Wednesday, July 30, 2014

"The Savior makes all things right.  No injustice in mortality is permanent, even death, for He restores life again.  No injury, disability, betrayal, or abuse goes uncompensated in the end because of His ultimate justice and mercy."

-Elder D. Todd Christofferson

 Salt Lake temple

I waited for the rain all day today but it was a no show.  James called and asked me if I was sure I wanted to come down there this weekend because it was 5:30 and 112 degrees.  I am not looking forward to the weather but I am looking forward to the baby blessing and going to the temple on Saturday morning with Kim and Sheri.

At 5:30 this afternoon we had our Young Women's presidency meeting.  Actually it should be called the older women's presidency meeting.  Analee is in her 70's, Ruth is 68, I am 65 and Diana is 60.  For Young Women's this evening we had opening exercises without the young men because they are working at the park helping to clean up for Vernon Days this Saturday.  This was the first time for our new Laurel president Trenda to conduct as she has been gone most of the summer.  After opening exercises we divided into classes and worked on Personal Progress.  I had LeeAnn, Kilee, and Hope.  I was excited that Hope had done several value projects on her own and LeeAnn is on fire and will be completely finished before too long.  She is motivated by the fact that her parents told her she needed to get her medallion before she turns 16 and gets her driver's license.

Around 7:50 we were going over to the park to take the young men some ice cream treats, but as we looked across to the park we noticed it was dark and no one was there.  Brother DeWitt was in the church so we asked him where everyone was.  He said they quit early.  We enjoyed the ice cream with the young women out on the lawn of the church.

James took Ruby to Golden Corral for her date this evening.  They had a wonderful time and I am afraid this little girl has her grandpa wrapped around her little finger.  

Pizza and mac&cheese

 Chocolate dipped strawberries

Ice cream to go with the strawberries

 This girl loves chocolate!

I loved this week's episode of So You Think You Can Dance.  

My favorite dances were: Casey & Jessica's contemporary, Ricky & Valerie's Hiphop, and Rudy & Tanisha's contemporary.  Mandy Moore and Travis Wall are the best choreographers!

 Top Ten with Allstars next week.  I can hardly wait!

 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

"Everyone makes mistakes in life;

but that doesn't mean they have to pay for them the rest of their life.

Sometimes good people make bad choices,

it doesn't mean they are bad.

It means they are human."

-Author unknown

Mesa temple

One of the first things I do when I get up in the morning is look outside all of the windows for any sign of wildlife.  This morning it paid off, I saw a lone antelope crossing going towards Vernon.  

 He's looking at me, and then he disappears

when I move away from the window just for a minute.

James says he is trying to teach Adam about concrete work.  The first thing he had to do was get him to take out his earphones.  He isn't really very interested.  Adam could have worked more hours today but he chose not to. 

 In other Gonzales new, Paul posted this picture of Holly and said: "My girlfriend of twelve years."

Holly: 84 in dog years.

I went into Show Low this morning and had a nice visit with my Aunt Gene who is 86 years old in human years.  She talked to me about my grandparents, Arlee and Verdie Maxwell and great grandparents, Archibald and Lydia Maxwell and Walter and Lena Robinson. I feel like I have more insight into their lives and the people they were. Life was so very hard for most of them.  It was a very enjoyable visit but I am sad to say she talked me out of taking her picture.  Aunt Gene is a delightful person to talk to and she has a great memory.  Our next visit is going to be at the Nutrioso and Eagar cemeteries.

After leaving Aunt Gene's I had some more errands to run.  My first was to Taco Bell to get some lunch.  After lunch I spent an hour or so at Verizon trying to get another MiFi device.  It almost takes an act of Congress to get anything done at Verizon.  Finally I left to do my other errands and came back.  Just as I left it started to rain.  I'm glad I had my umbrella. 

I went to Sonoran Lab to get bloodwork done for Dr. Moffat.  It's for my thyroid.  The girl used a large needle and just jabbed in into my arm with no finesse.  Next time I'm asking for a butterfly needle like they use at the arthritis center.  Just across from the lab was Walmart so I went there to pick up my folic acid prescription and a few other items.  I also stopped at Panda Express and picked up some dinner.  Back at Verizon Trevor Flake had my order ready.  Thank goodness.  I only had to sign my name three times and I didn't even have to use blood.

Back home I was exhausted and sat down to watch one of the Christmas movies Kim taped.  Luckily I had seen it before because I slept through most of it.  A different version of Pollyanna was playing on the BYU channel so I watched it while I was working on  catching up my Sunday journal.  It was very good.  I am going to tape it for when Jared's kids are here.

Sheri texted me these pictures.  I think she's trying to make me jealous, and it's working.

 Ian's first time with Lola.

I love the picture of Addy and Darrel in the background.

Monday, July 28, 2014

"Trials are not to destroy us but to sanctify us,

to help us become more Christlike, more loving,

more forgiving, and more optimistic."

-Ardeth G. Kapp

This morning when it came time for my exercise I was torn because I needed a nap.  What to do?  Nap of course!

When James is out of town I look forward to his morning and evening texts declaring his love for me.  It makes my day.

I listened to a program on the Mormon Channel radio done by young women and Julie Bagley a member of the Young Women's General Board.  It was about dress and appearance and dressing modestly, using the guidelines in For the Strength of Youth.

Paul went to the dentist today because he was in alot of pain and has been for awhile.  Dr. Douglas immediately sent him to an oral surgeon where he had two teeth extracted while he was awake.  Afterwards he went back to work.  Now that's dedication to your job!

I got a text from Jared today.  He and Anna and James are going to be here on the 9th of August and want to do baptisms at the temple.  He went on Family Search today and found a bunch as he said, of Strickland family names to do.  That is great!  I am excited that they will be a part of our ward youth group when we go to the temple.

Kathy Crane came by this afternoon to bring me a flyer about Vernon Days at the park this Saturday.  While we were on the porch we noticed a huge moth.  I texted a picture of it to James and he says it's a sphinx moth.  It was very beautiful but looked like it might be in pain.  When I got up this morning to check on it, it was gone.  It either flew away or a bird ate it.

  In other "wildlife" news, the hummingbirds ate all of the 'nectar' James gave them on Saturday.

Bone dry.

Trina sent met this picture of Lola and I just had to share it both on Facebook and on this blog.  She is such a precious baby!

 I spent most of the afternoon paying bills, both business and personal.  I can't complain though because it was after 9pm when James texted me and said he just got home from work.

I watched Master Chef before going to bed this evening.  I love this show.  Christine went home.  Gordon Ramsey had his wife Tana as a special guest for a romantic dinner.  Quite beautiful.

 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

 Morning sunrise over Sierra Mentosa

James left around 5:15 for high council and told me to go out and look at the sunrise.  I am so glad he did.  After high council and then he will be speaking in the Pinedale ward at 11am with Jimmy Applegate.  He said Jimmy gave an excellent talk.

Our speakers in the Vernon ward today were Maddie Carroll, and Chris and Kaeli Nicoll.  Maddie spoke on faith and used the "For the Strength of Youth" manual.  She said we need to pray and read our scriptures daily.  We must never lose hope and always exercise faith in Jesus Christ.  Strong faith is especially important for youth in today's society.

Kaeli is our RS president.  She has been a member almost four years.  She based her talk on a talk by Sister Burton: "Wanted Hands and Heart to Hasten the Work."  How can we be better disciples of Christ.  Disciples serve others through home teaching and visiting teaching.

Chris Nicoll spoke on the Priesthood.  The priesthood is the power of God delegated to man for the salvation of the human family.  Moses 1:39 is accomplished through the priesthood.  Temple covenants, the whole armor of God, and the Holy Ghost are some of the blessing of the priesthood.

In Sunday School we discussed Solomon who was a man of wisdom and a man of foolishness.  Part of the lesson was Solomon's building and dedicating the temple in Jerusalem.  Here is a quote from the lesson:

"In the peace of these lovely temples, sometimes we find solutions to the serious problems of life.  Under the influence of the Spirit, sometimes pure knowledge flows to us there.  Temples are places of personal revelation.  When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers.  These answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways."

-President Ezra Taft Benson

Here is one of my very favorite temples:

Gilbert, Arizona

Today in Young Women's Trenda Wilhelm was set apart as the Laurel class president by Bishop Miller.  Trenda has been gone for the past two months and we are so grateful to have her back home.

Sister Ruth Wilhelm, or nana as she is known by Trenda and Alice, gave our lesson today on why we need the Holy Ghost.  These are the young women who attended: Hope and Heaven Lootans.  Heaven brought her American Girl who looked like her and was dressed like her.  They funny thing is Heaven had on 5 inch heels.

Shelly and Jordyn Applegate, Alice and Trenda Wilhelm, Maddie Carroll, and Kelly Reynolds were also in attendance.  We had three visitors: Karly Reynolds, Noelia Muniz who is Hope's friend, and Shaylyn who is Tina and Steve Allen's niece from Boise, Idaho. 

When I got home from church I was glad I had put a roast in the crockpot.  It was a tasty lunch and when James got home he was starving too.  After lunch we had a nap.  I had a meeting to attend at 2:30 and I woke up from my nap at 2:16.  I had to hurry to get to the meeting less than five minutes late.  The meeting was with the RS presidency, Kaeli Nicoll, Ann Miller, and Tamara Applegate and the RS activities director Wendy DeWitt.  We discussed the upcoming activity on August 23rd which is a clothing exchange.  The young women have been asked to help setup and then run the dressing rooms.  They will have first choice of the clothing available.

 When our meeting was over a storm had blown in and it was raining when we left and rained for several hours afterwards.  James took a picture of our thermostat outside which was at 60 degrees and sent it to Brian in Chandler.  When he saw it he said: "You are killing me!"

I read to James and then he left for the valley.  Usually he doesn't leave until Monday but since he has a pour at 6am he had to leave this evening.  It was a lonely Sunday evening for me.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

"The Book of Mormon weaves this beautiful theme of the Lord's power to deliver His children throughout its' pages.  In 1 Nephi 1:20, we read, 'Behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.'"

-Sister Jean A. Stevens

 Fairy Glen, New Wales

Because of the stress of repairing the hot water heater we have postponed our trip to the temple until next Friday or Saturday with Sheri and Kim.  Temple attendance must become a greater priority in our lives if we are to be an example to our family and if we are to grow closer to the Lord.

At 7:30 this morning during my gospel study time James announces that it's time to go to town and he wants me to go with him.  I told him I was planning on going at 10.  He said: "Well, if you want this hot water heater fixed, we better go now just in case I run into any problems."  I immediately went upstairs and took my shower and got ready to go.  Flexibility is important. 

When we returned home James was able to fix the hot water heater.  Not only do we now have hot water to all of our bathrooms, but the hot water heater doesn't leak either.  

I spent about an hour this afternoon preparing a friends list from my Facebook friends for the missionaries to look at.  They were scheduled to come over this evening but had to call and cancel because Elder Stott was not feeling well.  I guess I will have to give them my list at another time.

Trenda and Talon Wilhelm are coming home tonight.  They have been in Royal, Washington all summer working for their uncle.  We are so happy to have Trenda back.  She is our Laurel president.

 Although Trenda is only 16,

she will be graduating this year from

high school.  She skipped a grade and this

last year she took 12 credit hours at the local

community college.  She wants to be a nurse.

(FYI she has an aunt and uncle that live in the Chandler West Stake:  Randy and Hazel McClaws).

James and I went out to read on the porch and watch the hummingbirds fight over the feeder.  James said the little Rufus ones are mean and won't let anyone else eat but the ruby-throated ones are more willing to share.  We had at least ten of them at one time.

The sky turned really dark this evening and a storm blew it.  It rained for several hours.  James was up at 12:30am and said it was still raining. Here are some pictures:

 Rain and sunshine.

We made pork chops for dinner. I cooked mine, seasoning it with salt, pepper, garlic salt and cayenne pepper.  James used salt, pepper and rosemary on his for more of an italian flavor.  They were both delicious but I liked mine better, and James liked his, so we were both happy.

Sheri took Max, Evan and Joshua over to Trina and Darrel's this evening it was Joshua's first time seeing Lola.

Love at first sight.

I think she likes him.

Ruby calls herself Lola's little big sister.

Darrel passed the last part of his licensing test.

These guys celebrated with smores.

Friday, July 25, 2014efore

3 Nephi 27:6

"And whoso taketh upon him my name,

and endureth to the end,

the same shall be saved.

Evan and Max love to play a little Minecraft on the XBox before going to school in the mornings.  When Evan asked yesterday if he could play Sheri reminded him that he was grounded because of the 'monster' tantrum he threw last night.  He face fell and he walked away.  Soon he was back and asked her, "Do you have a paper bag?' When she said she didn't but asked why he needed one he said: "Because I want to cut holes in it and put it over my head and write Loser on it."  Sheri and Ian had to hold in their laughs because Evan hates it when people laugh at him.

 Brothers and friends.

On a more positive note Max is liking school a little more.  He and Joshua are going to be 'study buddies.'

Chuck Lewis came to fix the hot water heater this morning.  It took him less than five minutes.  He had to bypass the thermostat to the pilot to get it to work.  His cost was $75 but it will be worth it if it fixes our problem.  Well, it fixed one problem but caused another.  When James went down to the basement later it had flooded again.  The thermostat on the relief valve failed and the relief valve stayed open and the hot water ran through the relief valve, down the pipe and on the floor.  James had insisted the water leak could not have been from the water heater, but it was.  I said all along that it was.  There isn't much satisfaction in being right because we have another flood and this one is worse than the last.  We probably vacuumed up 150 gallons of water before leaving for town to get a part to fix the problem.  

James tried to install the new part but it's not the right one so we will have to go back to town tomorrow.  This has been quite an ordeal and I am so thankful that James was here.  He has washed all the blankets, etc. that were on the floor in the closet that got wet.  While he was taking care of this problem I typed his talk for Sunday.  It was around 11pm when we finally went to bed.

 This looks dangerous but he assures

me that the gas is off.

Before we were aware our downstairs was being flooded I gave James a haircut.  Before and after pictures:

Working on his talk,

six pages, front and back.

Sheri, Brian and Kim went to the food trucks in Gilbert this evening and had a great time.

Kim got a quesadilla with green chili

beef that was amazing!

Can you see Brian in the background.

He's getting something for Sheri.

Sheri got deep fried mac and cheese balls that she

said were wonderful.  She also got delicious steak tacos and sliders and a cheesesteak sandwich for Ian.

I will be in the valley next Friday night and we are

definitely going!

 

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 Is there anything more beautiful than a sleeping baby?

I spent some time this morning cleaning off the front porch.  I noticed a pile of bones at the bottom of the steps and realized they were gathered by Darrel's kids when they were here.  Maybe we need to make a bone graveyard.

I went into town this morning to get my car washed and to vacuum it out in preparation for this afternoon's temple trip.  By the time I got back home dust had already collected on the back window.  It's a good thing I carry a duster in my car.

I took a nap, and then got ready to go to the temple.  Our stake is having the youth do baptisms in honor of pioneer day so all of the wards in our stake are participating.  Our group met at the church in Vernon at 2:30.  We are scheduled for a chapel session at 3:30 and then baptisms at 4.  Those who attended: Melchizedek Priesthood holders: Our new bishopric, Bishop Miller, Brother Wilhelm, and Brother Thompson.  Bishop Miller's dad Ed and Brother Wilhelm's dad Mel and Elder's Stott and Knight were our seven priesthood representatives.  We had two young men, Jace and Ty Applegate and five young women, Jordyn and Shelly Applegate, Hope and Heaven Lootans, and Alice Wilhelm.  For young women leaders it was Diana, Ruth and I.  

It was after 4 before we went in to the chapel session.  We are the last group and they were running a little behind.  Bishop Miller spoke to the youth.  He is going to be a good bishop.  Once we started the baptisms it didn't take long to finish.  Afterwards the girls took us up behind the temple for these pictures.

 

The gardener took this one.

I was trying to get the Angel Moroni

into this picture but you can't see him.

Afterwards, as is our tradition, we went to eat at El Cupido's.

Diana and I rode home together and had a nice visit.  I am so grateful that I have been able to get to work with her and get to know her better.  I consider her a good friend.

I got home around 7:45 and watched the rest of last night's "So You Think You Can Dance."  James was home from valley when I went to bed around 9pm.  He is so happy to be here.

 

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Moroni 7:47-48

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.

Amen.

 Our Mutual theme for this year.

Two more planes were shot down over Russia today.  These were two Ukrainian fighter jets.  The one last week was a civilian airplane from Malaysia.  180 innocent people were killed.

We had some wonderful rain today.  So grateful for this beautiful place that I live.  It was 65 and raining here and 114 in the valley.

I feel guilty because James is down there working.

I made cookies today for Mutual.  We are cleaning the building and I thought it would be nice to reward the girls afterwards.  When I called Kelly Reynolds to tell her about our activity tonight and about going to the temple tomorrow for pioneer day she said she couldn't make it either time.  She said she had a doctor's appointment tomorrow, which sounded legitimate but then when she said she couldn't come tonight because she had to go see the doctor I began to wonder if her entire story was fabricated.  

Rusty Allen and Aaron Windsor left today for the MTC.

Rusty being brave as he gives his brother

Jackson one last hug at the Phoenix airport.

Jackson wasn't quite as brave.

Aaron saying goodbye to his brother's family.

These two young men are such a great example to all of us.  They will be missed in our ward be we know they are where the Lord wants them to be.  Rusty will be in Guadalajara, Mexico and Aaron in Reno, Nevada.

James enjoys taking his grandkids on date to Golden Corral.  This week was Rowan's turn.  Rowan loves steak.

He can cut it all by himself.

That's also a piece of pizza on his plate.

First things first, back for more steak.

It helps if you make a face.

For dessert oranges and watermelon.

He also had a chocolate dipped marshmallow,

and a piece of cake.

I am proud of the Young Women who helped Diana, Ruth, Analee and I clean the church this evening.  They were: Shelly and Jordyn Applegate, Kilee and LeeAnn Hunsaker, Hope and Heaven Lootans, and Alice Wilhelm. We worked hard and were able to finish in a little over an hour.