OUR FAMILY

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Tuesday, February 20, 2024: Lola to Silver Valley Elementary, Panera for brkfst, Paula Johnson's story, Circle K, HD, Sheri's, Max's job interview, Sheri to Firebirds, Nap, J's mtg @ Landings, Home to Vernon

Chicago, Illinois

35th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Aug 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 8

Come Follow Me

2 Nephi 6-8

The Lord is merciful to His people and will fulfill His covenants.

October General Conference

"Be Peaceable Followers of Jesus Christ" by Elder Quentin L. Cook

"The sealing power makes individual salvation and family exaltation universally available to the children of God."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

At 7:45 everyone else in the house was gone except James, Lola, and I. We took Lola to Silver Valley Elementary School at 7:45. The drop off line was long. We said our goodbyes as Lola got out of the car and waved to us. She seemed excited to be at school.

We wanted some breakfast and we were headed to IHOP on Southern and Signal Butte when we passed a Panera and decided to eat there instead. We were quite disappointed. We each ordered a bacon and spinach souffle. Although it tasted fine, it was quite small. It cost me $10 for an orange juice, a small apple juice and a lemon cookie. Prices were too high. We wished we had gone to IHOP.

We went back to Darrel and Trina's as James had some work he needed to do on the computer. My phone had been connected to their internet last night but for the life of me I couldn't get James's computer to connect. We got frustrated and finally gave up and left for Sheri's. We stopped at the Circle K on Germann and Arizona Avenue for gas hoping it would be cheaper than other stations but it was not. We then went to the Home Depot on south Arizona Avenue for the part James needed for Sheri's to flush out the line. James brought in the black hose from the side of the house to the drain under the kitchen sink. Ollie was afraid of it, thinking it was a snake I think. He was shivering by Ben's bedroom door. I tried to soothe him and he responded a little. Ziggie could care less about the hose. James had me turn on the hose outside, wait 20 seconds, and then turn it off. We blew up the piece James bought at HD like a balloon and it popped. He does think we cleaned out the line from the garbage disposal to Max's downstairs shower. Max was at home. He has a job interview today somewhere that Alex set up.

When we thought we had cleaned out the line we went to pick up Sheri at work to take her to Firebirds for her birthday lunch. This was her choice. After the waitress took our order and brought us a couple of loaves of bread we must have waited a good 45 minutes for our food to come. It was a ridiculously long time. Sheri and I each got a strawberry and shrimp salad and James ordered ribs and mashed potatoes. We guessed it was the ribs that took so long. James said they were the best he has ever had.

Sheri was anxious to get back to work because she had a friend that was stopping by the office to bring her a gift. We gave Sheri her card during lunch and I don't know why I didn't take a picture.

Sheri is 49 today

Happy Birthday!

Sheri's surgery will no longer be done by her regular gynecologist. She is going to an oncology gynecologist for a biopsy and he will also be doing her hysterectomy. She is very calm about her situation and feels that everything is going to be fine.

Dr. Carpenter's truck parked in front of

Chandler Eyecare.

After we took Sheri back to work, it was a little after 2. James's meeting at Dobson Ranch Landings isn't until 6. We were both exhausted and so we went back to Darrel & Trina's for a nap.

No one was home when we got there and we went straight up to Rowan's room for our nap. A little while later there was a knock at the bedroom door. It was Lola. She said, "I wondered if you were here because I saw your car outside." Yes, we are still here sweetie. She was fine with that and went back downstairs to entertain herself.

Ruby and Rowan made it home before we left. We gave them and Lola a hug when we left for James's meeting a little after 5. We arrived at the Landings at Dobson Ranch a little before six. The woman James has been corresponding with and told him the meeting he was to speak at wasn't until 6:30 so he and Armando have 30 minutes to look around at the job they will be doing. I had found a walking path and was getting in my steps. Here were some of my views:

James has been asked to do some repair work on one of the lakes linings and also to replace some rotting posts. The insurance company says unless this work is done they are going to drop their policy. It is going to be very costly to drain the lakes to do the work. The company who will be doing it says $50,000. James was floored when he found this out.

James and Armando didn't get out of their meeting until after 7. We were going to go back to Sheri's so James could give her a blessing but when I texted her she said she was really tired and asked if dad could do it when we come down on March 1st. Of course.

We headed for Broadway and Dobson for Whataburger Juniors and then we got on the 101 to the 87 and headed for Payson.

It was after 10 when we got home. We were so happy to see Tom and he seemed happy to see us. We let him stay inside for the night.

James told me today that Elder Renlund and his wife will be coming to Show Low to speak at the women's devotional. Great news! I love his talks!

I managed to get my steps today. Since I didn't get them all yesterday it was critical for my self-esteem to get them today. (jk)

Kim made this cake for Sheri's birthday

Superior tunnel between Miami, Az and

Superior

Our sleeping ball of fur

Oops! That wasn't me using the "D" word.

Monday, February 19, 2024: Left for the valley @ 7am, Goodbye Tom, Train in Miami, Renaissance traffic, hi blood pressure, lost more weight, Whataburger, Lois & Dawn, DBk, Costco, Sam's, Darrel's, Safeway

Stockholm, Sweden

34th operating temple

Dedicated: 2 July 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 7

Come Follow Me

2 Nephi 6-10 "O How Great the Plan of Our God" Introduction

October General Conference

"Bearing Witness of Jesus Christ in Word and Actions" Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella

"Walk with Him

Barbara and Elaine discuss President Eyring's talk on the Holy Ghost.

Book

"Increase in Learning" by Elder David A. Bednar

Focus on doctrines and principles, not applications

"The Sealing Power" quote:

"The very reason the earth was created was so families could be formed and sealed to each other. Salvation is an individual matter, but exaltation is a family matter. No one can be exalted alone."

We left for the valley this morning at 7 am. My appointment at the AARA for my infusion is at 10:45. It's hard to say goodbye to Tom. T-Bo will feed him and Luna while we are gone.

We went the Globe way because James convinced me that it's faster.

We had to stop for a train in Miami and then we got into the Renaissance Festival traffic even though we were going in the opposite direction. We arrived on time at AARA in spite of our setbacks.

Today in spite of taking Striction BP, my blood pressure was high: 163/82. I should have taken my prescription blood pressure meds along with the Striction. On the plus side, my weight was down.

There was anew phlebotomist doing the infusions today, well, at least she was new to me. Her name was Alicia. The first needle she put into my arm for my infusion squirted blood all over the place. She had to put another needle in at a different site in my arm. This time it worked. It's 11:00 when my infusion finally gets started and I have been here since 10:15. I guess it was okay that it took me a little longer today because it gave James time to spend his collected gift cards at Bass Pro. He got some shoes and some ammunition.

I was starving when I was finished with my infusion so we headed for the nearest Whataburger which is on Broadway and Dobson. We are on Baseline and Country Club. I had a junior green chili burger which was way to oily and James had what we both normally get, a Whataburger, Jr. We also shared some onion rings which were also greasy. Never again. From now on it's a Whataburger Jr. for me.

Our next stop was at Lois and Dawn's. I brought the quilt top, batting and backing back that Lois gave to me a few years ago. I told her she didn't have to get it quilted for me because she had already given me another quilt. She said I could have another quilt if I wanted but she was going to give me another quilt.

Lois is worried about Dawn. She says she seems to be losing her memory and the other day she fainted. So now we have both of them to worry about. We talked about the remodel Lois wants done on her bathroom. Gail is involved too so James needs to talk to him. As we were leaving, Dawn insisted we take some of her Mom's favorite cookies, so we did. We needed to leave to go over to Sheri's to see if James can unclog her drain. He worked on it for a few minutes and then decided he needed something at Home Depot and he would come back tomorrow to work on the drain.

Next stop, Deseret Book to spend my gift card Sheri gave me for Christmas. James and I both bought new garments, he got a necktie and I got President Nelson's book, "The Heart of the Matter" and a couple of smaller books by Emily Belle Freeman. After all of that, I still have over $11.00 left.

Costco in Gilbert is right next to Deseret Book so it was our next stop. Our main purpose for coming to Costco is to get James's pomegranate juice. They have always had it, until today. We got our other necessities, walnuts for James and pistachios for me but no pomegranate juice. I told James I had a Sam's Club card and we should go there for his juice. He didn't seem to convinced. Sam's Club was just down the road on Market St.

We looked around on our own for awhile. I found a cute blanket I just had to have but we couldn't find any Pom juice. I asked one of the workers and she said it was back in the cooler with the fresh fruits and veggies. James had already looked their but we went back again. Sure enough, there it was. James got two large 64 oz. bottles. On the way out I found some Crunch Master crackers, which are James's favorite. Two reasons I'm glad we came to Sam's.

Before heading for Darrel & Trina's we went through Chik-fil-a for some dinner. We each got three strips and ate them in the car. They were so delicious!

When we got to Darrel & Trina's Addy, and Trina gave us hugs. Trina asked where Lola was and I told her we had seen her outside playing. Trina seemed confused and right then, Lola came walking down the stairs. Oops, I guess the girl we saw wasn't Lola. We just saw her from the back but we were so sure it was her.

Trina had some chicken cooking in a skillet for dinner. She poured in some chipotle sauce, tasted the chicken and said it was way too hot. Addy tasted it and agreed, so Trina threw it out. Oh dear.

Ruby and Rowan came home and gave us a hug and soon Rowan was gone again. He and some of his friends have started an online business selling surfer shirts and hoodies. Trina left for her Monday night pickleball date and soon Darrel was home from work. He seemed pretty proud as he was telling me about Rowan's business. I asked him where he got the inventory and he said drop-shipping.

James walked to Safeway for steps. I would normally go with him but I didn't tonight because my right knee was bothering me. I asked him to get a birthday card for Sheri and some candy bars for the girls and I.

I gave Lola the Disney pictures I had printed for her and she put them in her Disney 2024 album. Ruby settled in to doing her homework and when Darrel got home she had him check it.

James and I slept in Rowan's room while he slept downstairs on the white couch with his guitar. Thanks Rowan for letting us use your room.

James giving Tom his morning rub before

we leave for the valley.

I love the Jack in the Box!

Love my new Woovoo!

Fabulous laundry room

Amazing sunset

Darrel Johnson's promises of money turn flat because it is President's Day and the banks are closed.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Sunday, February 18, 2024: Listen to sacrament songs, High council Sunday Travis Tesarek, @ Nephi 2 & Alma 42, Kristine HIpps, Reed Brown, 1992 journal

Frieberg, Germany

33rd operating temple

Dedicated: 29-30 June 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 6

Come Follow Me

"Follow Him" for 2 Nephi 6-11 "O How Great the Plan of Our God"

October General Conference

"Walking in Covenant Relationship with Christ" Emily Belle Freeman

Relief Society

"The Sealing Power" Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Book

"Rescuing Wayward Children"

The body is the ultimate vehicle for moral agency.

"Unrepentant sin leads to the absence of light and truth."

I was very slow moving this morning. I feel like I need a can of WD-40 to oil my joints in the morning. Seriously, I've heard people say that it works.

As I go into the bathroom to get ready for church recently, I have been playing sacrament songs to get me in the proper frame of mind for taking the sacrament. It really does help. Tom came in to see what I was doing. He jumped up on the counter and when I put him down, he walked into the bedroom. I guess I offended him. He needs some attention but neither James nor I have time to give it to him.

Ruth Wallace was at our sacrament meeting today and I was able to give her a big hug. It may be the last time I ever see her. She will be missed.

Today is what I call high councilman Sunday. Our high councilman speaker was actually from our ward, Travis Tesarek. His son Resten was the youth speaker and Kerri Halcomb was the other speaker.

Resten spoke about God's Plan of Happiness and Your Eternal Destiny. This was a talk by Elder Gary E. Stevenson. Covenants help us return to Heavenly Father. Satan wants us to forget our covenants. The sacrament, scriptures, prayer, goals, and service help us to stay on the covenant path.

Kerri Halcomb - Kerri's talk was based on a talk by Sister Becky Craven called "Keep the Change." There have been lots of changes in the Church in the last few years. King Benjamin says we need a "change of heart." Do good continually. True conversions - the Lord will help. Can we help others to change? Microphone in Relief Society and Sunday School. Little changes can make a big difference. We need to have more love for Jesus Christ, our Savior. Computers have made a big change in family history.

Travis Teserak - Growing closer to the Savior. President Hinckley said, regarding fruit trees, we prune in February to bear fruit in September. 3 principles: 1.) Our future depends on choices now

2.) Let go of the less important 3.) Look for the Savior's light

In order to bear good fruit we need to know what to prune and what to nurture. Think celestial. Lose our lives to the Lord. What are my priorities? Use my time wisely. Simplify. Focus light. More revelatory experiences. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

In Sunday School we studied 2 Nephi 2. Brother Applegate compared it to Alma 42. Lehi speaking to his son Jacob and Alma speaking to his son Corianton.

So much information. This was such a good lesson. I took pictures of some of the power point.

As I was waiting for James after church I struck up a conversation with Kristine Hipps in the parking lot. She said something about us knowing Theola Crawford and Reed Brown. I said yes, we knew them because they were in our ward when we first moved to Chandler. Theola is Reed's mother and I saw on Facebook that she just celebrated her 99th birthday. Reed was in James's priest quorum and he also worked for him during the summer. I asked Kristine how they knew them. She said, "I was married to Reed." I was surprised and didn't know what to say. Reed was such a nice guy and I love Kristine. I wonder what happened. I didn't want to ask. Kristine also knew John and Sandy Bear.

For lunch we had the mini subs and tomato basil soup that Kathy brought us. Delicious! After lunch I napped with Thomas on the recliner.

I was upstairs looking for old wedding announcements to see if I could find one for Reed Brown and Kristine when I found a family journal we kept in 1992. I began reading from it and enjoyed it so much that I brought it downstairs to share with James. We had some good laughs.

I have had a package of chicken in the refrigerator for several days now that needed to be cooked. James agreed to help me. We made chicken strips combining two different recipes and adding a few ingredients of our own. The results were delicious. I knew we were going to be in the valley the next two days and didn't want to wait until Wednesday to cook this chicken. Now we will have a tasty treat when we come home on Wednesday.

This evening I listened to Robert Millett on "Follow Him" and watched this week's episode of "A Boulder Life" starring the Robles family who live in our ward. They are going to build a shed so they can stop paying to rent a storage unit in town which costs them $92 every month.

Bunny Bags

Scarlett

James and Tom

Charlie

Monday, February 26, 2024

Saturday, February 17, 2024: George Wallace's funeral, cookies, Kathy Crane brings over food, "Passport to Love", "Unshaken", "Tutored in Love"

Guatemala City, Guatemala

32nd operating temple

Dedicated: 14-16 Dec 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 5:18-34

Come Follow Me

Liahona - "15 Amazing Features of the Book of Mormon app"

October General Conference

"Praise to the Man" by President M. Russell Ballard

Relief Society

"The Sealing Power" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Book

"Teaching with Power" by Tad R. & Kathryn Callister

Chapter 8 - How Best Teach the Doctrine? p. 63-68

Daily Books

"A Witness and a Warning" by Ezra Taft Benson

"The Holy Covenants" by Anthony Sweat

"And These Words" by Emily Belle Freeman

Researching the word "conversion"

Up at 3:45 but not fully functioning.

I've stayed at home since my ministering outing with Kathy on Tuesday. Wednesday I missed going to town with James and doing my shopping because I didn't feel up to it. I missed going to the temple on Friday when I cancelled our sealing appointment because I wasn't feeling up to it. Today I missed George Wallace's funeral because I wasn't feeling up to it. I did send two dozen sugar cookies with James.

Kathy Crane said Chuck loved

my cookies. James loves them too,

but he likes them without frosting.

James left for the funeral at 9:30. He and other members of the elders quorum were setting up chairs. When he first arrived the church was still locked. They didn't wait long until Kerri Halcomb showed up with a key. The funeral is at noon.

James got home around 3:00 saying that was the best funeral he had ever been to. I feel that way about most LDS funerals.

Not only did George raise six children with his wife Ruth, but he raised his two sisters also. They are pictured with George in the upper left hand corner.

James brought me a small Firehouse sub, potato salad and a brownie from the funeral luncheon. The family provided the food and our Relief Society provided the desserts. I gave James my brownie but ate the sub and the potato salad.

While James was gone Tom followed me from room to room. He started out on a dining room chair, then the recliner in the bedroom, both sides, the bed and the recliner couch in the family room.

Around 5:00 or so someone rang our doorbell. It was Kathy Crane. She knew I wasn't feeling well and brought us some food for dinner. Three mini subs and a substantial amount of tomato basil soup, which was delicious! It will taste good tomorrow after church. How grateful I am that Kathy thought of us.

As James and I were walking and listening to "Tutored in Love" we both agreed that this book is getting quite good. We watched an UpTV movie, "Passport to Love", before going to bed.

Walk, drop and rub

Tom gets his first tummy rub of the day

Friday, February 16, 2024: Genesis 15, Tom missing for awhile, Cookies for Wallace funeral, Tom joins us for our naps, "Unshaken Saints", Sheri's call, J washes my car, Applegate houseplan problems

Taipei, Taiwan

31st operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Nov 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 5:1-17

10 - And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses.

Come Follow Me

2 Nephi 5:20-21

What was the curse that came upon the Lamanites?

October General Conference

"Brothers and Sisters in Christ" by Elder Ulisses Soares

Book

"Your Endowment" by Mark A. Shields

The Oath in Genesis 22

Abraham's Calling and Election made sure

Liahona

"My Bishops Book of Mormon Challenge"

I've been thinking why I like Genesis 15. I love it because when Jehovah made the covenant with Abraham He took all of the responsibility and Abraham got all of the promises. That is basically it in a nutshell. It's how Emily explained it on the "Don't Miss This" episode for Genesis 15.

Tom was missing for awhile this morning. James lets him in when he gets out of bed. While he dresses I play with Tom and then he goes outside with James to feed Luna and eat. After he eats he normally comes back in, plays for awhile, and then goes to sleep. Today he was no where to be found after he ate. I was so worried about the coyotes eating him that I called Kathy Crane to see if she had seen him. No she had not but yesterday she saw two coyotes near her back yard. Thanks Kathy for painting that mental image in my head.

James had called for him all over outside. Desperately I opened the garage door, called him a couple of times, waited, and then closed the door and went back to baking cookies in the kitchen. James was sitting at the end of the dining room table. He heard a "meow" that I didn't hear and opened the garage door to see Tom standing there looking up at him. He had answered my call but I just hadn't given him enough time to come to the door. What a relief!

Tom joined me for a nap on the recliner until James came in to lie down on the bed. His head perked up and he jumped down and ran over to the bed. Is it any wonder that James loves him so much.

James had some very difficult memories regarding his dog falling through the ice in Ramah Lake and drowning. He said it was his fault and he had to watch him cry for help and James couldn't do anything about it. One of the saddest days of his life. That's why he has always hesitated to have a pet.

I listened to part of "Unshaken Saints" today and James and I listened to "Tutored in Love" while we walked. This book, although the chapters are quite short, has 62 chapters. I finished my 12,000 steps before James did.

I did lots of studying today but very little blogging. Sometimes it's hard to know what is most important.

Sheri called. Even though her cancer report came back benign her doctor says something doesn't look right and she has to see a specialist for a biopsy in another area. He will no longer be doing her surgery. This specialist, an oncologist for gynecology will be doing the surgery. They did manage to get the IUD out already.

Sheri says she decided the thing she wanted most on her birthday was to go to the 7 a.m. temple session. She is looking forward to the peace and quiet found in the temple.

James washed my car today in the driveway. Our power sprayer is still in the repair shop so he did it with the hose. He also cleaned off the dining room table and moved his computer and papers upstairs to his office.

Tom jumped on the table while James was eating and James was a little upset. I told him Tom needed to be outside when we eat until he is trained not to jump on the table or counters.

James says there are problems with Applegate's house plans and he needs to meet with them to discuss the problems. There is not enough detail to hand them in to the county for permits.

Thursday, February 15, 2024: Herd of deer, Tom's doings, James handed in our income tax info, J visits at Waypoint Recovery w/ Collin, Jan Martin on "FH", Abrahamic Covenant

Dallas, Texas

30th operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Oct 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 4:20-35

Come Follow Me

2 Nephi 5

I can find happiness in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

October General Conference

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

Book

"Grace Where You Are" Emily Belle Freeman, p. 21-31

"For every hurt on the Mortality Tree, healing can be found on the Jesus Tree."

Inklings

"Walking in Covenant Relationship with Christ" by Emily Belle Freeman; see footnotes 19-32 in talk; Exalt; "It's not the course alone that will exalt us; it's the companion."

Tom and James see a herd of deer go through our property when they go out to feed Luna. James says Tom was staring at something out in the field and as he looked to see what Tom was looking at, he saw the deer.

Tom comes in the house during the day and sleeps most of the time.

Today he started on one of the high chairs at the table near the entryway. He saw me come in the bedroom and followed me. When I sat down on the recliner with my electric blanket, as soon as I got settled, he jumped up on my lap. He slept there during my nap and when I was ready to get up James came and moved him to the other recliner seat with another blanket. He stayed there a few minutes and then jumped back over to the electric blanket. When James came in to take his nap on the bed, Tom joined him, snuggling up close.

James went into town to take our tax information to our accountant, Cheri Witt. He is so grateful to be handing the information over to someone else. He was going to wash my car but failed to do so. He promised he would wash it at home before Sunday.

When James got home he worked on Applegate's house plans. He says it's going to be a difficult house to build and that the plans are not showing enough detail and the county will never pass them. Not good news for Jimmy & Tamara. Their house plan is quite unique. It has a castle turret and a spiral staircase going up to it. It's going to be the Vernon castle when it gets built.

This evening around 5, James picked up Collin DeWitt and they went to an addiction recovery center at The Ranch. The place is called WayPoint. There are a couple of members of our ward at this recovery center. Collin brought one of them a new pair of work boots because he heard he needed a pair.

A woman named Lori Holland is the head of the center. She is a member but not interested in coming to our ward. Even though she spends most of her time here in Vernon at the center she says she has a home in Eagar and that is where her membership is. There are three other guys who are members, Rob Bigelow who is not interested in attending church, and the two guys Collin and James met with: Bo Taylor and Ben Young. Ben Young is from Chandler and Mike Wallen was his bishop in Chandler 4th ward. Collin made arrangements with Ben and Bo to pick them up on Sunday. James and I will take them home after church.

I listened to Jan Martin on "Follow Him" and really enjoyed her. I blogged for the 7th and 8th of February, walked over 14,000 steps and listened to "Tutored in Love" with James. I also looked up the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 17 and Abraham 2 as part of my lesson preparation for "The Sealing Power."

I was going to go shopping when James went to town today but I just wasn't feeling up to it.