Thursday, April 27, 2023: Inklings, Alicia temple names & youth donation, Help BB's copy & paste on her phone, Missionaries want to come over for a visit, Rolls, cinnamon rolls, taco c

 

Recife, Brazil

101st operating temple

Dedicated: 15 Dec 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Testimony of

D&C 6:31

But if they reject not my words, which shall be established by the testimony which shall be given, blessed are they, and then shall hye have joy in the fruit of your labors.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 18:1-16

Come Follow Me

John 9 If we have faith, God can manifest Himself in our afflictions.

Jesus' Name

The Good Shepherd

Word

Protector

Phrase

My Sheep hear my voice.

AprGenCon

After the Fourth Day

Elder W. Mark Bassett

Of the Seventy

"As we move forward with faith in Jesus Christ, the fourth day will always come. He will always come to our aid."

I got up at 5:12 to have some quiet time. James got up five minutes later. 

Emily BF is at the pool of Bethesda, one of her favorite places. There is a church there and a crowd of people are singing "Nearer My God to Thee."

After seeing Emily on Instagram I watched and listened to Rio and Katy Hughes on Inklings. Emily will be back next week. This week we are studying Elder Rasband's talk, "Hosanna to the Most High God." Here are a few notes that I took:

The Holy Ghost is an extension of His love.

Are we too busy with worldly things to properly prepare for the spiritual?

D&C 45:57 - For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived ... they shall abide the day.

We need constant replenishment and nourishment

Eternal doctrine that weaves through His ministry concluding in Jerusalem:

1. Prophecy. 

2. The companionship of the Holy Ghost.

3. True discipleship.

4. The Atonement of Jesus Christ.

 Barbara Bartels (BB) came over today. She is texting all of her family and friends about her engagement and she wants to know how she can do it without writing it over and over. I explained on the phone but she needed to come over and have me show her. 

I was able to help Barbara and we had a nice visit. She said her son and her brother are both giving her a difficult time about getting married. She seemed a little sad and stressed, my heart went out to her and I tried to encourage her. Some are concerned about the age difference, Barbara is 87 and Terry (Tebo) is 70. I told her that the age difference of President Nelson and his wife Wendy is 24 years or more. She said but he is older than she is. I told her that didn't matter. I hope I made her feel better. She is such a sweet person it hurts me to think she is hurting. She told me I was very kind and I told her that she was too.

I asked Barbara to do a favor for me. Would she please take my envelope with temple names inside and a donation for the youth fundraiser and give it to Alicia Hunsaker who is Barbara's neighbor. She said she would be happy to.

James called and said the elders called him and asked if they could come over this evening. Elder Pyper is going home soon and he wants to visit with us before he leaves. He said if we had dinner that would be great but it isn't necessary. Of course I'm going to make dinner, but what?? 

I take out some rolls and let them rise and I also bake some Rhodes cinnamon rolls I had in the freezer. I also had planned on making a taco casserole with ground beef and cornbread for dinner. Since it was either that or canned chili I made the casserole and some green beans with bacon to go with it. 

Elder Pyper and Elder Higginson rang the doorbell at 6:30. James was upstairs and I was in the bedroom and we did not hear it so they called me and said they were outside on the porch. 

Elder Pyper loves our home and he said he wanted one just like it. I told him James could draw the plans for him. He is from Nashville and I told him how much I liked Nashville. He is going to go to school in Alabama to become a weatherman. We talked about tornadoes. Elder Higginson is from Idaho and will be going home in five months. 

The elders seemed to enjoy the dinner. Afterwards Elder Pyper bore his testimony and we took pictures. We will miss him and he said he would miss us. It was a nice visit and I am glad they came.

She definitely has Kacey's eyes!

Elder Pyper

Elder Higginson

Wednesday, April 26, 2023: Advantage Medical is driving J crazy, J works a BB's, my new puzzle, blog catchup, "Miss Wilton's Waltz", trip to DG, J's mtg, nice weather

 

Boston, Massachusetts

100th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 Oct 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Testimony of

D&C 3:18

And this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the Lamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, who dwindled in unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord has suffered to destroy their brethren the Nephites, because of their iniquities and their abominations.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 17:1-20

Come Follow Me

John 8:2-11 The Savior's mercy is available to all.

Jesus' Name

The Good Shepherd

Word

Protector

Phrase

My sheep hear my voice.

AprGenCon

The Imperfect Harvest

Elder Vern P. Stanfill

Of the Seventy

"The Savior stands ready to accept our humble offerings and perfect them through HIs grace. With Christ, there is no imperfect harvest."

Sometimes I feel like Nephi when he says: notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched soul that I am! Yea, my heart sorrowedth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. 

That is me in a nutshell. I just can't seem to overcome those sins which so easily beset me. I am just too comfortable where I am.

James is trying to reconcile financial records with Jerod's company, Advantage Medical. He will send them invoices for several jobs and instead of making our checks for each job they lump them all together and that's when things get complicated. He has been waiting for a check for them for over three weeks. He is going to have to stop the work if they don't pay him soon.

Here is a picture of my new puzzle, which is a long ways from being complete:

You can't really tell but it is a series of

gardening and flower books.

I have been trying to catch up on my blog but not feeling well until the afternoon is cutting my days in half. I am really struggling both physically and mentally. 

I started a new book by one of my favorite authors, Josi S. Kilpack. The name of this book is "Miss Wilton's Waltz." I love the narrator too and I just keep listening even after I'm finished walking.

Two talks were suggested on Follow Him today, "Prophets Can See Around Corners" by Sheri Dew and "Summer of the Lambs" by Sister Jan B. Maylan.

James and I made a quick trip to Dollar General this afternoon around 5. We are trying not to cook because we are low on propane and Owen's doesn't deliver in Vernon until Friday. When we got to Dollar General I picked out some sweet and sour chicken. James didn't see anything he liked. I grabbed some turtle brownies and did the self-checkout because the other line was very long and we are in a hurry. Chuck called James just after we left and reminded him that they have a presidency meeting at 6 at the church. He said he would pick James up. We hurried home and got there around 5:45. James got ready in about five minutes and Chuck picked him up at 5:50.

Today was a beautiful day with no wind, which is always a bonus this time of year!

Anna & Friends

My friend Hailey Chaffin & her daughter Taylor

Tuesday, April 25, 2023: Work @ Barbara's, Trip to town, Advantage Medical, LaCasita, Walmart, Heather Bowen, Rain, "Follow Him", Trenda's family, Anna,

 

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

99th operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Sep 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Testimony of

Moroni 10:7

And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 16:1-15

Come Follow Me

John 7:14-17 As I live the truths taught by Jesus Christ, I will come to know they are true.

Jesus' Name

The Good Shepherd

Word

Protector

Phrase

My sheep hear my voice.

AprGenCon

Hosanna to the Most High God

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the events of the week that followed exemplify doctrine we can apply in our lives today."

James and Greg continue to work at Barbara Bartels. I  paid Lambson Construction bills. 

Still no check from Advantage Medical, Jarod Bowen's company. James has a talk with Frank and Samantha. Frank is Jarod's partner and Samantha has been asked to work with James on payment issues.

James and I went to town around 11:30. James stopped to get an equipment hose fixed and at Cat. We had lunch at LaCasita and then he dropped me off at Walmart while he went to do some errands and get his truck washed.

As I was checking out at Walmart, Heather Bowen, a woman from our ward, came driving up on one of Walmart's carts. She sat and talked with me while I checked out. Her husband and kids were waiting in the car but she didn't seem like she was in any hurry.

Back at home I called the credit card company regarding the credit cards James uses for company expenses. His didn't work so I gave him mine and now it doesn't work. The agent said they would send us some new cards. 

It unexpectedly rained today and James had to go back over to Barbara's to cover some things up. The rain didn't last too long.

I started a new puzzle. It is a new one that I just recently bought on Amazon. It is a 1,000 piece puzzle with very small pieces. It is very distracting and I probably shouldn't be doing it. I have too many other things to do.

I finished listening to "Follow Him." I really do like Jenet Erickson.

The book that I ordered, the one Rio spoke about on Inklings last week, "You Are Special" came today.

That looks like Pinocchio.

I hope he's not the one in the movie we watched

when Stacy was here.

Emily at the Sea of Galilee

Prayer wall

Emily's prayer

Anna on an airplane. I think she is

going to North Carolina.

Monday, April 24, 2023: Follow Him w/ Jenet Erickson, mopped kitchen, vacuumed, LC bills, J @ Barbara's, Len Goodman passes away, BB's story & engagement, WOW!

Birmingham, Alabama

98th operating temple

Dedicated: 3 Sep 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Testimony of

Moroni 7:44

If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 15:10-31

Come Follow Me

John 7-10 "I Am the Good Shepherd" Introduction: My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me.

Jesus' Name

Good Shepherd

Word

Protector

Phrase

My sheep hear my voice.

AprGenCon

Remember What Matters Most

President M. Russell Ballard

Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"What matters most is our relationships with Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, our families, and our neighbors, and allowing the Spirit to guide us.

I woke up with the determination that I was going to be happy today, no matter what... and I was.

I listened to John and Hank on Follow Him. Their guest was Jenet Erickson whom I really like. 

Here are some notes and quotes for today:

Like a Shepherd, Christ knows me and will guide me home.

Ponder a time when I have felt that Christ knows me perfectly.

Jesus Christ loves me!

He wants me to be successful!

His greatest desire is to bless me!

"The Savior gave His life for each of us. He knows our joys and our sorrows. He knows my name and you name." - Sydney S. Reynolds

"The law is used to find what is needed, not to condemn." - Jenet Erickson.  I love this so much!

I did do some cleaning today. I swept and mopped the kitchen and dining room floor. I cleaned the hall bathroom, did some laundry and vacuumed and dusted the family and living room. I stripped the polish off of a section of the wood floor near the piano. 

I paid some Lambson Construction bills and updated the checkbooks. I walked and watched Reba. 

I had a nice talk with Barbara Bartels this afternoon. I told her we were worried when she didn't come to Church on Sunday. She told me this story: 

She had heard that her grandson was speaking in his ward's sacrament meeting. He was either going on a mission or returning, I don't remember. This is the son of Barbara's daughter who has not spoken to her in several years. (Barbara goes to the temple frequently and always spends time in the celestial room praying that her daughter will speak to her). 

She sat in front of her daughter during the meeting. One of the speakers, I believe it was another grandson, gave a wonderful talk on forgiveness. Barbara said after the meeting her daughter asked her if she would like to come to her house for lunch. Of course she said yes and a barrier has been broken. 

Barbara continued ... "Tebo came with me." Tebo is a member of our ward who has done some work for Barbara. He is a new convert. I thought nothing of the fact that he was working for Barbara but yesterday my friend Kerri said she has seen them together around town. I told James and he blew me off. Anyway, on the way home Tebo asked Barbara to marry him and she said yes. Tebo is 70 and Barbara is 87, a young 87, but still 87. Barbara was sealed to her deceased first husband to whom she was married for 60 years, last year in the Nauvoo temple. Now she says she wants that sealing cancelled so she can eventually be sealed to Tebo. His real name is Terry Tignor. He hasn't been a member of the Church long enough to have gone to the temple yet.

Len Goodman, the head judge on Dancing With the Stars passed away today from bone cancer. He was 78 years old. He retired last November saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. He never mentioned the fact that he was dying from cancer. 

Emily Belle Freeman broke her foot while leading a tour in Israel. I believe she did it on the Jericho road.

Go Ruby!