Thursday, February 20, 2014

Happy 39th Birthday Sheri!

 Sheri and her new friend Kate.

 I played with the power washer this morning, spraying off bricks, getting ready to paint.  It was fun until I stopped and was going to paint and James told me he had not yet bought the paint.  

I changed my clothes and started on a quest to find an ice cream cake for Sheri's birthday.  I thought it would be fun to surprise her at work.  There used to be a Baskin Robbins on Dobson and Ray but it's no longer there so I Googled and found the closest one to be on Southern and McClintock.  They didn't open until 11 so I did a little shopping at Sprouts.  I asked for a cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream and they happened to have one.  The girl wrote Happy Birthday Sheri on it for me and I headed for Chandler Eyecare to deliver it.  Sheri was busy with a customer but gave me a hug before I left.  

Back at home I went to visit Cathi to give her her much overdue birthday present.  I gave her the book from the latest BYU Women's Conference talks.  While there Sheri called and asked James and I to meet her and Trina and Ruby for lunch at Which Wich in Chandler.  Lunch with Miss Ruby is always fun.

 I asked if she was a lady or a princess and she

said: "I'm Ruby."

I asked Sheri how the staff liked her cake and she said she didn't share it.  She wants to save it for the family because she thinks it will make Evan happy.  

This evening James and I bought dinner for Ian, Sheri, and Kim at one of Sheri's favorite restaurants, LeGrande Orange on 44th St. and Campbell in Phoenix.  Their pizza dough is made from sourdough and it's delicious!  
Afterwards we went back to Sheri and Ian's for ice cream cake.  Two of Sheri's young women friends, Mattie, and Amelia were there.  They had heart attacked her front door.

 Heart Attack!

Mattie, Sheri, and Amelia.

It was a great day!!

Facebook finds:

Cash Pace fell out of a tree and

ended up in Phoenix Children's Hospital

Love these pink trees!

Jerry & Nygra Lamb

married 55 years.

Dear friends from Chandler.

Cody and Dallin

at Havasupai a few years ago.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

I am so glad I took the appointment with Dr. Caldron this morning.  The authorization for me to be on Remicade had already been sent by my insurance company so I was able to get my first infusion today.  Dr. Caldron says my secondary insurance will pay for Remicade but not for Enbrel.  

I stayed until after 12:30.  The infusion took two hours.  I went right home and picked up James and we went to lunch at Chili's.  (We still have gift cards.)  

This afternoon I went shopping at Deseret Book for birthday gifts for Cathi and Karen S.  I also bought journals for Kim, Sheri, Trina, and Stacy as part of their birthday gifts.  I also went to Target and Walgreen's today.  I am a shopoholic when I am in the valley.

Joshua is the star student for his class this week.  Stacy made a poster with pictures of him and information about him.  It turned out very nice.  ( I will try and get a picture to include here).

Facebook finds:

 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

I had scriptures and prayer with James this morning before he left for the valley.  He didn't want to go. I reminded him that I would be down on Thursday.  Some notes from my gospel study:

"The strength of a family comes in large measure from how completely it's members are united in 

righteousness."

"The greatest service we can provide to others in this life...is to bring them to Christ through faith and

repentance." - President Thomas S. Monson 

I found my appointment card for the arthritis center.  I thought my appointment was for March 4th but it's not until March 14th.  I gave myself my last Enbrel shot on February 9th and knew I couldn't wait that long for some kind of medication, so I got on the phone and called to see if I could change my appointment.  I talked to someone named Sasha.  She said the only appointment she had available was tomorrow at 9:15 with Dr. Caldron.  I told her I would take it.  So now instead of going down on Thursday, I am going this afternoon.  

I left Vernon around 3pm.  When I arrived in Chandler James had a Jersey Mike sandwich waiting for me.

He was happy to see me.  

Facebook photos:

Monday, February 17, 2014

Sheri got her present from Ian's parents today: a Kate Spade purse:

Kate and Lulu.

(Lulu is Stacy's purse)

Cathi called today to tell me that Blanche Ryland passed away a couple of days ago.  Blanche is a dear

friend that we have known since we moved to Chandler.  Her memorial service will be on Saturday.

I ran out of Dr. Pepper today so James went to get me some.  He stopped at the Midway Market but sadly it has closed down so he had to go to the Stanford store.  

I moved 16 cans today and put some lasagna in the oven for lunch.  It's so nice having James home.  

I am proud of some of the decisions made by one of my children today.  I am praying for greater family unity among our children and grandchildren.  

James went out to move dead trees but didn't stay long because he hurt his back.  

I got stomach cramps this evening and just laid on the couch for several hours.  I don't know what I did differently to cause these cramps.  Was it the Dr. Pepper.  I don't think so because that's not different.

Facebook finds:

Sunday, February 16, 2014

James is speaking in the singles branch today so I went to our ward by myself.  Our program in sacrament meeting went something like this: Shelly Applegate was the youth speaker, who spoke on honestyMa and integrity,  the stake indexing director Sister Reissner spoke about indexing, and Brother McArthur from the high council spoke about the importance of having the church magazines in our homes.

In Sunday School we studied about Noah and the ark and discussed the importance of spiritual and temporal preparedness.  Sandra Wilhelm taught the young women about what the purpose of life is.  maddie was here and she gave me a hug.  Trenda wasn't here today because she was tired and needed some rest. 
After the block Rosie Lauritzen and I visit taught Lannie Gillespie.  I went home and had lunch with James and then went to visit LeeAnn Hunsaker with Shelly Applegate, and Diana Curtis. 

At 4pm James and I attended the Book of Mormon class.  Sean Hunsaker wasn't there so Brother Jerry Scott taught the lesson on "The Whore of all the Earth."  James and Brother Scott left together after the meeting to go to a High Priest Group meeting in Show Low.  I went home to relax.

Both Sheri and Stacy contacted me today and told me that Chris Butler gave an awesome talk in Sacrament meeting.  Max said it was the best talk he had ever heard.  I certainly hope everything works out all right between him and Janny.

When James gets home we watch the latest episode of "When Calls the Heart." 

Facebook finds:

A dust storm in Phoenix

The Trezise boys and friends at the temple.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

I was up at 4am to get ready to go to the temple with the youth.  As I was getting ready I looked at Facebook and read this post by Alicia Hunsaker: It's been a LONG night.  Yes it's 3:50 am and I'm sitting in the ER in Springerville with LeeAnn been here since 11:50pm.  Test results in.  She has to get her appendix out.  No surgeon here.  I so didn't know that or would have gone west instead of east.  Could Have saved me some money!!!  All pediatric beds full at Summit, gotta wait here till 6am and she gets a ride in an ambulance to Sumit and straight to OR.  She's finally sleeping.  Good thing for pain killers.  LeeAnn is one of our young women and was supposed to go to the temple with us this morning.  Before our group left we said a prayer for LeeAnn.

Our temple group is small, but mighty: Bishop and Sister Hall, Lane (it's his first time), and Westin, John Wilhelm, Trenda, Talon and Alice.  Collin Dewitt, Jim Diewald, Rick Lauritzen, Diana and Blain Curtis, Shelly and Jordyn Applegate and myself.  Most all of us went to El Cupido's after the baptisms.  We finished in the temple before 8am.  Shelly and Jordyn rode over and back with me.

Alice and Trenda Wilhelm, Shelly and Jordyn Applegate

When I got home I made a Texas sheetcake for tonight's friendship dinner.  This afternoon James and I went on a Razr ride.  I wanted to go as far as Gillespie Flat and come back but the road got muddy so we turned around and came back early.

This evening we had dinner at Audrey Guerrero's with Audrey, Rosa Westbrook, and Elder's Westover and Russell.  Audrey cooked steaks,green beans, and salad.  Rosa made scalloped potatoes and I brought homemade rolls.  It was nice.  Afterwards we went to the church for dessert and to meet up with the other members of our ward who went to dinner at various homes.  Elder Russell is from Tucson so of course I had to tell him how ASU beat UofA in basketball last night.  He was surprised.

At the church there was dessert and then we played a getting to know you game.  These are some things we learned about fellow ward members:

Tamara Applegate was born in Iran.

Elder Westover has 18 siblings.

Kathy Crane was a singer and dancer at the Golden Horse Saloon at Disneyland.

Millie Scott helped her husband build a boat in their garage, then she sold it to pay the rent.

Brother Scott still hasn't forgiven her.

Wendy Dewitt has a case full of beauty pageant trophies and crowns.

Addy and her dance group competed in a dance competition in Tucson and they got first place even though they were one of the youngest groups competing.

 

Facebook finds:

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day

It's going to be 70 degrees here and Carmen is shoveling two foot of snow in Pennsylvania.  I wish we could get a little moisture here.

Today I baked rolls using Cathy Arnett's recipe, which makes several dozen.  They turned out delicious!

The rolls are for the friendship dinner we are attending tomorrow night at Audrey Guerrero's.  It's a Relief 

Society/ward party.

To back track a little, James made us a big breakfast this morning: hash browns, eggs, green chilies, sausage, and ham.  It was so delicious!

James finsihed his talk for Sunday and I typed it for him.  He is speaking at the singles branch on Sunday.

James cut my hair this afternoon.  Also I moved 16 cans downstairs.  Kim got me a Valentine box as she did Sheri and Stacy.  In the box she put the move Austenland.  I can hardly wait to get mine!

Today I watched The Walton's and Wind at My Back, two of my favorite shows.

Facebook finds:

Thursday, February 13, 2014

It was fun to spend the day with James when it was so unexpected.  We shared our notes for 2 Nephi 15, 16, and 17, some of the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon.  There is so much symbolism involved in the writings of Isaiah.  I learned from reading Brother Ridges commentary that 2 Nephi 16 is symbolic of the Atonement and how it helped Isaiah prepare for his calling as a prophet.

James and I went into town and had lunch at Grumpy Jakes BBQ.  I loved their BBQ sauce and my brisket sandwich and the coleslaw.  Definitely going back when Sheri comes up in March.

We stopped at Book Barn and got journals for our Book of Mormon writings.  I came home and found an Angel Moroni journal online and ordered two.  I will use the one I got at the Book Barn for notes on General Conference.  It's purple.  I also stopped at Walmart to get some candy for the sisters that I visit teach. 

When we returned home I moved 16 cans downstairs and paid some bills, and did some blogging.  I also watched Downton Abbey with James. 

Facebook finds:

McKell and Dave Miner at 

McKell's wedding reception in December.

McKell just got these pictures and posted

them on Facebook.

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hughes

One of our favorites!

Forgot the name of this bird but

I loved this picture.

 

President and Dianne Heyman

serving a mission president and mission mom

in Argentina.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Happy Birthday to one of the nicest people I know:

Trina Lambson

 

Now

Then

Evan said to Sheri: "Was Washington the president when dad was born?"

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." - Alma 37:6

There is a great article in the Ensign this month to strengthen marriages: "Speak, Listen, Love."

I love my Book of Mormon Made Easier and Old Testament Made Easier books by Brother Ridges.  They help me understand the scriptures better.  

James came home today with flowers, an Azaela plant, cranberry celebration, and green mixed burros from Burger House.  I am so glad he's home, only I had to leave and go off to Mutual.

Tonight at Mutual we planned and prepared for New Beginnings and the girls sang: "Come Unto Christ."  It sounded so beautiful even though we only had five girls attend  Kelly, Maddie, Hope, Heaven, and Kilee were no shows.  The girls loved their Valentines but I still have lots more to hand out.  

 

Diana was back from the valley.  She got her hair cut in a short pixie cut.  It suits her very well.

 

James and I watched "Hope for Christmas" when I got home from Mutual.  He liked it as much as I did.

Facebook finds:

James and Joshua are good buddies.  Here James is teaching

Joshua how to tie his show.

Love this picture.