Thursday, August 30, 2012

Walk and Talk.  Elder Ballard: "There is no happiness without service, and there is no service greater than that which converts the home into a divine institution, and which promotes and preserves family life....The home is what needs reforming."  This was actually a quote Elder Ballard quoted by Joseph F. Smith over 100 years ago.
Here is another one by Elder Ballard: "Brothers and sisters, the most important cause of our lifetime is our families.  If we will devote ourselves to this cause, we will improve every other aspect of our lives and will become, as a people and as a church, an example and a beacon for all peoples of the earth."
Swept and mopped the floors while listening to last night's session of the Republican National Convention. 
This afternoon around 4pm I left for Show Low to go watch Monte's girls, Madison and Kaitlyn play volleyball.  Two of my young women went with me, MaKenzi Hunsaker and Trenda Wilhelm.  Trenda rode the bus home and I picked her up and took her back.  Show Low is playing Snowflake and I am afraid Snowflake won all three sets, the freshmen, JV, and varsity.  We sat by Monte, Vickie, Harold, Colby, Brian, and Cher.  Kaitlyn and Madison both gave me a hug.  I also saw Quentin and Zach.  After Madison's freshman game I took MaKenzi, Trenda, and Mary Swift to Burger King to get something to eat.  Tasha was coaching the JV team but since I didn't know anyone playing on that team I thought it was a good time to take a break.  We came back and watched Kaitylyn play.  MaKenzi use to play volleyball, Tasha was her coach, back in junior high but she broke her leg and never went back.  She said she wishes she would have.  Snowflake won all three varsity games.  Kaitlyn is a good player though.  Vickie is very proud of both her and Madison.  They are both straight A students.  Madison also played the national anthem on the french horn before the varsity games started.  We didn't get home until 8:30. 

Kaitlyn is to the right of the girl in the green.

Madison is the girl in the black walking behind the Snowflake team.

The Snowflake team's coach was annoying. 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

On my 3 mile walk this morning I listened to Elder Nelson's conference address.  Here is a quote from his message: "The attributes by which we shall be judged one day are all spiritual.  These include love, virtue, integrity, compassion, and service to others.  Your spirit, coupled with and housed in your body, is able to develop and manifest these attributes in ways that are vital to your eternal progression.  Spiritual progress is attained through the steps of faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, including the endowment and sealing ordinances of the holy temple." The gospel in a nutshell.

Flowers on my walk.

James and I finished watching the first session of the Republican National Convention this morning.  I loved the governor of Ohio, Ann Romney and Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey.  I am amazed at governor's who have established budgets for their states and got government back on track.  Most of all I loved Ann Romney's speech.  She spoke about love, and how important women are, and her love and faith in her husband.  Her most famous line was: "This man will not fail."  After she was finished Mitt came out and hugged and kissed her.  I truly believe that Mitt Romney is the man to get our economy back on track.

Ann Romney shaking hands with people at the Chandler rally.

Mitt Romney just before he shook my hand at the Chandler rally.

This evening I went with our youth group to Fools Hollow Lake to go swimming.  (I thought maybe they were fools for wanting to swim after dark.)  We had 10 girls who attended: Kilee, LeAnn, and MaKenzi Hunsaker.  MaKenzi is the only girl who didn't swim.  Shelly and Jordyn Applegate, Trenda Wilhelm, Mary Swift, Tasha, i don't know Tasha's last name, and Hope and Hailey Lootans.  Sister Soderquist and Brother Allen picked up pizzas on the way and I brought cookies and water.  Brother Allen is the only leader who actually got in the water.  Westin Hall was the first one in.  Other young men who came: Kendall Hall, Jace Applegate, Glenso Swift, Tyler Hunsaker, and Rusty Allen.  Jackson Allen and Talon Wilhelm were playing in a football game in Round Valley.  Here are some random pictures:

Jumping off the Rock was the most fun.

This is Natalie Soderquist, our young women's president.  She looks like one of the girls.  I am the grandma of the group.  Steve Allen, Sean Hunsaker and Jimmie Applegate were the other leaders who attended.
I think you can say a good time was had by all.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Today is Addy's 8th Birthday.  James and I called and talked to her this morning and wished her a Happy Birthday.  I even sang: "You've had a birthday, shout hooray! You're 8 years old today."  I think she thought I was a little crazy.  I love this girl so much.  She is such a blessing in my life. Happy Birthday Addy!

I actually walked three miles this morning, something I have been working up to all month.  I had to stop and take a picture of these flowers:

I had two visiting teachings appointments today with my partner Eileen Duggins.  One appointment with Linda Diewald was this morning at 10am and the 2nd appointment was at 6pm with Rosie Lauritzen.  I enjoyed getting to know all three of these women a little better.  Eileen has worked in the construction business.  She said when she was in Montana she helped her daughter do some framing on her new house.  Her new house is a barn that she is converting into a home.  Right now Eileen has her 4 year old grandson Alex staying with her and they are building birdhouses.  This weekend some more of her grandchildren are coming up and they will paint the bird houses.  Oh yes, Eileen also likes to tole paint.  Not much she can't do.
Linda, Eileen and I are all about the same age so we spent quite a bit of time talking about our grand children.  Linda and her husband are called as service missionaries at the Snowflake cannery so she told us some experiences she has had there.  Right now Linda is helping her husband paint their back fence.
Rosie is a fourth grade school teacher at the Nicholas Homestead School in Show Low.  Her husband is a marriage counselor.  I really enjoy Rosie's testimony and her ability to teach, and her great sense of humor.  Her birthday is on September 15th so I asked her what her favorite treat was.  She said she loves ice cream, so next month we will have an ice cream party with Rosie.  Rosie goes to bed a 7:30 because she gets up at 4.  Hey, maybe I should do that.  My goal is start getting ready for bed by 8.
When I went on to Facebook this morning I noticed that Paul had gotten his promotion at work.  Congratulations Paul!  I hope they give you better hours now.
James and I had lunch at LaCasita today.  Did I ever mention how much I LOVE their green chili burros?
After lunch I gave James a list and he helped me do our shopping at Walmart.  It takes half the time when you have a helper.  We should have done this a long time ago.  The only problem is when I got home and unloaded I noticed that he forgot to get chicken thighs. 
This evening we watched part of the Republican National Convention, but turned it off at 8 so we missed Ann Romney's speech.  That's what I love about DVR, I can watch it tomorrow.

Monday, August 27, 2012

I love this quote by President Uchtdorf:

"Divine blessings are activated by our diligent efforts."

If you want or need a blessing in your life are you putting forth the effort to receive that blessing?

My visiting teachers, Alicia Hunsaker and Linda Price, were a little late coming this morning.  They were suppose to be here at 9:15 but it was more like 9:45.  Alicia gave me a cupcake and Linda a homemade potholder and an electronic air freshener.  I brought out the box of toys for Colter who is Alicia's 3 year old son, which made him very happy. My Young Women's presidency meeting was schedule for 10am and Natalie Soderquist arrived right on time.  She joined in our discussion and then we said our goodbyes to Linda, Alicia, and Colter.  (Colter is the cutest little boy with gorgeous blue eyes!)

Tina Allen, who is the young women's secretary, works at Show Low high school as the pom & cheer coach.  She missed our meeting this morning.  We no longer have a 2nd counselor so that was our first item of business.  Natalie is going to turn in a name to the bishopric this week.  Natalie will be out of town this week so I am teaching again.  Also I was given a couple of assignments that really should belong to the secretary so I am assuming Tina is so overwhelmed with her school job she is finding it difficult to do her Church calling.  That's fine.  I am glad to help.  Our young women's activity this week is swimming at Fools Hollow Lake.  The men say there is no food involved but Natalie and I think the kids are going to be hungry.  Our plan is to bring hot chocolate, we think they are going to be cold too, cookies, and stop at Little Caesars on the way in to town for pizza.  

After presidency meeting James and I had lunch and then it was rest time.  James laid down on the bed 

and I reclined on my favorite couch spot and put "Cupcake Wars" on.  I had a nice nap.  

At 3pm I went with James to visit Brother and Sister Peeler.  He is their home teacher and his partner couldn't go with him.  The Peeler's are an older couple in the ward.  Brother Peeler is the stake Sunday School president and Sister Peeler is the chorister in Relief Society.  The message is on service.  I enjoyed hearing James tell about some of his experiences serving within the Church and I also enjoyed Brother Peeler's story of being the Explorer advisor and taking his Explorer's out on the desert to teach them to drive.  

For FHE we wanted to watch the Republican Convention but it was postponed because of Hurricane Isaac.  We watched a show on BYUTV about Anne of Green Gables.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Tyler Hunsaker, Tina Allen, and Jimmy McNeil were the speakers in sacrament meeting.  Tyler is 15 years old and he spoke on the 5th Article of Faith.  Tina and Jimmy spoke on overcoming adversity.  Tina is the Young Women's secretary and I have become friends with her.  She has two boys, Jackson who is a deacon and Rusty who is a priest.  Rusty plays ball with Colby.  She also has 5 grown daughters.  They all visited her this weekend for her birthday and they had a family picture taken, (there are 22 of them), in the field of sunflowers here in Vernon.

During sacrament meeting I saw Natalie and Hans Soderquist leave.  Their children stayed by the Hunsaker's.  After sacrament meeting Hans ask me if I would teach young women's because Natalie was sick.  Thank goodness I studied the lesson this morning and brought it with me to Church.  We had two visitors today, Ashley and Savannah from Lakeside.  Our lesson was on goal setting.  Afterwards I met with the class presidents and did some planning for the month of September.  James home taught Sister Lorraine Vaught at the church and I sat in.
I had two Mom's come up to me at Church and say how much their girls loved me and enjoyed our Wednesday night activity.  Trenda's mom, Sandra Wilhelm gave me a big hug.  When James went home teaching to the Hunsaker's he said Brother Hunsaker said I was an awesome young women's leader.  I am grateful for the praise but most of all I am grateful for the young women in this ward.\
We got more rain today and my car got covered with mud on the way home from church.  At the end of Sunday School there was a loud clash of thunder.  Someone said: "Time to end class."  During young women's the lights flickered and thunder crashed again.  I like rain but I don't like thunder and lightning.
We had grilled honey lime chicken again.  Not as good as last week's because it didn't marinate as long.

It was a good sabbath day.  I worked on Personal Progress this evening.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Kevin and his wife Alena had a baby girl this morning.  They named her Lillian Marie.  Kevin lives in Europe so who knows when we will get to see the baby.  Laura, do you know?
In an attempt to get ready for Sunday I washed my car today.  It was covered in mud from the last rain.  I also washed off the driveway, knowing that it won't last very long. 
James finished putting up the blinds in the entryway.  He works hard even when he hurts.

There was no rain today and for the first time in a long time James and I went on a Ranger ride. 

Usually when we see cows they run from us.  But not this one.  She had horns and I thought she was going to charge.

Pictures taken around Vernon.

The Crane's garden and wildflowers.

Our flower garden.

Some of our wildflowers.

Field of sunflowers on Apache county road 3144.

Friday, August 24, 2012

The alarm went off at 4:40am and we hit the ground running.  James did the driving while I slept until Payson.  We stopped for gas and a drink at the Giant station.  $1.63 for a drink....at Circle K they are only 86 cents. 
When we got to the valley we turned on to Shea Blvd. and traveled down Shea until Tatum.  We turned right onto Tatum and then got a little bit lost looking for 4435 E. Paradise Village Parkway.  There was some construction and Paradise Village Parkway is one of those windy streets.  Finally after much wandering I looked at the address again: 4435 E. Paradise Village Parkway South.  The South made all the difference.  We went north on Tatum, turned left onto Cactus and south again on 44th.  Stone Creek is right next to the Embassy Suites Hotel.  Duh!  The Embassy Suites is my home away from home.  While James was in his meeting I needed to use the little girls room.  Luckily I found a Target right across from Paradise Valley Mall.
Did I ever mention that Target is my favorite store?  I bought myself a new purse that I love! 

It is made of soft leather and I love the color.  

It looks better in person.

I couldn't resist taking this picture.

You don't see many of these in Vernon.

I picked up James after his meeting and we were on our way to Darrel's house.  When we first arrived Darrel was home alone.  Addy and Rowan were at school and Trina and Ruby were are the gym.  Darrel showed us his latest home improvement project.  Tile backsplash in the kitchen.  You did a nice job Darrel. 

Soon Ruby was home.  Darrel had to run an errand, Trina went in the bedroom to change her clothes, James was snoring on the coach and Ruby and I played ball.  She showed me what she made in preschool.

It's a marshmallow M.  Ruby says you can't eat the marshmallows because they have glue on them.  

Then she whispers to me:"I ate some of the others though."

Darrel and Trina took James and I to Chili's for lunch for my birthday.  Sheri got off of work on her lunch hour and met us there.  I had my favorite Chili's menu item, Caribbean salad with grilled shrimp.  

Some of my favorite people in the world.

After lunch we said our goodbyes and went to Stacy and Paul's so James could fix the leak in the pool pump.  I visited with Stacy and Adam and we watched part of the Rock Center special on Mormon's.  Adam had to leave because he had a date with a girl named Alicia.  Stacy had to pick up the boys from school.  I got hugs from Joshua, Michael, and Dallin before we left for home.  

Again I sleep until Payson.  We got in quite a rainstorm going up the rim.  James talked to Terry who was in Long Valley at the Del Rio 2nd ward outing and he said it was just starting to rain on them.

I missed Show Low High School's first football game in St. John's tonight.  Show Low won and Colby who is the starting quarterback was player of the game according to the radio.  I will be at the game next week.

It's good to be home.  We watched Train on the Today show sing 3 songs.  I taped them for Trina because I know she likes them.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

No walk this morning because of rain.  I had to rescue our rocking chairs off the front porch.

I got a text from my friend Paula Casto this morning.  She and her daughter Tanae were coming on Friday evening for a visit.  In the text she said they would not be coming because they had things they needed to get done on Saturday.  I was quite disappointed and I think James was too.  We were looking forward to their visit.  To get over my disappointment I watched "SYTYCD."  It was all-stars week.
For lunch I made some chili out of the left over baked beans from last night. 
It was a little bit of a lazy day for me.  I guess I was tired from yesterday and last night.  I did make a decision that I would go with James to the valley tomorrow.  He has to go to Stone Creek Golf Course in Paradise Valley and look at some work that they want him to do.  He was happy I had decided to go with him.  When I told Darrel & Trina they invited us to go to lunch with them for my birthday.  Woohoo!
This afternoon James and I had to go in to town to fill a prescription for him.  We also had to buy more naprosen.  Since James is taking it too we run out very quickly.  I must say since he went off the hydrocodone he has seemed more like his old self.  We did get the news today that Dr. Memon will absolutely not let James go off his blood thinners for at least 6 month or possibly a year.
This evening we watched  The Rock Center with Brian Williams which featured "Mormons in America."  I felt like they did a good job, got most of the facts correct, portrayed things for the most part how they are.  I was offended that they showed temple garments.  They gave Abbie Huntsman way too much air time and for what reason I have no idea since there are around 5,999,999 other Mormons in America they could have interviewed. She is no longer a practicing Mormon.  They did a segment on welfare square and how the Church takes care of its own which was wonderful.  They also did another segment on an interracial family who is a wonderful example of a family that lives the gospel.
They showed a gay man who holds a leadership position in his ward.  They brough out the fact that because he remains celibate he is in good standing with the Church.  
  One aspect I thought they got fundamentally wrong, which is unfortunate, is they talked about  how men and women are unequal as members of the Church.  I think if you asked the vast majority of members of the Church they would agree that men and women are equal in importance but they each have different roles to fill.  To assume because the Church has a male priesthood hierarchy that somehow by default that makes men more important and women less important is missing the entire essence of the teachings of salvation.  In this Church we believe  that neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I listened to the song "VivaLaVida" by Coldplay today and it reminded me of Marie Antionette and her husband King Louis XVI of France.  James and I are reading their story right now and it is so sad how the people treated her.  She really was not a bad person and neither was Louis.  The French Revolution was started mostly by agitators hired to stir up the people against the King and more specifically his wife.

I love going on my morning walk and listening to conference talks.  I gain such insights and inspiration.  (Did I say that before?  Well, it's true).

I worked on preparing for our Young Women's activity, which will be held here tonight, most of the morning.  I dusted and vacuumed, waxed the floor and cleaned the kitchen.  I also finished preparing for my little talk on Personal Progress.  I started getting worried about everyone getting in here tonight because it rained most of the morning.  For the first time that I can remember I prayed that it would stop raining.  It did.  Thank you Heavenly Father.

Around 2pm James and I went in to town to get supplies for tonight and gas for the Ranger.  I wanted to get some bananas for my shakes and this is what the banana display at Walmart looked like:

Did some monkey come through and eat all of the bananas?

By the time we got home it was almost 5 o'clock and our activity starts in an hour. Yikes!

I could never have done this without James's help.  He is such a sweetie.  He cleaned the grill, put the water bottles in the ice chest, and kept busy the entire evening.  I put groceries away and started making cookies.  I had intended on making the cookies earlier in the day but got busy cleaning and just didn't do it.

At 5:50 Wes and Teresa Smith and the nonmember girl I invited yesterday, China Wadlington, arrived.  What a delight it was to meet China.  She is such a cute, friendly, mature 17 year old who is a senior at Show Low High School and wants to attend college next year and eventually become an attorney.  Her Dad is a member in our ward who is inactive.  China and her dad are friends with the Swansey's.  Sherry Swansey was just baptized and asked us to fellowship China.  It will be our pleasure.

China and Teresa helped me in the kitchen and Wes helped James with the grill.  Soon the others began arriving:  MaKenzi, Leann, and Kilee Hunsaker, Jordyn and Shelly Applegate, Mary Swift, Trenda Wilhelm, and Sister Natalie Soderquist, the Young Women's President.  Natalie brought tater tots for us to cook.  We are having a "Ketchup" on Personal Progress night.  

During dinner part of the conversation centered around creatures we don't like: moths, scorpions, crickets, cockroaches, and vinagerettes.  Vinagerettes?  Isn't that a salad dressing.  Kilee looked confused.  She said her Dad didn't like them.  I was confused too so I ask James if there was a bug with a name similar to vinagerette.  He said:  "Oh, you mean vinagerones?  Yes.  Mystery solved.  

After dinner the men worked in the kitchen while we gathered the girls around the dining room table and talked about Personal Progress.  We found out what each girl was working on, and then bore testimony and challenged them to set a goal as to when they would work on their experiences and projects and figure out a plan as to how long it would take them to finish.  I felt like things went well.  China joined in and even made the comment that she thought she would be baptized and that she would start coming to Church!

I took Trenda and Mary back to the Church and Jordyn and Shelly home.  The conversation in the car went something like this: Trenda: "Shelly and Jordyn I want you to start coming to the stake dances.  There is one next Saturday at the Linden chapel."  Shelly:  "I don't want any boys touching me!"  By the time we got back to the Church I think she was considering going to the dance and maybe allowing a boy to touch her hand.

The girls loved our home and I told them we would have more activities here. Shelly ran from room to room and came back and reported that we had 11 closets. 

I forgot to mention that when Trenda saw James doing the dishes she said:  "That is so cool.  My Dad always makes us do the dishes."

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Here are some sights from my morning walk.

Can you find the bunny in this picture?

I love the wildflowers.

Birds on a wire.  Lots of them.  Sorry you can't seen them very well.

They usually fly when I walk under them.

An indication that James feels better.  

Hurry Honey, the clouds are coming.

Evan, Sheri's 5 year old, he will be six in November, is obsessed with cowboys right now.  He drew this picture of some of his obsessions: apple trees, cowboys, and Batman.

I love this picture!

Ruby's First Day of Preschool

Her Dad (Darrel) helped her get ready to go.

Jeanna Griffin Dilts's baby girl Amelia

Born August 20, 2012.

James and I watched the movie The Hunger Games for the first time this evening.  We read all of the books.  I was a little apprehensive about watching it.  Kim said she had to leave the theater because she got dizzy because the filming was so bad.  I didn't get sick or dizzy.  I really liked the girl who played Katniss Everdeen.(By the way I rather like this name).   James really liked the movie.

 

Monday, August 20, 2012

Somewhere in the last 3 months I read  about a father who did interviews with his children before they turn 8 and are baptized.  I went through every book I have been reading more than once and could not find it.  I prayed to Heavenly Father that I could find it so I could email it to Darrel because I thought it might be something he would like to do with Addy.  When I left for my walk I was feeling frustrated yet hopeful that Heavenly Father would hear my prayer and help me..  I put in my earplugs and began listening to Sister Cheryl A. Esplin's talk from the last General Conference entitled "Teaching Our Children to Understand."  Here was my simple little story.  I almost cried.  I came home and sent the idea to Trina and Darrel.  Trina said she loved the idea and thanked me for it. Here is the idea:

"About two months before his children turned eight years old, one father would set aside time each week to prepare them for baptism.  His daughter said that when it was her turn, he gave hear a journal and they sat together, just the two of them, and discussed and shared feelings about gospel principles.  He had her draw a visual aid as they went along .  It showed the premortal existence, this earth, life, and each step she needed to take to return to live with Heavenly Father.  He bore his testimony about each step of the plan of salvation as he taught it to her.
When he daughter recalled this experience after she was grown, she said: 'I will never forget the love I felt from my dad as he spent that time with me....I believe that this experience was a major reason I had a testimony of the gospel when I was baptized."  My prayers were answered.

My friend Paula Casto and her daughter Tanae are coming to visit this weekend.  I am excited to have them come and they are excited to come.  There is only one drawback.  Tanae has a new calling in the singles ward so they have to either go back Saturday evening or early Monday morning.  Tanae is the assistant to the Sunday social meals in the singles ward and talks her calling very seriously.

While James and I were outside on the deck reading this morning four Apache helicopters flew overhead.  Darn!  I was hoping they didn't know where we were.  We thought we were well hidden.

James and I have a goal to plant grass around our home.  Before we can even begin to think about planting we have so many rocks to remove.  I didn't realize how many until this morning when I actually began the removal process.  There are large ones and small ones and every size in between. It will be a long time before we are ready to plant.  Hopefully sometime next year.

James and I went on a short Ranger ride this morning.  Short because there was no gas.  I am grateful James is feeling a little better and beginning to act like himself.  Still waiting to here from Dr. Memon.

For FHE I made an apple pie shake and James and I watched President Monson's 85th birthday party.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Happy Birthday to me!  My birthday gift to myself is the losing of 5 lbs.  I am very excited!  But the next time I go to the valley I am getting this treat:

I got up at 4am to finish my handouts for today's Young Women's lesson.  (See Saturday for pictures of handouts).  Around 5:30 I noticed a herd of cows in our backyard.  I decided to chase them away on the Ranger.  Goodbye cows, get your breakfast somewhere else.

We sat by the Crane's during sacrament meeting.  I told James his birthday gift to me was to stay for all of the block, and he did.  Afterwards he was glad he did because he said priesthood meeting was very spiritual.  

After our meetings James gave me another birthday present.  This wonderfully delicious addictive grilled honey lime chicken.

James and I ate this entire plate of chicken. 

It was better than birthday cake.

I got several phone calls, Facebook messages and Vox's today.  I talked to Dennis, Harold, Vickie, Lois, Darrel, and Stacy on the phone.  Kim and Brian, Laura,Darrel & Trina and several friends Facebooked me.  Jared and his family Skyped me.  I went to a fireside this afternoon and the young men and young women sang happy birthday to me.  It was a great birthday.  Jared told me that his kids fasted for Grandpa James last week.  They told Emmy because she wasn't 8 yet she didn't need to fast, but she did anyone.  We are so grateful for our dear sweet children and grandchildren!  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

James's last gift to me was to take me on a Sunday drive.  

It was a great birthday.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

James and I read the book of Omni in the Book of Mormon or our scripture study this morning.  One of my favorite Book of Mormon scriptures is found in Omni 1:26 where it says:
 "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption.  Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."
Our Marie Antionette story is getting quite sad.  Marie has four children that she loves dearly and two of them die.  Also, the people of France are turning against her and troubled times are ahead.
I saw a funny thing on the way in to Show Low today,  There was a wedding at the fire station.  Yes you heard me right.  Just after seeing the wedding, I looked on the left side of the road and said to James: "On look at that paint horse."  His reply was: "That's not a paint horse, it's an apaloosa mule."  The sights you see in a small town.
We had lunch at LaCasita.  I love their green chili burros but the sopapillas are not as good as El Rancho's.
I got some supplies at Walmart and the Book Barn and came home and spent the rest of the evening preparing for Young Women's.  Here's what I made:

The front of the scripture journal says: 

"Be Enthusiastic About Reading Scriptures"

The bookmark says: 

"The scriptures are the KEYS to our salvation & happiness."

The little candy scriptures are from 2 Nephi 4:15:

"For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them."

This was inside the front cover of the scripture journal:

 

This was inside the back cover:

 Different scenarios where you can find answers in the scriptures

to life's problems.

 

Friday, August 17, 2012

I am trying desperately to get back on my old schedule where I get up at 4am and study a couple of hours or so and then go for a walk.  I hate using an alarm and can normally just rely on my instincts to get up.  Today I got up, studied until what I thought was 6:00 and then got ready and went out for my walk.  When I returned I checked my phone for the time and it said 5:59.  What?  It's suppose to be 7am.  That means I got up at 3am instead of 4.  Oh well, I took a shower and laid back down for another 30 minutes. 
While I was spraying the mud off our driveway James went in to the post office and to get a burn permit from the fire department.  He is finally burning the big pile of brush in our back yard.  It looked like this:

The Burning Bush.

Fire in the Rain.

I worked on the Young Women lesson which is on Scripture Study. I found lots of fun ideas on Sugardoodle.net for handouts that I want to use.  

Kim got the results of her biopsy back.  No cancer.  Thank goodness.  

James and I watched The Finder finale, The Mentalist, and Chopped on TV this evening.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

We are down to the top ten on So You Think You Can Dance and I am glad to say that both of my Utah girls, Witney and Lindsey made it.  This week was Mia Michaels week.  It was fun to be reminded of all the cool dances Mia has choreographed but I am not sure I like remakes.  Napoleon and Tabitha had a baby boy since the last session.  They named him London.  I wonder if that was because he was born during the London Olympics. 
Instead of listening to music during my walk this morning I decided to listen to General Conference talks.  I feel like I am multitasking and enjoyed the spiritual upliftment.
I started using the shakes I got from Drea Monday night.  I have one in the morning, and one at night in place of breakfast and dinner.  So far I have lost 3 lbs.  My goal is 30 lbs. by Thanksgiving.

We had to make another trip to town today.  This time we deposited some money from our National Bank account into the Lambson Construction account. While I was picking up some things at Walmart I got a call from our Young Women's President.  We were scheduled to have a presidency meeting at 3pm but she cancelled.  She said she had a tooth pulled on Monday and it was still bothering her.  She also said she would be gone on Sunday and asked if I would give the lesson.  I was actually excited because the lesson is on scripture study, one of my favorite topics.

So far I have had the orange julius shake and the snickerdoodle.  They are both very tasty.  I watched Project Runway while James did something in the bedroom.  Raoul went home again.  I am so glad.  He cannot sew or design and he looks like Eddie Munster.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I am trying to get back in to my routine of early morning gospel study and then a walk.  This week my walk's are about 45 minutes long.  The weather is so nice in the mornings and I get to watch the sun come up. 

We have a bit of a doctor dilemma.  The pain management specialist has James's MRI and referral but when I went to schedule an appointment the first question was if he was on blood thinners.  James has been on blood thinners since his stint was put in.  We have to get permission from Dr. Memon for him to be off the blood thinners for at least 10 days.  The problem is that Dr. Memon is very difficult to get a hold of.  Finally Pam his assistant told me he would be in the office next Tuesday and would give us an answer then.   Vickie thinks he should go to a chiropractor and I agree,  but James refuses.  Denise says they may not let him go off the blood thinners until it has been at least six months since his stint was put in.  In the meantime he is almost out of pain killers.  The waiting is so difficult when he is in so much pain. 

Today we went in to town.  We had lunch at El Rancho.  It was packed and I wondered why in the middle of the week, and then I saw the sign for 99cent tacos on Wednesday's. We were probably the only ones in the restaurant who didn't order 99cent tacos.  We also went to Walmart, Walgreen's to pick up 3 of my prescriptions, Splash & Dash to wash my car, Chase, and the post office in Vernon.  These trips to town usually wear James out and he comes home and takes a nap. 

How's that for a rain storm!

Tonite was a combined activity for Mutual with the Young Men in charge.  We are going target practicing with guns.  We all met at the church at 6pm.  Again, I was the only Young Women's leader in attendance.  We had 8 girls who came: Jordyn, Shelly, Kilee, Leann, McKenzie, Trenda, Mary, and our visitor from Georgia, Journey.  There were 9 boys and 5 adults to round out the group.  I tried to take some pictures but of course I was behind the kids when they were shooting.

That's Kilee with the gun. She's one of my Beehives who spent the night at my house.  She likes my car and our house, and loves to do hair and nails. She and her cousins, Leann and McKenzie help their dads pour cand finish concrete.  I hope that guns not loaded or she shouldn't be off the firing line.

Brother Applegate and his daughter Jordyn on by the back of the truck. Jordyn just turned 16 and became a Laurel.  She is quiet and sweet and loves to draw.  She wants to work in an animation studio.  Glenso Swift is the boy shooting in the blue shirt and that's Kilee's father, Sean Hunsaker in the blue hat.

 

The young man in the white shirt is Daniel.  I have never seen him before.  That's Trey Campagna in the blue.  He's nice looking but the Hunsaker girls don't like him very well..  Shelly Applegate is shooting her BB gun.  Shelly is full of life.  She was the only one of the girls who accepted my 5 day service challenge so I am very proud of her.  She is also gung ho about Personal Progress.  I tease her because she didn't know who Mitt Romney was.

McKenzie Hunsaker is the girl shooting her Dad's 45 pistol.  It was loud.  She is such a cute girl and wants to be a firefighter.  That's her boyfriend in the camo sleeveless shirt, Cory McNeil, who is just recently reactivated.  He comes to McKenzie's on Sundays and she reads to him from the Ensign. We have such awesome young women in this ward!

 I think the other boy in the stripped shirt is Aaron Windsor.

I will name the people in this picture that I know:  Brother Steve Allen, the young men's president is holding the gun on the left.  He let me shoot his shotgun 3x and swears that I hit the first clay pigeon he threw.  I think Trey, who was shooting the same time I was actually hit it.  Trenda Wilhelm is the girl in the white shirt with the ponytail.  Trenda is a beautiful girl with lots of spirituality but is also very fun loving.  She is an all around great person.  She wants to marry the country singer Hunter Hayes.  I can see why.  He is so cute and he can sing.  The girl in the orange with the flower on her hat is my cute Leann Hunsaker.  She is the Beehive class president.  Leann is artistic and such a sweetie.  I think she would be a nice match for Ben.

That's Mary Swift sitting on the truck.  She is native American and the only girl who wouldn't shoot a gun.  Mary is our Laurel class president and a senior at Show Low high school.  She loves to play basketball! Mary has the greatest laugh!

Brother Wes Smith is on; the left loading Brother Allen's gun for Journey who is waiting there beside him.

Journey has never shot a gun before but she loved Brother Allen's shotgun.  It's the same gun I shot.

Journey loves animals and was excited that she got to help the Miller's brand cattle while she was here.  She has the cutest southern accent and the girls loved getting to know her.

 

 

There is Trenda shooting Brother Allen's gun.  She said she once shot an elk at 450 yards.  

This girl can do anything but she is not conceited.  She is a sweetheart.