Sat, Dec 25th, 2021: Gila Valley, Arizona Temple: Merry Christmas! Breakfast at Sheri's, Pack, Checkout, Trip to Vernon w/ Joshua & Rowan,

Gila Valley, Arizona

132nd operating temple

Dedicated: 23 May 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father

D&C 76:107

When he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the win-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.

Book of Mormon

Moroni 6:1-7:19

"Come Follow Me"

He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world

OctGenCon

"The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation"

President Russell M. Nelson

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

The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ.

His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing strengthening power. And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.

Merry Christmas!

There was fog this morning, but no rain. We arrived at Sheri's a little after 8. Everyone else is coming at 9. Sheri says that next year it is going to be 10. We had the venison gravy and biscuits ready by 9. Sheri's family got to eat first in the quiet before the chaos.

Here menu items this morning: Huge cinnamon rolls from The Great Gatsby Bakery. Orange juice. A breakfast casserole made by Brian which included bacon, sausage, cheese, eggs, and potatoes. Delicious!

Sheri had a great Christmas as far as gifts are concerned. Ian got her a piano and Alex and Shayna got her a telescope. She loves to look at the stars. 

Addy got a pogo stick. The family got a 70 inch TV, a ping pong table, and a basketball standard. Ruby got rollerblades.

Paul came over when he arrived and gave me a hug and said Merry Christmas. That meant a lot to me. Stacy didn't come because she is still not feeling well. Joshua got a guitar and he brought it with him. 

Kim and Brian gave everyone their "white envelopes". Instead of buying gifts they do a service in every families name. What a great way to celebrate Christmas. This was our letter in the white envelope:

Merry Christmas! Money was donated in your name to the "Midwest Food Bank" tender mercies program. It helps feed the hungry, nutritiously, internationally.

Brian also volunteered to work at "Feed My Starving Children" and donated funds to help feed children around the world.

Love, Kim and Brian

I got several thanks yous for the blankets we gave. Trina texted thank yous for her family and Addy and Ruby texted me individually. Evan wrote Thank you for the blanket, I love it, in the Christmas card his family gave us. Stacy also thanked me. Sheri couldn't because I left her blanket at home. She will have to open it when she comes up on Monday. 

Other gifts we received besides the ones yesterday I mentioned from Lois and Dawn: $50 gift cards to Cheesecake Factory, and $50 to Olive Garden. $200 for my horse fund. A mixing bowl and kids sized rolling pen, etc. to make cookies with Charlie. Cellos chocolates. Charlie's picture book for 2021. A calendar from Tamara, "The Last Straw" story from Kerri, and a candle and goodies from Maxine. We also got a turkey from the DeWitt's and cinnamon bread from the Crane's. James and I did not exchange gifts this year. Yes, we still love each other, we are just trying to save some money. He told me I could order my purple scriptures but I told him we did not have the money right now. Maybe later.

We went back to our hotel room and checked out before noon. We picked up Joshua and Rowan and headed for home the Globe way because Darrel said there was snow on the Rim. 

The boys are happy to be here at the cabin. It's a tradition for Joshua and his family to

come up on Christmas day. They are good company for each other and spend most of their time upstairs. 

I watched part of the Cardinals football game until they started making mistakes that put them behind. The Colts won 22-16.

We had family prayer with the boys before going to bed. I told them to go to bed by midnight.

The calender I got for Ruby. I told her about Sheri writing on a 

calendar to keep a journal.

The Applegates. All together before Ty leaves

on his mission.

Merry Christmas from the Nelsons!

Pinetop tree

Sheri, as Alex looks on, opening her letter from him and Shayna

explaining that her telescope will be here on Tuesday.

Brian showing off some of his gifts. I thought they were from our family Christmas party but they were not. He went home with the

coveted nesting bowls on that night.

Evan at Nana and Papa's house riding on the hover board

they got him.

Monte took his family to the Cardinals game

Camrie and Darren's twins

The Griffin's

Joshua and photobomber Lola

To Darrel from Addy

 

Fri, Dec 24th, 2021: Vancouver British Columbia Temple, Rain, Breakfast at AJ's, umbrella, Deliver gifts, Lois & Dawn's, Walmart for snacks

 

Vancouver, British Columbia

131st operating temple

Dedicated: 2 May 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father

D&C 76:43

Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.

Book of Mormon

Moroni 1-5

"Come Follow Me"

He will someday return to earth

1 Cor. 15:19-23; Moro 7:41; DC 50:24; 84:44-46; 93:7-10

OctGenCon

Personal Peace in Challenging Times

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Personal peace can be achieved despite the anger, contention, and division that blight and corrupt our world today. It has never been more important to seek personal peace. A beautiful and beloved new hymn, written for today's youth by Brother Nik Day, titled "Peace in Christ" declares, "When there's no peace on earth, there is peace in Christ." We were blessed to have this hymn just before the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.

It was raining this morning when we walked to A.J.'s cafe in the main building of the hotel. We got wet. James tried to find a shortcut but the door he would have gone through went to the kitchen.

This was my view during breakfast, and my breakfast, stuffed French toast with strawberries and cream cheese.

I am so frustrated that these are videos. I wanted them to be photos. 

I'm not sure why these are videos and I don't know how to open them. Anyway, the stuffed French toast was delicious. James got a steak and potato skillet which was yummy too. The room was very nice and there was only one or two other couples eating when we did.

There was a basket of umbrellas by the front door when we left so we took one. A nice service for a hotel in the desert to provide. 

We went back to our room to relax and have scriptures. We already had prayer. I did some blogging.

This afternoon, in the rain, we delivered Christmas gifts. We went to Sheri's first because James wanted to take the venison steak for tomorrow morning and put it in her refrigerator. No one was home when we got to Sheri's except Ollie and Ziggie. They barked at us a few times and then settled in to looking out the window for when Sheri would come home.

When I would talk to Ollie he would start

howling but my camera wasn't quick 

enough to catch it. Ziggie was too busy sniffing the

meat James brought in to put in the frig to be worrying

about when Sheri would be home.

As we were headed out of the neighborhood, Sheri called. She asked where we were. When I told her she asked if we could go back and bake her rolls for her because she was taking Evan and Joshua to see the new Spiderman movie. I told her we would. We baked two batches of rolls before leaving Sheri's house.

On the way to Stacy's we stopped at Culvers on the corner of Willis Rd. and Arizona Ave. I got a cookies and cream mixer.

At Stacy and Paul's Stacy didn't feel well so she was upstairs. Paul was downstairs cooking beans and playing a video game on the TV. We put their packages under the tree when Adam came in with a drink for Paul. We said our goodbyes and went on to Kim's house. After leaving packages at Kim's we went to the Walgreen's on Dobson and Williams Field Rd. to get Amazon gift cards for Lois and Dawn to go with their calendar. 

At Lois and Dawn's we had a nice visit and took some pictures.

That angel on top of the tree has been

around the Lambson family as long as I have.

Lois pieced the beautiful quilt together and

then had it quilted. Sheri offered to buy it

but it's not for sale.

Our pile of gifts. Notice the purple box.

Dawn got it at the dollar store.

After leaving Tempe we drove to Mesa and got a Whataburger. That was our Christmas eve dinner. When we got back to Chandler I said we should make a Walmart run to get some snacks. James agreed. I actually found some Ande's mints!

Back in the hotel room we heard fireworks most of the night. I think they may be legal now. We have seen several tents set up selling fireworks.

James and I finished our audio book, had prayer and then James went to bed. I stayed up to blog and walk. Oh yes, we also watched a movie before James hit the hay and we opened our gifts from James's mom and Dawn. We both go wooden boxes with designs decoupaged on top. I also got a smaller box with homemade greeting cards inside, a teapot, and a purple robe. We each go a Visa gift card. Wow! Lois and Dawn always give sooo much!