Thur, July 15th, 2021: Kansas City Temple #137: Leland's party, Trina's crew hikes in Bryce Canyon, Walk, blog, index, read, eat sugar, our watches

    

Kansas City, Missouri

137th operating temple

Dedicated: 6 May 2012

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Prophecies about

Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Book of Mormon

Alma 33:1-11 Why did the Lord hear Zenos's prayer? A: And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

D&C

78:1-12

"Come Follow Me"

78:1-7 I can help "advance the cause" of the Church

AprGenCon

"This Is Our Time"

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen

Of the Seventy

Fervent prayer and the knowledge that I possessed the authority of the holy priesthood became my anchors.

The Living Christ

#2

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

Inklings

Grace:

Divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ. An enabling power. Divine grace is needed by every soul because of the Fall of Adam and because of our weaknesses and shortcomings.

According to Emily there are two kinds of grace,

Saving Grace and Exalting Grace.

Up at 5:37, a little late. Here is a conversation I had with James when he got up at 6:54: K: Good morning, how are you feeling? J: I feel absolutely miserable. I ache in my back, shoulders, knees, feet, all over like I have rheumatoid arthritis. I'm plugged up and I can't breathe. K: I am so sorry.

James said he got up during the night and went outside and looked at the sky. He said that twinkling stars are suns. I had never heard that before.

It took me a long time to get my computer started this morning. It is soooo frustrating!

I listened to "Don't Miss This" as part of my "Come Follow Me" study. I also listened to part of Jared Halverson's presentation on "Unshaken." Jared Carter was an early, very successful, missionary of the Church. I was sad to learn that he did not endure to the end.

James went out to see Anthony today. He can't reach him by phone so he wanted to check on him and invite him to lunch on Sunday after the block. Anthony was excited to come to lunch.

This afternoon I went to Leland's third birthday party at the Grapp's. Benson was there to open the gate for me and to close it when I left. I do love and appreciate him! 

Here are some photos I took at the party. Gramma Grapp and I and the Thomas and Cammy and their kids were the only ones at the party. Sister Lauritzen made the birthday cake from scratch. It was delicious and so was the frosting.

Emsley was so excited to show Leland the

present she got him.

This was the gift I brought, a Tonka dump truck.

The Grapp's are watching the Harri's's little dog 

Lily. When Liana carried Lily outside to go potty

she dropped a turd in the back of the dump truck.

Tildy with Lily

As I drove home from the Grapp's I wondered why Cammy was so quiet. She seemed like something was bothering her. I left Thomas and the kids putting together Leland's "ride on" Kubota tractor.

I texted cousin Rita today and found out Aunt Gene has been in the Haven Rehab Center since May. Rita is in Yuma, going to Mexico to the dentist. She said Haven is open until 2 in the afternoon which means if I want to visit Aunt Gene I need to go in the morning.

James was just going out to ride Luna when it started sprinkling so he didn't go. It never did get into a full-on rain but we will take what we can get. It was so nice and cool this evening!

This evening I walked and indexed and read from my list of 10 books before going to bed. 

Here are some things I read about:

- Grace after all we can do or even if we don't do.

- Our body is affected by our thoughts.

- Joseph of Egypt to his brothers: "Am I in the place of God?"

- Temple covenants are vital to our salvation and Exaltation

- Joseph Smith's infected leg, much more to the story!

In an effort to get my ministering interviews done by the end of the new quarter I have decided I will contact one person a week. The first week of July was Sister Anderson. The second is Sister Diewald but Sister Diewald has not responded to my calls or texts. I have to keep trying because by Sunday it will be the third week and I will move on to the next person. I guess I won't "move on" from Sister Diewald I will just keep trying until I make contact. By Sunday I will also need to contact another person.

Our Walmart $8.88 watches

Don't Miss This

Emmy's day at the lake

Exciting news!

Trina's crew hikes in Bryce Canyon

Where is Lola?

Wed, July 14th, 2021: Quetzeltenango, Guatemala Temple #136:Beautiful rain! Reading, Shopping, Eating, Walking, Indexing, Blogging, Dowdle's,

 

Quetzeltenango, Guatemala

136th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 Dec 2011

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Prophecies about

D&C 36:8

I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will suddenly come to my temple.

Book of Mormon

Alma 32:21-43 How do we plant "spiritual" seeds? A: It is laid out in verse 27, "if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words." That's how it starts with seeking to know truth, experimenting on the word, and choosing to cast out your doubts so that your heart can "give portion" to the word and let it swell within you, You must nourish the seed continually or it will whither away and profit you nothing.

D&C

RIC: Newell K. Whitney and the United Firm

"Come Follow Me"

"You Can Gather Israel"

Ahmad S. Corbitt

First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency

How can you awaken your giant faith in Christ and use it to gather Israel now and triumph over Satan again? By relearning to look forward and see with that same certainty the Lord's promise to gather and save today. He mainly uses the Book of Mormon and His prophets to teach us how. Long before Christ, the Nephite "prophets, and ... priests, and ... teaches ... persuaded the people to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was." The prophet Abinadi taught, "And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption." Like Alma, Abinadi "looked forward with an eye of faith" and saw God's sure promise of salvation as already fulfilled. The "overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony" long before Christ was born, just as you did. And the Lord gave them power to invite and gather Israel. He will do the same for you as you look forward in faith, see Israel gathered - globally and in your own "circles" - and invite all!

The Living Christ

#1

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of HIs matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

Inklings

"Following the principles and commandments of the gospel of Jesus Christ day by day is the happiest and most satisfying course in life.

-Elder D. T. Christofferson

What a sweet day this was. A cinnamon roll and two sugar cookies.

James said it started raining at 2 a.m. and it was still raining when I got up at 5. I wonder if we got rain all of the time if we would be as excited about rain every time we get it. When it stopped raining it was so beautiful outside and there were puddles on the ground!

During my cleaning time which is 10-12, I worked on my blog and made out my grocery list as I am going shopping this afternoon. 

Around 3 p.m. James and I went to town. I talked him into going with me by saying that he needed to pick out the watermelon. We parked in the aisle at Walmart that has a big puddle from the rain so we had to walk through this puddle before going into the store. Inside, there were no baskets so we had to walk across the inside front of the store to the other entrance to get a basket. The greeter at that end of the store said: "Thank you for shopping at Walmart, have a nice day." I wonder what he thought when we got our basket and came right back into the store. 

Leland's birthday is tomorrow. He will be 3. He likes beep, beep tractors. Walmart didn't have any so I got him a Tonka dump truck instead. James went to pick out his card. It took him awhile because he said they didn't have any good ones for 3 year olds. 

I was shocked at the total cost of what we bought. We spent over $300! We did buy walnuts, pecans, and pistachio's which cost over $30 and I had several personal care items that were pretty pricey. James bought himself a watch and then of course there was Leland's gift. Groceries are so expensive!

We stopped at Panda and got Panda bowls. I got steak and broccoli with noodles and James got steak and shrimp with noodles. After James brought in the groceries and I put the perishables away we sat at the dining room table together and ate our Panda bowls. I could tell James was enjoying his dinner by the look on his face. It was sweet. 

As I put the groceries away I realized that I had bought laundry detergent, toilet paper, and paper towel all as part of our years supply. Nuts are expensive. I spent over $30 on nuts. I bought several costly personal items that were pricey. I felt a little better about spending so much once I evaluated my receipt.

This evening I turned the Suns-Bucks game on but didn't actually sit down and watch it. This is the bottom line. The Suns lost even though Booker made over 40 points. He needs some help! Paul is inconsistent and so is Crowder. Let's try Bridges and Payne.

Sister Dowdle, a friend from Chandler, invited us to her son Jacob's temple endowment on July 30th. James really wants to go. Jacob has overcome serious dyslexia, two serious broken legs, and kidney failure to go on a service mission. This has all been over the past four years. We are very proud of his desire and dedication to serve a mission. Here is the problem. I am going down on the 28th for my infusion. On the 29th we have to be back up here to feed the missionaries. I would change this, but I have already changed my day three times and I told James he would have to do it, but I can tell he isn't going to. We would have to leave early morning on the 30th to make it to a 10:00 endowment session. James is going to go. We will see how I feel before I commit.

This evening I walked, indexed, and blogged this evening. James and I started a new book, "Beyond the White River". I ordered cushions for our outside furniture. It was a busy day.

Some good reading especially from MindBody where I read about the heart having a brain and The Making of America where Benjamin Franklin wanted the meetings about the constitution to start with prayer but all of the clergy they asked wanted money and they had none. I could not believe that!

CFM

Love this girl so much!!

Cute Scarlett

Nature Preserve near Flagstaff

Tue, July 13th, 2021: San Salvador Temple #135: James's biopsy, Red Lobster, Culver's, Circle K giveaway, 10,000 Steps, Charlie, Costa Rica, HBE quote

 

San Salvador, El Salvador

135th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Aug 2011

By: Henry B. Eyring

Jesus Christ, Prophecies about

Malachi 3:1

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

Book of Mormon

Alma 32:1-20 How does one worship God? A: Obedience is the highest form of worship. A correct understanding of the nature of God and the Godhead is required for proper worship to occur.

D&C

77:10-15

"Come Follow Me"

77 God reveals His mysteries to those who seek to know them.

AprGenCon

"Bishops - Shepherd's Over the Lord's Flock"

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The bishop has a paramount role in serving as a shepherd to guide the rising generation, including young single adults, to Jesus Christ. President Russell M. Nelson has emphasized the seminal role of the bishop and his counselors. He has taught that their "first and foremost responsibility is to care for the young men and young women of their ward." The bishopric support parents in watching over and nurturing children and youth in the ward. The bishop and ward Young Women president counsel together. They strive to help the youth live the standards in For the Strength of Youth, qualify to receive ordinances, and make and keep sacred covenants.

Restoration Proclamation

#9

With reverence and gratitude, we as His Apostles invite all to know - as we do - that the heavens are open. We affirm that God is making known His will for His beloved sons and daughters. We testify that those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Inklings

"The covenants God offers to His children do more than guide us. They bind us to Him, and, bound to Him, we can overcome all things." - Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Greetings and Salutations! Today is the day James has his biopsy to see if he has prostate cancer. We left for the valley around 8:30. His appointment is at 1 p.m. I say a prayer before we leave and James drives. We listen to the Book of Mormon, the rest of D&C 77, and part of the "Come Follow Me" lesson while we are driving. We finish our book, "Love on Pointe". As we knew he would Emmy's boyfriend Rhys joins the Church and one year later they are married in the temple. I played Edenbrooke and James enjoyed listening to it with me. We love the narrator's voice and the book is great. We finished it on the way home today.

On the way down we stopped at Culver's in Payson because I needed to use the restroom. I was hungry so I ordered a cheeseburger. There was a sign for some ice cream, or in Culver's case, custard with chocolate cake and strawberries in a waffle cone. The girl taking my order, Kate, said she couldn't put that in a cone because it was a mix. I said, then why do you have this sign up. She said, Oh that was for July 10th. I said well if you can't make it you should take your sign down. I guess I don't want any custard. As I was leaving with my cheeseburger, Kate came over and brought me some custard with strawberries and chocolate cake in a cup. She apologized and said this was "on the house." That was very nice of her. I wonder if she had to pay for it. 

I felt a little guilty eating in front of James but he said it didn't bother him, although he kept saying that a Whataburger sounded good.

We got to East Valley Urology while they were closed for their lunch hour so we waited outside. Armando met James and James gave him the bills that he owes from White Cap. He agreed that he owed us around $400. 

After going in and the girl came to take James back, she asked me to wait in one of the patients room. I told them my daughter was coming and they said they would tell her where I was. Stacy came and brought James a card signed by her, Paul, and Joshua. This is what Joshua's message said: We're all hoping you win this hard battle and that you may overcome one of the hardest things to beat. Love, Josh. How sweet is that! Stacy also brought a bag of dark chocolate cashews for James to munch on when this procedure is over. I gave Stacy some Tramadol as she is in alot of pain with her back. I'm just wondering why her doctor can't prescribe some for her.

When James came out he was a little dizzy. We scheduled the next appointment for August 3rd at 11:30 and when we left the office we were holding hands as I steadied him while we walked to the car. We have Sheri's ice chest and so we had to go to Chandler to drop it off. I drove while James ate his cashews. Ian was just leaving from his lunch break when we drove up and dropped the ice chest off. As we left the neighborhood Cathi was outside and we waved at her but didn't stop. 

By this time James was hungry and the choices were Whataburger or Red Lobster. He finally decided on Red Lobster. We didn't want to back track to Gilbert Rd. so I Googled Red Lobster in Mesa. The one on Alma School across from what used to Fiesta Mall which is now closed down. This was my mom's favorite restaurant and I have memories of coming here with her and Vickie.

We both order off the lunch menu where the portions are smaller. James gets the scallops and I get Walt's shrimp. I get six shrimp and share one with James because I know he loves them. I don't want any of his scallops though. We both ordered green beans and mashed potatoes for sides. I also had two of the cheddar biscuits. James thought they were too salty so he only had one.

When we went back to the car James was feeling pretty miserable so I gave him a couple of Tramadol and I took a couple too. They do not bother me or make me sleepy when I drive. We headed out of town towards Payson. James thinks I had a close call, getting too close to a truck when I passed him, but I totally felt in control and did not think I was too close. When we got to Payson we stopped at the Circle K when you first come into town to get gas and a drink for me. James said he was ready to drive. I don't know if it was because of my "close call" but I said that was fine. As we were leaving we gave $5 to a guy with a sign. It made him so happy which made us happy.

We are home by 7. It looks like we got some rain. I texted the kids and told them we wouldn't know the results until next Tuesday. Kacey said they would continue to pray and I'm sure everyone else will too. 

I have some walking to do. I only had 2,000 steps when I got home. It takes about 10 minutes to do 1,000 steps. I start a new audio book, one I've listened to before but it won't matter because I don't remember it, "Becoming Lady Lockwood." I get 10,000 steps by 10 p.m. Woohoo!

Love this face!

I would love to take a cake decorating

class from Courtney!