Tuesday, September 10th, 2024: James leaves for valley after prayer, scriptures, CFM, brkfst & feeding horses, Apollo on the grass, J - Dr. Memon in Globe, Burger House losing it's appeal, Tom's antics

 

Las Vegas, Nevada

43rd operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Dec 1989

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Helaman 13:27-39

Come Follow Me

Helaman 13

The Lord gives warnings through His prophets.

April General Conference

"Jesus Christ at the Center of Our Lives" Elder Jose L. Alonso

James left for the valley after prayer, scriptures, Come Follow Me, breakfast, and feeding the horses. 

Later this morning, after James had left and asked me to keep the cows off our property, I was walking to the kitchen and happened to look outside. No cows on our lawn, but there was a big brown horse, Apollo. 

I grabbed a broom and went out and began yelling at Apollo to get out. He looked at me and didn't seem to understand and started running around. He ended up bucking and kicking and didn't seem to be able to find a way to get out. I just assumed he would go out the way he came in. I opened the gate and his next time around the yard he went out. Mission accomplished. Luna was as happy as I was. I think she was worried about him.

James met with Greg Hatch and Armando on the Hatch remodel job. He and Armando also went over to the Landings to look at a job they want him to bid on. James also visited the landlord and talked to her about Daryl Johnson's situation. He gave her a preliminary lien notice to send to Daryl. She doesn't like Daryl and said it was totally against his contract to have a lien against his shop. 

James was late for his appointment with Dr. Memon in Globe because of the blasting in Superior canyon. They stopped at 2pm and James got through. His appointment was at 2:00 and he called and said he was going to be late.

James brought home Burger House mixed burros. It was to chili hot for me and I didn't care for the meat. It wasn't pork. If it was beef, it tasted funny. James said he didn't really care for his either. Maybe our addiction had ended.

Stacy sold a note and will be collecting $3,500 some time next week. Yay!

I was folding clothes this evening in the laundry room when Tom walks out from behind the dryer. What? James must have left the laundry room door open. I am OCD about keeping it closed. Tom zoomed past me as I was headed to the bedroom and hid in front of the dresser, waiting for me to come through the door. 

I watched a Hallmark movie "Love On the Danube love Song." The story takes place on a river cruise in Europe. It made me want to look in to going on one of these cruises.

Notes & Quotes

"As we strive to place Him at the center of our lives, revelations unfold to us, His profound peace envelops us, and His infinite Atonement brings about our forgiveness and healing. It is in Him that we discover the strength to overcome, the courage to persevere, and the peace that surpasses all understanding. May we strive each day to draw nearer to Him, the source of all that is good, the beacon of hope in our journey back to the presence of our Heavenly Father."

- Elder Jose L. Alonso

'Jesus Christ At The Center Of Our Lives'

Tom loves to be high up.

Rowan's room

Monday, September 9th, 2024: Cows drink water & trample our grass, work on fence, Horses are out (grr), temple appt for Friday, James gets orange chicken, Tom's antics, Pres. Nelson's 100th birthday celebration

 

Portland, Oregon

42nd operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Aug 1989

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Helaman 13:14-26

Come Follow Me

Sept 9-15: "Glad Tidings of Great Joy"

Helaman 13-16 Introduction & Video

April General Conference

"A Record of What I've Both Seen and Heard" Elder Brent H. Nielson

Walk with Him

"Faithful to the End" Sister Andrea Spannaus

"Foreordained to Serve" Elder Steven Bangerter

Cows came and drank the horses water then went through the backyard fence and trampled our grass. James is pretty discouraged and more determined to finish our fence.

James, Paul, Willy, and Jana's brother work on gate and fence. 

The horses are out. Everyday. ....and the cows keep coming.

I am grateful I am feeling better since my infusion last week.

I made an appointment at the temple for James, Virgil Cooper, and myself on Friday. The temple closes after Saturday's session for two weeks. The Tignor's are going to meet us there and go through our session and then join us for dinner afterwards. We will be going to the 3:30 afternoon session. 

James went to town this afternoon and brought back orange chicken and chow mien noodles for dinner. I stayed home and watched President Nelson's 100th birthday celebration. 

James tries to fill in dirt were the cows made holes in the yard. I went out to water my "mum balls." Tom was with us climbing a tree, then lying on the patio. I was tempted to spray him with the hose but of course I didn't. That would be a mean trick to play on my sweet little friend.

Tom slept on the end of our bed on his red blanket. 

Notes & Quotes

I love to read President Nelson's Instagram posts. One of my favorites was on July 20, 2022. He wrote:

"I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly, the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God....

"... Make no mistake about it: Your potential is divine. With your diligent seeking, God will give you glimpses of who you may become."

Lois & her brothers

Addy is happy about turning 20

Charlie reading one of her new books

Our friends the Tignors:

Barbara & T-Bo (Terry)

Love this!

Where is Tombo

We need to decorate!

Sunday, September 8th, 2024: A beautiful Sabbath day & I feel good! Thank Heavenly Father, Zemira's farewell, Zemira & sister missionaries, Wendy's lesson on "The Testimony of Jesus" lunch, cap, J talks to Bishop H & bishop encourages him to get an online ordination certificate

 

Frankfurt, Germany

41st operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Aug 1987

By: Ezra Taft Benson

Book of Mormon

Helaman 13:1-13

Come Follow Me

Finish "Follow Him" with Shima Baughman

April General Conference

"Rise! He Calleth Thee" Elder Massimo De Feo

A beautiful Sabbath morning and I feel good. Thank you Heavenly Father!

Today was Zemira Wilhelm's farewell. I know they don't call them mission farewells but I don't know what else to call it. Zemira's grandpa Mel played the prelude music on his guitar. I am embarrassed to say that people were quite noisy.

President Beeler was on the stand today in support of Zemira and his wife was in the audience. 

Zemira Wilhelm

Zemira is going to the California, Newport Beach mission and will leave later this month. This is an errand from the Lord. Alma 17:11 - Go forth...establish my word...good example... an instrument in the hands of God. Patient and long-suffering. Nephi is an example. "Nephi's Courage" 'I will go and do the things the Lord commands. The Lord provides a way. He wants me to obey. I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands, I know the Lord provides a way, He wants me to obey.' (said this several times) 

I must have full trust in the Lord as did Nephi and Ammon. I hope I have faith and courage like them. I pray that I can teach and touch hearts and bring souls unto Christ.

Sister Herrera

Has been out on her mission for nine months. I was asked to speak on how the mission has blessed my life. It was a childhood dream and I knew it was the right thing to do. Families can be together forever. 1.) Spiritual growth. I am a child of God and He loves me personally. I put my trust in home. My sister has also grown spiritually at home. 2.) Blessings in the lives of those I serve. While in Payson she was told by someone whose door she and her companion knocked on: "You are an answer to my prayers. I am so grateful you knocked on my door." 4.) Fellow missionaries have blessed me. You learn from them. You companion becomes your mandatory best friend. Favorite missionary scripture: Alma 26:12 - I am nothing, weak without God...

I know He lives and loves every single one of you. Don't be afraid to share you testimony with others.

Sister Hughes

The main reason Sister Hughes decided to serve a mission was she saw the light and joy of her friends who had decided to serve. She wanted to be like them. 

Someone came up to her once and said: "Are you Paige? Yes. "I had a dream someone named Paige, that looks like you, baptized my entire family." Then he ran away. (I can't remember if this was a dream of if this really happened.) Whichever it was it had an impact on her decision to serve a mission. 

Sister Hughes says her family had struggles when she left a month ago. She said that since she has left blessings have come to them. Her brother who struggles with mental health issues has been helped since she left. She also said she wanted to learn more about the gospel and feels her knowledge growing. She is now able to memorize scriptures. She has an eternal friendship with Sister Herrera. She loves sharing the truth with others and giving them hope of eternal life with loved ones. Heavenly Father has a place for everyone. Ether 12:27 is one of her favorite scriptures. ...If men come unto me I will show them their weakness...

Testimony: Missionary work brings blessings to those being taught and to those doing the teaching.

President Beeler

I am grateful for the man that Zemira has become. Make the Holy Ghost your constant companion. Alma 8:10 - Labored much in the Spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer. (He knows Zemira is a wrestler). Faith, hope, charity - ask for and receive Christlike attributes.

This was such a good sacrament meeting!

I sat by Kathy Crane and Catherine Halcomb in Relief Society. Wendy DeWitt's lesson was based on D. Todd Christofferson's conference address: "The Testimony of Jesus." Someone asked if we could repent in the Spirit World. Wendy said she was sure that we could. I remembered a scripture from Alma 34, "Don't procrastinate the day of your repentance." I showed it to Kathy and she said I should share it. I tried but Wendy never called on me. I wish she would have made the distinction that those who are taught the gospel in the Spirit World can repent but those who had the opportunity to do so in mortality will not be given that chance. (See Alma 34:32...)

I'm not sure how I feel about today's lesson. Wendy talked about guardian angels and receiving revelation on the 4th watch of the night between 3am-6am. She even gave us a pen and a small notebook to record our thoughts and feelings in when we wake up early in the morning with revelation.  Those things are all right but I wanted more about how we can strengthen our testimony of Jesus and quotes from Brother Christofferson's talk. I am sorry, I don't mean to be critical. The feelings I have are mine and perhaps others felt differently.  Wendy is a good teacher. 

Catherine talked to me afterwards about getting Ellen Kostuziak ready for the temple. She feels like she is getting closer and even offered to make Ellen a dress. 

James and I had chips, Ben's homemade salsa, and cheese for lunch along with my Taco Bell burrito supreme. I shared it with James. 

I couldn't sleep during nap time so I got up and worked on my lesson and my blog and read from President Nelson's book, "The Heart of the Matter."

James called the bishop and asked him if he got permission to marry Ben and Cayli. He said President Beeler told him absolutely not. He encouraged James to get the online ordination so he could marry them. No one else would be able to talk James in to doing this, but Bishop Hunsaker did. 

Notes & Quotes

"So, the first principle we learn is we keep a clear spiritual vision when we focus on Jesus Christ and stay true to what we know to be true.

"The second principle: we keep a clear spiritual vision when we leave the natural man behind, repent, and begin a new life in Christ.

"And this is the third principle: We keep a clear spiritual vision when we hear the voice of the Lord and allow Him to guide us."

- Elder Massimo De Feo

' Rise! He Calleth Thee'

A flying jump onto the counter.

"Naughty Kitty!"

Watching TV

Bored with the show

Grandpa shows Rowan how to get

meat out of the crab. 

Scarlett

Trenda's baby Emerson. I got to meet

him at sacrament meeting today.

Charlie

Saturday, September 7th, 2024: James works on the fence & Willy welds on the gate, Sheri was in wedding mode today, Wlmrt, HD, FH, TB, Shima on Follow Him, "His & Hers", "Dumped" Tom to go to bed

 

Denver, Colorado

40th operating temple

Dedicated: 24 Oct 1986

By: Ezra Taft Benson

Book of Mormon

Helaman 12

Come Follow Me

Helaman 12

The Lord wants me to remember Him

April General Conference

"Be Still and Know That I Am God" Elder David A. Bednar

D&C 109:80

And let these, thine anointed ones, be clothed with salvation, and thy saints shout aloud for joy. Amen, and Amen.

James worked on the fence this morning, putting up a string of barbed wire, while Willy welded on the gate. Willy refuses to be paid for the work that he does.

Sheri was in "wedding mode" today.  She texted to tell me Xander and Max were being fitted for their suits and they looked so handsome! When I asked her to send me a photo of them she said she didn't want to embarrass them. I guess I have to wait for the wedding. Another text: "Can Cayli's parents stay at our house on the 30th? Yes. "Can you draw them a map from Show Low. Yes. Next?

"Can Dad pick up 70 chairs in Lakeside on the 31st and take them back on the 2nd before we come down for the reception? Yes.

James was a little overwhelmed by the chair assignment. He said he would have to borrow Pierce's trailer to haul them in.

This afternoon we went to Walmart, Home Depot, Firehouse and Taco Bell. We wanted to go to Panda but it was packed and we didn't want to wait in line. We listened to "Follow Him." Shima, Emily's friend who has been on Inklings was their special guest. She is from Iran and is a criminal justice attorney who teaches at BYU. She is great!

James and I watched the newest Hallmark movie starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliot where they both play attorneys. The name of the movie is "His & Hers." I enjoy Lacey and Brennan together but this wasn't their best movie. Tom fell asleep with me on the recliner during the movie. I had to "dump" him when I went to bed. Sorry Tom.

Notes & Quotes

"A strong and reliable connection between the ground and a foundation is essential if a structure is to remain sturdy and stable over time. And for particular types of construction, anchor pins and steel rods can be used to attach the foundation of a building to "bedrock," the hard, solid rock beneath surface materials such as soil and gravel.

"In a similar way, the foundation of our lives must be connected to the rock of Christ if we are to remain firm and steadfast. The sacred covenants and ordinances of the Savior's restored gospel can be compared to the anchor pins and steel rods used to connect a building to bedrock. Every time we faithfully receive, review, remember, and renew sacred covenants, our spiritual anchors are secured ever more firmly and steadfastly to the "rock" of Jesus Christ."

- Elder David A. Bednar

'Be Still and Know that I Am God'

Sheri's ice cream cake, 2021 Birthday

Lovie

Dennis's weeping willow tree

Charlie's Birthday Party