OUR FAMILY

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Fri, Sep 24th, 2021: Temple#40:Plumbing prblms, Batmania, Grapp's birthdays, Old Cars Ride in the Pines, Panda, Charlie & Tanner, Scarlett makes a card for Autumn

Denver, Colorado

40th operating temple

Dedicated: 24 Oct 1986

By: Ezra Taft Benson

Jesus Christ, Redeemer

Mosiah 14:4

Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 9:1-17

D&C

107:58-100

"Come Follow Me"

107:41-57 The priesthood blesses families.

AprGenCon

"Christ is Risen: Faith in Him will Move Mountains"

President Russell M. Nelson

President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The mountains in our lives do not always move how or when we would like. But our faith will always propel us forward. Faith always increases our access to godly power.

The Articles of Faith

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Inklings

"Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

Perfection is in Jesus Christ.

Be patient

"Be the change we want to see."

James spoke to Kristy Thomas today via messenger. He told her we would probably not be coming to the funeral. She sent him the Zoom link. She then asked him if he knew what happened to Kendall. James told her no, and she said she would call him and talk to him about it. She loved James as her bishop and she is still honoring him.

James fixed a leak in the pump house and now there is another one. In order to fix it he has to go to town to get a fitting. Also, the igniter on the hot water heater for the kitchen isn't working so we need a new one. The repairs of what caused the leak in the guest bathroom ceiling have been put on hold.

The forecast is for rain the next few days. James is trying to get the pipes for the sprinkler system for the backyard buried in the ground before it rains.

This afternoon James and I were both lying down in our bed taking a nap. I opened my eyes and in between two of the logs on the ceiling I saw a bat crawling under one of the logs. I yelled to James and we both jumped up. He went into the cleaning supply closet and got a floor cleaner to slide behind the log to scare the bat out. I left and closed the bedroom door. I gave him a wuffle ball bat to use if the bat flew. Pretty soon he came out and said he needed a ladder. He looked some more but could not find the bat. Okay, I'm sure I saw a bat but was it real or imaginary. I can still see the image in my mind. My mind really does play tricks on me.

This afternoon I visited the Grapp's. I had three birthday gifts. One for Malea, Emsley, and Liana. Benson opened the gate for me when I arrived. He told me I would need to go in the back door because they were refinishing their wood floor. Soon the entire family was outside so we just went to the side of the house to sit at the picnic tables. Kerri was there too. She had bought some supplies for the family at Sam's Club and was making a delivery. Here are some pictures I took:

Malea loved her horse

Malea is 1

Liana just turned 13!

Tildy's birthday is in January

Emsley with her birthday dog,

Pinky! I love this dog!

Emsley just turned 8

After my visit with the Grapp's I headed for town. I forgot to get gas in my car yesterday and I don't want to run low over the weekend.

The Grapp's said they were going to town too to see the Old Car Ride in the Pines Parade that starts at 4. I was 3:30 when I left.

The Ride in the Pines starts at the downtown LDS chapel in Show Low and goes to the casino on the other side of Pinetop.

My first stop was at Nature's Remedies, the health food store, to get James some Quercetin. They didn't take too long. Next I went to Goodwill to make a donation. After Goodwill it was across the street to Walmart for diet Dr. Pepper. I also checked out the cake mixes. Still no lemon, but I did get some lemon frosting. I also got some vanilla room freshener and was on my way. Even though the line at Panda was long I drove in behind the last car. I got a bowl of chow mein noodles with orange chicken for me and a bowl of chow mein noodles with honey walnut shrimp for James. As I got back on the highway I noticed in the line of traffice going towards Lakeside there were several old cars. It's nice they didn't stop traffic for this long parade, but just let the old cars go with the flow of traffic. There were quite a few people watching from the side of the road. My favorite was an old coupe that had been painted a beautiful purple!

My last stop was back at Dash and Splash for gas. It was fun to spot the old cars in incoming traffic.

Back at home after dinner I went in to finish blogging so I could do some indexing. I was behind on my walking so I set my timer for 15 minutes instead of 20 as I normally do. I blog and then I walk. After doing this a couple of times I was so tired I went to take a break on the recliner in the bedroom. James wakes me up and says, it's 9:30. I said, "In the morning.?" No. My next question: "Where is the bat?" James: "I haven't seen him." So much for my bat.

I was excited for Friday all week because "The Great British Baking Show" had said the next season would be coming out. In all actuality it was one episode of the next season. They are bringing out one episode a week for the next few weeks. Not what I was expecting.

Charlie tells Tanner about her day.

Look how attentive he is:

President Kimball and his surgeon,

Russell M. Nelson

My Show Low Cafe lunch:

Cards for the Willis family and Kristy

Thomas and her family

Thur, Sep 23rd, 2021: Temple#39:Kristy Thomas Kendall's funeral, Leaky faucets, etc., trenches outside, Lunch w/ Catherine@ Sholo Cafe, Charlie & Scarlett, Vegas,

Buenos Aires, Argentina

39th operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Jan 1986

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Redeemer

Isaiah 53:4

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 8:11-28

D&C

107:1-57

"Come Follow Me"

107:1-20

AprGenCon

"Our Personal Savior"

Elder Michael John U. Teh

Of the Seventy

The Savior's only desire, His only purpose from the very beginning, was to do the will of the Father. The will of the Father was for Him to assist in "bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" by becoming our "advocate with the Father." Hence, "though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."

Family Proclamation

We Call Upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

Inklings

Why do I stay?

"Take care of him."

The Inn is His Church

Come as you are

Do good, be good

"Our journey to God is often found together."

Up at 4:54 this morning. As I was sitting at my desk I got a message from Kristy T. in Chandler. She wants us to come down for Kendall's funeral which is Saturday at 4 p.m. James was their bishop and worked with them to get them to the temple. Kristy said there will be an Honor Guard there. I told her James was still asleep but I would talk to him when he got up.

James and I had prayer and scriptures for yesterday and today. Afterwards James left for town to pick up pills at CVS and some plumbing supplies. We have a leaky faucet in the bathroom, a leaky hose going in to one of the hot water heaters, and something leaking in the pump house. When it rains, it pours - or should I say when it leaks it pours.

I left around 10:15 to go to the post office and then to pick up Catherine. Kerri, her daughter, is out of town and I told Catherine we would go shopping and go to lunch today.

We decided we wanted to go to Safeway but before going there we would have lunch at the Show Low Cafe. I told Catherine my grandparents used to own the motel and the cafe. It looks quite different now. They have done away with the nice dining room and just extended the cafe. I told her how we used to have Christmas dinners here and the kids got to make their own Shirley Temples at the bar. My cousin Rita and I had back to school parties upstairs. We played The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean music and brought food from the kitchen up in the dumb waiter. Also, my wedding reception was upstairs. This is all back when the motel was called The Maxwell House.

Catherine and I both ordered a BLT with avocado and a side of sweet potato fries. Everything was delicious. There was lots of bacon on the sandwich and the bacon was cooked perfectly. We ate and chatted. Neither of us could eat more than half our sandwich so we ordered to go boxes and said we would take the other half home for dinner.

Catherine is excited about the Mesa Temple Open House. She was a temple worker there for over 12 years. She told me some stories of when she was the assistant to the brides. She said whenever she is in the Mesa Temple it reminds her of her husband and she gets a little teary eyed. After we said our goodbyes I realized I should have taken a picture. The one I am posting is a few years old and was taken after a session at the Snowflake temple. Since this picture Catherine has lost about 30-35 lbs. She is in her late 80's.

Fun Times

Catherine lives with her daughter Kerri who just turned 61. Kerri took Benson Grapp and they went to the Diamondback game in Phoenix. Benson loves baseball and was so excited to go.

James fixed the leak in the hot water heater connection. Now there is something blocking the faucet in the kitchen and it's just a trickle. There is no way to clean it out because it doesn't come apart. Not sure what the next step is. Also, there is no hot water and James can't light the igniter. Thank goodness this only affects one side of the house. We still have hot water in our bedroom from the other hot water heater.

This afternoon I watched the Holiday Series of The Great British Bake Show while I blogged. I also walked over 12,000 steps.

For dinner James had tilapia and I finished my BLT and sweet potato fries.

Received a text from Kacey regarding Autumn. She is having more health issues. This time it is her heart. They are doing several tests and Kacey went to stay with Scarlett. Of course Charlie went too. Charlie and Scarlett love each other and are more like sisters than aunt and niece. Yes, Charlie is Scarlett's aunt.

I love these two!

Sheri is in Vegas at the Vision Expo with other members of her staff. They are staying at the Venetian where Derek Hough's stars in his own show with his girlfriend, Hailey. Sheri sent me a picture of all of his DWTS trophies which are on display in the hotel.

Although it looks like more,

I believe he won 7 times.

I watched the first episode of "DWTS" this week where Derek is now a judge. They have some good contestants this year, except one old guy from Karate Kid.

More Las Vegas pictures

Cards and necklaces I got for Eden

and Emsley for their baptisms.

Also Liana's YW necklace

Memory: Ruby's 7th birthday. Lola is

2 and I think she's getting ready to dig

into Ruby's cake.

This week's "CFM"

Friday, September 24, 2021

Wed, Sep 22nd, 2021:Temple#38: Visit to DeWitt's cake & dinner, James & Evie, Charlie & Nanny Lu, Full moon @ F. H., Palmer & Scarlett, Charlie's nativity, Steps

Lima, Peru

38th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Jan 1986

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Redeemer

Isaiah 60:16

Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 7:13-8:10

D&C

RIC: Restoring the Ancient Order

"Come Follow Me"

107: The Lord leads His Church through priesthood authority.

AprGenCon

"God Loves His Children"

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo

Of the Seventy

While my wife was teaching missionaries, this thought penetrated my soul: "Taniela, all these experiences are for your own good and development. You have been teaching and sharing your testimony about the Atonement of Jesus Christ; now live accordingly."

I was reminded that "happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore we should despise not . . . the chastening of the Almighty" (Job 5:17). It was a spiritual surgery for me, and the outcome was immediate.

"They Cannot Prevail; We cannot Fall"

Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong

Of the Seventy

I testify to you that Christ will come again a second time as He did the first time, but this time it will be with great glory and majesty. I hope and pray that I will be ready to receive Him, whether on this side of the veil or on the other side. As we celebrate in this wonderful Easter season, I hope, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, I will be able to go up and meet with my Maker and say, "Thank you."

Family Proclamation

We Warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

Inklings

"In Him, we find cause to do good, reason to be good, and increasing capacity to become better. In Him, we discover abiding faith, liberating selflessness, caring change, and trust in God. In His Inn, we find and deepen our personal relationship with God, our Father; and Jesus Christ." - Elder Gerrit W. Gong

At 7 this morning I went into the kitchen to stack the chocolate cake layers. I had to cut the "humps" off all 3 and of course I had to sample them. As Mary says on "The Great British Baking Show" when she likes something, they were scrummy! I made the same homemade chocolate frosting I use on a Texas sheetcake, and frosted the cake. I put a row of edible pearls around the bottom, put the 1 candle on top and put a few pink sprinkles on the top of the cake under the candle. Walla, it's ready for delivery. Now I need to go get ready to deliver.

Kathy and I meet near her gate at 9 o'clock. I motion for her to go ahead. This is the DeWitt's home:

You can't see it but there is a sign that says:

Our Happy Place

The 1 signifies that you are #1

on your birthday

I was glad Kathy was there when we sang "Happy Birthday"

Collin has said Wendy might be sleeping but she was awake and ready for company. Kathy brought Cafe Rio chicken burros with all the fixings. I brought the cake and a gift. We visited for awhile with the DeWitt's and then it was time to go. Kathy has an appointment in town. Collin rented a chair for Wendy that is a recliner and is easy to get out of. I guess there is a Rent-A-Center in Show Low near Cal-Ranch. Collin helped Wendy do her hair. I thought it looked great.

I realized after I was almost home that I had left my cake carrier on the dining room table. I texted Collin and said:

Which goes first, the mind or the body? With me it's both! Sorry I forgot my cake carrier. Maybe you could bring it on Sunday.

Collin texted back: Mind v. Body is truly a foot race. I will bring it to you with chocolate all over my face. What a wonderful cake. Wendy forked half of it. Thank you so much.

When I got home there was water running in the garage. It's the hot water heater. I turned off the hot water and it stopped. Just something else for James to fix.

James came home this evening and brought me a mixed burro from Burger House. It made a delicious dinner. James lost his pills. They must have dropped out of his bag on the ground somewhere.