Saturday, July 13th, 2024: Luna & Apollo in the driveway, LaCasita, Wlmrt, HD, Lowes, J tightens fence, assassination attempt on Trump, Joe's concerns, puzzle

Saratoga Springs, Utah

179th operating temple

Dedicated: 18 June 2023

By: Gary E. Stevenson

Book of Mormon

Alma 29

Come Follow Me

Sharing the gospel brings me joy.

"Hold Up Your Light" Marcus B. Nash

"Sharing the Restored Gospel" Dallin H. Oaks

Video: "The Bush Family Story", "Sharing Your Beliefs", "Sharing the Gospel"

April General Conference

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

D&C 109:48

Thou knowest, O Lord, that they have been greatly oppressed and afflicted by wicked men; and our hearts flow out with sorrow because of their grievous burdens.

Another sleep deprived night makes for a groggy morning. During scripture study and Come Follow Me we watched the story of the conversion of the Bush family. It was really good. President Oaks has this to say about missionary work:

1. We can all pray for desire to help with missionary work.

2. Keep the commandments ourselves.

3. Pray for inspiration on what we can do personally. Pray with a commitment to do something.

Kim went outside to walk this morning and was greeted by a couple of horses in the driveway. They keep getting out at night. I said, "You guys aren't supposed to be here. Get back inside the fence." Luna looked at me and stomped her foot. She's a rebel.

Brian coaxed them back inside with a couple of carrots.

James and I went to town around noon. We would have asked Kim and Brian to go with us but Kim was asleep on one of the recliners and Brian was working on his computer. I did ask Brian if we could get anything for them and he said coconut oil and bread. I can certainly do that.

James and I had lunch at LaCasita. We both tried something new. I had a green chili mixed chimichanga. It was good but I didn't need those extra calories, the guacamole, sour cream and fried tortilla. James got a green chili mixed burrito supreme. He said the sour cream was cold and on the burro and he didn't like that. 

There were so many people in this tiny restaurant and some of them were so tall that their heads almost touched the ceiling. A large group with over 10 people came in just as we were leaving. 

James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to look for something he needed, both at Home Depot and Lowe's. 

One of the things on my list was a bag of kitty litter. Yikes! The cheapest one is $20. It's a good thing I don't have to buy this very often.

This afternoon James fixed the fence where the wires were sagging, which is where the horses are getting out. Brian was going to help him but he was waiting for James to call him out. James thought he told Brian to come out in 45 minutes. I guess it was okay because James was able to do it by himself.

Trump was having a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania when someone attempted to shoot him. The bullet nicked his ear, but someone else died because of the shooting. The shooter was shot and killed also.

Kim is working on the puzzle Charlie sent me. Every once in awhile I got by and find a piece, but she and Stacy have done most of the work. Kim is like me, she works for awhile and then she walks for awhile. She said walking is the one thing that helped her keep her blood sugar down. She got around 13,000 steps today.

I got my 12,000 and listened to two conference talks that went with the Come Follow Me lesson and Elder Bowen's from the last conference. James walked and listened to "To Love the Brooding Baron." I told him that Daryl Johnson (Bama Barbershop) and his wife need the gospel. He agreed with me.

Notes & Quotes:

"Many today say that miracles no longer exist, that angels are fictional, and that the heavens are closed. I testify that miracles have not ceased, angels are among us, and the heavens are truly open."

-Elder Shayne M. Bowen

"Miracles, Angels, And Priesthood Power"

Case's at the Beach

My friend Janna is always 

helping someone.

Sedona

 

 

Friday, July 12, 2024: Happy 88th Birthday Barbara Tignor, Temple date with T-Bo, Made chocolate chip cookies, Kim & Brian coming this evening, they get in lots of rain on the way, Sheri's gifts, Brian works w/ Brent & Rebecca, Panoramic view of the sky on our deck, Kim's eyes really bothering her

 

Helena, Montana

178th operating temple

Dedicated: 18 June 2023

By: Gary E. Stevenson

Book of Mormon

Alma 28

Come Follow Me

Sharing the gospel brings me joy.

Videos: "The Bush Family Story"

"Sharing Your Beliefs"

"Sharing the Gospel"

April General Conference

"Be One with Christ" Elder Quentin L. Cook

D&C 109:47

We ask thee, Holy Father, to remember those who have been driven by the inhabitants of Jackson county, Missouri, from the lands of their inheritance, and break off, O Lord, this yoke of affliction that has been put upon them.

Today is my friend, Barbara Tignor's 88th birthday. James said T-Bo took her to the temple at her request. Afterwards they stopped at Trapper's in Taylor to get a pie. Last year I made her a carrot cake.

Such a sweet lady!

While I was home alone this afternoon I made chocolate chip cookies using the big milk chocolate chips I had on hand. It was a small batch. I froze them and stuck them in the freezer. They are delicious!

Kim and Brian are coming later this afternoon after Brian finishes with work. They left home at 2:30 and stopped for awhile in Payson. They also got in to quite a rainstorm which slowed them down a bit. 

It was around 6:30 when they arrived. After unloading their car we all went outside on the covered deck outside of our bedroom. It was cool and breezy and felt like it was going to rain. The panoramic view of the sky was gorgeous. The sunset, the rain in the distance and the clouds overhead just waiting to burst with rain. Which they did, right before bed.

Brian said he helped Brent & Rebecca sign some documents this week. He was held up by Brent because he took so long. Kim warned him that Brent likes to talk and never gets in a hurry.

It is nice to have Kim and Brian here although I am sad to know that Kim's eyes are really bothering her. She mentioned listening to podcasts and taking notes and how difficult it is now to take notes because she gets headaches from the eye strain. She has to lie down and rest for awhile.

I finished "To Love the Brooding Baron". James is still reading it.

I started another book I may have read before but if I have, I don't remember and I can't find it written down in my book log. It is called "Secret of the Sonnets" by Samantha Hastings. 

Vernon skies

 

Thursday, July 11th, 2024: Didn't sleep well & crashed pretty early. scripture study and 12,000 steps, James falls on his right hand, new outside cat, Inklings w/ Emily

 

Richmond, Virginia

177th operating temple

Dedicated: 7 May 2023

By: Dallin H. Oaks

Book of Mormon

Alma 27

Come Follow Me

 Alma 26; 29

Sharing the gospel brings me joy.

April General Conference

"In Support of the Rising Generation" Brother Michael T. Nelson

Inklings

"Swallowed Up in the Joy of Christ" Elder Brian K. Taylor

Isaiah 49:16

D&C 109:45-48

divine

"When, for the moment, we are not being stretched on a particular cross, we ought to be at the foot of someone else's." - Neal A. Maxwell

Affirmation: "I hold tightly to the 'hands that save,' the loving, scarred hands of the Savior that hold me up through trials. I have faith that the pain and trials I experience can be swallowed up in the joy of Christ."

I did not get a good night's rest. As a result I crashed pretty early and got very little done today. I didn't even work on my blog, I did my scripture study and walked 12,000 steps. I studied Elder Taylor's talk and then listened to Emily on Inklings. Emily mentioned our "Covenant Israel" study we did a few years ago and I got out my notebook and looked at the handout she gave us with promises to covenant Israel. I'm going to use this for my lesson! 

James fell on his right (surgery) hand while changing the water outside. Afterwards he came in and laid down for awhile.

James saw a new cat outside this evening. He brought Tom out and he had a "stare down" with the cat before coming in for bed. Tom has been sleeping on the high chairs near the entry recently. James closed his office door, so no office chair. 

I called Janna Grombach to see what the doctor said about her mom's leg. It was good news! She does not have to have surgery! She needs to stay off of it a little longer but it is healing properly.

Catherine Halcomb called me. She had just returned home from the eye doctor at Barnett-Delaney-Perkins.  I had recommended BDP to her and she was calling to thank me. She was happy that the eye doctor knew her former eye doctor located in the valley. We talked for over 20 minutes and I told her that I needed to go. I know she is lonely and I am glad to talk to her. I hope she wasn't offended. I don't think she was.

James added 3662 steps to my 12,000 while he was walking and listening to "To Love the Brooding Baron."

Tom, checking out the situation outside

Addy's trip to New Zealand

Progress at the Hipps's on the front patios

Is this part of Lolli Camp for

Scarlett and Charlie?

Jaclyn Smith was in Chandler?

How come I didn't know?

Wednesday, July 10th, 2024: J tied his own shoes & buttoned his own shirt, Tom has a burst of energy, Wlmrt & HD scene, Taco Bell, My 12,000

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

176th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 Jan 2023

By: D. Todd Christofferson

Book of Mormon

Alma 26

Come Follow Me

Alma 26:17-22

Because God is merciful, He forgives me as I repent.

April General Conference

"All Things Work Together for Our Good" Elder Gerrit W. Gong

D&C 109:46

Therefore, O Lord, deliver thy people from the calamity of the wicked; enable thy servants to seal up the law, and bind up the testimony, that they may be prepared against the day of burning.

James got himself dressed and ready to go to work this morning. I don't know how he tied his shoes. He also fixed his own breakfast. He got up at 4:30 and I didn't get up until 5:00.

Tom was so cute this morning while I was walking. First, he was looking out the window first on top of the quilt rack and then sitting on the fireplace hearth. Then, as I was walking around the table he began running through the house behind behind the couch and our chest of drawers, up the stairs and down. I guess he was getting his exercise too.

Resting

Tom, why? The entire other side of the

table is empty.

 James worked at the Hipps's until early afternoon when he came home, ate lunch, took a nap and did some office work. At 4:00 we went in to town. James needed to do an exchange at Home Depot. He dropped me off at Walmart to get some Excederin and a few other items. On the way home we stopped at Taco Bell for dinner. I am hooked on burrito supremes right now. James got a Mexican pizza.

When we got home James ate his dinner and then headed back over to the Hipps's to work until dark. The Tomster was happy to see me. I got him another flavor of cat food, this one has chicken, liver and beef flavors. It is 7:15 and I have over 12,000 steps. 

Notes & Quotes:

"Jesus Christ's Atonement can deliver and redeem us from sin. But Jesus Christ also intimately understands our every pain, affliction, sickness, sorrow, separation. In time and eternity, His triumph over death and hell can make all things right. He helps heal the broken and disparaged, reconcile the angry and divided, comfort the lonely and isolated, encourage the uncertain and imperfect, and bring forth miracles possible only with God." 

- Elder Gerrit W. Gong "All Things For Our Good"

President Nelson visited the Packer's in Mozambique in 2009 when they were serving as the mission leaders there. They were having dinner one night and a couple of thugs came in and threatened to kill President Nelson and take his wife Wendy hostage. One robber put a gun to President Nelson's head, announced they were there to kill me and abduct my wife, and then pulled the trigger. The gun made a clicking sound but did not fire. The misfire infuriated the robber, who then kicked me in the face and knocked me to the floor. 

At the same time, another robber shoved a pistol into Wendy's back and began rocking her chair in an attempt to pull her from it, saying, "You are coming with us! You are coming with us!"

Through a series of miraculous events - thanks in no small part to the heroic actions of Sister Cindy Packard - our lives were spared.

Sister Packard was a stake Relief Society president in Gilbert at the same time as I served as one in Chandler and I met here at a training meeting. She was one of those people you immediately take a liking too.

Tom likes to lie on the cool tile in the entryway

Trina's post