Sunday, January 20, 2013

I was up around 5:30 to type James's talk for him.  It's from a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in 2001 on Priorities and Focus.  We left for Cibique around 820.  It's 70 miles away and their meetings start at 10am.
We got there and couldn't find the church so we ask for directions.  When we arrived Alan Frost was waiting outside for us.  He is the branch president and a former friend from Snowflake High School.

James and President Frost in front of the church.

Some of the members after the meeting.

The Cibique branch only meets for two hours.  First they have an opening exercises and then they split for Relief Society and Priesthood.  I think Alan's wife Delsi took the few Primary children into the bishop's office for Primary.  Sacrament meeting is last.  I was the first speaker.  I spoke on Faith in Christ.  James thought I took a little too much of his time.  Sorry honey.  Maybe next time you will want to get someone else.  Cibique is on the Apache indian reservation and James says you have to be Apache to live there.  The sister who taught Relief Society lives in Linden and her daughter lives in Vernon.  I know her.  Her name is Sandra Kuper.  It was a good experience and I am glad I went.  

James drove the 70 miles back to Vernon and I am afraid I wasn't very good company because I kept falling asleep.  Back in Vernon we missed two things; Our ward conference and hearing the DeWitt's membership read in to our ward.  How exciting!!

Saturday, January 19 2013

Jared fixed a yummy breakfast this morning.  There was some kind of biscuit bread in a casserole dish that was divine!!  Also there was eggs, and mushrooms with meat and onions. 

Tricia went to a Relief Society, Young Women basketball tournament at the stake center this morning.  Jared and James went outside to work on the swing set and Jared ask me if I would supervise the three older kids doing their chores.  Did I mention that Anna has discovered the show "Psych?"  She loves it!

When Tricia got back from her tournament she and I took Molly to her dance class.  Before we could leave Molly had to show us some tricks:

 A snack before dance class.

A running start.

Did I miss it?

The landing was a little rough this time.

Nice!

Tricia and I went to Sprouts while Molly was at dance.  I got some beautiful avocados.  The ones in Show Low are terrible!

Back at home the guys were making progress on the swing set:

James and Jared at work.

Jared's only Saturday off in six weeks and this is what he does.

James Hayden is the painter.

Emmy was upset that Molly is the only one that got to swing!

Sorry we didn't have time to finish Emmy.

Some interesting facts about James Hayden:  He loves to play the piano.  He likes the Beatles.  He kept singing "Hey Jude."  He is reading the Book of Mormon and reads about two chapters a day.  He is an honor student at school and he takes his priesthood responsibilities very seriously.  He is a great kid!

Things I know about Emmy:  She loves mac & cheese and could eat it everyday.  She loves math games and likes to play on the Ipad.  She loves to play outdoors and is learning how to shoot her bow.  Sometimes she practices with her dad.  She is a very interesting girl and I love her!

Anna had a party this afternoon.  She had four of her friends come over and Tricia was going to take them to the mall.  Some interesting facts about Anna:  She loves Snow White and has loved her as long as I can remember.  She also loves Justin Bieber.  She is great with kids, especially Molly.  She loves to shop and likes her Mom's clothes and can wear some of them.  She loves to watch Psych!  I love Anna!

We left for home around 4:30, stopping for a Whataburger in a little town called Bayard.  We arrived home around 9:30, ready to go to bed.

Friday, January 18, 2013

We were late leaving this morning, 6 instead of 5, because I decided to order my Xoom tablet online and it took longer than I expected.  James was very patient with me. Texas here we come!

This is going to be a slow trip because we are pulling a trailer filled with pieces of a swingset.  Our first stop is at the Walmart in Silver City, New Mexico.  I needed to get some batteries and kleenex.  I must say it was one of the nicest Walmart's I have ever been to.  The shelves were full, it was clean, and it wasn't crowded.  There was a Subway inside so I got James and I a breakfast sandwich to share.

Our next stop was in Demming for a short visit with James's Dad.  He always wants to meet us at Denny's.  Since we had already eaten we met in the parking lot.

James and his Dad.

George is quite feeble.  He says that the "bushes" James gave him in December saved his life.  They are soldier berry bushes that grow around Vernon.  George uses them to make tea.  If you need any further details you will need to talk to George.

Next stop was for gas and then on to Jared & Tricia's.  The kids were all there to greet us when we arrived.

I brought Anna and Emmy each one of my porcelain dolls.  Anna has had her eye on Snow White for several years now.  Emmy chose Jill from the Jack & Jill set so she got Jack as an added bonus.  Molly did not feel left out because she says she already has a doll.

Molly with her gumballs.

We got Anna a few small gifts which she opened.  A light desk with patterns to trace, a manicure set, and a small notebook to write and draw in.  

Since Jared was at work James and Tricia helped James unload the trailer.  James and Tricia had to make a trip to Home Depot for replacement parts

This evening we all went to Golden Corral for Anna's birthday dinner.  The best story of the evening is about Anna and Molly.  Molly refused to eat so Anna took her through the line and let her pick whatever she wanted.  She picked some broccoli and other assorted veggies which Anna proceeded to feed her.  Molly was so happy because now she could get dessert.  Thank you Anna for making Molly so happy!

The Birthday Girl.

Molly reading a book with me.

In spite of the look on Anna's face she really did love

Golden Corral.

Anna feeding Molly her veggies.

 Dessert #1.

One bite.  She doesn't like the ice cream.

Vanilla ice cream cone.  

Much better than peach flavored.

Ice cream beard.

Cotton candy on the way out the door.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Today is Anna Lee Lambson's 11th birthday.  She is our oldest granddaughter and we paid $1000 for her.  She is a very sweet girl and makes new friends easily.  I love her very much.  I called her this morning to wish her a happy birthday.  Afterwards I got to talk to Molly.  The first thing Molly said to me was: "I want to talk to grandpa."  Sorry Molly, grandpa isn't here, you are stuck with me.  Molly told me all about her green pants and blue shoes and then she said she had to go.  Molly is 3 but if you ask her how old she is she will say: "I'm almost 4."  Molly and Anna have a strong bond.  Anna is very good with Molly and can get her to do things that other people can't.  I love them both.

James came home early today.  Originally he told me he wouldn't be here until around 9pm.  When he told me he was coming home early I got ready to go to town so I would be here when he got home.  I left at 11:45.  I went to the post office, to get gas and wash my car, to Book Barn to get Linda Diewald a birthday present, to Walmart, and then to LaCasita to pick up lunch.  I brought home two green chili burros, enchilada style for James and I.  He made it home before I returned. 

I was so upset when I got home.  I had spent good money to wash my car and because of the last mile and a half of road to our house it is now muddy again.  It's the one thing I hate about living here!  After I ate my green chili burro I felt a little better.

This evening James and I worked on the talks we are giving on Sunday in Cibique.  After trying unsuccessfully to find someone to speak with him I told him I would do it.  It made him very happy.  For my talk I am using the talk I gave in the Vernon ward in June entitled "Faith in Jesus Christ."  Since it's already prepared all I have to do is read through it a few times. 

We are going to Texas tomorrow!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Trina said we could have James's birthday party next week at her house.  I have invited everyone Friday, January 25th to have chicken sandwiches and Eagle Brand pie for he birthday.  Also told them to come prepared to share a memory.

I had a presidency meeting at Natalie Soderquist's this morning at 10.  One the way out the guy from Sierra Propane stopped on the road near the Hunsaker's.  He was lost.  I had to draw him a map and tell him the name of the roads to get to our house.

I was home from my meeting by 12:30 but the guy didn't finish until after 3.  He found 4 gas leaks!  Wow, no wonder we have used so much gas.  Before leaving he lit both hot water heaters for me.  It cost us $250 for him to do these repairs, but it will be worth it I am sure.

This evening the Young Men and Young Women went sledding at The Pit.  Here are some pictures:

The gathering.

Everybody is cold.

Tyler and LeeAnn.

Brother Pope chopping wood for the fire.

Who wants to be first?

Up the mountain.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

James worked on the heater while he was here and tried to find the gas leaks.  I think he may have been successful with the heater but not with the gas leaks.  He is going to call Sierra Propane in Springerville to come out and see if they can find the leaks.  We bought 500 gallons of gas in December and we are now below 20% which means around 100 gallons.  Yikes!

I took my car out for a drive to see if the unbalanced tires problem was resolved.  Now instead of shaking at 40 mph it shakes at 65. 

James left this morning and I was home alone again.  I studied, paid bills, and worked on undecorating the tree.  At 5pm I had a presidency meeting with our Mia Maid president, Shelly Applegate.  We talked about the 5 inactive girls in our class.  We decided Shelly would fellowship Arizona, Hailey, and Alex and she would ask Trenda to work with Katelyn and Natasha.  I told her I would be available to help in any way she wanted me to. 

After taking Shelly to the library where here mom works after our meeting I came home and watched a little TV before going to bed.  Kim has got me hooked on the show Parenthood.

Monday, January 14, 2013

James left early this morning for the valley.  He is always so sad when he has to leave, it breaks my heart.

This morning I studied, and worked on undecorating the Christmas tree.  It is very cold.  My friend Tina Allen took a picture of the temperature in her car this morning when she left for work.  It was 13 below zero.  At noon today in Phoenix it was 38.  I think the high here was around 20.  I am so sad to say that our fica tree in our front yard in Chandler froze.  It did that once before and there were dead leaves everywhere.  James cut it back and it grew back to be the beautiful tree that it is.  Here we go again.

I went in to town today to make a deposit and to do some shopping at Walmart.  On the way home I was intrigued by the sky,  To the right, toward's the mountains behind Vernon it was totally overcast and looked like it was snowing.  To the left it was sunshiny.  I took several pictures.  And then I fell in our ditch and Churck Crane had to come and rescue me. 

Just before Hunsakers.

On the sunny side of the street.

On the edge, sunny and cloudy.

More clouds coming.

The cabin is always right on the edge.

In the ditch.

I called James and told him what happened.  I was so embarrassed to call the Crane's.  He said he wanted to come home anyway to check out the gas leak and the broken heater.  He had worried about those things all the way to the valley.  I called Kathy Crane and asked if she could take me to my appointment at Rosie Lauritzen's at 4:30.  She said she would but that she was going to call Chuck and have him come home and get me out of the ditch, which he did.  I told James he didn't need to come but he came anyway.  

I had a nice visit with Rosie and Rick Lauritzen.  I noticed my car was shaking and the "tires" symbol came on my dashboard.  I told James about it when he got home and he knocked a huge chunk of ice and mud out from under my car.  I hope that was the only problem.

It was nice to have James home.  We watched The Mentalist.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

I got a call from Natalie Soderquist last night asking me to attend Ward Council for her this morning at 7am.  I got up around 3:30 to finish preparing before the meeting. 
James had a 6am high council meeting in Show Low so he left the house around 5:20.  I left at 6:50.  After ward council I sat in the foyer and finished my lesson.  James joined me for sacrament meeting.  He had an assignment from the stake presidency to release the stake executive secretary and ask for a sustaining vote for the new stake executive secretary, James Brookbank. "Jimmy" is an old friend from high school.  Polly, his sister was my best friend.
During his high council meeting this morning James got to hear Randy (my cousin) and Debbie Tenney's son Jarom rep  (ort on his mission to the Czech Republic.  He served in the same town where Kevin lives.
Kilee H. ask to sit with us during sacrament meeting.  She left once to go to the bathroom and then ask to use my phone during the meeting.
Rosie Lauritzen and Hans Soderquist were the speakers today in sacrament meeting.  Rosie spoke on the Restoration and Hans spoke on the prophet Joseph Smith.  It was such a good meeting!
I attended Lannie Gillespie's teacher development class during Sunday School.  We talked about creating an environment for learning.  In a classroom everyone's comments are valuable!
I taught all of the girls during young women because Natalie had been sick this week and Kaeli ask me to teach her girls.  I am not sure why.  The lesson was on knowing Heavenly Father.  I had Brother Applegate come in and talk about his girls, Shelly and Jordyn.  It was so sweet.  I told the girls afterwards that just as Brother Applegate loves his girls, Heavenly Father loves all of them.
After the block our presidency was invited to stay to a special ward missionary planning meeting until 1 pm.  Thank goodness there were snacks.  James had lunch ready when I got home.
I took quite a long nap this afternoon.  When I woke up it was 5:30.  When I looked at the clock I thought it was 5:30 in the morning!
Brian, Kim, Joe, and Sheri made it home safely from California.  They went to a Keane concert.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

James brought home two checks that he was suppose to deposit before he left Chandler, but he forgot.  We needed to go into town today to deposit them.  We hadn't made any definite plans as to when we were going to go until Kilee Hunsaker called  and asked if she could get a ride to the Stanford store at the Y.  She was going to meet a friend there.  I asked her when she wanted to leave and she said around 11.
When we went to pick up Kilee she came out and said she couldn't get in touch with her friend but could she come to town with us.  Her family was going snow mobiling wih the DeWitt's and I was surprised Kilee didn't want to go with them.  Of course she could go with us if she wanted.
Our first stop in town was Chase bank.  National bank was closed so I will have to come back on Monday to make that deposit.  Our next stop was LaCasita for lunch.  I told Kilee this was Sister Nicoll's favorite restaurant.  We texted her to find out what her favorite food was and that's what Kilee ordered.  It was a chicken enchilada with green sauce.  I got a tamale and some sopapillas to share and James got a green chili burro enchilada style.  The food tasted especially good on such a cold day.

We did a little shopping at Walmart and then headed back to Vernon.  Kilee ask if she could come over for awhile.  Although I had planned on spending the afternoon preparing for tomorrow's young women lesson I said she could.  We watched Mr. Popper's Penguins and played 5 Crowns.  When I told Kilee it was time to go home she wanted to spend the night.  I had to decline.  I need some time to myself to prepare for tomorrow.
James and I watched the latest episode of "Elementary" before going to bed.  We both have early meetings tomorrow.

Love this picture taken in front of the cabin.

Friday, January 11, 2013

I left for Vernon around 7:30 this morning.  The weather in the valley was cool and overcast yesterday with rain in some places so I am assuming the high country got some snow.  I stopped for a breakfast croissant at Burger King and then stopped in Payson for a drink.
There was snow on the road from Payson all the way through Heber.  It looked like this:

I only saw one car that had slid off the road and lots of help was on the way.  I stopped at Arby's in Show Low then at Walgreen's to pick up a prescription for James.  It is freezing cold outside!

I made it up the hill at our place without any problems with my new tires.  It was 46 degrees inside the cabin.  I turned up the heat and then went out to the pump house to turn on the water.  After the water came on I turned off all the faucets and then turned the hot water heaters on.  

It took me awhile to unload my suitcases and  17 boxes.  I didn't take all of the boxes upstairs, only half.

It was cold so I snuggled under my blanket and took a nap and watched some TV.  I am afraid I was a little lazy.

Back in the valley James had a meeting at the Chandler Airport with Bob Horne about the work he is doing for him.  While he was there Heather flew in with her three kids.  She recognized James as "Stacy's Dad."

Heather and Stacy were best friends in high school and junior high.

James was home by 9 pm.  He brought burros from Burger House.  We watched Person of Interest and then went to bed.  Baby it's cold outside!