going to chose for counselors. 

Rowan walked to Safeway with friends where they are each buying individual cakes to eat. Rowan said he got red velvet. I said that was just chocolate with red food coloring. While Rowan was eating cake, Addy went on a run.

James walked to Safeway to get tea and other essentials. I wasn't feeling up to it after our tiring day. I stayed home and did the dishes for Trina and made myself a rootbeer float. And I wonder why I can't lose weight. I love food, especially sugar, too much.

James went to bed but I needed to stay up and finish my steps. When I came in the bedroom James was playing Tabernacle Choir songs on his phone. So sweet.

 The watch James gave me for Christmas

Ben's Letter

Sunday, January 5th, 2020

Dedicated: 21 May 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Isaiah 43:11
I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.
Book of Mormon
Review Title page, Introduction and Witnesses

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Spiritual Capacity"

Michelle D. Craig

"Act without delay. When you receive promptings and then act with intention, the Lord can use you. The more you act, the more familiar the voice of the Spirit becomes. You will increasingly recognize God's guidance and that He is 'willing ... to reveal His mind and will.' If you delay, you might forget the prompting or miss the chance to help someone for God."

We left around 5:30 this morning, in time to make it to the Galveston 3rd ward Fast & Testimony meeting. We sat by Sheri, Max and Evan in the back. Evan passed the sacrament to us.  Lynette Braddock gave the most beautiful, heartfelt invocation.

These are the people who bore their testimonies:

Brother Corley, Jennifer Nichols, Bunny Miner, Brother Allen, Laurie Jensen, Nora Chase, Clint Allen, Jr., Brother Payne, Brother Rimer, Jim Price, sister whose husband just got baptized - Sheri couldn't remember her name, Diana Chase, Ashley from another ward who is African American and bore a wonderful testimony. I told her so when I saw her in Sunday School.

Gerry Price, I was her visiting teacher and went to college with her sister Kathy, taught Sunday School. She introduced us to a new website. She and her husband Jim went on a Book of Mormon cruise with Book of Mormon Central and Jack Welch. The app is: KnoWhy: Book of Mormon Central

She also said their website, BookofMormonCentral.com has thousands of articles, podcasts, videos, and a news page.

The only problem James had with Gerry's lesson was the fact that she believes the Book of Mormon ruins are in South America. He believes they are in North America. We have a book, "The Book of Mormon in America's Heartland" which shows thousands of pieces of evidence of the Nephite, Lamanite culture and ancient relics written in Hebrew, such as the Ten Commandments. 

Gerry uses a power point presentation with lots of slides with lots of information. It was pretty incredible. I was grateful when Hillary Jiminez pointed out that the lesson manual was not to be discounted. Gerry agreed.

Right after the two hour block we got in line for ordinations.
I believe we were second. James ordained Evan to the office of a Teacher with Brian, Paul, and Bishop Blaser in the circle. It was a special ordination and I hope Evan was listening and will take it to heart. 
Stacy said she remembered Bishop Blaser's son being in her nursery class back in 2012. Bishop said yes, he was being baptized this year. 
James told Bishop Blaser the latest news on Ben. The bishop knew nothing. I wonder why the Mission President isn't keeping him informed.
We took a few quick photos and then hurried to east Mesa for Rowan's ordination.

Max 16, Evan 13, Sheri - not telling

We got to the church before Darrel, Trina and the kids arrived.
We heard the executive secretary tell the bishop that there was only Rowan and Addy left for interviews. I guess Addy is being called as the Laurel class president although she is one of the younger ones. Good choice. I don't know of a more righteous young woman.

Bob and Suzy Case, Trina's parents were the next to arrive. Suzy told me she was grateful for Darrel being such a good husband and father. She said her boys are no longer interested in the Church and it makes them very sad.

Darrel did a great job ordaining Rowan to the office of a Teacher. He told him to take his responsibilities seriously. The last thing he said was to remember the Savior and to stay close to Him. It was very touching. Darrel has such a tender heart. Rough exterior, but tender heart.

Back at Darrel and Trina's we unload, unpack, and settle in. We broke our fast this afternoon. I felt good about my effort even though it wasn't exactly 24 hours. We fasted to feel the Spirit more in our home and to avoid contention.

Addy made S'more brownies for tonight's "Come Follow Me" gathering. She loves to bake.

Addy the baker

Trina had a meeting after the ordination about girls camp. She tried calling the Wallace's in our ward but they are booked. I told her about the Vernon Girls Camp and she asked if it was fun. I told her that you bring your own fun. She also is talking about going river rafting. Decisions, decisions. Girls camp is a big deal.

Darrel and Trina got lots of deliveries today. Several ceiling fans, and a foursquare volleyball game. They set the volleyball game up in the greenbelt and played for awhile. Soon Darrel came in and grilled steaks for everyone. They were delicious! Trina made her special sweet potatoes and we had a salad. 

Soon people began to arrive for "Come Follow Me." Sheri, Evan, and Max were first. Stacy called to say they wouldn't be coming but would be sure and come next month. Kim and Brian arrived and it was time to start. We had a good discussion about the title page, introduction, and witnesses to the Book of Mormon. Brian shared his testimony as to how the Book of Mormon has changed his life. I shared my testimony and story about seeing a Book of Mormon in my grandparents house when I was ten and somehow knowing it would have a profound affect on my life. Like Brian said, there is a power in the book that you feel and sometimes can't explain.

I had given Lola some pictures to color and she showed them. They applied to the lesson. Ruby showed us what the keystone of an arch was and her favorite Book of Mormon story which happens to be Nephi building the boat. Addy answered a question and Rowan, Max and Evan played the "hold up your word" game while grandpa read the introduction. So did the girls. Kim shared the story of Mary Whitmer getting to see the gold plates as shown to her by an "older gentleman." It was a good evening. We ended with Darrel playing on of the new Book of Mormon videos on the TV and having rootbeer floats and Addy's brownies.

We had a short Facetime with Jared, Kacey, and Charlie. We should have had everyone say hello to them but we weren't thinking right. Kim was a little sad she didn't get to say hi.

I gave Sheri and Kim each a temple name to do this month. Sheri has Flossie Copple and Kim has Ada Jones.

Praying for Australia

When at Darrel and Trina's we stay in the
Whirly Girl room.

Pretty in Pink

Such sweet, adorable girls!