Tue, Mar 8th, 2022: Chicago Illinois Temple, "DMT", Darrel, Addy, Ruby go snowboarding, Ro is sick, Trina & Lola, St. Patrick's Day cards, new Monopoly game, grilled chicken, Googly Eyes

 

Chicago, Illinois

35th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Aug 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Rock

Psalms 118:22

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 27:12-35

"Come Follow Me"

Genesis 38; Genesis 37:1-28; 39; 41:9-45 "The Lord was with Joseph in his adversity"

OctGenCon

"Faith to Act and Become"

Elder Ciro Schmeil

Of the Seventy

Many times answers to prayer will not come right away. But we must have faith to continue act in righteousness, and be persistent like Nephi when he was trying to get the brass plates. The Lord will show us a little bit at a time; as we study the scriptures, the Lord will give us the answers or the necessary strength for us to get through one more day, one more week, and to try one more time. Elder Richard G. Scott said: "Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow."

James made freshly squeezed orange juice this morning. It was delicious! 

Yesterday on the way to Taylor Trina and I listened to Dave and Emily on "Don't Miss This." It was the beginning of the story of Joseph which is interrupted in chapter 39 by the story of Judah and Tamar. Most people see this as an immoral chapter but Dave and Emily turn it into something good. They call Tamar the fourth great grandmother of the Savior, which she is. In the coming weeks we will talk about the other three great grandmothers.

I got each of the kids yoyo's but the one that was the most interested was Lolo. I showed her how to do rock the baby and she was obsessed with it although she wasn't doing it right. Everybody was so impressed that I could do walk the dog. Oh to be a kid again!

Rowan did not go snowboarding today with Darrel, Addy, and Ruby. He is still not feeling well. After they left I asked Trina if she wanted to go to Woodland Lake and walk around the lake. I think Trina did, but Lola, who didn't want to hurt my feelings, didn't want to go so we stayed home. Trina spent a good part of the day playing games with Lola. They also watched a movie and ate lunch. Rowan was there too. Darrel and Ruby and Addy left around 10 for a half day of snowboarding.

On their way

Darrel forgot his jacket but he said he didn't need it because it was a beautiful sun shiny day. 

This afternoon I got out some of my card making supplies and Lola made a couple of St. Patrick's Day cards.

James indexed and worked on taxes. He also shoveled snow and built a fire. Trina marinated chicken and bonded with Lola. Rowan was sick so he didn't do much. I did see him eating cake. By the end of the day the cake was all gone. 

My accomplishments for the day with my right hand swollen. Kitchen and laundry basics, put away two puzzles, scriptures with James and finished Fridays blog, listened to the beginning of "Is Genesis History," walked 12,000 steps, showered and washed my hair and took two naps. I also learned how to play the new Monopoly with cards. It's Ruby's favorite game. I won the first game I played so I didn't play anymore.

Darrel grilled the chicken for dinner. It was delicious.

Deer seen by James near our house

Googly Eyes game

Monopoly, Lola took my place

 

Mon, Mar 7th, 2022: Stockholm Sweden Temple, James's big brkfst, Addy, Trina run, Trina & I Taylor Walmrt, Bashas, Addy's cake, Razr rides, Rowan not well, Encanto, Indexing

 

Stockholm, Sweden

34th operating temple

Dedicated: 2 July 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Rock

Psalms 62:6

He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 26:31-27:11

"Come Follow Me"

Genesis 37; 37-41 "The Lord Was with Joseph"

OctGenCon

"With The Power Of God In Great Glory"

Elder David A. Bednar

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I witnessed the righteousness and power of God in great glory, received through faithfulness to covenants and ordinances, in the lives of newly baptized and confirmed members of the Church. These converts were eager to learn and serve, willing but often unsure about how to set aside old habits and strong traditions, and yet joyful to become "fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God."

Inklings

"Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation"

President Russell M. Nelson

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

"Make Time for the Lord"

President Russell M. Nelson

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

Alma 26

James fixed a big breakfast this morning for everyone, ham, eggs, potatoes, and toast. Everyone ate except Addy and Darrel. 

Venturing out into the cold, Addy and Trina went running. Rowan and Ruby went out on the Razr but came back when they noticed that the gas was low. Darrel went to Stanford to get some gas. It was $4.09 a gallon. 

Trina and I went shopping at the Taylor Walmart and Bashas. Trina had a recipe for a salad that she wanted to make. She got most of what she wanted at Walmart. I was looking for the movie Encanto because Lola said it was her favorite movie, but I couldn't find it.

Trina found everything she wanted except avocados. She said the ones here were all too hard so we went to Bashas. Their avocados weren't much better but Trina bought a couple. She also bought some dried apple chips which we ate on the way home. I was hungry but I didn't want to ask Trina to stop anywhere so we went straight home.

Trina told about talking in church recently. Darrel had to work so it was her and the kids. The day before she had been to Los Angeles and she had forgotten that they were on a different time schedule. One of her friends had asked if her daughter could go to church with them and Trina said yes. The friend said she would drop her daughter off at 8:30. Trina was lying in bed going over her talk in her mind when the doorbell rang. She had no idea who it could be. When she opened the door she discovered that her friend's daughter was there on the doorstep. When Trina asked her what time it was she said, 8:30. Trina realized that her phone was still on Los Angeles time. She told Addy, you are going to have to get the kids there, I have to go now. She got dressed and as she was going to the church she got a text from her dad, her mom and dad are in her ward, asking her if she wanted him to give her talk. When Trina arrived at the church she sat by her parents instead of on the stand.

 When Trina was preparing her talk her dad told her he had a few thoughts that might help her as he handed her four pages of notes. I guess Bob Case loves to give talks.

Trina's talk was based on Henry B. Eyring's talk, "He Goes Before Us." Darrel listened to it at work via Zoom and said she did an amazing job. She told about when she was first called as the Primary President and the program was in a couple of weeks and fell on a day that she had to work. She said a prayer that someone at work would trade with her. A couple of days later she got a call from one of her fellow nurses asking if she could trade that day with her. The Lord goes before us.

Here are some of the things we did today. Darrel looked for places to rent ski clothes for tomorrow, Addy and I made a cake, one of Courtney's. Darrel took the girls on a Razr ride. Rowan wasn't feeling well so he took a long shower and then a nap. When Rowan got  up he watched "Is Genesis History"? with James. He loved it. Darrel would not watch it. He seems to have a closed mind about the creation. I'm not sure why. He says there is no way the world was created in 6 days. James told him to read Abraham 3:4 which says:

And the Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord's time according to the reckoning of Kolob. One day to the Lord is a thousand years to us.

Jared MacArthur brought us some eggs, the girls and Darrel did two puzzles, James brought in some firewood. I watched Encanto on my phone. I rented it from Amazon Prime. Darrel made burgers for dinner. It was cold outside so he cooked them inside on the stove grill. Trina made her delicious salad with the green dressing. It had roasted corn, small tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, butter lettuce, parsley, arugula, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and spinach, all chopped very small. It's nice to have something fresh and healthy once in a while. James found time to index and work on taxes. He had a phone meeting with the doctor. His PSA score was 1.3. Last time it was 2, so he is getting better! This means his cancer is not growing. He will need to be tested again in 3 months.

My left hand is better but tonight my right hand began to itch in the lower palm and my entire hand started to swell. It looked like a balloon when I went to bed.

Trina's birthday cake

Scotlyn & Cooper

Cousins and best friends

Scotlyn is our neighbor who helps her

dad deliver eggs to us

 

Sun, March 6th, 2022: Frieberg Germany Temple, Fast & Testimony mtg J bares testimony, Camrie's twins, Jimmy's amazing lesson, D's fmly here at 6,

 

Frieberg, Germany

33rd operating temple

Dedicated: 29-30 June 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Rock

Psalms 61:2

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 26:12-30

"Come Follow Me"

Review 28-33 "Surely the Lord Is in This Place"

OctGenCon

"The Need for a Church"

President Dallin H. Oaks

First Counselor in the First Presidency

Another great advantage of the restored Church is that it helps us grow spiritually. Growth means change. In spiritual terms this means repenting and seeking to draw nearer to the Lord. In the restored Church we have doctrine, procedures, and inspired helpers that assist us to repent. Their purpose, even in membership councils, is not punishment, like the outcome of a criminal court. Church membership councils lovingly seek to help us qualify for the mercy of forgiveness made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Individual spirituality can seldom provide the motivation and structure for unselfish service provided by the restored Church.

Inklings

"Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation"

President Russell M. Nelson

"Make Time for the Lord"

President Russell M. Nelson

Alma 26

President Beeler

O Be Wise, What Can I Say More?

I told the Relief Society Presidency this morning that I would not be at my meetings because of my swollen wrist. I felt better today but I was worried that I couldn't get ready, especially do my hair.

I sent off an email to all of the adults in the ward about the classes available through Rootstech for the next year. After I was finished I made the decision to go to church. I felt so much better than yesterday.

James helped me do the back of my hair and I managed to do everything else on my own. We even got to church on time. I am so glad I went. The testimonies in sacrament meeting were great, including James's. Here are the people who bore their testimonies:

Steve Allen, Tamara Applegate, Paula Johnson, Ruthie Wilhelm, Mel Wilhelm, Young girl who was visiting, Lorraine Vaught, Dave Westbrook, James Lambson, Jimmie Applegate.

Camrie was visiting and had her husband and her twins with her. They were covered up when I saw them and I got distracted and didn't go back to see them.  I spoke with Denice Hall, and sat by Cress Miller in Sunday School. 

Jimmie's Sunday School lesson was amazing. He told the class that the Lambson's were beating them 10-1. Jimmie asked us how many rungs were on Jacob's ladder. No one knew. He asked how many angels and someone said five. Five angels, Five covenants (temple) Five men who received the birthright and Five rungs in the ladder. His power point went something like this:

Five Rungs in the Ladder

Obedience - Abraham

Sacrifice - Isaac

Law of the Gospel - Jacob

Chastity - Joseph

Consecration - Ephraim

Temple are to us what Bethel was to Jacob.

After class James and I both went over and gave Pierce a hug and told him we were glad he was here. 

I asked Jimmie where he got some of his information and he mentioned Alonzo Gaskill's book "They Lost Language of Symbolism." I went home and found my copy and did a little reading. 

Darrel's family got her around 6 p.m. James was still taking his nap and I woke him up but he was upset because I didn't wake him up earlier. Addy, Ruby and I watched "When Calls the Heart" and "Winter Castle" about the ice hotel in Canada. Darrel, Trina, and Lola played a game, then I played Five Crowns with Ruby, Addy, Trina, and Darrel. I don't think James approves although he didn't say anything, he just kept indexing. 

We Facetimed with Kacey, Jared, and Charlie this evening. It was fun to have Lola and Ruby here to see Charlie. Kacey gave us a tour of their house. 

Darrel was telling about how their ministering brother, who is old, comes once a month and stays for an hour and usually teaches a lesson which Darrel says they don't want him to. He gave all of the kids a journal to write in. The next time he saw Lola he asked her if she had written in the journal and she said no. Then she whispered to Trina, "I did write in it, but not about Jesus."

Here is a brief summary of an email that President Beeler sent out to everyone in the stake on February 21st:

Carefully assure our houses are in order, temporally and spiritually

Be proactive not reactive

Evaluate finances and our ability to be self-reliant and prepared for stormy weather.

Have a few weeks supply of essentials. Live within our means.

Check on those to whom we minister.

Do things prayerfully and in order, be generous in tithes and offerings and watch out for our neighbors.

Heavenly Father loves you and will not forsake you.

Here are some notes I took when I read Sister Jones's talk "For Him" in preparation for Stake Women's Conference:

 What is our purpose?

This verse changed our hearts and our approach: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, might, mind, and strength, and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve Him."

Knowing the who and the why in serving others helps us understand that the highest manifestation of love is devotion to God. When we focus on all that God has done for us, our service flows from a heart of gratitude. We can each make our to-do list a way to glorify Him.

"When Calls the Heart"

Lucas, little Jack, Elizabeth

Headbanz

Five Crowns

Not sure what Addy is doing

I love this idea!