Thursday, April 18, 2024: Inklings w/ Emily & Michelle Craig, Lois's shower door, Tom pouts for treats, tile prep still messy, Trip to HD & FH w/J, Stephanie Black's new book

 

Veracruz, Mexico

93rd operating temple

Dedicated: 9 July 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

Omni 1:15-30

Come Follow Me

Enos:1:1-18 I can receive forgiveness as I exercise faith in Christ.

Jarom-Omni As I strive to keep His commandments, God will bless me.

April General Conference

"Words Matter" by Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Book

"The Savior in Kirtland"

Inklings was so good this morning. It was Emily and Michelle Craig. They were discussing President Nelson's talk on priesthood keys. Here are some notes I took:

Preparing the world for the coming of Christ

Regular temple attendance

Michelle - Covenants, character and relationships

Mercy - Especially Active Compassion

1828 Webster Dictionary - Mercy - treat offenders better than they deserve. Closely connected to grace. 

Grace is enabling power or strength, Mercy is especially active compassion, and Charity is pure love.

It used to be Redeem the dead, Proclaim the gospel, Perfect the saints, and Care for the poor. 

Now it's: Live/Love, Care, Invite, Unite (Handbk 1.2)

The Gospel of Abraham hinges on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Greg has cancer. We would appreciate your prayers. This is an opportunity to deepen our trust in the Savior through the power of individual prayers. 

The garment is access to the Lord's mercy, strength, compassion, and power. 

President Nelson is a prophet who teaches pure doctrine and extends invitations. 

Bind yourselves to each other, that's how you will get back home.  

Emily explained again the covenant the Lord made with Abram in Genesis 15. The Lord wanted Abram to know that he could trust Him and that all He promised would be given to Abram.

Genesis 15:9-18. Why did God pass through the carcasses of animals? Genesis 15:9-18 contains the account of the Lord certifying in a unique way that He would keep His promises to Abram. God commanded Abram to take various animals, cut their carcasses into two pieces, and set them apart from each other. A "smoking furnace, and a burning lamp" representing the Lord's presence then "passed between those pieces" (see verse 17). In ancient times, when such a covenant was made, the individual passing between the carcasses was essentially saying, "May I also be cut in two if I do not keep my part of this covenant." 

It is a beautiful day today and I am feeling great. James is still miserable. I helped him order the shower door for his mom's shower. We ordered it on Amazon and it will be delivered to Lois and Dawn's on April 30th between 2-5. 

Tom wanted more treats this morning. When I wouldn't give him any more he went upstairs and fell asleep under James's office bed. I told James he was pouting. James brought him down later and we napped together. 

James worked downstairs prepping the floor for the tile and more dust floated upstairs, including his dusty footprints. I never realized how messy laying tile is. 

This afternoon I went into town with James. He needed to pick up something at Home Depot for the tile job. Afterwards we got "linner" (lunch & dinner) at Firehouse.

We finally finished reading "Finding Jane Fairfax." I couldn't find any more proper romance books on Deseret Book Plus so we started reading "Trespassers" a book by our friend Stephanie McConkie Black. She is Bruce R. McConkie's granddaughter and writes murder mysteries for Deseret Book. This book is about a girl who has paranormal abilities. She can "sense" people and link to their brains and cause their hearts to stop beating. She has never killed anyone but she as killed mice and an elk who was suffering after being hit by a car.  It's a little freaky but we are reading it because we know Stephanie. She is pretty funny in real life. I'm friends with her on Facebook. I'm surprised she doesn't write comedies or romances. We are actually enjoying the book. 

I was finally able to pay our Verizon bill today. I also made appointments at the temple for us tomorrow, the 3:30 endowment session. 

Tom wanted outside just as we were going to bed. I hesitated because I like him to sleep inside at night, but eventually let him out.

Stacy said they have been very faithful doing their Come Follow Me and Book of Mormon reading. Joshua had a track meet today and then had to come home and do homework. She nor Paul had called for scriptures and as Joshua walked in the bedroom he said, "let's have scriptures." This is every persons dream, to have their children call for scriptures.

"Charity encompasses all other godly virtues. It distinguishes both the beginning and the end of the plan of salvation. When all else fails, charity, Christ's love, will not fail. It is the greatest of all divine attributes." - Howard W. Hunter

Incredible Europe

I got this letter when I asked for 

more proper romance novels. There are

actually a couple on here we haven't read.

Getting ready to lay tile

Wednesday, April 17, 2024: Let Tom out @ 3am, can't go back to sleep, Ardeth Kapp, Ordered a nokbox, Proposal for LC, Tom plays on the hill, Clingy in the house, James gets sick after eating, Kacey's text, Temple sealings explained by Jared

 

Merida, Mexico

 92nd operating temple

Dedicated: 8 July 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

Omni 1:1-14

Come Follow Me

Enos 1:1-4 The Lord can help me influence my family for good.

April General Conference

"A Higher Joy" by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book

"The Savior in Kirtland"

I let Tom out around 3 a.m. and then had a difficult time going back to sleep. I wish he would wait just a couple of more hours and then it would be time for me to get up. 

I saw this today on social media and it just reminded me what an awesome person Ardeth G. Kapp was and what a privilege it was for me to get to meet her and to spend several days with her while we toured England. It is one of the highlights of my life.

I am grateful my girls were in Young Women's during the presidency of Sister Kapp. We have fond memories of her. We also got to see and hear her counselor, Sister Patricia Holland, speak when she came to Mesa.

 I ordered what is called a "nokbox" today. Nok stand for next of kin. The box is an organizational system designed to give your next of kin when you die. It holds all of the documents they will need to finalize you estate. It's something I need to get me going on this important business.

I also typed a proposal for James. He was having difficulty doing it on his computer. 

Tom and I had a moment today. He climbed up on me and got his face close to mine. We connected for a few seconds and then he was gone. This is how Tom is. One minute he's up close and personal and the next he's gone to the next thing. 

James got sick to his stomach today after eating dinner. He fixed us some asparagus that he cooked in olive oil that he thinks may have been rancid, although I ate it and I am fine. He also had chili for dinner and he thinks maybe that was it. He really doesn't know but he had stomach cramps and went to bed for awhile. 

Jared & Kacey want to help Stacy & Paul. I am so grateful for my righteous children!

Crazy hair day for Scarlett

Tuesday, April 16, 2024: Alex's 26th bday, I feel great! James's floor grinding mess, My Tom brings me joy, Wlmrt, HD, FH, Panda. "Grounded" vs. Grounding, Settlement check, WCTH

 

Suva, Fiji

91st operating temple

Dedicated: 18 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Jarom

Come Follow Me

Enos 1:1-17 God will hear and answer my prayers.

April General Conference

"Faithful to the End" Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus

"Fruit that Remains" by Elder Matthew Carpenter

Book

"The Savior in Kirtland"

Happy 26th birthday Alex! We love you and are so happy that you are our grandson!

I feel better than I have felt in a long time. I love this new medicine that I am taking.

James has been working downstairs all morning grind the concrete floor to make it level before he lays the tile. As I came from the bedroom into the living/family room area there was a huge cloud of concrete dust in the air and also covering the floor and furniture and everything else in its path.

James immediately stopped grinding and opened all of the doors. He took my vacuum downstairs to "cleanup." I told him if he harmed my vacuum I would be getting a new one. 

After cleaning up as best we could James and I took a break before going to town. On our way to town we listened to "Finding Jane Fairfax." James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to Home Depot. After shopping we bought food at Firehouse and Panda and went home and ate it.

I listened to "Grounded" today with Jenet Erickson and Barbara Morgan Gardner. It was really good. I love Jenet Erickson. I have listened to her give BYU Devotional addresses and she has been on "Follow Him" a couple of times. I believe she has a degree in family life.

What's funny about the term "Grounded" is it reminds me of grounding. I have been receiving ads on Instagram about grounding. I have heard of it though Kathy Booth, Kaitlyn's mom and Kim. They both believe in it. Here is a brief summary of what it is.

Grounding, also know as earthing, refers to the discovery that bodily contact with the earth's natural electric charge stabilizes the physiology at the deepest levels, reduces inflammation, pain, and stress, improves blood flow, energy, and sleep, and generates greater well-being.

There is tons of information on grounding on the internet. I know that Kim and Kathy both practiced it by going outside and walking barefoot on the ground. There are lots of others ways to practice as I just recently discovered. I don't know if it works or not but there seems to be scientific evidence to support it.

I watched the second episode of "When Calls the Heart" tonight. I would much rather be watching "The Way Home."

We are still walking and reading "Finding Jane Fairfax."

Updated, complete pantry

Monday, April 15, 2024: Left for valley @ 6:45 Infusion, OIl change, Costco, Landings, Greg Hatch, Lois & Dawn, Barbershop, Whataburger, Home again, Hello Kitty

  

Melbourne, Australia

90th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Enos 1:19-27

Come Follow Me

Intro: "He Worketh in Me To Do According To His Will" 

Enos - Words of Mormon

April General Conference

"Foreordained to Serve" Elder Steven R. Bangerter

Book

"The Savior in Kirtland"

James and I left for the valley at 6:45 this morning. Unbeknowst to us, James locked Tom in the house. 

On the way to Payson we listened to "Follow Him" and completed it before getting to Mesa. I arrived at the AARA office at 10:00 for my 10:15 appointment. Frances came and got me and took me right back. Alicia put in my infusion with my new medication, Simponi Aria. It only takes 30 minutes instead of an hour. 

I came out of the office feeling pretty good. I texted James that I was going to walk over to Costco and he called me back and said he was a minute away. He had been a mile down the road on Guadalupe to get the oil changed in the car at Oil Buddy. A little more expensive but no lines. He also found a mailbox and mailed our bills. 

We went to Costco together. James got his Pom and Acaia juice, some mixed nuts, pills,  cantaloupe and honey dew. I got Dawn detergent, pistachios, shampoo and conditioner. Our total was $121.31. 

After we were finished shopping we had lunch, we each had a hotdog and a drink. It cost less than $5.00 total.  I love their hotdogs!

Next we went to the Landings job where James met Armando to discuss the progress on replacing the lake linings. I did some walking and read from my book, "The Savior in Kirtland." It was a nice warm, sunny day.

Next we drove to Elliott and McClintock where James had a brief meeting with Greg Hatch about doing some remodeling on his office.

Lois and Dawn's was next. James, Gail, Dave, and Terry are remodeling her bathroom to put in a shower that she can get into easily. They are also replacing her toilet for a higher one. While Dawn took James back to look at the bathroom I visited with Lois. She has been coloring in a book I gave her and wanted to show me the designs she had done. She asked me what you do with them when you have them all colored. I told her that you look at them and enjoy them.

Our last stop was at the barbershop/school on Alma School and Ray. While James was visiting with Armando and Daryl Johnson, whom he's doing the work with, I waited in the car. There is a water and ice store next door and I went in and got a double decker Thrifty ice cream cone. A waffle cone with black cherry and pistachio ice cream.

One the way home we went the Globe way. On our way to the 60 freeway we stopped at the Whataburger on Market Street in Gilbert for dinner. We each got a junior burger and shared an order of fries. Okay, I admit, I ate most of the fries. I am such a junk food junky.

I sleep alot on the way home while we listen to "Finding Jane Fairfax."  We stopped in Show Low for gas. We paid $4.79 a gallon. We got home around 8 p.m.

Tom greets James as James opens the door. What a shocker to see the cat come out of the house. He has been here all day long alone. No damage done. We unpacked our suitcases and put everything away before walking and listening to our book. Tom went outside but came back in. He loves his treats!

By the way, I feel great! I think this new medicine is already working!

I got a text from Jared Ammon again today. Here it is:

 Even if I can't make any money right away I still wanna come up and work to maintain it. You two live up there but it's our families cabin and we should all be taking care of it. I conveniently have the time and ability to. 

I saw this bouganvia and lantana growing together

on my walk at The Landings

Lois and James looking at shower doors while

Dawn is looking at a paper about health insurance.

Hello Kitty

Home Decor

Sunday, April 14, 2024: I miss church, again, MIllie's accident, James administers the sacrament for me, He is also fasting for me, Tom sleeps on my chair, Lambson Family History book, JA texts - he wants to come back, Brother Johnson's stroke

 

Adelaide, Australia

89th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Enos 1:1-18

Come Follow Me

Review

April General Conference

"Miracles, Angels and Priesthood Power" by Elder Shayne M. Bowen

I was miserable this morning and missed church, yet again. They are going to put me on the inactive list if I keep doing this. Mornings are my worst time.

 James administered the sacrament to me when he got home. He is also fasting for me and my health.

Tom slept on my chair the entire time James was gone. He was my company.

We got a text from Rebecca, James's sister today. She was passing on information that I already knew about from a Lambson cousin, Dian Richins. There is a new Lambson family history book coming out and they are asking all of the families of James's generation to write a brief history of their family. This is what James worked on for an hour or two this afternoon. I typed it up and sent it to Dian. She sent me a thank you. Here is a copy of what James wrote:

    Karen and I were married on June 1, 1968, in the Mesa, Arizona temple, over 55 years ago. We started dating our senior year in high school at Snowflake Union High School, in Snowflake, Arizona. After graduation we both attended ASU in Tempe, Arizona.

    We both graduated from ASU. Karen graduated in 1970 from the College of Education and I graduate the following year from the College of Liberal Arts.

     Since there were no jobs available in my major field, wildlife biology, I started working in construction as soon as I graduated. Karen had been teaching school one year and I had promised that when I graduated she wouldn't need to work anymore, unless she wanted to. After her first year of teaching she became pregnant with our first child, Stacy Michelle, who was born on February 8, 1972. From this time until the present day she has been a stay-at-home mom and grandma.

    I worked approximately one year for someone else then started working for myself. Over the next few years I had a goal of becoming a licensed contractor and arranged with several individuals to oversee the building of large custom homes for wages. That is because I had to have two years supervisory experience to get a license. At that time I had the owners hire my dad and my uncle Gene to work for me. They both had a lot of experience. I hired a crew which the owners paid for and by 1975 I was qualified to get a residential license. I took the contractors test and passed. A few years later I also qualified for a commercial license.

    In 1975 I built our first home in Chandler, Arizona. We lived in this home while raising our five children. In 2012 we moved to Vernon, Arizona which means we had two homes. We came back down to Chandler for a few months in 2015 to get our home ready to sell, which it did. We loved this home and lived there for 40 years.

    Stacy was born three years and eight months after we were married. Kimberly Ann was born on December 31, 1973, a welcomed tax deduction and the sweetest little girl. Her big sister adored her. Sheri Rene was born on February 20, 1975, just 14 months after Kim. Jared Ryan was born November 4, 1976 and Darrel Kay, September 5, 1978. Five children in six and a half years.

    My career has been as a contractor. I built custom homes in the Phoenix area during the 1970's and 80's. I began doing commercial projects and golf course work. I believe I have poured cart paths and built bridges on over 50 golf courses, including remodeling work. Some of those courses had over five miles of cart path and took around 500 truck loads of concrete.

    I've worked on golf courses throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, and even in Florida. We also did the Little Bighorn Golf Course in Sheridan, Wyoming.

    We have also worked on a dozen medical facilities and built an automotive repair sop and a camera store. In recent years I have built 19 airport hangars and worked on 8 more.

    In 2002 our summer home that I built in Pinedale, Arizona burned to the ground in the Rodeo-Chedeski fire. We bough 90 acres near Vernon, Arizona next to the forest and built a new home which we currently reside in.

    Life has been good. We now have 22 grandchildren, one great and another great on the way.

    Stacy married Paul Gonzales on June 30, 1989 and they have five boys:

Adam Paul - February 26, 1990

Jared Ammon - July 8, 1992

Dallin James - June 14, 1995

Michael Aaron - December 19, 1997

Joshua Ivan - August 14, 1995

    Kim married Brian Horak on September 29, 1995 and they have one son:

Joseph Ryan - February 26, 1997

    Sheri married Ian Trezise on April 19, 1996 and they have four sons:

Alexander Kay - April 16, 1998

Benjamin David - December 16, 1999

Maxwell Frasure - July 1, 2003

Evan William - November 6, 2006

    Jared has four children with his first wife Tricia Wallen:

James Hayden - September 15, 2000

Anna Lee - January 17, 2002

Emmalee - June 4, 2005

Molly Jean - August 8, 2009

    Jared married Kacey Havens on January 21, 2017 and they have one daughter:

Charlie Mae - August 27, 2018

    Kacey has three children that we count as our grandchildren:

Autumn - May 7, 1997

    Autumn is married to Palmer Child and they have one daughter:

Scarlett Jane - October 6, 2017

Tanner - March 10, 2004

    Tanner has a little boy coming this summer.

    Darrel married Trina Case on August 8, 2003 and they have four children:

Adalyn Kay - August 28, 2004

Rowan Case - August 10, 2006

Ruby Jane - June 18, 2009

Lola Suzanne - July 4, 2014

    Both Karen and I have been active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of our married lives, serving in various stake and ward callings.

 James said we have a new sister missionary, that Sister Lassen was transferred. I found a later that she is close by, in Eagar. 

Jared Ammon texted me today. He really wants to quit his job and come up here and work. I told him we didn't have money to pay him right now but we might in a few weeks.

James broke his fast before dinner and heated up some chili for my dinner and his. He said he got the news that Brother Johnson had a stroke today and is being transported to the valley. We will be fasting for him, his wife Ann, and his daughter Lily 

Tom doesn't like the wind and if it's blowing too hard he won't go outside.

Buckelew Springs near our home

Sister Lassen