Wednesday, February 15, 2023: 12" of snow, snowed in until Bishop blades our driveway, Michael & Fernie leave, we go to town, Wlmrt, Sonic,

 

Dallas, Texas

30th operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Oct 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

Matthew 13:54

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 8:1-25

Come Follow Me

Matt. 5:13 "Ye are the salt of the earth" 

Jesus's Name

Lawgiver

Lesson Words/Phrases

Blessed, Salt, Light, Love

Favorite Scriptures

Matthew 5:1-12;  5:16; 5:44; 5:48

OctGenCon

Our Earthly Stewardship

Bishop Gerald Causse'

Presiding Bishop

Second principle: As stewards of God's creations, we have a duty to honor and care for them.

As God's children, we have received the charge to be stewards, caretakers, and guardians of His divine creations. The Lord said that He made "every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures."

100 Favorite Verses - "An Abundant Life"

John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

12-14 inches of snow this morning. The world looks beautiful, especially the trees!

Fernie doesn't seem to mind that her car is covered with snow. I think she wishes she could stay.

Fernie's car 

James scraped the snow off for her.

  Bishop Hunsaker came and bladed our driveway and road so we could get out. After what happened with Pierce on Monday, getting the truck out of the mud, and now today the bishop blading our road, Michael said: "Wow, you guys really do live the law of consecration!

Michael and Fernie watched the second Harry Potter movie, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" before getting ready to leave for home. 

Charlie asked today if she could bring the Book of Mormon in the car with her. Kacey said yes, she could. Kacey made a video of Charlie reading from the Book of Mormon. I tried to download it here. It looks like it downloads but then it won't play. I tried several times and I am so sad that I can't make it work because this is something that I want to remember forever. It is on my phone. This is what Charlie said:

"On Valentine's Day they gived, and shared, and loved and repented and told the truth and had so much fun." Those words she used are scripture words and look how many ands she used, just like the Book of Mormon! Wow! I am so impressed with this little four year old girl. I wish I could hear her prayers!

In the early afternoon Michael and Fernie were ready to leave for home. We were ready to go into town and followed right behind them.

We enjoyed having Michael & Fernie vist

and hope they come back soon!

That snow on top flew off as soon

as we got on the road.

We took the truck to town because the driveway still needs to be shoveled in order to get the car out. I reminded James I was going to the temple tomorrow and he said, "What time?" I am leaving at 9:30.

The highway is cleared and after following Michael & Fernie for awhile James passed them and honked loud and clear. They turn in at Maverick and we continue on to Walmart. James drops me off at the front door while he goes to get a parking space. Later he finds me and helps me do my shopping. These are my three meals for this week: 1 - Cashew chicken 2 - Tacos and 3 - Butternut squash risotto.

While still in Walmart so I can use their wifi I text in our order to Sonic. Two Slingers and a small order of mozarella sticks which are on sale for $1.49. Yummy! 

We finished volume2 of Fire & Steel, The Storm Descends, and start volume 3, The Shadow Falls. Hans is friends with Adolph Hitler and we see how Adolph develops his political views. It is interesting but I hope Hans doesn't follow him into World War II. Right now it is only 1919. There are a total of six books in this series.

I also finished my book, "The Best Intentions" and started a new book, "Miss Newbury's List." 

After putting the groceries away it was time for a break. I watched one of my favorite Up channel movies, "Can't Buy Me Love." After rest time I got up and came over to the computer to work on my blog and to listen to Tyler and Taylor on Scripture Central again. I like their stepping stone approach to the Beatitudes. After finishing taking notes on Tyler and Taylor I started listening to Lynne Wilson who is also on Scripture Central. I have printed out most of her PowerPoint and am deciding which slides I want to use. 

My knee really hurts but I manage to get my 12,000 steps. I go to bed in my bed but then move to the bedroom recliner and then in to the family room recliner where sleep eludes me for a couple of hours.

Loose pig at Timber Knoll

and the 60

Memory: Addy, Rowan, and Ruby playing in

Dawn's school room.

I believe this would work with adults too!

My purple polka dot kitchen accessories

 

Tuesday, February 14, 2023: James leaves for valley, Happy V-Day, Kacey's message, Molly's donation, HP movies, chocolate cake, Five Crowns, Smores & steak, Flowers & love notes,

Manilla, Philippines

29th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Sep 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

3 Nephi 23:11

And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this things, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 6:8-7:11

Come Follow Me

Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-26, 46-49 Lasting happiness comes from living the way Jesus Christ taught.

Jesus's Name

Lawgiver

Favorite Scriptures

Matt 5:16; Matt 5:44; Matt 5:48

OctGenCon

The Doctrine Of Belonging

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The final and most important element of the doctrine of belonging is the central role of Jesus Christ. We don't join the Church for fellowship alone, important as that is. We join for redemption through the love and grace of Jesus Christ. We join to secure the ordinances of salvation and exaltation for ourselves and those we love on both sides of the veil. We join to participate in a great project to establish Zion in preparation for the Lord's return.

100 Favorite Verses - "Believe In The Lord Your God"

2 Chronicles 20:15, 20

Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. . . . Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so hall ye prosper.

"When we trust in the Lord, we need not fear the multitudes that surround us.

Up at 4:52 to see James off to the valley. I am sad he has to go on Valentines Day. 

Our winter storm continues with wind and snow. 

Michael asked me if I had the Harry Potter movies and of course I do. He opened the first one and the disc was gone. I just made sure I had all the movies, how did this happen? I check Prime video and saw you could rent or buy the movies so I rented the first one for Michael and Fergie to watch. Fergie has never seen them so it was important for her to start at the beginning. I also ordered the movie so I would have it in my collection. 

As I was going about my morning routine, working 20 minutes the walking I grew tired and hungry.  I made myself a bean burro then went back to my room, sat back in the recliner with my heart blanket, turned on a movie, and fell asleep. I woke up thinking I heard someone knocking at the door. I jumped up and went into the entryway. I called to Michael and Fernie who were upstairs and asked if they heard someone knocking. Fernie said, "No, I think it was just the wind." Probably true. Yesterday it was a spider, today it was a knock. I wonder what will wake me up tomorrow.

I worked on the lesson I am giving Sunday by running off PowerPoint pages that I got from several "Come Follow Me" presentations. Most are from Lynne Hilton Wilson's presentation but there are some from Ben Wilcox too. I am going to lay these out and figure out how to use them in my lesson. I also want to use the stairway of attributes Tyler and Taylor used to represent the Beatitudes. I have lots of ideas I just need to get them organized. Kerri is coming over to help me do a PowerPoint on Friday or Saturday.

Molly texted me today and asked me to donate to her school's athletics program, which I did, and she promptly thanked me.

James called me around 4:30 asking if I had sent money to Rudy for the drywall work he finished. I said no, but I would and then I asked him where he was. He said between Show Low and Vernon. I was surprised because he said he probably wouldn't be home until late. 

He was home around 5:00. He brought me two bouquets of flowers and wrote me the sweetest love note, I am so blessed to have such a wonderful eternal companion!

Earlier this afternoon I made the chocolate sheetcake Courtney had us make as part of her Cake Camp. It is very moist and delicious. Last time it fell in the middle so this time I added a little more flour. It turned out really well. I had not butter to make frosting but Michael had some cream so I borrowed a cup and made some chocolate ganache. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. It made a beautiful, shiny frosting that was not too sweet like most frosting is. We all liked it! 

Michael made steak, asparagus, and mashed potatoes for our Valentine's dinner. Everything was delicious!

We had the choice of Welch's sparkling red

grape juice or Martinelli's sparkling

apple juice to go with our meal.

After dinner James made a fire while I cleaned the kitchen then the four of us played Five Crowns. Fernie had never played before so we had to teach her as we played. I won, which doesn't happen very often. 

It was a great Valentine's Day! It was snowing like crazy when we went to bed.

Scarlett's artwork

Shaun & Anna

 

 

 

Monday, February 13, 2023: 5 podcasts later,Pierce's army truck to the rescue, lunch @ Licano's, snow & sunshine, Walmart, Fernie&Michael ride Luna the naughty horse, Michael's dinner

Sydney, Australia

28th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Sep 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

3 Nephi 17:3

Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 5:26-6:7

Come Follow Me

Matthew 5; Luke 6 "Blessed Are Ye"

Jesus's Name

Lawgiver

Lesson Words/Phrases

Blessed, Light, Salt, Love, 

Favorite Scripture

Matthew 5:48

OctGenCon

Building A Life Resistant To The Adversary

Elder Jorge F. Zeballos

Of the Seventy

The Savior Himself, at the beginning of His ministry, "was left to be tempted of the devil." But Jesus emerged successful from that great trial How did having an attitude of anti-Satan or anti-temptation serve Him? What made Jesus emerge triumphant from these most difficult moments was His spiritual preparation, which permitted Him to be in a condition to resist the temptations of the adversary.

100 Favorite Verses - Peace Be Unto Thy Soul

D&C 121:7-8

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thin afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

"The school of adversity refines and sanctifies us, lifting us toward a level of Christlike compassion and mercy. We cannot fully share His joy without experiencing some of His sorrows.

Five podcasts/videos later, I have a lot of ideas on how and what to teach from Matthew 5. Now I have to get it organized and prepared. Kerri is coming over this weekend to help me to do a PowerPoint. 

It was windy, cold, and snowy today but we also had sunshine. It went from snowing to sunshine several.

James called Pierce this morning and told him his truck was stuck up on the road to Green's Peak and asked him if they could use his army truck to get it out. Pierce said: "I live for opportunities like these."

Pierce, James, and Michael drove up the hill and got the truck out, no problem. That army truck is such a life saver and so is it's owner. Thank you Pierce. Michael was very impressed!

James took all of us to lunch at Licano's. He wanted to go to LaCasita but I reminded him that they were closed on Monday. 

I had a ground beef taco and a chicken enchilada and both were very good. It was not snowing when we went into the restaurant but it had been snowing. When we came out it was very cold but still not snowing. We went through the drive line at the Show Low post office to mail Stacy Lela Strickland's name.

 James dropped the three of us off at Walmart while he went to Tractor Supply to get some horse feed. We bought snacks, including graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate to make Smores tomorrow for Valentine's day. Most all of the Valentine stuff in Walmart was gone except for fresh flowers. There were people putting up the Easter displays. They had a ton of fresh flowers, including roses.

James is going to be gone to the valley tomorrow to check on his jobs so I am a little bit sad. 

When we got home it was snowing in Vernon but a few minutes later the sun was shining. It was a crazy day weather wise.

Fernie and Michael decided they wanted to ride Luna. I didn't actually see them ride her but James said Luna kept going under trees when Fernie was riding her. She does that if she thinks the rider is inexperienced trying to brush them off. She is a stinker. Michael said she tried to do that with him but he wouldn't allow it.

When I woke up from my nap this afternoon I thought there was a spider crawling on me but I could find no sign of him. James said it was just a dream and he is probably right.

Michael made another delicious dinner tonight. That is one of the reasons that James wanted to take them out to lunch this afternoon because they have been fixing us such good meals at home. Tonight it was pork chops, new potatoes, squash and zucchini. It was great. I told Michael that Grampa and I would clean the kitchen, which we did. Afterwards we walked and listened to our book before going to bed. James is getting up early to leave for the valley so we were in bed before 10.

Paul and his sister Nicole

This is so sad.

I laughed so much when I read this

because it is so true!

 

Sunday, February 12, 2023: Michael & Fernie sacrament mtg, Wendy's lesson, my new calling, Michael's roast, stuck in the mud, late dinner

 

Boise, Idaho

27th operating temple

Dedicated: 25-30 May 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Teaching mode of

3 Nephi 11:32

And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 5:10-25

Come Follow Me

Review & "Don't Miss This"

Jesus's Name

Rabbi/Teacher

Lesson Phrases

Transformed, Born Again, Everlasting Life, "I am He."

Favorite Scriptures

John 3:5; John 3:16

OctGenCon

And They Sought To See Jesus Who He Was

Elder James W. McConkie III

Of the Seventy

With that telling of Mark 2 in mind, several important truths become clear about Jesus as the Christ. First, when we try to help someone we love come unto Christ, we can do so with confidence that He has the capacity to lift the burden of sin and to forgive. Second, when we bring physical, emotional, or other illnesses to Christ, we can do so knowing He has the power to heal and comfort. Third, when we make effort like the four to bring others to Christ, we can do so with certainty that He sees our true intentions and will appropriately honor them.

100 Favorite Verses - "Lift Up Your Heads and Rejoice"

Mosiah 7:19

Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do for them.

Happy 40th Birthday Trina!

Michael and Fernie came to church with us. They were a little late because Michael got up late. We left and told Fernie we would sit in the back so they could come and sit with us without disturbing the meeting. We actually sat in the overflow by the Gillespie's and the Price's. I talked to Linda Price and told her about Michael and that Fernie was Catholic. She said that John was inactive when they started going together and she was a Catholic. What a coincidence.

Gracie Umphress was the youth speaker today. She spoke on the section in the For the Strength of Youth guide called "Walk in God's Light." The scripture that goes with this section is Galatians 5:25 - If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

We need to make time for the Lord every day. Making good choices improves our ability to feel the Spirit. 

 Sister Isabel Beals was the next speaker. The Beals' are a new younger couple in our ward with five children from 9 years old to 4 months. Sister Beals said she has always wanted to live on a farm with lots of animals. She grew up in Snowflake and went to college at Eastern Arizona where she met her husband. She spoke on Sister Browning's talk, "Seeing More of Jesus Christ in our Lives." We put on our spiritual glasses when we have daily scripture study, prayer, attend church meetings and go to the temple. Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ. The Savior invites us to see our lives through Him in order to see more of Him in our lives. Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount, speaking of the law of Moses, declared, "Think not that I am come to destroy the low or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." After Christ's Atonement the gospel went from the ordinance of sacrifice to the ordinance of the sacrament.

Brother Jordan Beals spoke at Elder Bednar's talk, "Put On Thy Strength, O Zion." Ask, seek, and knock to discover the truths embedded in a parable. "The Royal Marriage Feast" is found in Matthew 22. Many are called but few are chosen. "I joyfully declare my witness of the divinity and living reality of God, our Eternal Father, and of HIs Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. I testify that Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer and that He lives. And I also witness that the Father and the Son appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, thus initiating the Restoration of the Savior's gospel in the latter days. May each of us seek for and be blessed with eyes to see and ears to hear, I pray in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen." God's call and our response determines if we are chosen.

Michael and Fernie went home after sacrament meeting. Michael said he was going to cook a roast for dinner. Today we had Elder's Quorum and Relief Society. Wendy DeWitt taught our Relief Society class. She didn't have time because there were lots of announcements and then we had a council about ministering. It was after 10:30 when she started. Wendy gave all of us a pig sticker to keep saying that we need to remember who we are, children of God, and we are meant for bigger and better things. The lesson was supposed to be based on Elder McConkie's talk, "And They Sought to See Jesus, Who He was", and Elder Andersen's talk, "Drawing Closer to the Savior."

What lack I yet was a question that Wendy said we should ask ourselves.

 

I sat by Catherine Halcomb and Sue Hubble and we talked about going to the temple on Thursday with the Relief Society sisters. Sue still has to get her recommend signed by the stake. Sue's son and daughter-in-law attended our ward today and James said Scott, Sue's son, thanked the elders quorum for building the ramp for his sister.

After our meetings were over James said that Chuck wanted to talk with him so he went back into the cultural hall. He gave me the keys to the car and I went out and sat in the car. Pierce Goodman, who is a member of the bishopric came over to my car window and I opened the door. He said he wasn't sure if he should do this without James being here but he called me to teach Relief Society. He ask me if that was something I thought I could do. I told him I was subbing for Brother Applegate in Sunday School next week and I was scared to death, but I could teach Relief Society without being scared.

Michael and Fernie were in the kitchen getting the roast ready to put in the crockpot for about 8 hours.

Our chefs at work

I had some of the pasta that Michael made last night for lunch today and then James and I both went in to take a nap. James used his sauna blanket and afterwards had to take another shower.

 When I got up from my nap and went into the kitchen Michael and Fernie were watching TV. I asked them what they were watching and they said "Princess Bride" because Fernie has never seen it. After awhile they took a break and wanted to take a ride up to Green's Peak. We don't have any gas for the Razr so they took James's truck. 

The thought went through my mind, isn't he afraid that they will get stuck. An hour or so later, James got a call. They are stuck. He called Chuck and for some reason Chuck thought they were on the Razr so he and James took his ATV, the Pioneer, up to help. It couldn't pull the truck out so they brought Fernie home and then went back in Chuck's truck. The truck couldn't get James's truck out either so they came home thinking they would go back in the morning because it was dark and it's difficult to work in the dark. 

Back at home I realized that the roast was not getting done in the crockpot so I put it in my cast iron pot and cooked it on the stovetop. I also threw in the carrots to cook with the roast and made some mashed potatoes. It was nine o'clock before the roast was done and we all sat down to eat. James didn't want to eat that late so he ate leftover chicken for dinner.

I love the Valentine's gift Michael got for Fernie and I am going to get one to give to Dawn. It's a Lego set of love birds. It's the cutest Lego set I have ever seen.

Michael asked me if I liked to paint. I told him I recently helped paint my bedroom and then he showed me some flowers that Fernie painted and I realized he wasn't talking about the kind of painting that I was. She is really quite an artist!

We watched the last five minutes of the Superbowl when we heard it was tied 35 to 35. Kansas City kicked a field goal to make it 38-35 with 8 seconds left on the clock to pretty much secure the win. I am glad that Kansas City won. Michael played his ukulele a little tonight and sang before going to bed.