Wednesday, November 20th, 2019

Lima, Peru

38th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Jan 1986

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 133:16

Hearken and hear, O ye inhabitants of the earth. Listen, ye elders of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord; for he calleth upon all men, and he commandeth all men everywhere to repent.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 2:17-29

New Testament

James 2:14-26; I/F:1:3-8, 21-25; 2:14-26; 4:17 Faith requires action. SS: Faith without works is dead.

10/19 General Conference

"Covenant Belonging"

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

"When we come to God's great commandments to love Him and those around us by covenant, we do so not as stranger or guest but as His child at home. The age-old paradox is still true. In losing our worldly self through covenant belonging, we find and become our best eternal self - free, alive, real - and define our most important relationships. Covenant belonging is to make and keep solemn promises to God and each other through sacred ordinances that invite the power of godliness to be manifest in our lives. When we covenant all we are, we can become more than we are. Covenant belonging gives us place, narrative, capacity to become. It produces faith unto life and salvation."

"Finding Joy in Sharing the Gospel"

Sister Cristina B. Franco

"Jesus Christ is central to God's plan. Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ fulfilled His Father's purpose and made it possible for each of us to enjoy immortality and exaltation. Satan, or the devil, is an enemy to God's plan and has been from the beginning.

Agency, or the ability to choose, is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. ... We must choose whether to follow Jesus Christ or follow Satan."

RWC: "Israel is an eternal people She was a distinct and peculiar people in the premortal life. We, like Abraham, wanted to come to earth to teach the gospel, administer the ordinances of salvation and become a 'father or mother of many nations.'" - Bruce R. McConkie

I finished reading the book, "The Priesthood Power of Women" by Barbara Morgan Gardner. 

We had rain today. We need it so badly but it certainly muddies the roads and makes a mess. 

James was going to go to Deming today and put up a for sale sign on the property Alicia Delacruz was buying but he couldn't find the plot plan. He spent most of the day looking for it and finally this evening he did find it. He plans on going tomorrow but I am a little worried because it is supposed to snow tomorrow.

I spent two hours today looking for books to buy. Sometimes they are hard to find. I blogged and got 10,000 steps before my Relief Society presidency meeting this evening. 

Jared and Kacey made it to the Dallas airport but then their car wouldn't start. I told Kacey I would pray for them. She texted back later and said the car did start and thanked me for the prayer.

Tonight at our presidency meeting we talked about ministering changes. Kerri brought her computer with a large monitor so we could all see the ministering assignments and what changes we needed to make. 

We also talked about the ward Christmas party on December 13th. Michelle Tesarek, our activities chairman is doing the invitations. We think she would work well with Kathy Crane in doing the decorations also. Tamara is going to call Shamrock and order the chicken for our soft tacos. Yes, the Relief Society is in charge of the food and the decorations.

James put the wreath up on the beam in front of the fireplace. It looks great.

 Recovering from her trip to Arizona

 This is so sad.

Today's rainbow

Tuesday, November 19th, 2019

Seoul, Korea

37th operating temple

Dedicated: 14 Dec 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 133:4

Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves; gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 2:1-16

New Testament

James 1::19-2:1-13; I/F: 1:2-4; 5:5-11 Patient endurance leads to perfection. SS: Same

10/19 General Conference

"Spiritual Treasures"

President Russell M. Nelson

Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God. Those who are endowed in the house of the Lord receive a gift of God's priesthood power by virtue of their covenant, along with a gift of knowledge to now how to draw upon that power."

Jared, Kacey, and Charlie had to leave today to go back down to the valley. Their plane doesn't leave until tomorrow but today they are going back to Darrel and Trina.s. Before leaving we played a game of Five Crowns. Jared's luck from yesterday's game did not carry over to today. He lost. In fact he was the big time loser!

We were so sad to see this little family leave. We love them so much and wish they lived closer so we could see them more often. 

It was such a joy to have them here with us!

Jared's eyes are sensitive and were giving him grief

this morning.

Charlie having fun with Grandpa.

The rest of the day, these are some of the things I did:

Watched some "Come Follow Me" YouTube lessons, CWIC, and Don't Miss This. I told Sheri about Emily and that she has a son with diabetes and knows the struggles that she is going through. Emily and Dave now have a podcast and Sheri said she would listen to this week's lesson.  I also listened to Melanie Wellman on "Come Follow Me For Us." 

I walked, worked on my blog, and did some book repricing. I read two chapters to James from "Aunt Dimity Detective." 

The day turned cloudy and it started to rain. 

I am thankful that Kacey sent us some pictures from Darrel and Trina's.

We watched a Hallmark Christmas movie, "Writing Christmas."

We were in bed before 10.

Saved the best for last:

Monday, November 18th, 2019

Johannesburg, South Africa

36th operating temple

Dedicated: 24 Aug 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 124:94

And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph;

Book of Mormon

Mormon 1:1-19

New Testament

James 1:1-18; I/F: Introduction and Who Was James? SS: James 1:5-6 When We Ask in Faith, God Gives Liberally.

10/19 General Conference

"Two Great Commandments"

President Dallin H. Oaks

"I begin with what Jesus taught were the two great commandments.

'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.'

This means we are commanded to love everyone, since Jesus's parable of the good Samaritan teaches that everyone is our neighbor. But our zeal to keep this second commandment must not cause us to forget the first, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We show that love by 'keeping His commandments.' God requires us to obey His commandments because only through that obedience, including repentance, can we return to live in His presence and become perfect as He is."

Day 7: Pure Thoughts - Philemon 4:8 NKJV

Dear Heavenly Father, Please help Max to think about and focus on what is true, honorable, and right. Help me to guard him from the perverse things that Satan is trying to put in front of him. Show me practical ways to put true, pure, and good things in his path."

Kacey, Jared, Kim, Brian and I played a game of Five Crowns before Kim and Brian left to go home. Jared won.

James would have played Five Crowns too but he had an esophagus test to take in town. They are trying to determine if he needs another surgery to get rid of the pocket in his throat. The tests determined that he did not need surgery, which was a little disappointing because James keeps getting pills caught in this pocket.

Before Kim and Brian left I gave them a jug of James's punch to take home with them.

 Thanks Kim and Brian for coming and for

putting up, putting the lights on, and

decorating my tree.

We had leftovers for lunch. After lunch Jared, Kacey, and Charlie left in the rental car for Green's Peak. I wanted to go but I was so tired that I stayed home. After Green's Peak they came home through Springerville and stopped at Western Drug where Charlie tried on a skunk hat. They also stopped at Basha's and found some Dr. Pepper 10. They brought home a 12-pack for me. I was so happy!

 Charlie called the big satellite receivers on Green's Peak: 

"Moons"

One busy little girl. Dad has a hard

time keeping up.

It was nice outside this afternoon so Kacey and I went out with Charlie. Jared went out also to help James split wood but James was still on the roof putting the new trim around my office window. When they started splitting and stacking the wood I ask Jared if he wanted to use my gloves but he declined. He was lucky that he didn't get any splinters.

Charlie really is such a joy. Kacey said that when Jared gave her blessing when she was sick he said that she had been very close to her Savior and as a result of that she would bring joy in to the lives of others. She really does.

While we were outside James built a fire in the firepit and we came up with the idea of roasting hotdogs for dinner. I have not hotdogs so I went to Dollar General and bought a package of hotdogs, hamburger buns, and plain and bbq potato chips. Hotdogs was the perfect alternative to leftover turkey.

Charlie picked up a comb and started combing her hair. She said, "I pretty." I showed her a picture of herself on my phone and she said, "I cute." I think her favorite thing to say is "thank you." She says it if you give her something and if she hands something to you.

Someone, I think it was Jared, taught her how to say, "Merry Christmas." 

For F.H.E. we watched a story of Hope on the church's website. Afterwards we watched "Christmas Under the Stars" starring Jesse Metcalf and Autumn Reeser.

Kacey and I watched "Dancing with the Stars." There was a little drama with Hannah and Carrie Ann and Hannah ended up apologizing to her.  The big story of the night was James Van Der Beek's wife's miscarriage. You could tell he was very upset but his wife wanted him to dance, so he did, only to get eliminated. He was in the final two with Ally and Ally offered to go home so he could stay. Of course the judges wouldn't allow that but it was a nice gesture. She just might win. The judges give her the highest points although she does not always get the most votes from the audience. These are the dancers who will be in the finale: Kel and Witney, Hannah and Allen, Ally and Sasha, and Lauren and Gleb. I like all of them, Hannah probably the least. I would like to see Ally and Sasha win because Sasha has never won and Ally is a good dancer.

Charlie loves to sit in baskets

 Cooking a hotdog with mama

Playing with dad

Charlie also likes to be the centerpiece
on the table.

I wanted to stay up and get 10,000 steps but James

wanted me to go to bed. I went to bed with the plan

to get up before midnight and finish to 10,000.

When I woke up it was 11:50. I went into the bathroom and 

walked as fast as I could but when I got to 9,921, the

counter turned backed to 0 because it was midnight.