Sat, 8/1/20 - Lousy Internet connection ; James's Snake; Razr Ride; Sunset; K&B

Rexburg, Idaho

125th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Feb 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Light of the World

John 9:5

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 42:16-31 Redemption comes through Repentance - God Himself atones for the sins of the world - Mercy is for those who repent - All others are subject to God's justice - Mercy comes because of the Atonement - Only the truly penitent are saved.

April General Conference

Opening Message

President Russell M. Nelson

We pray that this conference will be memorable and unforgettable because of the messages you will hear, the unique announcements which will be made, and the experiences in which you will be invited to participate.

I got up at 5 a.m., took a shower, and had banana cream pie for breakfast. James had a couple of bites and I threw the rest away. Never again will I buy a pie because I think I want one!

James and I had scripture and prayer and then he went outside to work on the fence. No Anthony today. I offered to help but James turned me down. While he was out working he found a gopher snake and sent me a picture. 

He looks lumpy, maybe he is still digesting his breakfast.

While I was working on my blog this morning I listened to Emily and Rio on Inklings Institute. The conference talk that goes along with this week's study is "An Especially Noble Calling" by Joy D. Jones. The scripture is the Prophetic Blessing President Nelson gave to those who study the Restoration Proclamation. Here are the promises: "I promise that you will be blessed with:

1.) Additional power to deal with temptation, struggles, and weakness.

2.) Miracles in your marriage, family relationships and daily work.

3.) Your capacity to feel joy will increase even if turbulence increases."

I am quite frustrated with Blogger, but it is probably my internet connection that is causing my grief. Blogger and my pictures keep freezing up!

James came in from his work on the fence and had some lunch after which we went to town to take in my box of books. We dropped off the 48 lb box of books at the UPS store and then we turned around and went back to Ace Hardware where James was looking for parts for the fence he is building. Tractor Supply is out and so is Ace. I was reading to James from "Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse" and I had forgotten to bring my drink so I convinced James to stop at Sonic during happy hour. I ordered a large cherry limeade and he ordered a medium. We stopped to get gas and then we went home to Vernon. 

Kim and Brian were eating their last meal before starting their fast; sausage, hashbrowns and blueberry muffins and eggs. James and I each had a piece or two of sausage. Small link sausage is irresistible. 

For the first time in almost a year James and I went on a Razr ride up in the forest. It was wonderful! I forgot how much I have missed doing this. The weather was nice and so was the scenery, except for where the trees had burned in the 2014 fires. We returned a little before 6:30 in time for Kim and Brian to take their loop drive to Christmas Tree Trail and back. They saw lots of campers and so did we. We saw a campfire and I wanted to stop and tell the people they weren't allowed to have a campfire. Instead I just said a prayer that they would be careful. Kim and I both got pictures of beautiful sunsets. Mine was from the front porch and hers was out in the forest.

This evening we watched the new Hallmark movie; "Romance in the Air" starring Cindy Busby and Torrance Coombs. It was not that great but we had fun talking about the bad acting and the lame plot. The hot air balloon rides over Lake Tahoe were nice. Thanks Brian for remembering to tape the movie.

James and I are in major disagreement as to where the thermostat she be. He thinks 72 and I think 68, so we keep it on 70. Kim and Brian are definitely on my side.

Friday, July 31st 2020 - Books ready; Lunch and Walmart with Jean; Air fryer; Kim's alternative medicine

Helsinki, Finland

124th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 Oct 2006

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Light of the World

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 42:1-15 (Yesterday was Alma 41)

April General Conference

"Go Forward in Faith"

President Russell M. Nelson

More than a century ago, President Wilford Woodruff foresaw conditions such as ours today, as recorded in his dedicatory prayer of the Salt Lake Temple, given in 1893. "When Thy people shall not have the opportunity of entering this holy house . . . and they are oppressed and in trouble, surrounded by difficulties . . . and shall turn their faces towards this Thy holy house and ask Thee for deliverance, for help, for Thy power to be extended in their behalf, we beseech Thee, to look down from Thy holy habitation in mercy . . . and listen to their cries. Or when the children of Thy people, in years to come, shall be separated, through any cause, from this place, . . . and they shall cry unto Thee from the depths of their affliction and sorrow to extend relief and deliverance to them, we humbly entreat Thee to . . . hearken to their cries, and grant unto them the blessings for which they ask."

I finished cleaning my books and prepared labels and packed them in a box first thing this morning. I was going to take them with me to town and then James said he was going in later and he would take them. The only problem is he forgot to take them. Now we have to go into town tomorrow just to mail my books.

I left around 10:45 for Jean's house. Tom is going to be gone all day and Jean asked me if we could go to lunch. I am taking her to lunch and then to fill more of the day I asked her if we could go to Walmart and do some shopping. Jean has been diagnosed with Dementia and Tom did not want to leave her at home alone all day. 

It was a little bit after 11 when I arrived at Jean's house. When Jean answered the door the hair on the top of her head at been curled with the curling iron and not yet combed out. I shouldn't have been worried about being a little late. While Jean finished getting ready I walked around in order to get some steps. I noticed how clean the house was and it looked like the carpets had been shampooed. I guess the bishop's daughter Haley works for them. Jean bought a rug shampooer and Haley shampooed the rugs and cleaned the house. I'm glad to know Jean has some help.

We arrived at Native in Show Low around noon and the parking lot was pretty full. with restaurants only allowed to operate with 50% capacity patrons I was worried we wouldn't find a table. We did have to wear a mask inside but took them off once we were seated. They found us a nice booth to sit in. We each ordered the chicken, apple, pecan salad and then we also ordered an appetizer, fried zucchini sticks. They were delicious and the salad was great too.

Jean did not get a basket when we got to Walmart. She bought a pound of butter and a six pack of bottled Coca-Cola and just put it in my basket. I did my shopping and before leaving Jean and I went over to look at the air fryers. I ended up buy the Ninja for $89.00. While Jean waited in line I ran over and got a bag of frozen french fries to try in the fryer. 

I could tell Jean was tired. She had seemed perfectly normal all the time we were together but on the way home she was telling me some stories from her personal history about her first husband and her children with him and some of the things she told me were confusing and different from what she has told me before. When the brain is tired it does tend to get muddled and confused. I can say the same for mine.

I made a big mistake when shopping. Sweets are my one(?) weakness and I bought a banana cream pie. I had two slices before it had even thawed properly. James nibbled at it. I'm going to have to get rid of this thing one way or another. Hopefully I won't eat the entire pie myself.

Brian and Kim had just had their one big meal of the day and Brian was cleaning the kitchen while Kim was at the table doing a puzzle. Brian is nice like that.

Kim told about her alternative medicine routine and going to the chiropractor. She said regular doctors never helped her. She used oils and a heating pad and castor oil to treat some of her ailments. I told her if it works for her then I'm all for it.

Darrel accidentally FaceTimed me before going to bed and I got to talk to Lola. What a treat!

Scarlett with her new puppy Kobe

The Nasa Super Guppy!

Thursday, July 30th, 2020 - Anthony Sick; Banana Bread; Kim and Brian here in the evening; Charlie; Little Lola

 Sacramento, California

123rd operating temple 

Dedicated: 3 Sep 2006

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Light of the World

John 1:9

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Book of Mormon

Alma 42:1-15

April General Conference

"Sharing the Message of the Restoration and the Resurrection"

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Anthony and James worked on the fence early this morning. I made James some banana nut bread to share with Anthony. I texted him when it was out of the oven and cooled down enough to take out of the pan. They came in and each of them had a glass of cold water and sat down to their warm slice of banana bread. I think Anthony maybe took one bite and hurried to the bathroom where we could hear him throwing up. I hope it wasn't my bread that made him sick. He looked rather pale when he came out of the bathroom and I invited him to lie down on the couch but he declined. He said he had a pain in his lower chest. James was going to take him to the hospital but Anthony didn't want to go. He stood up and walked around because every time he tried to sit down it made the pain worse. He finally apologized for not eating the banana bread and excused himself to go home. He said he has not been eating very much. It does look like he has lost quite a bit of weight. He thought maybe he was low on electrolytes. I told him I was worried about him and to let us know when he got home. He did.

I have sold several books this week and have made a total of about $132 since Monday. That is encouraging what with all of the trouble I have been having with stranded books. My previously stranded books are out and now my new shipment is listed as stranded. Will this never end? 

We started a new Aunt Dimity book today, "Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse." This one took a weird twist and became a murder mystery. Annabelle Craven is an older citizen in Finch, the small English village where Lori Shepherd lives. She is a quilter and needs help with a quilt she wants to donate to the church fete. The quilt is almost finished and Lori and Annabelle  are working on it by themselves. Annabelle tells Lori she was married twice, the first time when she was only 17. He husband was a drunk, a cheat, and a liar. She said the marriage did not last long. Lori asks if she got a divorce and she says oh no, that's too expensive, I murdered him and buried him in the rose garden. The roses thrived after that." Lori, after talking to Aunt Dimity, sets out on a journey to find out what really happened to Annabelle's first husband. 

Kim and Brian arrived around 7:30 this evening. I told them there was no scheduled rain this week. They said they knew but they wanted to come anyway. It was 118 in the valley today. No wonder they wanted to come!

We had a nice visit with our company before going to bed. Kim was saying how the Book of Mormon is a patter for the Second Coming of the Savior. She said I wonder who Captain Moroni is...I think it could be Tim Ballard. Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. There were rallies in Utah and Arizona and throughout the United States. Emily B.F. was helping Tim Ballard with the rally in Utah. She says he is a dear friend.

The Goodman's brought James this zucchini today