Thursday, January 23rd, 2025: Happy 77th Birthday James! My card & note & Harvest Nut n Grain pancakes, lots of calls & texts from family & friends, Brioche French Toast for Bunco, Bunco gift I am giving: Puzzle, lotion & soap, dusting slippers, Sheri deposits Landings check, James's mtg, Pajama Bunco Party @ Patsy Tedder's,

 

Helena, Montana

178th operating temple

Dedicated: 18 June 2023

By: Gary E. Stevenson

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 16:17-39

Come Follow Me

JS-H 1:48-60

God will prepare me to work in His kingdom.

October General Conference

'Days Never To Be Forgotten'

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"'Men and women are, that they might have joy.' Heavenly Father has provided the plan of happiness that enables joy through His blessings. These include living in His presence eternally as families. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is central to God's plan to redeem us. To receive eternal life, we must come unto Christ. As we do so 'and help others do the same, we participate in God's work of salvation and exaltation.'"

Happy Birthday James! I started off by writing a love note in the card I got for him. He said it was the nicest one he has ever gotten. 

The next thing I did was go in and make authentic 'copycat' Harvest Nut 'n' Grain pancakes from IHOP. They were delicious but took awhile to make. James cut up his leftover prime rib and cooked it was a fried egg for the protein part of his breakfast. 

There is something I forgot to get yesterday for James's birthday. He always wants an Eagle Brand pie and I forgot to get the ingredients. I guess we can stop by the Taylor Walmart after the temple tomorrow.

James got lots of cards, texts, and even phone calls today from family and friends. I know it helped him to have a happy day.

I made some Brioche French Toast today and put it in the frig to soak. I will bake it this evening before going to Bunco. I also cut up some fresh strawberries and bought some whipped cream. I finally came up with a gift idea for Bunco. I'm giving away the jigsaw puzzle I got from the White Elephant Christmas game. I also put in the lotion and handsoap I got from Teresa Hein for Christmas and some duster house shoes. Stefani Hunsaker got my gift.

I was going to go into town today but I ran out of time and out of steam. Sheri deposited the $9,050.00 check we got from The Landings job that they never sent. Armando picked it up and took it to Sheri. 

James had an Elders Quorum Presidency meeting this evening and I had Bunco. Dallin, Sammi, and Jared Ammon came up this evening, getting here just before I got back from Bunco.

Bunco was held at Patsy Tedder's and she announced this would be here last game with us. She did say she would be a substitute. I think I'm the oldest player now. It was pajama night and we all brought breakfast foods. Candied turkey bacon from Lynda Finnell, Pancakes from Donna and Michelle Beckham, eggs bites from Janna Grombach, green chili and cheese grits from Tina Allen, a delicious breakfast casserole made by Amy Reynolds. Patsy provided the drinks and I brought my French toast. I'm not sure what Becky or Lynn brought.

Lynn had her arm all bandaged up. When I asked what happen she said she got cut by a chain saw while helping her husband cut down limbs. She had to have one surgery and will probably need another. She didn't lose any fingers, thank goodness.

I saw something on the way to Bunco I have never seen before. Oh how I wish I could have gotten a picture! There were 20-30 antelope in the field on the side that borders 3144 where the water supply is. Someone was filling up the water barrels and the antelope were standing in about five lines at attention. They looked like soldiers. If I hadn't seen it I might not believe it! 

Bunco. This is Stefani Hunsaker. She

and Alicia bought the cutest little cups at

Dollar Tree and filled them with yogurt,

granola, and fruit.

Lynda Finnell, Tina Allen, Donna Beckham

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025: Happy Bday Chuck! Sister Stephen's talk, News from Epic Sport - Razr can't be fixed, engine is shot, Dollar Tree, Wlmrt, Culver's, Circle K, Charlie Clark's w/ Crane's Ordered J's bday present a battery operated chainsaw,

 

Richmond, Virginia

177th operating temple

Dedicated: 7 May 2023

By: Dallin H. Oaks

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 16:1-16

Come Follow Me

JS-H 1:34-47

By restoring His gospel, the Savior fulfilled ancient prophecies.

David A. Bednar: "With the Power of God in Great Glory" 

OGC 2021

October General Conference

'Seek Him with All Your Heart'

Bishop L. Todd Budge

"President Nelson has counseled that we not just read the scriptures but savor them. What difference would it make if we were to do less reading and more savoring?"

Reading Sister Carole M. Stephens conference talk, "The Master Healer" had a profound effect upon me today and I encouraged my family to read it too. Kacey was the only one who reported back after reading it.

There was a storm in the south last night. There is snow in Destin, Florida!

Epic Sports called James this morning and said there was a problem with the Razr's engine and it was not fixable. The engine is fairly new so James doesn't understand. This is sad news indeed.

We ordered James's birthday present today, a battery-operated chainsaw that only weighs 2 lbs. He used his birthday money and the money he got for Christmas to pay for it.

We went to town today. It was sad going past the Penrod's house with the no trespassing and for sale signs. In town I went to Dollar Tree while James went to Culver's and got his fish sandwich. Afterwards we went to Walmart and Circle K. We had to hurry home so we would have time to put groceries away and take a short break before picking up the Crane's at 4:00 pm.

Off to Charlie Clark's in Pinetop. The early bird specials start at 4:45 and run until six. We got there at 4:55. The 7 oz. prime rib is on the early bird special. Kathy, James and I all ordered the 7 oz. Chuck ordered the 10 oz. which isn't on the early bird special. The waitress made a mistake and brought a 10 oz. prime rib for James too. Oh well. The food was delicious but because I have had the stomach flu, I couldn't eat very much and had to have a box to take half of my prime rib home. James only ate half of his too. 

We told the waitress that today was Chuck's birthday and tomorrow is James's. She brought us 3 free chocolate sundaes. Kathy wanted one too and James shared his with me. Our order came to $137.00. We paid and Chuck left $20 for the tip, and James left another $5. 

We saw our friends Maxine and Gary Thompson who got here right at 4:45. I know they love coming here. They brought their daughter and son-in-law. It was nice to meet them.

The Crane's seemed very grateful for dinner. We drove home and said our goodbye's. James walked and I studied. Tom follow James around. James said a couple of cats were fighting outside. Maybe that's why Tom likes to be in the house at night.

I slept in my bed tonight for the first time since I've been sick.

That smoke is from a prescribed burn

Kathy & Chuck Crane at

Charlie Clark's

Happy Birthday Chuck!

James enjoying his birthday sundae

Someone else posted this,

not me.

Tuesday, January 21st, 2025: Happy Anniversary Jared & Kacey! "Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into our Lives", Mail: J's bday gifts, teaspoons, swords, notebooks, Aliberto's lunch, Cln dwnstrs, Text from Kathy abt Chuck's bday, Charlie Clark's tomorrow @ 4

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

176th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 Jan 2023

By: D. Todd Christofferson

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 15:19-36

Come Follow Me

JS-H 1:27-33

God had a work for me to do.

October General Conference

'Mortality Works'

Elder Brook P. Hales

"Because this life is a testing ground and 'dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us and threaten our peace to destroy,' it is helpful to remember this counsel and promise found in Mosiah 23 relating to life's challenges: 'Nevertheless-whosoever putteth his trust in the Lord the same shall be lifted up at the last day.'"

Happy 8th Anniversary Jared & Kacey! We are so happy for you!

As part of our "Come Follow Me" study we listened to a talk by President Nelson given in 2017, "Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives." This is an excerpt from this talk:

"When He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life, you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know, exactly what you should do. When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you."

I remember this talk by President Nelson because he said he had challenged the young adults of the Church to look up all of the reference to Jesus Christ in the topical guide and study them. He had done this himself and he said he would never be the same. I took on this challenge and it took me over five years to finish the challenge as I did one scripture a day. It was a worthy endeavor and I am grateful I did it.

James said the Razr should be fixed by this weekend and I am very excited! 

Today in the mail James got a package from his Mom and Dawn for his birthday. A wallet, some socks, a shirt and a $50 Amazon gift card. I also got my new measuring spoons that I ordered, six new notebooks, and my new swords which are a little bigger. The clock we ordered on December 20th won't be here for a few more days. 

I asked James when he went to town if he would bring me back a taco from Aliberto's. I was envisioning a crispy shell shredded beef taco. Instead James brought me back a carne asada taco with guacamole, with soft tortillas. At first I complained but then I apologized because I actually really liked it! Thanks Honey!

James helped me clean downstairs this afternoon. We stacked the Christmas boxes in the years supply closet. James carried out all of the trash bags and I swept the hallway and stairs. It is such a relief to have this done as I have been trying to get to it for a week but just haven't felt up to doing it.

Kathy Crane texted me this evening and asked what our plans were for going out to dinner tomorrow night. We invited them to celebrate Chuck and James's birthdays. Chuck's is the 22nd and James's is the 23rd. 

Finally a decision has been made. We are going to Charlie Clark's and we will pick Chuck and Kathy up at 4 pm. I'm excited because Charlie Clark's is the best steak house on the mountain.

James brought me some herbal tea this evening. He is so thoughtful.

Another quote from President Nelson:
"Pray to know how to pray with power."

Happy Anniversary!

Monday, January 20th, 2025: Inauguration Day, College Football Championship, Apollo in the yard, I am sick w/ stomach flu, James's Dr. appt, Kim Penrod commits suicide, Sammy's water frozen, call from Michael, WCTH

 

Quito, Ecuador

175th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Nov 2022

By: Quentin L. Cook

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 15:1-18

Come Follow Me

Jan 20-26

"The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Their Fathers"

D&C 2; JS-H 1:27-65

Introduction

October General Conference

'Seeking Answers to Spiritual Questions'

Sister Tracy Y. Browning

"God the Father and His Son's way of imparting Their wisdom to us prioritizes inviting the power of the Holy Ghost to be our personal teacher as we center Jesus Christ in our lives and in our faithful seeking for Their answers and Their meaning. They invite us to discover truth through devoted time spent studying holy scripture and to seek for latter-day revealed truth for our day and our time, imparted by modern-day prophets and apostles. They entreat us to spend regular, worshipful time in the house of the Lord and to take to our knees in prayer 'to access information from heaven.'"

Today was President Donald Trump's second inauguration day, the time as the 47th President of the United States of America.

Today was also the College Football Championship game, Notre Dame vs. Ohio State. Ohio State won 34-23.

Apollo was in the yard again this morning. James cannot figure out how he gets in. He left him in the yard to see if he would go out the way he came in, but he didn't. James is thinking about putting another wire on the top of the fence.

I was sick, very sick today with the stomach flu. I guess I got it from James. I stayed on the recliner most of the day and ate very little. James had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Ellsworth who did his hand surgery. The doctor gave him a cortisone shot for pain. I had asked James to bring me home some hot and sour soup, which he did. It usually helps when I am sick but today I just couldn't eat very much. Too miserable. 

When James went past the Penrod's house in downtown Vernon he said it was all roped off and there were three black police cars/trucks there. Later we found out that Kim Penrod, Shanna's estranged husband visited her and shot himself in front of her, committing suicide.  He had been living in Springerville with his daughter and Shanna had a restraining order against him. Shanna is an active member of our ward and a temple worker. This is so very sad for her and her family. Her son and his family, though not active, are members of our ward too.

I got a call from our grandson Michael today. He said a group wants to come up this weekend to help Grampa. He mentioned, Dallin, Sammi, Jared Ammon, and maybe Paul, and Joe, along with him, of course and Namira. I told him I was very sick today and maybe he should check back later in the week to see how I am doing before making any plans. He said that he was sorry I was sick, and he would check back.

Sunday, January 19th, 2025: 19 degrees on the way to church, stake seminary teachers - Gassaways, egg salad sandwiches, herd of elk, J sauna blanket, swelling on left jawline, J cold watering trees, blogposts, talked to Kerri about Catherine, Janna has a cough, worried about MacArthur's,

 

Belem, Brazil

174th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Nov 2022

By: Dale G. Renlund

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 14:9-30

Come Follow Me

JS-H 1:21-26

I can remain true to what I know, even if others reject me.

Gary E. Stevenson: "Nourishing and Bearing Your Testimony" 

October General Conference 2022

Podcast: Kerry Muhlstein & Robert Millet on Moroni, John, and the ministering of angels

October General Conference

'I Am He'

President Jeffrey R. Holland

"So, through abundance as well as poverty, through private acclaim as well as public criticism, through the divine elements of the Restoration as well as the human foibles that will inevitably be part of it, we stay the course with the true Church of Christ. Why? Because as with our Redeemer, we signed on for the whole term - not ending with the first short introductory quiz but through to final exam."

It was 19 degrees on the way to church today. Brother & Sister Gassaway were called as stake seminary teachers today. I'm not sure what that means. Why do we need stake seminary teachers?

Today's speakers:

Youth Speaker - Logan Robles - Spoke of the Savior and quoted from "The Living Christ" quite extensively. "He went about doing good, yet was despised for it." He wasn't the God they were expecting. Quoted Isaiah. Read 1 Nephi 11:19-33 and then bore his testimony. This was a great talk for a youth!

Speaker - Kathy Crane - The Role of Our Savior in Our Daily Lives. 

Based on a talk given by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf in October 2021, "Daily Restoration." Landmarks to stay on course: Daily prayer and pondering, scripture study, walk with the Lord. Follow the gentle Christ. Personal, daily restoration opens our hearts to heavenly light, and builds our testimonies. Restoration is an ongoing process, one day at a time, one heart at a time. If you want to change your life, change your day. Lord, please lead us to forgiveness and sanctification. Our God is a God of new beginnings, and we can become new creatures in Christ.

Speaker - Chuck Crane - Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.

On June 5, 1992, 35 years ago, I was baptized. I was a Navy and Police Officer and raised Catholic. I met Kathy and we married on December 21st, 1968. She changed, and saved my life. She joined the Church in 1976 and I didn't join until 1992. We moved to Vernon in 2004. on January 19th, 2020, I became the Elder's Quorum President in the Vernon ward. I love this calling. I learned in the Vernon ward that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. Opportunities to shine surround us everyday. I walked in darkness for many years, but now I know that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.

Here are a few notes I took in Sunday School:

"True conversion requires daily effort and the influence of the Holy Ghost." Immersion helps with conversion. We have the "map and compass" and the rest is up to us.

Daily effort, study and prepare. Sandra Wilhelm gets up at 4 am to prepare "Come Follow Me" for her family.

Become a "new creature" through gospel learning.  Change our hearts. 

I learned how important the First Vision is to my testimony. It is the foundational.

Becoming "new creatures" requires action.

We must believe in and receive personal revelation.

James boiled eggs yesterday and peeled them so we could come home and make egg salad sandwiches for lunch today. Yummy.

James went in the bedroom and got inside the sauna blanket to help with his aches and pains while I cleaned the kitchen. I had been doing the dishes when I turned around and happen to look at the dining room window. I saw elk walking towards the hill, I'm not sure how many because I caught the last of them. It's been a long time since I've seen elk migrate across our yard. I wonder if they did any damage to the fence.

As I settled down for my nap, I noticed some swelling on my left jawline. 

James is still not feeling well. He went outside to water trees and plants and came back in because he said it was too cold. I struggled to work on my blog because I'm not feeling well either. I am still two weeks behind on my blog. James and I both have so much to do and neither one of us feels like doing anything.

I talked to Kerri about Catherine, her mom, today. She is very worried about her because of her loss of memory and bouts of anger.  We are both concerned about her. 

I checked on Janna Grombach who wasn't at church today. She said she had a cough and didn't think she should come. 

I am also worried about the MacArthur's who have not attended church since coming back to Vernon. 

James and I have both set a goal to get our will updated and to work on it at least once a month.

Happy Sabbath:

She also gave a talk in Primary and did

a great job!