Saturday, December 17, 2016

I know Mary wasn't Joseph's mother, but I am grateful to

him for his loving support of her.

Ether 12:1-21

President Gordon B. Hinckley taught concerning the need to center our lives on Jesus Christ: "We live in a world of uncertainty.  For some, there will be great accomplishment.  For others, disappointment.  For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and gracious living.  For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow.  We do not know.  But one thing we do know.  LIke the polar star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives.  He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith" (in Conference Report, Apr. 2002, 107; or Ensign, May 2002, 90).

GC:  The Perfect Path to Happiness by President Thomas S. Monson

"In the film 'Man's Search for Happiness' a depiction of our premortal life is given, along with an explanation of our purpose on earth.  We witness a touching depiction of the passing from this life of an elderly grandfather and of his glorious reunion

with loved ones who had preceded him to the spirit world."

This is a picture of the house Kacey and Jared rented in San Antonio.  Kacey and her kids will be living here and then when she marries Jared he will join them.  

This morning on our trip to town James and I stopped by to visit my aunt Gene and to give her a small Christmas present.  She seems to be doing very well.

After Aunt Gene's James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to Home Depot and then to Panda Express to get us some lunch.  

I missed going to the temple today but I just feel overwhelmed by all the things I have to do to get ready for Christmas.

I wonder how this would work.

I came home this afternoon and made six loaves of pumpkin bread.  Four loaves are for the families James home teaches, one loaf for his companion, and one loaf for our neighbors, the Cranes. He insisted that I put pecans in all of the loaves.

This is a Christmas memory of last years white

elephant gift exchange.

While baking pumpkin bread I also worked on my last Primary lesson for this year and finished up the kids Book of Mormon cards and Article of Faith notebooks.

Sheri, Max, and Evan went ice skating with Sean, Megan, and Mattea.

I think they had a good time, although I am not

sure about Mattea, she doesn't have a smile on her face.

Today was Sadie and Aaron's wedding and wedding reception.  The reception was in Snowflake this evening and we did not go.

Here are some pictures posted online:

Pictures from their wedding announcement

Leaving the Snowflake temple

They look very happy

Maddie is the blonde, I don't know the next girl,

then Sadie, Mary, and Brooklyn.

Sadie has seven brothers and one sister.  Mary is

on Sadie's left.  Here are some of her brothers and her Dad.

The two guys without hats are Sadie's brother Sam and

her dad, Dave.

Cutting the cake.

In other news, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford

recently got married.

A long time coming.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

It started out to be a beautiful morning.

 It got even better when we went to the Snowflake

temple.

James and I attended the 8 am endowment session.  Our friend from our ward, Blain Curtis was the officiator of our session.  I was proud of James for going even though he could only whisper and could not hear very well.  

After the session James left to go home.  I stayed and waited for our ward youth to come for baptisms.  I had to wait almost an hour so I sat in the chapel and read from the hymn book.  

We had a small group today, only three young women: Shelly, Alice, and Hailey, and three young men: Ty, Jace, and Andy.  There were five priesthood leaders: Wes Smith, Bishop Miller, Kip Hunsaker, Jimmy Applegate, and Rick Lauritzen.  There are supposed to be seven so we were two short.  James had been ask to go but because he couldn't talk or hear, he declined.  There were three women leaders: Diana Curtis, Tamara Applegate, and myself.  I got to hand towels to the youth as they came out of the baptismal font.  I really do love these young women:

Alice, Hailey, and Shelly.

They are so cute and fun!

After the temple the entire group went to El Cupido's for lunch.  Even though it was lunch time, I had my breakfast burrito with bacon.  It was yummy!

Alice, Hailey, Diana Curtis and I rode home with the bishop.  It was so fun to get to visit with my friend Diana again.  We get along so well.

As we were coming in to Vernon I mentioned that I hadn't seen the antelope that usually graze in the field by the Vernon turn off for awhile.  Just as we came around the corner into Vernon, bishop pointed out a herd.  

 

 A quote from my first ebook,

"Amazed by Grace"

by Sheri Dew.

Before doing anything else I had to lay down and take a nap.  James joined me.  I also had to call Debbie Miller and have her ask Ed if he would teach Gospel Doctrine tomorrow because James has no voice.  

My intention was to spend the rest of the day working on my Primary lesson, which I did for awhile until James came in and ask when we were going to watch our movie.  I just can't turn him down.  We watched the new Hallmark movie, "Tulips in Spring."

Lots going on in our family this weekend.  Alex and Tre, who was the prom queen at Chandler High, and also happens to be in Alex's seminary class, went to Mormon Prom together.

 Such a cute couple!

Emmy was in a soccer tournament.  All the other teams were boys.  They got 2nd place and Emmy plays defender and did really well.

 Emmy's in the back row with the glasses on.

Jared and James went to their Fathers & Sons Outing.  Here are a few pictures that Jared sent me.

 I remember that apple head guy from years past.

 Love that smile!

 Is that smoke in the background?

Do they do prescribed burns?

 James sees something.