Wednesday, March 25th, 2026:Moses: "Who am I?" The surveyor surveys the 23 acres we are selling & he didn't need James to cut down trees,

 

Papeete, Tahiti

Temple #25

Exodus 3:11 - Moses to God: Who am I? Called of the Lord. 

" Moses' response to the Lord's call is typical of the response of most of the humble servants of God. But the heavens compensate for those who will be taught and will allow the powers of the Spirit to work a mighty change. Indeed, marvelous miracles are wrought by those who acknowledge their own nothingness, while, at the same time, acknowledging and relying upon the Lord's omnipotence."

(Millet, "Call of Moses," 98).

As part of today's "Come Follow Me" I read two talks: "In Awe of Christ" by Elder Soares from the April 2022 general conference, and "Is It Still Wonderful to You?" by Elder Gerald Causse, April 2015 general conference. I chose Elder Causse's talk for this week's A.S.K. talk. 

Part of the reason I am feeling so down from time to time is because of what happened last summer with Rowan, Joshua, and Evan. As we studied the Book of Mormon and I saw their testimonies shine through I was so confident they would go on missions. I was so disappointed when none of them went. I felt like a failure and what we had done didn't matter. 

James and I are both heartbroken because the only ones of our grandchildren who are active are: Addy, Autumn, Ruby, Lola, Charlie, and Scarlett. I guess the girls have to carry on the gospel legacy. We won't give up on the boys. We will continue to pray for them and try to influence them. 

The surveyor that James hired came this morning and surveyed the land we are selling. The border goes into the middle of our road. James told him to be sure and include an easement when he records it with Apache county. The surveyor told James what we have assumed all along, most of the staff in the county are inept. He also said he did not need James to knock trees down. Now we have dead trees lying out in our field.

"The Lord expects us to be strong in our testimonies, to be full of faith, and to repent daily." 

- Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus

Exodus 4:31

And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Emmy

James "treating" a log

Tuesday, March 24th, 2026: James needs horse feed - trip to town - Panda Express, Gas roulette, Michael wants to come to the potluck to say goodbye to Darrel & Trina

 

Santiago, Chile

Temple #24

Tom was sick to his stomach last night, luckily on his blanket.

James came into the bedroom this morning around 7, the time he is usually out feeding the horses. He said he ran out of horse feed and totally forgot when we were in town yesterday. Since the horses are hungry and used to being fed in the morning, off we went to town to get horse feed.

After picking up horse feed we went to Taco Bell to have a taco for breakfast. I like their chicken cantina soft tacos. We also got some gas. We played the gas roulette game and lost. The lowest price was at the small Speedway as we came into town, but we passed it up. We went to Sinclair and paid six cents a gallon more. It's a little game we play.

James and I were both out of sorts today and as a result we did not get along very well. Really, our behavior is unacceptable for two people who claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ. I am ashamed for both of us. 

James took the skidsteer out to knock down trees for the surveyor who is coming tomorrow. In the process he got a flat tire and had to go into town to get it fixed. He asked me to go with him but I declined. When he returned and got the skidsteer going again he bent something on it knocking down trees and had to stop. James knows I hate it when he knocks down trees and also when he starts one job before finishing another. This was part of our understanding today. I couldn't understand why he would need to knock down trees for the surveyor if the surveyor had not asked him to.

Oh yes, James did do something thoughtful for me today. When he came home from town he brought me a salad from Culver's. I was most grateful.

James got a text from Michael this evening. He just found out that Darrel & Trina are moving and he wants to come with his girlfriend, April, to the potluck on Saturday. He and his work buddies won't be coming to the cabin.

Scarlett

Rowan, Joshua, Evan

so much promise

 

Monday, March 23rd, 2026: Up @ 5 for prayer & scripture study, Exodus 1, Kim & Brian leave, Panda Express, saving the logs, Molly,

Nuku'lofa, Tonga

Temple #23

Up at 5 for prayer and scripture study, Exodus 1, the story of baby Moses and the women who saved him. His mother, his sister Miriam, the midwives, and the Pharaoh's daughter.

James and I read Jacob 5. James and Brian think it's boring whereas Kim and I find it a fascinating history found in the Bible and Book of Mormon.

Kim and Brian left for home around 8 a.m. Kim asked if they paid rent on the cabin that it would go towards purchasing. James said yes, of course. 

James and I made a trip to town today. Originally I wanted to go for a walk in the park and then get lunch, but when it came time to go I just wasn't feeling up to it. I had a bad dream last night and my sleep was constantly interrupted going to the bathroom. I was exhausted. 

We just went to Panda Express and got some lunch to bring home and eat. 

Gas prices in Show Low continue to go up, ranging from $4.29 to $4.49.

Kacey sent me a sweet text today. She was concerned about me and wanted to know how my RS lesson went. I told her it went well and that Kim gave me some ideas and helped me with my handouts. 

One of the sections of Elder Bednar's talk was on moral agency. Kim made a comment during the lesson about how our moral agency is all we really have to give to the Lord. 

James is caulking the logs on the front porch. He says if he doesn't they will rot. I am a little upset because we still have a missing section of the deck railing. When I mention it James says he has to replace one of the logs the railing connects to. By replacing the log he means going up on the hill, chopping down a tree and pealing off the bark. He says he wants to get the logs out front done before summer. Shouldn't we be doing more important things than keeping up a log home. I want to go on a mission.

We received $24,150 from the Elkins' today with a domestic wire fee of $15.

"We learn from Jesus Christ the power of ministering to the one with love and without judgment."

- Elder Peter M. Johnson

Exodus 3:2

And the angel (presence) of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Charlie's note

Molly

 

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