Wednesday, July 15th, 2020

Snowflake, Arizona

108th operating temple

Dedicated: 3 Mar 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God

DC 76:119

And to God and the Lamb be glory, and honor, and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 33 and "Don't Miss This"

April General Conference

"How the Priesthood Blesses Youth"

Laudy Ruth Kaouk

Another way the priesthood blesses us is through patriarchal blessings. I have learned to turn to my patriarchal blessing whenever I feel sad or lonely. My blessing helps me to see my potential and the specific plan God has for me. It comforts me and helps me to see beyond my earthly perspective. It reminds me of my gifts and of the blessings I will receive if I live worthily. It also helps me to remember and feel at peace that God will provide answers and open doors for me at exactly the right moment when I need it most.

"How the Priesthood Blesses Youth"

Enzo Serge Petelo

You can be a beacon of light to all those who are unsure of themselves. The light within you will shine so bright that everyone you interact with will be blessed by just being in your company.

I caught up on my blog this morning. It took all morning because I had several interruptions. I helped Sheri fix breakfast. There was talk of going to Fool Hollow Lake or Big Lake so Alex and Joe could go fishing but they all got caught up in a Hearts game and then it looked like rain, so we didn't. 

Sheri actually went out and pet Luna and fed her lunch to her. I'm not sure where James was. James did go to the post office and mail Summer's birthday card and picked up a book or two for me. One of the books was one from Karen S. that she mailed me for my birthday. It's called "Ten Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven" by S. Michael Wilcox. 

It looks like a good one

Thanks Karen!

Today is Leland Grapp's 2nd birthday. I texted Cammy but she never texted me back. She is expecting another baby this month and I want to be able to help her. I think her due date is near the end of the month. I need to keep checking on her.

Today is also Laura's birthday. I sent her a happy birthday message. She already got the book I sent her on Monday. 

I spent most of the afternoon buying books. In order to make it for textbook season I have to buy all of my July books this week. I needed a break so Sheri and I took the dogs and went for a walk. It was nice weather for a walk. James was outside spreading gravel with the Cat. He forgot to wear a mask and was pretty miserable the rest of the evening. 

James built a fire and the boys went outside and made smores. Max took his guitar out and played and sang. Sheri and I had a nice talk with Joe. James, Max, Joe, and Alex played a game of Hearts before bedtime. James won.

Evan gave me a big hug this evening. How nice!

We talked Alex out of jumping

Clouds and Cabin on our walk

Stacy texted me a link for a virtual scavenger hunt for Josh's Mutual. He downloaded Zoom on his phone and was able to participate in the scavenger hunt. He said he got slaughtered, he couldn't see anything. I guess they hid things around a room and the kids had to try and find them. Afterwards Paul called him and had a goal interview with Josh. The rest of us were downstairs eating baked ziti, garlic bread, and broccoli. Sheri saved Joshua a plate. He loves all of those foods. 

Chuck Crane connected with Dr. Memon today, thanks to James. Dr. Memon is doing surgery on him on Friday at the Chandler Hospital. Chuck's doctor up here said it would be six weeks before he could do surgery. One of the reasons our friends the Curtis's are moving back to the valley is because of the doctor's up here.

I was exhausted by bedtime. I walked 12,515 steps today.

Marci's baked ziti

 Hearts attack hits the cabin

 Rowan and Evan playing Link

Ziggie may or may not want to play Hearts

Tuesday, July 14th, 2020

Columbia River, Washington

107th operating temple

Dedicated: 18 Nov 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God

DC 76:39

For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.
Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"
Alma 32:27-43
April General Conference

"Hosanna and Hallelujah - The Living Jesus Christ: The Heart of Restoration and Easter"

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

"The sacred events between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday are the story of hosanna and hallelujah Hosanna is our plea for God to save. Hallelujah expresses our praise to the Lord for the hope of salvation and exaltation. In hosanna and hallelujah we recognize the living Jesus Christ as the heart of Easter and latter-day restoration.

"Seek Learning by Faith"

Elder David A. Bednar

February 3, 2006

Sheri ran this morning and when she returned we went shopping in Taylor. First we went to Walmart. You would have thought I would have finished my shopping yesterday but I guess I can always find something to buy. Sheri got gas at Circle K and we were going to go in and get a drink but their soda machine was broken. Sheri got me $20 with her debit card and I sent her $20 through Venmo to pay her back. I needed the money for Summer's birthday card. 

Since there was no soda fountain at Circle K Sheri got a drink and a burrito at Sonic and a bag of ice. I didn't get anything. Sheri is on the intermittent fasting plan. She only eats between 10 am and 7 pm. 

When we got back to the cabin it was time for lunch, then a nap, and then ordering more books. As I was checking my IPI score on Amazon, my inventory performance index, I noticed it said that I had 25 books that were stranded. These were different than the books I just got out from being stranded. As I got to looking I realized all of the stranded books were ones that I sent yesterday and they had not even arrived at Amazon yet. Here is the message I got back when I emailed Seller Support: 

Based on my investigation, I have confirmed that your shipment is still being shipped to our warehouse. Rest assured that there is nothing wrong with your shipment and your IPI score will not be affected by this. I would also like to inform you that any shipment sent in our fulfillment centers will take 21 days from the delivered/checked in date to be fully received and processed into your account. In addition to this, receiving of shipments nowadays will take longer than usual since there are too many shipments being received prior to your shipment due to the peak season.

I humbly ask you to wait for the shipment status to be closed or to be fully received to avoid any confusions in our warehouse team and any inventory discrepancies. This helps ensure that the products in your shipment have had sufficient time to reach the appropriate fulfillment center, including your products that need to be reshipped to other locations in order to be closer to customers. 

This letter had two more complete paragraphs but I was already lost so I didn't include those paragraphs here. When I checked my status this morning, my books were still listed under stranded. I think they will eventually remove them. Amazon must be a zoo right now.

I ended up buying 11 books today. Only 39 more to go. Now that it is taking Amazon longer to process books, I need to order all of my books by the end of the week. It will take a couple of weeks for them to get here and by the time I send them off and wait 21 days textbook season will be in full gear. Stress.

I forgot to mention that I listened to Kris and Kathy this morning before Sheri and I went shopping. I am always reminded of things I need to be doing when I listen to them. 

Joe and Alex arrived this afternoon. They were not hungry but they were both tired and went upstairs to take naps while Sheri and I fixed dinner. The reason they weren't hungry is because they stopped at Panda Express before coming to Vernon. 

This afternoon Sheri and I made pies. She made a homemade blueberry with the best crust ever. I made an Eagle Brand pie with Coolwhip on top. This pie is for James and Ian. I used the pecan crust and it w

Sheri cooked the steaks outside on the grill and I made the mashed potatoes. She put some asparagus on a cookie sheet, sprinkled it with olive oil and put it in the oven at 450 degrees. All of a sudden I turned around and smoke was rising out of the back of the oven. I looked in at the asparagus and it seemed fine. I tried to open the kitchen window but it was stuck. I called James to come in and he managed to get the window open.  That smoky cloud was with us the rest of the evening. Sheri had bought strip steaks which are much cheaper than the steaks I usually get at Costco but they were delicious. The asparagus and potatoes were good too along with the rolls Sheri brought.

For "Come Follow Me" we watched a video of Alma giving his speech to the poorer Zoramites. We also read Alma 33. James asked Joshua to give the family prayer.

When James went out to ride Luna Ian, Sheri, the dogs and I went outside too. The dogs constantly bark at Luna. James was chasing after some cows so when he took off he was running Luna. Ollie was not on his leash and got loose and started running after him. We think he was going to save James from the "big spotted dog."

Sheri was yelling for him to stop but he was running full speed ahead and I doubt if he heard her. I was worried he was going to go out in the trees and get lost. James was long gone. Thank goodness Joshua and Evan were outside and Evan had shoes on. He could run faster than Sheri in her flip flops and was able to catch little Ollie who has such short legs. Sheri spent the evening pulling burrs out of Ollie's hair. 

Max, Alex, Joe, and James played a game of Hearts. Max came and asked James to play. While they were playing I was walking and listening to talks. I managed to get my 12,500 steps.

Joe and Alex went for a walk while we were eating. The other boys went upstairs and discovered a bat. It flew into my office and they shut the door. That's where Alex is sleeping and they said they would tell him. He was not upset at all and neither was Joe. Alex just said, "okay, I will catch him."

When James went out to ride Luna Ian, Sheri, the dogs and I went out also. The dogs just constantly bark at Luna. When James rode off to chase some cows he was going at a high run. Ollie was not on his leash and he took off running after James and Luna. She went running after him yelling for him to come back but he was in the "zone" and was not about to stop running. Sheri was slow because she had flip flops on and the ground is rocky and the grass high. Luckily Evan and Joshua were outside and they took off at a high run for Ollie. Thank goodness Evan had shoes on and was able to catch him. I asked Sheri if she spanked him and she said, "No, but I yelled at him." Poor Ollie.

This evening Max came in and asked if he wanted to play Hearts. James can't turn down a chance to play Hearts. Hearts is a came for four people, Alex and Joe being the other two. While they played I walked around the table in the entry listening to conference talks. I managed to get my 12,500 steps. It was a good day filled with family, fun and food.

 I wonder where mom and dad are going to sleep

 Hearts is serious business around here

 Tyra Banks is the new MC for Dancing 

with the Stars. I'm going to miss Tom and Erin.

Monday, July 13th, 2020

Perth, Australia

106th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 May 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God

DC 76:21

And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 32; "Book of Mormon Central"

April General Conference

"A Good Foundation Against the Time to Come"

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

As I contemplate the next four years of the life of this beautiful, noble, exalted, and awe-inspiring Salt Lake Temple, I envision it more as a time of renewal rather than a time of closure. In a similar way, we might ask ourselves, "How could this extensive renewal of the Salt Lake Temple inspire us to undergo our own spiritual renewal, reconstruction, rebirth, revitalization, or restoration?"

 The first thing I did this morning was to work on my blog. I finished everything except downloading pictures when James told me he wanted to leave for town before 9:00 because he had "lots to do today." I  hear that phrase quite often. I got up and got ready to go. We left for town with my two boxes of books, and a load to take to Goodwill.  

After dropping off our donations at Goodwill, James always makes me take the donation slip to fill out, James dropped me off at Walmart. He went to Home Depot to get light bulbs and then across the street to Circle K to get gas and a car wash. I was finished with most of the shopping when James returned to Walmart. His assignment was to pick up my prescriptions and pick out a watermelon. He was so funny picking out the watermelon, thumping and holding his ear close. He made several choices before he finally decided on the "best watermelon in the bunch."

Walmart is refusing to take cash at most registers. I guess there is a coin shortage. I heard of a woman who only had cash and was not able to get her groceries. I think someone should have volunteered to put her purchases on their card and then taken her cash. What is the world coming to?

After finishing at the scan and go we headed for Taco Bell for some lunch. While I was eating my tacos James went to Harbor Freight to do an exchange. Next it was Tractor Supply for supplies for the fence. Finally we were on our way home. I looked at my watch as we left Show Low, 11:45. I told James we should have stopped at the post office on our way to town because now by the time we got back to Vernon it would be closed. He said it was okay he would come back and get the mail. I knew I would have books, which I did, seven of them.

I got some throw pillow for the couch upstairs. When I went to put them on the couch I made a quick run-thru of all the rooms. It's a good thing I did because there were more dead ants in Ian and Sheri's room. 

When things finally settled down I finished my blog post and was going to buy a few books. I need to buy 50 more books before the end of the month and in order for them to get to Amazon before textbook season, they need to be mailed this week or at the latest the beginning of next. 

I heard from Laura today. She got the book, "Grace Where You Are", that I sent to her for her birthday. Her birthday is Wednesday. She seemed excited to read it.

I checked to see how Summer was doing and Kacey said she was fine, just a little tired. I just figured she would get the virus because her boyfriend tested positive.

Sheri, Ian, Max, Evan, Joshua, Rowan, Ollie, and Ziggie arrived around 6 p.m. That had brought dinner with them, three pizzas and some breadsticks from Little Caesar's. So much stuff unloaded in the kitchen. Alex and Joe are coming up tomorrow so Sheri brought lots of food. I bet we still go to Walmart tomorrow though. 

James tried to get the boys to ride Luna but no one seemed interested. Sheri, the dogs, Ian and I went out to watch James ride. He was kind of "showing off" but running her and then stopping quickly. It's okay. I am just grateful that he loves to ride her.

We had scripture and prayer together, reading Alma 32. Sheri made sure of it.

 Idaho Falls Temple

From Book of Mormon Central

 I love how Max and Evan have their legs up and spread out and

Joshua is sandwiched in between them with his legs

straight out. They are all sitting together on the

broken chair. Maybe I should get an updated picture today.