Thursday, October 24th, 2024: Up @ 4, shower, brkfst, GC, scrps & Inklings w/ Emily & Elaine Dalton, Elder Bednar's talk, Bunco sub - Sally Sedig, work to get ready for wedding,

San Jose, Costa Rica

87th operating temple

Dedicated: 4 June 2000

By: James E. Faust

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 30

Come Follow Me

3 Nephi 28:1-11

"What is it that ye desire?"

October General Conference

'O Youth of the Noble Birthright'

Bradley R. Wilcox

"God trusts you, the children of the covenant, to help with His work of bringing all His children safely home to Him."

Up at 4 a.m. I showered, had breakfast, read my scriptures and conference talk and then listened to Inklings with Emily and Elaine Dalton discussing Elder Bednar's talk. It was so good!

I have Bunco tonight but I have decided not to go. I called Linda Price who was on a trip to Canada with her kids. I called Michelle Beckham and she was subbing for someone else. I finally called Cheryl Sedig to see if she had any suggestions and she suggested her mother-in-law Sally. I immediately called Sally and she agreed that she would like to play Bunco tonight. I told her I would send a gift for the gift exchange with the Hunsaker's. James dropped it off for me. A pink blanket.

I also recruited Janna Grombach, Stefani Hunsaker, and Alicia Hunsaker to help with our  family dinner on Friday evening. Alicia had already asked to help and Janna and Stefani asked if they could help me clean the upstairs bedrooms. I asked if they would do the dinner instead and they both said they would do both. They are saints.

James and Paul are outside getting ready for turf which Armando is bringing up on Saturday. 

I showed James where I wanted the cinders to be in the back. We finally came to an agreement. He ordered them and they will be delivered next Wednesday.

I went upstairs to begin getting rid of toys and old VHS tapes. I filled a storage container with all of the VHS tapes with a few left over which I put in the Goodwill box. 

I ordered several bottles of my favorite body wash to give away some and some to keep for myself. The brand is Softsoap and the fragrance is honeysuckle and orange burst. 

I had to smooth Stacy's feathers regarding something Sheri said. Stacy kept offering to bring food for the family dinner but Sheri had already ordered all of the food. Sheri was feeling a little threatened that Stacy, or mainly Paul, wasn't going to like the food she had ordered. She made this comment:

"I just hope people will be able to enjoy a free meal without being critical of the food."

Sheri was referring to Paul because she knows he is picky when it comes to food, especially Mexican food. Stacy got offended and texted me saying she wasn't coming to the wedding. I tried calming her and told her to not do something she would regret. She said Paul was really hurt. I said I was sorry Paul was hurt but I know that he forgives people easily and that was something I admired about him. 

Sheri apologized and I think things will blow over. I guess family drama around a wedding is pretty typical.

Charlie's Primary Program is this Sunday and we will miss it because it's end the middle of our sacrament meeting. I still remember her program from last year and I am so sorry I won't get to see it this year.

James had an elder's quorum presidency meeting this evening. James apologized to Collin about the chili cookoff and Collin acted like it was no big deal. James also found out that he is the MacArthur's ministering brother. That is great because I am Chelsea's ministering sister.

I blogged before bed while James walked. Tom slept with me on the recliner.

That's Darrel giving Ruby a "thumbs up"

Why does my cat like lying on tables?

Outside frig ready for Kim

 

 

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024: DJ's eviction notice, our big shopping trip to Walmart, Goodwill drop, J's new suit @ JCP, Taco Bell disappoints, gas, carwash, Culver's, BM forgiveness

 

Montreal, Quebec

86th operating temple

Dedicated: 4 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 29

Come Follow Me

3 Nephi 27:10-23

The Church of Jesus Christ is built on HIs gospel.

Record what I am learning (3 Nephi 27:23-26

October General Conference

'Days Never To Be Forgotten'

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"Upcoming moments will provide members of the Church everywhere with increased opportunities to share the glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

I am listening to an audio book by Brother Michael S. Wilcox called "The Fourth Watch" and I am really enjoying it.

I guess James has not yet formerly filed the lien against Daryl Johnson and Bama Barbershop. He filed a preliminary one. Today he filed the real deal. It took him most of the morning. It's a sad day when one has to do this but it feels like this is the only chance we have of getting paid for this job.

 James and I went together to town around noon. James is going to help me shop because I am buying 8 or 9 large storage bins, items which takes up lots of space in a shopping cart. We are going to need two carts. 

Before getting to Walmart we left several boxes of donated items at Goodwill. This is a result of me cleaning out the entryway closet. 

After we left Goodwill I mentioned to James that we should go across the street to J.C. Penney's and look for a suit for him. To my surprise he readily agreed and made a quick turn into the shopping center where Penney's is located. 

We walked back to where the men's suits were hanging. They were having a sale. Most of the suits are all on sale.  The first jacket he picked up and tried on fit perfectly. We found the right sized pants which I will need to hem. Perfect, we are going to get it. The suit was $199.00 with tax, $216.00, $100 off the regular price. The cashier said if I reactivated my Penney's credit card I would save another $70, so I did. This took 5-10 minutes and was so worth it. The total cost of the suit now was $140.95, less than half price. 

We were hungry so we went through Taco Bell.  I got a burrito supreme and James got a Mexican pizza. Well, the Mexican pizza was stale and almost inedible. I ate part of my burrito supreme but it became so messy that I couldn't finish. You were a disappointment today Taco Bell.

 James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to Home Depot and then across the way to Circle K for gas and a carwash. 

When James came back to Walmart to help me shop I gave him a list of about 20 items to get. He was a little overwhelmed to say the least.  He freaked out a little because he's never had a list that long. I told him to grab a basket and get going, one item at a time. 

In the meantime i was loading my cart with large storage containers, seat pads for the high table, 3 shower curtains, several hand soaps, shampoos and conditioners and various other items.

We met up front at the self-checkouts. James made one mistake but it was actually my fault. He got whipped cream instead of whipping cream. James checked and I bagged. The total: $539.17, prescription $14.50, Circle K - $39.42 & $11.86, Taco Bell - $13.00. One the way home James was still hungry so we went through Culver's for his fish sandwich. I got a peach ice cream waffle cone. Cost - $13.16. Whew! We spent a lot of money today. 

James did some office work when I got home while I rested. Maybe it's because I got up at 3 a.m. 

Notes & Quotes

"Everybody who asks for forgiveness in the Book of Mormon gets it and they get it immediately." 

The Fourth Watch

S. Michael Wilcox

Alan & Ilona on Disney Night

This reminds me of our house in

Chandler where we have the tree in the

pit by the fireplace and we would fill the 

pit with presents!

 Kim & Brian's pumpkin carving party!

Xander and Joe

Joshua, Paul, Rowan,

Addy, Ruby

Adam

Ben & Cayli

Addy

Ruby

Evan & Mia

Rowan

Xander

Joshua

I presume a fun times was had by all.

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024: Another sunny day, lien filing agnst DJ, lost some umph today, DWTS Disney night, upper arm hurts, recliner & heating pad

 

Villahermosa, Mexico

85th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 May 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 28:24-40

Come Follow Me

3 Nephi 27:1-12

The Church of Jesus Christ is called in His name.

Video: "Jesus Christ Declares the Name of His Church and His Doctrine"

Russell M. Nelson, "The Correct Name of the Church," October 2018 General Conference

October General Conference

'Seek Him with All Your Heart'

Bishop L. Todd Budge

"If Jesus Christ sought quiet time to commune with God and to be strengthened by Him, it would be wise for us to do the same."

Another beautiful sunshiny day. 

James is filing a lien against Daryl Johnson and Daryl's landlord is getting ready to evict him. James tried to talk to Daryl but all he did was curse and swear and say this was all James's fault. 

I lost some of my umph today. I was going to go to town to do my shopping but I just didn't feel up to it. 

I did sweep the garage and make a place for the upstairs toys which I am going to put in storage containers. 

James made planter boxes in the grass patch for our mini Christmas trees. He can't plant the trees until the turf is put in which won't happen until this Saturday.

James tried on the suit he wore to Kim and Brian's wedding way back when almost 30 years ago. He was forty pounds heavier then and when he put it on it looked like a little boy wearing his dad's suit. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little, but it needed to be taken in more than I could do. I happened to talk to Stacy today and she told me about someone she uses in Chandler that takes her clothes in. (She has lost 100 pounds since she started her intermittent fasting diet.)

 Stacy also told me that Joshua's cross country and track career are over because he fractured his foot. His feet are very flat and once his foot heals he is going to have to have special inserts for his shoes. Right now he is using a foot scooter to get around school. So sad to happen his senior year. I guess he is pretty depressed.

Sheri texted me today to see how I am feeling. I told her I was feeling good because I was on Prednisone. I said I had an infusion next Monday and I am getting on a different medicine if the insurance approves it. I told her the weather was sunny and 65 degrees. She said she was worried about me and dad doing too much. Ben, Cayli, her mom and sister are coming up on Tuesday so they can clean or do whatever. She says to put them to work! I thought they were coming up to do decorations, etc. for the wedding. We shall see. Sheri is worried that some people will have to stand because we don't have enough chairs. I told her I would borrow the 14 chairs Ruth Gale has in Snowflake. With the 60 we are getting from the Hunsaker's, that should be enough. 

I also told Sheri that I have three sisters from our ward lined up to help serve the dinner Friday night. She was very happy!

Tonight was Disney night on "DWTS." I haven't even seen some of these newer Disney movies. I didn't enjoy it as much as I normally do. 

My upper right arm is beginning to ache so I sleep on the recliner with the heating pad on my arm.

Jared's online post

I love this girl and this picture too!

Bob & Darlene Noel

He was my priesthood advisor when I was

Primary President. They were in Chandler 2nd ward with us

and he was the baseball coach at Chandler High School until he got

a job in Provo, I believe at BYU, and they moved to Utah. Darlene worked at the MTC when Jared left on his mission.

Themes from October General Conference

Our grass patch project

Friends of ours from Chandler

Soleil Hoose

Trina's friend

Monday, October 21st, 2024: Tom sunbathes on the picnic table, finished "Ruby & the Well", beautiful, sunny day 65 degrees, J's trip to town. I am feeling good, wash upstrs sheets, cleaned hall bathroom, Chelsea's text, Kim's text, mailed in our voting ballots

 

Nashville, Tennessee

84th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 May 2000

By: James E. Faust

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 28:1-23

Come Follow Me

3 Nephi 27- 4 Nephi

Oct. 21-27: "There Could Not Be a Happier People" 

Introduction

October General Conference

Mortality Works

Elder Brook P. Hales

"Despite the challenges we all face, our loving Heavenly Father has designed the plan of happiness such that we are not destined to fail."

Up at 5:15. This morning as I was walking through the family room I saw Tom sunbathing on the picnic table outside. I thought I got a picture but I cannot find it. If I do find it, I will post it later.

I finished all four seasons of the BYUTV series, "Ruby and the Well." Good show for young people.

Today was a beautiful, sunny 65 degree day. James made a trip in to town to get materials and trees for our grass patch project. He came back with four of the cutest mini cone-shaped trees. Two for the grass patch and two for the backyard.

I am still feeling great with lots of energy because of the Prednisone that I have been on. I washed all of the sheets upstairs that had been slept on. I cleaned the hall bathroom upstairs and was so embarrassed about how disgusting the toilet was. I apologized to Addy and she said: "Don't worry grandma, we didn't even go in there. I hope not!

I texted Chelsea MacArthur today and asked how she was doing. Here is what she said:

Hi Karen, sorry I'm so late to text you back, I didn't have my phone much today.

My blood work has just been off and I have a few symptoms still but I'm learning how to handle it so I think it will just take time. They originally thought it was MS but from my tests it's not that, so that's good. I'm just taking it a day at a time, but I'm fine.

How are you guys? Is there anything we can do for you?

Me: Chelsea, I am so glad you don't have MS. What a relief! What can we do to help you? Do you know about the Vernon Halloween party this Saturday? Michelle Teserak is in charge and does an awesome job!

Chelsea: Thank you. We're good right now and the kids have been sick so we have just been laying low. 

Yes, we will be at the trunk or treat. Is there a party with it too? Glad she's in charger. She is good at that.

I sent her a Halloween flyer about the party.

I texted Michelle Teserak and arranged for her son Resten to wash all of the windows at our house this Friday morning. Somehow October got away from us. It's a good thing I texted because Michelle was planning on the next weekend which would have been the day of the wedding.

I also got a text from Kim today. Brian is bringing her up this coming Sunday. She is coming early because she is making the cake, 90 cupcakes, brownies and cookies for the family dinner and the reception in Chandler on the 2nd. She wanted to make sure the refrigerator in the garage would be cleaned out because she said she would need to put the cake and the cupcakes in it. I told her it would be.

I made a shopping list and a long to do list today. I need to do something everyday to get ready for company. 

I made stirfry with left over pork chop meat sliced thinly for dinner. It was very good. 

I hope the weather the day of the wedding is like the weather was today. 

I read from President Nelson's book The Heart of the Matter. I am on chapter 5, "Reject the Plague of Contention." President Nelsons says that one of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is by how compassionately that person treats others. 

Also started listening to the book, "Across the Star-Kissed Sea."

We voted and mailed in our ballots today.

Wouldn't work here, too much wind

and rain

Rowan and his catfish

Love this arrangement

Rowan pumpkin carving with friends

Do you see Rowan?

I found the picture of Tom sunbathing on the table

Temple dedication I forgot to 

post yesterday

Sam from "Ruby and the Well"

He's swell

Tom and his toy bird

My Trenda and her sweet family