Friday, December 20, 2013

Gospel Study

"Lamentations of Jeremiah: Beware of Bondage"

-Elder Quentin L. Cook

"Our challenge is to avoid bondage of any kind, help the Lord gather His elect, and sacrifice for the rising generation."

The clouds are rolling in this morning.  It is suppose to snow and I am so excited!

I made more cookies today but this time I used my new Kitchen Aid mixer.  Yes, I talked James into letting me open it early.  It is a dream!

My new mixer, which I love!

We made a trip into town today.  We got two checks today, one was the final one from Horne Auto.  We went into town and made a deposit and then we went to lunch at Panda.  It was packed!  Afterwards I did some shopping at Walmart.  I bought some wax warmers as Christmas gifts and I bought an electric shaver to give James.  

I made chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies today.  James made a home teaching visit to the Hunsaker's and then he took cookies to the John Wilhelm family.  He wasn't able to visit with the Wilhelm's because they had company.  We were going to deliver our other cookies tonight but decided to go tomorrow on our way to the valley.  

Tonight we missed Michael's birthday party at Organ Stop Pizza and Addy's guitar recital.  Addy did say she would play the guitar at our family Christmas party on Monday.

James and I watched "Christmas in Conway."  It was good, but a tear jerker.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Happy 16th Birthday to Michael!

I had a visit from my visiting teacher's today, Alicia Hunsaker and Dian Gillaspy.  Colter was here too but he mostly visited with James.  The message this month is appropriately on the life and mission of the Savior.
Alicia gave me a plug in light and wax warmer.  I love it!  I gave each of them the book "What Would a Holy Woman Do?" by Wendy Watson Nelson.

I went visiting teaching this afternoon.  I visted with Linda Diewald and Rosie Lauritzen.  Rosie's husband Rick, fulfilled a life long dream by getting a Mastiff dog.  Yikes!  Poor Rosie and her cats!   As I visited with Linda and Rosie I bore witness of the Savior and gave them Sister Nelson's book.  My partner, Joell Miller just gave birth to a baby boy.  Excitement for their family as it is there first boy. 

I wasn't able to set up a visit with Lannie Gillespie.  She is the assistant superintendent of Navajo county schools and said she was in Holbrook today and could I see her after Christmas.  Will do.

This evening I picked up Shelly Applegate at the library where her mother is the librarian, and we went to Diana Curtis's.  We helped wrap gifts for the Hansen children and then the three of us delivered them along with a tree and decorations.  One of our Young Women, Arizona Hill, is a part of this family.  After the Hansen's we met Denice Hall out on the road and she led us to Hunter Crowe's, another of our Young Women.  It's Hunter's birthday tomorrow and we took her a gift.  I met Hunter for the first time.  She has never attended Young Women's since I've been here.   We never would have found where Hunter lives without Denice.  We passed three dead end signs before we got there.  They are in a beautiful spot surrounded by pine trees.  We had a nice visit.  Shelly rode home with me and I gave he the mini Preach My Gospel book I bought for her at Deseret Book.  She was so excited you would have thought I gave her a $100.  I love this girl!

Went home and watched "Finding Christmas" with James.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

I got up at 5, did some studying, and then went back to bed and didn't wake up until 8:30.  We began packing up and soon left for home.  On our way we stopped at the Walmart in Chandler and then we stopped at Burger House in Miami.  On the way we listened to scriptures and then I slept while James drove.

We were back in Vernon in the early afternoon.  I watched the finale for The Voice.  I'm glad Tessanne won even though she if from Jamaica.  I loved her redition of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters", "Nowhere to Hide" and her duet with Adam, "Let It Be."

I tried to do some indexing but it was slow going.  I only did 15 names. 

At six I met Diana Curtis and Kaeli Nicoll at the church to get Christmas goodie bags ready for the Young Women and to sign the CD's Kaeli made for them.  The CD's have the pictures from camp on them that Kaeli showed at our Young Women's in Excellence.

For mutual we went Christmas caroling with the Young Men.   Brother Mayfield brought his wagon with bales of hay for us to sit on.  The weather was nice enough for us to be out in the open and it was very enjoyable.  Westin Hall was such a gentleman.  He helped me in and out of the trailer at every stop.  The first home we went to was that of Alex Jones's.  We sang, but no one ever came to the door.  At Pasha Westbrook's she ask us to stop because her children were sleeping.  Every where else we went we were well received.  We sang at a nonmembers home and Kaeli invited them to church.  It was a fun and successful evening.  We had hot chocolate and cookies at the church.  The Young Women were in charge.

We sang by the light of the moon

Came home and watched Holidze with James, starring Jennie Garth and Cameron Mattison.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Today is my only day to do Christmas shopping somewhere other than Walmart or online.  My first store of choice was Target where I bought Legos and Lalaloopsy dolls.  I wanted to find something about bats for Joshua so I went to the teaching supply store on Gilbert and Southern but I found nothing.  I also went to the Deseret Book next door but most of their books have been moved to the new store in Gilbert.  At this point I took a break and went back to Chandler to go to lunch with James.  He chose Jersey Mike's.  He is now addicted to their Jersey Shore Favorite sandwich as I am.

After my lunch break I drove over to the new Deseret Book in Gilbert, next to Costco and not far from the new temple.  What an awesome store!  I also go across the street to the Barnes and Noble at SanTan Village, another of my favorite stores.  Next it was time to go home to rest before going out with Sheri.

While I was gone my Christmas present came but James wouldn't let me open it.  He says I have to wait.  When Sheri gets off work we go shopping at Sports Authority and Target Greatland.  I got seven giftcards at Target and bought Kelly Clarkson's Christmas CD for Sheri.  My shopping is mostly done and I am tired.

James and I take Ben to Nello's for his birthday.  Max and Evan come too.  They have the best pizza ever!

I think Ben's in a food coma.

I had the chicken marguerita pizza and it was divine!  We had a great time with these boys!

This evening Stacy said something that got me to thinking.  She said, "I hate Christmas because it's too commercial.  I had to agree and I think I want to do things differently next year.  I want to focus more on the Savior and giving the gifts he would want us to give.

In other news.  We have had some successful hunters in our ward recently.  Not only did Talon Wilhelm get his elk but both Alice and Trenda each got one too.  So did Tyler Hunsaker and Collin Dewitt. Gail's friend Paul's wife Janelle got her deer and it was a nice one.

 On the Blue in Arizona

James was so impressed with Paul and Janelle.  They gave him some smoked salmon from Oregon which he thoroughly enjoyed and they have invited him to come up to visit with them and they will take him fishing. He wants to go next summer.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Happy 14th Birthday to Benjamin David Trezise!

Benjamin (on the right), and his

best friend, Ian Wanlass.

 Sunrise in Vernon

Gospel Study

"The Strength to Endure"

Brother Richard J. Maynes

"Our ability to endure to the end in righteousness will be in direct proportion to the strength of our testimony and the depth of our conversion."

We left for the valley earlier than I had planned because James had to take care of a traffic ticket in Show Low before 11 am. We delivered cookies to the Peeler's, the Crane's, both Hunsaker brothers families, the Curtis's and the Vaught's.  After delivering cookies and taking care of James's ticket, we went to Arby's for lunch in Show Low.  

When we get to the valley it's 75 degrees.  I make a trip to Walgreen's where I see Janette Bleazard.  She calls me Cathi and I correct her.  For dinner Stacy, Joshua and I went to Chik-fil-a.  Joshua tells me that he wants to be a zoologist when he grows up.  He is very interested in bats.  I guess they studied them at school.  

I am frustrated with my order from Disney.  I ordered two Olaf's and only received one.  I call the store and they guarantee that my other one will arrive before Christmas.  I am doubtful.  

The reason we came down today was to attend the Chandler High Choir Christmas concert.  Joseph, Michael, and Alex are all members of the men's choir.  The concert was awesome.  Those who attended:

James and I, Stacy, Paul, Joshua, Kim, Brian, Sheri, Ben, Max, and Evan, Darrel, Trina, Addy, Rowan, and Ruby, and Dallin.  All of us except Dallin sat in the same row.  

 Chandler High Choir

Dressed in their pajamas for

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

That's Michael on the left.

After the concert Diana Dowdle gave me a Christmas card.  On the front it said: To James and Laura Lambson.  I have been in Chandler less than 24 hours and I have been called Cathi and now Laura.

I walked out with Addy and she was excited to tell me that her family is the proud owner of two rabbits, Hoppy, and Brownie.  Of course Rowan and Ruby had to tell me all about Brownie and Hoppy too.

Back at the Trezise's there was a party for Ben.

 Ben's birthday treat is a long john donut

Stacy and Joshua's trees

Sunday, December 15, 2013

I woke up early, around 4am, to study for the lesson I am giving in Young Women's today.  It is about fellowshipping less actives.  James speaks in the Sierra Pines ward today and it start's later, so I left for church by myself.  The McArthur's, the Pope's, and the Horne's are in the Sierra Pines ward.  James is speaking on the Savior.

Tyler Hunsaker was the youth speaker in our ward.  He spoke on gratitude and did a good job.
Ron and Bennett Brewer were the main speakers.  Bennett is a member of the high council and Ron was his speaking companion.  Ron spoke on missionary work and Bennett spoke on the Savior. Bennett said we need to develop a personal relationship with the Savior.  He said we need to realize the love the Savior has for each one of us.  We need to turn our hearts to the Savior.  Are we prepared to kneel at His feet and have Him reach down and lift us up?  We need to share the things we know about the Savior with others.

Hans Soderquist had business in Arizona so he visited our ward today.  It was nice to see him. 

In Young Women's we made plans to visit some of the less active girls in Young Women's.  We are going to Christmas carol at Alex Jones's, take a tree and gifts to Arizona Hill and her family, and visit Hunter Crowe for her birthday.  Shelly Applegate is the one girl who volunteered to go with us. 

We had corn casserole and Katy Crane's cinnamon bread for lunch.  I made cookies for 8 families. 

I watched "Prancer", and "Snow Globe."

Stacy called and asked me if I had any information on keeping the sabbath day holy.  She wants to do a FHE lesson for Michael and Joshua.  I told her I gave a talk in July and would check my notes.  Here is some of what I found:

"The matter of Sabbath observance remains as one of the great tests which divides the righteous from the worldly and wicked." - Elder Bruce R. McConkie.

"In this day of increasing access to and preoccupation with materialsim, there is a sure protection for ourselves and our children against the plagues of our day.  The key to that protection is found in Sabbath day observance.  -D&C 59:9

"It is a test by which the Lord seeks to "prove you in all things (D&C 98:14), to see if your devotion is complete."

Facebook finds:

The Trezise's elf Jolly enjoying a some snickerdoodles

Making gingerbread houses

Joe's gingerbread house.  

Nice job!

 Friends from Chandler:

Tim and Katy Glemser

with Kiter and Alice

Saturday, December 14, 2013

All week I have been planning my trip to town.  I was going to go on Thursday but instead I cleaned and decorated.  I was going to go yesterday but I had to finish cleaning and decorating.  Today was the day.  I told James I was going and he said: "Maybe I should hide the checkbook.  I said: "Fine, because I don't write checks anyway."  As I was getting ready to leave he says:  "Oh, I'm going too, and we are taking the truck."  I was a little frustrated because I felt like my plans were being interrupted.  I pouted for awhile but I couldn't stay made too long because James was so sweet about it.  We had to take the truck because he needed to take a ladder to Horne's.  A red flag should have gone up in my mind at the word ladder.

I shopped at Walmart and then we went to the drive-thru of Panda and got lunch.  Next we went to Horne's where James had to do some touch up painting.  I took this picture while I was waiting in the car for him and posted it on Facebook.

I told him he was grounded from ladders,

but he didn't listen.

Back at home I made two corn casseroles for the ward party and also cooked some just plain corn.  James took it to the church and was also suppose to take our roaster oven, while I typed his talk for tomorrow.  

There were probably about 250 people at our ward Christmas dinner.  We sat by the Curtis's and Audrey Guerrero.  The food was delicious.  I especially liked the smoked turkey I had.  There was plenty of food and neither one of my corn casseroles god used.  After the dinner I spent 20 minutes looking for my roaster oven only for James to tell me that he forgot to bring it.  I was a little frustrated because I feel like sometimes he doesn't listen to me very well.  What's wrong with me.  Nothing a good Christmas movie can't fix.  Tonight it was "Baby's First Christmas."  It was a good one!

Friday, December 13, 2013

Gospel Study

"No Other Gods" 

-Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"What is our ultimate priority?  We must not set our hearts so much on the things of the world that we stop trying to achieve our eternal destiny."

 Out of control burning

Paul, (Gail's friend), called James this morning.  They are in Miami and are on their way up.  I guess they are so slow because they are pulling a travel trailer that is about 30 feet long.  They arrived in Show Low in the afternoon and made the mistake of going to Walmart.  Paul said to James: "Why didn't you warn me about that Walmart."  Because it was later in the afternoon and James knew they wanted to make it to their hunting spot up near Alpine on the Blue, and we had to leave for the high council Christmas party by 5:15, he met them at Midway Station to give them a map of the Blue.

James really wanted to go to this stake presidency, high council, auxiliary, Christmas party, so I said I would go.  It was casual and very low key.  We sat by friends from our ward, Owen and Donna Peeler, and the high councilman from our ward, Brother McArthur and his wife Jeneice.  It was a pleasant evening and the most enjoyable part of the meal for me was the cheesecake we had for dessert.

Happy Birthday to James's little sister Carmen.  Friday the thirteenth is her lucky day.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Gospel Study

President Eyring

'To My Grandchildren'

"There is not one of us but what God's love has been expended upon.  There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed.  There is not one of us that he has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save.  There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning.  We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes, and in the eys of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, and that He has actually given His angels - invisible beings of power and might - charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping." 

-George Q. Cannon

 

Gail's friends my be here today so instead of going to town like I planned, I stayed home and clean and finished decorating for Christmas.  James got here around 4pm from the valley.  He brought burros from Burger House.  Bless him!  

I washed the sheets on Sheri's bed but hadn't finished cleaning her room yet.  James said Paul, Gail's friend, called and said they were going to stay in Phoenix for the night instead of coming up here.  Instead of finishing the cleaning, I took a break and watched some Christmas movies.  I did finish the tree and it llos very nice.  James loves the new silver bulbs I got at Target.

 Later I added my two poinsettas by the fireplace

Christmas movies: Santa Baby, Santa Baby Two, The Mistle Tones, A Princess for Christmas, Santa Switch.  I may have watched some of these while I was cleaning and decorating.  Believe me I did not sit around all day watching movies!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Gospel Study

Abraham Lincoln:

"If you would win a man to your cause, first convice him that you are his sincere friend."

- Pres. Monson "True Shepherds"

It has warmed up.  Yesterday morning it was 2 degrees and this morning it's 14.  I slept in until after 6.  We stayed up too late watching that silly Christmas movie last night.

James left for the valley this morning.  He is bidding a job at Troon North Golf course in Scottsdale and is also checking on the Hatch job.  I am left at home alone.  I was so tired this morning I nestled down in my recliner and watched a cute Christmas movie I've seen before called "Help for the Holidays."  I did manage to get up and get dressed after the movie.

I worked on my blog and brought up the rest of the Christmas decorations and did some decorating but still haven't started the tree.  

We had an all board meeting, including class presidencies, tonight before Mutual.  Diana Curtis did some planning with the girls using the new Church youth activities website.  We planned a Young Women combined activity for February and one for March.  For Mutual I interviewed some of the girls for Personal Progress and Diana taught Kilee how to index.  Randa Covert played games with the girls waiting for their Personal Progress interviews.  It was nice that there were three of us there to cover all bases.

Gail's friends from Oregon are suppose to come by tomorrow and may be spending the night on their way to a hunting trip on the Blue.  That means tomorrow will be a busy day for me.

We watched the move "A Christmas Tail", starring Jenny Garth.

Facebook finds:

 Melanie Bentz and her daughter.

Melanie was in our ward in Chandler.

Brookly Carroll, Vernon ward.

The Aaron and Kari Lambson Family

Tricia and her sister Stacy.

Maddie Carroll, one of my sweet young women!

The Westbrook/Carroll clan:

Sadie, Brooklyn, Marie, Maddie, and

Rosa

Sheri with Benjamin Boles

 

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

 Gospel Study

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

-Revelations 21:4

"The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar...When you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual will be swallowed up in God's will, then we are really giving something to Him!  It is the only possession which is truly ours to give."

-Elder Neal A. Maxwell

"When our thought are focused on the Lord, we become able to receive and recognize inspiration for our lives."-Becoming His, p. 32

It is 2 degrees outside this morning and there are snowbirds hopping around everywhere.  While James is gone to finish up at Horne's the guy from Spring Mountain Materials finsihes delivering our cinders.  When he is finished he comes to the door and I give him his check.  It is comforting to know that the Crane's will reimburse us for half.  The total was a little over $1,600.

There was a Relief Society dinner this evening at Wendy Dewitt's home.  We had soup, chili, rolls, chocolate cake and hot chocolate with all kinds of "mixins".  The Dewitt home is very nice and their kitchen table can seat over 20 people.  We had about 30 sisters attend.  Rosie Lauritzen, Rosa Westbrook, Ruth Wallace, and Wendy Dewitt all shared Christmas stories.  It was a fun evening.  Afterward Collin Dewitt, Jim Diewald, Diana Curtis, Kaeli Nicoll and I had a Young Men, Young Women planning meeting.

Pictures from our Relief Society Activity at the Dewitt's home.

  

 Sadie Westbrook, Madalyn, Marie, and Brooklyn Carroll

I came home and James cut my hair and we watched the movie "The Twelve Dates of Christmas."  I bought some more of Kathy Crane's jalapeno jelly.  James and I both love it.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Gospel Study

"Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view." 

-Elder Neil L. Andersen

"Whatever binds us, sins, circumstances, or past events, the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Immanuel, has come to set us free."

-Elder Bruce D. Porter

"As long as we are willing to rise up again and continue on the path, . . . we can learn something from failure and become better and happier." 

- Pres. Uchtdorf

Sunrise

 I know you can't see them very well but there are

about a dozen snowbirds digging bugs, etc. out of the snow.

Backyard bunny is out in the cold.  It is 21 degrees this morning.  James waited to go into town, he's still finishing up at Horne's, for the guy delivering cinders to come.  The cinder man was late because his truck broke down.  He delivered about half the cinders and his truck broke down again so he had to leave but will hopefully be back tomorrow.

I paid bills today and got out more of the Christmas decorations.  James worked on putting up the tree for about two hours while I watched "Handcuffed for the Holidays."  Mario Lopez is so cute.  Too bad he's such a jerk.  

We had pork chops and asparagus for dinner.  I had some applesauce I canned at the cannery in Mesa in 2001.  It's still good.  James has to speak in Church on Sunday and today he has laringitis.  Hopefully faith, prayers, and steroids will see him through.  I love him so much for working on the tree and putting up my two wreaths.  

Together was watched "Christmas in the City."

 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Snow on the ground this morning.

James took my car to his 6am high council meeting in Show Low.  He was back by 8am.  

we got about two inches of snow, just enough to cover the ground.  Because of the wind some places it drifted deeper and in other places the ground was bare.  

Westin Hall was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting today.  He spoke on the importance of choosing good friends.  Sharma and Jim Taylor were the main speakers.  They are new in our ward.  They spoke on reactivation and fellowshipping.  

During Sunday School James and I both attended a stake training for the new youth curriculum for Sunday School and Young Men's and Young Women's.  It was really good.  The Young Women leaders were late for Young Women's but it was ok because the bishop took over.  He was asking each of the girls how they felt about last week's trip to the temple.  It was neat.  Sandra Wilhelm gave a lesson on spiritual gifts.  She used some of the techniques we learned in our training.  Kelly Reynolds, Trenda, Coty, Alex, Arizona and Hunter were missing.  Kilee used me as an example of someone who speaks words of wisdom.  I love that girl!

For lunch we had roast and potatoes and then we took a nap.  James tried to index an intermediate batch of names.  He worked over an hour and was only able to do 10 names.  

We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  For the first time that I can remember they had speakers other than the First Presidency speak.  President Monson was the only member of the First Presidency who spoke.  We also watched part two of "Love's Christmas Journey".

Facebook finds:

The Dowdle Family from Chandler

Ben holding his friend Benjamin Boles

Saturday, December 7, 2013

James and I both got up at 4:30 this morning to get ready to go to the temple.  We meet at the Church with the youth and other leaders at 5:30am.  We have a prayer and everyone leaves except for James and I and Hope and Heaven Lootans.  We are waiting for Maddie Carroll.  We are surprised when both Maddie and LeeAnn Hunsaker shop up.  All four girls squish together in the back seat.  It's a good thing that Hope and Heaven are so tiny. 

At the temple, it is very cold and windy.  We all meet in the chapel for a devotional.  Those attending: Brothers Applegate, Diewald, Dewitt, and Mayfield, Sean Hunsaker, Mel Wilhelm, and James were our priesthood leaders.  Diana Curtis, Ruth Wilhelm and I were there for the girls.  We had two young men; Westin Hall and Jace Applegate, and 9 young women: Jordyn and Shelly Applegate, Trenda and Alice Wilhelm, Kilee and LeeAnn Hunsaker, Hope and Heaven Lootans, and Maddie Carroll.  After the baptisms, we took a picture in front of the life size nativity and many of us went to El Cupidos for lunch.

LeeAnn, Trenda, Kilee, Maddie, Heaven, Jordyn, Heaven, Alice, Shelly

The little people, Hope, Sister Curtis, and Heaven

at El Cupidos

We took Maddie and LeeAnn home or I should say back to LeeAnn's where Maddie spent the night.  Maddie said she hoped I was a leader as long as she was in Young Women's.  How sweet!

This evening ASU lost to Standford 38-14 in the Pac12 championship game.  James and I watched "Love's Christmas Journey, part 1."

Friday, December 6, 2013

Gospel Study Notes

"Be thou humble and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers. 

D&C 112:10

"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

D&C 64:33

"Children born or adopted into the lineage of Israel are placed there because of the role they will play in serving others.  They were faithful and strong before this life, and marked for greatness here because of their former greatness."(RWC)

 "Our children's divine positioning is intended to allow them to fulfill the roles their choices in the premortal realm prepared them for - To prepare the world for the 2nd coming of the Savior. (RWC)

"A prayer for strength never goes unanswered.  Dare to reach.  It is within those reaching moments that we come to know the Lord. (Becoming His, p. 29)

James and I went in to town this afternoon.  We had lunch at LaCasita.  Charlotte wasn't there so I couldn't work my missionary magic on her.  Afterwards I went shopping at Walmart while James went to Home Depot.  Walmart was insace, I guess because it's the first Friday of the month.  I had to buy a new printer because our old one went kaput!

It was cold today and is only going to get colder the next couple of days.  It's suppose to snow tomorrow and Sunday.  I don't mind the cold as long as I'm cozy and warm at home, which I am, most of the time.  Thanks goodness for space heaters though because the heater in our bedroom still doesn't work.  

We didn't have dinner, just snacks because of our late lunch.  I ordered my Christmas present this evening.  It's a purple Kitchen Aid mixer.  I am so excited!

Our Christmas movie this evening was "Let It Snow" starring Candace Cameron and Alan Thicke.

Facebook finds:

Cross Country certificates

The Trezise Guys

A Japanese squirrel

Thursday, December 5, 2013

My morning gospel study

Today I read an article from the December Ensign entitled: "Helping Children Recognize the Holy Ghost."

It was awesome!  I hope my children will read it and it will help them teach their children about recognizing the Spirit in their lives.  I hope they are creating spiritual experiences in their homes for their children.

I also am studying from this year's Relief Society course of study about the teachings of Lorenzo Snow.  Today I read the lesson on tithing and I love this quote:

"The Lord will bless us temporally and spiritually as we obey the law of tithing.  I believe truly if the Latter-day Saints will conform with this law we can claim deliverance from every evil that may come upon us.  Mothers, teach your children to pay tithing."

Today would have been my Nannie's 112th birthday.  She shares her birthday with Walt Disney who was born the same year and in the same state that she was. Two of my favorite people.

It never got above 40 degrees today.  James worked out in it so I could stay home and be comfortable.  I am so grateful to him.

I am still moving boxes out of the basement to make room for years supply.  I stacked cans on the huge tool box James built in the garage and now he says he needs tools that are in it.  

I indexed 60 names today.  It's cold in our bedroom, except for our space heater.  When it's this cold I just enjoy staying at home.

James and I did go on a date, of sorts, this evening.  We left around 5:15 for town to deposit the check we got from Horne Auto.  While we were in town we went through the drive thru of Panda Express to get dinner.  We ech got a teriaki rice bowl with fried rice.  I read to James in the car from Mistress of Mellyn.  He loves it when I do that.  Back at home we watched "On Strike for Christmas", and "Hitched for the Holidarys, starring Joey Lawrence.   I started watching the stage production of The Sound of Music starring Carrie Underwood but will have to finish tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The morning sky in Vernon

"Put Your Trust in the Lord"

Elder Ballard

"The light of Christ radiates in the faces of our missionaries.  There is an urgency for all of us

to be engaged in sharing the gospel."

My gospel study lasted about four hours this morning and was so enjoyable to me.  Studying the gospel is probably my favorite thing to do! 

I had a conversation with Rita my cousin who is the same age as I am and has rheumatoid arthritis.  She was recently diagnosed with leukemia and the doctor thinks it is a result of taking methotrexate and so he has taken her off of it.  She felt good for about six weeks and now she is miserable and is looking for a rheumatologist who can prescribe something for her.  Her family doctor has her on steroids (prednisone) but she can't be on that forever.  I told her about my doctore and gave her the name of Darrel's doctor but the problem is she probably won't be able to get in until January.  I wish her luck.  I am glad that I am no longer on methotrexate and neither is Darrel.

The clouds are moving so swiftly across the sky today.  I am grateful for my well-built comfy home which shelters me from the wind.  I carried more boxes from the basement to the upstairs today.  I am trying to make room downstairs for our canned goods from the cannery which are still in the garage.  I also put more of my Easton Press leather bound books on the bookcase in our bedroom.  

As I looked out my bedroom window today, enjoying the view, I noticed a piece of trash.  It really bothered me so I bundled up to go outside and pick it up.  It's a good thing I bundled up.  It was windy and freezing cold!

On the way home from work James stopped at the post office and while he was there he saw Ed Miller who installed the heaters in our home.  He told Ed our heater in the bedroom still wasn't working so Ed said he would be out today.  The post office is the social hub of Vernon, next to the church, of course.

Ed came and got the heater running but I'm not confident that it's fixed.  Sure enough, it worked for about 15 minutes and then stopped again.  Ed said he would have to order a new control board for us.  In the mean time, thank goodness for space heaters!

Snow!  I attended Young Women's presidency meeting and then Mutual this evening.  The missionaries serving in our ward, Elder Boyer and Elder Westover spoke to the young women.  Sadie Westbrook, who leaves for her mission in January also spoke.  Afterwards I noticed Trenda Wilhelm had tears in her eyes and was talking about serving a mission!  Diana Curtis made a delicious cake for dessert.  It was a great evening.

Watched the Christmas movie "Three Days" with James.  It's a good one.

Stacy and Paul's family having dinner at Floridino's

with Tara, her fiance, and Trisha.