Thur, Dec 23rd, 2021, Oquirrh Mtn Temple, Trip to valley, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Serranos, David Archuleta Concert, JA works at Crust, Walmart

 

Oquirrh Mountain, Utah

130th operating temple

Dedicated: 21-23 Aug 2009

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, relationships with the Father

D&C 50:43 (3 Nephi 9:15)

And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you.

3 Nephi 9:15

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.

Book of Mormon

Ether 15:18-34

"Come Follow Me"

DC 1:17-23; 13; 20:1-12; 65; 110; 112:30-32; 124:39-42; 128:19-21

His priesthood and His Church have been restored

Dennis, Denise, Rachel, Eric,

OctGenCon

"A House of Sequential Order"

Elder Vaiangina Sikahema

The Lord took great care in explaining to Moses the order in which He created the earth. First, He started by dividing the light from the darkness, then water from dry land. He added plant life and animals before introducing to the newly formed planet His greatest creation: humankind, beginning with Adam and Eve. 

Inklings

Live with Emily and Chelsea Hightower

I was determined that we would leave for the valley by 10 this morning since I was the reason we were late the last time we went. We did it with our car filled with presents, venison steaks for Christmas morning, and of course our luggage. Poor Luna, she will be alone until Sunday afternoon.

On the way to town we listened to the Book of Mormon. In town I tried to drop off Candace's calendar at the pet store but she wasn't there. Since we were in the neighborhood, we got some tacos to eat as we left town. 

We stopped at Dennis's and then Harold's as we got to Linden. We gave each of them a calendar. Rachel, Evie, and Eric along with Dennis and Denise were at his house. Evie is four and loves to sing. She sang us three Christmas songs; "I Ain't Gettin' Nothin' for Christmas", "Up On The Housetop", and "I Wanna Hippopotamus for Christmas."

Dennis, Denise, Rachel, Eric,

Evie, and Eric's dog

After wishing everyone a Merry Christmas we headed for Harold and Vickie's. We ate some of Harold's fudge. My favorite was the peanut butter. Harold told us we could pick out a table that he made.

We will have to come back to pick up the table since we are in the car and on the way to the valley.

I chose the rectangular table to put out on the deck. I may get another one to put where our little trampoline is right now. 

It is a beautiful day with lots of sunshine. Gas is still $3.45 in Payson. When we got to Chandler we checked into the Crowne Plaza, formerly known as the San Marcos Hotel in downtown. The San Marcos the oldest hotel in Arizona. It is charming. I think the rooms are quite expensive because it is next to the golf course. Brian got us a room for two nights as part of our Christmas gift. As soon as we were checked in and I was settled nicely in room 107, James left to meet Sal and someone he knows that wants some construction work done. While James was gone I got "settled in" and started to work on my blog. When James got back he took a nap. 

When James woke up we decided we would walk to Serrano's for dinner.  Downtown Chandler has changed so much! New restaurants, etc. The City of Chandler buildings are modern and updated too. James remembers having to pay his sales taxes by going to the old city building. Chandler now has a very upscale building in the middle of downtown. Our wait for a table was around 20 minutes and then we were called in. I ordered a chicken enchilada with rice and beans. James ordered a green machaca burro. Neither of us finished our meal. The food was not how we remembered it. We did get bean dip which seemed the same.

We got back to the hotel and got ready to go to the David Archuleta concert at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Kim and Brian picked us up at 7:10. It was less than a five minute drive. By happenstance we parked next to Sheri. Stacy was already there and waiting for us near the front entrance. 

Brian paid for everyone's tickets. Ours were $75 a piece.  We were front and center on the 2nd row. Stacy, Sheri, Kim, and Brian we a couple of rows back on the side. 

We all loved the concert. We laughed, cried, danced, and sang. Well, at least some of us did. Part of the encore was "O Holy Night." I was so happy because I didn't think he was going to sing it.

Stacy told us that Jared Ammon works at one of the restaurants at the hotel where we are staying. The name of the restaurant is Crust. She also said he could be downstairs at the Ostrich. She wanted us to go by and say hello to him. After Brian and Kim dropped us off we decided we wanted to go to Walmart. James wanted to get some pomegranate juice. We went over by Crust, on the other side of the hotel from our room, and there was no place to park so we didn't stop. 

 "Train your mind to see the good in everything. Positivity is a choice. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts."

Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Chandler

Tumbleweed Christmas tree

In room 107

"Archie" fans

Dr. A. J. Chandler had an ostrich farm in 

Chandler before it was a city.

 

Wed, Dec 22nd, 2021: Draper Utah Temple, Wrapping gifts, delivering gifts, Christmas movies, Tanna's accident, Singing for Grandmother

Draper, Utah

129th operating temple

Dedicated: 20-22 Mar 2009

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father

D&C 76:25

 And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,

Book of Mormon

Ether 15:1-17

"Come Follow Me"

John 20:1-23; 21:13-19; 3 Nephi 11:1-17, 17:6-25; JSH 1:14-20

"He rose from the grave"

OctGenCon

"Invite Christ to Author Your Story"

Camille N. Johnson

Primary General President

 We can ask questions of our loving Heavenly Father, in the name of our merciful Savior, and the witness who answers our questions is the Holy Ghost, who always testifies of truth. 

"The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity"

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

When we contend with each other in anger, Satan laughs and the God of heaven weeps.

Satan laughs and God weeps for at least two reasons. First, contention weakens our collective witness to the world of Jesus Christ and the redemption that comes through His "merits, . . . mercy, and grace."

I blogged for the 12th of December and had my scriptures and prayers this morning. I then wrapped gifts for Kim, Brian, Joseph, Paul, Stacy, Adam, Jared Ammon, Dallin, Michael, Joshua, Sheri, and Tanna's little boy Bradley. I'm giving Bradley the Spiderman blanket I bought. 

James and I delivered calendars to: Catherine and Barbara. We also left Kerri's calendar with Catherine.  Barbara is staying with Catherine while Kerri is in the valley. Kerri had a kidney transplant and although she is doing extremely well the doctors want her to stay in the valley in case there are any complications. We couldn't just drop calendars off to Catherine. She loves to visit. I visited with her while James visited with Barbara. Finally I told James we needed to  go. He was telling Barbara all about his cancer treatments. She is a good listener. 

Our next stop was at the Woods's. They live off the beaten path so it took awhile. Then we went to Paula's, the Grapp's, the Thompson's, and Barbara Sayers. We tried delivering to Rosiee Lauritzen and Tanna but neither of them were home. I later learned that Rosie was in Tucson visiting her sister and Tanna had been in a car accident and was at her sisters in St. Johns. Tanna is okay but the picture she sent of her car looks like it might be totaled. Thank goodness her little 2 year old Bradley was not with her. 

When we got home James washed the dishes again and set up the Harry Potter train set I got last year for Christmas upstairs while I wrapped presents.

Today's movies:

"A Fiance for Christmas" Amanda Payton (she has a cat named Tater Tot)

"Saying Yes to Christmas"

"A Christmas Dance Reunion" Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman

"It Takes a Christmas Village" Brooke Nevin, Corey Sevier

Christmas Carols for Grandmother 

& Dawn

Vernon Main Street

 

Tue, Dec 21, 2021, Twin Falls Idaho Temple, Dinner to MacArthur's and the Miller's, Deliver some calendars, Kacey & Remmy, Organ Stop pizza

  

Twin Falls, Idaho

128th operating temple

Dedicated: 24 Aug 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father

3 Nephi 19:23

 And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one.

Book of Mormon

Ether 14:8-31

"Come Follow Me"

Luke 2

"None other has had so profound an influence"

OctGenCon

"Daily Restorations"

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Why do we have such a hard time walking in a straight line? Some researchers hypothesize that small, seemingly insignificant deviations in terrain make the difference. Others have pointed to the fact that we all have one leg that is slightly stronger than the other. "More likely," however, we struggle to walk straight ahead" because of increasing uncertainty about where straight ahead is."

Liahona

Come Follow Me section

I finished blogging for December 11th this morning. That's how far behind I am. The hurrier I go the behinder I get.

I started the meal for the MacArthur's this morning. I put the roast and gravy in the crockpot and started the rolls. James went into town to get the tires for the Razr mounted. He also checked the mail. My Sam's Club card came and so did a family picture Christmas card for Christina and Jon.  

This evening we made these deliveries:

Dinner: Roast beef with gravy and mashed potatoes, rolls, green beans, salad and snickerdoodles to the MacArthur's. Chelsea texted me and said her five year old Peyton said it all: "Man, these people can cook."

Chicken noodle soup, rolls, and snickerdoodles to the Miller's. After the food was all delivered we started delivering calendars: The Wilhelm's, the Westbrook's, Peeler's, Snyder's, and Pierce. Pierce was outside talking to James who was in the driver's seat of the car. Pierce said, "I need to give Karen a hug." He walked around the car to my side and came over to give me a hug. As we drove off James said, "I better stick around or he will be courting you." I responded, "He is the only man I would ever consider marrying if you were leaving, which you are not!"

When we got home James cleaned the kitchen while I walked and watched a movie. I stopped the movie so James could walk and listen to "An Alleged Rogue." He would rather walk while listening to a book and when he watches a movie he wants to sit down and watch it. 

Today's movies: 

"Candy Cane Candidate" Jackie Lori and Jake Epstein

"The Holiday Fixup" with Jana Kramer & Ryan McPartlin

"Mistletoe in Montana" Melissa Joan Hart & Duane Henry

"Toying with the Holiday" Chand Michael Murray and Cindy Busby

"The sweetest gift given at Christmas will always be the one our 

Savior Himself gave us: His perfect peace."

-L.Whitney Clayton

The Hoose House

Kacey's post

Organ Stop pizza is a family tradition

around Michael's birthday

I need this!

The Cases's Christmas Party

Christmas collection

There is a reason I don't live in 

St. Johns!

Mon, Dec 20th, 2021: Panama City, Panama Temple, Cancer Center, Walmart, Wrap, Walk, Watch, Charlie & Kacey, Charlie & Remmy,

 

Panama City, Panama

127th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Aug 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father

3 Nephi 17:15

And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.

Book of Mormon

Ether 13:19-14:7

"Come Follow Me"

The Living Christ, "The Matchless Gift of God's Divine Son"

OctGenCon

"The Faith to Ask and Then to Act"

President Henry B. Eyring

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

I know from experience that answers will come to fit your needs and your spiritual preparation. If you need an answer that is important to your eternal welfare or that of others, the answer is more likely to come. Yet even then, you may receive, as did Joseph Smith, the answer to be patient.

Liahona

"One Small Gift"

James had two doctors' appointment this morning at the cancer center. The first one was at 8:30. He wanted me to go with him to do my shopping. I wanted to go this afternoon. I ended up gong this morning and missed writing in my blog. I was grouchy.

I dropped James off at the cancer center and then I drove to Walmart. Last time he dropped me off and kept the car and I ended up waiting for him. Both doctors want James to take the shots to suppress his hormones. They say that is the best way to treat the cancer. It also keeps him from having any hormones and he's not sure he wants to take them.

The main reason I went shopping this morning was to buy dinner ingredients for the MacArthur's dinner tomorrow night and for the Miller's soup I promised to take them. I also bought some Christmas paper, tags, and ribbon. When I was finished shopping and waiting for James I got gas and then went to Wendy's to get some breakfast. They had a dollar breakfast last week but when I asked for it they said they didn't have it anymore. 

After picking up James he says he needs to go back to Walmart to get some shakes and to see about filling his prescription. He didn't end up filling the prescription because the insurance wouldn't cover it and in order to use the card he has he needs to register it on line. 

We get the car washed and drive back to Vernon. I stopped at the library and picked up a check from Tamara and gave her the calender I bought her for Christmas. She also gave me a calendar. 

Once the groceries are put away I lie down to take a nap. I'm not feeling well. When I get up I walk and then wrap some calendars. Chuck brought us over some cinnamon bread and a card from him and Kathy. I'm sure Kathy made the bread. He also brought over a turkey from our ministering brother, Collin DeWitt. 

"The Lord will take you to places you could never go on your own."

"Let your faith overcome your fear."

I sent these quotes to Addy today. She is worried about college and what is going to happen to her.

Christmas movies I watched while walking today:

"Tis the Season to Be Merry" Rachel Leigh Cook & Travis Van Winkle

"Joy for Christmas" Cindy Busby & Sam Page

"Christmas for Keeps" 

"Toying with the Holidays" Cindy Busby & Chad Michael Murray

I must have walked really slow to have watched this many movies. I probably watched one during rest time too.

Paul's sister Nicole and her family

The Schaub's

Christina ice skating with family