Monday, October 28th, 2024: Valley by myself so James can "catchup", Orencia infusion & Prednisone refill, Costco, lip beginning to swell, nice to have Kim here,

 

Suva, Fiji

91st operating temple

Dedicated: 18 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mormon 2: 1-15

Come Follow Me

Oct 28-Nov 3: Mormon 1-6 "I Would That I Could Persuade All ... to Repent. Introduction

October General Conference

'Behold, I Am the Light Which Ye Shall Hold Up'

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

" We hold up the Lord's light when we hold fast to our covenants and when we support our living prophet."

I left for the valley at 6:37 this morning, by myself. I am on my way to my first Orencia infusion and Prednisone refill. James said is would help him so much if he could stay home and do some "catchup." He has an audit and he needs to get that out of the way so he can complete the landscaping before the wedding on Friday.

After my infusion I did some shopping at Costco. First I filled up with gas @ $2.99 a gallon. I got a hotdog and drink at Costco for lunch for $1.50. I ate about half the hotdog. Here are the things I bought at Costco:

A $20 bag of Halloween candy almost too heavy to lift. A dark blue blanket, Pom and acai juice, walnuts, pecans, green dish towels with Christmas trees on them. Swiffer duster refills, vanilla and four fire starter sticks. 

From Costco I head north on Country Club towards Payson. I notice as I am driving that my lip is beginning to swell on the upper right side. It started out small, but kept growing. When I got home my upper lip was completely swollen. 

I stopped in Payson at the Culver's for a nap. While I was resting outside in my car, James called. He was checking on me. I told him where I was and about the swelling in my face. At this point I was quite sure that the swelling was caused by my infusion medication.

At home Kim was sad to see my swollen face and so was James. I visited a few minutes and then went to bed, swollen face and all, in my own bed. I had a Prednisone prescription that James had filled and I took the first pill before going to sleep.

Sweet Scarlett

I am so thankful to Autumn for sending me these photos

and giving me an update on what Scarlett is doing!

Mason

Sunday, October 27th, 2024: Up @ 2:30, leave for church @ 8:37, Primary Program, MIller's take row 2, Sister Gassaway ill, my lesson, visit Halcomb's, Peralts's, Family History, Blog

 

Melbourne, Australia

90th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mormon 1

Come Follow Me

Review

October General Conference

'The Words of Christ and the Holy Ghost Will Lead Us to the Truth'

Elder Takashi Wada

"Knowing this incredible plan will help us know we are children of God and can become like Him."

I got up at 2:30 and finished up my lesson, including handouts. 

We left for the church at little late, 8:37 which gave me less time to set up the Relief Society room. I still finished before sacrament meeting. 

The Miller's sat in our spot in row two. I guess it's first come, first serve. Never take anything for granted.

Today is our Primary Program and while we are watching our program we are missing sweet little Charlie's. Sister Gassaway, the Primary president, has been diagnosed with cancer. Today in Relief Society we were asked to fast for her next Sunday. We will be happy to do so. Aubrey Harris, Pierce's daughter, was the Primary person up in front helping the children and leading the children.

We loved the Primary program and all of the new songs the children sang. 

The Primary program went over quite a bit and then they did a counsel session in Relief Society. I had less than 30 minutes for my lesson. I focused on five points from President Nelson's talk, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again." Here are the five points:

1.) Hasten the work 2.) New Jerusalem 3.) Atonement of Jesus Christ 4.) Devout Disciples. I ran out of time and I had to skip several scriptures I wanted to read.

When I was finished I sat down by Barbara Tignor. She said to me: 

"I wish the brothers could hear your lessons." She is so sweet.

Afterwards I spoke to Tamara Applegate and Natalie Robles. Natalie said she really enjoyed my lesson and Tamara and I had a good conversation. I also spoke to Kerri about her mom who was not here today. She was tired from the trip they took to the valley yesterday and decided to stay home.

We have chicken, cabbage, and rice for lunch. I loved it. James says it was okay. And he says he's not picky.

We visited Catherine and Kerri this afternoon. I took Catherine some of my favorite body wash. We had a nice visit. They had a quilting frame set up in their living room. Catherine is going to tie a quilt for Lynda Finnell. Kerri had a new Brick em' set, the Gilbert temple. This is one of Kerri's hobbies.

After saying our goodbyes James and I left to go on to Tom Peralta's. We can't remember the way so Tom's granddaughter Chloe and her best friend Ruthie Wilhelm drive down to meet us and lead us to Tom's. 

The purpose of our visit is to bring Tom a family group sheet and a pedigree chart. He doesn't have a computer and Sister Jordan is trying to help him get his family history recorded. 

The first thing Tom did when we got there was to take us in to say hello to his handicapped son who is always so sweet and friendly. He has a tube in his throat and Tom says he has been having difficulty when he eats and is aspirating his food. Tom says they can fix the aspirating but it will result in his son losing his voice. Tom went on to say, "we don't want that to happen because he has such a sweet voice. 

Chloe says she has the family history app on her phone. I asked her if she has been able to be baptized for any of her relatives and she said no. Hopefully Sister Jordan will be able to help her.

As we were leaving Tom offered to give us something to eat or drink. He said he wished he had some elk meat to offer and then he started teasing Ruthie about never bringing him any meat. Ruthie's family are avid hunters and I'm sure they have a freezer full of food. Ruthie said he never asked and he said, "well, I'm asking now." Tom is quite a character. I really like him.

Home again so I can work on my blog before going to bed.

The most perfect rainbow I have ever seen.

These pictures don't do them justice.

Tom loves to lay by the heater on a cold day.

Happy Sabbath!

Saturday, October 26th, 2024: Miserable, achy all over, eat, Tramadol, back to bed, postpone Janna until Tuesday, Mallory Towers, J, Armando, two of his boys, & Paul install turf, J fixes them lunch, work on my lesson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again"

 

Adelaide, Australia

89th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

4 Nephi 1:24-49

Come Follow Me

"Sustainable Societies" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, October 2020 General Conference

October General Conference

'Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow'

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The branches of your testimony will draw strength from your deepening faith in Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son."

 

I felt miserable this morning. I am achy all over. I got up, ate something, took some Tramadol and laid down on the recliner to rest until I felt better.

Janna Grombach is supposed to come over today to help me clean upstairs. At 9:20 I called her and told her that I wasn't feeling well and could she come on Tuesday instead. Of course. She said Stefani was coming too.

I continue to rest and while I am resting I watch "Malory Towers" on my phone. This is a series on BYUTV about girls in England at a boarding school. It's a cute show.

James asked me if I was going to get up because Janna was coming. I told him that I postponed until Tuesday because I wasn't feeling well. 

Armando is here with two of his boys. He brought up the turf for the "grass patch." Paul Peeler is here too, to help. James fixed them lunch. He said he came in to ask for my help but I was asleep. He made sandwiches and heated up the last bit of chili. Paul loved the chili. 

After feeling a little better, I got up this afternoon and began working on my lesson which I am giving tomorrow. The lesson is based on President Nelson's conference address, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again." I worked until 9:30 and then I went to bed with the plan I would get up at 2:30 and finish my preparations. 

Joshua, Evan, and Max

Charlie's 4th Birthday

Friday, October 25th, 2024: Morning aches & pains, Resten Tesarek washes our windows, Janna & Stefani coming tomorrow to clean, ordered Church News

 

Fukuoka, Japan

88th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

4 Nephi 1:1-23

Come Follow Me

4 Nephi 1:1-18

Following the teachings of Jesus Christ leads to unity and happiness.

October General Conference

'Simple Is The Doctrine of Jesus Christ'

President Henry B. Eyring

"I bear witness of the sacred work of teaching Heavenly Father's children the simple doctrine of Jesus Christ."

 James and I both struggle with aches and pains in the morning. One thing we try to do everyday together is to have our prayers, scripture story, and Come Follow Me. I look forward to our time together studying the gospel!

After our gospel study James went into the other room to make some phone calls and then he went outside to work on the "grass patch."

 

At 10 a.m. Michelle Tesarek and her son Resten rang our doorbell. Resten is here to wash our windows. He is fourteen years old but is over six feet tall. He started this window washing business to earn money for his mission. 

As we were standing on the front porch Michelle noticed bird poop on the porch and on the stones up near the upstairs window. She suggested that Resten come back with his power sprayer to clean the stone front facing and the porch. We arranged for him to do that next Friday morning, the day of the wedding.

I took Resten upstairs and showed him all of the windows. He started in my office. There were a few dead wasps and a little dust. He was going to wash the screens but I'm not sure he ended up doing that. He seemed to get in a hurry towards the end. He was here for about three hours and asked for $75 for the windows and $20 for the power wash next week. He's not cheap. Resten borrowed a screw driver to take one of the screens off and took it home by accident. I told Michelle and they will bring it to church on Sunday.

Janna called and asked when she would come over and help me clean upstairs. We scheduled tomorrow at 10, which I ended up cancelling because I wasn't feeling well. She and Stefani are both going to come on Tuesday, the 29th.

Kim, Brian, Stacy, Paul's & Joshua's

wards Halloween Party

Brian was in charge and Kim did the decorating.

They had smoked pulled pork nachos, rice (by Paul).

and beans for dinner.

Kim said Joshua came up to her and told her

how awesome the party was!

 

 

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