Friday, January 6, 2022: Sheri's dishwasher, walk, St. Joe's hsptl, early - long wait, Trina & Stacy come, procedure late, we stay at D's again,

 

Lisbon, Portugal

166th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 Sep 2019

By: Neil L. Andersen

Jesus Christ, Taking the name of

Mosiah 18:10

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 4:20-5:6

Come Follow Me

Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 The faithful willingly submit to God's will.

Jesus's Name

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Revelations 5:5

OctGenCon

This Day

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I have shared the Book of Mormon with India's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Indra Mani Pandey; with His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of the Eastern Orthodox Church; and with many others. I have felt the Spirit of the Lord with us as I have personally handed them this "keystone of our religion" and borne my witness of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our faith.

100 Favorite Verses

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

"Just so, a loving Father and Savior see the beauty in each of us as they search our hearts and thoughts."

I studied at Darrel & Trina's round table this morning. Ruby, Rowan, and Lola went to school and Darrel went to work. Trina is up but no sign of Addy. James went to find a part he needs for Sheri's new dishwasher installation. I'm trying to decide if I am going to the hospital with James or with Trina as she is leaving just a little while after he needs to be there. I prayed about it and felt strongly that I should go with James. We left around 10 to go over to Sheri's so James could work on the dishwasher before going to the hospital. Ian was a big help but they still didn't finish. James said he would come back after his procedure but I'm not sure he is going to feel up to it. We shall see. He asked Ian to finish installing it but Ian said no, he doesn't want to mess it up. We left for the hospital at 11 because James is supposed to check in at 11:45 and the hospital is on 5th Avenue and Thomas in Phoenix.

I got a call from Sheri this morning about Laura. Kylee is Sheri's friend at work and Kylee lives with Cathi & Terry. I guess Cathi told Kylee and Kylee told Sheri. Laura's insurance was not going to cover her heart surgery so her doctor told her to go to the emergency room. While in the emergency she had an episode where she couldn't breathe or talk. According to Sheri she almost didn't make it. She is now in ICU. She must be doing better because I got a text from her this morning where she was asking about James.

Trina arrived just as James was checking in. The three of us went up the elevator to the third floor together. We walked down the longest hall I have ever seen.

James got thousands of steps waiting for them to

call him back.

Finally they called James back to a room. Stacy came about the same time. James was in a storytelling mood while he was waiting in bed.

Trina and Stacy were really enjoying it.

Stacy was sitting down while James

was talking about his and Gail's motorcycle

accident and about Gail being 

"tough as nails."

James liked his yellow socks

When they came to take James back, Stacy left for home and Trina and I went downstairs to the Starbucks to get something to eat. Trina introduced me to the egg white bites with peppers and cheese. Very tasty and only 160 calories. We also got some dark chocolate covered almonds that were delicious, then it was back upstairs to wait, and wait, and wait.

When Dr. Powell finally came out and called my name Trina and I were both relieved when she said they thought the cancer was only on the surface and that they got it all. She said the results would come back on Tuesday and would be reviewed by the cancer committee and that she would call me on Wednesday with the results. 

When James came into the recovery room they called me back to see him and told Trina she couldn't come. She stayed a little longer and then texted me and said she was going home. Because it is so late and James was so groggy and because he had promised Sheri he would be back to finish up with the dishwasher, we decided to stay one more night at Darrel & Trina's. Trina called Darrel and had him bring home the medications that Dr. Powell recommended and Trina said she would stop and get some soup for James to eat since he has to eat soft foods. It was dark outside when we finally left the hospital. 

When we arrived at Darrel & Trina's, Trina had some vegetable beef soup warming up on the stove. Addy made us some toast and walla that was our dinner. I did try some of the chicken and angel hair pasta that Addy made for the family dinner. It was very good and I got the recipe from Trina. 

Ruby and Lola were watching "One Direction" music videos and Rowan was upstairs playing video games with some friends. After we went to bed Rowan knocked on the door and then came in to look for his car keys. 

James is in quite a bit of pain. I am so sorry for him and love him so much.

Dishwasher woes

Max practicing hoops

Show Low downtown chapel. This is the 

church I went to as a teenager.

Dallin at a friend's wedding.

Trina and her parents

Thursday, January 5, 2022: 7 Leave for Globe, Peeler's J does work, I study, Copper Bistro, D&T's, J Sheri's dishwasher, Costco,

 

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

165th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 Sep 2019

By: David A. Bednar

Jesus Christ, Taking the name of

Mosiah 5:11

And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 4:1-19

Come Follow Me

Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 God's blessings come in His own time. Luke 1:26-38

Jesus's Name

Shiloh - Genesis 49:10

OctGenCon

Let Doing Good Be Our Normal

Elder Rafael E. Pino

Of the Seventy

Among the marvelous habits that should be normal for members of the Church are these four:

1. Personal and family study of the scriptures.

2. Personal and family prayer.

3. Weekly sacrament meeting attendance.

4. Frequent participation in temple and family history work.

The Eternal Principle Of Love

Elder Hugo Montoya

Of the Seventy

Why is love for God the first great commandment?

I think it's because of what He means to us. We are His children, He oversees our welfare, we are dependent on Him, and His love protects us. His plan includes agency; therefore, we will likely make some mistakes. 

Tomorrow James is having a procedure done at St. Joseph's hospital in Phoenix. He told me earlier in the week that he wanted to leave today at 7 a.m. so he could work in Globe at the Peeler's and then work on Sheri's dishwasher. We were pretty much on schedule this morning, leaving at 7. Kim and Brian are still at our house and will be leaving around noon today. James asked Brian to feed Luna before they left. 

When we arrived at the Peeler's James had to carry some heavy equipment up those stairs. He also helped carry up my suitcase of books. I carried my computer but couldn't use it because we didn't have wifi. While James worked, I studied, and walked. The Peeler's house is in an older neighborhood up on a hill. They have a beautiful view of the mountains and today there is snow on those mountains.

We were at the Peeler's a couple of hours before we left to go get some lunch. James wanted to go to the Copper Bistro so that's where we went. It is right across from the Fry's and the Sonic.

Copper Bistro

I wanted to take a picture of the

motorcycles but

James wasn't interested.

The Arizona Geezer's are a motorcycle

club. They were leather chaps and

leather jackets.

James order the cod and the pieces were the size

of an entire fish.

Oriental chicken salad.

It was huge.

As we head for the valley we listen to "The Undaunted" as long as we can. It went out as we went through the cliffs by Superior but came back on when we hit the desert.

James drops me off at Darrel & Trina's before going to Sheri's. Darrel and Trina were both home which you don't normally see on a given day. Addy is home to and soon Ruby arrives. I guess Rowan ran out of gas and is walking home from school. Trina, Addy, Ruby and I head for the Costco on Sossaman which is the closest one to their house. 

Addy is my shopping companion and Ruby stays with her mom. Here are some of the things I bought: Avocados, lemons, paper towels, Alkaline water, pistachios, walnuts, and almonds. Addy does the heavy lifting for me which mainly was the water. When we got to the car and Trina opened the back she had forgotten she had a load of stuff to take to Goodwill and a vase fell out and broke all over in the parking lot.

Addy went inside and told someone and

a nice young man with a broom and a 

dustpan came out and made sure all of the

glass was cleaned up.

Next we went to Fry's on Signal Butte by their house. Again, Addy was my shopping partner. We got cranberry celebration for James, strawberry Hershey Kisses for me, Hershey dark chocolate Treasures for James and Queen Anne dark chocolate cherries because they didn't have any Cellos. James takes a supplement called Quercetin and he wanted me to get some. I couldn't find it, but Addy did! She is a great shopping partner! As a reward I bought her a container of strawberries, her favorite fruit.

Back at home Darrel is making tritip for dinner. He keeps apologizing because it isn't done. It's okay because James isn't home anyway. He gets home around 8, at almost the exact same time the tritip is done. Trina made broccoli and wild rice to go with the tritip. The tritip was even more tender and juicy than the brisket Darrel made on Christmas day. It is delicious and so is the broccoli and rice!  

After dinner Trina and Addy went for a walk and so did James and I. Before James and I went for our walk we drove over to CVS and picked up the stuff James has to take before his surgery tomorrow. We also got some mouthwash, dark chocolate Cello cherries and some earplugs. 

After our walk it was 9:45. Ruby was on the couch reading and Lola had already gone to bed. She sleeps on Addy's floor. Addy and Trina were still gone walking. 

All of the Christmas decorations were taken

down except the Honduran nativity.

I think it is staying up permanently.

Addy and Lola with Tater Tot

Typical picture of James

Fixing dinner.

Delicious Tri-tip

Trina's energy drink

Wednesday, January 4, 2022: Venison steak gravy & biscuits, Lunch w/ Kerri, Trezise's go home, "Christmas @ the Rosemont",

 

Fortaleza, Brazil

164th operating temple

Dedicated: 2 June 2019

By: Ulisses Soares

Jesus Christ, Taking the name of

Mosiah 1:11

And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 3:9-31

"Come Follow Me"

Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35 Jesus Christ was born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father. Luke 1:1-25

Jesus's Name

DAYSPRING - Luke 1:78-79

OctGenCon

A Framework For Personal Revelation

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The fourth element of the framework is to recognize what God has already revealed to you personally, while being open to further revelation from Him. If God has answered a question and the circumstances have not changed, why would we expect the answer to be different. Joseph Smith stumbled into this problematic scenario in 1828. 

I got up at 4 this morning to study and pray. 

When I went into the kitchen this morning James said that Max and Brian had requested venison gravy and biscuits. James has enough meat to make the gravy but we don't have any biscuits so I decided to make some from scratch. I Googled a recipe and made the biscuits with cold butter. They were quite delicious and there were no leftovers.

My friend, Kerri Halcomb, picked me up for lunch at 11:00. I introduced her to Sheri and Kim. Kerri told me a week or so ago she had something to tell me about her kidney transplant. Because this sounded so important, I didn't want to cancel. 

Kerri and I ended up going to a fairly new restaurant in Show Low called El Charro. I have been wanting to try it and Kerri said a girl in one of the classes where she subbed said her family owned the restaurant and asked Kerri to give it a try. 

We both ordered chicken enchiladas mine with rice and beans and Kerri's with just beans. The chicken meat was shredded and very delicious. Everything else was good too but we both liked the chicken meat the best.

This is what Kerri told me in total confidence. She has a bacterial infection and is having immunity infusions twice a month. She told her mom that the bacteria would not harm her kidneys but she told me the infection could destroy her kidneys. She does not want her mom to know how serious it is. This is scary and I need to pray harder for Kerri.

As she was taking me home we passed the Trezise's leaving going down our hill. I waved but didn't get to give any hugs. Kim and James took pictures.

Sheri misses her dogs

While Sheri was here she made bacon and eggs, bacon and waffles, steak, minestrone soup, salsa, cookies, chicken tacos, hamburgers and hotdogs. Her family ate well. 

This evening Kim, Brian, James and I played Five Crowns. Kim ended up winning.

I watched "Christmas at the Rosemont." To say it was a little different than most of the Christmas movies I have watched would be putting it lightly. James and I also walked and listened to "The Undaunted." 

Tuesday, January 3, 2022: Up @ 5:40, Sheri, Brian, Max town for Max's prescrptn, KFC, Cathi's bday, Sheri makes waffles, bacon, chicken tacos, later burgers and hotdogs, Brian cooks, James's new light, Kim's puzzle

 

Kinshasa, DR of Congo

163rd operating temple

Dedicated: 14 Apr 2019

By: Dale G. Renlund

Jesus Christ, Taking the name of

2 Nephi 31:13

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism - yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 2:16-3:8

"Come Follow Me"

Who were Matthew and Luke? Matthew 1

Jesus's Name

BRIDEGROOM - John 3:29

OctGenCon

Seeing More of Jesus Christ In Our Lives

Sister Tracy Y. Browning

The law of Moses was given to the early Israelites as a preparatory gospel, designed to ready the people for a higher covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The law, rich with symbolism pointing believers to "look forward to the coming" and Atonement of Jesus Christ, was meant to help the people of Israel focus on the Savior by practicing faith in Him, His sacrifice, and His laws and commandments in their lives - it was intended to bring them to a greater understanding of their Redeemer.

At 5:40 I got up for prayer, scripture study and a little planning. I decided to schedule my walking in the morning instead of in the evening. 

Today is Cathi's birthday. I wished her a happy birthday and told her that her card arrived today and I would send it home with Sheri who is going home tomorrow.

Sheri, Max, and Brian went to town to get Max's prescription. While they were gone Ian and Kim continued their conversation about health. I think there was another reason Sheri and Brian went together. I think they both wanted to buy a lottery ticket. I warned them against it but they did it anyway. Hopefully it was a one time whim because the jackpot is so high. Sheri bought KFC for Max and Evan. I had just said to her that she always goes to KFC.

When Sheri returned she made chicken tacos. They were, of course, delicious. One of my favorite foods. This evening she made hotdogs and burgers. She is a cookaholic. 

Kim and Brian usually eat around 3:00 and today was no exception. Brian made steak, fresh green beans, and mashed potatoes. It smelled and looked delicious. Brian bought a side of beef from someone and I got to taste the steak which was so very tender.

James went to town today to get horse feed and to go to the post office. He was gone for a long time and I was beginning to worry about him. When he got home he walked into the bedroom where Sheri and I were watching a movie. I asked him why he was gone so long and he said he had been over to Pierce's using his lift so he could fix the shroud under my car that has been hanging down. I was so excited and thanked him profusely!

James put a new light in the corner of the kitchen where my mixer is. I wanted him to wait until we didn't have company because I thought it was going to make a big mess. It didn't make a mess and it took him very little time. Now I want him to put one on the other side of the kitchen and one in our bedroom over my desk. 

Kim did a puzzle but she tore it up before I got a picture. Sheri got her daily doggie report from Kylee. She said to Ben, "I'll bet Chandler Eye is so boring without the Trezise's there." She is probably right. Sheri, Kim and I went in the bedroom this evening and watched, "Inventing the Christmas Prince." The little girl was the star of the movie with her cute lisp. 

Our first bishopric when we moved to Chandler.

We loved them!

Kaeli, Natalie, and Guy

Ian and the boys made this snow family a

few years ago.

Hebrew alphabet

Snow in Vernon

Vernon sunset

Monday, January 2, 2022: 4:23 Walk w/ Jesus, snow, Walmrt w/ Sheri & Evan, Sheri's homemade salsa, "The Gift of Peace", Minestrone soup, Kim's cake, Max ER, K&B here, Addy's text

 

Rome, Italy

162nd operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Mar 2019

By: Russell M. Nelson

Jesus Christ, taking the name of

2 Nephi 9:24

And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 1:16-2:15

"Come Follow Me"

Matthew 1; Luke 1 "Be It Unto Me According to Thy Word" 

BD: Gospels, Matthew, Luke

Jesus's Name

BRANCH - Jeremiah 23:5

OctGenCon

Jesus Christ Is The Strength of Youth

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

At the heart of God's plan for your happiness is your power to choose. Of course, your Heavenly Father wants you to choose eternal joy with Him, and He will help you to achieve it, but He would never force it upon you.

100 Favorite Verses

Psalms 24:3-4        The Hill of the Lord

Temples are the dwelling places of God and Jesus Christ...

... teach it unto your children that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God ...

(Moses 6:57)

I got up at 4:23 for my daily walk through the scriptures and my prayer journal. President Beeler calls it his daily walk with Jesus. So does Emily Belle Freeman. 

Around 9:00 or so, after Sheri had ran in the snow, we went to town. Evan went with us and I drove my car because it was still snowing. I failed to mention that Ben also ran in the snow but he didn't come with us to town. On the way in to town Sheri wanted to listen to "Follow Him." Gay Strathern with her Australian accent was the guest.

We stopped at Circle K first so Sheri could go in and get a drink for herself and me. I tried to pump some gas but it was too cold and the snow was blowing into my face. 

Walmart was not busy and, the shelves were full! I saw and spoke to Amber Judd who hurried in with one of her daughters, picked up 8 gallons of milk and several dozen eggs, and left. I was checking out. Shopping when the weather is bad is a dream!

The whole reason for going into town this morning was to get cilantro so Sheri could make homemade salsa, especially for Ben. He wanted some yesterday but Sheri had forgotten to buy cilantro and wouldn't make it without it. She told him she would come to the store this morning.

After making the salsa Sheri and I went in our bedroom and watched another one of my favorite movies, "The Gift of Peace." It is a serious one but has a good message. After the movie Sheri went into the kitchen to make minestrone soup and I went in to make Kim's birthday cake. I am making an orange chocolate cake. It is one of Courtney's. Ian came in to help Sheri chop vegetables. As they were chopping and I was mixing, Max came in and said his finger really hurt. He had an ingrown fingernail and it is swollen and looks infected. Sheri told him to show it to grandpa. James said he needed to go to the ER so Max agreed to go. Sheri and Max took off. After she left Ian kind of cleaned up and left the kitchen rather than finishing the soup. When Kim and Brian arrived I was frosting and finishing up her cake. They took a detour through Snowflake so Kim could see their chiropractor, Rod Ray. 

It took me about four hours to do Kim's cake. I worked on it from 3-7. Here are the results:

The most delicious chocolate cake I have ever tasted. Nothing to do with me, it was just a great recipe. I put orange zest in the cake and I think it made it super moist. The buttercream was good too with orange extract in it.

When Sheri got home she cooked steak for Max. Here is his plate:

Max ate every bite.

Ian working on the soup.

Lots of veggies

The boys had the football game on where one of the Buffalo Bill's players collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital. They called off the game and will not be making it up. His entire team knelt in prayer. There was silence in the stadium as people prayed. 

Barbara Bartels paid the Hunsaker's even though they told her they did not want any money for helping to pour her concrete. Bishop told her to give the money to James for medical expenses, which she did. The total was $1,500.

Ian and Kim really bonded today. They have the same philosophy regarding some health issues and had a big discussion about such things as the hidden power of water and of fasting. 

I got a text from Addy asking what she could get for grandpa after his surgery to help him feel better. She is so sweet to be thinking of him.

Kim's birthday card

Kim & Ian talking

Indexing, or taking a nap