Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Gilbert Temple

President Ezra Taft Benson taught that those who strive to become like Jesus Christ achieve true greatness:

"That man is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the pattern of the Christ.  This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige.  The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness, is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ.  He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life."

Thanks Sheri and your work friend Rachel!

I am obsessed with tiny houses

right now!

 

We left around 6am for Chandler this morning, reluctant to go.  We have no spare, only a prayer.

James stopped at McDonald's for me so I could get a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit so I could take my pain meds.  It was dried out and I didn't end up eating all of it.  James is my "cleanup" man.

Just before Hagan Hill there was a big rock in the road.  James stopped and moved it so no one would have the problem we had Saturday night.

My cold and cough are still with me and now James is getting sick too.  I warned him, but he didn't listen.  After stopping at Burger House for Tony's Special, I called Dr. Douglas and told Chris I had a cold.  We both thought it was a good idea for me to reschedule my appointment.  I rescheduled for 1pm on September 9th, the same day I have an infusion. 

According to Discount Tire we are lucky we made it here on our spare.  They said it's the original spare, which is now ten years old, and it's not even legal to drive on because of the chance of delamination.  Thank goodness we said a prayer!  Two new tires and a new wheel are going to cost us between $500 and $600!

We started my birthday celebration a little early. 

For dinner we went to Oreganos and then afterwards we went to see the new Meryl Streep movie, "Rikki and the Flash."  It isn't a movie I would recommend but it ended up having a pretty good message.

We read our scriptures and a chapter from "The Silent Governess" before going to bed.

 

Monday, August 17, 2015

Field of Sunflowers in Vernon

I am enjoying the daily gospel quotes that Sheri sends me.  Here is today's:

"For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that

keepeth my commandments, whether in life

or in death; and he that is faithful in

tribulation, the reward of the same is

greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time,

the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

D&C 58:2-3

I love this!  It makes me want to keep trying when I want to give up.

Just a random picture I found on

Facebook

 

Today was spent at the cabin.  I was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery and weather.  James wanted to take a Razr ride and place his wildlife cabin but first he needed to go to Stanford and get some gas.  I went with him so we could read from our book, "The Silent Governess." We went down AC3144 so we could take a picture of the sunflower field, which I posted on Facebook.

 As we continued on our way down highway 60 James threw his arms up and yelled.  It scared me to death.  Come to find out he had forgotten to bring the gas can so we had to turn around and go back.  Oh well, we don't really have any schedule to keep today,  but it makes him angry to be so forgetful.

What a great idea!

 



I don't want to go back to the valley and neither does James but I have a dental appointment tomorrow that I made in January and I hate to break.  James also needs to get back to buy a new tire and wheel and to check on his job. 

We watched a couple of Hallmark movies before going to bed. 

Sunday, August 16, 2015

This is my very favorite picture of my grandson

Jared Ammon.  Here he is about two years old.

He loved books and he loved playing on the computer.

He was such a smart little boy.

This is Jared Ammon today.  He went camping with some

friends this weekend. I don't know where they cowboy hat came from.  I have never seen it before, but my dad would be proud.

I realized about an hour before church that I had prepared the wrong Primary lesson.  I had prepared the lesson on Jesus' resurrection and realized I was suppose to prepare the lesson on the Crucifixion and the Burial.  James said to go ahead and give the lesson on the resurrection today and give the crucifixion lesson next week.  I said I couldn't do that because I would out of sequence and too confusing.  I did some last minute preparation for the lesson on the crucifixion and the burial.

This afternoon we finished the book "The Apothecary's Daughter" and started "The Silent Governess."

James didn't like the last book so he is hoping this one is better.

Kathy Crane invited us for dinner this evening.  George and Ruth Wallace were there also.  Kathy fixed Café Rio sweet pork, cilantro rice, refried beans and salad with the Café Rio dressing.  Everything was delicious and then we had brownies for dessert.  Yummy!



  I know this picture is blurry but I had to post it.

We love the Cranes!  They are such wonderful neighbors!

Saturday, August 15, 2015

The Logan Utah temple.

Logan is where our friend E.J. (Edward) Castillo is serving his mission.

I am still feeling pretty miserable because of my cold and cough.  I also have no energy. 

James went to work this morning and then picked up my folic acid for me.

This afternoon he went to Raelynn's temple sealing to her parents, Patrick and Heather Lambson. 

Patrick, Heather, Raelynn, and

Raelynn's birth mother.

I wanted to go but because I had a bad cough I was afraid I might interrupt the sealing.  James said the sealing was performed by our dear friend and first Chandler bishop, D.Lynn Jones.  Kim, Brian, Sheri, and Trina were also at the sealing.  Sheri and Trina also went to the blessing and luncheon afterwards.

Shortly after James returned from the sealing we packed up and headed to Vernon.  We read from "The Apothecary's Daughter" and of course we stopped at Burger House. 

It was after dark when we entered Salt River Canyon which is always a little scary.  As we were coming up out of the canyon, I was reading, when James hit a big rock in the road.  The rock ruined our front driver's side tire and wheel.  We finally found a place to pull off the road so James could put the spare on.  I tried to provide light with the flashlight app on my phone until a highway patrol man came along with his big flashlight.  We were most grateful for his help.

The highway patrol man also shined his vehicle lights to

help James see.  Once James was finished we were on our way again, only this time with no spare.  It was wonderfully cool when we arrived in Vernon.









Friday, August 14, 2015

We celebrate the birth of this handsome boy today.

Happy 9th Birthday Joshua!

This picture was taken on Joshua's birthday a few years ago

with his brothers Dallin and Michael.

James and Adam worked at the medical office on Chandler Blvd. and McClintock.  James had an appointment with Dr. Memon so I took Adam home.  James could never find Dr. Memon's office so he ended up coming home and rescheduling his appointment.  They recently moved to a new office.

We had Jersey Mike's for lunch and hot and sour soup and house chicken for dinner.  You might say we are in a bit of a rut when it comes to eating.

The high today was 117 degrees!

After school Joshua had a birthday celebration with Bryce, Evan, and Rowan.  They swam, ate pizza and chocolate birthday cake!

Oh yes, and played with Legos!

It was a great day!

We got to visit with the girls and Trina while Rowan

celebrated with Joshua.





Thursday, August 13, 2015



This is my Aunt Gene.  She is my dad's older sister and the only

living relative I know in my dad's family.  She is 86 years old

and is a bundle of energy.  It's hard to make an appointment to see her because her social calendar is always filled.  She has been an avid golfer most of her adult life and she also plays bridge.  She lives in Show Low half the year and Mesa the other half.  I love my Aunt Gene.  She has helped me write my dad's history and she has a great memory. 

James started another remodel job for Jerod Bowen's group.  There was a little trouble on the job today and he had to spend some time in the attic.    

My cold and coughing continues so I had hot and sour soup for lunch the second day in a row. 

James and I also had half priced cheeseburgers with green chilies on them from Sonic today.  James dropped by Kim and Brian's before going home to see how their remodeling was going. 

Someone came by to look at the house today.  I went shopping at Costco while they were here.  I bought "the" chocolate cake for Joshua's birthday tomorrow.

The Indianapolis, Indiana temple was recently dedicated.

It is the 144th operating temple in the church.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Happy Birthday

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

I woke up with a sore throat and cough this morning. 

Sheri said that Evan woke up this morning almost in tears.  When she asked him what was wrong he said: "Why do grandma and grandpa have to move.  I want them to stay here.  Will they still come and see us?"  I love this boy!

When I showed the picture on Facebook of the trees being cut down in the orchard it created a stream of memories:

Jared - "This makes me sad."

Jon Lambson - Great memories of climbing peach trees with Darrel and eating the good ones at the top.

Sheri - The saddest is that they are cutting down the big tree.  I wish they could have built around that. (The people who bought the lots cut down trees because they are getting ready to build a house.)

Cathy Arnett - Sad, but they can't take my good memories of 108th Way.  Love your family.

Teresa Lambson Allen - NO! I always remember the great homemade peach leather Kevin made from your tree!

Kim - Who oh why did you do this?  I am so sad.

Joshua came home from school and sat on Stacy's lap and cried.

Some things are really hard in life.  I think I posted yesterday that Evan said: "They are cutting down our memories."

James bought me hot and sour soup for lunch.  It's what I always want when I am sick.  He also bought their house chicken which is mighty tasty too.  This place is called Golden Chef and is in the Walmart shopping center.



James and I went to check out the damage at the Chandler Airport to make sure the hangers he built for Greg Hatch were okay.

Here is some of what we saw:



No damage to President Hatch's hanger.

This was quite a storm!



Tuesday, August 11, 2015

We had a big wind, dust, and rain storm this evening.  We looked

outside and saw the wind had blown down a big branch from one

of our jacaranda trees. 

 

Not very becoming when you are trying to sell your house.

Just by coincidence the guy who bought our orchard was having

trees removed today.  For a nominal fee they hauled off our tree

branch for us.

When Evan saw what they were doing to the trees in the orchard he said: "They are cutting away our memories."

 

James one to see Dr. Ortega today.  He is worried he might have an infection.  Dr. Ortega was quite concerned.  He gave James an antibiotic and ordered an MRI.  He said anything showed up on the MRI he would be contacting us.

 

I made a deposit at the National Bank in Gilbert today and while I was in the neighborhood I went through the drive-thru at Kneaders and got James and I croissant sandwiches and brownies for dinner.

 

We read from "The Apothecary's Daughter".  It's a little boring after our last book.



Another Julie Klassen book

 

I am getting a cold and a cough.  

Monday, August 10, 2015

Happy 9th Birthday to Rowan,

one of the most loving and kind

boys I know!

 I had an infusion at 9am this morning at the Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Center in Mesa.  I think the new medicine, Actemra, is going to work for me!  I am feeling almost as good as I did on Enbrel. 

 

James and I went to lunch at Oregano's on Dobson and Germann.  I had the Vino Bambino salad. 

Thanks Marci Coombs for telling

me about this salad!

James likes the Oregano's Favorite

Not sure what that "tree" is sticking out of his salad.

 

Today we took Rowan and Joshua on their birthday dates.  Joshua will turn 9 on the 14th.  Evan wanted to come too and of course that was fine with Rowan and Joshua although his birthday isn't until November.  Both boys were looking for the same Lego set; Raptor's Rampage from the Jurassic World collection.  First we went to Toys R Us.  They had lots of legos, but nothing from Jurassic World.  Next stop, the Lego Store in the Chandler mall.

No Raptor's Rampage, but they did have some other Jurassic World sets the boys liked.

Joshua new his parents were getting him the set Rowan chose, so

he chose a different one.  Yes that's Evan on the escalator.

I love Rowan's smile!

Joshua, the clown!

Evan looks a little sad.  I told him he could get an early

birthday present, but he chose to wait.

After shopping, we went to the food court for dinner.

Rowan and Joshua both had cheese pizza and

Evan had a turkey sub from Subway.  He said it was

delicious!

Yes, that's grandpa in the background.

These boys are such good friends and so much fun to be around.

They call themselves the Three Musketeers!











Sunday, August 9, 2015

We attended the mission farewell for these two young men today:

E.J. Castillo and Lolo Escondone.

 

E.J. is the son of Kendall and Kristy Thomas who were in our ward when James was the bishop.  We are so proud of E.J. for choosing to serve a mission.  He will be the first in his family.  Lolo is a convert of just 2-3 years, but what a wonderful testimony he has. 

I am so glad that Alex and Michael went with us to this farewell because it was so inspirational.

E.J., or Edward told a story about reading the Doctrine and Covenants for seminary and coming across this scripture:

"Thus saith the Lord God, the Mighty One of Israel: Behold, I say unto you, my servant Edward, that you are blessed, and your sins are forgiven you, and you are called to preach my gospel as with the voice of a trump;"

D&C 36:1

It was this scripture that made Edward realize he wanted to serve a mission.

The young man in the middle plays on the Chandler High football team and Alex says he's the best tackle in the state.  His last name is Tillini.  He dad played the ukele and he sang

"O Lord, My Redeemer"

At the end of the song he had tears in his eyes and so did I and several other people in the congregation, including President Mitch Jones.

Bishop Richardson spoke highly of both young men.

Here he said he now knows what an Oreo cookie feels like.

President Jones came off the stand before the meeting started to come to the middle of the row where we were sitting to shake hands with James.  He did this same thing when we attended Joseph's seminary graduation.  He and James have known each other since college when they wrestled on the same team at Mesa Community College. 

After the meeting I got hugs from my dear friend Sheila Young.  Sheila and I both grew up in Show Low and I knew her sister Wanda and her mother Louise who was one of the nicest sisters I remember in our Show Low ward.  Sheila and I have become good friends.  I also got a hug from Kristy Kaufman Boyer whom I've know all of her life, but whom I've gotten to know better via Facebook.

Oh yes, one more friend in this Ray 2nd ward.  Mark Coria, a friend of Sheri and Kim's in high school conducted the meeting.

 

We got a call from our realtor Jen MacLay this afternoon saying someone wanted to show the house.  James and I were on our way to Rowan's birthday party so it worked out fine. 

Rowan's birthday isn't until tomorrow but he celebrated tonight with his family.

9 years old tomorrow

I visited with Suzy Case.  She has two of her kids and their children living with her right now.  She is an amazing mother and grand-mother.  She works in the temple and is the Primary President in a ward with about 120 children.  I admire both her and her husband Bob.  They are wonderful people! 





 



 

 





Saturday, August 8, 2015

Happy 12th Anniversary

to

Darrel and Trina!

Happy 6th Birthday Molly!

James invited me to go with him on the Razr to place his wildlife camera.  We saw a total of 12 pickups before this ride was over and over 11 ATV's and three hound dogs and a scampering squirrel or two, but no elk. 

James returned to the cabin before placing the cameras because he knew I was tired of riding on the back roads and because I needed to go to the bathroom.

Before we left for the valley, it looked like it was going to rain, which made it harder to leave.  We saw a semi-truck in Salt River Canyon that had gone off the road on the mountain side.  The trailer was smashed flat but the cab was only crushed on the passenger side.  Highway patrol were there helping the driver get out.  On the way into Globe we passed 10 more first responders, fire and police. 

We stopped at Burger House for 8 burros, one for Stacy, Kim, Brian and Joe.  I got Stacy a red burro and the rest were green.

James made three trips to the store this evening at my request.  He is so patient with me, most of the time.

We started our new book this evening.  It's called "The Apothecary's Daughter."