Monday, October 10th, 2022: Sheri's run, chicken tacos, pumpkin muffins, "Pumpkin Everything", Run out of paint, "CFM" @ Pierce's, DWTS-Homer&Marj

 

Fresno, California

78th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Apr 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Matthew 24:27

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 3:1-10

"Come Follow Me"

Jeremiah 1-3; 7; 16-18; 20 "Before I Formed Thee in the Belly I Knew Thee" Jeremiah 1

OctGenCon

"Be Perfected in Him"

Elder Paul V. Johnson

Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Our perfection is only possible through God's grace.

The first thing every morning Sheri goes on a run. It's no different when she visits us. She runs, comes home, takes a shower, does her scripture study, and then fixes breakfast for the boys. Today she made waffles for Rowan and pumpkin muffins for Evan. 

James and I had prayer and scripture together. Afterwards Sheri and I watched a new Hallmark movie called "Pumpkin Everything" starring Taylor Cole. After the movie Sheri wanted to paint. She paints the top part of the wall and I paint the bottom. The only problem is, we ran out of paint. We stopped painting and started watching the movie, "Finding Normal", starring Candace Cameron Bure. It is an older movie but one of my favorites. 

James had already been to town once today but I asked him if he would go and get us some more paint. He said he would if I would come with him, so I did, leaving Sheri to watch the movie by herself.

The boys were gone to the park in James's truck playing basketball.

James and I both reminded ourselves that we needed to wash the car after picking up paint but we both forgot, which means I will have to come back tomorrow to wash my car because I am going to the temple on Wednesday with my friend Sue. Whew, long sentence. 

On the way home for Show Low we saw a complete rainbow. I tried to take a picture but I didn't really do it justice. 

Believe me it was a full and complete rainbow!

When we got home Sheri had fixed hotdogs for the boys dinner. She said she liked the movie. I had put steak in the crockpot this morning. James didn't really have time to eat because he was going to Pierce's for "Come Follow Me." I told him I would make a baked potato for him and he could have it with the steak and gravy in the crockpot when he returned home. I stayed home to spend time with Sheri. We watched "Dancing with the Stars." Tonight is Disney Plus night which means each couple will be dressed in the costume of a particular show on Disney Plus. 

My favorite couple if Mark and Charli. Sheri loved Charli almost as much as Kim and I loved her. Carli and Mark were Marj and Homer Simpson. They were so quirky and lovable. 

Sheri, the boys and I had "Come Follow Me" together, reading and discussing Jeremiah 1 & 2. 

When James got home he had his dinner and then realized that he forgot to feed Luna. 

We got a text from Evelyn, the woman James has been dealing with regarding the sale of our timeshare. She says they want it! We will hopefully come away with around $14,000. What a relief!

I had to walk this evening to get my 10,000. It was 10:30 when I showered and went to bed.

Scarecrow Trail at the Meadow

in Show Low

Homemade firepit

Sunday, October 9th, 2022: Fast & Testimony Mtg, RS, Pres. Beeler, Teresa Hein baptism, Greens Peak in Brian's Bronco, Goodbye's, Sheri, Evan, Ro here, Boys go play basketball, Chicken Tacos & Apple Crisp

 

Palmyra, New York

77th operating temple

Dedicated: 6 April 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Matthew 16:28

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 2:1-19

"Come Follow Me"

Review Isaiah 58-66 "The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion"

OctGenCon

Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness

Sister Kristin M. Yee

Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

To live in such a way that you give beauty for the ashes of your life is an act of faith that follows the Savior.

Today was fast Sunday and we forgot. Kim and Brian did not go to church with us but neither of them has been feeling very well. They may have watched their wards Zoom broadcast. I didn't ask.

We had lots of visitors because of Fall Break. President Beeler was on the stand and presided and also bore his testimony. I love him. He is such a spiritual man and so young. He was raised by a single mom and he and his twin brother are both stake presidents. What a mom they must have had!

Pierce conducted the meeting and bore his testimony. I thought maybe he would announce he was getting married but he didn't. jk

Here are the people who bore their testimonies including Pierce and President Beeler and the brief notes I took:

Pierce - We can gain sanctification through the gift of the Holy Ghost and the Savior through repentance.

Lorraine Vaught - Grateful for the Holy Ghost and ward members who have helped her through her trials. Please pray for my sister and her husband.

Children: George Wilhelm, and two others.

Rusty Allen who is visiting said he was grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He is Steve and Tina Allen's son.

Tina Allen - Grateful to have her family in the temple together.

Paula Johnson - watched something on the BYU channel about Heavenly Mother and is grateful for her.

Alicia Hunsaker - Patriarchal blessings

Laren Ellsworth - Grateful that his friend Teresa Hein is being baptized. Restoration

Steve & Tina's daughter who lives in Canada - Accepts Pres. Nelson challenge to strengthen her testimony.

Charlotte South - She was #13 out of 16 children and her mother made sure they had scripture study everyday.

Greg Anderson - Former Navy Seal, CIA agent, and James's close friend. Our God is so good and I am so grateful for Him.

Jessica Crane - Learned the gospel from her grandmother who recently passed away. 

President Beeler - talked about belonging, "In coming days", Book of Mormon, taking charge of our testimony, beginning our day with a walk with Jesus. If we attend the temple regularly and heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost we will survive spiritually.

I conducted Relief Society and made sure all of the visitors were welcomed. I also announced that Teresa Hein's baptism would be immediately after this meeting.

Rosie taught the lesson from two April conference talks, Sister Porter's "Lesson at the Well" and Sister Wright's "Christ Heals That Which Is Broken." Most of the lesson was taken from Sister Porter's talk. Rosie was prepared with a nice poster and she got lots of participation. It was a good meeting. Salt, leaven, and light.

We wanted to stay for the baptism and we even sat down in the cultural hall where the baptismal font is. I texted Kim to see when they were leaving and she said around noon. It was already 11:25, so we left. When we got home James asked Brian if we could all go for a ride in the Bronco up to Green's Peak to look at the leaves. We are leaf peepers in our own back yard. The Bronco rides pretty smooth and you can take off the roof and use it for an off-road vehicle. Brian is the envy of every outdoorsman, including James.

Back at the cabin we said our goodbyes and then took our traditional picture on the front porch in front of the door. 

Thanks for coming, I will miss you!

Kim and Brian left around 2:00 and Sheri, Evan and Rowan showed up around 4:30. We had time for a nap!

Evan looks like he has grown a foot. He is so tall! Sheri says he is always complaining that his legs hurt. I reminded her that Jared used to say that too, especially when it was his turn to do the dishes. Evan has a job working as a cashier at Culver's. He can walk to work because it is so close to his house. Rowan is a cross country runner and he loves to discuss history. He seems interested in gospel study which he displayed during our "Come Follow Me". We read something about a winepress and I asked what this had to do with the Atonement and Rowan said, it's like Jesus bleeding from every pore. Sheri was very impressed. 

The boys wanted to go play basketball at the park. We found a ball and James found a needle that worked on the compressor so he filled up the ball and off they went with Rowan driving James's truck. I can't get used to the fact that Rowan and Joshua are old enough to drive and Evan will be old enough in November. I still think of them as 14.

Sheri made us some delicious chicken tacos and I realized that is something I should be making more often. She makes them the same way that I taught her. In return I made her an apple cobbler and we had it with ice cream. They boys didn't eat the tacos or the cobbler. I guess they weren't hungry.

We visited with Sheri for awhile until it was bedtime. She decided she was going to sleep downstairs and give the boys the upstairs. She and Evan both connected to our new internet and Sheri commented on how much better it was than the Verizon we had. 

In bed before 9:30.

Brian's Green Machine

Sheri's hot chip contest

Go Ro!

Hilarious!

Sat, October 8th, 2022: We visit Addy in Flagstaff, Lunch @ Wildflower, Goodbye to Addy, Sams's Club, Home again -Rained while we were gone, TV with K&B

 

Louisville, Kentucky

Dedicated: 19 Mar 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Matthew 16:27

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels' and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 1:15-30

OctGenCon

Follow Jesus Christ with Footsteps of Faith

By President M. Russell Ballard

Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Christ can carry us today through difficult times. He did it for the early pioneers, and He does it now for each one of us.

We left for Flagstaff around 8:45 this morning, leaving Kim and Brian to hold down the lodge, as some refer to our home. We had prayer in the car before we left and listened to our scriptures while we drove to Maverick in Show Low to get gas. 

Kim and Brian said it rained in Vernon most of the day. The sky was overcast as we drove towards Holbrook, going through Taylor and Snowflake first. We stopped at the A&W in Holbrook because someone needed a potty break and it wasn't me. James ordered a couple of chicken sandwiches and gave me a bite or two. They were almost as good as the Sonic Chicken Slingers.

 We flew north, approximately 80 mph, along the interstate 40. We saw Joseph City and their huge power plant. I think of Sister Bingham staying with her sister in this desolate little town. I'm talking about the scenery, not the people, I know some wonderful people who live in Joe City. Sister Darolyn DeWitt, Gracie Jones and her husband and I believe Analee Hunsaker grew up in Joe City. She is one of my favorite people of all time! Joe City was settled by the Mormon pioneers and I know there are more great families who live there, including Sister Bingham's sister. 

We pass Winslow where my Dad was born and drive on to the oasis of Flagstaff. Such beauty after such a barren drive on the 40. I love that Mt. Humphrey, the highest mountain in Arizona is so close to the town.

This town has everything you need, good restaurants, good shopping, and a university, but it does not have a temple. They have to drive to Snowflake, about a two hour drive, to go to the temple. Our former temple president and his wife, President and Sister Palmer live in Flagstaff. I also know the Andersen's who are temple workers. I am sure there are more. If someone had to choose where to live and the choices were Flagstaff and Snowflake, it would be a decision between worldly pleasures, beautiful scenery or being close to a temple in a not so beautiful spot, but  where there are so many who believe and live as you do. I hear that politically, Flagstaff is very liberal. I think I have told the story of my friends granddaughter who goes to NAU and decided she wanted to be a boy. The university is paying for her to have this change done. This makes my friend Ruth extremely sad. She said this particular granddaughter had the best nurturing instincts to become a mother.

Our GPS couldn't seem to direct us to Addy's dorm so I texted her and she sent me her location and we drove right to her. She lives in Allen Hall.

Once we said our hellos when Addy got in the car she pointed at that our phone cases were exactly the same color. Addy likes purple too. 

We asked where she wanted to go for lunch and she said Wildflower because she loves their veggie soup. It is very close to the campus and we were there in just a few minutes. The veggie soup is delicious and went quite well with the turkey, cranberry, stuffing sandwich I got. I only ate half and saved the rest for later. I had to take some of the turkey off because the ratio to the cranberry sauce and stuffing wasn't quite right. 

Things we discussed with Addy today: Her major is electrical engineering because she loves math. Next semester she has calculus and physics. She says she doesn't get many electives but she wants to take a snowboarding class. She does attend church every week. She says there are two wards but she hasn't signed up for institute because she doesn't know how. She says she will find out. She is training for a marathon that she and her mom are running in February. James told her that training in a higher altitude means she will be in better shape for the run in Mesa. Addy likes to stay in shape and goes on a run every morning. I worry a little about that but so does Sheri in south Chandler go on a run every morning and nothing has ever happened to her. I do hope they are both using safety precautions.

 As we were leaving Wildflower I mentioned we were going to Sam's Club and would she like to go with us. She said she had already done her shopping but thanks for the offer. Addy had on some ripped jeans and James piped up and said, "we could buy you some new pants." Addy laughed and said she would probably need to before winter.

We each gave Addy a hug when we dropped her off at her dorm and I gave her the scrapbook and the NAU decal I got for her. As we were leaving we saw a robot on the sidewalk delivering food to someone. Addy said, "Watch out, he'll run over you." She is annoyed with them.

We got out our GPS and found our way to Sam's Club. It was 63 degrees and sunny in Flagstaff today. I guess the rain we got in Vernon came from New Mexico. 

Our Sam's Club shopping trip went something like this: I had seen their ads for blankets and wanted to see if there were any I liked but they must have been all out. James bought some health supplements, I bought some pumpkin pecan granola, some peanut M&M's and pistachios and walnuts and some Christmas ribbon. We spent $115.95. Things add up fast. Instead of getting a drink here I waited for A&W in Holbrook to get a diet rootbeer. Goodbye Flagstaff hello barren and boring until we get to Vernon. It took us a little over two hours to get home. It was a little before 5 p.m. 

After resting and having something to eat Kim, Brian and I sat down to watch "The Great British Bake Off." James was at the end of the dining room table and every once in awhile would through in a comment.

After the baking show we watched the latest GAC movie, "Cider and Sunsets." It was okay but some of there movies are a little lackluster. This one was okay.

 I walked during the movie and was able to get my 10,000 steps.

Little Lola was a Diva even

when she was only two.

Scarlett's Park Party

College Addy

I forgot to take a picture of Addy today.

I told her I needed a picture of college

Addy so she sent me this picture.

I

We saw something like this today when we

were coming across the land of Desolation.

Elder McPhie, one of our

cute missionaries. Can you tell

his is a football player.