Conference Ii

I really like this picture of the first presidency!!

I hope you enjoyed all 4 of President Monson's talks!! Did you notice, he had more to say on the live session than was printed when he opened conference?? I love President Monson!!

For the next 2 weeks we will go to President Eyering, he spoke twice - then President Uchdtorf, He spoke 3 times, we will catch 2 of his this time.

So for week of May 30 - read President Eyering Sunday AM session page 22. "Help them on their way" and the priesthood session (I really like reading the Priesthood Session, I can remind my HH when the brethern "admonishes" the men) Page 60, "Act in all Diligence".

The next week, week of June 6 (wow, it's June already) read what President Uchatdorf told the men in Priesthood, page 56,"Continue in Patience" and also Sunday AM, page 68, "You are my Hands".

Happy studying, and thanks for putting up with my notions. JP

Old Books

I love old books, I was going to take a picture of my bookshelf, but this was easier. Actually some of my shelf's look much like this. -- The Point Jacquie!

I have been bored with what I was reading "Harry Potter" again, Margaret Frazer who writes "Medieval Mystery", Thought about going back to Mitford and just may. A new book by Richard Paul Evans "The Walk" - interesting, but easy read - didn't last long. So I pulled some "old" books off my shelf. (I love having a library) "The Man on the Box" by Harold MacGrath - he was also a screen writer so pictures in the book are of a stage play - very cool. What is better, my copy of the book was published in 1904, so I'm holding a book that is over 100 years old. This book was a romantic comedy - very fun - sometimes I didn't understand the houmer, but I'm not quite 100 years old. I'm sure it was much more funny at the time. The upside is - it is CLEAN!!! I didn't have to worry about sex or language, it is a really fun read!

The one I'm reading now is "Lovely is the Lee" by Robert Gibbings. Published in 1942 - older than me!!! If you have ever read "Travels with Charlie" by John Steinbeck (in my opinion he only wrote 1 or 2 books worth reading) you will get the gest of this book. The difference, Robert Gibbings is wondering around Ireland talking to "old" folks about the fairies and "little People" other interesting stuff that happens in that old country. It's a little hard to follow, but it seems to be growing on me.

That's really all I have, I hope you are enjoying the Conference Talks, especially President Monson, he spoke 4 time in April, so next post will be President Eyering. Thanks for listening JP

Roof Up-grade

Check out the roof!!! Doesn't it look great???

When my HH announced he was going to have the roof painted, I couldn't believe it!!

Our roof, while being completely sound, no leaks or broken tiles, looked terrible. So the solution --
paint the roof.

After the painters - "pressure washed" it, then it dried for 2 days, then they primed/or sealed it, then two coats of paint. Geno was not satisfied with just doing that, he had to climb a ladder
and "touch up the edges.

My job was to set in a chair on the patio, with the phone, so if he fell I could dial 911. After all my sweetheart is no longer 20 years old.

Finished without any incident and the house is one step closer to going on the market!!

The purple geraniums are doing well and what was I thinking putting yellow mums with them, but it seems to be working, they are blooming as well.

My lavender is not do so well, I think they need sun - so I keep hoping for sun and the Lavender will take root and grow, please grow, and cover up my ugly spot in the back yard. The only thing growing well there seems to be the morning glory's that were there a few years ago.

Enough!!! Next post will be the next installment on the Conference issue of the Ensign.

Conference Challenge

I love this picture of President and Sister Monson!!

We just received out May Ensign this week, and already it's all marked up. We love to "set at the feet" and "listen to the words" of the prophets!! Therefore this Challenge!

For Family Home Evening, Gene and I read the lesson we will have the following Sunday in Relief Society and Priesthood, for 2 weeks of the month we know what that comes from the Gospel Principals Manual. The first week is "Presidency Instructs" and the last week "Teaching for our Times" is usually from the previous conference, the fifth week, when there is one, is Bishop's discretion. Agreed??

My Challenge is for each of you to become acquainted with "Words of the Prophets". In other words to read, listen to, watch a recording, whatever.... to the talks given in last conference before next conference.

Gene and I like to begin with "THE Prophet" So, we read President Monson' talks first, then go to President Eyering, then President Uchdtorf, get the picture??

We have 20 Sundays before next Conference, the May Ensign has 40 talks - can you see where this is going??? We can discount 3 talks, because we don't often go into "Sustaining of Officers, or Statistical Report or the Financial Report. So we have 37 talks, including the Young Women Conference there were 4 talks at that Conference. You can discount them if you want. But, Hey, you might miss something important.

I suggest you read, listen to, or watch 2 talks a week, beginning with President Monson. To make it easy for you, I will post the first 2 weeks here and if I get any takers on this challenge, I will continue. If not, I will cease and desist. I have a complete schedule on Exel if anyone wants it I'll e-mail it to you.

First Week beginning Sunday May 16, Read:

Page 4 - Saturday AM Session - President Monson "Welcome to Conference"

Page 64 - Priesthood Session - President Monson "Preparation Brings Blessings"

Second Week beginning Sunday May 23, Read:

Page 87 - Sunday AM Session - President Monson "He is Risen"

Page 112 - Sunday PM Session - President Monson "A word of closing".

Let me know if you like this program and I will post the next two weeks before time to begin.

More Panama

We exchanged e-mail with some of the other folks on the tour so I am "plagiarizing" these photos from Sandy's pictures.
If you think Panama is all rain forest, or desert or country - think again. This is Panama City, it think the only large city in Panama but a growing, thriving city. Lots of construction.

Sandy also had a photo of a very large vessel going through the locks on the Panama Canal.

Notice how the lock is completely "full"of ship.

I really like cashew nuts, but never thought much about how they grow. Here are a couple of pictures of how they grow. One on the tree, and the other is the nut picked off the tree. Our guide Oniel jumped out of the buss and picked this from the side of the road. The process is very long and interesting, just google cashew nuts and you can get the skinny on it if you are interested.

We visited the "Emera" Indians, here is a photo of their village. It's on a river, I can't remember the name but it means the "crocodile river". The invite tours to visit them and they sell what they make. The women weave baskets, and the men do amazing carving.

I think this is the last on Panama, but you never know.

I was up late, or early whatever your take is, and decided to give you an challenge, let me work on it and check the blog soon.

Conference

Conference was different this year! Gene and I usually "clear our calendars" and just veg. in front of the TV for 4 hours on Saturday, then I send him off to Priesthood Meeting while I do anything but watch TV.

I usually have a project to keep my hands busy and ofter I accomplish a lot. This year, our "big" son (Jim Fernley) and his family came on vacation. Loralie (daughter) and Eric Cuff was also with us.

Its different with small children, I didn't get any of my project done, I did enjoy most of Conference, the small children all found something to do and were quiet and much of the time attentive.

Here is Emily with her project, Nathan is, what is Nathan doing? Mandy is helping Emily and I think she finished a project.

Stephanie, Katie (taking notes) Katie is preparing for a mission, her 21st birthday is in June. And Mandy with her project.

Daddy (Jim) got to help the boys with their projects. I really could go for more Conferences this way.

Easter Sunday, Conference, Mandy's Birthday (#20), Wow, so much happening in one day! Needless to say I didn't get too much out of conference Sunday Afternoon, thank goodness for the DVR, I can catch up any time, and that is usually late evening. A good relaxing way to get ready for sleep.

Catching UP

We returned home from Panama on Friday (late) and on Saturday was up to my hips with laundry and grocery shopping.
On Sunday afternoon, Mikel (grandson) and his family from St. Louse came to see us. They brought Grandma Loralie and Grandpa James, Uncle Eric, and Uncle Craig popped in as well, and Papa Mark Richter.

The purpose of this trip is the beach and Disneyland! The beach was cold, but everyone bundled up and had hot dogs and samores.
Here is GGrandpa helping Maisa with "healthy" snacks, don't show her parents this picture.

Here is Krew and Sway with Mikel, they loved the beach. Some of them did get into the water, however, it was very cold and they didn't stay long.


The next day was Disneyland and Great Grandma (GG) tries not to go there, actually GG tries not to go to the beach, it takes grands and great grands to get GG to the beach. OK, I've done that and now I'm safe for the rest of the year.

Panama

Panama is HOT and HUMID, get the picture???

The day after we arrived in Panama we went to the Panama City Temple. Sessions are in Spanish, of course. I opted not to use the translators, and was surprised at how much I remembered being so familiar with the ordnance.

One of the first and unusual things I noticed is that they paint their building in bright, bold, colors like my example to the left. You also found pink, bright yellow, lime green even purple. Most of this is in the country they get a little more conservative in the city.

Portabelo, Panama has the "original" Portabelo, not England. In Portabelo, a very poor town, they have a "Black Christ". It is in a church, I don't normally take pictures in a church, but couldn't resist this one. I hope you can see him.

This is in "Old Panama". Panama sets on the 9th parallel, I think that's correct, they never get hurricane or have major earthquakes. Old Panama was established in the 1500 and many of the walls are still standing, like this tower. Gene climed the 91 steps to the top, you may be able to see him in the right window.

The Country of Panama is beautiful, much of it is rain forest. They get 110 to 120 inches of rain every year. We were there just at the beginning of their rainy season, but we didn't get too wet!



Of course you have to go through the locks at the Panama Canal, every boat (ours was a small ferry) that goes through the locks must have a Canal Pilot on board, here is our pilot jumping onto the ferry before we get into the locks.


Here we are inside the locks going up, then we go through another set of locks to either go up higher, or go down, depending on which way you are going.

Interesting, the locks are managed by gravity only, no hydraulics, except for probably the gates.

The Isms of Panama is only 50 miles so you can drive across in just a couple of hours or less. The Panama People are very courteous and complementary to the Americans. Since we turned the canal over to them, they seem to prosper. They are actually building additional lock to be able to accommodate bigger ships. The original locks were built to the specifications of a us destroyer.

We had dinner in the lock museum the last night we were there and were able to see ships go through at night, very impressive! Some "small" ships are pulled through with a tug boat, but others are pulled through with "train" engines on either side of the lock.

We went with Caravan Tours, this is their first year in Panama and are still refining that tour. Our guide Oneil, was very knowledgeable about his country, and we enjoyed learning from him.

There is a lot more, but this post is getting out of hand, so I'll stop for now if you are interested I have many more pictures!