Saturday, March 21st, 2026: Genesis 50 Jacob & Joseph both die, 3 batches of sugar cookies I mix and Kim's bakes, I can't lift my right arm, 48 bagged handouts, new movie "Hope Valley 1874"

 

Atlanta, Georgia

Temple #21

        I read Genesis 50 this morning where both Jacob and Joseph pass away.

I started the first batch of cookie around 7 and had them in the frig by 7:30. It needs to be in the frig for over an hour. I ended up mixing up 3 batches of cookies while Kim rolled them out and baked them. We ended up with about 60 cookies. I only have 48 small gavels for the handouts so that's how many cookies we need.  

I mixed up a 2 lb. bag of powdered sugar to make the frosting. Kim divided it up into 7 paper bowls and added the colors, pink, green, yellow, orange, purple, sky blue and teal blue. We laid out parchment paper  on the dining room table and began frosting and putting sprinkles on the cookies. After the frosting dried I placed the cookies in cellophane bags. My right arm was hurting and I can't lift it so after frosting the cookies Kim insisted on putting the twisty ties on the bags and tying the mini gavels on with ribbon. We ended up with 48 bagged cookies that looked like this:

This evening Kim, Brian and I watched the new series on Hallmark Plus, "Hope Valley 1874". The Hallmark Plus app on the TV is not working but Brian figured out how to connect the Hallmark Plus app on my phone to the TV through airplay. Once we got the connection it worked very well. Bethany Joy Lenz is in this show, which is a weekly series. She is Kim's favorite.

I am worried about my arm. What if I can't lift it up to do my hair and makeup tomorrow?

Kim and Brian want to live here.

"We are all able to help other come unto Christ by serving with loving-kindness."

- Elder James E. Evanson

Genesis 50:17

So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

Friday, March 20th, 2026: Genesis 49, No temple today worked on lesson instead finished first outline, temple now closed 2 weeks, Greg Anderson's, routing numbers, Kim & Brian arrive!

 

Jordan River, Utah

Temple #20

I read Genesis 49 where Jacob gathers his twelve sons to bless them before he dies.

We have been going to the temple on Fridays, but today I stayed home and worked on my Relief Society lesson instead. I finally finished my first outline. Now I've got to go through and pare it down. The only sad thing, now the temple will be closed for the next two weeks. 

James went to see Greg Anderson this morning about pouring a concrete slab for his neighbor who wants to put a conex container on it. He wants to know how much dirt to bring in, etc. He said he would be back in an hour. I told him not to give a specific time because if he was late I would worry and get frustrated. I told him to just say, "I will be back when I am finished." When he returned he noted he was 45 minutes later than he thought he would be because Greg Anderson likes to talk. My point exactly.

James spent time this morning on the phone with the bank trying to figure out our ABA routing number instead of the ACH routing number that appears on our checks, etc. Dave Elkins wife Wendy says she needs it in order to send the down payment for the land. She is using a domestic wire to send it and I guess her  bank needs this routing number. After a couple of calls James was finally able to talk to someone who was able to give it to him. Why is everything so complicated? Wendy is sending $24,150, which is a 10 percent down payment. It will be a few days before we actually get it. 

Kim and Brian arrived around 5:30 this evening. Kim gave me so much insight into my lesson and mentioned the book, "Believing Christ." I am so glad she will be there on Sunday.

I worked on my handouts this evening and walked. James and I both started book 3 in the Isabelle Webb series by N.C. Allen. This one is called "The Grecian Princess." I have not even had time to get passed chapter 2.

In bed by 10 with James and Tom.

This is Dave, the guy who makes the bread

that James and I love.

Dennis, Kaytlynn, Madison, Monte

 

Thursday, March 19th, 2026: Genesis 48, lesson struggling, trip to town, Desert Title, Walmart, Apts in Chandler, my questions to James, 105 in Phx, Text w/ Adam

Seattle, Washington

Temple #19

Tom spent the night outside so I didn't have to worry about him waking him up this morning. 

I read Genesis 48 this morning where Jacob gives patriarchal blessings to both of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, giving Ephraim the greater blessing. 

I am struggling with my RS lesson, Elder Bednar's talk "They Are Their Own Judges". The more I study and prepare for it, the better I understand.

James and I made a trip to town. Our first stop was at Desert Title to get our document for the down payment on the land notarized. It cost us $5.

After the signing we went to Walmart to do a little shopping. I needed to get the ingredients for the sugar cookies I am making for my lesson on Sunday. We also got cat treats, salad and James bought chicken wings from the deli for our lunch. They were quite good. 

I got a text from Kim asking me if we were still going to make sugar cookies and when I told her yes she said she would bring her cookie cutter, food coloring, and sprinkles and an extra bag of powdered sugar just in case.

Sheri did a search for apartments in her ward boundaries. They are quite reasonable but the shortest time they rent for is a year. James doesn't want to pay for a year when we will only be there half a year. I want to be in Sheri's ward so she won't have to go to church alone.

I ask James in the car today on the way back from town today why he continues to love me. I have not been a very good wife but he continues to tell me every night when we go to bed how much he loves me and is so lucky to have me. His love is true and I love him because he loves me.

It was 80 here in Vernon and 105 degrees in Chandler, the highest temperature ever recorded in March. It's going to be a long hot summer.

Adam eased my conscience through text today. He assured me it wasn't my fault that he and his friends didn't come up. He said his friend, indeed, did have to work.

Darlene & Bobby Noel

Gilbert temple

 

 

Wednesday, March 18th, 2026: Tom 3:36, I hide under covers until 5, My not so happy day, trip to Dollar General for catfood, struggling with my lesson, James is a trooper

 

Tokyo, Japan

18th temple

Tom tried to wake me up at 3:36 but I hid under the covers until 5 and he ignored me. 

Another bleak day for me. I'm not sure what it is. I am no longer happy here in Vernon. I miss my family.

On our trip to Dollar General to get cat food I barely said a word. I am not very pleasant to be around. James knows I am struggling. He wants to help and is very sweet about it, but he doesn't really know how.

I know the Savior loves me but for some reason I am not feeling that love like I want to. One positive thing I am doing since Sunday is spending the first hour I get up with the Lord, praying and studying the scriptures. I have always prayed and read my scriptures but not always the first thing when I get up. It is something I am doing to put the Lord first in my life. 

I am struggling with preparing for my lesson. The word judge  has a negative connotation even though Moroni calls the Final Judgment coming before "the pleasing bar of God." The lesson is entitled, "They Are Their Own Judges". I am afraid of my own judgment more than I am the Lord's.

"We have been instructed by prophets past and prophets present - and by the pattern set by our Savior - how to minister." 

- Elder William K. Jackson

Genesis 46:3

And he sai, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

Tom in the snow January 8, 2024

Snow storm, November 4, 2024

So many innocent people are killed

in senseless wars. Such a tragedy.

A house that I like the looks of

Tuesday, March 17th, 2026: Left for valley around 8, Sinclair gas $3.99, Costco $4.04, Payson, Dr. Raia at Core Institute, Deseret Bk, Chikfila, Costco Santan, Costco Ariz Ave., Circle K, Vernon, talk to Sheri, James is my hero

 

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Temple #17

We left a little late for the valley. James's appointment with Dr. Raia at the Core Institute in Gilbert is at 11:50.  We went the Payson way as the other way will be closed for blasting. As we went through Show Low we noticed that gas at Circle K was $4.19 and at Sinclair is was $3.99. We should have stopped but as we were running late and passed before we noticed the price, we went on.

Traffic was congested along the Rim and we were glad to break free as we came down to the double lanes. The restrooms at the Star Valley Circle K were closed for cleaning so we went on to the other Circle K on the other end of Payson. The men's bathroom was closed so James had to go across the street to Speedy. he did buy a drink at Circle K. 

James made it to his appointment right on time. I dropped him off and went to find a bathroom. I ended up at Deseret Book because I know their bathrooms are clean. While there I bought a container of butter mints. I didn't want to spend any money and then found out when I went to check out that I had $29.00 credit coming. I paid the $5 for the mints and now have about $24 left. 

As I went out and got in the car James called and said he was finished and would be waiting outside. I was surprised that he was finished so soon. He said the doctor only does surgery and James does not want to have another surgery. James said the appointment was a waste of time. I told him that it wasn't necessarily because in the process of elimination, one more option had been eliminated.

We were both hungry so we drove down Market St. to see what would catch our eye. I originally wanted to go to Cafe Rio and James wanted to go to Red Lobster and because we couldn't agree, we drove down Market St. Chikfila caught our eye so away we went. 

Luckily I found a table right by the door as we went in as the place was packed. James placed our order. An order of chicken strips for me and a chicken sandwich for him. He ordered 4 strips because he thought he might like one and that I would only eat three. I ended up eating all four, the first two initially and the last two on the way home. Just call me Miss Piggy. 

We went to the Costco here near Deseret Book. I wanted to buy some steaks. We picked up a package of five steaks for $80. Further down there was someone giving samples of beef burnt ends. They were so delicious we decided to take the steaks back and buy a package of the burnt ends. I also bought some short ribs and egg bites. James bought candy, Pom juice and a pineapple. Our purchases came to $103.91. This Costco's gas station is closed for remodeling so we drove over to the one on Arizona Avenue and Baseline. The line was long but it only took us about 15 minutes to get our gas and be gone. We went home the Payson way.

We stopped at the Circle K in Show Low for a drink and some gas. 

It was around 5:30 when we returned home. 

I told Sheri if we come down this winter that I wanted to be in her ward. She said that would make her happy because she doesn't feel like she belongs. I told her that she belongs to Jesus and to me.

Monday, March 16th, 2026: Land sales earnest money agreement, cant asked to be released, Walmart to give elders cash, James's ice cream, Culvers Drive-Thru, Applegate's bid Jimmie no time to meet, Stacy's call, new book "The Pharaoh's Daughter

 

Washington D.C.

Temple #16

I typed up an agreement that James devised for the earnest money Dave Elkins is going to give us this week in the amount of $24,000.

We are selling him 23 acres instead of 22.

I have come to the conclusion that I cannot asked to be released. In my mind I wouldn't be living up to my covenants if I did. When I am feeling like I just can't handle things I've got to put greater trust in the Lord. He will help me to do the things that He wants me to do. I told James not to talk to the bishop.

James made an appointment with the missionaries who serve in Vernon to meet them at Walmart around noon. We signed up to feed them tomorrow but we are going to the valley to James's doctor appointment. We gave the two elders $40 and they were very pleased saying that was more than enough for them to buy a nice meal.

James bought some of his yogurt bars at Walmart. There are four of them. I eat one and he eats the other three. I wanted to stop at Culver's for lunch but because we couldn't finish our treat before going in and knowing they would melt if we left them in the car, we went through the drive-thru. We both ordered the same salad only James ordered bleu cheese dressing to go with his.

I ate most of mine on the way home while James waited until we got home to eat his.

James wanted to meet with the Applegate's this evening about the cost of their home and the bid he has been working on. Jimmie said he was too busy to meet for several day. James is a little discouraged about this entire project and how long it has taken to get anything done. They got their permits last April.

I started a new book this evening, the 2nd in the Isabelle Webb series by N.C. Allen. This one is called, "The Pharaoh's Daughter." James is starting the first book in the series.

"No matter where we live in the world, no matter our age, it is a basic human need ... to feel a sense of belonging."

- Sister J. Anette Dennis, OGC 2025

Genesis 45:5

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Chad, Cannon's wife, Cannon and Nicole

Bobby Noel

 

Sunday, March 15th, 2026: The passing of Bobby Noel, Beach's called to serve in Zimbabwe, Blackie/Scooter is missing, high council week - Elder Shumway's brother, new Stake RS president, Linda Stevens teaches Gospel Doctrine, planning of Easter Potluck

 

Provo, Utah Rock Canyon

Temple #15

I learned this morning on Facebook that our dear friend Bobby Noel passed away. When we first moved to Chandler, I was in my 20's and was called at the Primary president. Brother Noel was my priesthood advisor and he was a great one. He was the baseball coach at Chandler High School for years before he moved to Orem, Utah.

I forgot to mention that yesterday Paul's sister Nicole's oldest son, Cannon was sealed in the Gilbert temple. President Ray Hayman was the sealer. It was a surprise to Nicole and she got a little teary eyed. 

Brother Beach texted James this morning and told him they received their mission call. They are going to Zimbabwe and they are very excited. The last dedicated temple on March 1st was in Zimbabwe.

Blackie, or as James calls him was missing this morning. He is always there waiting for his breakfast, but not this morning. James and I are both a little sad. 

Today was high council sacrament meeting. Our new Stake Relief Society president, Kacie Flake was our first speaker. The high councilman was President Shane Shumway, Elder Steven Shumway's brother. I guess he is the stake young men's president. 

Linda Stevens taught gospel doctrine class although Jimmie Applegate was present. Sister Stevens did a great job with power point slides and everything. I guess she has taught gospel doctrine before. 

I had the take aways from todays meeting. From Sister Flake's talk: I need to start looking for daily tender mercies and recording them in my tender mercies journal. I did this for awhile but quit some time ago. 

From President Shumway's talk. Spend the first hour of the day in prayer and scripture study, getting close to the Lord. It is the first hour of the day that I need to work on.

From Sunday School. Joseph came to know that the Lord was with him and what his purpose was. I need to find out what my purpose is at this time in my life. I should know, but I don't. 

I planned the Easter potluck with Darrel, Trina, Kim, Sheri, and Stacy. Darrel is making tritip, and the rest of us will bring sides and desserts. It will be on the 28th at 5 p.m. at Darrel & Trina's.

James wrote a letter to our grandchildren and wants me to type it and proof read it for him. I will be happy to.

James also found Scooter this evening. He was sitting at the dining room table and heard a meowing noise. He went outside and found the cat in the garage. He carried him back to the porch and gave him his dinner. We are both so relieved that we found him.

I feel the love

"This is the church of new beginnings! This is the church of fresh starts !"

- Elder Patrick Kearon, OGC 2025

Genesis 41:44

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

Ziggie

Newest picture of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 Alex and his latest girl