Sunday, July 29, 2012

I had no lesson to prepare today.  It's the 5th Sunday and so the bishopric is in charge of Young Men and Young Women's.  Eric and Anita Pope spoke today in sacrament meeting.  They spoke on service.  I hope my young women were listening.  We had a lesson on service last week and I have been emailing them service challenges to do everyday.  I know Trenda is giving lots of service with two of her little brothers in the hospital, she is in charge at home with the help of her grandpa, Mel Wilhelm.  She is such an awesome young woman.  I also know that the Applegate girls, Shelly and Jordyn give alot of service.  The girls in this ward are hard workers.  The Hunsaker girls, Kilee, Leann, and Mackenzi help their dad's pour concrete.  Although they are getting paid I am still impressed that they are willing to do such difficult work.

James went home teaching to Sean and Stephanie Hunsaker's today and he brought back two of the Hunsaker girls with him.  Kilee, who is Sean and Stephanie's daughter and Leann, Kip and Alicia's daughter.  They are both Beehives and are 26 days apart.  They have been asking me if they could come over and now seemed like the best time.  I gave them a tour of the cabin.  They both loved it.  We made smores using Nutella instead of candy and then we played Apples to Apples.  They had dinner with us, James grilled us some burgers, and then Leann, Kilee and I went to the fireside in Show Low.  Brother Crockett, the stake patriarch was the speaker.  Sean Hunsaker was the only other leader from our ward there and the only other kids there were Mary and Glenso Swift, Arizona Hill (I finally got to meet her!), and Aaron Windsor.
Glenso rode home with Leann, Kilee and I.  They had the windows down and the sky roof open.  If was a fun afternoon and evening.  My car was a muddy mess when I got home because of the rain this afternoon.
I love Kilee and Leann.  The Hunsaker's are such a great family!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

I wish I could do something to get rid of James's back pain.  He is in such pain it is difficult for him to enjoy anything.  In the morning we sat out on the porch off of our bedroom and read and took pictures of the humming birds and watched it rain.  It was one of my favorite ways to spend a morning here.

Two birds like our feeder.  One of them is a bully and chases the 

other one away.

This guy is the bully.

How many pictures of a hummingbird can we take?

They are more fascinating in real life.

Here is my picture of the rain.  Hopefully something

green will grow where all that dirt is.

 This afternoon we drove into town to get some lunch.  James wanted to stop at La Casita but it was raining so hard we drove on up to El Rancho in Pinetop.  It was still raining, but not nearly as hard.  We both had green chili burros.  I wish we could give them The Burger House's receipe so they could make them for us.

I watched Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh win their first set of beach volleyball in the Olympics.  I think these girls are unbeatable.  I would like to design them something a little more modest to wear.  

James and I watched a cute modern take on the Jane Austen move "Sense and Sensibility."  This one was called "Scents and Sensibility."  James thinks the producer must be LDS.  I am no so sure, but we both liked it.

Friday, July 27, 2012

I love this quote by President Henry B. Eyring:

"You will succeed through your faith."

We had both sunshine and rain today.  It was gorgeous!

I wanted to take a meal over to a sister that I visit teach who had surgery on her foot and her foot is not healing.  Her name is Lannie Gillespie.  When I called and told her I had some taco soup I would like to bring over for dinner she said that was nice but she had been quarantined.  She said her nephew had been diagnosed with spinal meningitis and she had been with him,  hence the quarantine.  I asked if it was one of John's kids and she said yes.  John Wilhelm is her brother and he is the elder's quorum president in our ward.  His four year old son has leukemia and now his baby has spinal meningitis.  It is so sad.  They are a wonderful family.  Trenda is their oldest and she is one of the Young Women in my Mia Maid class.  I love her!  We will definitely remember the Wilhelm family in our prayers.  

James did some home teaching today.  He visited Brother and Sister Peeler, one of the retired couples in our ward and then he went to the adult pinewood derby activity this evening where he met Sister Vaught and her non-member husband.  While he was there he was asked to judge the races.  He was supposed to get some pictures but he forgot.  Alicia Hunsaker had a car that looked like a woman's foot in a flip flop complete with nail polish.  She won one of the races by a close margin and James said "She won by a toe", which made everyone laugh.  Darn I wish I had a picture!

I watched the opening ceremony for the London Olympics this evening and I give it a mixed review.  Part of it was weird but much of it was fascinating.  My favorite part was when Queen Elizabeth and James Bond jumped out of a helicopter and parachuted down to the ceremony.  Also the lighting ceremony was awesome.  Let the games begin!

I went for a 50 minute walk this evening and burned 265 calories.
Since I didn't get any pictures from the pinewood derby I am going to post a picture of Ruby.

I sure do miss this girl, and her brother and sister too!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

My visiting teacher, Alicia Hunsaker came by for a visit this morning.  Leann was going to come with her but she had to go out and help her Dad on a concrete pour.  Alicia brought her 4 year old son, Colter.  He was so well behaved!  We had a nice visit.  I guess Alicia's partner Linda Price is in the valley.  I miss her.

Since I missed So You Think You Can Dance last night I watched it this morning.  I loved Witney and Cheon's dance to Whitney Houston's song "I Will Always Love You."  I am sure I will watch it over and over again.

James and I went on a Ranger ride this afternoon.  We we afraid it was going to rain on us so we weren't gone long.  Along the way we stopped and picked up trash, beer and soda cans, and water bottles.

A picture of James with our collection of trash.

I talked to Karen Schneider today.  She had just come from visiting Judy Pargetter.  Judy's little grandson Nathan Thompson is losing his eyesight.  Such a tragedy for a family who has already suffered so much.

I also want to thank Drea for sending me the link for a talk by Elder Richard G. Scott from the October 1995 General Conference entitled "Trust in the Lord."  I love this talk which helps to strengthen my faith.

Also texted with my friend Paula Casto.  She and her daughter are going to come up for a visit on August 25th.  I can hardly wait!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

I went to Walmart again today, this time to get some snacks for tonite's Mutual activity.  The Mia Maids are in charge and since I am the Mia Maid advisor I thought I should help out.  I got some celery and grapes and bottles of water.  I am going to put peanut butter on the celery.  This activity is suppose to promote good health so we are trying to have healthy snacks.  I am also bring some chocolate chip cookies because everyone knows how healthy they are.  

For a look at the cookies, see Monday's post.

James got home this afternoon.  It was so good to see him!  He helped me get all the snacks ready for this evening.  I would rather stay home with him this evening but I need it was my responsibility to go to the activity.  

Brother Hunsaker and I were the only adult leaders leaving from Vernon to the Show Low skate park so I was glad I went.  Brother Applegate met us in Show Low.  Kilee, and Leann Hunsaker rode with me along with a visitor, Emily Williams and Kilee's little sister Holly.  Here are some pictures at the park.

Talon Wilhelm was the most active boy.  He jumped the track with his bike over and

over again.

Some people just sat and watched.

I wished I would have gotten a picture of Shelly on her $180 bike she bought with her own money.  She jumped the track several times even though her bike is not a BMX bike.

I think everyone had a good time and I was able to get in my 30 minute walk.  I got a little Hunsaker history on the way home from Leann and Holly.  

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Happy Pioneer Day everyone! 
I slept in later than I want to admit today.  I guess I had some catching up to do.  When I did get going I got quite a bit accomplished.  I cleaned the kitchen and polished the granite countertops.

I also waxed the wood floor.

I love it when my house is clean!

I sat down this evening to watch the finale of Design Star.  The two contestants left are Brittany and Danielle.  Brittany is my favorite and as a plus she is from Arizona.  I love her style of decorating and she always adds a little personal touch with her photography.  I can't believe the design pannel chose Danielle.  I as so disappointed!

Monday, July 23, 2012

I miss James and hope he can come home tomorrow evening.  His back is still really bothering him and he tried to make a doctor's appointment but Dr. Wilson and the physician's assistant are both out. 
I made cookies this morning before I went visiting teaching so I could take some to the sister I was visiting.

  I had an appointment to see Rosie Lauritzen at 10 o'clock this morning.  She drew me a map to her house, which is about 10 miles away but I got lost and she had to come and rescue me.  Rosie is the 1st counselor in the RS presidency and she teaches 4th grade.  Her husband Rick is the ward executive secretary and he has his own marriage counseling practice.  Theresa Smith is Rosie's neighbor and she came by for a visit while I was there.  The three of us had a nice visit and I am grateful to get to know these two sisters a little better.  I think I could be good friends with both of them.  Theresa is alot of fun and teaches line dancing every Monday afternoon and invited me to come.  Rosie is more spiritual and I really feel drawn to her.  After our visit I made a trip in to Walmart to get some appliques to use for visiting teaching cards and for YW's. 
It rained all afternoon and in to the evening.  I am so sorry that James is not here to enjoy this beautiful weather.

Can you see the rain?

 I had a nice visit with Karen Schneider on the phone this afternoon.  We had some catching up to do.  I played Scramble on my phone with Kim and Sheri.  They beat me so badly I don't know why I go back for more.
Today was the first day of school in Chandler.  Both Evan and Joshua started kindergarten. Max is in 3rd grade and Kim is the aid in his classroom.   Alex and Michael started high school and Ben started junior high.  Dallin is a senior.  Here are pictures of Josh, Evan and Max.

Joshua

Evan

Max

Sunday, July 22, 2012

I went to bed at 1am after I finished the handouts for today's lesson in Young Women's on service.  I was up at 5:40 to finish preparing the lesson.  At 7 am I attended ward council since Natalie Soderquist, the Young Women's president is still out of town.  I was supposed to do the training from the handbook but no one had told me so I read a few paragraphs and made a couple of comments and that was it.
We have several things coming up this week in the ward.  For Mutual it's a combined activity at the skate park in Show Low.  Friday night is the adult pinewood derby, and Saturday there is a stake dance for the youth, and Sunday is a stake youth fireside.  I found out today that Trenda Wilhelm's little four year old brother has leukemia and goes for treatment's every week to the Phoenix Children's Hospital.  Trenda is such an awesome young woman and the Wilhelm's are a wonderful family with 8 children.  I will be sure and pray for little Curtis.  Trenda is the oldest.  She is only 14 but seems older and is quite mature.  Maybe it's because she drives her dad's truck to church.  Things are different here in the country than they are in the big city of Chandler.
The them for sacrament meeting was pioneers.  At home Dave, Laura and Ben were the speakers in sacrament meeting.  Their theme was also pioneers.  I am so sorry I missed Ben's first talk in sacrament meeting.
Kilee Hunsaker made me feel good today in Young Women's.  She said I was her favorite.  I told her jokingly that maybe that's because she doesn't know me very well, but I was touched by her comment.
Our lesson went well and I told the girls I would be emailing every night this week and giving them a service challenge.  We are going to be Secret Service Agents.  Here is a picture of my handouts:

The spoon goes along with the story that is attached and represents loving and serving.  

The gum wrapper says: "Chews you this day whom ye will serve."

I came home from church and enjoyed some down time.  I had something to eat and did a little TV watching.  I watched Project Runway, the finale for The Next Foodnetwork Star, Justin won, and the finale for The Bachelorette where Emily chose my favorite guy, Jef, who is from Utah and is definitely LDS.

Here is a picture of Emily and Jef

I am going to miss Trina's delicious dinners.  I am still eating the enchiladas left over from Darrel's farewell luncheon.  They are delicious.  It rained hard this evening for a long time.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

James left very early this morning for the valley.  He has a job starting at Troon North Golf Course in Scottsdale. 
Trina and I went to the Show Low Farmer's market this morning while Darrel stayed home and took the kids on a Ranger ride. 

Part of the Farmer's market.

We met a guy from the Milky Ranch named Traegin Knight.  He knew my Dad.

After the farmer's market we drove up to the swap meet at Blue Ridge High School to see if we could find some bow and arrow sets like Trina got for her kids but we didn't have any luck.  Our last stop was at Walmart.  I took a picture of Trina's car and labeled it "Cars of Walmart."

Darrel, Trina and their kids left this afternoon sometime between 3 and 4 o'clock.  Before they left we put up Darrel's hammock in the backyard.  Ruby and Rowan tried it out.  Addy was too busy playing Barbie's.

I am going to miss these kiddos so much.  While Darrel & Trina were packing and cleaning I went outside and played ball with Ruby, Rowan, and Addy.  When I said goodbye to them Ruby said: "Don't worry Grandma, we will be back tomorrow."  Darrel said after they got home he explained to her that they weren't going back and she got really sad and said: "But I want to see my grandma."  Love that girl!



I am home alone.  I worked on my Young Women's lesson for tomorrow on Service.  I made a trip to Walmart to get some supplies to make handouts.  I will post pictures tomorrow.

Friday, July 20, 2012

At a midnight showing of the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises", in Aurora, Colorado a madman set off a tear gas bomb and went up on stage and began shooting at people.  At first the audience thought it was part of the show but then pandemonium broke out when people realized it was for real.  12 people were killed and 50 wounded.  Such a tragedy.  Why do people do such horrific things?

The kids went out this morning to look for lizards and came back with this guy.

They named him "Flash."

Kylie is the one who caught him.

Lexy and her kids, Kylie, Kayla, and Kreed left this morning around 11:30.  They will be missed.  We had alot of fun while they were here.  I especially enjoyed hearing Kreed call James Grandpa.

Today was Darrel's last day at his work.  He had to do a presentation and then they had a luncheon for him to say goodbye.  Trina and the kids went and Trina took her famous chicken, black bean enchiladas which were a big hit.  

This afternoon Darrel, Trina and I and their kids went to the Butterfly Museum in Greer.  Addy had studied butterflies in school and so she was excited to see some butterflies.  It turned out to be kind of a dive and more of an historical museum than a butterfly museum.  There was a small display of dead butterflies in one of the rooms.  We had fun anyway because it had been raining and the weather was gorgeous!

Being Silly.

Love these kids.

Back at the cabin Grandpa caught a baby bluebird and brought it inside.  

There seems to be alot of bluebirds around our place.  Alex caught one when he was here too.

This evening  I watched the Wizard of Oz with the kids because Rowan asked me to.  We had to get out my little miniature dolls I collected from McDonald's.  Rowan said he had been looking for the Munchkin in the movie that looked like the Munchkin doll but he hadn't been able to find it.  He was so excited when we saw the one we thought was her.  He snuggled against me and even put his head in my lap.  

Thursday, July 19, 2012

James decided to go to the Urgent Care in Show Low to get some new pain medication.  I road in to town with him and read to him from our new Victoria Holt book, "Secret for a Nightingale."  He dropped me off at Persnikkity's Bakery where I met Trina, Lexy and the kids and Darrel. While we were there we said hello to Cher, Harold & Vickie's daughter-in-law who works next door at the beauty salon.  The kids had McDonald's and we had good food from Persnikkity's.  Darrel and I had the chicken almond salad sandwich and Trina and lexy had salads with chicken and cranberry.  We drove to the park and ate our lunch.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous.  We said goodbye to Darrel who had to go back to work and then we let the kids play at the park for awhile.  The park is right next to the Little League field and there was a Little League AllStar game going on with people from Nogales.  We hadn't been there long when it started to rain, so we packed up an left.

Here are some pictures of our picnic.

One more.

Back at the cabin Trina, Lexy and I watched an episode of Downton Abbey. Actually I think James and Darrel watched it with us.  The Emmy nominations were announced this week and Downton Abbey got 16 nominations!    James spent 4 hours at the Urgent Care and came back with two pain killer prescriptions., prednisone and hydrocordone.  Hopefully they help!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

James's back and hip and causing him a great deal of pain.  He spoke to someone at Healthnet who told him that it could be after affects from the carbon monoxide poisoning.  Whatever is causing it, it is almost unbearable for him.  He takes hydrocordone but he is almost out.  Our reading sessions aren't even relaxing for him because it is difficult for him to sit comfortably. 
We went into town yet again today to pick up a perscription, get some gas for the Ranger and to get some plates for the cookies I made for Mutual tonight.  James was miserable the entire time.  He did go with me to Mutual tonight which was a service project the ward is doing for a sister in our ward.  The priesthood quorums are involved so that's why James went.  Tonite the young men and young women and the priesthood took Judy Hunter's roof off of her house.  After all the old roofing was removed the attached a blue tarp because they won't be putting the new roofing on for a few days.  I was proud of the young women who participated: McKenzie, Leann, and Kylie Hunsaker, and their cousin Addy. Shelly and Jordyn Applegate, Trenda Wilhelm, and Mary Alice Swift.  I took my cookies and Sister Hunter had sloppy joes and homemade coleslaw and chips for everyone.  It was a fun evening.  I spent most of my time visiting with Sister Hunter.  She is very nice and friendly.  She gave me some more Vernon history.  On the way home we stopped at the Gillespie's and I gave Lannie a plate of cookies and spoke with her a few minutes.  She seems very nice.  Judy said she is actually the assistant superintendent of all the schools in Navajo county.  I am concerned about her though.  She had surgery on her foot in May and she says it is not healing correctly, that the bones are not fusing together.  Instead of cookies I should be taking her dinner.
I guess there was a bat in the cabin this evening.  Trina made all the kids stay in the bedroom.  Addy said: "Why?  Does he suck blood?"  When Trina said no, Addy said, "Then what's the big deal?"  Love that girl.
Lexy and Trina waited for me to get home to watch So You Think You Can Dance.  We were sad that Alexa, the girl from Chandler was sent home.

Here are some pictures of the roofing project.

 

The cute girl is McKenzie Hunsaker.

 

 

A silouhette of the cutest, sweetest girl, Trenda Wilhelm.

 

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The doctor told James to take it easy today so that's what he did.  We did take a trip into town.  We had lunch at El Rancho and then made our usual stop at Home Depot and Walmart.  James picked up our blinds at Home Depot and I got stuff at Walmart to make chocolate chip cookies for Mutual tomorrow night.  Trina had taken the kids into town to play at the Show Low Park and then she went shopping at Walmart.  When she came back to the cabin there was a white Toyota van following her, just like Sheri's on it wasn't Sheri, it was Lexy and Kreed.  Lexy is married to Trina's brother Bryce and she is Kylie and Kayla's Mom along with Kreed's. 
We were all outside this evening enjoying the good weather.  James had to show me the huge pile of branches he had prepared to burn.  The kids had found a piece of metal to use for a slide for their club house.  Rowan found a horned toad and named him "Horny". 



Monday, July 16, 2012

James left this morning for Show Low.  He is doing a job for Owen and will be doing some concrete saw cutting in a basement.  When I asked him when he would be back he said around 3 o'clock.  I got a call around 10:30.  James sounded like he was drunk.  He said he had been saw cutting in the basement with not ventilation and he had gotten dizzy so he went outside and then he passed out. He passed out twice, once for 45 minutes.  He tried to drive home but stopped by the St. John's turnoff and called me.  I jumped in my car and went to him and followed him home.  He took a shower and changed clothers and was going to lie down and take a nap but Trina said that was the worst thing he could do.  She had called poison control and they said to call 911 immediately.  She kept saying he needed to go to the hospital and be on oxygen.  Finally she called a nurse who has been practicing 35 years and when she said he needed to go in immediately James finally listened.  Trina had also mentioned that carbon monoxide poisoning is called the "silent death."  That got my attention. 

The doctor at the hospital in Show Low, Summit Healthcare, was shocked with how high James's levels of carbon monoxide were, 23.  They put him on oxygen and told him he had to get down to 5 before he could go home. We were at the hospital from 1-9pm.  I am so thankful for Trina and her insistence that James go in.  If we hadn't, it could have been fatal.  Carbon monoxide attaches itself to your hemoglobin and keeps oxygen from getting to vital organs. 

Sunday, July 15, 2012

A beautiful, overcast, rainy day!  I loved it.  Brother Crockett, the stake patriarch, and Brother Genet from the high council were the speakers in sacrament meeting today.  I felt like my Young Women's lesson on the Second Coming went quite well.  Today I was glad that Brother Smith attended because he had some good comments, especially when we discussed the parable of the Ten Virgins. 
The rain has made everyone happy.  We have needed it for awhile now.  Now maybe James can burn the huge piles of brush he has accumulated.
Darrel and Trina returned this evening bringing Kylie and Kayla with them.  Poor Addy wasn't feeling well and went to bed early with a stomach ache.  Trina and I watched an episode of Downton Abbey and I watched the Next Foodnetwork Star.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Since today is Friday the 13th I thought of my Mom.  She was born on September 13th and always said Friday the 13th was her lucky day.
I went in to town today to get buttermilk so I could make my pancakes for the Trezise family before they leave tomorrow.  When I returned I played a game of Five Crowns with Kim, Sheri, Michael, and Joe.  I won. 
Soon it was time for Kim, Joe, and Michael to leave.  The boys have been up here for two weeks and I think they were ready to go home.  Michael said he missed Holly and Joe missed his cats. 
I think Darrel's kids had fun with the older boys while they were here.  They played store, using nails as a means of exchange and they played "who will marry the princess" with Addy as the princess.  They also had a blast with the bows and arrows that Trina got for her kids.  Sheri and I went on a hunt for more bows and arrows but it ended up being a wild goose chase. 
Trina and Darrel left home for the weekend so that left Sheri and I to fix dinner.  We had some delicious grilled chicken.
The big news of the week is that James's phone broke and he ended up getting an iphone.  Now if we can just get him on facebook he will have joined the 21st century.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

The Trezise's and Ian Wanlass left today a little before noon,  but not before I made them my famous pancakes for breakfast along with some turkey bacon.  After breakfast Ian took Alex, Ben, Ian, and Max to the pit.  They were gone so long we almost sent out a search party.  I guess they had found a swing and Ian was having a blast pushing the boys on it.  I wish someone would have taken some pictures.

These pictures were taken just before they left.

The Trezise boys love to go barefoot.

Notice Ian with the walking stick he carved.

Everyone had to have their cup with their name on it.

James looking a little lonely.

More news from Jared and Tricia.  I guess they went to help clean the church and when Molly saw the stage she decided to perform.  Love that girl!

I went into town again today to look for bows and arrows at a swap meet.  I could find none.  I did get some poster board for my Young Women's lesson tomorrow.  I drive James crazy with all of my trips to town.  He had to make one himself tonight around 10 pm to meet Owen.  Owen has a small job for him to do on Monday morning.