Friday, December 2, 2022: Wind howling, prophet Amos, 10Church to decorate tree, Sonic, Penney's, Walmart, J sets up chairs, chops wood, "A Holiday Spectacular"

 

Vancouver, British Columbia

131st operating temple

Dedicated: 2 May 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Luke 17:30

Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Book of Mormon

Ether 2:1-12

Come Follow Me

Zephaniah 1

Names of Christ

Bread of Life

OctGenCon

Jesus Christ Is The Strength Of Youth

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I believe the Savior Jesus Christ would want you to see, feel, and know that He is your strength That with His help, there are no limits to what you can accomplish. That your potential is limitless. He would want you to see yourself the way He sees you. And that is very different from the way the world sees you.

Up at 4:24. You may be wondering why I don't use an alarm. There are a couple of reasons. One is that I had to be rudely awaken. I feel like my body will tell me when it is time to get up according to how much rest I need. When I was in college I lived for the first two years in the oldest women's dorm on campus, the Quad. We all slept on a sleeping porch. It was known that I could get up on time without an alarm and various others would ask me to wake them up when I woke up. I was the human alarm clock and I still am for myself today.

The wind is howling this morning. It's going to be one of those days. For my private morning gospel study I prepared a paper about the prophet Amos. I am giving a four minute report on him in Sunday School this Sunday.

After James and I had scripture study and prayers I left to help decorate the church for Christmas. Every year Kathy and Chuck Crane put up Christmas trees in both foyers. Last Monday night at "CFM" Kathy asked if I would help again this year by decorating the north foyer, the one that is least used. I arrived at the church the same time as Cheryl Sedig, the new Relief Society president. I guess Kathy asked her to be there so she could see where everything is stored and the process for setting up. Ruth Wallace came next and then Kathy and Chuck, and then the Gassaway's the new couple who are in charge of the ward Christmas party.

It took about 20-30 minutes for the Crane's along with Cheryl to get the decorations and the trees out of the storage shed outside. Meanwhile Ruth and I just waited around in the foyer. I did a little walking. The Gassaway's showed up just in time to help unload Chuck's truck. Chuck set up the trees in both foyers. The boxes are all labeled according to where there contents go. All of the good ornaments go on the tree in the south foyer. Many of the ornaments I unpacked had the paint scratched off of them. I found some that weren't too bad and had to scrounge to look for hooks to hang them on the tree.  

Kathy, I think, felt sorry for me and gave me a box of ornaments that were left over from the south tree. They were all different assortments with the same color scheme, red. They did help my tree to look better. I couldn't get many ornaments up towards the top but I don't think it mattered because Chuck came in to put the bow on top with the long streamers of ribbon going down the tree. I don't like the bow and the ribbon streamers but it's not up to me. Kathy is in charge here. Last year I was corrected because I put the bow and ribbons on first and was going to weave them throughout the branches when Kathy came in and told me they went on last. No weaving the ribbons within the branches. I told Chuck to do a good job and said goodbye. I told Kathy I needed to leave at noon, which I did. I said goodbye to everyone and was on my way. 

I went through Sonic and got a Slinger. This one had one of the buns burnt but it was still good. I went shopping at Penney's for blankets. They had some good ones. I bought five and then went on to Walmart. The first thing I saw when I went in the door was a display of lights on reels like the ones Kim brought. I bought a reel of 500 lights for about $35.  I bought a couple of throws here and a gift for James, a massager.

I bought a big carton of strawberries and realized they were $7.88. I was shocked but not shocked enough to put them back. I need fresh fruit in my diet. James's Acai pomegranate juice is $6.89 a bottle and I bought two. Everything adds up so quickly. 

When I got home James was outside chopping wood. This gave me an opportunity to sneak his present into my closet without him seeing. He had gone down at 1 to the church to set up tables and chairs for tomorrow memorial service luncheon. He came in after I had everything put away. He said he was going out to Anthony's with his Cat to help him set up his antenna. He was only gone about an hour and a half and since it takes about 30 minutes to get there that means he was only there for about 30 minutes. Anthony got in the bucket and James raised him up in the air so he could attach the antenna but he was too afraid to stand up. James said he was shaking. He brought him down and told him if he could drive the Cat he would get in the bucket and attach the antenna. Anthony said no, he could not drive the Cat so that was it. James said he would come back another time and try again. It was getting dark anyway.

I made James some shrimp and peas for dinner. I had already had the last two chicken tacos for my dinner. I watched a good movie today on the Hallmark channel. Ann Margaret was the grandma at the beginning of the story telling her granddaughter about living her dream of becoming a Rockette. The name of the movie: "A Holiday Spectacular. I loved the sets with the old cars and clothes. I also oved the story line and watching the Rockettes dance.

James misplaced the password book but I was able to pay the Verizon bill anyway. We looked everywhere for the book that we could think of. I ordered another one and vowed this one was going to be my very own. James can have the old one when he finds it.

Have you seen these? 

They were huge!

Vernon directions

This one is for Charlie!

Thursday, December 1, 2022: James pours footings @ Barbara's, Temple w/Ruth W., FH-4 more female endowments, Walk, Blog, Christmas movies

Oquirrh, Utah

130th operating temple

Dedicated: 21-23 Aug 2009

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Luke 17:26

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the day of the Son of man.

Book of Mormon

Ether 1:1-43

Come Follow Me

Habakkuk 2-3

Names of Christ

Savior

OctGenCon

Helping the Poor and Distressed

President Dallin H. Oaks

First Counselor in the First Presidency

A few months ago, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported for the first time the extent of our humanitarian work worldwide. Our 2021 expenditures for those in need in 188 countries worldwide totaled $906 million - almost a billion dollars. In addition, our members volunteered over 6 million hours of labor in the same cause.

Up at 3:54, plan, 34 minutes in prayer, study Elder Johnson's conference talk, "Be Perfected in Him", in preparation for Inklings discussion today. 

James woke up saying he poured concrete all night in preparation for today's pour, which is only footings. Because he dreamed such a dream all night long, this tells me he is a little nervous about today. Greg will be his only helper. James says he also has shingles.

On Monday while we were preparing for our guests for "Come Follow Me" James took the clock off the fireplace because it needed a new battery. He put the new battery in, set the clock, and put it back on the fireplace. This morning when he got up he found the clock on the floor with the glass facing shattered everywhere. On it's way down the clock knocked down my Noah's Ark on the mantel. Four animals were knocked loose. I helped James clean up the glass. I am so sad. This clock was perfect for our fireplace and it was given to us by our children. We will have to replace it soon.

I forgot to tell about something that happened at the temple on Tuesday. While I was walking up to the temple from my car, one of my thigh high hose fell down around my ankles. Luckily no one was around to see me and I was able to fix it until I got to my locker upstairs and took them off never to put them on again. What a waste of money.

Today I went to the temple with my friend Ruth Wallace. I picked her up at the church at 9:45. We are going to the 11:00 session. We were sitting in the second row, with plenty of time before the session started, and people continued to file in until the sisters side of the room was filled. One of the last people to walk in was Ruth Gale. I tried to get her attention to say hi, but she didn't see me. Ruth sat in the back row. 

I did one of Ruth Wallace's names from 16th century Germany. This sisters name was Maria Hindes. After our session we fought the wind back to our car. I pulled up the Sonic app on my phone and ordered two Slinger sandwiches, one for each of us, and one small Dr. Pepper for Ruth. I brought my Kool-aid flavored water with me. We drove to Walmart and ate our sandwiches in the parking lot. We made our way into Walmart to look for a dessert for Ruth to take to the Guy Wilhelm memorial on Saturday. Together we picked out an Italian Cream cake. It looks delicious and will be easy to cut because it is in a loaf shape.

Here is some of the conversation I had with Ruth on the way home: 

Ruth: " I bet you have the most beautiful house in Vernon. I'm afraid to go inside because I will be really jealous." I assured her our house was not fancy or grand. She then aske me: What calling do you have now? I said none. She said: "Maybe I will have to talk to the bishop. It's a shame for all of that talent to go to waste." I told her she was too kind.

James was going to town and I passed him after I dropped Ruth off at the church. He wanted me to go with him but I told him I was too tired and needed to go home and rest, which I did. 

Today I listened to a couple of podcasts about the constitution. I liked them better than the Hillsdale college course on the constitution. I also listened to Inklings and watched a couple of Christmas movies, "Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas", and "A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe". 

I got on Family Search and ran off cards for the rest of the names I did initiatory for on Tuesday. Now I have five female endowments to do. It does feel good to have your own family names! I would rather work on family history than do indexing but I won't say that to James.

James and I listened to a 35 minute chapter of "Healing Hazel" while finishing up our steps before bed.

Charlie's self-portrait, of course it is

upside down.

  

 

Wednesday, November 30, 2022: CWIC Media Respect Marriage Act, Help J on cmptr, "Haul Out the Holly", "Healing Hazel", Tacos & Rice Krispy Treats for MacArthur's

 

Draper, Utah

129th operating temple

Dedicated: 20-22 Mar 2009

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Son of man

Luke 17:24

For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 9:22-37

"Come Follow Me"

Habakkuk 1-2

Name of Christ

Redeemer

OctGenCon

Focus on the Temple

President Russell M. Nelson

President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Recently, Sister Nelson and I had the opportunity to preview the new season 4 of the Book of Mormon Videos series. We were inspired by them! May I show you a brief excerpt from the scene depicting the Savior's appearance to the Nephites.

Up at 4:11 for gospel study and prayers. James got up around five because he said he couldn't sleep. He went into the dining room and was trying to forward an email with this Gmail account and couldn't find the forward icon. I googled it and found it for him. Afterwards we had scriptures and prayer. 

James told me about some episodes Greg Matsen is doing on CWIC about the Church sustaining the Respect Marriage Act passed by congress. I listened to all three episodes. They were very enlightening. Greg thinks the Church is supporting the Act to protect religious freedoms and to respect the rights of the LGBTQ community. The Church respects others rights but still does not sanction same-sex marriage within the Church. That doctrine will not change.  I also finished Emily's books on Grace. Now I can look forward to her next Grace fireside in December.

While walking I began watching "Haul Out the Holly" starring Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown. The end was cut off which is very annoying. Next time I have to tape the show after the show I want to watch.

I am reading "Accidental Romance". I found a new book for James and I to read. It's called "Healing Hazel". We read another book in this series by Jennifer Moore called "Inventing Vivian." I hope this one is as good as the last one.

This morning I cleaned our bedroom and bath and changed the sheets on our bed. I always feel good after I do some cleaning. 

This afternoon I made turkey tacos for the MacArthur's. Jarred got home yesterday. James asked me to fry them in the air fryer, which I did. I hope the taste isn't compromised. James said it wasn't. I didn't feel like eating one so I'm not sure. I also made them some Rice Krispy treats. James delivered everything on the way to his presidency meeting and he bought some eggs from the girls. 

James had an appointment with Dr. Ellsworth today about his thumb. Since the doctor gave him the steroid shot his thumb has not been bothering him so he does not want to schedule any surgery right now. 

I paid tithing, Rocket mortgage, and my credit card today. I'm a day ahead of the game!

I got a text from my friend Sue Hubble today. She is canceling the temple tomorrow because she is going on a cruise with her son and his wife. This cruise has been postponed since 2019. They are going to Mexico and Puerto Vallarta where it is nice and warm. Catherine already cancelled so that just leaves Ruth Wallace. I texted to see if she still wanted to go and she said she did. 

At the end of Emily's last book on Grace she talks about her trip to the Magical Kingdom of Disneyland and getting a guide who helped them discover things they never would have found on their own. One of those things was a small house by a tree near the Indiana Jones ride. I texted Kim to see if she would find it and send me a picture, which she did.

Beautiful!

Camrie's kids

The Child Family photos & Charlie