Sunday, October 20th, 2024: Trimmed James's hair & it looks great, beautiful, clear morning, sit by Pam & Chuck @ church, Dallin Waylin & Brother Knight, SS, Catherine, Ellsworth's, Emily of New Moon

 

Tampico, Mexico

83rd operating temple

Dedicated: 20 May 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 27

Come Follow Me

Sunday School

October General Conference

'Seeking Answers to Spiritual Questions'

Sister Tracy Y. Browning

"Our sincere gospel questions can provide Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with opportunities to help us grow."

I trimmed James's hair this morning. It looks great!

It is a beautiful, clear morning. On the way up the aisle to our second row spot Pam Wood, on the back row, invited us to sit with her and her husband, Chuck. Pam is so sweet and friendly. 

After the first speaker finished speaking, a young returned missionary, Dallin Wahlin, finished speaking Pam said to me: "That was awesome. I could have listened to him all day." I agreed. Amazing young man. Here are some notes from his talk:

Dallin Wahlin: Served his mission in central Mexico. President Nelson's message of preparing for the 2nd Coming was concerning. Make discipleship our highest priority. Covenants = strengthening power. Higher & holier. Temple worthiness. Alma 34:15-17. Follow Jesus Christ. See people as they really are. Put Jesus Christ first. There is opposition to disciples of Christ. Remove distractions and negative examples. Mosiah 2:41 - "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." Focus is more important than circumstances. The Lord will magnify our efforts. The Lord loves effort. 3 Nephi 13:32-33.

Mark 12:30-31. Love god and neighbor. Desires are so important. Repent, Think Celestial, focus on the positive. Attend the temple. I testify . . . 

Brother Chris Knight

Make discipleship our highest priority. Find Jesus Christ in the temple. More covenant consciousness. Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. Spend some time each day walking with the Savior. My grandkids are reading better as a result of reading the scriptures. We need to put the Savior first in our lives. D&C 138 - What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken ...

We need to increase our understanding of the Lord's Atonement as President Nelson asked us to. His grace is everything. Song, "Give Me Jesus" (on the internet.) "In the morning when I rise, 'Give Me Jesus.' Brother Knight has such a sweet testimony, I really felt the Spirit. 

On to Sunday School. James sat by Owen Peeler in the front row and I sat next to Catherine Halcomb. One of the things we talked about in class today was the children in 3 Nephi teaching the parents and saying things which couldn't be written. I told about Charlie and her special love for Jesus. How she posted a video about conference and that her favorite conference talk was Elder Christofferson's, "Burying Our Weapons of Rebellion."

Brother Applegate gave everyone a copy from a talk President Kimball gave at the Southwest Indian mission in Holbrook in 1967. President Kimball, then Elder Kimball, prophesied about the Lamanites and their destiny regarding building the temple in Independence, Missouri and the gathering of the tribe of Joseph.

The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is the sign that the gathering of Israel has begun. 

Catherine wants me to come and visit her. I told her that I would as soon as this wedding on November 1st was over. She said, "I promise I won't die before then."

On the way home James and I listened to a talk Tad R. Callister gave in General Conference in 2019 when he was the General Sunday School President. It was a talk on the Atonement. President Nelson has asked us to study the Atonement weekly and this was our study for this week.

We had chili for lunch and then took naps. After our naps James ask me to go with him to Brother Ellsworth's to deliver the gun he bought at the auction for the Johnson family. We had quite a time finding where he lives. LDS Tools and Google Maps led us astray. We were lost until I used MapQuest. 

They live on a hill with a nice view. Brother Ellsworth was outside so James just spoke to him there. There were two cute dogs peeking out of the window of their home. Two little white fluffy dogs that were so cute. There were also two not so cute dogs outside with Brother Ellsworth. His and Hers dogs I guess.

Back at home I went in to work on my blog while James spent the evening contacting all of the family history consultants in our ward. 

Barbara Klug is having cancer treatments, Maxine Thompson cannot see to help people with family history. She can only advise. Bridget is trying to help Tom Peralta who does not have a computer. She ran off some family group  sheets and pedigree charts for him to fill out and asked James if he could take them to him. That will be our Sunday afternoon drive next week. 

We came home and watched an episode of Emily of New Moon. This one was called Lofty John. James didn't like it and neither did I. I don't think this show is something we won't to watch, especially on Sunday evenings. 

Flooding in Roswell, New Mexico because of rain and a broken dam. Makenzi and Tyler Forrester and there two kids are okay. Makenzi is our bishop's daughter and she lives in Roswell.

More photos of the struggling campers

They went on a hike and it hailed on them.

Tired Tom

Happy Sabbath Charlie

Salvador, Brazil Temple Dedication

By: Neil L. Andersen

Temple dedicated by Elder Neil L. Andersen

on Sunday, October 20, 2024

Saturday, October 19, 2024: Genius Wave Express, meet Addy's friends, my new bottom teeth were a challenge to get in, more rain & snow, chili making, chili cookoff

 

Cochabamba, Bolivia

82nd operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Apr 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 26

Come Follow Me

3 Nephi 25:5-6

The Lord sent Elijah to turn my heart to my ancestors.

October General Conference

'I Am He'

President Jeffrey R. Holland

"Christ's charity - evident ion complete loyalty to divine will - persisted and continues to persist."

My Genius Wave Express goes something like this:

Unlock the powers of your incredible mind.

Relax

You are enhancing the powers of your mind by giving it what it needs

Relax a little more, more deeply

Enjoy the peace this recording brings you

The powerful inner peace is helping you learn deep within

Your inner mind will bubble up great insights as they are needed

This is just a very minimal part of the recording along with sound waves. Sounds a little hokey doesn't it. I don't know if it's doing me any good but I actually enjoy listening to it, so I have made it a part of my morning routine.

We met Addy's friends this morning. There is Kayla, Addy's cousin, whom we already know, Belle, and Brandon. I guess Brandon was the protector, driver of Starla (Trina's car), and tent builder. I think he made the girls feel safe. He seemed like a really nice guy. Here is a picture of the four of them.

Brandon, Addy, Belle, and Kayla

They were eating bagels and fruit for breakfast when I left to go to Pierce's to get my teeth done. When I returned, about two hours later, they were getting ready to leave so I really didn't get to visit very much. I am glad they came though.

This was the hardest appointment so far. Those bottom teeth were difficult to get in and there was lots of grinding. Pierce said the teeth are made from zirconium and it is a very hard substance, second only to diamonds. I was so glad when it was over and I am so happy with the results!

 After they left it started to rain and snow. I texted them to please drive carefully and to let me know when they get home. Addy texted back and said, "which way is safer to go?" This is what I said: "I say Payson, Grampa says Globe, even though rocks fall out of the sky that way." Addy: "Ok then."

They ended up going the Globe way and made it home safely.

My project this afternoon was to make chili for tonight's chili cookoff. I am using my favorite recipe, Wendy's restaurant chili.

It is yummy and colorful and the texture is great. The dicing of the vegetables is the longest most tedious part of the chili making process. I diced a large onion, a yellow bell pepper, and three stalks of celery. I browned the ground beef, added the veggies to the ground beef and all of the other ingredients. I made it in my cast iron saucepan and then put it in the crockpot to keep it warm. 

I went in to take a nap and when I was finished I came back in to try some chili with the cornbread I bought at Walmart. Yummy and Delicous!

The dinner starts at five so we left a few minutes before with the sun glaring in our eyes most of the way. Oh my. This ward does love their chili cookoff. There was lots and lots of chili. 

James said we were supposed to sit by someone we didn't know. This is a ward missionary activity and everyone in the community is invited. Collin DeWitt is the ward mission leader and a good friend of James's. 

Catherine Halcomb was one of the first people I saw. She grabbed me and said she wanted to sit with me. Of course, I am her ministering sister and she is a dear friend. Catherine and I sat there for awhile at our table. James went walking around visiting. James went to get my dinner also. While he was gone Tamara came in and sat down on the other side of me. She just drove a van full of guys from Beacon Addiction Recovery center. I told her I would have liked to get a picture of that!

Collin asked everyone at each table to find out something about someone at their table that they didn't know before tonight and tell what they learned. He only asked one person at each table or we would have been there all night. He asked our table twice and we said we had nothing. I felt bad afterwards. Even though I knew both of the sisters at my table, I could have shared something about one of them. For instance, I could have shared that Catherine Halcomb, who is 90 years old, used to train Alaskan Huskies for dog sled races in northern California. I bet most people don't know that about her. She is a pretty interesting little lady.

It was fun to hear what the people at the other tables had to say. One of the guys from Beacon Recovery Center told something about everyone from the center. There were at least ten of them. I learned that Brother Lauritzen, who is a family and marriage counselor, was a helicopter pilot and a software engineer. Quite a well-rounded guy. 

We had several sets of missionaries at the dinner and Collin asked them to be the judges for the chili. There were several prizes offered. Everyone who one a prize got a wooden spoon to take home. I won for best texture. 

I wish it said Best Texture on it.

It was a long day and I was glad to crawl into bed tonight.

The fiasco of a camping trip

Nellie Wilhelm is an aunt for the 3rd time

My fake crocs that James now claims.

He looks so cute going out to feed the

horses in them.

If you ever have to go camping you

need to take someone like Naomi with you.

She saved us at girls camp the year it rained, and rained, and rained.

I know how to dig trenches to keep water our of tents because of her.

 James built Naomi and her husband Bill's home in Chandler.

 

 

Friday, October 18th, 2024: Wind, rain, snow, landscaping continues, vacuumed & dusted, cleaned wd floors, ministering sisters: Susan & Stefani, James's potato patties, Armando here, trip to town, home in a blizzard, Addy & friends

 

Reno, Nevada

81st operating temple

Dedicated: 23 Apr 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 25

Come Follow Me

3 Nephi 24:7-12

Paying tithing opens the windows of heaven

David A. Bednar "The Windows of Heaven" OGC 2013

Video: "The Widow's Mite"

October General Conference

'In the Space of Not Many Years'

Elder David A. Bednar

" If we are not faithful and obedient, we can transform the God-given blessing of prosperity into a prideful curve that diverts and distracts us."

Wind and rain today and even some snow. The project out in the front yard continues today until it starts raining this afternoon. 

I cleaned the entry, family, living are, dusting and vacuuming, etc. I also cleaned the wood floors and cleaned the two door windows in these rooms. I am ready for my ministering sisters to come and visit me. I planned on going grocery shopping after they leave so I worked on my grocery list while I was waiting for them. I am making chili for tomorrow's ward chili cookoff. I am also going to make some chicken stirfry. 

Before my ministering sisters got here James made some potato patties with corn, onion, and egg.  It made the house smell delicious when Stefani and Susan got here. 

This is the first time Susan Goodman has been to our home and she commented on how beautiful it is which always makes James feel good. 

Both Susan and Stefani have new grandbabies. Stefani's is a girl named Saylor and Susan's is a boy named Kimball. Susan is on her way to Japan on Monday to see her new grandbaby. Her son and his family live in Okinawa. Kimball was born with a cleft lip and palate and will have to have surgeries when he gets a little older.

Before Stefani and Susan left Armando showed up and he and James had a little pow wow over by the fireplace. He is here hunting and staying at Owen Taylor's. James and Armando talked about Hatch's job and the turf that Armando is bringing up for our grass patch.

When we left for Walmart, it was raining here in Vernon, all of the way in to town and at Walmart. James dropped me off as close to the door as he could get. He went and parked the car and then went in to help me shop. I sent him to get cough drops and hand soap. He came back with two kinds of cough drops, the kind I like and the kind he lies, mine are lemon and his are menthol, and exfoliant bodywash instead of hand soap. I told him his mistake and he said he didn't care, it would work. It's going to be his private stash.

We stopped at Wendy's to get a pineapple mango Frosty. I have been dying to try one since they started advertising them. It was meh and I didn't even want to finish it. Such a disappointment.

Monster tacos at Jack-in-the-Box were meh too. I also got a kids meal cheeseburger and it was decent and James got a Junior Jumbo Jack. Funny name. As we were leaving Show Low the rain had stopped.

Just before the Y we got in to some snow and pretty soon it was a blizzard. Almost a total whiteout all of the way home. 

I got a text from Addy after getting home. She and some friends are camping at Fools Hollow and their tent leaked and two of their sleeping bags are soaked. Can they come and spend the night? Of course. James and I went upstairs to do a clean. I cleaned everything but the hall bathroom and when I went up after they left I was so embarrassed at how disgusting it was. I have got to check out the upstairs after company leaves to make sure it passes inspection. 

Addy says it was okay because they didn't even go in there. I hope not. I'm a little miffed because James put toilet paper in there and didn't notice how dirty the toilet was. Gross.

We were in bed when Addy and friends arrived so I guess we will have to meet them in the morning. 

I got a call from Pierce this evening. He says my teeth are back from the lab if I want to come in in the morning. This is so exciting because we thought they would come in after he and Susan left for Okinawa. I'm going in at 9 a.m.

 

Our friend from Chandler, Naomi Ellsworth, passed away today. James built a home for her and her husband Bill. It was one of the first homes he built in Chandler.

Scarlett's birthday present

I cut off the caption. Charlie 

sets things up like this around the house.

First snowstorm of the season

Mason

James's handsoap