Thursday, August 13th, 2026: How do we continually walk with Jesus?, SWK "Tragedy or Destiny", EML quote, James goes to Springerville to see Dr. Smithson, RS handouts, Kim finishes painting our bathroom, Tom & banana bread, " Twas the Date Before Christmas""Paris Is Always A Good Idea"

 

Lisbon, Portugal

Temple #166.

I had this thought when I got up this morning. How do we walk with Jesus all day long? We have to try to always have His Spirit to be with us. This is the key. The Spirit is the conveyer of the Savior's grace. It is through the Spirit that we feel His love and His presence in our lives. So I guess the real question is, how do we always have His Spirit to be with us. What we think about and focus on makes a big difference. 

I felt the Spirit today as I read Elder Soares's conference address, "Jesus Christ - The True Vine." The Savior said: "I am the true vine. . . . Ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

Today's Inklings study was Elder Rasband's talk, "He Is Risen." Emily's daughter Megan made the following worksheet as Emily taught from John 5.

Inklings Affirmation: 

I am never without hope. 

Because Jesus Christ lives, I can face today with confidence and peace. His Resurrection reminds me that no trial is final, no sorrow is forever, and His hope is always available to me.

This is so comforting to me!

As part of our "Come Follow Me" study under the heading "When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold", we were asked to read from Spencer W. Kimball's teachings about adversity in "Tragedy or Destiny?". Here is a quote from this chapter in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball:

"If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective."

It was a good morning of gospel study! Now for the afternoon. I read this from "The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, volume 8, May 31st:

"All related thoughts end with the realization that a good deal of life is watching those we love consider the stupidest of possibilities."

- Emma M. Lion

Kim took some pictures while she was outside this morning and shared them with me. She goes out and feeds the horses, and then she does something called "grounding" where she stands barefoot in the grass for 10 minutes. This is also the time where she soaks up the "sun." Anyway, here are her photos:

Tom & Scooter

"Frien-emies"

Telling James to stay off a ladder is like

telling Tom to quit climbing trees.

Our wildflowers this year are

sunflowers and lavender verbina

James made a trip to Springerville to see Dr. Smithson this morning. He couldn't believe how green everything was:

Usually these hills are a light yellowish brown. So beautiful.

Dr. Smithson is a very nice man. He is a member of our stake presidency and I have nothing but good things to say about him personally. This is the doctor James was supposed to see the week he got home from rehab. We couldn't get an appointment until August 13th. That's why we went to Dr. Ellsworth instead. When James told Dr. Smithson about the problem, he was very concerned and apologized. He said if he would have known he would have made an earlier appointment. James told him about trying to get a hold of him. Anyway, it's all water under the bridge now. What it boils down to is Dr. Smithson is going to transfer him to the Show Low office where he sees patients two days a week instead of the Springerville office where he sees two days a month. 

While James was gone Kim and I watched episode 4 of "Paris Is Always a Good Idea." Jason and Chelsea (Lacey Chabert) admit they are falling in love but Jason wants Chelsea to go see Marcos in Spain for closure. He finds out later Marcos  is a billionaire who lives in a castle. 

Well, the guy from Kings USA Realty Corp said the Mexican government is asking for $3,900 from us as some sort of permit. He insures us it will be reimbursed after the sale goes through. I reminded James we said no money paid upfront. He still was leaning towards doing the deal until he looked up Kings USA Realty Corp on Google and found this:

That settles it. No deal with these guys. Goodbye $35,000.

Kim finished painting the bathroom today. Yay! The color, Evening Mist, makes the room look lighter, airer, and more spacious. Thank you Kim!

You can tell here how much lighter the

color is than the original

Tonight's Hallmark Christmas movie:

"Twas the Date Before Christmas"

starring: Robert Buckley & Amy Groenig

Feeling the pressure to bring someone home for Christmas, Jessie convinces Bryan to join her family for a day filled with holiday events which they call Christmas Olympics, only the family doesn't know it's their first date.

"The Only way we can come to know our Heavenly Father and gain eternal life is by coming unto Christ and following Him."

- Elder Wan-Liang Wu

Job 19:26

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

 

Wednesday, August 12th, 2026: Mediating family misunderstandings, Joe's brakes, Timeshare troubles, Trip to town, mail Joshua's bday card, Amazon return, paint & tape, Arizona Stone, Walmart, More Rain!! talk to Sheri, "Mystic Christmas"

 

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

Temple #165.

A little misunderstanding between James and Kim this morning but it worked itself out. Kim needs more paint and we are going into town to get some. She still has a wall to wash and taping to do so hopefully we will make it back before she runs out of paint. I am loving the color! I can't remember what James said it's called. Maybe later.

Well, it happened. The timeshare deal is requiring us to pay $3,900 upfront. I told James that was a red flag but I would let him decide if he was going to go through with it or not. 

We left for town before noon. Our first stop was the Show Low post office where we mailed Joshua's birthday card. James dropped me off at Walmart while he took back my Amazon return, a white belt that was nothing like I thought it would be. He then went to Home Depot to get paint and some more tape. James called me while I was shopping and asked if he had time to go to Arizona stone to look to see if they had what he could use to replace the cracked stones on the front steps. I asked him how important it was to him and he said very, so I told him to go, I still had a little more shopping to do. 

It rained on us all the way home and was raining at home when we got there. Oh happy day! 

Kim finished painting another wall and only has one more to go. She will finish tomorrow. 

Sheri called me this afternoon and we caught up. Oh my, the stories she told. 

*Ben & Cayli rented an electric car to take to Yellowstone and made it has far as Camp Verde, Arizona. Cayli's mom bought them airline tickets so they could meet Cayli's family on their vacation. 

*Ian told Max and Sheri sunscreen wasn't good for them and refused to wear it. He ended up getting sun poisoning on his feet and couldn't even put his shoes on.

*One of Max's friends, a girl from Russia, came to San Francisco to watch him race. She has two children. I guess she also has family in the area. After the race, Max went with this girl and then came back to Sheri & Ian's hotel with this story. His friend and several others went to a Russian bath. Max said he didn't feel like getting naked in front of a bunch of women he didn't know. Also, he couldn't understand them because they were speaking Russian. 

*Xander invited Sheri to go with him and Jazmin to the restaurant where Jared Ammon works, The Guadalupe. Jazmin came over and said: "Ian, you are coming too aren't you?" Sheri said she called Xander and asked him if it was okay if his dad came. Luckily, he said yes. Sheri says Jazmin is good friends with Max and Evan and they all get along so well. She loves her.

Sheri also said that Jared Ammon was so happy that they came in.

Xander, Jazmin, Jared Ammon, Sheri, and Ian

Before Sheri and I hung up, I was in cat prison. It's okay I love my kitty.

James came in from working on the upstairs balcony off his office looking like this:

What can I say? He works hard and gets very dirty.

After James cleaned up a bit, he went outside to walk. He was walking around the patio and tripped and fell on the grate. He was upset because someone had taken it out of the firepit. Kim says she remembers him doing it. He doesn't remember that. He cut his finger and it is bleeding profusely. He also hurt his broken leg. I hope it's not serious. 

Kim chose the movie this evening, "Mystic Christmas" starring Jesse Schram, Chandler Massey, and Patti Murin. Kim really liked it. I thought it was okay.

"Sometimes I need the perspective that time gives to see the refining and perfecting hand of our Savior, Jesus Christ, in my life."

- Brother Eduardo F. Ortega

Job 19:25

For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and the He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

1 Nephi 1:1

I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents . . . 

I love castles

Jesse Schram & Chandler Massey

Happy 94th Birthday President Oaks

becoming the Prophet.

Tuesday, August 11th, 2026: Sleeping on a cloud, Kim's arm, no painting, I have a down day too, bank issues, timeshare paperwrk, Acorns, balcony, wet vac delivers, Stacy's call, Sheri's not coming, rain, "Letters to Santa" soo good, loved the kids!

 

Fortaleza, Brazil

Temple #164.

Our new mattress is like sleeping on a cloud. It is very soft and comfortable but will take some getting used to. My shoulders and knee were a little achy this morning. I don't think I will be going to town as I had planned. I'm going to stay home and take it easy.

Kim's arm is hurting today, and she won't be painting today. She worked on paying bills, things she could do without raising her arm.

I put the movie, "Surprised by Love" on but didn't really sit and watch it. It is one of those 'golden oldies' that Kim and I both love. Hilarie Burton and Paul Campbell, and Tim Conway are all in the movie. Tim Conway is hilarious and it is a fun movie to watch or just have on in the background.

I spent quite a bit of time on the phone with Chase bank today trying to solve two problems. The first, to get the home equity loan we have off of auto-pay, since it is paid off. It took speaking to five people and almost an hour to get the problem resolved, but finally, I did. 

The next problem was a charge on my Prime credit card. James bought some nutritional supplements on Aug. 2nd. The cost was $177.63. This charge was on the Freedom card. Today I looked at my Prime card and there were two charges on this card the same day, one for $14.95 and the other for $207.00. I looked for a number to call, even going on this companies' website but could not find one, so we told the bank we did not make this charge. James is adamant he did not make it and when I showed him the products on the website he said he did not recognize any of them. Of course, my card was cancelled for the second time in about a month. The will send me a new on in 5-7 business days. I hated to do this but it was necessary.

Some other things we did today. We looked at our Acorns saving account and figured in the last two months we have made $78.41 in two months.

James also signed some more papers and had me do likewise for the sale of the timeshare. I certainly hope this sale is legitimate. If we get the $35,000 from the sale, James wants to invest it in geo-thermal energy. 

James worked on the balcony today and came in with dirt and sawdust all over him. He made the mistake of sitting on the red recliner and left dirt all over it. When he discovered it, he went and got my little battery run vacuum and tried to use it. All it did was get more dirt on the recliner. I told him to go get the wet vac, which he did. I think James was impressed with how well it cleaned the dirt up. 

I had a chat with Stacy today. The news of the day is Vader's health issues. He has a ruptured anal gland and has to wear a cone and will probably have to have surgery, which is very costly. Paul is suffering from arthritis, especially in his feet which are swollen and sometimes he can't even walk. Mary is also becoming a problem. She cannot be alone even for five minutes. Friday she called to ask Paul what he was doing on Saturday. He said he had some errands to run. She said to him, maybe we can do your errands after we do mine. The entire family is concerned but they aren't quite sure what to do about it. Stacy said Mary made the comment after Marvin died that she needed to put on her big girl panties. "Mom, she still hasn't put them on." 

Did I mention that Sheri, Ian, Ben, and Cayli are not coming this weekend to help us. Ben and Cayli can't afford it and Ollie has a vet appointment. I was quite disappointed.

We watched the best family Christmas movie tonight, "Letters to Santa." The two kids in this movie made the movie. It's a good one!

We got more rain this evening and we are so happy!

"Consider your ministering assignment as "Christlike caring" of the Lord's most treasured possessions."

- Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Job 13:15

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Looks like fun!

Mason and Charlie

Kim loves the horses. I wonder if she would

like these shoes.

I've never seen Jacob Robles look so flustered.

  

Monday, August 10th, 2026: Happy 20th Rowan! Hike Wear shoes for free - I love them! new mattress and memory foam from our guardian angels, Willy & Janna Grombach, lots of rain, trade lessons w/ Amy in Sept, Charlie finishes the Book of Mormon, washer woes, nerve pills are great, Kim's shoulder hurts from painting, geo-thermal energy, Lola & Ruby start school, "Next Stop, Christmas!"

 

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Temple #163.

Happy 20th Birthday Rowan! We love you and hope you have a wonderful day and great year!

Remember our dates at the mall, Rowan?

Trina's post

Ruby's post

Addy's post

I received the Hike Wear shoes I ordered after cancelling my order and getting a refund. I figured I would mark the package return to sender and send it back in the mail. I emailed the company to ask what I should do, and I immediately received a response that I should keep the shoes or give them away. I wrote back thanking them and telling them that they have great customer service. I now have a free pair of shoes that would have cost me $77, and I love them because they are so lightweight and comfortable!

Our guardian angels, Janna and Willy Grombach brought us a new mattress today. It is one they just bought for Janna's mom, Pat, before she passed away. They brought the new mattress over, set it up, after taking our old one off, and then Janna went back and got her mom's memory foam and gave it to us. They are so kind and generous and we love them so much. I offered to pay for the mattress but they would not let me. I will think of them and Pat every time I sleep on it.

The mattress got dusty on the way over so they 

are vacuuming it off.

Luckily we did the great mattress exchange before the downpour came, and I mean downpour. It rained hard for over an our. We absolutely loved it! 

It looks like the first time we are going to be able to visit Darrel & Trina is the weekend of September 19th. I'm glad we have that settled. We will be missing stake conference for the third time in a row, which I am a little sad about because I love our stake president, President Joshua Beeler. 

The best news of this wonderful day is that Charlie finished reading the Book of Mormon. We are so proud of her and as I have said before, she is a Super Star!!

What an accomplishment for an

8 year old!

Kim painted today but her arm is hurting so she will probably take the day off tomorrow. 

We love the new color!

While Kim was indoors painting, James was outside doing this.

I know it doesn't look good, but at least he isn't on a ladder.

He's at it again

While Kim and James were working, I was enjoying my lunch.

Chicken with Swiss cheese, Bush beans,

steamed snap peas, and Chik-fila sauce.

Yummy!

Finally it rained and James had to take a break. Thank goodness!

We are so grateful for this rain!

Today was the first day of school for Lola and Ruby. New schools,

new grade, and new state.

Lola is in the 7th grade

You go girl!

Ruby is a senior!

Ruby is so cool

Such a sweetheart!

Our Christmas movie tonight starred one of our favorites, Lindsay

Fonseca, "Next Stop, Christmas." It was made in 2021. 

Sunday, August 9th, 2026: Evans Farnsworth passes away, Rita sends me Polly's funeral announcement, Khloe's saddle, We sit in front, Kim in back, Elaina Jensen, the Brown's, RS, grilled chicken, ADHD podcast, Sabbath takeaway

 

Rome, Italy

Temple #162.

Evans Farnsworth passed away today. His wife, Terry, was my secretary when I served in the stake Relief Society presidency. I love her. Evans was also our stake president in our early Chandler days.

Rita sent me Polly's funeral announcement today.

We had to bring a saddle for Khloe to borrow to church today. Somehow I forgot the handouts I was going to give to Teresa smith and Debbie Schwarz, and Teresa was waiting for me in the foyer when we came in. 

We sat in front in our normal spot because we can hear better and Kim sat in the back because that's where she is comfortable. 

Elaina Jensen was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting. She spoke about joy in Christ. Doug & Cindy Brown, recently back from teaching in China, were the other speakers. 

We finally have a couple of Gospel Doctrine teachers, Cope Reynolds, and Doug Brown. I think they will both do well.

Amy Reynolds taught Relief Society today. We studied Brother Wunderli's talk, "Jesus Christ is Not Our Burden, He Is Our Relief."

She gave each of us a small picture of the Savior to carry with us everywhere, just as Brother Wunderli's six year old son did. (It is warm in the Relief Society room).

Pam Wood sat by Kim and I. We sat in the front row. 

When we got home from church Kim was tired and went downstairs to take a nap. James and I made grilled chicken. I made a chipotle rub and James grilled the chicken breasts on the outside grill. We both thought the chili was a little too spicy. I ate mine with Chik-fila sauce and it was actually quite good. I have enough to eat it all week.

I got a text from Rita about Polly and we ended up talking about our health issues. Rita has leukemia from taking Methotrexate. Her numbers are very good right now. She says because of the leukemia, she can't do an infusion for her arthritis. Maybe that's why her doctor will let her take 1 mg of Prednisone everyday. 

While I was working on my blog this afternoon James decided he needed another "fix" from Pierce, paste for his mouth. Pierce gave him a treatment and sent him home with two more. 

These are my takeaways from today's meetings:

Elaina Jensen - Infuse a diffuser with oil and it purifies and cleanses the air. Infuse our hearts with the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ's pure love and joy is the result.

Alma 19:6 - Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness - yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God- The light of Christ, or the Holy Spirit, had infused such joy. I love that.

Cindy & Doug Brown - They asked if there were any members of the Church they could serve. They were told there were two African women who had not been visited since coming to China to go to school. The took a three hour train ride to visit these two women, Emma and Flora. The women were so grateful they came as Brother Brown administered the sacrament to them. They had not partaken of the sacrament for over a year. This was a great story because the Brown's wanted to serve and asked what they could do. They were willing to travel three hours to visit these women and Brother Brown was worthy to administer the sacrament to them.

Amy Reynolds - Take Jesus with you, everywhere you go and when the Spirit prompts you, act upon it.

I am grateful for these takeaways, and I am going to try to apply them in my life.

"I witness that a spiritual power and direction...will come into our lives as we keep the law of obedience and sacrifice."

- Author Unknown

Alma 5:28

Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.

Khloe Mack as a kindergartener.

She is even cuter as a teenager.

I always love encouragement from President Holland

Saturday, August 8th, 2026: Up @ 3:30 to start MacArthur's cinnamon rolls, "Christmas on the Bayou", Kim begins painting bathroom - Tom goes outside, J & I go to town, dump, mail Ro's card and D&T's, Culver's, Circle K, H.D., a little rain,

 

Barranquilla, Colombia

Temple #161.

I got up at 3:30 this morning to start some cinnamon rolls for MacArthur's. Instead of going back to bed, I went over to the family room recliner and watched "Christmas on the Bayou."

Kim began painting the bathroom today. Tom was laying on the bed. He didn't like all the noise and moving the ladder in the bathroom, so he went outside. 

James and I made a trip to town. The first thing we did was mail Rowan's birthday card, and Darrel & Trina's anniversary card. 

James needed to go to Home Depot. I asked if he would stop at Culver's and get me a salad so I would have something to do while he was in Home Depot. He did. I had my delicious salad while James was shopping. We had ordered six shrimp for him. He ate five and I ate one. Yummy.

We got a little rain on the way home but nothing too exciting. 

James used the earwax cleaner I bought the other day. Now he says his hearing is worse, and I would have to agree to him. 

The wall Kim painted looks so good! We have waited a long time to get this room painted. It may take several days, but that's okay. Kim does a great job. 

James worked on sanding the railing on the balcony outside of his office. He also cleaned up the two dead trees he cut down. He is making a burn pile in the back where I can't see it. We have lots more to go. 

I am so happy I am about to catch up on my blog. This two posts a day thing really works when I am consistent. This is the one thing I feel a little bit of success with in my life. My blog. I would like to change it up a bit and share my testimony more and somehow reach more family members.

James did the dishes while Kim and I watched the latest Hallmark movie, "Absolutely Devoted To You" starring Kimberly Sustad and Jesse Metcalf. We actually really liked it. I didn't think I would like Kimberly and Jesse together, but I did and so did Kim.

"Through our example and service to others, they will feel the Savior's love for them."

- Elder Michael John U. Teh

Proverbs 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Happy 17th Birthday

Molly!

Happy Anniversary!

I remember this day so well!

Rose tree

So many wildfires