Wednesday, April 29th, 2026: Early morning woes, take Bishop to town at noon to rent a car, Yorba Linda temple open house, Home Depot, Walmart, LaCasita, no viewing for Lois,

 

Columbus, Ohio

Temple #60

I wake up most mornings with my hands, shoulders, and feet hurting. It has become my habit to drink a shake, take two Tramadol and go back to bed for an hour or so, until I feel better.

James and I took the bishop to town today to rent an SUV. He is taking his family to the Yorba Linda temple open house in California. He said the place where the temple is built was where the building he went to church in as a boy. They will stay at an air-bnb in New Port Beach. They will also be taking a trip to Catalina Island. Sandra Wilhelm is sending a package with them to give to Elder Wilhelm. 

James went to Home Depot while I went to Walmart. Afterwards we had lunch at LaCasita. The food was delicious and the prices are quite reasonable. 

I walked and enjoyed listening to my book, "The Nobleman's Daughter." It is still so very windy outside that I don't even want to go outside.

Jacob Barrett and his grandpa, Richard Miller showed up at our house this afternoon during rest time. Jacob brought us tickets for the upcoming youth fundraiser Navajo Taco dinner and desert auction. I told Jacob we would buy our tickets from him.

I got a text from Michael today. He wants to bring his girlfriend, April up on the 14th. He says he wants us to meet her and that she is "the one." Maybe we will have a wedding coming up soon.

Do I make my offerings with a willing heart?

"I extend an earnest invitation to all of us to adorn our minds and hearts with the Christlike virtue of temperance."

- Elder Ulisses Soares

Leviticus 19:13

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Charlie's school photos

Such a cutie!

Relief Society memory

Teresa Smith, Pat Tedder, Kailee Nichol

Amy Reynolds, Tamara Applegate

Tuesday, April 28th, 2026: "More Holiness Give Me", Janna's text, James does a session and helps clean the temple w/ Kathy & Chuck Crane, I stay home because of pain

 

Spokane, Washington

Temple #59

"Greater happiness comes from greater holiness."

- Henry B. Eyring

As part of our "Come Follow Me" study this morning we listened to a talk by President Henry B. Eyring from the October 2019 General Conference, "Holiness and the Plan of Happiness." The above quote is from that talk. Here are some more of the notes that I took while listening to it.

We increase in holiness through adversity and through daily repentance where the Lord changes us to become the best we can be. We can have greater faith in Jesus Christ by feasting upon His words. The pathway of purity. 

More purity give me,

more strength to o'ercome,

more freedom from earth-stains,

more longing for home.

More fit for the kingdom,

more used would I be,

more blessed and holy -

more Savior like thee.

I knew we were going to the temple this afternoon/evening, so I did my walking early.

I got a text from my friend Janna Grombach today about her experience in the hospital up here. She has a bowel blockage. 

I have a blockage in my small intestine with an ulceration in my large intestine. My doctor said Summit was not supposed to release me until the blockage was completely gone. (They let her go the same day she came in). My primary care said to stay on clear liquids until Friday to see if it will release. If I'm not better by Friday I am to go to the valley for admission back into the hospital, or sooner if I get worse. I got a blessing. It's so sad we can't get a better hospital here. 

Clear liquids until Friday. She's going to starve! I am praying that she will get better very soon. She is such a dear friend.

I had planned on starting to get ready for the temple around 4:45 but I felt miserable. I had a lot of pain in my arm and shoulder and some sciatic nerve pain on my right side. I took some Tramadol and laid down but I never really felt better. James came in and got ready. When he saw me still on the recliner he told me to go take a shower and I would feel better. I did, but I didn't. I started to cry and told him I was sorry but I just didn't think I could go. At first he wasn't going to go either, but I talked him in to it. Kathy and Chuck picked him up before 5:30. They are going to the 7:00 session and then will clean the temple afterwards. I feel like such a slug.

James called me around 9:30 this evening. He said he was locked outside of the temple waiting for the Crane's who were still inside. He said that Linda and Bobby Stevens had been the officiator's in the temple session. They are a new couple in our ward and I didn't know they were temple workers. He said they had around 25 people helping to clean. That is quite amazing. 

James got home at 10:30 and was hungry. He had a couple of cookies before going to bed.

"Healing and forgiveness are each found in their fulness in the atoning love of Jesus Christ."

- Elder Neil L. Andersen

Exodus 40:38

For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

The ark of the covenant

Altar of incense

Candlestick

Table of Shewbread

Laver

Altar of Sacrifice

Monday, April 27th, 2026: CFM, President Eyring's talk, walk early, sciatic nerve pain keeps me from going to the temple, I stay home and rest instead, James leaves @ 5:15 and gets home @ 10:30

Guayaquil, Ecuador

Temple #58

A rough night for both James and I. Neither one of us slept very well. We always wake up stiff and hurting. The first thing I do is drink a shake and take some Tramadol. Well, I should l say that the first thing I do is say my prayers, and then I do the shake, Tramadol combo. 

Today I read Exodus 35 and 36 all about the children of Israel building the tabernacle in the wilderness according to the Lord's specifications. The purpose of the tabernacle was to help them to remember the Lord and to keep Him close to them.

The tabernacle/temple remind us of Jesus Christ. Sacrifice strengthens faith in Jesus Christ. Today our sacrifice is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

James and I read Mosiah 18 as part of our daily Book of Mormon study. Alma remembers and records the words of Abinadi and flees the courts of King Noah at the peril of his life. He starts a following of believers in the wilderness and begins to baptize the people. 

I finished my book, "Faithful Tides" by Sister Sarah L. McConkie and started another of her books, "Dual Devotions". 

It was a lazy day for me because I hurt so much. I did contact AARA and asked to schedule my cortisone injections. I have not heard back from them yet.

James brought me some shrimp from Culver's for lunch and they were so delicious! They probably have more carbs than I would like to have but they were worth it. 

I texted Jared Ammon today and asked him if he would take family pictures for us after great-grandmother's funeral on Saturday. He said he would. He has a great camera which he will set up on a tripod and use an automatic timer so he can be in the picture too.

Because James and I are planning on doing a session at the temple and then we are helping to clean it tomorrow evening, I changed my lunch date with Pat Tedder from tomorrow to Thursday. I then schedule our session for tomorrow evening at 7 and printed off family name cards for both James and I to take. We are going to with the Crane's to the temple.

I saw 5 elk in the yard this afternoon. James was a little disappointed because they were all cow elk, or females. 

James fixed our leaky faucet today which made me very happy.

Scott Tibbets passed away this evening at 7:45 just a week after his grandmother. My heart goes out to Rebecca and her family. Here is something Scott gave to us for Christmas a couple of years ago:

"All of us can have a new beginning through, and because of

Jesus Christ. Even you."

- Elder Patrick Kearon

Exodus 39:30

And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, 

HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

Lady elk

 

Sunday, April 26th, 2026: Up @ 4:30 for study, early arrival @ church for setup, it is sooo windy! Wilhelm's speak in sacrament meeting, RS, Millie, Rosie, Kristine, Lunch, rest, blog, ride, talk with Jared, Sheri's offer

 

Bogota, Columbia

Temple #57

I was up at 4:30 this morning to finish my lesson outline and to take my pain pills. I was finished in time to take a 30 minute nap before it was time to get ready to go.

We had a wonderful sacrament meeting today. LaNell or Nellie as her loved ones call her, was the youth speaker. She just turned 8 and was baptized yesterday. Basically she said in her talk, that she was baptized because she wanted to be clean and she wants to be close to Jesus. 

Sandra Wilhelm - Sandra was asked to speak on remembering the Savior. Here are some of her remarks that I wrote down:

Write them down to remember spiritual experiences. Like the children of Israel, do we forget the miracles in our lives? Think of Him first in daily decisions. Think of Christ first before responding. 

We take the sacrament we lay our sins at His feet. He knows our heartbreaks, struggles and efforts. I feel my Savior's love when I have a constant prayer in my heart. Look for ways we have seen God's hand in our life. Reflect and Record.

John Wilhelm - I am grateful for Sandra who always looks for the positive in others. Always remember Him. The Spirit prompted John to tell one of the girls on Ruthie's softball team that "Jesus loves her." He is always there. Line upon line, precept upon precept, He will lead us along. Are we asking the right questions. Do I have faith to receive? All things come through Christ. Find ways to always to remember Him. Make every interaction positive. Seeds may no germinate until the next life. John then bore his testimony.

I congratulated Nellie on her baptism and told her how beautiful she looked in her white dress. 

My lesson went well and I had plenty of handouts. I am grateful for Kristine Hipps. She shared how her mother had passed away before Easter and how grateful she is for the Resurrection and the knowledge that she will see her mother again. 

I also enjoyed Amy Bowen's comment about how sometimes the way to be a peacemaker is to stand up for what is right in spite of conflict and gave the example of the Lord cleansing the temple to restore peace to His Father's house. 

I am grateful for the text I received from Rosie Lauritzen after the meetings were over and I was relaxing in my comfy chair:

Rosie - You did another wonderful lesson and I LOVE the little teacup handout you gave...you are so creative and thoughtful!!

Me - Thank you Rosie. It means so much to hear from you, someone I love so much!

Rosie - Everyone loves you Karen...my whole week goes better after one of your spirit filled lessons!! I hope you have a week of strength and peace in your heart.

Me - Thank you Rosie. You really are the best!

Rosie - Same to you sweet sister!!

Teresa Smith is back from the valley. It was so great to see her along with Ingrid and Joyce.

Millie Scott said her heart surgery would add 10 years to her life but she's not sure she wants to live that long. She is 83 years old.

I talked with Kim about her talk and she said she thought it went okay and she only cried once. 

For lunch James cooked the two filet mignon steaks I had purchased the other day. They were cooked perfectly and went well with the salad I made. 

James and I had just left to go for a short ride this evening when I got a call from Jared asking what we were doing for dinner on Sunday in the valley. I told him we hadn't made plans but I would talk to Sheri. Sheri said she would make both lunch and dinner for us and for Jared's family, and cookies for Charlie who said that Sheri's cookies were very good.

James wrote up a paper this evening of memories of his mom when he was a boy. I typed it up for him and he will send it to Cathi tomorrow. Carmen and Dawn will include it in their talk about their Mom at the funeral.

Autumn's Annual Tea Party which

was held on Saturday

What a wonderful party!!

Somehow Natalie Robles got two of my handouts and Ethan and Makenzi had their own tea party.

Dianne & C.T. Davis, one of our former bishops.

C.T just turned 89

Happy Birthday

My 60 handouts

Alicia & Stefani accepted a challenge to

dress alike and do their hair alike.

They are both Hunsaker's as they

married brothers.

Saturday, April 25th, 2026: Sammy finally returns, BM scriptures to Adam, James does a beautiful job washing my car, my book: "Faithful Tides", I finish my handouts

 

Madrid, Spain

Temple #56

Sammy was still gone this morning but he came back later in the day. His paw seems to be fine now.

I send the Book of Mormon scripture reading everyday to Adam. I wonder if he reads them. Sometimes I make comments but he never responds.

A slow moving day around here, except for the wind. It is moving a little too fast for my taste. Kathy Crane went to the dump and I got the garbage ready for her because I couldn't find James and he didn't respond to my phone call. I tied a $5 bill to the top of the large bag to help with the dump fee.

James used our new power sprayer to wash the car and the truck today. On my car he sprayed all of the bugs off the front and got all the mud out of the wheel wells. It's been there since the last rain. The windshield was spotless. There was no dust on the back of the car. It was beautiful!

I am really getting in to the book I am reading, "Faithful Tides." It's about a ship of 482 Latter-day Saints who left Liverpool, England in 1854 for Zion. They endured so many trials and tests which required great faith to overcome. I wonder if I would have been able to overcome all the trials these saints had to endure as a part of their faith.

Sheri's post

I wonder if Sheri knows about these.

Friday, April 24th, 2026: Sammy is missing, new book - "Faithful Tides" by Sarah L. McConkie, finished my handouts, Larry & Kat get paid, too much Tylenol,

 

Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua

Temple #55

Sammy is missing this morning. I hope he is okay.

Today in Exodus I read about the story of the golden calf. I just don't understand why Aaron, the supposed leader, would do such a thing.

Our Come Follow Me study was about how sin is turning away from God and repentance is turning toward Him and away from evil.

We did not go to the temple today. I spent the first part of the day finishing up my handouts for my lesson on Sunday. Now I can focus on the lesson.

Larry and Kat came today and worked on the logs with James. I will be so grateful when this project is complete. Will the upkeep on this house ever be complete?

According to what James read on the Tylenol bottle I have been taking too much lately. When my body is hurting it responds better to both Tramadol & Tylenol, (I call it T&T) but on the bottle it says to not take Tylenol for more than 10 days in a row. Oops. I guess I better cut back because it is bad for my liver.

I got a text from my friend Janna Grombach today. She is in the hospital with a bowel blockage. She waited most of the day for them to decide they were not going to do surgery but sent her home to rest. I am grateful she doesn't have to have surgery but I am still worried about her.

I talked with Pat, Janna's mom. I am her ministering sister and told her if she needed a ride to the hospital I would be happy to take her. She said because of flu season she wasn't going to go unless Janna was going to have surgery, which she didn't. Anyway, Pat and I have a lunch date this coming Tuesday. It's been awhile since we have had a good visit.

My right knee has been bothering me lately but my shoulders and other knee are doing quite well. I am holding off on my cortisone injections as long as I can.

"The family proclamation has a divine origin, so we must treat it with the reverence deserving words from God."

- Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Exodus 32:26

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Why don't we all live there?

Oh yeah, alligators and hurricanes.