Monday, August 17th, 2026: Persnikkity's w/ Janna Grombach, Walmart in a rainstorm, Mikki & Roger Gilbert, Tom on my lap for two hours, "Paris Is Always a Good Idea" w/ James

 

Pocatello, Idaho

Temple #170.

Today I went to lunch with my friend, Janna Grombach. She took me to lunch at Persnikkity's for my birthday. Here is what we had to eat.

Janna looks so tired in this picture. Her mother passed away on June 3rd and it has been a hard summer for her. She is having avocado toast. The toast is locally baked sourdough bread with avocado, an egg and spouts. Her drink is Prickly Pear lemonade. I had a taste and it is delicious.

Sesame chicken salad without the wonton strips.

I have looked forward to this salad and that little breadstick!

So good!

I love Janna so much. She is such a kind and caring person, always serving and looking out for others. She took Kerri Halcomb's niece, Dominique, down to her court date in the valley because Kerri was teaching school. She took rib and mac & cheese to the Gilbert's. Mikki Gilbert recently had her foot amputated so she and her husband have needed lots of help. She brought a mattress with a pillow top, and a handicap plaque to James & I. 

After lunch Janna needed to go to Walmart to buy ingredient to make ice cream sundaes for a Relief Society social tomorrow evening. I needed to get cash to replace $40 I took from the stash cash to pay Kat & Larry who showed up today. 

It was raining hard when we got to Walmart so Janna let me out at the door while she parked and used her umbrella to come in. I called to tell James how hard it was raining. He said there weren't even any clouds at our place. 

Janna did her shopping and I did mine and we met upfront. As I was checking out at a self-checkout register I heard a woman complaining to her husband. I turned around to look and it was Mikki Gilbert complaining to her husband Roger. I said, "Is that Mikki Gilbert complaining to her husband?" Mikki said, "Why did you pass me by on Sunday and not even speak to me?" I told her I had not seen her and went over and gave her a hug. I asked her what I could do for her. She said, "Do you remember that soup you brought me before?" I said yes. She asked if I could bring it again along with some corn muffins. I told her I could and that I would see her tomorrow evening. About that time Janna walked up. She saw Mikki and gave her a hug. 

In our drive back home Janna told me that Mikki got an infection and had to be back in the hospital. Now she has a wound vacuum attached to her leg which draws out impurities, etc. She is embarrassed to come to church with it. Janna told her to just bring something to cover it.

Janna is an amazing person and I am so privileged to have her as my friend. What I have shared here has only scratched the surface of what I learned about my friend today. 

I spent the rest of the day at home with my kitty and my sweetie. Tom laid on my lap what seemed like a couple of hours. He has drainage from his eyes and I wanted to clean it off his face but, I just didn't do it because I knew it would upset him. 

James is still working on the upstairs railing. When he came in, we watched the first two episodes of "Paris Is Always a Good Idea."

We also read scriptures this morning together. I am looking forward to studying the Psalms!

Emma M. Lion was intense today as we learn Pierce's back story when we visit his childhood home. Also, we learn that Islington had a twin sister who passed away. 

"The Savior can and will guide us through every season of life - especially through difficult times."

- Elder Clement M. Matswagothata

Psalm 19:7

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Neal A. Maxwell

Sunday, August 16th, 2026: James delivers cinnamon rolls to Kerri, Wendy Nelson quote, NAM quotes, Elder Bednar explains perfect perfectly, "I Will Walk with Jesus", Sister Dobson, Sister Oldham, Matt Hipps, Amy Bowen teaches SS, Ribs are delicious & so is corn, EML, "Follow Him", my blog

 

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Temple #169.

I made cinnamon rolls this morning and James delivered them to Kerri. I put an icing glaze on all of the rolls hoping that Kerri wouldn't mind as I know when she eats cake, she eats it without frosting. She said cinnamon rolls are the exception and they were delicious. 

Bishop Crane conducted our sacrament meeting today. Before we sang the sacrament hymn, he asked us this question: "How will I show willingness to take upon me His name this week?"

Khloe Mack was to be the youth speaker in sacrament meeting today. She called in sick to Alex Dobson, the young women's president, so Sister Dobson took her place. Sister Dobson, looking like a young woman herself albeit she is the mother of 4, began her talk by asking the question: "What have I learned from the Holy Ghost this week?"

She talked about watching the rain on her front porch and how the water began washing their road away. She pondered on the power of water and how it can wash mud and rocks away. As she thought of water she thought of how the Savior is the living water. She then quoted this scripture: John 4:13-14 - Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. His strength is the living water in our lives.

This is high council Sunday and Matt Hipps is the high councilman to speak in our ward today. His father, Robert Hipps is a member of our ward and a dear friend. Before Brother Hipps spoke, his speaking companion, Clara Olham is a young adult return mission from the Budapest, Hungary mission. Dr. Oldham, the doctor who did surgery on James's hand, and on whom he saw at the temple on Friday, and his wife whom I saw, are her parents. I guess this is Oldham week for us. 

The topic for today's meeting: "I Will Walk with Jesus", which was the opening hymn. Sister Oldham began her talk by saying, "As we walk with Jesus and feel of His love, we will love others more. Christ is the greatest gift giver and He is the ultimate gift. We become like Him as we walk with Him in prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, and service. In D&C 88:63 it says: "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you." As we walk with Him we become more like Him. We increase in charity, the pure love of Christ. We love others as He loves them. Sister Oldham quoted one of her missionary companions by saying: "We will never look into the eyes of someone Christ doesn't love." I believe this was my favorite quote of the day. Sister Oldham challenged us to pray everyday for the gift of charity. I would add to Sister Oldham's talk that the Holy Ghost is the conveyer of Jesus Christ's love. It is through the Holy Ghost we feel His love. Jesus sent the Holy Ghost to comfort us, to teach us and to help us feel of His love. 

Before Brother Hipps spoke we sang "As I Have Loved You" and Debbie Schwarz signed the song using sign language. I loved watching her as she does it with such feeling. Debbie has finished the temple prep classes but can't go to the temple until October. She has to wait a year from her baptism. The Snowflake temple will be closed so she is going to the Mesa temple. I told her I would love to come, and she said she would love to have me there. 

Brother Hipps didn't have a lot of time but here are some things I remember from his talk: "The little things we do consistently build character as we strive to become like Christ. President D. Todd Christofferson has said: "It is in emulating the character of Christ that we become the 'manner of persons' we ought to be. Acquiring the character of Christ is one of the most important ways we take His name upon us." Christ says to us: "You are mine", "I know you", "I intend to bring you home."

Amy Bowen taught the Sunday School lesson on Job and did a great job. Here are my takeaways from this week's "Come Follow Me":

1) I can trust God in all circumstances. 2) Jesus Christ is my Redeemer 3) When He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold 4) God's perspective is greater than mine.

I learned what the word crucible means. Here is the definition:

A crucible is a heat-resistant container used to melt metals or other materials at very high temperatures to burn off the dross or impurities. It also means a severe trial or a place where different forces interact to cause profound change. I love how this applies to Job, especially when he says "He hath tried me and I shall come forth as gold."

People I spoke to at church: A hug and a kiss and a birthday wish from Cress Miller. A happy birthday and kiss from Millie Scott. Kerri told me she loved the cinnamon rolls. Judy Hunter gave me a beautiful homemade birthday card. I talked to her through a text. Joyce told me all about her sister Ingrid's husband who is in the hospital in Utah with all kinds of health issues. That's why Ingrid isn't here. I gave Sandra Wilhelm a baby card for Andy & Lily. I gave Debbie Schwarz RS handouts and talked to her about going to the temple in Mesa. Susan Goodman, Janna, Brother Hipps, Amy & Cope Reynolds. Amy and I want to know what to do about banana bread that doesn't get done in the middle. Cope says he doesn't care because it tastes good anyway. 

James and I fixed lunch together. We warmed up the ribs from Costco and cooked the Taylor corn-on-the-cob and heated up a can of Ranch Style beans. When we sat down to eat James said this was the best Sunday dinner he has had in a long time. It certainly was one of the easiest. The smoked ribs were delicious and so was the corn and beans!

James must have been really tired. He slept for about 4 hours this afternoon. Tom was right there with him. During my rest time I read from Emma M. Lion volume 8, listened to Steven Sharp Nelson on "Follow Him" and worked on my blog.

"Covenant blessing flow from ongoing faithfulness, not merely from past participation."

- Elder Brian J. Holmes

Job 42:10

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

 

I love this!

Saturday, August 15th, 2026: Kim & Brian leave, James's oil change & Walmart shopping, finished "Romancing Daphne", "The Kiss of a Stranger", RS handouts, bank blunder is so frustrating, "Aussie at Heart"

 

Durban, South Africa

Temple #168.

Kim finished making the cookie dough for next week's Relief Society lesson this morning. The are 114 dough balls in my freezer. Here are Kim's instructions to me: "Let the dough thaw a little before baking them. Put them in the oven at 325 and bake for 9 minutes. That's it!

Kim and Brian left this morning after Kim was done with the cookies. They won't be back until the 27th, Charlie's birthday, and the day we are leaving for Texas. Both Kim & Brian are coming up to take care of our animals. I don't know what we would do without them. We will miss Kim so much.

James had an appointment in town to get the oil changed in his truck. I had started some cinnamon rolls for Kerri Halcomb this morning only to find out she was on her way to the valley. I should have waited and asked her before I started baking them. Anyway, I told her I would deliver her cinnamon rolls tomorrow morning. She seemed excited. I don't want to deliver day old cinnamon rolls so I asked James to by another package of Rhodes cinnamon rolls. James couldn't find any so I guess I will use the long-rise ones I have in our freezer. James also forgot to bring me my cashew chicken salad from Culver's. He felt so bad and offered to go back and get it. I said no, I will just cook the steak I have in the frig and open up a can of green beans for lunch, my last meal of the day. After lunch, I don't eat anything, I drink lemon water and diet soda. I just started doing this again because I want to lose five more pounds before we go to Texas. This is what my cousin Rita does and she weighs 102 lbs. I just want to lose about 5 lbs. Right now I weigh 120 lbs.

I did some walking today, and when I walk, I listen to a book on Deseret Book Plus. Right now I am listening to "Romancing Daphne" the third book in Sarah M. Eden's Lancaster family series. I finished it today. I started "The Kiss of a Stranger." 

Also, when I need a break from working on my blog, I work on my Relief Society handouts. I can hear James upstairs sanding. We are supposed to meet at 7:30 to watch the newest Hallmark movie. I wonder if he will make it. He has a ladder, and his compressor here in the bedroom. He was going to finish putting up a piece of trim missing in the bathroom. It won't take long but it does require some time. When he finished upstairs it was 7:30. I asked if he could wait until Monday to do the work in the bathroom. Yes, I will move the ladder and compressor outside if you will fix me a turkey dog for dinner. I did. James put the equipment out on the deck, at his dinner, and we watched the movie together. The movie is called "Aussie at Heart", starring Daniel Lissing and Rhiannon Fish. 

Loved the big school of dolphins

"The universe is vast beyond comprehension, yet every soul carries infinite worth in the eyes of our Creator."

- Elder Gerald Causse

Job 40:9

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

I love this woman so much!!

I love these girls!

Friday, August 14th, 2026: Happy 20th Birthday Joshua! Temple w/ James, met some old friends, lunch @ Eva's w/ Alan & Delci Frost, Walmart in Taylor - James hits a pole w/ my car, rain in Snowflake but none in Vernon, Kim making my cookies, Brian here w/ Costco order, James uses my vacuum, "A Carol for Two"

 

Arequipa, Peru

Temple #167.

Happy 20th Birthday Joshua!

Last year when Joshua was ordained an elder

For the first time since May 15th, James and I went to the temple. 

That is a 3-month hiatus. This is visit #13 and we are so grateful we were able to make it.

We had prayer and read Alma 50:21-40 before leaving the house. On the way to Snowflake we did the section in this week's lesson, 'God's perspective is greater than mine.' We also read Job 38-39 and two conference talks, "Seeing God's Family through the Overview Lens" by Tamara Runia and "Think Celestial" by President Russell M. Nelson. We just finished President Nelson's talk when we arrived at the temple. Both of these talks were wonderful!

Dr. Oldham's wife gave me my new name. Her husband did surgery on James's hand last October before we went to Texas for Scarlett's baptism and Benson's blessing.

Alan & Delci Frost were in our session. James sat by Alan who was a friend of his in high school. I sat by Ivon Smith Wilcock, a daughter of Ted Smith who was a high councilman from my ward when I was a teenager in Show Low. Ted Smith is one of my very favorite people of all time. So kind, friendly, and loving and he gave the best talks. Ted and his wife raised 10 children in their small farmhouse in Linden. I was friends with his daughter and Ivon's older sister, Anell. 

Alan's wife Delci sat in front of us by Leone Pearce Reidhead, the last of the Pearce sisters who is still alive. I remember them from when I grew up in Show Low. There was Babe, Clea, Vivian, Leone, and Joy their brother. My dad used to rodeo or rope calves with Leone's husband, Doy. Seeing Leone brought back memories from my growing up years.

After our session, which was wonderful by the way, we headed to Eva's for lunch. Alan and Delci drove up beside us and went in before we did as we were taking our Tramadol before going in. James suggested we sit with them so when the hostess sent us to the table next to them we told her we would like to sit with our friends. 

Since we don't know Alan and Delci very well, I began by asking them questions. How many children do they have. They have three boys together, one of them is their bishop, and Alan has two children, a boy and a girl, from a previous marriage. He was married to Jolene Baird. Again, a blast from my past. Jolene's father, Joe, was one of my dad's friends. I remember going to their house for dinner one time. 

Alan's daughter is a bartender at Charlie Clark's and she goes by the last name of Baird, not Frost. We all have challenges in our family. We all have people we worry about, people who hurt us yet we go on loving and caring for them.

Alan and Delci have been married 36 years and are members of the Paloma ward in Show Low. Delci's brother is Terry Whipple who was a member of our graduating class but never comes to our reunions. Delci is a cousin to Pat Tedder, Pete Whipple on the Whipple side and she is Deanne Hunt's cousin because Delci's mom was a Hunt. Alan used to carpool with Dennis when they both worked at the pulp mill. He said one day Dennis was driving and they ended up in a snowbank. I ask if they got stuck, and he said no.

Also, I found out that Alan was with Barry Flake the night Barry pulled my mom's stuck station wagon out of the mud at Dag's Reservoir. I told him he was one of my heroes. Also learned that Alan served in the military. In high school he was a cowboy and James remembers riding bulls with him at Barry Flake's.

It was so much fun visiting with them and learning more about them.

Kim is at our house making cookie dough to put in the freezer for next week's Relief Society. She said she opened a bag of flour I had in the pantry and there were weevils in it. She asked if we could stop and get some more flour. I had planned on going to Walmart anyway. James was driving and I reminded him that we could park in a handicapped parking space. We found two together but instead of driving in forward, he decided to back in. Instead of looking at the camera inside the car he was looking outside the car and BAM! he hit a big yellow pole. He was so down on himself I couldn't be angry with him about the big dent in the rear of my car. He said he would fix it and it will either cost $500-1000 depending on our deductible. 

It was an expensive trip to Snowflake. We shopped together for a few items, Ovaltine, flour, a small watermelon, lemons, and almond milk. I went to get some mousse for my hair on the other side of the store and James bought dark chocolate covered almonds and Crunch Master crackers while we were separated. It's okay he can buy what he wants, I just thought it was funny that it happened when he was not with me. 

When we came out of the temple we noticed it had rained. We looked towards Vernon and it was overcast. It looked like rain but later we found out it wasn't in Vernon but between Snowflake and Vernon. 

Brian arrived soon after we got home. He and Kim have a scan at 4:00. I won't even try to explain what that is, but it involves the computer and someone on the other end who is helping them with health issues. Brian brought with him my Costco order, 2 cases of Fairlife shakes, and a box of ribs I sound advertised on my Costco app. 

Sunday dinner along with the Taylor corn Brian bought.

We were going to buy some, but we passed up the stand in Taylor. 

Brian bought his at a little stand in Show Low from his former

bishop's brother.

Kim is making over 100 cookie dough balls for Relief Society next week. She has one more batch to make. She is incredible!

Oh, BTW, James is using my vacuum upstairs to vacuum up sawdust after working on the balcony railing. I said, Oh, I thought you had two or three of your own. I really only wanted mine to be used on the car or to vacuum furniture in the house." His comeback, "do you want me to put it up and get mine." My inner dialogue, "Yes I do." What I said to him, "just be careful with it, clean it out and return it when you are finished and please, next time, use yours."

Our movie tonight could be classified as a musical and I loved it!

It's called, "A Carol for Two" starring Ginna Clair Mason & Jordan Litz. They both have incredible voices!

"Jesus Christ is not the burden; He is the relief."

- Elder Wunderli

Job 23:12

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Joe's brakes. Yikes!

Mason

Benson

This is one of the signs at Eva's.

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: