Thursday, June 8, 2023: MacArthur's have moved to Fairbanks, Inklings, Love Stamp puzzle, Unshaken Saints, Follow Him, Your Endowment, J's trip to town, Garage Sale Mystery

 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

143rd operating temple

Dedicated: 4 May 2014

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Trials of

John 18:13

And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

Book of Mormon

Alma 12:28-13:9

Come Follow Me

 John 15:1-8 As I abide in Christ, I will bring forth good fruit.

Jesus' Name

True Vine

Word

Abide

Phrase

I am the True Vine and the Father is the husbandman.

Affirmation

With faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I chose to abide in His words and Follow His example. Through obedience to His commandments, I am blessed with divine guidance, eternal perspective, and the comforting assurance of His unfailing love.

AprGenCon

Accessing God's Power Through Covenants

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Before the earth was created, God established covenants as the mechanism by which we, His children, could unite ourselves to Him based on eternal, unchanging law, He specified the nonnegotiable conditions whereby we are transformed, saved, and exalted. In this life, we make these covenants by participating in priesthood ordinances and promising to do what God asks us to do, and in return, God promises us certain blessings.

James called Chelsea MacArthur this morning to see if Jarred needed help putting down the baseboard in the bathroom. Chelsea said, oh we just slapped something down before we left for Fairbanks. We will be back in a year and we will do something more permanent then. They have already moved. She told us they were moving in July. I was sad. I wanted to see the kids one more time. I wonder what they did with their dog. 

This Love Stamp puzzle is harder than it looks. Hopefully I will finish it soon. I'm listening to "Unshaken Saints" again with Jarod Halverson. He is long winded but has so much gospel insight. 

I also listened to "Inklings" today. Emily is still in Israel. Today is was Courtney Rich from "Cake by Courtney" and Shema. They were good but I miss Emily.

 James works outside for awhile and then comes in and says he just doesn't have any energy. I know how he feels. He went in to town to get his PSA bloodwork done. When he got to the hospital they told him his prescription expired the end of May. He's going to call the doctor to see if he can get it reinstated. 

Kathy Crane and I talked about Donna Peeler today our sweet friend who has cancer and is going to have chemo. We are so sad. Donna is always so frail and I just am so worried about chemo will do for her.

James asked me this evening if I wanted him to help with my puzzle or if he should index. I told him to index. I have enough guilt doing the puzzle myself.

Looking forward to this one and so

are Kim and Sheri.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023: My face is swollen, Benadryl & bed, James's failed inspections & fire sprinkler fiasco, Brian's 45 minute job interview, walk, blog, chores, read

Gilbert, Arizona

142nd operating temple

Dedicated: 2 Mar 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Trials of

John 11:50

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Book of Mormon

Alma 12:20-27

Come Follow Me

John 14-16 The Holy Ghost helps me fulfill my purpose as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Jesus' Name

True Vine

Word

Abide

Phrase

If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love.

Affirmation

With faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I choose to abide in His words and follow His example. Through obedience to His commandments, I am blessed with divine guidance, eternal perspective, and the comforting assurance of His unfailing love.

AprGenCon

Finding Personal Peace

President Henry B. Eyring

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Second, the Holy Ghost will come and abide with us. The Lord says that as we continue to be faithful, the Holy Ghost will dwell in us. That is the promise in the sacramental prayer that the Spirit will be our companion and that we will feel, in our hearts and minds, His comfort.

 I woke up this morning with swelling on the right side of my face from under my eye down to my mouth. James and I are trying to figure out what causes this swelling. I looked it up on the internet and found that swelling in the face can be caused by aspirin which I have taken as of late. I will not be taking anymore for awhile.

I took some Benadryl throughout the day which helped with the swelling. I went back to bed after taking Benadryl and Tramadol. I slept until 10:30. I got up, got dressed and went into the kitchen to fix some lunch. I made hamburgers with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, onions, pickles, mustard and ketchup. Yummy.

I did some laundry and cleaned the kitchen while James worked outside. He is pretty upset because Armando said they failed two inspections at the 51st avenue job. The thing James is the most upset about is a failure issued by the fire marshall saying they have to have more sprinklers even though there is one in every room, they have to be in the hallways too. The sprinkler company says it could be up to a month delay. 

James tried to call Frank but he is at youth camp this week. I guess he is a member of the Church. Samantha says he is going to hit the ceiling. We shall see.

Brian had a 45 minute job interview with the woman who is doing the hiring for the job in Montana for managing 4 hardware stores. 

I asked Kim how it went and she said it went well. It is between Brian and one other guy. Brian isn't sure he wants the job. I told Kim he needs to go to the temple and she said he was going on Saturday. 

I want Brian to find a job but Montana is so far away.

James went over this evening to check on Brother Ellsworth's progress on the ramp and porch he is building for Barbara. He said he was doing a good job even though he, James, would have done it a little differently.

This evening James and I walked and listened to "An Amiable Foe"

Oh so that's what happened.

 

Tuesday, June 6, 2023: Gilbert Temple, Checkout, Costco, Hobby Lobby, Olive Garden lunch on Sheri, Ben, Trip home, Luna, Kitties, Walk,

 

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

141st operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Mar 2013

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Trials of

John 19:15

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Book of Mormon

Alma 12:1-19

Come Follow Me

John 14-15 I show my love for Jesus Christ by keeping His commandments.

Jesus' Name

True Vine

Word

Abide

Phrase

If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love.

Affirmation

With faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I choose to abide in HIs words and follow His example. Through obedience to His commandments, I am blessed with divine guidance, eternal perspective, and the comforting assurance of His unfailing love.

AprGenCon

A Living Prophet For The Latter Days

Elder Allen D. Haynie

Of the Seventy

A perfect and loving Heavenly Father has chosen the pattern of revealing truth to His children through a prophet, someone who never sought such a sacred calling and who has no need of our help to be aware of his own imperfections. A prophet is someone God has personally prepared, called, corrected, inspired, rebuked, sanctified, and sustained. That is why we are never spiritually at risk in following prophetic counsel.

We left our hotel and picked up Kim for the 8 a.m. session at the Gilbert temple. We arrived at the temple a little after 7:30 and went right to the dressing rooms and then upstairs. We made the session, which was quite large, with five minutes to spare.

After our session we spent a few minutes in the celestial room. The room and the chandelier are so beautiful. The whole temple is gorgeous. I can't help but compare it with our little Snowflake temple. I love the Snowflake temple, it feels like home to me, but it is not this grand. We took Kim home. We were going to go to lunch with her but she said she is doing a scan this afternoon and doesn't want to eat before the scan.

We went back to the hotel and changed our clothes and began packing up to check out. James made two or three trips down to the truck. I went down with him the last time. We are meeting Sheri for lunch but not until 12:30 and it's only 11:00. We decided to do our shopping at Costco. Our list looked something like this: lemons, alkaline water, pomegranate juice, pistachios, walnuts, and prunes. We also bought dark chocolate covered pistachios and mango juice, both additions were made by James.

We still had some time to kill before lunch so we went into the Hobby Lobby behind Olive Garden. I bought a puzzle and a wall plaque marked way down that says "Together, Always and Forever." 

When we made it over to Olive Garden and signed in the woman in charge said it would be a 25 minute wait. It was 12:15. I said fine and told Sheri not to get here until 12:40. 

We were seated and had ordered our drinks when Sheri and Ben walked in. Ben looked good and I told him so. Sheri said she was paying for our lunch for Father's Day. How nice. James had the seafood pasta and I had cheese ravioli which was not nearly as good as what I had at Red Devil.  

Ben and Sheri both got soup, salad and breadsticks. We had a nice visit and I am so glad we got to spend this time with them.

Adam asked to borrow some money for a day and I told him I was at the temple the first time he tried to contact me. We talked about the temple and I told him my desire would be for all of my grandchildren to get their temple endowments. He said he was going to start going back to church and work towards that goal. I said that would be awesome. 

Stacy texted us while we were traveling home. Jared finally got in to the rehab center. Yay!! Finally! He is on his way. We will pray for him everyday as we have been and as we have always done.

We listened to "An Amiable Foe" on the way home through Payson. 

The kitties and Luna were so excited to see James.

I walked until I got 12,000 steps. 

Indian ruins near Flagstaff

James planted purple Iris bulbs

Tom and his little sister Tabby

Monday, June 5, 2023: Trip to valley, AARA, James in Glendale, Kim & Brian's car service & hospitality, Hilton, Cheesecake Factory, Safeway, Walk

Calgary, Alberta

140th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Oct 2012

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Trials of

Luke 23:21

But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

Book of Mormon

Alma 11:21-46

Come Follow Me

John 14-17 "Continue Ye in My Love" Introduction and "Follow Him"

Jesus' Name

True Vine

Word

Abide

Phrase

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;

Affirmation

With faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I choose to abide in His words and follow His example. Through obedience to His commandments, I am blessed with divine guidance, eternal perspective, and the comforting assurance of His unfailing love.

AprGenCon

Safely Gathered Home

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

During the Council in Heaven in the premortal existence, the plan of salvation was discussed and sustained. It included certain laws and ordinances of the priesthood instituted before the foundation of the world and predicated upon the gather. It also included the overriding principle of agency.

We were up and gone by 6:30 this morning, reading and discussing scriptures on the way. My infusion is scheduled for 10:15. We went the Payson way and there was quite a bit of traffic but we did not have to stop for any roadwork.

When we arrived in Payson we stopped for gas at the Circle K. I bought a couple of breakfast sandwiches for us to eat. James ate all of his. I ate about half of mine which wasn't very good. 

James dropped me off at AARA at 10:00. Frances came and took me back less than five minutes after I checked in. My infusion was put in at 10:10 which means I will be finished at 11:10. Amanda put in my infusion and also drew blood. At 11:00 a girl came and took me into a room to wait to see Rana, one of the PA's for Dr. Kumar. I told the girl I needed to leave at 11:15 because I had a ride coming at that time. The beeper went off on my infusion indicating that it was finished so I had it taken out. I waited in the room until 20 minutes after 11 and then I left. As I was walking out Rana came out of a room. Instead of acknowledging me, she walked away down another hallway. 

Kim and Brian were outside waiting and Kim was so sweet. She said, "We can wait longer if you need to see the doctor. I told her I didn't that it was just a formality. They took me home with them.

Brian was busy and after doing the dishes went back to the computer room. Kim fed me and made me comfortable. I had popcorn, peanut M&M's and then we watched a Christmas movie. After the first movie Kim brought me some chili and chips and we watched a Lifetime Christmas movie with Yannick Bisson in it. I love Yannick. I used to watch him in "Sue Thomas F. B. I."

I sat in the recliner with a blanket and took a nap. Kim also took a nap. When we woke up from our naps we were talking and President Eyring's name came up. I told the story from his talk about emailing a girl he didn't know to bring the Lord's love to her. Kim said, "He wrote me a letter." What?" She explained. Brian wrote to him and told him about my health struggles and he wrote me a letter. I asked her if I could read it and she brought it to me. It was the sweetest most tender letter. President Eyring mentioned his wife Kathleen and how in spite of her health issues her spirit remains strong. He mentioned he could tell how much Brian loves her. No wonder President Eyring is her favorite. He is mine too.

Brian was pretty quiet today but I found out later that he is pursuing a job in Montana where he would be managing a group of hardware stores. Yikes! I don't want Kim and Brian to move to Montana.

Brian and Kim drove me to the Hilton hotel on Frye road where we have a room. I thanked them for everything before saying goodbye.

Kim loaned me a book when I left her house. When I arrived in room 240 I sat down and began reading from the book.

James got here after six. He showered and changed his clothes and I got ready to go out. We walked to Cheesecake Factory for dinner which was about 5,000 steps. I had pasta with marinara sauce and James had herb crusted salmon. I couldn't eat all of my dinner. I left it behind because although our room has a refrigerator it does not have a microwave. We spent a few minutes in Barnes & Noble next door to Cheesecake Factory in the Chandler mall but it was almost closing time so we didn't stay long.

We walked back to the hotel and I got ready for bed. I was not feeling well. James went to Safeway to get a disposable razor and some pomegranate juice. Unbeknownst to me he also got a cantaloupe and left it in the truck. Oh yes, he got me some aspirin at my request. I am miserable and don't want to take Tramadol at night.

Oh yes, Sheri texted me and said she was speaking in their sacrament meeting on Father's Day. I told her we would be there. She said, "Thank you Mom."

Addy

 

Sunday, June 4, 2023: Happy birthday Emmy, Fast & Testimony meeting and Sunday School, J's ministering interview w/ Collin, Kitties, Burgers, "DMT", valley tomorrow

 

Brigham City, Utah

139th operating temple

Dedicated: 23 Sept 2012

By: Boyd K. Packer

Jesus Christ, Trials of

Luke 23:4

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

Book of Mormon

Alma 11:1-20

Come Follow Me

John 13:36-38; Luke 22:24-38 Peter will deny Christ.

DMT John 14-17 "Continue Ye In My Love"

Jesus' Name

True Vine

Word

Abide

Phrase

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, . . .

Affirmation

With faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I choose to abide in His words and follow His example. Through obedience to His commandments, I am blessed with divine guidance, eternal perspective, and the comforting assurance of His unfailing love.

AprGenCon

Ministering

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Everywhere I go, I gratefully learn from those who minister and care as our Savior would.

I got up at 5:30 and decided I was going to look for the blood pressure cuff. I looked over by the side of the recliner in the bedroom and there is was sitting on the end table, cord and cuff hanging down.

I guess James doesn't always put it away.

Happy 18th Birthday Emmy!

I fasted for Jared Ammon today. I have such fond memories of him as a little boy sitting at my computer playing Freddy the Fish. When Adam got diabetes Jared came to stay with us. I was putting him to bed one night and he asked me: "Gwamma, why am I bwown?"

What do you say to a little three year old when he asks you that question. I tried to explain that his dad was brown and that was probably why he was brown. I told him that Heavenly Father loves all of his children, no matter what color they are. He was the sweetest little boy and I loved him so much.

Brother Skousen conducted his first sacrament meeting since being called as a counselor in the bishopric. He almost forgot the sacrament if it hadn't been for a reminder from the bishop. Other than that, he did fine. Testimonies born:

Chris Skousen - I testify that I feel the Spirit and recognize it in my life. I have a testimony of....

Teresa Smith - Tomorrow is the 45th anniversary of my baptism. I feel the Spirit when I go to the temple. President Nelson is a Prophet of God.

Charlotte South - The Savior would have shed 1,000 drops of blood if it was just for me. 

Bridgette Jordan - I want to thank the Young Women who took my family names to the temple for baptisms. My heart is filled with gratitude.

Donna Beckham

Donna's mother, Barbara passed away recently. Donna thanked those who helped her at this difficult time. 

Georgia Jameson (YW)

So grateful for the opportunity the young women of our ward had to go to the Mesa and the Gilbert temple this past week. I know that this Church is true.

Paula Johnson

Jesus loved us enough to give His life for us. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me. I am grateful for the prophet Joseph Smith and for the prophet today, Russell M. Nelson.

Alicia Hunsaker

The Mesa, Gilbert temple trip was wonderful. I am so grateful for President Nelson and I know that he is a prophet.

Lynn Wallace

I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the Restoration and that President Russell M. Nelson is the prophet today. I am also grateful for our bishopric.

I have lived all of my life in Buckeye until coming here.

Dennis McClellan

I testify of the power of prayer, especially in doing family history. This work is true.

Barbara Bartels Tignor

I bear testimony of the divinity of this Church. It belongs to Jesus Christ.

I made the mistake of sitting on the front row in Sunday School. I had my workbook, The New Testament Gathering Personal Insights open on my lap with my answers to each question written in the squares. Brother Applegate came over and ask if he could see it. He showed the class the workbook and said, "look at this, every question is answered." Then he asked me where I got it. I told him it was written by Shannon Foster, who is the Redheaded Hostess. She doesn't do a podcast but she does have a website. How embarrassing.

After Sunday School James left with Collin DeWitt to do an interview. He forgot to give me the keys to the car so I sat and waited for him in the foyer.

When we got home it was rest time. We got some dark clouds and thunder, but no rain. Later this evening I grilled some hamburgers for dinner. It was so nice outside. James was watering trees and his two kitties were following him around. He has been feeding them.

This evening I paid for a room at the Hilton in Chandler for tomorrow night. It's close to the mall where the Cheesecake Factory is located. I also arranged for Kim & Brian to pick me up after my infusion and then I will wait for James to get back from Glendale at their house.

I worked on my blog this evening but I am so slow. I also listened to next week's "Don't Miss This", featuring John 14-17.

Sheri's homemade pizza

Mr. & Mrs. Wanlass

Jerusalem

Charlie girl

Charlie & Lovie

Rocky Road cake