Sunday, March 6, 2016

How true.

We had a very spiritual fast and testimony meeting today.  I don't necessarily think my testimony added to that, but I did feel prompted to bear it.  I talked about how Enos prayed for his enemies the Lamanites and his example made me stop and think if I had anyone I would consider an enemy, or anyone whose relationship with me was not quite right.  I thought of someone, and reached out via messenger on Facebook.  We corresponded back and forth, and now I feel like we are in a good place.  I am grateful for Enos's example and the Savior's Atonement.

Some of the other testimonies that I especially enjoyed: Sean Hunsaker's, Chuck and Kathy Crane's, Dave Westbrook's, Blain Curtis's, and Trenda Wilhelm's.  

This is Trenda's last week in the Vernon ward.  She is moving to the valley to live with her grandpa's x-girlfriend and go to school.  She will be going to Grand Canyon University and her classes starts in August.  She will be going down this week to get settled in and to find a job.  She wants to be a physician's assistant.
Trenda came in to Primary Sharing Time to help her little sister Ruthie give a talk.  It was so cute when Trenda left, Ruthie 'hearted' her with her hands.  I love these two!

I will bet that is the sucker Ruthie got after Primary today.

Our lesson in Primary today was on King Benjamin.  We talked about taking the name of Christ upon us and the importance of a good name and honoring our family name.

We broke our fast when we got home from church.  I actually fasted 24 hours.  We had a very important reason for our fast.

Around 3:30 today we took Rick and Pam Giles up to see the falls at Buckelew Springs. We learned that Rick is from Flint, Michigan and Pam is from Chicago, but both have lived in Arizona for over 20 years.

We didn't stay long at the falls but I took several pictures.

 

Why do we get so excited about these falls and the running water?  Because most of the time it is so just a dry wash.
It doesn't seem like much when you compare them to these falls:

Oh well, we will take what we can get and be grateful.

We really enjoyed spending time with Rick and Pam and hope we can have them over for a bbq sometime.

This evening we watched this week's episode of "When Calls the Heart."  We both love this series. 

Nancy Reagan passed away today.  She was 94 years old and died of congestive heart failure.  

 

Sunday, January 3, 2016

The blessing of baby Ander Hoose

Happy Birthday Cathi!

One of my most favorite people in the world!

Today I gave my first lesson on the Book of Mormon.  We got to church early so I could set up my room, something I never did last year.  I am so glad I did!  Things ran much more smoothly.  We sat by Jared and his kids and Paula Johnson during sacrament meeting.  

None of the Miller's were at church today.  Debbie, the bishop's mother, is in the hospital.  She has a weakened immune system because of her chemo therapy treatments.  

James bore his testimony today about Stacy giving a Book of Mormon to Cindy Ganado and the fruits of that effort.  

Tyler Hunsaker bore his testimony.  He will be leaving on his mission on January 13th.

Emmy was in my class today along with Braylin Chaffin, Curtis and Zemira Wilhelm.  There are five other children on my roll but the only one I have ever seen is Kacey Westbrook.  She is Wade and Jackie Butler's granddaughter and is a sweetheart.  I wish she would come more often.

Our lesson was: "The Book of Mormon, a Gift from a Loving Heavenly Father."  The kids were so good!

I had a coughing attack during sharing time and had to leave.  Molly came looking for me.  

After church Jared and the kids get ready and leave for home. 

Great memories!

Come back soon!

 James and I break our fast a little early because we both have headaches.  We had burgers for dinner and then watched some movies on the Up channel.  We watched: "Three Days of Christmas", "The Nativitiy", and "Christmas Snow".  Christmas Snow is one of my favorites.  

I forgot to mention that the kids enjoyed playing with my Calico Critters while they were here.  Surprisingly none of them got lost.

 Calico Critter community

I am grateful my nativity set survived the Christmas chaos.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

I took my best nativity set to church this morning and left it in the Relief Society room per Teresa Smith's request.  She would like to use it for the Relief Society activity on Tuesday evening.  It really is beautiful, one of the nicest I have ever seen.  I believe I got it at Costco years ago.  Shelly Applegate helped carry in the nativity.

Today, at the beginning of fast and testimony meeting Bishop Miller gave his baby boy Uriah a name and a blessing.  Afterwards he was the first ward member to bear his testimony.  Blain Curtis was the last person to bear his testimony and he ended this way:  "Don't worry, the Lord is at the helm."

Zemira and Joely were the only kids in my Primary class today.  We learned about Paul's missionary travels.  Because it was fast Sunday I did not give them any candy.  I told them they could have two pieces next week.  

Debbie Brewer, a new convert, attended Primary sharing time today.  She always has lots of questions and isn't afraid to just blurt them out.  Those in charge are always very patient with her and try to give her the answers she is seeking.  

Alicia Hunsaker is the Primary chorister.  Sometimes she lets the kids choose their favorite songs to sing.  Most of the kids choose Primary songs such as, Popcorn Popping, Book of Mormon Stories, and Once There Was a Snowman.  Whenever she asks 5 year old Andyn Miller, the bishops little girl, she always chooses: "Nearer My God To Thee."  We always have to get out the hymnbooks.  I wonder if this is the bishop's favorite hymn too.

When we got home from church we took a nap.  We fasted until after 5 p.m.  We had tamales, yams, and mac and cheese for dinner.  I enjoyed the mac and cheese the most.  We spent a very relaxing afternoon watching Christmas movies.  We watched "A Christmas Miracle", and "A Crown for Christmas."

Now James is studying his next week's Sunday School lesson and I am getting ready to read from Jesus the Christ  We are taping the First Presidency Christmas Devotion to watch tomorrow night for FHE. 

The kids had the annual gingerbread house competition at Sheri and Ian's this evening.

Joe & Amanda got first place.  I love the Santa

in the chimney.

I think this one is Sheri and Ian's

Evan's

Kim and Brian's

Adam and Alex's

 

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Sheri's quote:
"So many of us make a great fuss of matters
of small consequence.  We are so easily offended.
Happy is the man/woman who can brush aside the 
offending remarks of another and go on his way."
-President Gordon B. Hinckley

I love to see the temple

It was fast & testimony meeting today but we didn't know.  I don't remember hearing any announcements.  I also had heard that there would no longer be two fast meetings in one month.  Apparently I am confused with false information.

James was sustained today by Brother Thompson as a substitute Sunday School teacher.  Oops! Oh well.  He got the Sunday School teacher right.  

Braylin and Ashten from my class bore their testimonies and so did James. Virginia Chafin bore her testimony and was visibly limping.  When I ask Braylin why his grandma was limping he said she got her big toe cut off.  Hailey said she caught it on a step on a trailer and tore it and had to have surgery at the hospital.  She missed Primary today.

  Several people mentioned the Wallace's 50th wedding anniversary party last night.  Apparently I missed that announcement too.  James said he knew about it but he forgot to tell me.  

Our lesson in Primary today was on honesty.  We read the story from the scriptures of Barnabas, who was honest, and Ananias and Saphrias who were not honest and what happened to them.  Ashten, Jolee, Talena, Braylin, and Zemira attended class today.  This will be James's last time as my worthy assistant.  I am a little nervous about that.

There was no sharing time today, only song practice for the Primary program.  About three quarters of the way through Braylin leaned over and said to me: "This is the longest hour of my life.!"

James was set apart today after the block as a Sunday School teacher by John Wilhelm.  

I saw Shelly and Kelly outside after church.  They both saw a garter snake and ran to pick it up.  Shelly won.

 Shelly, the snake whisperer

I waited for James in the car while he and Rick Lauritzen visited with Virgil Cooper.  Virgil won't allow a home visit so they do their home teaching at the church.

Kathy Crane came over after church.  She had seen my pinion post on Facebook and wanted us to see her pinions.  She kept saying these are pine nuts, right.  They are so expensive in the stores and they are delicious on salads.

 James checking out another of

our pinion trees.  He says they are

better after the first freeze.

We had our Burger House burros for lunch and then took a nap.

After our nap we started a new book: "Sophia". 

Written by an LDS author

Our Hallmark movie for the day was "Book of Love" which we had seen before but since we liked it so much we watched again.

Tonight we watched a Blood Moon, which means the moon was about 9,000 miles closer to the earth than normal, and a Lunar Eclipse. James left our camera in Chandler so we couldn't get  a good picture.  This picture was taken by James's brother Dave using his spotting scope.

  Chandler, Arizona

 This is me

 Gilbert temple

 Eclipse: The earth's shadow on the moon

 Washington D.C.

 Mt. Timpanogos, Utah

 Arizona desert

 Over the ocean

 

Sunday, April 12, 2015

"A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who has gained a witness

through the Spirit of the divinity and mission of the Savior,

studies His gospel, incorporates His teachings into daily life by

relying on His enabling power, and spreads the news of His

gospel to others.  Disciples of Christ are not without weaknesses

or sin, but their shortcomings neither paralyze them nor prevent

them from selfless service and daily repentance.  The goal of a

disciple is not to be different from everyone else but to be more

like the Master"

-Camille Fronk Olson

 

Today was our fast and testimony meeting.  James bore his testimony and so did Hunter Jensen who is leaving on his mission for Australia on April 22nd.  Hunter's mom, Laurie was one of the last people to bear her testimony and she had me in tears.  She says she remembers seeing her husband Kurt off for his mission to Australia years ago before she was a member and she knew then she wanted her sons to serve missions.  She joined the Church while Kurt was on his mission.  She said when people ask her or her family why they live like they live and why they go on missions and serve and believe, she says: "Because of Him, meaning because of the Savior.  I looked over and Sheri was crying too.  It was a great way to end the meeting.

Clint Allen who just turned 12 and passed the sacrament for the first time bore his testimony also.  He said: "I have been waiting for this moment all of my life."  What a sweet thing to say.

 

During Primary sharing time today Paula Casto showed the movie "The First Vision."  All of the kids were so good, especially Isaiah, who was not so good during singing time.  During singing time Sister McAfee had the kids put on spring "hats" and Sister Coffey went outside to take their pictures for mother's day.  We had butterflies, ladybugs, frogs, bees, and bunnies.  They were so cute!

 

Our lesson today was on the baptismal covenant.  I actually got through the lesson and then we had activity time where the kids colored, played with Playdough and we read a story from the Friend.  The kids were good today.  We only had seven: Taylor, Brooklyn, Callie, Malachi, Isaiah, Ryder, and Liam.

 

When we got home from church we broke our fast and I made pesto flatbread for lunch.  Whole wheat flatbread, pesto sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and a slice of tomato all go under the broiler for a few minutes and it comes out delicious!

 

We had a nice nap and then we went to Tempe to visit with Lois and Dawn.  We had a nice visit but I came home feeling a little down.  Maybe because I wanted to talk to Dawn about reading the Book of Mormon but just didn't have the courage to do so.  I am just so afraid she is going to say no.

 

Evan wrote in his journal today.

 

 



Rowan played chess with his dad.





 



Sunday, June 1, 2014

" It is true of families as it is of nations that elimination of wickedness and selfishness will produce harmony and unity.

The spirit of contention is of the devil."

Happy 46th Wedding Anniversary!

 

I was up at 3:30 this morning to finish preparing my lesson and my lesson handouts. My lesson is on the blessings of the Priesthood.  The best part of the lesson was a short video by Elder Hale's from a conference talk he gave way back in 1995.  

I got to church a little early to set up but then I was late going into sacrament meeting.  Luckily James was there to save me a place.  

Bishop Hall was not here today.  I guess he has started a new job hauling oil out of North Dakota and will be gone for 30 days.  James thinks we will probably get a new bishop because Bishop Hall will be required to be gone too much for his new job.  

We had a good fast and testimony meeting.  My favorite testimonies were Carmen's, the German exchange student who has been living with the Sean Hunsaker family, Sean Hunsaker, and Aaron Windsor who just got his mission call to Reno, Nevada.  Carmen is going back to Germany this week but she says she will be back to be baptized by her American dad, Brother Hunsaker.  I went home during Sunday School and got the book on light by Sister Uchtdorf that we bought yesterday.  James and I put our testimonies in it and gave it to Carmen.  She seemed very appreciative.  

 I made it back in time in Sunday School to hear Brother Peeler tell everyone how I get up at 4am to study the Book of Mormon.  A little embarrassing.

My lesson went well.  I was a little sad because today was Trenda's last day for a couple of months.  She and her brother Talon will be working in Washington state most of the summer at their uncle's fruit farm.  They will both be missed.  Trenda loved her journal and said it was even her favorite color.  

James fixed lunch and did the dishes afterwards.  He gave me a sweet anniversary card.  I made him a peach cobbler.  We were just finishing our FHE from Preach My Gospel when Jared Ammon and his friend Catherine arrived.  They will be staying with us until Wednesday.