Wed, Mar 23rd, 2022: St. Louis Missouri Temple, Paul's surgery fiasco, Catherine Halcomb Sonic & doctor, Tanna stuck, EQ/RS stk mtg Tamara, Stefani, James

St. Louis, Missouri

50th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 June 1997

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Rock

Moses 7:53

And the Lord said: Blessed is he through whose seed Messiah shall come; for he saith - I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven, which is broad as eternity; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fall; wherefore, blessed are they of whom I have spoken, for they shall come forth with songs of everlasting joy.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 5:35-48

"Come Follow Me"

Exodus 3; Exodus 3-4 God gives power to those He calls to do His work.

OctGenCon

"A House of Sequential Order"

Elder Vai Sikahema

Of the Seventy

 The Lord teaches us individually according to our capacity to lear and how we learn. Our growth is dependent on our willingness, natural curiosity, level of faith, and understanding.

This morning I did my gospel study by myself and then with James. I also had personal and family prayer. At 11:00 I left to pick up Catherine Halcomb for lunch and her doctor's appointment. I told James I was leaving and he came running downstairs to give me a hug and a kiss. 

When I got to Catherine's she was outside waiting for me. Kerri's car was at home. She normally substitutes at school but today she is sick.

Catherine was in a good mood as she normally is. We had a nice visit as we drove into town. When I asked her where she wanted to go for lunch, I promised I would take her to lunch for her birthday, she said, "How about Sonic." I said, are you sure? Yes. I want an All-American hotdog. We parked outside of Sonic and I ordered via the intercom. Two All-American dogs which are hotdogs with catsup, mustard, relish, and onions, and a medium diet cherry limeade for Catherine. We were finished eating around 12:15 and Catherine's doctor's appointment isn't until 1:15. I guess if we weren't going to go to a restaurant to eat we didn't need to come so early. Oh well. We sat and visited and then I drove over to the hospital annex building where Catherine's appointment is. We visited in the car there for awhile and then we went into the building up to the third floor. There is a big reception room for several doctors. After Catherine checked in they called her and said she was to go to room Lake 6. The hallways all have a different geographical name, Woods, Pond, etc.

I was just going to wait for her in the waiting room but the receptionist acted as if I was committing a major sin and told me I had to go with her. I walked down the major long hallway with Catherine where there were chairs and benches along the edge. When we got to the end of the hallway I told her I was going to sit on a bench and wait for her. She thought that was a good idea. I sat and read from the book that I brought, "The Power of Everyday Missionaries." Once I went to use the same restroom I used the last time I was here. After I sat down again I began looking for my phone and couldn't find it. Last time I was here I left it in the bathroom. I didn't believe I had done it again, but I did. Thank goodness it was still there! 

Catherine was in with her doctor, Dr. Waite, for over an hour. She apologized but I guess she had a lot of things to talk to him about. He put her on Metamucil and she thinks that's what made her faint when she hurt her shoulder. She was quite satisifed when she came out. She loves her doctor.

On the way home I got a couple of texts, one from Kim and one from Tanna. I would have to wait until I got home to answer them. I was back home at 3:15. I answered Kim's text and then looked at Tanna's. "Does Brother Lambson have a wench." James texted her and found out she was stuck up near Green's Peak. I guess she got someone else to help her and she said she would let him know if she didn't get out. We never heard from her so we assumed she got out. Her grandmother did the same thing when Tanna was about 11 and they spent the night in their car.

Back at home James and I walked and listened to our book. We rested a few minutes then fixed dinner together. I made potstickers and James cooked some cabbage. Afterwards it was time to get ready for our stake meeting in Lakeside. James is riding with Chuck and I am driving our car picking up Stefani Hunsaker and Tamara. Kerri texted me and said she was still sick and wouldn't be going. 

I picked up Stefani at her house and Tamara at the church. Tamara had jury duty in St. Johns and had not had time to eat dinner so she ate her sandwich on the ride to town. Tamara is on a murder trial and is finding it quite interesting. The sun was in my eyes until we turned left on Penrod Rd. We got to the stake center around 6:40 for our 7:00 meeting.

We were the first ones in the RS room and we chose to sit on the back row. This meeting will be presided over, conducted by, and taught by the Stake Presidency, President Beeler, President Alder, and President Smithson. Lance Rhoton, the stake executive secretary handed out the agenda. I am worried about Brother Rhoton. He looked so scary. He did not have on Sunday clothes and looked a little scruffy with his five o'clock shadow and the most blood shot eyes I have ever seen. It was really quite freaky as he stared at us during the meeting.

The meeting was about temporal welfare, and self-reliance services, the classes available and other services offered to members. There are classes for addiction, finances, starting a business, and emotional self-reliance. It was a good meeting but it was long. It was after 9 o'clock when we got out. During the meeting Tamara's phone rang. She stopped the ringing and noticed it was from Pierce Goodman. She texted him and told him she was in a stake meeting. He was at the church and saw her car but couldn't find her. He wanted to know if her car was broke down. Pierce, the guy who looks after everyone and provides temporal welfare in our ward.

James drove us home which was nice for me but it meant Stefani had to ride in the back seat with Tamara which wasn't a bad thing I guess. We enjoyed each other's company on the way home and I was grateful I didn't have to drive in the dark. My depth perception is a little off at night.

I had to finish my walking when I got home and of course listened to my book. James has so many steps he doesn't need to walk but he walks with me part of the time so he can listen to our book.

Paul had his second knee replacement surgery today. When I texted Stacy to ask her how it went she said she would call me back, which she did.  The first thing she said was, "If you ever have to have surgery on your hip or knee do it at an orthopedic surgery center rather than at a hospital."  She said Paul's first surgery was at a surgery center and it went extremely well. They gave him enough pain meds so that he could recover comfortably. She said that in comparison, today was a nightmare. The anethesiologist took ten minutes to get his spinal tap going. It was painful. He didn't give him enough drugs and Paul was awake when they rolled him in to the operating room. Oh yes, the surgery was done at Chandler Regional Hospital and the nurses were not trained on how to care for a patient with knee replacement, although I'm not exactly sure what that means. The main thing is they were not giving him enough pain meds to keep him comfortable. Stacy said he was writhing in pain and she had to come on pretty strong to wake them up enough to call the doctor so he could prescribe some morphine. Finally Paul was able to rest comfortably. What an unnecessary ordeal.

My study desk

Ben and Ziggie

  

 

Tue, Mar 22nd, 2022: Mt. Timpanogos Utah Temple, Sleepless night, Jean's b-day, MacArthur's, Trip to town, The Trump, bunny, new audio books, bumped my head,

 

Mt. Timpanogos, Utah

49th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 Oct 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Rock

Helaman 5:12

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 5:19-34

"Come Follow Me"

Exodus 2; Exodus 1-2 Jesus Christ is my Deliverer.

 

OctGenCon

"Invite Christ To Author Your Story"

Camille N. Johnson

Primary General President

 Brothers and sisters, just one year ago our dear prophet asked:

"Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? . . . Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition?" I humbly add to those prophetic inquiries: "Will you let God be the author and finisher of your story?"

"The Peace Of Christ Abolishes Enmity"

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Let us follow the example of Saints from around the world who are successfully becoming disciples of Christ. We can rely on Jesus Christ, who "is our peace, who . . . hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his atoning sacrifice the enmity." Our witness of Jesus Christ to the world will be strengthened, and we will remain spiritually healthy. I testify that as we "shun contention" and become "like-minded with the Lord in love and united with Him in faith," His peace will be ours. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Up at 2:30. I can't sleep and my mind is racing. I move to the recliner in the bedroom and then to the one in the family room where I finally get some rest. May an hour or two. Surprisingly, I was not as tired during the day as I thought I would be. Maybe my Actemra infusion energized me. 

Today would have been my friend Jean Howard's birthday. She has been gone a year and I really miss her and think about her often. This was a picture taken a few years back of Jean with her daughter Deana.

I went to visit Chelsea MacArthur today. She is my neighbor and I am her ministering sister. Jarred, her husband was outside with the chickens when I drove up. I guess Scotlyn was out there too but I didn't see her. I complimented the chickens on their eggs.

Here is the handout I gave to Chelsea, except she didn't get Rollos, she got gummy bears.

Chelsea and Jarred's three month old baby boy was asleep in his swing. He looks a lot like Scotlyn. Peyton, there oldest daughter who is five, was at school. Jarred is leaving to go to Alaska on Saturday. He spends about 6 months up there as a hot shot, a guy who jumps out of airplanes to help put out fires. This will be the first time that Chelsea has been alone with three kids. She has family but they are not nearly as close by as I am and I offered to babysit anytime she needs me and I told her not to hesitate to ask. She also wants to plant a garden and I told her that James could help her with that. We will need to be better neighbors to her than we have been thus far. They gave me two dozen eggs before I left and I put $5 on their counter. When I got outside I talked to Scotlyn and told Jarred goodbye and that we would miss him because he has been a great neighbor. I told him to please be safe and we would try and help look after his family while he is gone. I told Scotlyn, who is three, that I had toys at my house that she could come and play with. 

When I got back home I told James I was ready to go to town. He said he wanted to come with me, which he did. The first thing we did in town was stop at Taco Bell for lunch. James got me the Taco Supreme's on accident. They cost more and have more calories but they are very tasty. James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to see about getting the fireplace glass fixed and to gas up and wash the car. I don't even want to talk about the price of gas. James will have to come back when he has the glass from the fire place and go to Demer's. Pierre Demer is our neighbor. He has a glass shop in Lakeside. 

The main reason I went to Walmart today was to get myself some coconut shrimp and to get Nutella and strawberries for the cake I am making for the Relief Society birthday celebration we are having on Saturday. Once I got everything put away I tried to take a nap but I just couldn't sleep. I looked outside and saw a bunny in our yard! He's the first one that I've seen in a long time! I also read from my Philadelphia Trumpet magazine and so did James. Their articles are very informative and they have basically the same views, for the most part, as we do. I couldn't help but compare their cover to the cover on this month's Liahona. The Liahona is to help us feel the Spirit and The Trumpet is to inform us of all the problems in the world.

James read the Covid Money article. I read one about improving health and one on the necessity of lowering our standard of living.

He looks a little distorted because I enlarged the picture.

He was sooo cute!

I hit my head on the open cabinet door in the bathroom and it bled profusely. I now have a scab about an inch long on the top of my head.

James and I started a new book, "Bargaining for the Barrister" and I started a new audio book, "The Valet's Secret."

James did some wheeling and dealing with the concrete company today. Their pour is on April 4th and the price of concrete is scheduled to go up on April 1st. James talked them into giving him the concrete at the old cost before the price hike. He was pretty happy and so was Mr. Rademeyer.

 

Mon, Mar 21st, 2022: Hong Kong, China Temple, Appointment changed, Trip to valley, AARA, Casa Grande for James, "Flower Child", Costco, Payson, Home Again

 

Hong Kong, China

48th operating temple

Dedicated: 26 May 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Rock

Jacob 4:15

And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 5:1-18 Allegory of the Olive Tree - The branches are dependent on the nourishment from the trunk. What are some types of nourishment we can receive?

OctGenCon

"Daily Restoration"

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Do you want to change the shape of your life?

Change the shape of your day.

Do you want to change your day?

Change this hour.

Change what you think, feel, and do at this very moment.

A small rudder can steer a large ship.

Small bricks can become magnificent mansions.

Small seeds can become towering sequoias.

Minutes and hours well spent are the building blocks of a life well lived. They can inspire goodness, lift us from the captivity of imperfections, and lead us upward to the redemptive path of forgiveness and sanctification.

Inklings

"Trust Again"

Gerrit W. Gong

Luke 15:11-32

When I opened the window to look outside this morning I noticed there was snow all over the ground and in the tree and it was still snowing.

It's a snowy, snowy day, Let's all go

outside and play!

James too my blood pressure and it was 163/88. James gave me one of his nifedipine pills and when I got my blood pressure taken at AARA it was 118/73. That medicine works!

I got a call from AARA this morning. It was Angela from the infusion center. She wanted to know if I could come in at 10:45 instead of 3:30. I told her I was sitting at my desk in my pajamas and it was after 7 a.m. It takes three and a half hours to get to the valley and it would take me a little while to get ready. She then asked if I could come in at 12:30. I said I could. James and I left the house at 7:40. We went the Globe way because James was afraid there would be snow on the Rim. Instead of snow we had roadwork we had to wait for. Gas was $4.59 in Globe. We were hungry so we stopped so James could get a couple of Breakfast Jacks. I ate half of one of them. Here is what the traffic looked like. On the way to Mesa we listened to "Follow Him" with Dr. Riveria. One of the things said in the podcast was: "Israel was enslaved, redeemed, and set apart."

James says this is the fast way.

I say, Not!

We went straight to AARA when we got to town. I texted Kim and told her my appointment was earlier and I wouldn't be coming by but I looked forward to seeing her on Sunday. James dropped me off an hour and a half early. He had a work meeting in Casa Grande. I walked around the building several times and got about 3,000 steps before going inside. I waited a few minutes inside with my mask on watching "Love It or List It" when Frances came in and called me back. I had my pick of any chair when we got back to the infusion center. I was so happy with my blood pressure results! A new girl, new to me anyway, Jeanne, put in my infusion, got me my cold water and pillow. I settled in to watch the Drew Barrymore Show. By 1:40 my infusion was done and James was waiting for me outside when Frances told me I had an appointment with the PA at 2:15. I asked her if she could message her and tell her I was finished with my infusion, which she did. I saw Edith and I told her about my flare-ups and that I thought it was because I had not had any Actemra since January 7th. She said if it happens again to let them know and they would give me some prednisone. Edith wanted me to schedule a chest x-ray before leaving but it was too busy and I knew James had been waiting quite awhile. I will do it next time. 

James was standing out in the parking lot when I went outside. He was not happy. I think he was thinking he could have gone to Bass Pro but didn't because he thought I was going to be finished earlier. 

He wanted to go across the street to Costco but I asked if we could go to eat first and then do Costco. Trina and Darrel gave us a $40 gift card to "Flower Child", Trina's new favorite restaurant. I had the chicken enchilada's because Darrel recommended them. They were delicious. James had the Rebel wrap which was filled with thin slices of steak and he loved it.

Flower Child,

Trina's favorite

Chicken enchiladas

Rebel wrap

After lunch we drove about a mile to the Gilbert Costco. James is out of pomegranate juice and I am out of pistachios. We also got a couple of vitamins and spent $72.00. 

At my request we went back the Payson way although James said we were backtracking 28 miles. I'm not so sure about that but the ride home was more pleasant than the ride there and there was no snow on the Rim.

Gas was $4.29 at Circle K in Payson without EasyPay. When we got to Show Low we went straight to Walmart to pick up my hydrochlorathiazide. We were home by 7:40 which means we were gone 12 hours. James immediately went out to feed Luna. When James got back inside we walked and read, finishing our book. I then walked and finished my book. 

To Sheri

From Ian

My table

Fool Hollow Lake

Lynn and Kathy Jones family

 

 

Sun, Mar 20th, 2022: Bountiful Utah Temple, Sunday School Joseph's Timeline, 4 Judd boys pass sacrament, Teebo's baptism, snow & rain,

 

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Jan 1995

By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ, Rock

1 Nephi 13:36

And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 4:1-18

"Come Follow Me"

Review and Sunday School Class

OctGenCon

The Faith To Ask And Then To Act

President Henry B. Eyring

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

The more we have the doctrine of Christ in our lives and hearts, 

the more we feel greater love and sympathy for those who have never had the blessings of faith in Jesus Christ or are struggling to maintain it. It is hard to keep the Lord's commandments without faith and trust in Him. As some lose their faith in the Savior, they may even attack His counsel, calling good evil and evil good. To avoid this tragic error, it is crucial that any personal revelation we receive be consonant with the teachings of the Lord and His prophets.

Liahona

"Similarities Joseph of Egypt and Jesus Christ"

I got up this morning to prepare for Sunday School. Our teacher, Brother Applegate, sends out an email of questions or things he wants us to prepare for. This week it was the sequence of events in Joseph's life and how Joseph was a type for Christ.

James got up at 5:30, quite early for him, and took a shower and began to index.  I ran out of one of my blood pressure meds so James took my blood pressure and it was quite high. I think he is more concerned than I am. After he took my blood pressure we have scriptures and prayer. 

We were excited when we went into sacrament meeting to see that the Judd family was here. They have four boys who helped pass the sacrament along with Curtis Wilhelm. The Hunsaker's are gone to Hole in the Rock and so is Pierce, Brother Sedig, Brother Grombach and many more. We had no organist so John Wilhelm has to push the automatic button and we could only sing certain hymns.

Brother Allen conducted the meeting and did a good job. Elder Goodwin and Elder Johnson bore their testimonies after the sacrament and the announcements. Elder Goodwin is from Inkam, Idaho and Elder Johnson is from Magnolia, Texas.

Chloe Watson, the niece of Brother Owens from the high council, was our first speaker. President Nelson's talk from April 2020, "Hear Him." Hearken is the first word in the Doctrine and Covenants. When we go the extra mile we come closer to God. Listen to revelation because it could be to help someone else.

We sang "Teach Me To Walk In The Light" and I was reminded of our family singing this song at Kim's baptism. I asked James what memory he had of this hymn and he said, "We sang it at Kim's baptism and we did quite well."

Brother Steve Owens from the high council was the final speaker. 

Revelation comes, mysteriously sometimes. The Lord's purpose should become our purpose. We need to hear Christ through revelation and prophets. We must have the ability to recognize guidance and have the courage to act upon it. Joseph of Egypt had many trials yet the Lord was with him. Trials are preparation to be tools in the hand of the Lord. Elder Rasband, love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself. Refining of silver. The Lord will take us out of the flame when we are refined. "You can have what you want or you can have something better." - Jeffrey R. Holland

 Brother Applegate had a great Sunday School class today. Great participation! People who normally don't participate were answering questions. It was great! He and Tamara brought a couple of friends to church. 

This afternoon at 12:30 the Reynolds's friend Teebow Murphy, his real name is Terry Lane Tignor,  was baptized.(Don't ask me about the nickname, I'm as confused as you are!). The first time he attended our ward he said he felt something good. After the meeting James had an elders quorum meeting. They are still working on the ward mission plan. 

We had snow and rain today and it's supposed to snow through the night. Nice was to start spring. One last hurrah. 

Today I read from "The Hidden Christ" Beneath the Surface of the Old Testament. I like James L. Ferrell who also wrote The Peacegiver.

I did three blog posts, sent out six ministering messages, and indexed. I talked to Kim and she said I could hang out her house tomorrow while James went to Casa Grande for a meeting. My infusion is not until 3:30.

Ruthie taking Lanel for a ride.