Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy 39th Birthday Kim!  I love you!
It snowed all day long.  Although it kept Kim and Brian from coming, it was beautiful!
James, James Hayden, and Alex must have really wanted to go fishing to go out in this weather.

When it's snowing outside all I want to do is stay inside and watch is snow as I sit by the fire and read a good book.

Jared went in to town to get tubes so the kids could go tubing.  When he returned, he took Tricia, Anna, and Emmy out on the Ranger.  They were headed for the pit which is over 3 miles away.  I thought they were a little crazy going out on the Ranger in this weather but I didn't say anything.  About an hour later Anna, and Emmy came in crying and Tricia was pretty annoyed.  They had absolutely no fun at all because they were freezing cold!
After the girls settled down they wanted a snack, and this was what the chose:

Pickes!  They love the dill ones the best.

 Anna and Emmy enjoying their pickles.

 Molly getting ready to go outside.  She did not want her picture taken.  Can you tell?

Some of us played Rockband and some of us played these games: Logo, Fact or Crap, Would You Rather, and 5 Crowns.  Some of us played dolls and some of us tried to get warm by the heater

Darrel debated most of the day and finally decided to come up with his kids who were so excited to play in the snow and to see their cousins.  They arrived this evening. 

Addy formed an instant bond with Emmy and Anna but it was a little harder for Ruby and Molly.  Molly tried.  She said to Ruby at one point: "It's okay Ruby, I'm nice now."

We celebrated Kimmy's birthday with Texas sheetcake and ice cream and we called her and sang Happy Birthday.

Some people stayed up until midnight but I wasn't one of them.  I think Darrel and his kids made it.

Tricia made her kids go to bed early and Emmy said: "We're the only kids in the world that have to go to bed before midnight on New Year's Eve.!"

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Obama's first move after his re-election was to sanction the United Nations ban on guns.  I think he wants to take away all of our constitutional rights.
James and I went on a Ranger ride today.  It was a great day for a ride.

Aspen trees without leaves.

One of James's backroads.

Beautiful scenery everywhere.

This afternoon James worked on fixing the broken steps on our front porch.  I love having a husband who is so handy at fixing things.

I love the mountain man attire.

This evening for Mutual the young women played Catch Phrase.  A fun game for everyone except LeeAnn.  She wanted to do makeup and hair.

Mary got so frustrated when her team didn't get her clues.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Today James and I went on our first Ranger ride since our accident.  This time we wore our seatbelts.  The weather was perfect, around 70 degrees.

We had originally planned to go to Green's Peak to see if the leaves had changed color but changed our minds because there were so many elk hunters on the road.  I got this picture of a little bush.

 While James and I were going on a Ranger ride Brian was doing this:

I spent most of the day cleaning, getting ready for the young women to come over in the morning.  James went with Chuck Crane this afternoon to do a service project at the Olf's. ( an elderly couple that Churck home teaches.)
This evening we went to the Show Low, Winslow football game.  Show Low ended up winning 40-7.

The football team dancing with the spirit line after the game.  Colby is on the right in the front with his foot in the air.  He is number 4.  I tried to take a video but they big guy in front of me was kind of in the way.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Somewhere in the last 3 months I read  about a father who did interviews with his children before they turn 8 and are baptized.  I went through every book I have been reading more than once and could not find it.  I prayed to Heavenly Father that I could find it so I could email it to Darrel because I thought it might be something he would like to do with Addy.  When I left for my walk I was feeling frustrated yet hopeful that Heavenly Father would hear my prayer and help me..  I put in my earplugs and began listening to Sister Cheryl A. Esplin's talk from the last General Conference entitled "Teaching Our Children to Understand."  Here was my simple little story.  I almost cried.  I came home and sent the idea to Trina and Darrel.  Trina said she loved the idea and thanked me for it. Here is the idea:

"About two months before his children turned eight years old, one father would set aside time each week to prepare them for baptism.  His daughter said that when it was her turn, he gave hear a journal and they sat together, just the two of them, and discussed and shared feelings about gospel principles.  He had her draw a visual aid as they went along .  It showed the premortal existence, this earth, life, and each step she needed to take to return to live with Heavenly Father.  He bore his testimony about each step of the plan of salvation as he taught it to her.
When he daughter recalled this experience after she was grown, she said: 'I will never forget the love I felt from my dad as he spent that time with me....I believe that this experience was a major reason I had a testimony of the gospel when I was baptized."  My prayers were answered.

My friend Paula Casto and her daughter Tanae are coming to visit this weekend.  I am excited to have them come and they are excited to come.  There is only one drawback.  Tanae has a new calling in the singles ward so they have to either go back Saturday evening or early Monday morning.  Tanae is the assistant to the Sunday social meals in the singles ward and talks her calling very seriously.

While James and I were outside on the deck reading this morning four Apache helicopters flew overhead.  Darn!  I was hoping they didn't know where we were.  We thought we were well hidden.

James and I have a goal to plant grass around our home.  Before we can even begin to think about planting we have so many rocks to remove.  I didn't realize how many until this morning when I actually began the removal process.  There are large ones and small ones and every size in between. It will be a long time before we are ready to plant.  Hopefully sometime next year.

James and I went on a short Ranger ride this morning.  Short because there was no gas.  I am grateful James is feeling a little better and beginning to act like himself.  Still waiting to here from Dr. Memon.

For FHE I made an apple pie shake and James and I watched President Monson's 85th birthday party.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

I was up before 5 to get ready for the temple.  We met at the Church at 5:30.  It was almost 6 before we left.  These are the leaders who went: Wes Smith from the bishopric, Sean Hunsaker, the scoutmaster, Brother Diewald, the young men's secretary, and Bishop Hall, and myself.  Wes Smith assigned who was to ride in what car and we were on our way.  The following young men who went: Aaron Windsor, Kendall Hall, Westin Hall, Tyler Hunsaker, and Talon Wilhelm.  The young women: Trenda Wilhelm, Kilee and Leann Hunsaker, Mary Swift, and Shelly and Jordyn Applegate.  Mary, Shelly and Jordyn rode with me. 
When we arrived at the temple the first thing we did was go into the chapel and have a devotional.  We sand "I Stand All Amazed".  The temple president and his wife, Brother and Sister Baldwin spoke, and Bishop Hall spoke.  It really set the tone.  Each youth was baptized and confirmed for 15 individuals.  Most of the names came from Sister Ruth Wallace who is a member of our ward.  I sat in on the girls confirmations and then handed out towels.  It was a wonderful experience and the right place to be on a Saturday morning.

The youth in the Vernon ward are awesome!

When we were finished at the temple I asked the girls in my car if they would like to go to McDonald's to get something to eat.  The Applegate girls said in unison, "No!" "Let's go to La Cupidas."  We followed Bishop Hall and he lead us  right to La Cupidas.  The Hunsaker's were there too.  This is the place to get breakfast burritos!  They were delicious.  Kilee Hunsaker talked me into buying here some Skittles and then she rode home with us.  Some people slept on the way home.  Luckily I wasn't one of them.

In other news today was Vernon Days at the Vernon park.  There were vendors selling their wares, games, and food.  Brother Applegate helped prepare the BBQ pig.  I drove past on my way to the post office but didn't stop.  I didn't want to go by myself and James wasn't feeling well.

It was cool and overcast with some rain today.  James and I went on a Ranger ride.  As we were coming back I took a picture of James's favorite tree on our property.  It is so sad that it is dying.

James says this tree is at least 500 years old.  

Maybe it just got tired of living.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Happy Birthday to brother Gail. 
It sure seems lonely here with all the Besties gone home to Chandler.  Thank goodness Darrel, Trina and their kids will be here on Sunday. 
Today I finished writing my talk for Church on and I typed James's talk for him.  His is longer than mine but I told him I had the last say because I speak first.  He is speaking on the sacrament and I am speaking on faith in Jesus Christ.
We had clouds and some rain today but we didn't get rained on when we went on our Ranger ride up on the mountain....thank goodness!
We took breaks throughout the day to read from our latest Victoria Holt book "Pride of the Peacock."

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Day #2 of making cinnamon rolls.  This batch turned out much better than yesterday's.  I made sure the yeast was activated by checking the temperature of the water and putting a little sugar in the water.  You know the yeast is working if it gets bubbly. 

My other big accomplishment of the day was dusting all of the blinds in the house.  

Today is Harold & Vickie's wedding anniversary.  They were married one year after we were so it's #43.  I tried to call Vickie but it went straight to voice mail so I left a message wishing her and Harold a Happy Anniversary.

The most fun thing I did today was go on a Ranger ride.  James doesn't think I should go when I am here by myself in case something happens but I was getting cabin fever and needed to get out.  I drove about 12 miles to Gillespie Flat and did not see one other person.  It was awesome!  I love having the forest right in our back yard!

I came home and fell asleep watching The Finder.  James called me several times today and I called him.  I am so anxious for his return tomorrow.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

I had a green chili mixed burro from The Burger House for breakfast.  Food of the gods!  James brought me  two.  I am saving one for tomorrow after church when we break our fast.

James has two things hanging over his head right now.  One is the Norquay lawsuit and the other is getting Zaki's contract on his house ready to send in to the bank.  He has to have information sent in to the attorney for the Norquay case by 8am Monday morning and Zaki's information has to be in to the bank by noon on Monday.  We still had time to celebrate our anniversary by reading from our Victoria Holt book and going on a Ranger ride. 

Brian posted on Facebook today that Arizona was the lone and dreary world so we were trying to prove him wrong with these pictures:

We started our fast today right after lunch.  The Crane's called us and asked us to go to the spaghetti dinner at the park with them but we had to decline because we had already started our fast.

We ended the day by watching an episode from Sherlock.  I am afraid I slept through most of it.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Here is a picture of our cabin taken from the Ranger as we are coming up our road.  This picture really doesn't do it justice.  I have loved being here this week.  It has almost seemed like a vacation.  I was a little upset when the electricity went off for about an hour on Monday morning.  Note to self and James: "Get a generator for backup."

For scripture study this morning James and I read from Alma 44.  We were reminded that the Lord will defend the righteous. 

For the first time this season James and I went on a Ranger ride.  We didn't go clear to Christmas Tree Trail because we both got cold.  The high in Vernon today was 70.  It's hard to believe that it is getting in to the 90's already in the valley.

Spent time texting and talking to Trina and Stacy about the big move.  I certainly hope every thing works out. 

Watched American Idol this evening.  My favorite was Holly singing "Rolling in the Deep."