Sunday, December 15th, 2024: None of our company come to church, Rowan leaves, people happy to see James, visit Tignor's, Finish BofM,

 

Brigham City, Utah

139th operating temple

Dedicated: 23 Sept 2012

By: Boyd K. Packer

Book of Mormon

Moroni 10

Come Follow Me

Sunday School class

October General Conference

'The Joy of Our Redemption'

Sister Kristin Yee

"Just as the depth of my gratitude for the Savior grew as He mercifully helped me to repair the 'unrepairable' painting, so has my personal love and gratitude for my Savior intensified as I've sought to work with Him on my weaknesses and to be forgiven of my mistakes. I will forever be grateful to my Savior that I can change and be cleansed. He has my heart, and I hope to do whatever He would have me do and become."

Not one of our guests came to church with us. Rowan left for home and Paul said he didn't bring his church clothes. Everyone else had the same excuse. Michael promised that next time he would bring his Sunday clothes.

We sat on the back row in the chapel and James kept looking back into the overflow to see if they were here.

A soloist, a young man from the Lakeside ward, sang the prelude. I'm not sure the name of the song he sung but it was about Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and it was magnificent. The congregation was totally silent, no jabbering before sacrament meeting like there normally is. Here is how our program went:

Easton Crane was the youth speaker. He talked about getting a phone and how he uses the gospel library app on his phone plus it helps him to keep in contact with his parents. He said that phones can be used for good or evil, it is up to us. Fill you life with positive, uplifting experiences and read from the Book of Mormon daily.

Joshua Harris - He thanked the soloist for his song and said he had not heard anything that beautiful for a very long time. He talked about missionary work which is appropriate since he is one of our ward missionaries. Gathering Israel is like gathering family. He said he needs to be a better missionary. He told about being raised in the Church but being inactive during his teenage years and how one of his return missionary acquaintances became a good friend to him. He stayed with this friend one summer and this friend got him to go to church. His friendship lead Joshua to become active in the Church. Joshua then said that the people in the Vernon ward, many of them, will drop anything to serve others. That is how it all starts.

Crystal Flake - sang a solo, what shall I give. It was very nice.

Travis Hamblin - a high councilman was the last speaker. As part of his introduction, he said he lives in a small house with his wife and 12 kids. Conversion is changing. We got to school to know and we live the gospel to become. We need to make quality, quiet time with the Savior. Brother Hamblin told a story of rounding up cattle with his dad when he was 7 years old. He was by himself when he lost a cow. He stopped and prayed. Soon he heard his Dad. It surely is in quiet times that we will "hear Him." Daily maintenance. The world says: 'Be your authentic self.' The gospel says, 'Follow Jesus Christ.' Mary, the mother of Jesus, is an example of letting God prevail in our lives. we need to be waiting on the Lord.

Many people in the ward were happy to see James and came up and told him so. Today I was supposed to go to the teacher training class taught by John Wilhelm, the Sunday School president. I totally forgot and went instead to Brother Applegate's gospel doctrine class. 

Brother Applegate had three people tell of their conversion stories, including himself, Cyndi Pronger, and T-Bo Tignor. He also asked us a series of questions about the Book of Mormon: 1) What do you think about it? 2) What will you do differently since reading it? 3) What will be your behavior? 4) What did you feel?

At the end of class  Bishop Hunsaker and Brother Allen came in with goodies left over from the party last night and gave them to anyone over 65, which is a good share of the class. 

Wendy DeWitt came over to speak to me, something that very rarely happens. She had gone in to the teacher training class and was complaining that she isn't learning anything and it isn't helpful and she would rather be in Brother Applegate's class. She doesn't see the point of the teacher training class and wanted to see if I agreed with her. I told her I felt bad for missing the class. I didn't really agree with her but I listened and was nice about it. When I got home I texted Brother Wilhelm and apologized for missing his class. It is only once a quarter and I can attend a class that is only once a quarter.

We spoke with Brother Peralta as we were leaving. It was nice to see him. When we got home James had beans for lunch and I had shrimp linguine. Afterwards we took naps. When we woke up we took the last loaf of pumpkin bread and headed for the Tignor's. We had a nice visit. They are leaving this Thursday for Farmington, New Mexico to visit family and friends. T-Bo has a daughter and granddaughter who lives there. 

When we got home we finished the Book of Mormon while sitting in front of the fireplace. We also listened to President Nelson's talk from the October 2016 General Conference, "Joy & Spiritual Survival." James stayed in front of the fire while I went in to work on my blog. I also tried to watch a Christmas movie, "Bring Him Home for Christmas", but the movie kept skipping back to the beginning and then the end was cut off. 

Tom slept on the recliner tonight.

Gingerbread Houses

Goodbye guys, thanks for coming!

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.