Saturday, August 27th, 2022: Charlie's 4th Birthday, Balloons, Cake, Ice Cream, Pinata candy, Pizza, Hobby Lobby, Tuesday Morning, Five Crowns, Autumn goes home

Stockholm, Sweden

34th operating temple

Dedicated: 2 July 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

Galatians 4:5

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Book of Mormon

Alma 57:17-36

20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.

21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.

"Come Follow Me"

Review "Let Everything That Hath Breath Praise the Lord"

AprGenCon

"Conversion Is Our Goal"

Mark L. Pace

Sunday School General President

When the Lord's living prophet, President Nelson, introduced us to Come, Follow Me as a means of studying the scriptures, he invited us to transform our homes into sanctuaries of faith and centers of gospel learning.

Then he promised four specific blessings:

1. your Sabbath days will be a delight,

2. your children will be excited to learn and live the Savior's teachings,

3. the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease, and

4. these changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.

Jared got up early and made Charlie's cake. The house smelled like a chocolate factory. He also made the buttercream frosting. I had some help when the cake was ready to decorate.

Always helping, Grandpa

gets in on the fun.

Scarlett & Charlie decorated the back

of the cake with the M&M's

Autumn trying to straighten one of the 

Minnie's that was a little crocked

Kacey and Autumn went shopping for balloons and I told them if they saw a Minnie costume to please get it for me to give to Charlie. They found one and Charlie looks so cute in it.

Charlie

Scarlett

The party started at 1:00. Those attending: Jared, Kacey, Charlie, Autumn, Scarlett, Summer, Jacob, and the Thompson family, Nick, Staci, and Evie who is Charlie's friend.

We had pizza before we sang Happy Birthday and had cake and ice cream. Charlie wanted the pinkest ice cream she could get and she wanted a chocolate cake. 

Charlie's Party

Charlie looks tired and 

Scarlett looks angry

Bluey, Charlie also got 

Bluey's sister Bingo

A bicycle from Mom & Dad

Staci Thompson behind Charlie

Nick Thompson behind Charlie

Gpa opening Charlie's big box of gifts

from Autumn

Charlie wondering if she can

ride her bike.

Evie and at her feet Bing, face down 

on the floor. 

Summer's post

Charlie and Scarlett both had multi-

colored butterfly tatoos on their arms.

Evie wanted one of those "rainbow things."

Kacey is putting a tatoo on Evie's arm.

My favorite gift is the Book of Mormon

that Autumn painted for Charlie. 

Scarlett has one too.

Playing with the wooden Princess dolls

that Kim & Brian sent. They also sent a

Bluey backpack.

After the party Charlie sticks close to her Dad.

She loves him. Maybe it's because he is gone

to work most of the time and when he is home

she wants him by her.

This evening Kacey, Autumn and I went out for a bit of fun. We went to Hobby Lobby where I bought a sunflower tablecloth. Our next stop was Tuesday Morning where I got some thank you cards and a new puzzle.

A little short, but I love it!

Blank cards, love the color & design

On sale for $5.99. I think Ruby will

like it.

Kacey didn't buy anything at Hobby Lobby or Tuesday Morning.

Autumn and I bought something at both places. Kacey was holding out for a plant that she had seen at Albertson's. We stopped on the way home and she went in and got it.

and she's a Dwarf Umbrella Tree

When we got home we ate a little dinner and Autumn, Kacey, and I played a game of Five Crowns. I think the guys were putting in the dishwasher. 

After our game of Five Crowns Autumn decided to go home. She lives in Forney, Texas which is an hour and a half away. It was a little late. I told her to please let me know when she got home, and she did. I'm sure she told Kacey too, of course.

As Jared would say: "This has been another one of those great days!"

 

Friday, August 26th, 2022: Sweetwater to Longview, Jared, Kacey, Charlie, Autumn, Scarlett, Dorito casserole, Bluey, Tanner gone, Cake confusion settled

 

Frieberg, Germany

33rd operating temple

Dedicated: 29-30 June 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

2 Corinthians 6:18

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:41-57

47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

"Come Follow Me"

Psalms 134-36 The Lord is more powerful than any idol. 

Psalms 137-39

AprGenCon

"Valiant Discipleship In The Latter Days"

Elder Jorg Klebingat

Of the Seventy

"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing"; it will march on triumphantly with or without you or me, so "choose you this day whom ye will serve." Don't be fooled or intimidated by the loud adversarial noises emanating from the great and spacious building. Their desperate decibels are no match for the serene influence of the still, small voice upon broken hearts and contrite spirits.

I got up and did some walking around the room before showering and getting dressed. We are in Room 126 and our car is parked very close, which I like. James went down to the hot breakfast but was a little late. He said they had every breakfast food you can imagine but most of it was gone. 

I could not get my left shoe on without hurting my toes so I wore my socks out to the car when we got ready to leave. 

We had our morning family prayer and headed out into traffic. There was a bad accident and the traffic was moving like a trickle of water in a faucet corroded with calcium. 

We finally broke free and it's a race with the truckers down freeway 20. We got behind because James forgot to get gas in Sweetwater and we had to stop at an Allsup station. 

I took a nap and when I woke up we were in traffic again near Dallas/Fort Worth. We drove on to Terrell where we stopped at Bucees. I love this place. It's bright and cheery, lots of souvenirs, good food, farm and grill items, and most importantly of all, good BBQ. I got a brisket sandwich and a drink and we were on our way. For some reason James wasn't hungry. Maybe it's the snacks we've been eating in the car. 

On past Tyler and Whitehouse to Longview. We arrived in the early evening. Jared, Kacey, Charlie, Autumn, and Scarlett were at the house when we arrived at 1613 Pineland Street. Their house is older but the street it is on is beautiful with large grassy yards and huge shade trees. Kacey and Jared have been working long and hard since they bought their house a little over a year to modernize it and decorate it. I love what they have done. Lots of white with green and gray accents in farmhouse style. I love this Japanese Money plant that sits between two accent chairs in the family room.

I love the shiny leaves and the "perkiness"

of this plant.

 James and I made a quick trip to Walmart and Chikfila. When we got back Scarlett asked the question, "Why does it smell like Doritos?" Jared had made a Dorito casserole for dinner. We had dinner in the dining room. Jared also made refried beans made from a dehydrated package. They were very good and so was the Dorito casserole. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Kacey was talking on the phone to her sister April. Tanner is going to go live on their place in a trailer they have fixed for him, and work for Mo, April's husband. He will be going sometime next week. 

It is in the 80's here and the humidity is higher than we are used to but not bad.

After dinner we all watched "Bluey" with Scarlett and Charlie. It's a cartoon about a family of Blue Heeler dogs who are from Australia. Jared says it's the only kids show he really likes to watch and I believe that Kacey and Autumn agreed. We liked it too.

Jared is trying to install a dishwasher but is missing a tool he needs. I told him dad could help him tomorrow. Also, there was some confusion as to who was going to bake Charlie's cake. Jared is going to bake it in the morning. I sent him Courtney's Ultimate Chocolate Cake recipe and a recipe for buttercream frosting. I will be decorating it.

Watching "Bluey"

Bluey

A bittersweet day, Molly's baptism

Now, 5 years later, she says she

doesn't believe in God.