OUR FAMILY

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Friday, August 23rd, 2019

Brisbane, Australia

115th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2003

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Exodus 33:17-18

And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

Book of Mormon

Alma 55:15-35

New Testament "Be Perfectly Joined Together" 1 Cor. 1-7

1 Corinthians 6

General Conference

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

Tad R. Callister

"Alma prophesied that Christ 'shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.' Why? 'That his bowels may be filled with mercy, ... that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.'"

James and Alex left for Silver Creek this morning. While they were gone I got a call from Chuck asking if James was home. Chuck and Kathy were on their way to the valley to see the Kostusiaks. When I told him no, he said he would call someone else. I asked him what he needed. He said our neighbor, Sister MacArthur has two rattlesnakes in her yard. Chelsie is there alone with two small children. He husband is a hot shot jumper in Alaska and won't be back until October. I texted Chelsie and she said that Brother S. Hunsaker came over and killed the snakes for her. The Priesthood to the rescue, thank goodness!

James and Alex were only gone a couple of hours. Alex caught two fish. Here is one of them:

This guy is gasping for breath so

Alex threw him back in.

Silver Creek

Alex left almost as soon as they got back from fishing. I told him we had to take a picture.

Best of friends

We had such a great visit with Alex and are so grateful he came to see us.

I made rolls this afternoon for the temple tomorrow. James helped me join his walking group on Pacer. I sold some books today which always makes me happy. All in all, it was a good day.

Alex too these photos before leaving Vernon

The three of us had steak and eggs

for breakfast.

Charlie climbs on the table and

looks at her birthday banner

Randy: "It's not the breaths you take but the

moments that take you breath away."

This photo is from August 2013 and is one of my favorites!

Monday, August 26, 2019

Thursday, August 22nd, 2019

The Hague, Netherlands

114th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Sept 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained

DC 93:21

And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;

Book of Mormon

Alma 54:13-55:14

New Testament "Be Perfectly Joined Together" 1 Corinthians 1-7

1 Corinthians 4-5

General Conference

Preparing for the Lord's Return

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

"First and crucial for the Lord's return, is the presence on the earth of a people prepared to receive Him at His coming. He has stated that those who remain upon the earth in that day, 'from the least to the greatest, ... shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song, saying: The Lord hath brought again Zion .. The Lord hath gathered all things in one. The Lord hath brought down Zion from above. The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath.'"

I listened to the book webinar featuring Jim, Herman, and Ricardo, all good guys with some good advice.

James had a doctor's appointment with Dr. DeLange who is going to do a procedure on him to determine if he has a hernia at the top of his stomach that is letting acid from his stomach through to his throat and causing his laringytis problems. He will also do a biopsy for cancer.

While James was gone Alex and I got out the new deck of Five Crowns and played a game. The final score was Alex 70, Gramma 76.

The appraisers came today to appraise our house for the loan we are getting. James stayed at home with them while Alex and I went to Walmart to shop for dinner. I enjoyed talking with Alex in the car. I asked him if he went to the paintball activity for Joshua's birthday. He said no. I said, I understand Rowan won. He asked me if I had heard the whole story and I said no. He said at the end of the night one of the workers called up the "last man standing" to recognize him as the winner. On his way up to the front Rowan shot the guy and the announcer said,"Well I guess we have a new winner."

He also told me that Joe and Dallin are going to Bulgaria with their band. Mario was there a while back and met a grammy winning singer and they are going to record some songs with her.

He also told me that he wants to be a writer. I told him I thought grandpa and I should found out what it takes to be appraisers and maybe look in to doing that instead of construction. He really liked that idea and said if we did that he would like to help us. He is paring cars in Scottsdale for rich people. He says it's a good job but he would like something a little more challenging. He plans on going to ASU to finish his schooling.

He said Shayna started school this week at ASU. She is getting a business degree and wants to be an interior designer.

We also talked about politics and agreed that we need someone as president that can unite our country rather than divide it. I told him the story about Dolly and James Madison and said we needed someone like them in the White House. He agreed.

We had a great dinner. I made a salad, squash and asparagus, and mashed potatoes. James grilled some ribeye steaks I got that were on sale , and we also had warm croissants. It was a delicious meal. I gave Alex the choice of pork chops or steak and he chose steak.

Afterwards all three of us played a game of Five Crowns and I won!

One of the writers for Meridian magazine died of cancer this week. Her name was Darla Isaakson. Elder Holland actually quoted her in his last conference address. She was a good writer and had this to say about death: "Death is not a tragedy, but a graduation into a far more glorious existence of learning, progress, and service."

I only got 6,000 steps today. Such a pity.

Darla Isaakson

Scarlett loves the trampoline

Charlie loves the blanket Autumn made,
especially the picture of Scarlett.

Help mom, I'm stuck!

Escape artist

I love that face!

Three of the sisters from our ward at
the Snowflake temple

Camrie, Anne, Michelle

Paul:

One of our Chandler neighbors

The highlands of Vernon.
I love the clouds, mountain and sunflowers

James's walking stick given

to him by Kaitlin, Adam's friend

and made by her dad. It really saved

him at the Black River.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Wednesday, August 21st 2019

Nauvoo, Illinois

113th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-30 June 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained

DC 76:12

Even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through his Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning;

Book of Mormon

Alma 53:18-54:12

New Testament "Be Perfectly Joined Together" 1 Cor. 1-7

1 Corinthians 3

General Conference

Great Love for Our Father's Children

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Love is at the center of our temple and family history effort to gather Israel on the other side of the veil. When we learn of the trials and hardships our ancestors faced, our love and appreciation for them is magnified. Our temple and family history effort has been strengthened to a significant degree by the new adjustments in both the Sunday meeting schedule and the youth advancement in classes and quorums. These changes provide for earlier and more powerful attention to learning about our ancestors and gathering Israel on the other side of the veil. Both temple and family history work are greatly enhanced."

James and Alex left around 4 a.m. for the lower Black River. Alex was prepared with a "charge machine" in case the battery went dead on the truck. He also sent me a map of where we would be. He brought enough water for himself and grandpa. He wanted to make sure that grandpa stayed hydrated. Here are some photos they took on the trip.

Here's proof that at least one fish was caught.

James caught over 100.

The water was so clear they could

actually see the fish in the water.

Alex said he had a fish on his line and

another bigger fish chomped on it

and for a minute he had both fish

but the bigger fish yanked free.

What a great video that would have made!

Amazing! I am part of the "Black River Club."

I was there about 40 years ago but told James

I would probably never be back. If I did go back

it would only be to see the bridge my grandpa

Strickland built. I think I will have James take a

picture next time and save me the trip.

I spent the day at home by myself. I kept busy doing various and sundry things. I studied my scriptures, read from Aunt Dimity's Death, blogged, walked, listened to conference talks, and watched some T.V. and sold six books. It's so exciting to check my phone and see the books sell. I made $63.00 today.

I watched the finale of the Alton Brown Chopped Challenge. One competitor was good but he was so cocky I just wanted someone to beat him. Two of the other competitors were very good also. The judges did something that has never been done in the history of "Chopped" ... they allowed three people to go to the dessert round. There is $50,000 at stake and they could not agree on who should move on.

These were the ingredients for the dessert round: Tarantulas in a can, I guess they are loved in some parts of the world, coconut, marzapan fruit, and cherry cola sorbet. It came down to Cocky Guy and Guy who has MS and wants to give the $50,000 to his wife to do with whatever she wants. Who do you think won? Hint: Alex Guarnaschelli was one of the judges. You got it ... MS Guy!

The reason the judges gave for chopping Cocky was, "we didn't like your plating in the first round." It was that close. His dessert was perfect. As he was walking away he said: "I think the judges made the wrong decision. I don't know how "he" even made it to the dessert round." I add Sore Loser to Cocky to describe this guy.

When I hadn't heard from James or Alex by 8 pm I texted Sheri. We decided to say a prayer and see how we felt. Right after our prayer Alex texted both of us to say they were Ok. What a relief!

I was just getting ready to ask my friend Kerri who has a four-wheel drive pickup if she wanted to go to the Black River.