Saturday, January 28, 2023: James visits Joe Vaal w/ missionaries, Ian's dad passes away, Walk, Blog, Fmly Hstry, Closet, Yummy lunch, Lori Laughlin movie

 

London, England

12th operating temple

Dedicated: 7-9 Sep 1958

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

Mark 1:14

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 18:5-20

Come Follow Me

Mark 1 & Scripture Central

Jesus's Name

Beloved Son

Word of the Week

Repent

OctGenCon

Nourishing And Bearing Your Testimony

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Aposltes

Each time you bear vocal witness or demonstrate through your actions your commitment to follow Jesus Christ, you invite others to "come unto Christ."

100 Favorite Verses - Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me

Mark 10:13-14, 16

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, , and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Saturday day is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday!

This morning I had to do a blog post for Friday, January 27th, all over again because the first one I did disappeared. It is so frustrating when this happens but all I can say is next time I will be more careful as to what I get rid of. There was a duplicate post and I got rid of the wrong one.

The youth of our ward did temple baptisms for me on Friday. Now I have some cards to take to the temple for initiatory, endowments, and sealings. I am very grateful. 

I discovered something today while doing family history. I was researching Nannie's mother Artie Elizabeth Walker and discovered she had three husbands. Actually I made that discovery a couple of weeks ago. One of her husbands was Andrew Jackson Huddleston. Listed as one of their children was Marcia Huddleston. I went on to Ancestry and found a death record for Marcia listed as 1872 and her mother listed as Lucy A. Huddleston. She died 3 years after Artie was born so there is no way Artie could be her mother. The child goes to Lucy and because of that she is not my relative. I am a little disappointed.

Before I went grocery shopping last week I planned on fixing three meals, beginning with white beans and ham on James's birthday. The next meal was Lois's enchiladas and then today I made parmesan crusted chicken in the air fryer along with rice pilaf. I added carrots, celery, and onion, all sauteed in a skillet, to the rice. James loved the rice and the chicken and so do it. It is definitely a meal I will make again, along with the navy beans. I won't be making the enchiladas again any time soon because they just aren't healthy although they are delicious.

After lunch James went to visit Joe Vaal again with the missionaries. When he returned home he had quite a story to tell. Let me see if I can share that story on here:

Joe has a book on his coffee table about his family escaping the Nazi's in Belgium during WW11. Joe's brother is going to write a book about Joe who was a 12 year old boy at the time and how he  helped his country in fighting the Germans. 

A couple of weeks ago Joe got a bone infection. When he went to the doctor he told him he could cut off half his feet now. If he waited he would be cutting off his legs. So, Joe has his feet cut just below his toes. Last week when he shoveled his walk his feet started bleeding and he had to go to the ER. 

Joe was married for 69 years when his wife died a little over a year ago. Next week will be their 70th wedding anniversary. Joe told the saddest story. He says he can't sleep at night. He just gets up and wanders around the house looking for his wife. James said he could come back with another priesthood holder and give him a blessing. He wants to do this tomorrow.

Joe doesn't like TV but he loves reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon. He went to church with his granddaughter in Snowflake to an LDS meeting. He didn't like it because he said they didn't talk about the Savior. 

He says he is very lonely and for Thanksgiving dinner he opened up a can of beans. 

Joe is 90 years old.

Joe wants to refinish some of his floors. James offered to help.

I hope he gets baptized and becomes a part of our ward family.

The elders carried in pellets for Joe's stove.

This evening James went to Cody Pritchett's baptism. He said it was amazing. I am wondering why the missionaries didn't invite Joe.

Cody is a 25 year old single guy who moved in to our ward area recently. 

I got a Laura update from Cathi:

We got to the hospital about 30 minutes ago. Dave went home to shower and rest. Laura is awake and using hand signals to communicate. If we don't guess what she is saying after 3 tries, we give her a white board and marker so she can write what she needs. The breathing tube is still in and might come out tomorrow. The pain is still being managed by an epidural. It numbs her from the throat to the hips. She is doing very well with everything. Most patients have to be restrained so they don't pull the breathing tube out. Not Laura, she is a model patient.

Good news.

This evening James and I walked and listened to our book, "A Generation Rising." We also watched the newest GAF movie:

"Fall into Winter" starring Lori Laughlin. I am sorry if some of you are offended because I like her, but I do. She paid her price to society and I believe she is sorry for what she did and deserves a second chance. I think she is a good actress and I really enjoyed this movie, and so did James.

Yay Ruthie!

 

Friday, January 27, 2023: My knee feels better this morning, Scheduling DSO is a pain, Courtney on KC,

 

Hamilton, New Zealand

11th operating temple

Dedicated: 20-22 Apr 1958

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

Matthew 22:29

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 17:48-18:4

Come Follow Me

Matt. 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22 /the members of the Godhead are three separate beings. 

Jesus's Name

Beloved Son

Word of the Week

Repent

OctGenCon

The Virtue Of The Word

Elder Mark D. Eddy

Of the Seventy

President Russell M. Nelson:

"To me, the power of the Book of Mormon is most evident in the mighty change that comes into the lives of those who read it 'with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ.' Many converts forsake much that they once held dear in order to abide by the precepts of that book. ... It will be your most effective instrument in bringing souls unto Jesus the Christ."

100 Favorite Verses - The Sacrifice of a Broken Heart

D&C 59:8

Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

I got up at 5:16 this morning from the recliner. My knee seems a little better. 

James is still waiting for the tire he ordered for his trailer to come. He ordered it online from Walmart and he can't find the order. 

I ordered a set of cookware on Dec. 27th and it hasn't come either so I sent them an email saying I was going to cancel my order if I didn't hear from them.

I was not able to schedule the timeshare online so I called Vistana. The guy I spoke to said there was not two rooms available on the week of the May 28th or June 4th. I complained and said I had been doing this for 20 years and never had a problem and that was my assigned week. It didn't do any good. The soonest I could schedule was for July 22nd. Grrr. Also couldn't schedule from Sunday to Sunday but had to schedule from Saturday to Saturday. I am not a happy camper.

Update on Laura from Dave to Cathi to me:

Just got back from CT scan. Waiting for full team to come then the tube comes out. She woke up around 7 - slowly. Doing good. Still bleeding/draining. More on right side but decreasing. Ventilator only at 10% rest on her own.

Update an hour later:

Back to OR to go in and flush right side. A little too much fluid drain is not handling. But they are very happy with her. Ahead of most patients so far. Breathing on her own. But won't remove tube until tomorrow. The drainage is very normal in transplants.

I worked on my closet today and sat things in the bedroom so I could decided what I want to keep, put somewhere else, throw away and give away. It is a process. My goal is to take at least two boxes full of stuff to Goodwill each week. My two boxes aren't quite full yet.

James put in a light over my desk in the bedroom this evening. While he was working I walked and went into the family room and watched a movie on Netflix called "Dog Gone." It is based on a true story and stars Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. I really liked Rob Lowe as the 17 year old boys dad. It was a good movie with a great message, something you don't always see on Netflix.

Stacy called me again today to "talk business." She loves her note business but is at a standstill right now because she is out of money. She needs to mail out some letters to leads and wanted to know if I could help. I told her I would see how much envelopes cost and then told her that postage stamps are now 60 cents. She was blown away.

James and I are liking our new book, "A Generation Rising."

Frozen water bubble.

My new light

Courtney on the Kelly Clarkson Show

Thursday, January 26, 2023: Another clear, sunny, cold day, K, Br go home, J and I go to town, James helps clean the temple,

 

Los Angeles, California

10th operating temple

Dedicated: 11-14 Mar 1956

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

Matthew 13:10

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 17:31-47

Come Follow Me

Matt. 3:11, 13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 Jesus Christ was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. BD: John the Baptist

This Week's Jesus's Name

Beloved Son

Word of the Week

Repent

OctGenCon

That They Might Know Thee

Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt

Of the Seventy

While there are some of Jesus's names that are reserved only for Him, I would like to share five names and titles that have application to each of us. I invite you to develop your own list as you come to know Jesus by His many names. In doing so, you will find that there are other names - along with their corresponding Christlike attributes - that you will want to take upon yourself as Jesus's covenant disciple. 

First, Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Second, Jesus is the High Priest of Good Things to Come

Third, He is the Same, Yesterday, Today, and Forever.

Fourth, Jesus is the Holy One of Israel.

Fifth, Jesus is Faithful and True.

100 Favorite Verses - "Doubt Not, Fear Not

D&C 6:36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

It was 11 degrees this morning. Now that is cold! 

While checking the balance on my credit card today, I discovered a couple of charges that luckily the bank turned down. They were each for $176.13 totaling $352.26. The name of the company making these charges is Craftsy. I have been on their website but not for several months so I am not sure the basis of the charges. Anyway, my credit card was cancelled. The woman on the phone said I would receive a new one tomorrow when I complained that I didn't want to go without my credit card. I hope so.

I ordered something I saw on the Kelly Clarkson show yesterday. It is an infrared blanket that is supposed to help pull the impurities from your body and help you lose weight. Kim highly recommended it as she does infrared treatments. It was half price so I bought it for James. He doesn't need to lose weight but I like the idea of getting the impurities out of his body. I am such a sucker.

Kim and Brian got up and began to get ready to go home. They cleaned downstairs and we washed the sheets and the towels. Before leaving they listened to Tony Robbins for a couple of hours. They stopped around 2:00 and came upstairs. We were getting ready to go to town so we took their picture outside on the front porch.

Kim insisted we take a picture with them:

I got a call from Sheri today. She said Laura is having her lung transplant today. Her surgery started at 8:30 this morning and there was a concern that the lung might not be viable but since it is now 10:30 they are assuming it was. The surgery lasted 4 1/2 hours and now Laura is intubated and sedated. She will be this way for 24-48 hours.

I went with James to town today to pick up horse feed. First stop was at Sonic where I got a medium Coke Zero. I wanted to go to Taco Bell to get a couple of tacos. James asked if we could go next door to Jack in the Box instead. I told him that was fine. We each got a taco and a chicken fajita pita. I was disappointed in my fajita pita. It looked like this:

What a mess! The pita bread was broken up and

the lettuce was in big huge chunks. It was probably

the healthiest thing we could have gotten but the

way it was presented was very unappetizing.

After picking up horse feed, two bags because James is feeding Luna two times a day, we started home. On the way home we read our new book, Fire and Steel Volume 1 A Generation Rising. This story takes place in Germany at the turn of the 20th century. 

James helped clean the temple tonight. He carpooled with Greg and Kim Anderson. James was assigned to clean the bathrooms which was probably the worst thing he could have done because of his reaction to the cleaning chemicals. He didn't get home until after 10:30. My knee is acting up today and that is the reason I didn't go. 

Here are names of those who helped clean:

Pierce Goodman, Joshua Harris, Sean & Stefani Hunsaker, Bishop & Alicia Hunsaker, Sam & Amy Gordon, Chris & Becky Skousen, Fred Klug, Jeanie Jameson, Cope Reynolds and Tebow, Richard & Cress Miller, Greg & Kim Anderson, and James. Our ward always has a good turnout for cleaning the temple.

My right knee was really hurting tonight so I only got around 10,000 steps before going to bed. When James got home he kissed me goodnight and it woke me up. My knee was throbbing and I couldn't get comfortable so I went over to sleep on the recliner.

What I want my birthday cake to look like!

Wednesday, January 25, 2023: Up @ 5, High today 28 w/ sunshine, K,B, & Tony, They take down our Christmas tree, Lois's enchiladas, James's mtg, Bro. Flake

 

Bern, Switzerland

9th operating temple

Dedicated: 11-15 Sep 1955

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

Matthew 12:3

But he said unto them, have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they that were with him.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 17:17-30

Come Follow Me

Matt. 3:7; Luke 3:7 Who were the Pharisees and Sadducees?

BD: Sadducees; Pharisees

Jesus's Name

Beloved Son

Word of the Week

Repent

OctGenCon

The Answer Is Jesus

Elder Ryan K. Olsen

Of the Seventy

Serving a mission was a sacred time of my life. In my last interview with him as a full-time missionary, President Blair Pincock spoke of the upcoming change in mission leaders, as he and his wife were also nearing the completion of their service. We were both sad to be leaving something we loved so much. He could see that I was troubled by the thought of not being a full-time missionary. He was a man of great faith and lovingly taught me as he had for the previous two years. He pointed to the picture of Jesus Christ above his desk and said, "Elder Olsen, it is all going to be OK because it is His work." I felt reassured knowing that the Savior will help us, not just while we are serving but always - if we will let Him.

100 Favorite Verses - Children of Christ

Moroni 7:16, 19

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

Wherefore, I beseech of you that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

Up at 5:09. Another sunny but cold day. The he was around 28 degrees.

Kim and Brian listened to Tony Robbins again today. He is doing five days worth of classes for free to anybody who wants to join in. They run from 12-2 and today is the third day. They also took down the Christmas tree and wreath, and put everything away.

I made Lois's enchilada casserole today. They are very tasty but we can't eat them too often because the cheese plugs James up. 

Did you know that John the Baptist taught Herod while he was in prison. See Mark 6:20. I was listening to Ben Wilcox on "Teaching with Power" today and he is the one that I learned this from.

I did lots of walking and listening to conference talks today. I'm also almost caught up on my blog.

James had a meeting tonight. He came home with a couple of bits of news. They have realigned the boundaries for our ward and the Concho ward and he showed me a list of those families affected. I did not know any of them except Anthony Romyak. So glad they didn't take the Robles, Crane's, or Jameson's. Also, Brother Flake, who is new in our ward is in the hospital with some kind of lung problem. I must remember to pray for him. He has a young wife and family.

While James was at his meeting Kim, Brian and I had cake. It tasted even better today than it did yesterday. 

Vernon, Az

New clock - Mantel

or Piano?

Tuesday, January 24, 2022: 5 Not tired, study, Banana Nutella cake, BDP appt, High 32 degrees, Brian's stew, J goes out with missionaries, No word from St. Joe's

 

Idaho Falls, Idaho

8th operating temple

Dedicated: 23-25 Sep 1945

By: George Albert Smith

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

Matthew 7:29

For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 17:1-16

Come Follow Me

Matt 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:2-18 Repentance is a mighty change of mind and heart.

Jesus's Name

Beloved Son

Word of the Week

Repent

OctGenCon

Legacy of Encouragement

President Henry B. Eyring

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Mormon saw meekness as evidence of the strength of their faith. He saw that they felt dependent on the Savior. He encouraged them by noting that faith. Mormon continued giving them encouragement by helping them see that their faith and meekness would build their assurance and their confidence of success in their struggle:

"And again,..., I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

"And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

100 Favorite Verses - God's Love for His Children

1 John 3:1 

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

D&C 14:7

And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

I got up at five and I am not tired! I re-did my schedule and now I get up at 4:30 or 5 instead of 4. 

Kim and I made a cake today for James's birthday. We started it at 10 a.m. and ended around 7:30 with lots of breaks in between. Kim and Brian listened to a Tony Robbins webinar for several hours. I had an appointment at Barnett-Delaney-Perkins to set up my Yag surgery. James drove me in to town because he thought the roads might not be cleared of all of the snow. The roads were fine and the even though it is very cold the sun is shining and melting the snow. 

My appointment lasted less than 30 minutes. While I was in my appointment James went to Walmart to pick up a few things. When I got out he was still gone so I started walking down the sidewalk on the side of the road. There were some piles of snow I had to navigate through. Show Low got about 10 inches of snow. We only got 8 inches in Vernon. James calls me and says he's waiting in the parking lot at B-D-P so I turn around and go back. 

James was so hungry and he mentioned this in the car to me. I mentioned to him that Brian had made a stew for dinner. When we got home the stew was done and we joined with Brian and Kim in eating. Brian also made cheddar biscuits and I had a couple of those. I should have limited myself to one but they were soooo good. 

Before James and I went to town he went out with the missionaries, Elder Piper and Elder Weeks. The guy they were wanting to visit didn't answer his door. He is 90 years old and had cleared his walkway of snow in preparation for the missionaries coming. They thought maybe he was taking a nap and didn't hear them knocking at the door. Elder Piper said they would go back and check on him tomorrow.

After dinner Kim and I went back to work on the cake. We made salted caramel, Nutella filling and Nutella frosting. Courtney calls this a Banofee cake. I call it a banana cake with Nutella frosting and filling and a caramel drip.

The first caramel drip got burned so Kim made a second batch. James doesn't care for caramel so we left it off the cake and you could add you own to your piece of cake. The cake was delicious!

Just as good as it looks!

Some things I studied today:

 Russell M. Nelson - "We Can Do Better & Be Better"

Dallin H. Oaks - "Cleansed by Repentance"

Erick Huntsman - "Worship" the chapter on prayer

Henry B. Eyring - "Legacy of Encouragement"

Kim and Brian shared some things they learned from Tony Robbins today. One of the main things he said was the importance of having energy because without energy you can't do anything. He said to get up and move periodically if you work at a desk. 

Hooray for energy!

I should have stayed but I was sooo tired!

Wanted a picture of the mountain, snow and clouds.

Those darn poles and wires!

This week's snowfall