Sunday, December 17, 2023: Full sacrament mtg even Pres. Beeler, Ty's mission report, Sis Golly sings, Teach Council Mtg, Visit Peeler's and Tamara Applegate, Joy D. Jones

 

Tucson, Arizona

157th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 Aug 2017

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon Reading

Ether 12:1-21

Book of Mormon 100 Favorites

#99 - 3 Nephi 18:20

And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

Come Follow Me

Review Revelation 5-14

October General Conference

"Brothers and Sisters in Christ" by Elder Ulisses Soares

Inklings

"Tithing: Opening the Windows of Heave" by Elder Neil L. Andersen

and Doctrine and Covenants 25.

drbarbaramorgangardner

"How Great Will Be Your Joy" by Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Our sacrament meeting was extra full today, including our stake president, President Beeler, who was on the stand.

Ty Applegate, our return missionary, took the entire meeting. President Beeler told him that was all right. Brother Gardener was going to speak but didn't have to. Jennifer Golly sang the closing song and it was amazing!! I'm not sure of the name, maybe, "The King of Love and Light." The chorus was "Oh come let us adore Him." I love anything that Jennifer sings!

A high councilman, Brother Gardener, was supposed to speak also but Ty took the entire time. President Beeler told him he could. 

Here are some notes that I took:

I had some personal experiences with Christ that are too personal to share. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Choices - don't eat from the tree but multiply and replenish the earth. Seems contrary but essential. Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy. 2 Nephi 9:51 Do not spend money for that which has no worth ... magic cards ... transfer... became district leader. Repent and come with full purpose of heart unto God. Made a sacrifice by throwing away over $100's worth of magic cards. How can I train when I am new?

God is in control and all powerful. Began reading the Book of Mormon. The Deliverer is all powerful. Carl: "I want to get baptized." Smoked for over 50 years. One year later still had smoking problem but was going to keep trying. Got cancer and passed away. "As in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Carl will have another chance to accept the gospel and I will have the privilege of seeing him again. 

The greatest gift I have been given is a relationship with Jesus Christ. I was the sheep on His shoulders. Gethsemane, Calvary, and the Garden tomb. Isaiah 53:4.

(I wonder how Ty and Addy would get along?)

Second hour James attended gospel doctrine and I attended the teachers council meeting. Others attending the class led by John Wilhelm: Sandra Wilhelm, Mel Wilhelm, Jeff McCamy, Brother Pronger, Christine Brady, Kate Hahn, Bishop Hunsaker and Alicia, Rebecca Skousen, Aubrey Harris, Michelle Tesarek, Cheryl Sedig, Natalie Robles, Rosie Lauritzen.

Genuine interest, get to know individuals, 343 members of our ward and only half are active. Primary made a list of inactives over 8 and gave them to the sister missionaries. Invite others to activities, challenge class members and checkup the next month like Wendy DeWitt. What can we do to help someone else. Reverence in meetings, pray for them by name, ponder about each person, are we seeing what God sees? He knows our hearts, build others up, positive reinforcement. Why am I here" Focus on inactives, issue challenges, don't be too timid.

We had stew for lunch and then it was nap time. After taking a nap I read from my book by Dr. Richard Draper, "Opening the Seven Seals." 

I made some pretzel turtles for the Peeler's, put them in a cardboard gingerbread house along with a pair of fuzzy socks for each of them, and we went over for a visit.

Donna did not look well. Her cancer has now gone in to her bones. She is not eating very much but she still has her cute personality. I put her fuzzy socks on her feet for her. As we were leaving I thanked Owen for taking such good care of her.

We also dropped a Christmas gift off at the Applegate's. It's a Christmas postage stamp puzzle and a pair of fuzzy socks for Tamara and Shelly. Tamara said one time she wanted a Christmas postage stamp puzzle so that's why this particular puzzle. 

James made ham sandwiches for dinner. They were yummy. I listened to Joy D. Jones on "Follow Him" while working on my blog. She is one of my favorites and her message was sooo good!!

Sweet Scarlett

Revolving bookshelf, I want one!

Christmas caroling at Grandmother's

Saturday, December 16, 2023: T-Bo works with James, beautiful day, J works 8 hours, eye prescription, tired, blogged, made rolls, wrapped, paid bills, ward party we miss, "7 Seals"

 

Paris, France

156th operating temple

Dedicated 21 May 2017

By: Henry B. Eyring

Book of Mormon Reading

Ether 11:1-23

Book of Mormon 100 Favorites

#98 - Alma 5:26

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Come Follow Me

Revelation 14:6-7 "I saw another angel ... having the everlasting gospel."

October General Conference

"Seeing God's Family through the Overview Lens" by Sister Tamara W. Runia

 T-Bo came over to work this morning. He only stayed a couple of hours because the log James was going to cut up for firewood turned out to be rotten. 

It was a beautiful day to work outside. James stayed out and worked for 8 hours. Underneath his eye is red and swollen. He says he got a piece of metal in it but was able to get some of it out. He's not sure if there is anymore metal in there. He texted Jared and Jared called him in a prescription. Thank you Jared. 

I was tired all day long. I started some rolls rising early this morning. They are for our ward's Night at Bethlehem Christmas party tonight. 

Once they rose  I baked them and they looked beautiful. I let them completely cool down and then broke them apart and prepared them for the Crane's to take to the party. They don't look as pretty once they are torn apart, but, they still taste good. The Relief Society president asked me if I could bring 2 dozen rolls so I couldn't even sample one roll! (I use Rhodes Texas-sized frozen rolls).

When I asked Kathy Crane to take my rolls she asked if I felt sick. I said, no, I am just tired and James has a red, swollen eye. 

After the party when Kathy returned a container I had sent the rolls in, I asked her how the party was. She said it was really good.

I made ham sandwiches and baked potatoes for dinner. After dinner James and I walked while listening to our new book, "Skye Fall" and watching a Hallmark Christmas movie, "Sealed with a List", which we both liked. 

I love this quote from the book I am reading, "Opening the Seven Seals" by Richard D. Draper:

..."their lives had been given in sacrifice because of their loyalty to God, ... not in dying for their faith, but in living for it." (p. 69)

Luna's Lounge is coming right along

The sky was mesmerizing this evening

Christmas memory from Chandler

Gotta be the oldest restaurant in Arizona.

Paul & Stacy's favorite steak house

Ben's run in Washington state

Sister Tracy Browning

Ty Applegate, home from his mission

Friday, December 15, 2023: Blackie disappears when J opens the door, mail Texas gifts, LaCasita, Jared's court day, James's eye, "The Secret Gift of Christmas"

 

Hartford, Connecticut

155th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Nov 2016

By: Henry B. Eyring

Book of Mormon Reading

Ether 10:17-34

Book of Mormon 100 Favorites

#97 - Mosiah 3:17

And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

Come Follow Me

Revelation 11-13

October General Conference

"Humble to Accept and Follow" by Elder Joni L. Koch

Blackie was on his lounge chair this morning but as soon as James opened the door, he disappeared. 

I listened to Barbara Morgan Gardner and Elain Dalton discuss two conference talks, Elder Phillips' and Elder Sabin's. So good, especially Sister Dalton.

I spent the morning wrapping Texas Christmas gifts. James spent it looking for his sales tax folder which had fallen to the bottom of the file drawer and working on his bids. He hates paper work! He can never get on the sales tax site so he always ends up writing a letter and never hears back from them. He is so frustrated!

Charlie's Christmas program, the one where she was an angel, was cancelled because of illness. So sad.

Jared had a court date today regarding paying extra for Molly because she is moving to the Bahamas. Kacey sent me a text and asked me if I would pray for the best possible outcome, which I did. After it was over Kacey texted again and said they were grateful that Jared only has to pay $50 more a month and that this was the best possible outcome! Our prayers were answered!

Carmen and her family were going to come for Christmas but now they are not because Sydney has Covid and just can't seem to shake it. Carmen says she can't leave her home alone because she is so sick. Dawn has asked us to please pray for Sydney and Carmen.

This afternoon James and I headed for town with one Christmas box packed with four packages and nine more packages waiting for us to buy two more boxes. James went into Home Depot to get two more boxes. I told him to get either a medium and a large or two larges. He came back with a medium and a large but the medium was smaller than the medium we have so he had to go back. I told him to get another large while I packed the large box he bought with four more packages. He came back with an extra large. It was huge, way bigger than we needed. He asked if I wanted him to go back and get a large but I said no, they probably went by weight more than size anyway. BIG MISTAKE.

We packed up the last box and headed to the UPS store. We took one of the boxes in, I stayed in line with it while James went out to get box #2 and #3. The first box $65.61, the second $58.15, and the third, the extra large $117.26. The extra large box cost an extra $60. Yikes! We should have taken the extra large back paid for the other two and repacked the extra large in a large box but the woman behind the counter said the driver was here for pickup and she wanted to get all of the boxes out. They are scheduled to arrive on December 21st. If we left and repacked the box it probably wouldn't go out until tomorrow and who knows when it would arrive. Next time we will be more careful about the sizes of our boxes. I'm still not sure why James bought an extra large box in the first place but I told him not to take it back so I'm at fault too. Whew! We need some sustenance so we went across the street to LaCasita. 

They weren't busy and we ordered what we normally order: Me - chicken enchilada with red sauce and a side of rice and beans.

James - chicken enchilada with green sauce and a side of refried beans. We had our fair share of corn chips and salsa before our food came. Everything was delicious. I only ate half of mine and took the rest home in a doggie bag. As we left to go home I asked James if we could stop at Culver's for an ice cream. We went through the drive-thru and ordered the ice cream of the day, lemon crumble, two scoops in a waffle cone. I ordered two scoops because I knew James was going to want some. He loves lemon and he likes waffle cones. I was right. We traded bites and he got the last one.

During our walk we listened to "Skye Fall" and in between we watched a Hallmark movie, "The Secret Gift of Christmas" starring Christopher Russell and Meghan Ory. It was cute, but nothing special.  Oh yes, James built a roaring fire for ambiance and warmth.

Charlie ready to play in the snow

Titus was in our ward when he was

a Wolf Scout before his family

moved to Oregon.

Thursday, December 14, 2023: Cold & windy, Inklings - Rio & Courtney, Sis Runia's quote, stew, wrap gifts, stable pictures, walk, movie, social media post - Christmas card, new book

 

Star Valley, Wyoming

154th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Oct 2016

By: David A. Bednar

Book of Mormon Reading

Ether 10:1-16

Book of Mormon 100 Favorites

#96 - 2 Nephi 9:14

And the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.

Come Follow Me

Revelation 11-13 The War in Heaven continues on earth.

October General Conference

"Hallmarks of Happiness" by Elder Gary B. Sabin

It was cold and windy today. Staying in bed an extra few minutes seemed like a nice option. James thought so too.

As part of my "Come Follow Me" study I read chapters 4 and 5 from "Opening the Seven Seals". Chapter 4 was about the throne in heave and chapter 5, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

I listened to Inklings this morning with Rio and Courtney Rich. Emily is in Fiji. The talk from conference was by Elder Carlos A. Godoy, "For the Sake of Your Posterity." We were also to study President Nelson's talk given in October 2015, "A Plea to My Sisters." In the course of the discussion Courtney quoted a promise from Sister Runia's conference talk that I loved:

"It is my witness that the Savior has the ability, because of His Atonement, to turn any nightmare you are going through into a blessing. He has given us a promise "with an immutable covenant" that as we strive to love and follow Him, "all things wherewith we have been afflicted shall work together for our good." All things.

And because we are children of the covenant, we can ask for this hopeful feeling now!

While our families aren't perfect, we can perfect our love for others until it becomes a constant, unchanging, no-matter-what kind of love - the type of love that support change and allows for growth and return.

It's the Savior's work to bring our loved ones back. It's His work and His timing. It is our work to provide the hope and a heart they can come home to. "We have neither God's authority to condemn nor His power to redeem, but we have been authorized to exercise His love." President Nelson has also taught that others need our love more than our judgment. "They need to experience the pure love of Jesus Christ reflected in our words and actions."

I love this quote and I am going to cling to its promises.

I put a stew in the crockpot this morning, knowing that it is one of James's favorite meals. I love putting things in the crockpot in the morning and having dinner magically appear in the evening. 

James sent me some photos of the stable he has been working on for the last couple of months:

Luna's new home

I began wrapping the gifts that will be sent to Texas today. There are 13 of them and I wrapped around 9. I will finish in the morning and then go to UPS tomorrow afternoon to mail them. 

I did something today that I very rarely do and that is to post something on social media. I posted our Christmas scene in our living room and captioned it: "Merry Christmas from the Lambson's."

I am grateful for this view everyday of the 

Christmas season!

This evening James and I walked and started a new book, "Skye Fall". We walked and listened for awhile and then watched part of our Christmas movie and repeated this process until the movie was over and we reached our goal. Our movie tonight was a good one

with the real spirit of Christmas. The title: "Heaven Down Here."

 We both loved it and will count it as one of our favorites. 

Happy Birthday to George Wallace!