Friday, September 11, 2015

Today is the 13th anniversary of 9.11.01

 We will never forget.

I found this quote by Glenn Beck quite an eye-opener:

The world is moving further and further away from the 

gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today was grandparents day at Hancock School.  Sheri asked me a couple of weeks ago if I would go for Evan.  He has never had a grandparent come.  Marvin and Mary have come for Joshua the last couple of years, but said they probably couldn't come this year.  Joshua was very sad and I felt bad too.  Stacy called the school to see if I could do both classes and they said yes, so that's what I was planning on doing when I left for the school.  I went to Evan's class first.

 The teacher had the students divide into groups with about 3 students to one grandparent in a group.  I was with Evan, Landon and Zeke.  They all had a paper with 20 questions on it and they took turn asking me the questions.  It was fun.

I told Mrs. Kim, Evan's teacher that I needed to visit Joshua's class too so she called his class.  She came back and said that Joshua's grandpa was with him.  

Thanks Marvin for saving  the day and making Joshua so happy!

Joshua also came over to visit us for a few minutes.

I love these boys!

James finished the wood floor and it looks so much better!  He is taking his truck with the long flatbed trailer because he is taking his Cat do the wood cutting service project in Vernon tomorrow.  I was going to stay here until tomorrow to make sure the house and yard work got done for tomorrow's open house.  Stacy said she could handle it and that I should go home tonight.  She talked me in to it and I left around 5pm.  

I got gas at Sam's Club and stopped at Burger House for some burros.  I got two for James, one for me, and one for Kim who is coming up tomorrow.

I arrived at the cabin somewhere between 8:30 and 9.  Because James is getting up early to go to the temple with the youth we didn't have time to watch a movie so we read a chapter from "The Dancing Master" instead.  

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Steve, Sherry, and Lilly Estes

Grandma Carmen

James's sister Carmen just became a grandma and I think she is really enjoying it!

We left Chandler at 4:31 am for Vernon.  We stayed last night to watch Joe's performance at SoZo and it was worth it.  James was going to drive his truck but instead he drives with me in the rental car because he says he wants to be with me.  We arrive in Vernon around 7:40, just in time to get ready for church.  

Today was the Butler's mission farewell.  The Butler's are an older couple in our ward.  Patricia has always wanted to go on a mission.  Her husband Stephen had to give her talk because she had to go to the valley to be with her daughter who was having a nervous breakdown.  Stephen gave her talk, but did not have time to give his own talk.  

Jackson Allen and Ed Miller were called up from the audience to give their testimonies.  

Bishop Miller gave a short talk about Lehi and the Tree of Life.  

After sacrament meeting I met Jean Howard, one of the sisters I am assigned to visit teach.  I gave her the visiting teaching handout which consisted of a quote by President Monson and a dish towel.  The story of the Savior washing the apostles feet was in the lesson.  I talked about how this towel can remind her of the importance of serving others.  I also visited with Elida Pope.  I was going to follow her home but she wasn't sure our rental car would make it.

I did not teach Primary today.  The teacher's had an inservice lesson presented by Lannie Gillespie.  I think Virginia Chafin taught my class. Marci Butler Westbrook did singing time today.  She let the children chose their favorite songs.  What a fun person she is.  Her parents were Wade and Jackie Butler.  When I was a teenager in Show Low Wade and Jackie lived across the street.  Jackie was my Beehive advisor.  Wade was a high school friend of my dad's and Jackie was a good friend of my mom's.  

I have Marci's daughter Kasey in my Primary class.  She is such a sweet girl.

Lannie Wilhelm Gillespie did our last sharing time on the miracles of Jesus.  It's been a great month, learning again about the Savior's miracles.  She encouraged the children to look for miracles in their everyday lives.  That is good advice for everyone.  

James and Rick Lauritzen home taught Virgil Cooper at the church after the block today.  He doesn't want them to come to his home.  He told the story how his wife and children left him over 20 years ago when she inherited $40 million dollars.  He says he hasn't seen her or the children since.  It is such a sad story.

Jen called and said someone wanted to see the house today.  I told her to call and talk to Stacy, which she did.  I guess everything went okay.  

I finished listening to last April's General Conference talks, including the Women's and Priesthood session for the 5th time.  One more time before October conference.

James and I watched a Hallmark movie: "So You Said Yes."

Sunset at Fool's Hollow Lake in

Show Low, the place where 

James proposed marriage to me.

 

 

 

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The Salt Lake temple in winter.

Laura came by the house today to drop off a gift and we had a short visit.  We talked about her health.  She has been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and is feeling the effects.  She is on oxygen at night and becomes winded if she exerts herself too much or does any stair climbing.  The doctors want to do a biopsy probably sometime in January.  If she does have pulmonary fibrosis the estimated life expectancy is three years.  Laura has a positive attitude and is determined that she is going to live because she has so much to live for. I must say I was taken aback.  I can't imagine losing Laura.  That would be devastating to so many people.  She is so well-loved and such a dear, dear friend and sister. We will do all we can to keep her here.  

I made a short visit to Cathi's house to deliver their Christmas present, a calender featuring pictures from the life of the Savior.  I gave Laura the same calender.  Colton was there and I talked with him, but he really doesn't remember me.  Terry, Brian, and Collin were in the backyard putting up a "fort" and swing for Collin who is three years old now.  

When James got home from the job we went to his mom's to visit with her and Dawn and take them their Christmas presents.  Ours seemed so meager when compared with what we received from them.  We gave Lois the movie "The 100 Foot Journey" and Dawn a calender.  Dawn gave us several boxes of steaks, etc. from Omaha Steaks and of course Lois had several beautifully wrapped gifts for each of us.  We had a delicious tamale pie for lunch.  

James went back to the job at the airport and I drove to P.F. Chang's to meet with Dennis, Denise, and Rachel.  I sat and visited with them while they ate.  They came down to look for a dress for Rachel for her wedding which is scheduled for June 13th.  After they were finished eating we walked out to Denise's car and she handed me a box of her delicious rice krispy cookies for our family.  I gave them a calender and one for them to give to Harold & Vickie.

Back at the house it was time to pack up and head for Vernon.  James drove his rental and I drove Lexy.  I went the Payson way.  I was so tired I had to stop two times to take short naps.  I stopped in Payson and got a grill burger at DQ.  It was delicious.  I also had to stop and buy some aspirin because I was in so much pain!

When I got to the cabin Trina and her kids were there waiting for Jared and his kids to arrive.  Darrel was at work.  Trina helped me carry my stuff in.  James arrived shortly after I did. 

Jared and his kids arrived around 10pm.  It was a time of great excitement especially for Molly and Ruby, and Emmy and Addy.

Lola was in great demand.

  Molly and Lola

 Lola loves Anna!

 Emmy and Lola

 James Hayden is a handsome guy!

Jared with his baby and Trina with hers.

Trina also has a new iphone 6plus!

We are so excited to have Christmas here at our home in the mountains with our boys and their families.  James built a fire in our new stove and it and the lighted tree proved a cozy setting for our visit this evening.

Monday, August 4, 2014

"Sadly enough, my young friends, it is a characteristic of our age le gods, that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don't rock the boat but don't even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds."

-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

 Nice view!

Here are a couple of pictures from last night's FHE that I missed:

 Babies and girls love Brian.

 Nice smile Sheri!

Nice group picture.  Thanks Kim!

Sheri, Jared and I had a plan to meet at the plan this morning.  Sheri wanted to take Anna shopping and I wanted to take Molly shopping for her birthday.  Sheri, Anna, Emmy and Addy went clothes shopping while Molly, Ruby and I headed for the Disney Store.  Jared and James could do what they wanted with no girls to worry about.

 Anna and Sheri love clothes and shoes!

 Molly in her Sleeping Beauty dress and shoes.

Sheri got her the Sleeping Beauty doll.

No trip to the mall is complete without

going to the play area.  

After shopping Jared took his kids to a place you can't go to in El Paso, Chino Bandido's:

Molly and Ruby are best buddies!

I had lunch at In n Out Burger and took a couple of burgers to James and Adam before I left for Vernon.  Jared left and we met at the cabin.  He stopped at Burger House and I stopped at Safeway and Walmart to get groceries.  I asked the kids what their favorite foods were.  These are the answers I got: James - seafood, but we settled on ribs.  Anna, homemade chicken noodle soup.  She says her mom even makes homemade noodles.  I told her I would fix homemade soup but the noodles would be store bought.  Emmy loves pizza and Molly said macaroni and cheese.  

There was no rain in Vernon today but we had some beautiful clouds.  Of course the first thing everybody wanted to do was go on a Razr ride.  I let them ride while I put the groceries away.  Jared said they saw a herd of elk.  It was a beautiful evening.  I introduced them to Master Chef and told them it was one of Evan's favorite shows.