OUR FAMILY

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022: Michelle's Mountain Microschool visits us, R&R, Dinner w J, Blog, Walk, "The Picture of Christmas", My book

Brisbane, Australia

115th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2003

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Mark 8:38

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Book of Mormon

4 Nephi 1:1-22

"Come Follow Me"

Amos 4-5 Seek the Lord and ye shall live. Amos 4-5.

OctGenCon

"Are You Still Willing?"

Elder Kevin W. Pearson

Of the Seventy

One Sunday, while I was preparing to partake of the sacrament after several weeks of stake conference assignments, an interesting and powerful thought passed through my mind.

As the priest began offering the blessing on the bread, words I had heard so many times before pressed forcefully upon my mind and heart."And witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them." How many times have we witnessed unto God that we are willing?

"Courage To Proclaim The Truth"

Elder Denelson Silva

Of the Seventy

In my search for the truth, I asked the missionaries which church was true and how I could find it. They taught me that I could obtain that answer for myself. With great expectation and desire, I accepted their challenge to read several chapters from the Book of Mormon. I prayed with a sincere heart and with real intent (see Moroni 10:4-5). The answer to my question was clear, and several days later-more precisely on May 1, 1983-I was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

4:45 I got up. What happened to 4:00? I slept right through it!

In the governor race for Arizona this is one of the headlines:

Should Kari Lake concede to Katie Hobbs or challenge the election results?

Today Michelle's Mountain MicroSchool students are coming to do service for us. They are scheduled for 10:00. James went to work at Barbara's but said he would be back at ten. A few minutes after ten Michelle's pickup truck drove up, filled with kids in the back. Soon the doorbell rang and in marched ten kids along with Michelle. I knew some and called them by name and asked the names of those I didn't know. Here is a couple of pictures of Michelle's class:

Devin Jameson is missing in this photo

From left to right front row to back:

Colter Hunsaker, Devin Jameson, Dagny (Chimi) Tesarek, Xochitl Ung, Elijah and Damion Hernandez

Back row: Resten Tesarek, Chance Hernandez, Michelle Tesarek,

Tanner Kenyon, and Georgia Jameson

James met with the kids around the fireplace and gave some assignments. He wants kids outside in the backyard picking up pine needles and putting pine needles and pine cones in containers and rake and sweep excessive pine needles and burn them in the fire pit.

The kids loved doing the fire but the smoke was terrible!

Tanner and Georgia washed windows. Colter soon joined Tanner to help him. Michelle and I were in the kitchen making refreshments. I had made chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting. Michelle made the Rice Krispy treats I had set out. I got the hot chocolate cups filled with hot chocolate and the water heated up. I washed some apples and set them in a bowl. Thank goodness, something healthy!

Here are some fun conversations I had:

With Michelle:

They have a paint horse named Cricket who paws the ground and snorts when she is hungry

They call Dagny, her daughter, Chimi because when she was a baby she would wrap her in a blanket and she looked like a chimichanga.

I asked Dagny what she wanted to be called and she said, "Chimi please!"

One of the Hernandez boys, I think it was Elijah said, You have a Minecraft door but you probably don't know what that is. I said I have grandkids so I have seen Minecraft being played. He pointed out the three doors in the alcove in the hallway and explained to me why they were Minecraft doors. Don't ask me what the explanation was.

Michelle said the three Hernandez boys built a house with their mom out of pallets. James said that Chance was the best worker.

Georgia Jameson said: "You have a beautiful home."

Tanner to Michelle: "Since we worked so hard here can we rest when we get back to school."

Michelle to Tanner: "Tanner I think you have a book report to finish."

You can tell that Michelle loves these kids and they love her. They call her Michelle. I think she is doing a great service for our community even though I know this is her job. Some of the kids are underprivileged and shy and she is bringing them out of their shells. She is pretty darn amazing and I love her so much!!

Everyone finally left before noon. I was exhausted. The dishes will have to wait. I grab a cupcake and head for my bedroom recliner. James is back at work so I am home alone. I turned on a Christmas movie: The Picture of Christmas. After some rest and recuperation I got up and went in to clean the kitchen. I started my walking and blogging rotation routine every 20 minutes.

James came home from work starving because he missed lunch. I fixed some shrimp and steamed some fresh broccoli for our dinner. After dinner I finished my steps before seven p.m. I listen to "In the Shadow of a Queen." This chapter was the one where Albert dies and it was sooo sad. He was only 42 and his family loved him so much.

I also listened to the first lecture in Hillsdale College's "Constitution 101" series. I have a leather bound book entitled "The Constitution of the United States of America and Selected Writings of the Founding Fathers." I will be using this book in conjunction with these lectures. I used it tonight to find some answers to the quiz at the end of the lecture.

I made some Family History files and did some research on Family Search. All this including a shower and washing my hair and we were in bed before nine. James was in a talkative, funny mood so we laughed and talked before going to sleep.

Kinda gross, but so true!

Alex

Sister Porter & Sister Craig

DWTS Happy Couple

Danielle & Pasha

You have gotta love 4 yr olds!

This reminded me of Charlie!

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Tuesday, November 15th, 2022: Barbara Goodman, J's new gloves, Temple w/ Ruth Gale, Streets for dinner, Steps, " Christmas Masquerade", Read, Bed

The Hague, Netherlands

114th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Sept 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Luke 22:69

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 29:1-30:2

"Come Follow Me"

Amos 3:1-8; 7:10-15 The Lord reveals truth through His prophets.

Amos 3.

OctGenCon

"Wholeheartedness"

Sister Michelle D. Craig

First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

Near the end of His ministry, Jesus told His Apostles that hard times would come. But He also said, "See that ye be not troubled." Yes, He would leave, but He would not leave them alone. He would send His Spirit to help them remember, stand fast, and find peace. The Savior fulfills His promise to be with us, His disciples, but we must continually look to Him to help us recognize and enjoy His presence.

Christ's disciples have always encountered hard times.

Up at 4 a.m. One of the first thoughts I had was that it was this day, one year ago, that we lost our friend, Barbara Goodman. Pierce and Susan were not at "Come Follow Me" last night because Barbara's daughter had come down from her home in Salt Lake to go through her mother's things. Every life makes a difference and a life that moves from this existence to the next, leaves behind a hole, an emptiness that wasn't there before. I still miss my friend Barbara, and I always will, no matter what, no one can take her place.

I gave James one of his Christmas presents today. New, waterproof work gloves. It has been in the 20's in the mornings and he is going out and working in this weather. He was very excited and appreciative!

I went to the temple today with my friend Ruth Gale. At Ruth's choice we go to the 3:30 session. I met Ruth in the dressing room at the temple so I could give her one of Ruth Wallace's Ackenhousen names. One of Ruth's lines is from Germany and she has done extensive research on this line and she has lots of names to do. I told her I would help until I did more research and found more of my own names.

When I got to the temple and entered and showed my recommend at the desk, the sister on duty scanned my name and said, "You don't have an appointment." I was surprised to hear this because I was sure I had made an appointment, but I guess I didn't. I know we don't have to make appointment so why is this sister making me feel guilty for not making one. I asked her if the session was full and she said, no. She had me wait at the desk until another sister brought a paper. She looked at the paper, marked something, and then told me I could go in. Whew, I thought for a minute she wasn't going to let me in.

There were six sisters and six brothers in our session. Again, as last week, the session was not closed captioned. I like it better when they are closed captioned. The Bowen's, the couple who come to the temple nearly everyday, and do Scandinavian names. I was the only sister no in the prayer circle. There was one brother who did not go up. I he had, I would have been next to him. President Danny Crandall took me through the veil and his wife, Tricia, was in the Celestial room when I arrived.

After leaving the temple, Ruth and I drove to Street on Main for dinner. My choice. I like their salads. I ordered the crispy chicken salad with honey mustard dressing. Ruth had the avocado toast with a smaller crispy chicken salad. We talked about Valeen's move to Texas and Ruth's trip to help them move. She said they had three vehicles and it took them 25 hours. I just laughed. Oh yes, they also had four dogs with them. We talked about Thanksgiving and Janice, Ruth's daughter who is Kim's friend, becoming a psychologist and going to work while she still has children at home. We remembered while we were raising our children how President Benson encouraged mother's to stay at home with their children. We both were able to do that, but not all mothers are. Ruth mentioned how critical the teenage years are and how important it is to be there for your children when they are ready to confide in you.

We talked about Thanksgiving, and January Stratton. Ruth lives across the street from where January & Blaine have their motor home parked but they do not attend her ward. They are attending the ward where their home is being built. She said they did do a fireside which she attended. Blaine was a mission president in South America at the same time the Kempton's were called to California. I remember seeing their pictures in the Church News.

I told Ruth about Pierce getting married and she said, "Men don't like to be alone." She said she doesn't mind being alone because she can do whatever she wants. It probably helps that she has children and grandchildren nearby.

I had told James earlier that I wouldn't be home until after 7 so when I walked into the house and he said, what happened to after 5, I was a little surprised. I said I had told him our session wouldn't be over until after 5 and then we were going out to eat. I guess he only heard after 5 and expected me two hours ago.

I had lots of steps to take so I changed my clothes and put on my Christmas movie and started walking. I finished Believing Christ and I am now listening to Following Christ. I listened to it to and from the temple and then decided I needed a new novel, so I downloaded "In the Shadow of a Queen" by Heather B. Moore. This book is based on Louise, the daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. '

As a young woman, Princess Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She is also strong-willed and resists following the queen's rigid rules and strict protocols for a princess. After her father's untimely death, Louise's life is upended by the inconsolable grief of her mother and the rippling effect that rocks the British Empire. Captive to the queen's overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother's tight circle of control, attend balls, or have any kind of relationship outside the royal family. She is relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother-the same position each of her sisters held until they were married. Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen's wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day's political matters without Queen Victoria's approval, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy and resources to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter. In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of an epic battle of wills between two women: a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown's reputation unsullied no matter the cost.

James and I read a chapter from our book, "The Call of the Sea." This book is set in the 1100's and is about Vikings and their effect on the world they try to conquer. One of the main characters is Leif and he is drawn to the Christianity. We were in bed before 9!

One of my heroes,

Elaine Dalton

Monday,November 14th, 2022: Goulash, hot chocolate, broken waterline @ Bartel's, DBPlus for Sheri, finish "Believing Christ", "CFM" @ Crane's, DWTS

Nauvoo, Illinois

113th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-30 June 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ: Son of man

Mark 14:62

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 28:25-40

"Come Follow Me"

Amos; Obadiah "Seek the Lord, and Ye Shall Live" Introduction and

Amos 1-2

OctGenCon

"Our Earthly Stewardship"

Bishop Gerald Causse

Presiding Bishop

While visiting our native country of France, my wife and I recently had the pleasure of taking a few of our grandchildren to explore a magnificent garden situated in the little town of Giverny. We enjoyed wandering along its paths to admire the beautiful flower beds, the elegant water lilies, and the light playing on the ponds.

This amazing place is the result of the creative passion of one man: the great painter Claude Monet, who, for 40 years, tenderly shaped and cultivated his garden to make it his painting workspace. Monet immersed himself in nature's splendor; then, with his paintbrush, he conveyed the impressions he felt with strokes of color and light. Over the years, he created an extraordinary collection of hundreds of paintings, directly inspired by his garden.

I woke up at 4:05 but couldn't pull myself out of bed until 4:25. Honestly, this is the most precious time of the day because it is the time that I spend with my Heavenly Father, pouring my heart out to him in repentance, gratitude, and pleading for my family and those I love and serve here in Vernon. My prayer journal is precious and sacred to me.

James, Greg, and the Crane boys, Deven and Brandon, worked at Barbara Bartels today. Oh yes, Barbara's son called and said he does want to move here. It sounds to me like he wants to come but his wife and daughter don't. James told Barbara that we would press forward in getting the house set up and then she could get excited when her son and his family actually arrived. Greg broke a waterline today and progress on the job had to stop while they fixed this waterline. James had to make a trip into town to get supplies to fix the line and those supplies cost over $100.

I made a new recipe of goulash today and I loved it. James said it was okay.

I got a text from Sheri today saying she feels sad and hopeless and she has been feeling this way for weeks and she doesn't know what to do. When a mom gets a text like this from one of her children, a red alert flag goes up. I told her that one of the things that has been helping me recently is to keep a prayer journal. I sent her the article by Debbie Macomber about keeping a journal for your prayers. I later sent her a one year subscription to Deseret Book Plus and their bookshelf app where she can read or listen to over 2500 books. She was very excited about it. I keep my thoughts positive by reading uplifting books and my scriptures. Also, bookshelf is how James and I read so many romance novels. I told Sheri my prayer journal and bookshelf are two things that help me to stay happy and I hope they would help her too.

I updated our checkbooks and made sure all of our bills we paid this afternoon. I also did a little cleaning in my closet hoping I might find my temple cards. No such luck. I also managed to get over 10,000 steps by 5 p.m. At five I began getting ready for our "Come Follow Me" meeting at the Crane's, which starts at six. James came home and we were both getting ready for the meeting.

I showed James a picture I found behind the headboard of the bed when we were painting. It's a picture of Apollos Boaz Lambson as painted by James's Uncle Kay. James began telling stories about Apollos, his great grandfather. He said the other day when he and Greg were going to Globe he told Greg about his great grandfather chasing outlaws through the hills they were passing through. Greg asked where he lived and James said, "Ramah." Greg then said, "Man those guys back in that day were tough! Riding for hours on horseback, sleeping on the ground and eating whatever they could kill and cook on a campfire."

I watched a Christmas movie while walking: Our Italian Christmas Memories". This was a movie with a little more depth, about a grandpa with Alzheimers. Beau Bridges was the grandpa and Sarah Powers (From Good Witch) was the granddaughter.

I finished reading "Believing Christ" and encouraged Sheri to read it too when she gets her bookshelf account set up. I also sent out a LoveGram today. That's what I call it when I send a message to my kids. This one is from President Nelson's talk, "The Everlasting Covenant."

"Once you and I have made a covenant with God, our relationship with HIm becomes much closer than before our covenant. Now we are bound together. Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us. Each of us has a special place in God's heart."

(I actually sent this on Tuesday even though I intended to send it today.)

I caught the first half of Dancing with the Stars after returning from the Crane's. Again, Charlie blew me away with her Viennese waltz. She is so graceful and is in another class from all of the other contestants. She should be a professional dancer! (You can watch her dances on YouTube).