Sunday, January 19th, 2020

Birmingham, Alabama

98th operating temple

Dedicated: 3 Sept 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Isaiah 63:8

For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Savior.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Review 1 Nephi 8-10

"Spiritual Treasures"

President Russell M. Nelson

I invite you to study prayerfully section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and discover what the Holy Ghost will teach you. Your personal spiritual endeavor will bring you joy as you gain, understand, and use the power with which you have been endowed. 

Examine your life meticulously and regularly. As you do so, the Holy Ghost will prompt you about what is no longer needful, what is no longer worthy of your time and energy."

Today I woke up thinking about the Book of Mormon. I dreamed I was on a mission and we were trying to give away Books of Mormon. I offered a prayer and afterwards some of the other missionaries mentioned how they felt the power of my prayer. I thanked them but in my heart I didn't really deserve their praise because Diana Dowdle had been whispering in my ear the words I should say. Somehow I related this message to "I need to share my testimony of the Book of Mom and the Savior more, specifically on Facebook and Instagram. Diana Dowdle is someone who is always happy and willing to share her testimony with others. I then thought of my sister-in-law Vickie. She used Facebook to let others know of her belief in Jesus Christ yet she doesn't go to church. I need to be more like Diana and Vickie and use social media as a platform for sharing my testimony.

My former Primary boys Colter and Jace were ordained Deacons and helped to pass the sacrament today. It was great to see them progressing in the gospel. Darrel and Trina came to sacrament meeting and stayed for the second hour. Debra Brewer and Brother Wright our high councilman were the speakers today in sacrament meeting. Debra spoke on faith and how it is the moving cause of all action and power. Faith is based on truth preceded by knowledge. Faith centers in Christ unto salvation. 

Brother Wright spoke on "Commitment to Covenants and Enduring to the End." Having the Spirit is key. When a machine is out of order it is still in the same place taking up space but it is less serviceable. We can be "out of order" if we don't keep our covenants. King Benjamin says we need to "watch ourselves" because there are so many ways we can sin. We need to focus on the Tree of Life, the Savior, and stay by the tree. By keeping covenants we qualify for the Spirit. When we have faith and rely on the Savior we are more "serviceable." The Savior was nailed to the cross and His arms are stretched out still. We are his hands and feet, the only imperfect things on Him. We must pray and ask for direction. As we work to serve others our imperfections are made whole. I know Jesus lives.

Brother Judd taught Sunday School. Darrel, Trina, and Lola attended with me. Addy and Rowan went to youth Sunday School and Ruby went to James's Primary class.

I noticed something today during sacrament meeting. We sat behind the Judd's and their five or six boys. Those boys were perfect in sacrament meeting. Their sister kept them in line but she didn't have to do much. It was a pleasure watching them.

As I was leaving church Cammy Grapp asked me to correct Tildy's baptismal program. Instead of January 19, 2020 it says October 19, 2019. 

When I got home from church I fixed lunch and then went in to work on the program. James helped me and we got 16 programs printed before I ran out of ink. We were almost late for the baptism. There were about 50 programs with the wrong date and then our 16 with the correct date. At least Tildy will have the right one to keep. 

There were so many people at the baptism. We stayed until after the confirmation and then we went home because we were afraid that Darrel and Trina were going to leave before we got back. 

Lola, Ruby, Rowan and I finished watching "Phantom."

We took a family picture inside because Trina said it was "too cold" outside.

 We said our goodbyes and off they went.

We really enjoyed having them here!

Miss Charlie Mae Lambson

 Such a cutie!

Playing the new and improved Candyland

while eating cinnamon rolls.

 Joshua was ordained a teacher today

 Trina had to take  a picture because she said we

looked like twins.

Tildy's Baptism

Saturday, January 18th, 2020

Houston, Texas

97th operating temple

Dedicated: 26 Aug 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Abraham 2:8

My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning: therefore my hand shall be over thee.

Book of Mormon, "Come Follow Me"

Iron Rod, Tree of Life discussion

 "The Two Great Commandments"

President Dallin H. Oaks

"The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility - even when we disagree. We affirm that those who avail themselves of laws or court rulings authorizing same-sex marriage should not be treated disrespectfully."

Today was a beautiful day in Vernon, Arizona. The high was around 45 with lots of sunshine. I didn't leave my room until I finished blogging January 6th. It was 10 a.m. at which time I headed for the kitchen. I made a pot of chicken noodle soup and heated up some individual french rolls that Sheri left here. I took the rolls to the Relief Society service activity. Kerri called them "butt" rolls. 'Oh Kerri, I see what you mean.'

Trina, Addy, and I left for the church around 11:40 just a head of Darrel and the other kids who were planning on going to the pit to go sledding. We saw the herd of elk as we were leaving and Trina pointed to them for Darrel but he didn't see them. 

The Relief Society service project is making headache bags for the cancer center and baby blankets for the hospital. It runs from 11-2. We dropped my rolls off in the Relief Society room and decided we would eat before going in to help with the project. 

There were ten different types of soups to choose from and just as many types of bread. Addy had five types of bread. I had the pasta fagoili soup. It was delicious, like Olive Gardens except it had corn. Addy bumped in to me and I spilled my soup all over the front of my white blouse. She felt so bad. I told her it was okay. We sat down and ate and visited with Kerri and Michelle Tesarek. I was glad Michelle was there because I wanted Trina to meet her. Virgil Cooper and Anthony were the priesthood. Because there was honey being served he began to tell us about raising bees. He also said that mesquite honey was the most healthy type of honey.

When we were finished eating we went to help Maxine tie quilts. Addy and Trina finished their quilts before I did so Addy helped me finish. 

Addy and Maxine. In the background Catherine is

hemming Anthony's jeans.

Amy Gordon came over and visited with us. She talked about herself and said more than I have ever heard her say before. Her maiden name is Hatch and she grew up in Taylor.

After finishing our quilts we left and went to Dollar General. I needed to get a gift card for MaKenzi Forrester's baby shower. We had almost as much fun at Dollar General as we did when we went to Western Drug last summer. Addy and Trina are just fun to shop with. Trina ended up getting Lola and Ruby coloring books. 

When we returned home we found out that the road to the Pit had been closed and Darrel got his car stuck. James had to go rescue them. Not much fun for the kids. James saw a herd of deer like we saw a herd of elk.

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date

Addy made brownies this afternoon and saved a couple for Maxine who told us she can't make brownies in her toaster oven. We will give them to her at church tomorrow.

Darrel has been marinating chicken thighs all day and this evening he grilled them for us. They were delicious. We also had asparagus, salad, and beans. We could not find Ruby and Rowan when it was time to eat. They had taken the sled up the hill by the side of our house to sled. I guess there were too many rocks for it to work very well. 

After dinner Trina said she had to go upstairs to go shopping for jewelry (Lola) and donate to the "Help save the animals organization." The kids love to play store in my office. Trina came down to talk to Addy who needed  some counseling from her mom so I went upstairs with the girls. Ruby was looking at things through the microscope and Lola was coloring. As a side note here Trina told me of a condition that she, Addy and Ruby all have. It is called trytophobia or fear of circle clusters in nature. Ruby looked at a slide with a cluster of cells on it and said that freaked her out. Addy had told me earlier that she didn't like the word cluster. I guess that's why. Trina showed me some people online who have the phobia also. I have never heard of it and am sorry to say I don't completely understand it. 

Lola wanted me to play some music on my phone, which I did. I played Dancing Queen and then I played the music from Phantom of the Opera. She liked it and when I told her it was from a movie she wanted to watch the movie. Darrel came into our bedroom and connected the DVD player to the TV and Ruby, Lola, and Rowan and I watched half of "Phantom of the Opera" before grandpa came in to go to bed. I told them we would finish watching it tomorrow although I really didn't want to watch it on Sunday.

 Emily's new book

 Ruby and Lola

 Cope is a friend and member of our ward.

Happy 70th Birthday!

Friday, January 17th, 2020

Caracas, Venezuela

96th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Aug 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Abraham 1:16

And his voice was unto me: Abraham, Abraham, behold, my name is Jehovah, and I have heard thee, and have come down to deliver thee, and to take thee away from thy father's house, and from all thy kinsfolk, into a strange land which thou knowest not of;

Book of Mormon

The Four Groups of People:(Made up by me so I can remember)

1. Tempted by the Mists of Temptation and wandered off the path.

2. Clingers who are Mocked and wander off the path. 

3. Faithful Worshippers. Make it to the tree, fall down and worship the Savior, and stay by the tree.

4. Offpath dodgers. Never make it on the path and dodge the tree.

"Covenant Women in Partnership with God"

President Henry B. Eyring

" You might reasonably ask how a man of any age can know what mothers need. It's a valid question. Men can't know everything, but we can learn some lessons by revelation from God. And we can also learn much by observation, when we take the opportunity to seek the Spirit to help us understand what we observe."

I was up at 4:30 this morning to shower and wash my hair before my planning, praying, and pondering session. I had a good breakfast and then blogged for Sunday, January 5th. Will I every catch up on my blog? Only if I consistently make two blog entries everyday. James and I said our prayers together. Now we study our scriptures in the evening but we still have morning prayers together. After a hug and a kiss I went upstairs to work. Today everything must be ready as Darrel's family is coming tonight. 

I finished vacuuming and dusting both offices and then cleaned the bathroom at that end of the upstairs. I wanted to start stripping the wax off the floor but I needed to wait for James to come up and put a lightbulb in Darrel and Trina's closet. He was taking a long time and when I asked him why he said he couldn't find the small ladder. Eventually he did find it and changed the lightbulb and went back downstairs. 

Stripping polish/wax off the floor is a long and tedious process. First I spread the remover with my swifer, wait five or six minutes and then with a wet mop remove the wax. I dry the floor with a towel, and sweep up the pieces of wax not removed by the towel,  then vacuum. I can only do a small section at a time. 

My original plan was to work until noon and then stop no matter if I was done or not. The floor looked so good with the wax removed that I didn't want to stop. I did take a lunch break. I was going to go into town this afternoon and pick up my Tramadol but I had not received notification that it was in, so I called the pharmacy. I talked to the pharmicist, Darrel's friend Brett who is also a bishop in Show Low and he said he was sorry but it wouldn't be in until Monday because the warehouse was out. I hope I can hang on that long. the Ibruprofen and aspirin I am taking is really not doing the trick. 

Since I'm not going in to town I can work on the floor some more, which I did. I worked all afternoon on that sticky, messy job but it was totally worth it because the floor looks great! James finished the last little bit of the floor and put away all of the equipment while I soaked in the bathtub. After soaking in the tub I sat in my recliner and while James rubbed my feet we watched "Winter Castle." We shared a pot pie for dinner. 

Darrel and Trina arrived around 9 p.m. James had a new toy for them to play with.

While the balls are hovering in the air you get 3 chances to shoot 

a nerf bullet at them to see if you can hit them. 

Lola was the best shot.

Happy 18th Birthday Anna!

Anna and her friend with James, Emmy and Molly

August 2016

 Bishop Hunsaker ordained his son Colter

a deacon today. Colter turns 12 on

December 26th.

 Lemmerman's bought this house, remodeled it

and now will sell it.

Thursday, January 16th, 2020

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

95th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 July 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

D&C 128:9
It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of - a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a faithful saying. Who can hear it?
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 10:1-14

"Beloved Daughters"

Sister Bonnie H. Cordon

October 2019

"With the new class organization, all classes will be referred to by the unifying name of 'Young Women.' We will retire the names 'Beehive,''Mia Maid,' and 'Laurel.'

The final area I wish to address is the importance of class presidencies. No matter how Young Women classes are organized, every class should have a class presidency! It is divine design that young women are called to lead in their youth."

When I got up at 4:30 this morning it was 40 degrees outside. My shower gets me going. I sit at my desk and begin to review and write down the happenings of yesterday. When I am finished planning I pray over my plans. I wanted to work on "Inklings" the study with Emily Belle Freeman regarding the priesthood and the Restoration. Right now we are studying DC 107, but Emily had not posted for this week yet. She usually does it on Thursday morning but she is not an early riser.

Emily did have a post about the Savior:

Donuts for breakfast is never a good way to start the day, but that's what I did. Must get rid of sweets!

I'm still working on cleaning upstairs getting ready for Darrel and Trina's family tomorrow evening. The curtains in the common area and the ones in my office keep falling down. James bolted them to the wall so they will never fall again. Thanks Honey!

This afternoon I made rolls, minestrone soup and a salad for Pat Tedder and her son Jeff. At the last minute I decided to divide everything in half and take some to the Scott's too. Millie has fallen and broken two ribs and is in a lot of pain. I texted to check on Kathy Crane today but she is feeling much better and is actually serving in the temple today. 

I made an apple pie for us. I started too late for everyone else. I peeled and cut up twelve apples. It took awhile, and then cooked them for a bit on the stove before putting them in a pre-made pie crust and then put it in the oven. 

As I was working in the kitchen I looked up and realized that the rain that had been falling had turned in to snow. James and I were both surprised because snow was not in the forecast. 

As I went in to the bedroom to make myself presentable to make deliveries, James finished packing everything up. Before we left around 5 pm I put the pie in the oven and set it to 350 instead of 375 in case we were gone for more than an hour. 

We took because by now it was blizzard like conditions. First of all the truck is very difficult for me to get up in to. Once I was in my seat, James gave me one of the containers of soup to hold in my lap. His windshield wiper on the passenger side does not work so all I could see when I looked up was a big blob of snow on the windshield. 

We were going to go to the Scott's first. We couldn't find their turnoff so we went to the Tedder's instead. James delivered the food because I had soup spilled on my pants and it is so hard for me to get up and down out of the truck. There was a container of soup, nine rolls, and a salad. 

We went back up the road towards the Scott's. We had an epiphany and suddenly remembered you turn down 3151 to get to the Scott's. Jerry came out to the truck to thank me for the dinner. What a kind thing to do.

When we got home, the kitchen was a mess and James offered to clean it because my left foot was really hurting. I sat down to blogged and when the pie was done, that's what I had for dinner. James had had some soup earlier. 

I still do not have my Tramadol. 

 My perfect breakfast: 1 egg, 2 slices of

turkey bacon, whole wheat toast with butter

 Our bishopric during our early years

in Chandler

 IHOP with Grandpa

 What a difference a year makes