OUR FAMILY

Friday, December 24, 2021

Mon, Dec 13th, 2021: San Antonio, Texas Temple, "The Holy Invitation", my struggles, Happy Bday Carmen, mtn lion, Charlie & Nanny Lu, drywall mess

San Antonio, Texas

120th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 May 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father

Colossians 1:19

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Book of Mormon

Ether 9:23-35

"Come Follow Me"

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

"The family is central to the Creator's plan

GC365

OctGenCon

"Favored of the Lord in All My Days"

Elder Moises Villanueva

Of the Seventy

Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, want us to have joy. President Russell M. Nelson has taught: "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God's plan of salvation, . . . we can feel joy regardless of what is happening, or not happening, in our lives."

Inklings

I have prepared thee for a greater work

Ensign

"How We Gather Israel Today"

Listened to Follow Him this morning. I also read from "The Holy Invitation." This is a quote by Joseph Smith from that book:

"I want you all to know God, to be familiar with Him, . . . When we know how to come to Him, God begins to unfold the heavens to us and tell us all about it."

I am struggling right now. Barbara Goodman was such a dear friend and I am so sad over her loss. We still needed her here. My heart aches for Pierce.

The Grapp's have not been back to our ward since Thomas was released. It was the day of the Primar program, November 14th. Rumors are circulating about why they aren't coming and that they are attending another ward. James has tried to talk to Thomas but Thomas just says that everything is fine. Cammy acts that way too.

Sheri is struggling with her boys, except for Evan. Lots of heartache with our older grandchildren and the decisions they are making. We have hope in the younger kids.

My health and James's health is not what it should be. With both struggle with pain. I quit taking methotrexate because my hair is falling out and so I am not feeling as well as I should.

We spoke to Collin at the post office today and also Sandra Wilhelm. The post office is where it's at in Vernon. I got the book I've been waiting for, "The Holy Covenants", a sequel to "The Holy Invitation." I also got my Christmas present to myself, a car vacuum. I hope I can keep my car a little cleaner with it. That's one of my goals for the new year, keep my car clean!

I watched two good Christmas movies today, "Christmas Star", and "Fixing Christmas." I got a little cranky with James when he said that Cafe Kathy's chicken was full of sugar. I actually looked the recipe up online to show him it did not have any ingredients that contained sugar.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish."

-Proverbs 29:18

Happy Birthday Carmen!

Reminds me of when we had our tree

in Chandler and the pit was filled with presents

James fixed the drywall in the dining room

and then went right into the bathroom to

fix the leak up above in the tub.

Snow in the Cotswold

Nanny Lu and Charlie

My "Barbara" crackers

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Sun, Dec 12th, 2021: Manhattan NY Temple, Sacrament meeting, Sunday School, food to MacArthur's, Charlie, Tanner, dog Remmy,Mesa Temple Rededication, Aunt Flors

Manhattan, New York

119th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 June 2004

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father

Philippians 2:6

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

Book of Mormon

Ether 9:1-22

D&C

Review Articles of Faith, Official Declarations 1 & 2

"Come Follow Me"

Review "We Believe"

OctGenCon

"Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ"

Elder Christoffel Golden

Of the Seventy

We live in a modern world filled with great knowledge and much prowess. Nonetheless, these things too often camouflage the unsteady foundation upon which they are built. Consequently, they do not lead to real truth and on toward God and the power to receive revelation, acquire spiritual knowledge, and develop faith in Jesus Christ that leads to salvation.

We are profoundly reminded of our Lord's words to Thomas and the other Apostles on the eve of His atoning sacrifice: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Inklings

"Faith to Act and Become"

Ciro Schmeil

1 Nephi 17

"You are called for what you can become"

I slept in until 7 this morning. I showered and got ready for church and caught up on some journal notes before leaving at 8:40 with James. We had family prayer before we left.

We sat by the Peeler's. Still no Grapp's. So sad. No Judd's or Bowen's either. I guess the Bowen's are in Texas visiting people Sean knew on his mission.

Sister Lauritzen was the first speaker. She spoke on Sister Camille Johnson's conference address, "Invite Christ to Author Your Story."

Here are some notes that I took:

What story are you writing? Are you on the Covenant Path? Are you keeping the commandments? Are there things in your life you haven't repented of? Is the temple your goal? We need to become worthy, not perfect. We need to have a sincere heart. Why are we reluctant to ask directions from the Holy Ghost? Do we have the desire to learn and listen? Learn to receive revelation and be under the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost. - RMN. 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Feast upon the words of Christ for the words of Christ will tell you all things which you should do. (see 2 Nephi 32)

Rosie, Sister Lauritzen, shared some experiences when the Holy Ghost helped her to forgive and move on with her life and when she was able to bear testimony to someone who know longer believed in the gospel.

"Silent Night" by Elder Wansgard, Elder Baldwin, and two sisters. It was beautiful.

Brother Lauritzen - "Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ" by Elder Christoffel Golden. Here are some notes:

Don't look beyond the mark. Look for plainness. 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 7

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ... Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

We need to be constantly changing and becoming more pure. Christ is the only sure foundation. The faithful need not fear. We must take the Holy Spirit for our guide to avoid perilous times. We must follow the Prophet. Christ's gospel is a gospel of hope, of healing, and of progress. Our spirits rejoice with every small step forward that we take. D&C 128:22 - Shall we not go on in so great a cause. Go forward and not backward. Courage, and on, on to the victory!

Let your hearts rejoice...

Sister Johnson, Paula, taught Relief Society. The lesson was based on the two talks from general conference based on peace. Elder Dale G. Renlund, "The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity", and Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Personal Peace in Challenging Times."

Paula did a great job. She followed the talks and added her own experiences. She also said she had lost 11 friends in 9 weeks. How sad. I sat by Rosie and Catherine and Barbara and behind Wendy D. I did a ministering interview with Sister Gilbert. She visits Cress Miller and she told me some experiences with her and said she was not feeling well today. We have a new sister in our ward, Cindy Prong.

After Relief Society was over I made up a box of food for the MacArthur's and James and I delivered it to Chelsea. She seemed very grateful.

I came home and fixed chicken tacos. James helped me. We ate and then it was rest time. I watched the new Godwink movie. When I got up after rest time I worked on my blog and then listened to "Inklings" with Emily and Pyper.

James went out this afternoon with his ministering partner Dave and they visited Anthony which always takes awhile. James took Anthony a calendar of Arizona scenery.

Listening to Inklings gets me out of my depression. James fixed us some shrimp for dinner. We read our scriptures and a chapter from our book.

So far the ward has sent food baskets to the Lamb's, the Kenyon's, and the MacArthur's. They are getting some good food, Cafe Kathy's chicken with all the fixin's.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Sat, Dec 11th, 2021: Copenhagen Denmark Temple, Temple shift, Walmart, BK, Ward party, Cafe Kathy's chicken and all the fixin's, Pierce, elders, Applegates,

Copenhagen, Denmark

118th operating temple

Dedicated: 23 May 2004

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Book of Mormon

Ether 9:1-22

"Come Follow Me"

RIC: Witnessing the Faithfulness & FSS & FHE

OctGenCon

"The Things of My Soul"

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

May I share with you some of the things of my soul" These things apply to all who seek to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.

First, love God the Father and Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Jesus decreed the first great commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

President Nelson declared his devotion to God, our Eternal Father, and to His Son, Jesus Christ, when he was called to lead the Lord's Church, saying, "I know Them, love Them, and pledge to serve Them, and you, with every remaining breath of my life."

Liahona

"How We Gather Israel Today"

I got up at 4:18 this morning. I left the house at 5:24. Before leaving James made me oatmeal and a slice of Cammy's bread. I was clear to the church and thought I had forgotten a mask. I did not want to get one at the temple because I used two last week and they both broke. I called James and told him where the box of masks were and ask him to bring them to me. They should be in the car, not in the house anyway. I told him I had gotten out some masks yesterday but didn't see them this morning. I waited a few minutes at the church but when James didn't come I drove back towards the house to meet him. I met him on 3261. When James handed me the masks I set them on the seat by my purse and since the light was on I happened to look down in my purse. To my surprise and frustration I saw in my purse, the package of masks I had gotten out yesterday to take with me. There was no reason for James to bring me the rest of the box. The sad thing is now I will probably be late for preparation meeting. Why am I so forgetful and why didn't I check in my purse before I called James?

I walked into preparation meeting with Sister Gentry and Sister Whiting a few minutes after the meeting had started. I did have a mask on. Brother Elmer was conducting and the Seaman's were presiding.

My schedule: First I had the recommend desk with Sister Cochran. First time for me and first time for sisters. No problems. Next was top of the stairs as a greeter where I visited with Kim Seaman. Found out her mom, whom I remember, died at 49 of lung cancer. So sad.

Next I went to initiatory where we stayed very busy. One of the patrons was Sister Bowen who comes to the temple regularly and has thousands of family names to be done. They are all Scandanavian. She and her husband did initiatory all morning. I told her she was a great example to the rest of us.

While waiting for one of my assignments I was sitting in what I call the upstairs "gathering" room. Sister Seaman had told me that a longtime Show Low resident who was in our (mine and Sister Seaman's), ward when I grew up was coming to have her husband sealed to his parents. Her name, Leone Reidhead. Here is what I remember about Leone. She was married to Doy Reidhead a cowboy and a roper and a friend of my dad's. I rarely saw Doy in church but Leone was as faithful as they come. She is a Pearce and all of her siblings are also residents of Show Low or Linden and I knew all of them as stalwarts and an example to me as I was growing up. Here are the Pearce's: Joy Pearce, Roger Pearce, Clea Adams, Vivian Adams, Ione Whipple, and Leone. Roger was a cowboy and another friend of my dad's. Most of the Pearce's were around my mom and dad's age. What a legacy of faithfulness. I love these types of people and there are so many of them in the Show Low, Snowflake, Vernon, Taylor, Lakeside, Springerville, Eagar area.

I went over to Sister Reidhead and introduced myself. When I told her I was Marlin and Bettylea's daughter she gasped and said, "oh my goodness, I loved your mother, she was so good." I said, my dad, not so much. She said, "Oh Marlin, he knew better, bless his heart."

I love having these experiences in the temple!

After initiatory I had a break then I was follower 2 in the 9:30 session. I ended up being the only sister follower. Sister Cureton, who was assigned to be the other follower, became part of the witness couple, the other part being her husband. Being a follower in a session is easy. There really isn't much to do anymore until you get to the veil. I was originally assigned to veil 3 but now was assigned to veil 1. Brother Coltrin lead the session and he was flawless.

After the veil I went back to initiatory where I am getting lots of practice learning the washings, anointings, and sealings. Such powerful blessings! For the first time since coming back, I had an assignment after 12. I was assigned to be the veil director for the sisters in the 11 session. There were so many sisters in this session, Brother Harmon Neff asked me to please open up another veil, which I did. After the session I took all of the names up to the recorders' office and my duties for the day were over. It was 1:00.

I got home around 2:30. James made a bed frame for the new mattress and box springs we got from Dawn.

On the way home I stopped at Walmart to pick up three boxes of Christmas cards for Relief Society. This Walmart in Taylor was busy, but nothing like the Show Low Walmart on a Saturday. I went through Burger King and got a Whopper Jr. for lunch. I got home, took a short nap, and then loaded my car and left for the church to help prepare the food for our ward party. I arrived at 4:30, the same time as Alicia who was assigned to bring three roaster ovens. I think we used one of them.

Kathy and Tamara were already inside working. The talk in the kitchen got around to Kerri. She has already had her kidney replacement surgery and is ready to get up and walk around the hospital. The staff are having a time keeping her down, but that's Kerri. It's great to know how well she is doing. She actually called Tamara while we were working.

We sat by Jimmie Applegate's table for dinner. While the line formed for dinner, he and James went to the dessert table. Life is short, eat dessert first.

He said he got the desserts for Tamara,

but I know better.

When I looked around and realized Pierce wasn't here, I asked James to call him. Pierce showed up a few minutes later and sat with us at our table. He said he was feeding the pigs when he got James's call. He had forgotten about the party. Four elders, Wansgard, Baldwin, Richards and his companion, Tamara, and Ty also sat at our table. It was setup for 8 people but there were ten of us. The food was good. Cafe Kathy's chicken is the recipe for Cafe Rio chicken. There were flour tortillas, cheese, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, homemade refried beans, tortilla's and chips. James especially loved Sister Nadine Singleton's homemade beans.

After dinner we sang some Christmas carols and then Mr. and Mrs. Santa came played by Willie and Jana Grombach. Mrs. Santa stole the show. She had the kids sitting on the edge of their chairs until finally they gathered around on the floor at her feet. She told us that Santa always says a prayer before he goes out to deliver presents.

At one point she said, where is Haley Hunsaker? Haley, will you please stand up. Haley is the bishop's youngest daughter. She is a senior in high school. When Haley stood up, Mrs. Santa said, "Haley, you are on the naughty list and have been for a couple of weeks now. You need to do something about that, and do it quick." Everyone laughed, including Haley.

Cody, Alicia, Mr. Santa, Haley, Mrs. Santa, LeeAnn, Bishop, and Colter, all members of Haley's family at the party.

Bishop Hunsaker introducing Mr. & Mrs. Santa

The Primary was in charge of the program which included giving everyone 70 and over a stocking filled with goodies. James and Pierce both got marbles in their stockings.

It was a great party filled with food, fun, family and friends. We feel like the people in the Vernon ward are a part of our family. Of course we both stayed after to help clean up. Tina Allen and Cress Miller both helped in the kitchen. It is always nice when people who are not assigned come and help with cleanup. The Gilbert's also helped with getting the food out of the kitchen. I got to know Brother Gilbert a little better, and Sister Gilbert is a delight, so fun to talk to.

We had lots of food left over. James took a box of food to the Kenyon family. Tana is out of the hospital but needs to take it easy for awhile. Their son, Tanner was at the party. He is in Primary. He came up to me after the party, someone he doesn't know, and gave me a hug and said, "Please pray for my mom." I remember having his older brother Cameron in my Primary class and what a sweetie he was. My heart just melted when Tanner gave me that hug.

Other news: Sister Van Haren discovered that Thomas Grapp had written a book and that it was for sale on Amazon. She announced it on her Facebook feed and several other sisters in the ward said they bought the book, including me.

James and I came home and watched Jill Wagner's new Christmas movie, "A Christmas Miracle for Daisy." I really liked her co-star, Nick Bateman. It was a cute movie and a great way to end the day.