Saturday, November 15th, 2025: Up @ 3:22 and we leave @ 3:45 for Ruby's race in the valley, I forgot my phone, we don't go back. We go the "fastest" way - Globe, little traffic, Phx w/ D,T, A,L - Trina's parents already there, Thunderbird High parking, Cave Creek Country Club, Ruby gets 2nd out of 187 girls, home to cook enchiladas and take to Bishop's dinner

 

Cape Town, South Africa

Groundbreaking ceremony held on 25 Oct 2025;

full-scale construction of pending

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 29:1-30:2

D&C

132:26-41

October General Conference

"Lovest Thou Me?"

Elder Steven C. Barlow

'Remember the Sheep'

Elder William K. Jackson

Up at 3:22 when I planned to get up at 3:00 so I had to hustle or should I say shuffle a little faster.

We left at 3:45 I forgot my phone but we don't go back to get it because I do not want to make Darrel & Trina wait for us. 

James asked me which way he should go and I said, "the fastest." He went the Salt River Canyon - Globe route. There was very little traffic and we were able to make good time. We arrived at Darrel & Trina's a little before 7, making excellent time. 

Lola was asleep on the couch. Trina offered me some Perk and I said "Yes!" Trina also gave me two gifts, Meyers pine-scented dishsoap and a Meyers pine-scented candle in a bell-shaped container.

They smell so good!

Besides the sunflower and Tree of Life

puzzle, Kacey and Charlie also gave me

this beautiful sunflower.

I have such nice daughters-in-law!

Darrel, Trina, Addy, Lola, James and I all loaded into "Starla",

Trina's Suburban for the ride to Phoenix. Darrel drove. Rowan was at work this morning. I guess Saturday is a busy day for the bouncy house business.

Ruby's race was at 9 and her fan club, including Trina's parents, was there to cheer her on.

The state cross country meet for most divisions in the state is at Cave Creek Country Club, on the hilly golf course. We parked our cars at Thunderbird High School and walked the mile or so to the golf course. It was a beautiful morning on a beautiful golf course with hundreds, maybe thousands of people. We could have rode the shuttle bus but James really wanted to walk, so we did. 

At the starting line

And their off!

After the race started we got lost from everyone else. They all took off before we knew it, following the runners. 

We could hear the announcers who announced how many minutes and miles were into the race. It's a three-mile race. We headed towards the finish line. We found a good spot where we could watch the final stretch of the race. We could see the first girl coming by herself. She passed and everyone cheered. About six seconds later, by herself, the next runner came . . . it was Ruby! Out of 187 runners Ruby got second place!

Ruby's finish time was 19:10 on a

very hilly course.

We hurried to the finish line. All of the rest of the fan club was already there. We were all so excited! 

People kept handing Ruby cups

of water.

Ruby's cross country ribbon.

All of the girls on her team 

had them.

Ruby with Suzy and Bob, Trina's parents

Ruby's coach was so excited! Ruby is the only one from her team who placed in the top 20. Ruby's friend came up to her and said, "Did you place in the top ten?" Ruby said, "I got second." Her friend got 59th. 

Here are some pictures of the Top 20 girls in Division 3 getting their awards:

Ruby's medal

The party is over

Ruby went back with the rest of her team on the bus. They were stopping at Cane's for lunch. That's where Lola wanted to go for lunch too, but Trina & Darrel wanted to go to a new place near their home called, Luna Grill. Lola said, "but I don't like grill." Addy was so sweet, she got the menu on her phone and was showing Lola all of the things she thought Lola might like. Thank you Addy for being such a good sister.

On the way back to our cars I walked with Suzy. She told me about their cruise that cost them less than $300 total. She said she can just stand on the deck and watch the ocean for hours. She loves it. Her home town is Huntington Beach, California. She also told me I should wear orthotics in my shoes because she says they make all the difference. She loves her Hoka shoes! She told me about her chiropractor who is a little different that most chiropractors, and sent me her card. I so enjoyed her company. I see where Trina gets her energy and enthusiasm for the outdoors. Suzy plays pickleball and loves to be outdoors.

Darrel said it was close to their house and he said he could drop us off if we had to get home. I would have loved to go with them to lunch but it was already almost one, so we opted to go home.

We got all of the way to Show Low before we found an Arby's where we could get steak nuggets. There are no Arby's in the Globe area. 

We got steak nuggets and I made a comment about their Thanksgiving sandwich, so James ordered one. I had one bite. It was okay. It had both stuffing and cranberry sauce but it just didn't taste that great to me. Kudos to Arby's for giving it a try though.

I heated the enchiladas for about 45 minutes before James dropped them off at the church. I was just too tired and worn out to go. He said he had never seen so many people at the church and so much food. He spoke with Bishop Hunsaker and then came home. I was wishing I had told him to try the enchiladas to see if they turned out okay, but I forgot. Darrel made a comment when we were with them in the car that my enchiladas are the best. I love Darrel!

Rosie and Rick Lauritzen were at the church all day decorating and preparing for the dinner. Thank you Lauritzen's' for your service.

I watched a Christmas movie and then it was bed time. My phone says I got 635 steps. Ha! If it only knew!