Monday, September 12th, 2022:James's blood test, my dentist appt, Taco lunch, Town Dollar Tree & Book Barn, Text from Ruth, Glendale Airport contract,

 

St. Louis, Missouri

50th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 June 1997

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

Moses 6:68

Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 3:1-18

"Come Follow Me"

Isaiah 13-14; 24-30;35 "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder"

Isaiah 13-15

AprGenCon

"Conversion To The Will Of God"

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

For the Savior's mandate to share the gospel to become part of who we are, we need to become converted to the will of God; we need to love our neighbors, share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and invite all to come and see.

James left around 7 am to get his quarterly bloodwork done to check his cancer numbers. Last quarter they had gone way down to .8.

I had a dentist appointment with Pierce at 9 a.m. Pierce is an amazing dentist. I thought I had lost a cavity but he said it was part of a tooth. He fixed it and then fixed the gap in my lower two front teeth. He wasn't going to let me pay him because he said James was going to do some work for his brother-in-law at their family reunion on the 23rd. Instead of writing him a check I just gave him the $40 that was in my pocket. I told him to buy lunch and he laughed.

James and I met back at home. He brought me two tacos from Jack-in-the-Box so I had some lunch. After I ate I told James I wanted to go to town and see if I could find a birthday gift for Tamara's birthday tomorrow. Her birthday is the same day as my Mom's. 

My first stop in town was at Dollar Tree where I bought several frames for the plaques I make. My next and last stop was at the LDS bookstore, Book Barn. Brother Lance Rhoton, our stake executive secretary was minding the store. I looked at the Willow Tree statues. They are beautiful but I decided I didn't want to buy something that Tamara had bought me. I found an Isaiah commentary by Kerry Muhlestein and thought that since we are studying Isaiah in Sunday School this would be a good gift for someone like Tamara who loves to study the gospel. It is called, "Learning to Love Isaiah." I bought it, and felt good until I got home and by then I had talked myself out of it being a good gift. I decided I would keep it myself even though I already have a couple of Isaiah commentaries. Now, what to get Tamara. I thought that I would go to town again tomorrow and pick out a nice scented candle. 

I think Brother Rhoton must have graves disease, or some other eye disease because his eyes are always red. Poor man. He looks like he is miserable.

This afternoon I made some banana bread and some pumpkin bread from some box mixes. Yes, I cheated. I did add bananas and walnuts to the banana mix and it was quite delicious. I baked the bread in 4" cake pans and they made four little mini cakes for each flavor. I wrapped two of the banana mini cakes for James and Greg to take to Globe. One of the mini pumpkin cakes is for Tamara, one for Chelsea, and one was supposed to be for Rosie Lauritzen for her birthday but I decided I was just going to send Rosie a flower card instead. I ate the other two pumpkin cakes, over a coupe of days.

I got a text from my friend Ruth Gale about going to the temple. Normally we go on the 3rd Tuesday but the temple will be closed that day so Ruth suggested that we either go Wednesday morning or anytime Friday. I talked to James and he wants to go to and said Friday afternoon is best for him. I scheduled our appointments for the 3:30 session, this Friday, September 16th and told Ruth. She said she had an appointment in Holbrook that day to use someone's quilting machine but she thought she could make it back for the temple session. We will see.

I texted with Jared and Kacey this afternoon. I had asked if they would be coming for Christmas and Jared said he did not think they would make it. I told him I had to try, just in case. I asked how Tanner was doing and if Charlie likes preschool. Tanner is doing great and Charlie loves preschool and Kacey says her 18 month olds are pretty sweet and she has enjoyed them. She also said they take naps, which is very helpful.

It rained most of the afternoon and evening. James says it rained until 10:30 p.m. Greg says he can't go to Globe tomorrow because his pond flooded and he has to stay home and work on it. 

While we were on the front porch this evening we heard our first elk of the season bugling. James got his elk call and his binoculars and went upstairs to check and see if he could see him. He said he was a big 6x6 and was right down our road next to our fence. He thinks he was debating on whether he should jump the fence but something made him decide not to. Needless to say this made James's day!

James and I watched an Up movie before going to bed called, "Finding Love In Big Sky." It was about a ranch in Montana called Bright Star Ranch and how the two people who save it, fall in love. Not bad entertainment even though it was quite predictable.

Trina and her mom in northern

California where they went to visit

Suzie's sister.

I never get tired of the clouds.

Sunday, September 11th, 2022: James & I speak in sacrament mtg, RS lesson on following Jesus & being a peacemaker, Charlie & Scarlett, Studying Isaiah

 

Mt. Timpanogas, Utah

49th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 Oct 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

Moses 6:22

And this is the genealogy of the sons of Adam, who was the son of God, with whom God, himself, conversed.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 2:1-14

1 And it came to pass in the forty and second year of the reign of the judges, after Moronihah had established again peace between the Nephites and the Lamanites, behold there was no one to fill the judgment-seat; therefore there began to be a contention again among the people concerning who should fill the judgment-seat.

"Come Follow Me"

Review "Isaiah 1-12 "God Is My Salvation"

AprGenCon

"Is The Plan Working?"

Elder Adrian Ochoa

Of the Seventy

What great things does the Lord want you to accomplish? In His Church and kingdom, there are many opportunities to serve and minister to others as the Savior did. He wants you to be part of His great work. Never will the plan of happiness become more real to you than when you are helping others to live it.

"Then Will I Make Weak Things Become Strong"

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton

Of the Seventy

Brothers and sisters, our divine destiny and purpose is ultimately to become like our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. We do this as we change, or repent. We receive the Savior's "image in our countenances." We become new, clean, different, and we simply continue to work at it every day. Sometimes it may feel like two steps forward and one step back, but we continue to humbly move forward in faith.

Up at five this morning. I had scriptures and personal prayer and then retyped my talk for the third time, cutting it down every time because James is nervous I won't leave him enough time. 

When we get to the church we go directly to the stand. As we are sitting there before the meeting starts I see Kim Anderson walking up to talk to us. She comes on the stand and thanks us for the birthday card we sent to her. She said she has it sitting on her coffee table. It was so nice of her to come up and do this and kind of set the tone for me. Next, the bishop, Bishop Hunsaker, came over to tell us how happy he was that we were speaking today. He told me how "smooth" I was. I told him thank you, but I wasn't exactly sure what he meant. 

Brother Steve Allen conducted the meeting. After the opening and the sacrament there were a ton of announcements. After the sacrament I looked at the clock and it was 9:20. I whispered to James that I would be done by 9:30 and he could have the rest of the time. Little did I know that there would be 10 minutes worth of announcements. I started a little at 9:30 and was finished by 9:42. James had the rest of the time. There was no rest hymn. James took up the rest of the time, and then some, but only by a few minutes. We sang one verse of the closing song, Sister Connie Bell gave the closing prayer and the meeting was over. 

Tamara came up and gave me a hug and told me she loved my talk. It meant a lot.  I also talked to Pam Wood, Sue Hubble, Pierce, and Greg Anderson, Mel Wilhelm, Donna Peeler, Barbar Bartels, Alicia Hunsaker, Natalie Robles, Rosie Lauritzen and Rick, Owen Peeler, and Brother Hipps. I'm glad so many people enjoyed the story I told. 

James's talk was so different from the one that I typed for him. He told the story of Geep Andersen and how he went bankrupt as James was building a strip mall for him. James owed so many contractors and he thought he was going to have to declare bankruptcy. He got up in the middle of the night one night and prayed and he said a warm feeling came over him, it felt like being in the arms of the Savior's love. He knew everything was going to be okay.

It was soon after that he got the Los Campanos golf course in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He poured 500 truckloads of concrete and was able to make enough money to pay off all of the subcontractor's he owed on the other job and still come away with a decent profit. 

I told James he needs to start his family history and tell all of these stories he has inside of himself. His life has been more interesting than mine.

Natalie's lesson in Relief Society based on Elder Neil L. Andersen's conference talk, "Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker." I sat by Sue Hubble. After the lesson was over Catherine Halcomb came over and the three of us were talking. We invited Sue to go with us on our monthly temple trip, the first Tuesday of the month. Catherine said there was one stipulation, did she like Sonic? Sue said she did and Catherine was so happy, saying we always go to Sonic after the temple.

Somehow the conversation turned to Sue's daughter Tabitha who has an unoperable brain tumor and can no longer walk. She needs a ramp built at her house. James had discussed this with the bishop months ago and we were under the impression that he was going to take care of this, but obviously something went wrong. This evening James spoke with the bishop again. Bishop said he would go an access the situation and see about building a movable ramp. Thank you. We will check back next week and see if he was able to do this.

James and Chuck went on visits after church so I went home by myself. I had a little lunch and took a nap. They visited the Jameson's, the Ellsworth's, and Cress and Richard Miller. Cress Miller fell and broke several ribs and is quite miserable. She has her 3 grandchildren to take care of so hopefully Richard can help.

 I was still relaxing when James got home. He was starving. I asked if he wanted me to make some enchiladas and he said yes, so into the kitchen I went.

These were some of the tastiest enchiladas I have made in awhile and all I used was tomato soup with one can of Rotelle tomatoes and green chilies. Too much cheese for James to eat to close to bedtime.

Paul had a bad arthritis flareup today. The doctor took him off of all of he meds to do bloodwork and the doctor says he doesn't believe in giving prescriptions for pain. I think he needs a new doctor. Stacy had given him some Tylenol 4 and it didn't help at all. I told her to give him 500 mg of Naproxen which she did. By evening Paul was feeling much better. 

Sheri said Brian had sinus surgery on Friday. He never told anyone. Also, Sheri is going to hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim this week with Laurie Jensen and Trina. I know Trina and Sheri have done it before and I am surprised they are doing it again because they know how hard it is. Oh, to be young again!

I am going to use one of my Isaiah commentaries to study the book of Isaiah. This is the book I am using:

Happy Sabbath from 

Charlie & Scarlett

in Forney, Texas

Cute little cottage

Saturday, September 10th, 2022: Rocket stoves @ the RS activity, Trip to town - Walmart, HD, Firehouse Subs, Home to work on talks,

 

Hong Kong, China

48th operating temple

Dedicated: 26 May 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of 

Moses 1:13

 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?

Book of Mormon

Helaman 1:18-34

And thus had Coriantumr plunged the Lamanites into the midst of the Nephites, insomuch that they were in the power of the Nephites, and he himself was slain, and the Lamanites did yield themselves into the hands of the Nephites.

"Come Follow Me"

Isaiah 7-9 Isaiah prophesied of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 10-12.

AprGenCon

"We Each Have A Story"

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The promise at Easter and always is that, in and through Jesus Christ, we can become our best story and our families can become happy and forever. In all our generations, Jesus Christ heals the brokenhearted, delivers the captives, sets at liberty them that are bruised. Covenant belonging with God and each other includes knowing our spirit and body will be reunited in resurrection and our most precious relationships can continue beyond death with a fulness of joy.

This morning I went to the church to make a rocket stove as part of a Relief Society activity. I tried to talk James into going with me but he said he was too busy. I left a little before nine with my cans to make my rocket stove. When I arrived at the church I noticed a group of people out in the parking lot.  Some are sitting around the table, and Cope Reynolds, who is teaching the rocket stove class is standing in front of the table. I park my car and walk over to the group with my #10 can and three soup cans. After a prayer by Lynda Finnell we got started. There were several women and almost just as many men attending this class. The final count was 45 people. 

Cope had used his pocket knife to cut the tin on the #10 can to help start it for us. We used markers and drew a pattern for one of the soup cans to fit inside of the #10 can. I had gotten to this point when James came up behind me. He did come! I was so happy because I didn't think I could cut the circle in my #10 can. I turned the entire project over to James. Gary Thompson was there with some tools and James went over to use Gary's tools. After we were finished James said this was a little crude and he said he's going to go to Home Depot and get a pipe with an elbow joint that will fit into the #10 can. Maxine Thompson asks him to get one for her too.

We picked up our mail, our new sheets and the wreath that I ordered came. 

In town James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to Home Depot.  The most important thing I came to Walmart for was corn tortillas. I thought I had a dozen at home but it turns out there was only six. I got two dozen tortillas and four cans of tomato soup. I am making tomato soup enchiladas. They are so yummy. I already have hamburger and cheese so I am good to go.

 James and I are both hungry but it's only 10:42. I suggest we wait a few minutes until 11 and then go to Panda. James thinks he has a better idea. Let's go to Firehouse Subs which is already open. We made the mistake of getting the regular sandwiches, one Hook and Ladder and one Engineer and it costs us over $21.00. That is expensive!

When we get home I take a little rest and then retype my talk and then James asked me to type his talk. When I am finished typing James's talk I tell him it is too negative and he needs to focus more on positive things. 

It was overcast this afternoon but we didn't get any rain. Addy texted me a picture of a field of flowers with mountains in the background. I texted back and said it looked like Vernon. I guess Addy went on an outing with friends today. Here are some pictures she posted:

Oops, Addy, get back in the car!

Watched, or should I say listened, to a movie while typing talks this evening. The movie was "Marry-Go-Round" starring Amanda Schull and Brennan Elliott. "Anger fades, but love lasts forever."

Rocket Stove class

Somewhere in Arizona in the summertime

I love English villages

James remodeling the floor in our Chandler home

before we sold it.

Go Scarlett!

Now that's a cake!

Friday, September 9th, 2022: James & Greg in Globe, Pres. Nelson's 98th Bday, Overcast, some rain, Prepare for talks on Sunday, Movies, Walk, Blog

 

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Jan 1995

By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ, Seed of

D&C 76:58

Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God -

Book of Mormon

Helaman 1:1-17

6 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that he could not obtain the judgment-seat, he did unite with the voice of the people.

"Come Follow Me"

Isaiah 6 Prophets are called of God. Isaiah 8-9.

AprGenCon

"Lift Up Your Heart And Rejoice"

Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis

Of the Seventy

We were born at this time for a divine purpose, the gathering of Israel. When we serve as full-time missionaries, we will be challenged at times, but the Lord Himself is our great exemplar and guide in such circumstances. He understands what a difficult mission is. With His help, we can do hard things. He will be by our side (D&C 84:88), and He will bless us greatly as we humbly serve Him.

James and Greg left early this morning to go to Globe to work on the Peeler's. 

Today is President Nelson's 98th birthday. Happy Birthday President Nelson!

It was overcast this afternoon so I thought we were going to get some rain. About 2:15 it started to rain and I was excited. Five minutes later it was over. Lame.

James got home at 4:30 and asked me if it rained. I said, "Yes, for about five minutes."

I spent most of the afternoon working on my talk for sacrament meeting on Sunday. The beginning of my talk I'm going to quote from President Nelson's opening address about all worthy young men serving a mission and most of the rest of my talk is based on the story of George and Karline McLaughlin in Clayton Christensen's book, "The Power of Everyday Missionaries." 

James worked on his talk too. He is using President Eyring's talk, "Steady in the Storms" for the basis of his talk. We did stop and take a walking break, and listened to a chapter from "A Tenuous Betrothal."

I cooked some shrimp for dinner. While I was typing my talk I watched a couple of movies: "A Winter Love Story" and "It Was Always You."

Farmhouse ideas

Charlie dressed herself

this morning.

Buckelew Springs

Yes!!

I loved Annette when I was about 12-13

and I had all of her albums, including

this one.