Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020

Billings, Montana

66th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Nov 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, King

Acts 17:7

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 5:27-56 and "Don't Miss This"

April General Conference

"Ensuring a Righteous Judgment"

Elder James R. Rasband

"A vital and peace-giving contribution of the Book of Mormon to our understanding of the Savior's Atonement is its teaching that Christ's merciful sacrifice fulfills all the demands of justice. As Alma explained, "God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy. to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also." The Father's plan of mercy - what the scriptures also call the plan of happiness" or the plan of salvation - could not be accomplished unless all the demands of justice were satisfied.

"Hope Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
October 1998

James left early this morning. He went by to check on his job and then drove to home to Vernon. The main reason for going home was to mail the book that someone ordered, which he did. He also found Luna and fed her. He watered plants and then headed back to Show Low to pick up his prescription that he did not realize he was out of. He went by the UPS store and mailed the Razr engine which cost him $96. The company we ordered the new engine from said if we could mail the old engine it would save us $800. I wondered if that counted the postage. 

There is one thing James forgot to do. He forgot to deposit the $27,790 check from Mario. He needs that money in his account because he has subcontractor's to pay. I guess we will have to do it down here when he returns.

The girls were in bed until after 10 am. I thought they were asleep but when I went to check on them, they were watching TV in bed.

I had them get up and have some breakfast. They both chose Captain Crunch Cereal. After breakfast we got ready and went down to the pool. All of the good table spots were taken so I set our stuff up on a couple of lounge chairs. The attendant filled their "donuts". He handed the pink donut to Ruby and Lola let him know that the pink one was hers. 

The girls loved the donuts and Ruby used her goggles. Lola used hers until the strap came loose. They swam for about two hours while I sat in the shade and worked on my blog. It go to be pretty warm so, for my sake, we went in. I see alot of older people in the pool who don't look much better than I do. I think next year I am going to bring a swim suit.

As we got ready to leave the pool area our favorite pool attendant, the one who threatened to throw me in, gave the girls some Dots ice cream. They came home and ate their ice cream and then I fixed some lunch. Lola wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and mac and cheese. Ruby only wanted mac and cheese. They both had Sprite to drink. 

Lola wanted to watch TV while she was eating so we turned it on. Funny how you will allow grandkids to do what you wouldn't allow your kids to do. When Lola was finished eating she wanted to make the couch in to a bed so she could watch "this" TV and be more comfortable. So we made the couch into a bed. It's a little crowded when the couch is a bed but I didn't care if they didn't. 

There was a knock at the door and when we answered a resort employer with a mask on, they all have masks on, handed me two envelopes. The envelopes had the pool schedule for the weekend, beginning Friday inside. We  have green wristbands. There were two slots on Friday where pink & green wristbands were scheduled. I called Aaron at the front desk and asked if there was a pink and green wristband and he said yes so I assumed we were not scheduled. I thought the only time the boys were going to be able to swim this weekend was on Saturday morning when green was scheduled. I called Sheri and Trina and Trina said she would bring the boys over tonight and pick up the girls tonight instead of in the morning. I then wrote a letter to the general manager and told that swimming one slot on Saturday and no slots on Friday was unacceptable. She wrote back to me and said she was confused because she gave pink and green two slots on Friday. I told her I thought that was for a pink and green wristband especially after talking to Aaron at the front desk. I apologized for the misunderstanding. Now I feel bad that I had Trina come and get the girls although they did not seem upset. 

James got home around 5 p.m. and went straight in to take a nap so he missed our visitors and didn't know the girls had left. He was sorry he didn't get to say goodbye. When Lola left she said, "Be sure and tell grandpa I said goodbye."

Joshua was not able to come because of Covid so we just have Max, Evan, and Rowan. Max and Evan had already eaten but Rowan hadn't. We cooked the Red Baron cheese pizza we had in the freezer for him. We had family prayer with the boys and James told them he did not want them staying up past 7 a.m. Why would he say that? Oh well, I guess that's one of the joys of being a grandparent. 

I finished walking and James and I watched "Lark Rise to Candleford." 

Ruby and Lola with their Donut floaties

So very cute and grownup looking!

Remodel of our house built in the 70's

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020

Regina, Saskatchewan

65th operating temple

Dedicated: 14 Nov 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, King

John 19:14

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 5:15-26; "Don't Miss This"

Personal Study

"Stand Forever" by Lawrence R. Corbridge

Family Study Group

"Choose Happiness" by Larry. R. Lawrence

April General Conference

"Shall We Not Go On in So Great a Cause"

President M. Russell Ballard

"Joseph came to realize that the Bible did not contain all the answers to life's questions; rather, it taught men and women how they could find answers to their questions by communicating directly with God through prayer."

"Return and Receive"

M. Russell Ballard

April 2017

"Time to Prepare"

Joseph B. Wirthlin

 April 1998

Spent the morning working on my blog, paying a bill, and studying. "You cannot be better than what you know." 

At ten o'clock we left for my infusion appointment which was at 10:45. Frances called me right back and Ang started my infusion with no problems. I was in and out before noon. James said he was twenty minutes away so I crossed the highway and waited for him at Freddy's when I was finished. I ordered a small diet Dr. Pepper and a Chicago dog. Just as I got my order, James walked in. He helped me eat the Chicago dog and then we were on our way. We had planned on stopping at Elmer's Tacos for lunch so I called in our order. The Chicago dog was just an appetizer. We ordered two machaca tacos, a machaca burro, three bean and cheese burros, and an order of strips. Elmer's had set up a drive-thru outside. We drove up, told them the name the order was under, and we were finished within less than five minutes. 

From Elmer's we drove to Darrel's to pick up Ruby and Lola to take them back with us to the timeshare. Addy and Rowan were both doing things with friends, Addy was going to Sun Splash. Ruby had a friend over, Chloe. We shared lunch with Darrel, Ruby, Lola, and Chloe. Rowan and Addy did not want anything. Trina was at work today.

After lunch I went in to use Darrel's printer to print out the label for the book that I sold and have to ship by tomorrow. The name of the book is, "The Art of the Long View" by Peter Schwartz. I tried to find this book at a local bookstore but it is too old and the ranking is around 14 million so no one had it in stock. James said he would go to Vernon and get it tomorrow and mail it. This might sound extreme but my reputation as a bookseller on Amazon is at stake. It is not the money that I will make from selling the book, but my reputation that matters. 

We loaded up the girls and headed for Scottsdale. After unloading at the timeshare we went back to shop at Walmart. It was a little after five and Walmart was closed. What is going on? I would have imagined they would close by seven, but five? We drove through Chik-fil-a and got the girls some dinner and then we drove over to Fry's on north Hayden. Thank goodness it was open. 

 We bought peanut butter and jam, white and wheat bread, cherries, Captain Crunch cereal, goggles, and donut tubes for the pool. We also got frozen cheese pizza, macaroni and cheese, Sprite, and mint chocolate chip Blue Bell ice cream. 

Back at the timeshare in rooms 1016 and 1015 we colored butterflies in our new coloring book. Ruby took a shower and then helped Lola take her shower. It was her first. Ruby is such a good sister. Oh one thing about Ruby I forgot to mention. She has lost her glasses so she has been squinting a lot. Lola wanted to call her mom and dad and tell them all about the room. We FaceTimed and she gave them a tour. She showed them the puppy towel on the bed and how Ruby ate the eyes. She showed them the patio, and told how the couch makes in to a bed. I am sure they were riveted in their seats with the thrill of it all. I love seeing things through the eyes of a child. They have such an appreciation for the simplest of things. 

We had family prayer together and then the girls laid in bed and watched TV while I walked and then watched "Lark Rise to Candleford" with James. I kept thinking they would go to sleep. When they didn't, I went in and told them to turn the TV off after the show they were watching. It was late when we all went to bed.

A deserted resort in the desert

Lola was afraid of the water a couple of

years ago. Now she swims like a fish.

James bought a yellow watermelon.
It was quite tasty.

 Ronald A. Rasband

 Mailing the old Razr engine

Monday, June 1st, 2020

Halifax, Nova Scotia
64th operating temple
Dedicated: 14 Nov 1999
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, King

John 19:3

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 5:1-14; "The Scripture Study Project" podcast

Inklings

Restoration Proclamation paragraphs 1-4

Nourish the Body - DC 89:10 - "...all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man"

April General Conference

"Opening Remarks"

President Russell M. Nelson

"This year, we commemorate the 200th anniversary of one of the most significant events in the history of the world - namely, the appearance of God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to Joseph Smith. During that singular vision, God the Father pointed to Jesus Christ and said: "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

"We Can Do Better and Be Better"

President Russell M. Nelson

April 2019

James had to leave early to check on his job in Mesa. I got up early to work on my job. He was back before nine as he promised. Today is our 52nd wedding anniversary and so we would like to spend it together.

James asked if I wanted to go to IHOP. I didn't because I knew we were going to go to Cheesecake Factory later. Instead he went to Fry's and got some food for breakfast. He came home and made me sausage, scrambled eggs and toast. It was great. 

I have sold several more books. I also bought three books today. The thing that I feared would happen this week while I am gone from home has happened. I sold a book Merchant Fulfilled. The book I sold is at home. It is an older book and is ranked very highly, which means it does not sell very often so I doubt I can find it in a bookstore. I will try though. 

Molly is staying at Jared's for a couple of weeks. She wanted to tell me she was watching Heartland. It's not a show I would think she would be interested in, it's not really a kids show, but I guess she probably loves the horses. She wanted to FaceTime with me so after my shower we FaceTimed. I told her about Luna's latest doings and we had a nice visit. James was taking a nap so he didn't get to visit with her.

I forgot to bring any socks except the ones I was wearing so after talking with Molly James and I drove to the nearest Walmart to do a little shopping.  

All Walmarts are not created equal. This one was very nice compared to the one in Show Low where we normally shop. I found some socks, a couple of tops, and various other items. James says I love to shop. Sometimes I do. Grocery shopping is not my favorite so I sent James over to get some groceries. He got some ice cream so we had to go back to the resort and put groceries away before going to Tempe to visit with his mom and Dawn. 

Lois had low blood pressure and has been having dizzy spells. When she got up she Dawn immediately took her walker over to her. She is stooped over and frail and looks her age now. She no longer colors her hair and it is totally white. 

On our way to Tempe we got off on Rural Rd. and drove passed ASU. I commented to James how I hardly recognized it any more because there were so many new buildings and still more buildings were being built. I mentioned this to Dawn and she said that students now must live on campus and that accounts for some of the  buildings. I have never heard of such a thing and was a little surprised by this fact. Dawn said that studies show that students do better in school while living on campus. It seems to me like another freedom being taken away. 

Lois did some reminiscing and told of going to grade school at Crescent School in Ft. Cobb, Oklahoma. She said it was a large building divided into two rooms. One room was for grades 1-3 and the other was for grades 4-6. She said there was a large fire burning stove in the middle of the room. Kids would bring a potato, or carrots, or onions with them to school and they would put them in a large pot of boiling water and added some canned beef and that was what they had for lunch. It sounds like a story I used to read to my kids when I taught school and the kids brought vegetables to school and they made a Mulligan stew. 

I asked if they had toronadoes where she lived and she said, "Oh yes." She remembered her family going into the underground root cellar when there was a tornado warning. They stored food and clothes in this cellar in case of emergencies. It was fun listening to her reminisce.

When we came in I did not notice that the piano was gone.  I guess Dawn has a friend who is a concert pianist but lacked a piano when she moved here so Lois gave her piano away. Now they have no place to put the mantle clock that was on the piano. I guess we bought it for her years ago and so now they are returning it to us. It is a very nice clock and it will go on our piano when we get home.

We left Tempe before five so James had time to go to the UPS store to mail back the part that was sent to him for the truck which was not the part he ordered. There was a line at the store so I waited in the car for over 15 minutes. We were parked in the shade but I still needed to keep the motor running because it was over 100 degrees outside. One more stop before we go to dinner. Erik's backyard. James brought down the cracked engine block to the Razr to send in to the company we ordered the new engine from. They said it would save us $800 on the new engine. The only problem is they sent a list of parts they wanted and James doesn't know what half of them are so that's the reason we are asking for Erik's help. I was watching an episode of "Lark Rise to Candleford" on my phone in the car. Erik asked James if he had 15 minutes. James said no, it was our anniversary and we had plans. Erik's comment was: "Oh Karen's okay, she's watching a movie." It's a good thing I like him so well or I might be offended. Another 20 minutes in the car.

Finally we were on our way to The Cheesecake Factory at the Chandler mall. The mall is closed because of the possibility of a riot. Police cars everywhere and glass doors boarded up with plywood. So sad. Thank goodness The Cheesecake Factory was open. 

I ordered a filet, medium with mashed potatoes and green beans and James ordered their most popular dish, chicken Madeira. We first had sourdough and molasses bread which was quite delicious.

The steak was juicy and tender and the chicken

was delicious. I can see why it is the most

popular dish here.

After dinner we went back to our timeshare. Once again we were on the freeway at 8 p.m., the curfew time. 

I realized I had only 4,000 steps so I began walking in my "circle." I start in the dining room - living room and got through the bedroom and bathroom and circle back. I walked until I got 10,000 steps and then stopped. James and I watched "Lark Rise to Candleford" on my phone before going to bed.

Charlie got her Olaf!