Sunday, August 30th, 2026: Up @ 4:19, "We are preparing Warriors for the last days", the Pinetree ward, Longview, Tx stake, Charlie accepted as the newest member of the Pinetree ward, She stood with her eyes looking down, she did not know the bishop was going to call her to stand by him, Charlie the 1st speaker, Kacey, Jared, Primary: "The Little Light of Mine", Gloria's x's triplets in the front row singing, lunch, listen to Malvern, Arkansas branch sacrament meeting where April & Elder Shebaily are the speakers, JKCh go to a baptism, Mason arrives, James goes on a walk, Cambodia temple dedicated,

 

McAllen, Texas

Temple #183.

I got up at 4:19 this morning. I wrote in my notebook: "We are preparing Warriors." I wonder why I put that in my notebook.

This morning we attended church with Jared, Kacey, and Charlie. They belong to the Pinetree ward in the Longview, Texas stake. 

Jared conducted the meeting and Kacey and Charlie were both on the stand as they are speaking today. Jared invited the bishop us to take care of some ward business. The bishop invited Charlie to come up to the podium and stand by him. No one had prepared Charlie for this. Charlie was accepted as the newest member of the Pinetree ward. Charlie stood with her eyes looking down. This is an indication of her shyness. She did great on her talk and we are so proud of her.

Kacey spoke after Charlie. Kacey spoke on feeling like we belong. Jared's talk was on seeking and following the Savior. How do we follow the Savior? Through our daily devotions, trusting Him, unburdening our souls to Him. Both of these talks were really great talks. In Jared's talk he indicated that he had always been a happy person until just recently. Life is taking its' toll with what has happened to his older children and now Tanner. 

When Jared asked Kacey if she would speak the day after Charlie's baptism this is what she said: "I will speak if the Primary can sing, "This Little Light of Mine." What a treat. James kept saying: "This is the best sacrament meeting I have been to in a long time."

Kacey told me that her friend Gloria's X is in this ward and he has triplets. They were right in the front row of the singing kids.

During the second hour Kacey and Charlie went to Primary. James, Jared and I went to Sunday School. Jared left before it was over but James and I stayed. The focus was on the new curriculum which begins next week. We watched a video that was really good. 

Back at home we all had lunch of leftovers: Kacey, Charlie, Autumn, Palmer, Scarlett, Benson were already at home when James and I arrived. Jared made it home a little later. 

James went in to take a nap and the rest of the adults watched the Malvern branch's sacrament meeting. This is the branch in Arkansas where Kacey's three sisters and brothers-in-law attend. Albert is the branch president and the rest of the family hold leadership positions.

Kacey's nephew, Larry Shebaily, is leaving on his mission so he spoke. His mom, April, Kacey's sister spoke after Elder Shebaily. I think Larry's dad, Moe, is in the branch presidency because he was on the stand.

They both did a wonderful job. One thing April said stuck with me. She mentioned that she had been sick and Larry was her caretaker. She said she worried about sending out him to the world until she had this thought: "I'm not sending him out in the world unprepared. He is a covenant son of God and I am sending him to covenant keepers."

Kacey, Jared, and Charlie went to a baptism this afternoon. One of Charlie's friend. Mason arrived when they returned, or just before.

James went out for a walk.

"As we walk by faith with the Lord, abiding in Him, and He in us, we come to know He lives."

- Gerrit W. Gong

Psalm 86:12

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore.

"My Jesus"

Eating spaghetti with Bop

"I'm done, Bop"

Benson wanted to try the spaghetti too.

Sunday afternoon relax time

Jared's workplace

Such a handsome couple

Charlie's favorite thing to do....read

Keep away from Lovie

Jared & Benson

I Love this picture of Palmer & Benson

Elder Kearon dedicated the

Phnom Penh, Cambodia temple today

Saturday, August 29, 2026: Longview, TX, up@4:41, talk w/ Jared: Bro. & Beverly Barrow-Charlie's white dress, he's conducting the baptism & a funeral, Liu family may be deported, neighbors stuffed animals & block party, Bop & Mason go to the church @8, Charlie writes in her journal, James's allergic reaction, Charlie's Baptism-Kacey & I speak, Autumn's cookies, people I spoke w/: Matt Cheney, Loren, Sis Barro's hurt foot, Gloria & Jason,lunch@ J&K-poly cystic ovarian syndrome or polycystic

 

Moses Lake, Washington

Temple #182.

I got up at 4:41. I had an early morning chat with Jared which I very much enjoyed. Here are the things we talked about: Brother & Beverly Barrow. Brother Barrow is in the bishopric with Jared. They are older and had a daughter but no granddaughters. They want Charlie to wear their daughter's dress she wore on the day she was baptized. Charlie was happy to do this, and I might add, the dress is beautiful!  Next we talked about Sisi Liu and her 3 boys and her husband. Sisi and the three boys are members and come to church every week. Her husband is not a member, he is a teacher and he just lost his job. They are in danger of being deported. I pray for them everyday. I know the Lord will watch over them and take care of them.  Next I asked Jared if he knew any of his neighbors. He talked about the neighbors across the street and the one next door who is a teacher at the high school. When there is a youth activity at Jared & Kacey's the youth go over and visit with this neighbor/teacher. He also told me about neighborhood block parties and the neighbor down the street whose home is filled with stuffed animals. These are real "dead" animals that were once alive.

Last night when he was at the church Jared helped a family in need. He had to go to an ATM to get cash, but he took the time to do this in spite of his busy schedule. Jared, or should I say Bop, and Mason went down to the church around 8 am. I'm not sure why but when Mason is up, he is Jared's shadow. I pray that Kate will allow Mason to spend more and more time with Jared, Kacey, and Charlie in the Spirit/Love filled home.

Charlie wrote in her journal for quite a while this morning. She has very neat printing and is a good writer. She says writing is one of her favorite things to do, along with reading. 

James had an allergic reaction to something this morning. His throat closed up and he was coughing for about an hour. Jared says the same thing happens to him from time to time.

Charlie's Baptismal Program

After the baptism was over we took pictures at the church then the family drove to Jared & Kacey's for lunch and to celebrate Charlie's birthday.

Here are some quick notes I took at Charlie's baptism. 

Loren, Kacey's sister, gave the opening prayer. It was sweet and touching. I loved cute Brother Barro who conducted. After Charlie and Scarlett sang "I Am A Child of God" and Jared accompanied them on the piano Brother Barro said: "Jared, I didn't know you could play the piano." In Kacey's talk on baptism she said that when she and Charlie came to the part in the Book of Mormon where Alma talks about your testimony growing as a seed Charlie said she saw it more as a spark which can grow brighter and brighter. Kacey also talked about baptismal covenants being like a string that tie us to the Savior. As we make more covenants when we go to the temple the string becomes more like a rope and it is more difficult to break. 

Jared's confirmation was wonderful. I wish I would have tried to remember and wrote some of it down afterwards. My talk went okay. I had a few people come up and say they enjoyed it. Autumn gave the closing prayer and then we all enjoyed the cookies she made. Charlie's dress that the Barro's gave her to wear was beautiful. Sister Barro's didn't come because she fell and hurt her foot. 

After the baptism and confirmation the family all went to Jared & Kacey's to have lunch and celebrate Charlie's birthday. Some of the gifts Charlie got: A lavender journal from Gloria, Kacey's friend Gloria. From the Clark's, Loren & Albert: lots and lots of candy, an Arkansas license plate for her bike that says: Jesus loves you. A set of Lantern Lane books from Summer & John. She also got "The Secret Garden." I think it was from Christina's family. Here are some photos I took:

The cookies Autumn made. I took one of each kind.

Macy, Charlie, Loren, & Albert

Not sure who gave this to Charlie but

she loved it.

Practicing the piano. I believe this

was Sunday evening.

Mason not wanting to go to sleep

Such a sweet little boy

I wish I would have taken pictures of Charlie opening her presents. I should have gotten pictures of Christina and her family, her husband Fred, Bella, and Isaac. Such a cute family. I didn't get pictures of Summer & John. They left a little early to go visit Tanner. I love that Tanner calls almost every night and asks to talk to Charlie and tells her a joke. 

Jared went back to the church later tonight to do some cleanup and left his phone and keys in the church and got locked out. He had to walk home, about 4-5 miles, so Kacey could take him back with her keys.

Autumn & Benson

Charlie eating the rib sandwich her dad made her.

She wanted ribs for her luncheon but she didn't want to

get her fingers covered in sauce.

Some of Kacey's Home Decor:

I am so impressed with Kacey's home decor. Everything either focuses on the gospel, the Savior, or the family. Everything is done to perfection. So homey and welcoming. You can totally feel the Spirit in her home.

Friday, August 28th, 2026: This bed is dreamy! Charlie reading "The Doll Hospital", turns her dollhouse into a Barbie hospital, new tire @ Discount, shopping @ Sam's, Chikfila, Charlie wanted Chikfila - I should have asked, Jared & Kacey setup church & J helps a family, Mason spends the night, Charlie writes in her journal, Mason loves Jared or "Bop", Charlie's picture of me, talking w/ Tanner

 

Bentonville, Arkansas

Temple #181.

This bed is dreamy! 

Charlie was reading a book on Kacey & Jared's new couch when I first saw her. She says the name of her book is, "The Doll Hospital." She decided to make her dollhouse into a Barbie hospital.

New couch

Jared worked half a day. He went to Sam's Club to get ribs and took James to Discount to get a new tire. He, Charlie, and Mason then took James & I back to Discount to pick up our car. James and I then went to Chikfila to get some lunch and then on to Sam's Club. 

At Sam's Club we bought 9 out of the many blankets I buy for Christmas. I like to get an early start. We also buy a case of vanilla Fairlife shakes and some rainbow ribbon to use to wrap packages. 

Back at home I wish I had bought Charlie some Chikfila as she said that's what she wanted for lunch. This evening Jared, Kacey, Charlie, and Mason go to the church to setup for the baptism tomorrow and Charlie gets her Chikfila. There is a family outside the church that needed assistance and Jared helps them. 

Mason spends the night tonight and is going to the baptism tomorrow. Charlie said to me today: "When you come and write in your journal, it makes me want to write in mine." She sits down and we write in our journals. She has very neat handwriting. She says she wishes we could stay longer and I say I wish we could too. 

Mason loves Jared. He calls him "Bop" and wants Jared to hold him constantly. Kacey says Jared is the only father figure he has right now. It is very sweet. Mason loves Charlie too and she is very patient with him. Charlie drew a picture of me and I asked her to sign and date it.

Mason and "Bop"

Notice my pencil and purple journal

The vanilla shakes we got at Sam's Club are good. I do the dishes tonight since Jared and Kacey are so busy. Kacey made potato salad today while Jared worked on his amazing beans and the ribs.

Tanner calls almost every night. He always wants to talk to Charlie and tell her a joke. Tonight was no different.

"The keys committed by ancient prophets to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland temple are an essential part of the restored gospel."

- Elder Quentin L. Cook

"Keys, Covenants, and Easter"

Psalm 72:18

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

This is a duck Addy drew for me and the smaller one is a duck

I got at Sam's today for Addy. The Children's Miracle Network

had a table set up and if you donated money you could get a prize.

I got three ducks, one for Charlie, Confetti, one for Mason, Dragon, and this one for Addy because she loves Batman.

Charlie can make a night sky and stars shine

in her bedroom.

Mason loves it!