Saturday, December 27th, 2025: Pres. Holland passes away, rain, scared Tom, Vader barks, finished my handouts, work on lesson, S,P,J,A leave for Greer, Dallin & Samii came in last night, trip to town, S,P, V, S go home, pizza & Settler of Catan

 

Retalhuleu, Guatemala

Planning and approval phase; site location announced;

exterior rendering released; groundbreaking not announced.

Book of Mormon

Moroni 7:35-48

Come Follow Me

"He will someday return to earth." 

"He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world."

October General Conference

'Smiling Faces and Grateful Hearts'

Elder Carlos A. Godoy

My weight today was 117.

The first news of the morning, President Jeffrey R. Holland passed away at 3:15 this morning. He died of kidney disease. He will be sorely missed.

It was rainy today. Tom heard Vader bark this morning and it scared him. He crawled under the bed, and it took us awhile to convince him that he should come out. He jumped up on the bed and sacked out. 

I finished the handouts for my lesson tomorrow and then worked on my lesson outline. Stacy, Paul, Joshua and Alayna, left for Greer this morning. It was rather a dreary day. I wonder what exactly they expect. Maybe they will get some lunch. Before they left, Stacy showed me a beautiful rainbow outside the front door. I loved it.

Stacy said she and Paul will fix dinner tonight and we will fix it tomorrow night. Paul is having an arthritis flareup and needed to borrow one of our canes. The bottom of his heel is swollen and inflamed. He is taking Tramadol. 

The group didn't stay long in Greer.  Stacy texted me and said, not only was Paul feeling miserable but now she wasn't feeling well either. They have decided they are going to go home. Initially they were going to stay until Monday. 

For some reason I forgot to take a "going away" photo of Stacy, Paul, Vader and Sofie. Before they left Paul had to go downstairs and take a nap because the Tramadol he is taking makes him tired. It no longer has that effect on me.

James and I went into town to get ingredient for tomorrow night's dinner. We decided we are going to make honey-lime grilled chicken with rice pilar, broccoli, and corn. 

While I was shopping at Walmart, I was in the cereal aisle looking for protein bars when I looked up and saw Dallin. He said he and Samii got in around 3am and didn't bring much food, hence the shopping trip. It was fun to unexpectedly see him.

This evening Joshua, Alayna, Dallin and Samii played "Settlers of Catan" and ate frozen pizza for dinner.

James and I worked on our lessons in the bedroom. We went to bed pretty early planning on getting up early to finish our preparations.

Tender mercies:

* "The humble, holy, and wise told of Christ's birth." DHO

* Rise Zion - Guest, who is a temple worker, told of a sealer who had the gift of tongues, but only when he was in the temple.

"Primary music is one of God's most tender tools for planting the seeds of testimony in the hearts of the Savior's youngest disciples."

- Sister Tracy Y. Browning, OGC 2025

Helaman 5:9

O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

Alayna, Joshua, Samii, Dallin

Thomsy in his King Tut position

Sheri & Ian's, mostly Ian

Friday, December 26th, 2025: Luke 2 by tree for Kim, MIchael's girlfriend attacked by a dog, Alayna & Joshua here, broken Martinelli's, Stacy & Paul arrive later, Alayna & Joshua's dinner, Kerri's text about her mom's diagnosis, work on our lessons, Inklings w/ Emily & Grace

 

Tuguegarao City, Philippines

Planning and approval phase; site location

announced; exterior rendering released; 

groundbreaking not announced.

Book of Mormon

Moroni 7:1-34

Come Follow Me

"He will someday return to earth"

October General Conference

'Forsake Not Your Own Mercy'

Elder Matthew S. Holland

One of the things Kim asked for this Christmas is a video of James reading Luke 2 by the Christmas tree. We made the video today. After all she has done for us, it was the least we could do for her. She says it is her favorite Christmas memory.

It was difficult to want to get up this morning, but once I was up, I felt pretty good. Tom spent the night outside and was anxious to come in and eat.

After our morning devotional James and I tried to plan our day. He said to me: "Let me work on my bid for Gupta's office flooring one hour. Then I will go outside and work an hour before I help you put sheets on the beds upstairs. I said, "So, in two hours?" Yes.

Stacy texted while I was downstairs putting sheets on the bed in the basement. Joshua & Alayna have already left, and they are already in Show Low. I ran, slowly, upstairs to tell James I needed his help right now,

We put sheets on the two beds in Darrel & Trina's room. I checked the trashes and did a quick clean of the bathrooms and some quick dusting.  I also cleaned bird poop off Sheri & Ian's balcony.

It was actually quite a while before Joshua & Alayna got here. They went shopping at Safeway and had lunch at Pizza Factory. 

When Joshua & Alayna got here they began putting their things away, using the refrigerator in the garage. I forgot to tell them that the bottom shelf in the refrigerator door was broken. They had lots of drinks, including two Martinelli's sparkling apple ciders. They broke all over the garage floor. I felt so bad. I taped the shelf and when I made my next trip to Walmart, I bought them two more Martinelli's.

At 11:43 I got a text from Stacy saying they were on their way up. A little later they had a car issue and returned home. At 2:39 Stacy texted they were leaving again. Paul is in a lot of pain. He can barely walk. She said they rested up a bit and are now on their way. 

Of course, Vader and Sofie are with Stacy & Paul. The first thing Stacy wanted was to do a puzzle and since she was cold, James built her a fire. As Stacy and I were visiting she told me that Michael had to make a trip to Tucson because the neighbor's dog had attacked his girlfriend, April. This is not the first time this has happened, so he is going to confront the neighbors.

Alayna was the chef for dinner and Joshua was the sous chef. They made pasta with broccolini, sausage and a light sauce. It was really quite delicious. Afterwards James and I volunteered to do the dishes and clean the kitchen. No one objected.

James and I worked on our Sunday lessons this evening. Our lessons are based on Elder Steven C. Barlow's October conference address, "Loves Thou Me?"

I got a call from Kerri Halcomb today about her mother Catherine. She said that she has been diagnosed with dementia and anger related issues. I guess this explains why Kerri was having such a hard time dealing with her. She will be moved to the memory section of the facility and will be getting a new roommate. Hurrah! I am also excited she will be getting the help that she needs for her dementia.

Some of my tender mercies today:

Reading Moroni 7 and "Come Follow Me" and listening to Emily and Grace on Inklings. I need to ask myself the question: "What more can I do to help build Thy kingdom?

"Peacemaking still begins in the most basic place - in our hearts."

- Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Mosiah 15:1

And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.

This boy is so adorable!

Thursday, December 25th, 2025: Merry Christmas! Family Breakfast @ Sheri & Ian's, venison steak & gravy, sourdough biscuit breakfast sandwiches, Kim's pumpkin delight, trip home thru the canyon, open our gifts from each other and Mom & Dawn, Pam Giles's gifts, Christmas movie w/ Tom & James: "A Suite Holiday Romance", J fixes tree lights

 

Book of Mormon

Moroni 4-6

Come Follow Me

"The Living Christ"

'He rose from the grave'

'His priesthood and His Church have been restored'

October General Conference

'The Name by Which Ye Are Called'

Elder B. Corey Cuvelier

James went out to walk yet again this morning. He said it was raining just like every other time he has gone out to walk. 

Everyone was still in bed when we left for Sheri's a little before 9. 

It was just Sheri, Ian, and Evan at home. Max had to work. We will miss him. 

Some changes this year in the cooking arrangements. Usually, it's Sheri making bacon, and eggs on one side of the stove and James doing venison gravy on the other with biscuits in the oven. This year Sheri bought an electric skillet. She made the sourdough rolls ahead of time and they served as the bread for Ian's breakfast sandwiches. He had turkey bacon, regular bacon, eggs, and several different types of cheese. He took special orders and the added room at the stove was a relief. 

Max had to work, and Ben & Cayli are spending Christmas in Richmond, Washington. Alex was going to come but texted Sheri while we were cooking and said he was not coming. Sheri was quite sad about this as she knows that he deals with depression. He did answer James's text; said he may come to the cabin and thanked him for the blanket that we gave him. 

Stacy didn't come either but sent orange juice. I didn't think there would be enough, so I bought one and then Trina brought three or four more bottles, so we had plenty. Darrel & Trina also brought the biscuits for the venison gravy. 

Others at the breakfast: Adam, Jared Ammon, Ellie, Dallin, Michael, Joshua, Kim, Brian, Joe, Darrel, Trina, Addy, Rowan, Ruby, Lola, and James & I. 

Brian said a blessing on the food. 

It was an overcast day but nice enough for the Gonzales's to find a great spot outside to enjoy their meal and each other's company. Ellie is the only girl.

Lots of people wore black, especially in this family

Some other random news: Ollie was very friendly and let people pet him. He isn't always that way.

President Holland is in the hospital which has put a bit of a damper on Christmas for those of us who love him. 

When we got back to Stacy & Paul's to pack up and go home, Adam came up the sidewalk carrying three extra-large Polar Pops. He does this almost every day. This is a big concern as it will adversely affect his health after awhile.

Here are a few more photos from our breakfast, thanks to Kim:

Best friends1

Sheri's tree

Lola was happy to get "teaching supplies"

for Christmas. Addy and Ruby got clothes,

etc.

Part of Ian's flower garden.

Christmas in Texas

Christmas morning with Charlie

Gifts we received for Christmas:

* A place to stay, Christmas Eve dinner and family time with Stacy & Paul and Stacy's delicious sugar cookies.

* Kim & Brian brought Christmas to Vernon by putting up our tree with it's 5,000 lights. They gave each of us a $50 Amazon gift card, and the white envelope service envelope. They do a service in every family's name and then give us a white envelope telling us what our service was. Ours was providing food for needy families. 

* Sheri & Ian - Chips & salsa and Christmas breakfast. Also a trip to the temple and lunch in November.

* Jared & Kacey - pictures of their trip to Nauvoo and Independence, Kacey's Facebook posts, and lots of pictures of Charlie on Christmas morning. Plus, a digital photo frame.

* Darrel & Trina - a $50 gift card to Cheesecake Factory.

Decorating cookies with Trina, Ruby, and Lola.

* Mom & Dawn - We each got a $50 Amazon gift card, a wooden basket with dried fruit, a nightgown for me, a brown sweatshirt for James, and a set of cups.