Saturday, December 14th, 2024: Brkfst for the guys, Everyone goes to work, 3 dozen rolls, 3 loaves of pumpkin bread, James's CT scan, shrimp linguine, sausage and noodles with marinara,

 

Manaus, Brazil

138th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 June 2012

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Moroni 9:11-26

Come Follow Me

Moroni 9:25-26

I can have hope in Christ regardless of my circumstances.

Russell M. Nelson: "Joy and Spiritual Survival" Oct 2016 GC

October General Conference

'Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life'

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

"Growing evidence highlights this striking fact: religious believers are on average happier, healthier, and more fulfilled than those without spiritual commitment or connection. Happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, even financial and material stability - on each measure, religious practitioners flourish."

I made breakfast for the guys this morning, a dozen eggs, and a pound of bacon and toast. James said the blessing on the food and offered a family prayer.

After breakfast, everyone went to work. Paul, Max, Joshua went out to chop and split wood. James, Joe, and Michael went to work on the fence. James sent Rowan into town to get some more cement. I kept wondering where he was. 

I made rolls today, two dozen for the ward party tonight and another dozen for home. Michael, Joe, and Max love them. I also made three loaves of pumpkin bread which everyone loved! Paul gave Max and Joshua a lunch break but James, Joe, and Michael seemed to work right through lunch. Max comes in and plays his guitar and sings Avett Brothers songs. 

James and I left for town at 2:36. We dropped the two dozen Christmas party rolls off at the Crane's for them to take to the ward party and went on to Summit Hospital in Show Low for James's CT scan. The hospital was so very quiet the Saturday afternoon. Everyone is so nice to us. James and I were both invited to look at his scan. They made two disks and we took them with us to take to his appointment on the 19th with Dr. Wilson at Barrow Brain & Spine.

Paul and some of the boys chopped up the branches that fell from the tree in the backyard. James wanted them to cut down the tree but they misunderstood. 

I helped Michael make shrimp linguine for James and I. He put a little too much pepper flakes for James's taste. I love it. Michael also made marinara sauce with sausage over noodles and bread for the other guys. 

James and I went in to the bedroom after our dinner. He walked and I watched a movie. The guys stay up late playing some kind of a card game. James goes out and visits with them for a few minutes before we go to bed. Tom slept inside tonight.

I forgot to mention that Kim made everyone a treat plate and Michael brought ours to us. My favorite are Denise's peanut butter and chocolate Rice Krispy treats.

After dinner chat

James, Michael, Joe, and Rowan getting ready

to work on the fence.

Mixing concrete to set fence posts in.

The tree at the hospital.

Michael making linguine

Dead squirrel found in the wood pile

Joshua

Rowan

Max and Joe

Joshua and Rowan

A friendly game of cards

Friday, December 13th, 2024: Happy Birthday Carmen, 3 am awakening, cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs & bacon for Ro's brkfst, Rowan drives skidsteer, Wlmrt, HD, Ace, Little Caesar's White Mtn Steel,

 

Kansas City, Missouri

137th operating temple

Dedicated: 6 May 2012

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

Moroni 9:1-10

Come Follow Me

Moroni 9:3-5

Anger leads to sorrow and suffering.

'Slow to Anger' by Gordon B. Hinckley, Oct 2007 GC

October General Conference

'Aligning Our Will with His'

Elder Ulisses Soares

During our sojourn in mortality, we often wrestle with what we think we know what we think is best, and what we assume works for us, as opposed to comprehending what Heavenly Father actually knows, what is eternally best, and what absolutely works for children within His plan. This great wrestle can become very complex, especially considering the prophecies contained in the scriptures for our day: 'This know also, that in the last day ... men shall be lovers of their own selves, ... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.'"

I woke up at 3am. At 7:30 I made breakfast for James and Rowan, cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. 

I am not sure if I told this story earlier or not but Betty Trezise, Ian's mom paid Kim $100 for ten of her cupcakes. She took all three flavors. Kim said she didn't want to charge her but Betty insisted. She said she wanted them for her friends. 

Today is James's sister Carmen's birthday. I'm not sure how old she is, she is younger than Dawn and older than Rebecca. I miss Carmen since she moved to Pennsylvania.

James taught Rowan to drive the skidsteer today. Rowan returned Pierce's rock picker attachment and borrowed his auger to dig post holes for the fence. The auger broke before too long and Rowan ended up digging the holes. 

James came in to get me to go to town around 3 pm. He hurries me because he is picking up pipe at White Mountain Steel and they close at 4 pm. I hurried so much I forgot my phone with my grocery list on it. I was pretty frustrated with myself and with James too.

I tried to write a list from what I could remember and did pretty well. While I was at Walmart James went to Home Depot. One of the pipes he got a White Mountain Steel was way too long and he was getting some rope and a red flag to put on this long pipe. He tried to get the tailgate down so he could take care of the pipe. He didn't think he got it opened but when he drove away the tailgate came down and all of the pipes fell out. They are rusty and he had to pick them all up. He was quite a mess when he came in to Walmart. He did manage to get the red flag on. After we were finished at Walmart we went to Ace Hardware to get a blade for the chain saw. Michael, Paul, Joe, and Max are coming up tonight and working tomorrow. 

We stopped at Little Caesar's and got Rowan a pepperoni pizza and a cheese one for us. 

James walked and I watched a movie. We were asleep when Michael and company arrive. Tom heard them and put his head up and then I heard them. I guess I wasn't quite asleep.

Sheri, Evan, and Ben at the Mesa Temple

Grounds

Tom in one of his favorite spots

Boone MacArthur's gift and one of

the only bows I made this year.

A Spiderman blanket

Thursday, December 12th, 2024: Up @ 5, feed Tom, "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus" & prayer, J's pancakes, homemade spaghetti sauce, printing the Crane's family picture, visit MacArthur's

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

136th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 Dec 2011

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Moroni 8:16-30

Come Follow Me

Moroni 7:44-48

"For charity is the pure love of Christ."

Video: Charity

Talk: 'Pure Love: The True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ' Elder Massimo DeFeo

October General Conference

'Be Thou Clean'

Elder D. Martin Goury

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

'The Wind Did Never Cease to Blow'

Elder Aroldo B. Cavalcante

"Whether we are well-known or forgotten, trials will inevitably come to each one of us. As we turn to the Savior, He can 'consecrate our afflictions for our gain' and help us respond to our trials in a way that facilitates our spiritual progression."

I got up at 5:00 and fed Tom. He doesn't let me sleep in. I read from my book, "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus" and said my daily prayers. I read from the Book of Mormon, and Come Follow Me with James and we had family prayer together.

James had been asking me to make him Harvest Nut & Grain pancakes for breakfast. I use an IHOP copycat recipe and he loves it. This one called for finely ground oatmeal flour. Next time I need to grind it a little finer.

After I finished my two blogposts for the day I decided to make some homemade spaghetti sauce. I have a pound of hamburger in the refrigerator that needs to be used so I decided to make some spaghetti. The sauce turned out great. When I asked James if he was going to eat any he said: "Oh, I thought that was for you and you were going to make me some beans." I told him that beans take a night and a day to make and I would make him some soon.

Chuck Crane called me this evening I asked if we had a colored printer. He emailed their family Christmas photo because their printer isn't working right. The first photo I ran off was too big. Kathy only wants it to be 4x6 to go at the bottom of her Christmas letter. I ran another one off for her.

This evening James and I visited the MacArthur's. We told them about James's brain bleed. Jarred said, "You are the luckiest, unlucky person that I know. I gave the kids their new lanterns that actually light up and they seemed pleased. We admired their Christmas tree. It's a blue spruce they went and cut down in the forest. They have it decorated in a Grinch theme with huge ornaments. 

Jarred had an entire trailer full of wood and he invites us to take as much as we want. We thanked him but said we had grandson's coming up this weekend who are going to cut wood for us. 

I asked Boone, their two year old boy, if I could talk to him, and he said "No." At least he is honest. He did end up talking to me. He and his sister Scotlyn both have birthdays this month. Scotlyn will be 5 and Boone will be 3. Peyton is 7. Their dog Ernie chased our car when we left.

Rowan is here and he helped James finish hanging the Christmas stockings by the fireplace. 

I watched a Christmas movie in the bedroom with Tom.

James saddling Apollo

Trina and her pickleball gang

Mine don't look like this!

Wrapping gifts, watching a movie and

watching Tom.

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024: Sammi's gratitude, James better everyday, Attorney's regarding Daryl Johnson job, CC issues, Catherine Halcomb, Dobson cows in the area, trips upstairs until my right heel begins to throb, Walk & Christmas movie

San Salvador, El Salvador

135th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Aug 2011

By: Henry B. Eyring

Book of Mormon

Moroni 8:1-15

Come Follow Me

Moroni 7:20-48

Because of Jesus Christ, I can "lay hold upon every good thing."

October General Conference

'Ye Are My Friends'

Elder David L. Buckner

"Brothers and sisters, we must stop looking for reasons to divide and instead seek opportunities to 'be one.' He has blessed us with unique gifts and attributes that invite learning from one another and personal growth. I often told my university students that if I do what you do and you do what I do, we don't need each other. But because you don't do what I do and I don't do what you do, we do need each other. And that need brings us together. To divide and conquer is the adversary's plan to destroy friendships, families, and faith. It is the Savior who unites."

Sammi, our outside cat, shows his gratitude for me feeding him by rubbing against my leg. He goes back and forth in front of me, making it difficult for me to walk. I manage to get him fed and watered every morning and evening.

James seems more normal everyday, except he says that tope of his head feels numb. He spent most of the day on the phone with attorneys regarding the Daryl Johnson job. Daryl still owes us $21,000. The latest is they think James can recover some of the money but it's going to cost him $2,500 up front. What to do ... pray about it!

I spent time on the phone resolving some credit card issues and talking to Catherine Halcomb. I was on the phone with Catherine for over 35 minutes. She gets lonely and she loves to talk. 

Kathy Crane called me this morning to see if I needed anything in town. Today is her day to do errands. She is so organized. I told her we went to town yesterday. Kathy started talking about the black cows wandering around our area. She thinks they belong to our neighbors who have some black cows, but James says they are definitely Dobson cows because they have his brand and ear mark. Kathy still thinks she is right. To me it doesn't matter. I am just worried that because everyone has put up fences and they won't be able to find any water to drink. I hope whoever they belong to checks up on them.

After finishing my two blog posts for the day I began making trips upstairs to put towels away and to bring down Christmas blankets. I am wrapping the blankets in our bedroom. Before I completed my task my right knee began to throb. I couldn't make one more trip upstairs. Both of my upper arms hurt too. James said he would bring the rest of the blankets down for me. Thanks Honey. He also did the dishes. James walked while I watched a Christmas movie.

While inside Jim & Karen's

Denise's granddaughter Evie

  

 

Tuesday, December 10th, 2024: 14 this mrng, Sammi's water frozen, Kacey's dad passes away,Scarlett & Charlie, ASU, Ben & Cayli cake & cupcakes, clean entry closet, town w/ J, I drive, bank, Goodwill, Circle K, Wlmrt, HD,

 

Kiev, Ukraine

134th operating temple

Dedicated: 29 Aug 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

Moroni 7:33-48

Come Follow Me

Moroni 7:12-20

The Light of Christ helps me know truth from error.

Video: Patterns of Light: Discerning Light - David A. Bednar

October General Conference

'Welcome to the Church of Joy' 

Elder Patrick Kearon

"We can all contribute, no matter our age or our calling, to making our sacrament meetings the joy-filled, Christ-focused, welcoming hour they can be, alive with a spirit of joyful reverence. 

Joyful reverence? 'Is that a thing?' you may ask. Well, yes, it is! We deeply love, honor, and respect our God, and our reverence flows from a soul that rejoices in Christ's abundant love, mercy, and salvation! This joyful reverence to the Lord should characterize our sacred sacrament meetings."

The low this morning was 14 degrees. Sammi's water was frozen solid. I have been awake, off and on, since 1 a.m., and I am tired. 

I read from my Max Lucado book, "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus" and then said my prayers. 

We were sad to learn that Kacey's dad passed away and send our love and condolences to Kacey and her family.

I received a bill from Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates for $676. I was shocked and I have never had to pay anything since being on Medicate and Transamerica. I called about the charge and the person I spoke to said it was a mistake, that Transamerica paid for it. Thank goodness!

James worked on the Hatch account today, trying to send the last bill in. 

I finished two blog posts this morning, took a nap, and then cleaned out the entryway cleaning supplies closet. Later I went to town with James. I drove. We made a deposit at Chase Bank and then another one at Goodwill, an old vacuum and carpet cleaner. Circle K for gas, and then on to Walmart and Home Depot. On the way home we stopped at Panda for lunch. I got Beijing Beef and James got Teriyaki Chicken. 

We left Tom in the house, he was so cute when I sat down, he put his head on my chest.  He stayed until bedtime when he decided to go out. James walked while I watched "A Dance in the Snow" which was about a high school girl with autism.

Scarlett & Charlie in their 'jammies

Full Moon

Ben & Cayli cutting their cake

Monday, December 9th, 2024: Feed horses, scriptures & family prayer, James does office work, soup & grilled cheese for lunch, CT scan appt., DG for snacks, "A Cinderella Christmas" James walks and listens to a book

 

Cebu City, Philippines

133rd operating temple

Dedicated: 13 June 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

Moroni 7:17-32

Come Follow Me

Moroni 7-9

"May Christ Lift Thee Up" 

Introduction and video of Mormon teaching the peaceable followers of Christ.

October General Conference

'His Hand Ready to Help Us'

Elder Juan Pablo Villar

"If we think celestial, we will receive the confirmation in our hearts that Jesus Christ is indeed our Rescuer, our Advocate with the Father, and our Redeemer. As we exercise faith in Him, He will save us from our fallen state, beyond our challenges, infirmities, and needs in this temporal life, and give us the greatest of all gifts, which is eternal life."

James and I fed the horses together this morning. Now we are having family prayer and scriptures together. I am grateful for a companion who loves the Lord as I do. Part of our study today was to watch a video about Moroni talking to "The Peaceable Followers of Christ."

I had planned on going to Walmart today, but it didn't happen. James did some office work and was up most of the day with the exception of one small nap. He said his head didn't hurt as much.

I made soup and grilled cheese tuna sandwiches for lunch. They were quite tasty. I finished two blog posts this morning, November 6th and 7th. If I do two posts a day I will be caught up by January 9th. 

This afternoon I called Summit and made an appointment for James's CT scan on Saturday, December 14th, at 4 p.m. This is the day the boys will be here working. I also paid November's tithing. I had on my list to organize the cleaning supplies closet but instead James and I went to Dollar General for snacks. Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes, Little Debbie's cherry cordial's, cashews, and a Dr. Pepper Zero. While we were out we decided to drive into Show Low and get Culver's for dinner. 

When we got home I watched "A Cinderella Christmas" starring Danica McKellar while James walked. 

Here are some notes I took today: 

The youth a leading the way in service. - Elder Teixera

"All things which are good cometh of God." - Mormon

A theme in the Book of Mormon is that angels are real.

Saturday's RS Activity

Does James not see where Tom is?

Charlie and Kacey

Chuck & Kathy Crane's family

Sunday, December 8th, 2024:Ben & Cayli wedding photos, Happy Sabbath from Charlie, Feed horses & cats, we miss our meetings, scriptures & prayer, blog, Chuck & Owen bring the sacrament, Alicia & Bishop visit, First Presidency Christmas Devotional

 

Gila Valley, Arizona

132nd operating temple

Dedicated: 23 May 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

Moroni 7:1-16

Come Follow Me

"Follow Him" Dr. Mark Ogletree

October General Conference

'Bonded to Jesus Christ: Becoming the Salt of the Earth'

Elder Jose A. Teixeira

"Like salt can lose its essence, we can also lose our spiritual vitality if our faith in Jesus Christ becomes casual. We may look the same on the outside, but without a strong inner faith, we lose our ability to make a difference in the world and bring out the best in those around us."

I got up and took a shower and then feed the horses and the cats. James is not feeling well enough to go to church and I am staying home with him. I don't want to leave him along just yet.

We had breakfast, family prayer, and scripture study. I did some blogging. Around 11:15, after the block Chuck Crane knocked on our door. James had told me earlier he was coming to administer the sacrament. Owen Peeler was right behind him. Two men we love and appreciate so much, and two men who have both given James life-saving blessings.

After Owen and Chuck left we had lunch. James wanted an egg salad sandwich so I hard boiled some eggs. We had egg salad sandwiches along with tomato soup for our lunch. Afterwards we had rest time. 

James's headache is a little better today. 

Later this afternoon we had a visit from Bishop Hunsaker and his wife Alicia. Alicia brought us some sweet potato cornbread which was delicious!

This evening we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Sister Tamara Runia's talk was my favorite, although all of the talks and music were wonderful.

Stacy teaches Primary in her ward. She said she talked about dad during her lesson today. She said he has an independent personality and likes to do things his way, which sometimes gets him in trouble. But when it comes to obedience to the Lord's commandments he is exact and because of that he has been blessed. I think the Lord has spared his life again so he can be here for his family, especially his grandsons.

I did two blog posts today. Yay!

James slept on the recliner and so did I. 

Happy Sabbath 

from Charlie!

Ben & Cayli wedding photos