Wed, Nov 24th, 2021, Temple #101 Recife, Brazil, "The Magic of Starlight", 3 Christmas movies, FedEx wrong delivery, Weedeating, Camrie's Twins, Haircuts, Aubrey & Josh,

 

Recife, Brazil

101st operating temple

Dedicated: 15 Dec 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Redeemer

D&C 45:4

Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

Book of Mormon

Mormon 5:13-6:5

D&C

135

"Come Follow Me"

135:3 Joseph Smith has done more for our salvation than anyone except Jesus Christ

OctGenCon

"Personal Peace In Challenging Times"

Elder Quentin L. Cook

I was deeply moved as I read what the Prophet Joseph Smith declared as he was confined in Liberty Jail: "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?" Joseph inquired how long the Lord's people would "suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions."

As I stood in Liberty Jail, I was deeply touched as I read the Lord's answer: "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thin afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high." It is clear that opposition can refine us for an eternal, celestial destiny.

The Savior's precious words "My son, peace be unto thy soul" resonate with me personally and have great significance for our day. They remind me of His teachings to His disciples during His mortal ministry.

This morning I read Elder Perkins conference talk, "Remember Thy Suffering Saints, O Our God". It is the conference talk we are studying for Inklings this week, along with John 9. Emily is so dedicated, she even does Inklings on Thanksgiving.

 I indexed 14 names this morning. I will have 200 names done by the end of November.

James and I feel negligent because we didn't ask Sister Bartels where she was having Thanksgiving. James said I should call and ask her. I said, if I call and ask her and she says she has no where to go, I can't say, come to our house because we won't be here. James agreed and said he would talk to Brother Peeler, which he did. Brother Peeler said, I never thought to ask her but I will now. I just wanted Sister Bartels to know that the people around her love her and care for her.

James came into the house this afternoon carrying a long package. He said, you got another package. I said I hadn't ordered anything that would come in a package shaped like that. All I have ordered is a couple of small books and some pills. He looked at the label and it is addressed to someone named Kelsey Folz at 4 N 3476, Vernon.

I asked who delivered it and James said FedEx. I called FedEx and after giving them the tracking number the guy said to leave it on our front porch and he would have someone in the area come and pick it up, which I did. It is now Friday morning that I am writing this and the package is still there. What should I do? 1) Leave the package and hope they will pick it up on Monday 2) Take it into FedEx in Show Low 3) Try and find Kelsey Folz according to her address which is not the easiest thing to do here in the wilderness.

Pacer app gave me way too many steps today, over 16,000 in 30 minutes. I don't want to delete the app and then reload it because I will lose all my stats. I tried to find a place to tell them to correct the problem but there was no place on the app. I guess I will take the bonus and hope the app fixes itself. At least I'm getting more steps and not less than I actually took.

James and I gave each other haircuts today. It was a much needed activity as we were both looking a little shaggy.

This afternoon I made the sweet potato casserole I was assigned to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. I put it all together and into the frig without baking. I will bake it tomorrow at Sheri's. 

James did some much needed weed eating today. Much more needs to be done but hey, at least it's a start.

We started a new book today after finishing "Charming Artemis". 

This new book is by Anita Stansfield, "The Magic of Starlight."

Throughout the day I watched these older Christmas movies:

"The Christmas High Note"

"Forever Christmas"

Christopher Russell

"Snowed Inn Christmas"

Joy Beth Lenz & Andrew Walker - two of my favorites and

one of my all time favorite Christmas movies!

Rowan's first time baking a cake by himself

He has the same smile as Charlie

Rowan the football player.

He plays tight end.

Lola cheering at the high school

Eva enjoying Halloween

Lola loves to read!

Lola still picks her mom flowers.

Don't you love the smile!

Just a couple of sisters going to 

tumbling class.

Cowgirl Addy

October was a great month

Addy ran Cross Country

Ruby and her friends,

The Chipettes

Trina and friends at

Jo Bro Concert

Hawaii

Aubrey & Josh

Pierce's daughter and son-in-law

Camrie & Darrin's 

baby girls were born today in

Midland, Texas

Addison & Bentley

Griffin

Sean & Stefani in our ward

are their grandparents.

Stefani also has an identical

twin sister, Alicia Hunsaker

our bishops wife.

Tue, Nov 23rd, 2021: Temple#100 Boston Massachusetts, DMT, Follow Him, DWTS, James oil change & prostate test, Pierce, Charlie, Scarlett, Sheri, Shayna, Darrel, IceDog

 

Boston, Massachusetts

100th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 Oct 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Redeemer

D&C 34:3

Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son;

Book of Mormon

Mormon 5:1-12

D&C

Saints chapter 44

"Come Follow Me"

135; 136:37-39 Joseph and Hyrum Smith sealed their testimonies with their blood

OctGenCon

"A House of Sequential Order"

Elder Vaiangina Sikahema

Of the Seventy

Brothers and sisters, I am a native of the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific but was raised in North America. The pandemic has kept hundreds, perhaps thousands of young Tongan missionaries serving around the world from returning to the beloved homeland because of its closed borders. Some Tongan elders have been on their missions for three years and sisters over two years! They wait patiently with the faith for which our people are know. Meanwhile, don't be too alarmed if some of them serving in your wards and stakes are looking increasingly more like me - aging and gray. We're grateful for missionaries everywhere for their devoted service, even when longer or shorter than they had anticipated because of the pandemic.

This week in "Come Follow Me" we are studying about the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. I got the following quote from listening to Dave & Emily on the "Don't Miss This" podcast:

"We spent the night in prayer which made this prison a gateway to heaven." - Brother Dan Jones

Brother Jones was in Carthage jail with the Prophet Joseph Smith.

James and I had family prayer before James left for town to get his trucks oil changed. I say the family prayer in the morning and James says it at night. 

While James was gone I watched the "DWTS" finale.  It was pretty darn good. The four finalists each did two dances, a fusion dance and a freestyle. All of the dances were good, in my opinion, except Cody's. All of the freestyle dances portrayed something about the finalist. Jojo and Iman both got perfect scores on both dances. 

As I looked at Iman throughout the season I realized he had made the biggest transformation. All of the other contestants had experience dancing and he had not. Danielle is becoming one of my favorite choreographers because she is not afraid to try new things. Sometimes I get tired of seeing the same things over and over again.

Iman may not be the best dancer but he was definitely the most transformed and improved.

Danielle & Iman

S. Michael Wilcox is on "Follow Him" this week. Here are a couple of things he said that really impacted me. 

Joseph teaches us to minimize problems and to live joyfully.

The gospel is about joy and redeeming love, neverending love.

I stand for Jesus in this life and testify of Him,

He stands before the Father in the next life and testifies of me.

James got the oil changed in his truck and also went over to the hospital to get a PSA test done which tells the size of the prostrate. James's started out at 11.5. The average is 3. We won't know the test results until Dec 7th when we go down to the valley and meet with Chris Morris at East Valley Urology.

On the way home James stopped at the post office and then at the Wilhelm's to pick up our pumpkin pie. He took a gift for Lanel. My pink Ty Beanie Baby, Hippo named "Big Kiss." I wanted a picture of Lanel with the Beanie Baby but I got this instead.

Lanel & Andy

Sandra was so excited because Andy came home from Washington where he has been living since August. They wouldn't let him wrestle at the high school he was going to so he came back here to finish out his senior year so he could wrestle. 

I must say, the pumpkin pie was a disappointment. It was not nearly as good as the frozen Marie Calendar pie I cooked a couple of weeks ago.

It was cold and overcast most of the day and this evening and most of the night it rained. We need the moisture but I miss the really nice weather we have been having.

James talked to Pierce today on the phone. They were on speaker phone and as they were getting ready to say goodbye I heard Pierce say, "Tell Karen I love her." It was the sweetest and James didn't even mind because he knows what a pure heart Pierce has.

James talked to the patient advocate at the hospital today. She listened to his story and then said she would talk to the head of Radiaology and get back with him. He was a little frustrated but I told him to be patient, these things take time. Now he needs to talk to Chad, Paul's brother-in-law to see if he thinks James has a case.

Pam, my friend who works at the hospital texted me to tell me that the hospital here in Show Low is full to capacity and that most hospitals in Arizona are the same. Covid is making a surge again.

Sheri said Dr. Giles from her work had Covid and because he has a pace maker they did an antibiotic infusion on him and he said the next day he felt 75% better.

I watched three older Christmas movies today, the last two with James.

"Twinkle All the Way", "Snowmance", and "Inn Love at Christmas".

Sheri & Shayna

Darrel supporting Cancer Awareness

Month for Men

Scarlett & Charlie

Ice Dog

Mon, Nov 22nd, 2021, Temple#99 SantoDomingo, Dominican Republic, Trina, Ruby, Lanel, Coconut cream pie, Mark,DWTS, Oregon Lambsons

 

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

99th operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Sep 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Redeemer

Alma 34:8

And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 4:1-23

D&C

Saints chapter 43

"Come Follow Me"

DC 135-36 "He Has Sealed His Mission and His Works with His Own Blood"

OctGenCon

"Invite Christ To Author Your Story"

Camille N. Johnson

Primary General President

I testify that the Savior is "the author and finisher of our faith."

Will you invite Him to be the author and finisher of your story?

He knows the beginning from the end. He was the Creator of heaven and earth. He wants us to return home to Him and our Heavenly Father. He has everything invested in us and wants us to succeed.

"The Peace Of Christ Abolishes Enmity"

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The pandemic is a spiritual stress test for the Savior's Church and its members. The results are likewise mixed. Our lives have been blessed by ministering in a "higher and holier way," the Com, Follow Me curriculum, and home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning. Many have provided compassionate help and comfort during these difficult times and continue to do so. 

Yet, in some instances, the spiritual stress test has shown tendencies toward contention and divisiveness. This suggests that we have work to do to change our hearts and to become unified as the Savior's true disciples. This is not a new challenge, but it is a critical one.

I got up at 4:30 this morning. James got up around 7 and after feeding Luna he went in to start his letter to Mark. I did my scripture study by myself because I like to do it before anything else. James said he had promised Mark this letter at a certain time. It took him a few hours to write and then I typed it. James addressed every point that Mark had brought up, things Mark was not satisfied with.  

As I typed this letter, I was so proud of James and how he is handling this dispute. Those things that Mark listed were minimal and he never mentioned all of the extra things that were done that James didn't charge for. James tried to be fair and bent over backwards but also stood up for himself.  All of Mark's complaints were directed at Armando and Salvador. In Sal's defense, he was very sick and could not come and finish the roof. The roofer said he would not come back so James fixed the problem. He traveled 450 miles roundtrip to fix a minimal problem and to dig concrete chunks out of Sue's "Beach" or sand pit. When this was complete, on Thursday, James texted and called Mark and Mark did not answer until Sunday. One of Mark's previous complaints was people not answering his calls or texts in a timely fashion. I think Mark is a bully and he always uses foul language.

After James sent the letter he asked Mark what he thought about it. He said, "I don't know, I didn't read it" and then went on to say he would pay $11,000 out of the 12 if James would agree to that today, otherwise it would be too late. This guy is unbelievable. James said the interesting thing is that Mark's wife treats him like he's treating me. How sad a life he must live. I feel sorry for him.

James agreed and told him he needed to overnight it by noon tomorrow. Who knows what Mark's reaction will be to that.

Trina bought some Sees candy the other day. She loves chocolate and Sees is her favorite. As she took a bite she realized she couldn't really taste it. She went and got tested and she has Covid. This was Friday. She has been in quarantine ever since. Her mother uninvited her to Thanksgiving. She told her kids she feels like she has leprosy. 

I asked her if we could bring the family Thanksgiving dinner and she said no, she was going to cook. I guess she feels pretty good and is using this time to cook and get caught up on laundry. She texted me and asked for my sweet potato casserole because Darrel requested it.

Trina said the saddest thing was that she missed Ruby's dance concert. 

Sweet, sweet Ruby

I'm surprised Trina didn't get Covid sooner with as many times as she has been exposed at work. She works in the emergency room at Mercy Gilbert.

I caught up on the movies I had to retape today. I also cleaned the refrigerator out and mopped the kitchen floor. 

Sister Wilhelm delivered the coconut cream pie I ordered from Zemira. The pies are to help raise funds for wrestling. Actually I ordered a banana cream pie and a pumpkin pie. George, who is five, dropped the banana cream pie. Sandra called me last night and asked if I would trade the banana cream for a coconut cream and I said yes. The pumpkin pie is still at the Wilhelm's, Sandra forgot it and said she would deliver it tomorrow. I told her we would come by and get it. George, who had dropped the banana cream pie I originally ordered, carried the coconut pie and handed it to me. I told him he handled it like a pro. 

George and Lanel, Lanel is 3, were running back and forth on the porch. All of a sudden Lanel reached the end of the porch and stopped and flipped over the ledge and landed on the ground. It was a perfect gymnastic flip but instead of landing on her feet, she landed on her head. Of course she cried and Sandra held her and tried to comfort her. Later when they got home I messaged Sandra and asked her how Lanel was. She sent me this picture:

Such a sad little face

I watched Christmas movies instead of the finale of "Dancing with the Stars". Before going to bed I fast forwarded to the end of the show to see who won. Amanda and Alan got 4th which was very disappointing because Cody, who was not a good dancer and didn't really deserve to be in the final in my opinion, got 3rd. That left Iman and Jojo as the top two. Iman, the first basketball star to make the finals ended up winning. I was quite upset when I went to bed.

Charlie with a new hairdo.

I almost didn't recognize her.

This is so cute!

Courtney's pink cake with buttercream

pom poms

Oregon Lambsons

meet their Arizona cousins

Love this