Sunday, March 22nd, 2026: God's presence in my life, up@ 4 to study, James losing his voice, Lily Jameson, Paula Johnson, Greg Anderson, RS lesson went well, back home to eat & rest, "WCTH"

 

Apia, Samoa

Temple #22

How can I let God's presence go with me wherever I am? 

It is by being worthy of the Holy Ghost at all times and in all places.

I got up at 4 am to study for my lesson. 

James is teaching today also and his voice is just about gone. I feel for him and said a prayer for him. He is an example of perseverance.

We arrived early to church to set up and I was pleasantly surprised that the Relief Society room was available. I wrote the name of the lesson on the whiteboard and an outline of the lesson. "They Shall Be Their Own Judges" by Elder David A. Bednar.

Krystal Flake and Jane Rose came in to practice the song Krystal is singing in sacrament meeting today. Kerri Halcomb came in to set up the mic for our RS meeting. We talked and set up a lunch date for April 3rd. Kerri's birthday is April 2nd. I usually take handouts to the Primary and Young Women's but because I didn't want the Primary children and young women to see the cookies, so I told Lynn Wallace, the Primary secretary to tell the sisters to come and get a handout after the meetings are over. I tried to go to Young Women's after sacrament meeting but they had already started their meeting and I didn't want to interrupt.

We sat in the back with Kim & Brian. I had a difficult time hearing. The theme for the meeting was love. Lily Jameson was the youth speaker. "Charity is the pure love of Christ. Small acts of love can make a big difference."

Paula Johnson was next: The five love languages, kind words, service, time, gifts, and physical affection. Paula is a great example of someone who has Christlike love. Paula gives lots of community service here in Vernon, and one of those services is running the food bank. She says she gets to the library, where the food is distributed, an hour early so she can go down the line and talk to the people in line, getting to know them. I was so impressed with this! Paula is an amazing person. 

James's friend, Greg Anderson was the last speaker. Greg was raised with an abusive father but in spite of this he says that he found the Savior and Jesus Christ is his best friend. One of the things I love about Greg is his desire to share his testimony with others. Whether he goes he strikes up a gospel conversation.

I introduced myself to two new sisters in our ward, Heather Holly and her mother Sheri. Kim sat on the front row and counted the sisters as they came in. She counted up to 35 and more came after she quit counting. Oh dear, I hope I have enough handouts. 

I felt good about the lesson afterwards. Relief Society sisters are so sweet and kind. Millie Scott took me aside and ask me to pray for her on March 31st. She is having an aorta replacement. I told her I certainly would. She is such a sweetheart. One of my former young women, Winna Ulmer's granddaughter, Hope Lootans was in Relief Society today. Hope has been into drugs and just got out of prison recently. It was so wonderful to see her in Relief Society.

Brian was a little upset about the elders quorum meeting. He said the counsel wasn't really a counsel. I guess Steve Rosen told the brothers they could always do more. He also said James didn't even get to starts his lesson until 37 minutes after the hour, leaving him only about 20 minutes. He said James did a good job.

This evening Kim, Brian and I watched the "When Calls the Heart" finale. Nathan finally proposed to Elizabeth and Edie and Lucas finally kissed.

Kathy Crane thinks our black cat Scooter is their cat's offspring that they gave to the MacArthur's. She called him Jose. 

Our A.S.K. talk for today was a talk given by President James E. Faust years ago on forgiveness. I remember it. An outsider, a milkman, broke into an Amish school and shot and killed 5 young girls, injured 5 more and then killed himself. The Amish community immediately forgave the man. How did they do it? Here are some quotes:

"Forgiveness comes more readily when, like the Amish, we have faith in God and trust in His word. Such faith 'enables people to withstand the worst of humanity. It also enables people to look beyond themselves. More importantly, it enables them to forgive.'"

"Keep a place in your heart for forgiveness, and when it comes, welcome it in."

Kim wrote: 

I was impressed with how readily the Amish people were able to forgive.

"How could the whole Amish group manifest such an expression of forgiveness? It was because of their faith in God and trust in His word, which is part of their inner beings. They see themselves as disciples of Christ and want to follow His example."

The gospel is designed to help us become like Christ and they were such disciples that when the time came to forgive they were readily able to do it because they had let Christ transform them.

All I can say is Wow. 

Saturday night

Benson

Benson & Scarlett

Benson

Kacey's post about Mason

Kim found our missing pillow shoved down into

the loveseat. It's been missing for months!

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