Sunday, March 18, 2012

One of the reasons I get up so early in the morning (4 am) is because I love spending quiet time to think, ponder, study and pray. Today I listened to it rain in the background. I didn't mind the interruption at all.

James had an early meeting so he took his truck to Church. I got a text from Sheri asking me if I would take her boys because she wasn't feeling well. I was hoping it would be all four of them but I guess Evan slept late and had just gotten up. I love Alex, Ben and Max. I asked Ben and Alex how they did on their 30 mile hike. They said it was alot of fun but they got really cold the first night. Funny, James said the same thing about his campout.

Just when I got to Church James grabbed me and said the bishop wanted to see us in his office. I knew it was coming but I'm not sure I was ready for it, at least not today. Bishop Wilson thanked us for our service and then released James as the 1st counselor in the Young Men's presidency and he released me as 1st counselor in the Relief Society. That's it. The last callings we will have in this ward. I am a little sad. No one has been called yet to take our places.

Halle Wilson was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting and Rachel and Greg Hill were the main speakers. The theme was "The Living Christ."

During Brother Chubbs's Book of Mormon lesson in Sunday School I sat by Karen Schneider and we looked up the scripture readings on our iphones. Have I mentioned how much I love my new phone. I think James is jealous. I want to get him one too.

Julie Johansen gave the lesson in Relief Society on sustaining our leaders. It was a good lesson to have right before stake and general conference.

While we were in Relief Society it hailed really hard outside. The only indication I saw of it was a picture Janet Anderson posted on Fasebook and Stacy telling me that the ground was covered in white. Brian sent me a picture of the snow at the cabin. Kim says it's been snowing 13 hours straight and shows no signs of stopping. Hope they don't run out of propane and get snowed in.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

In an article in this month's Ensign by Elder Dallin H. Oaks I found the following quote: "I affirm the great truth that our Heavenly Father loves all His children. This is an immensely powerful idea that children can begin to understand through the love and sacrifice of their earthly parents. Love is the most powerful force in the world. I pray that every parent is providing the kind of loving example that encourages the rising generation to understand the love of God toward them and the great desire of our Heavenly Father that all of His children on earth do what is necessary to qualify for the choicest blessings of eternity."
I worked in the yard this morning. A storm is supposed to be moving in so I wasn't sure if I needed to water, but I did anyway. While working I wore by bright green shirt I bought at Walmart for $4.48. I certainly didn't want to get pinched by anyone passing by.
James, Joe and Michael were home by 3pm. James was wearing is Mountain Man outfit which included his coon skin cap and the shirt that I made him. He looked so cool, but boy did he small like a campfire! They all had a great time and I guess the fried chicken was a big hit. Now comes the fun part of unpacking and putting everything away.
Kim, Brian, Joe and Michael left for the cabin this evening. I am a little worred and hope they make it before the storm hits.
James and I had dinner at Black Angus this evening. I had some coupons but I left them at home. We ended up spending about $60 and I felt guilty. It was nice to spend some time together. We really missed each other!

Friday, March 16, 2012

I read an article in this month's Ensign about President Monson. The following is a quote from that article: "He learned Christlike living at home, where charity - the pure love of Christ - compassion, and a desire to lift and bless the lives of others were the standard and where, though his parents did not read him the scriptures, they lived them." Another quote from the same article, this one by President Boyd K. Packer: "President Monson is more Christlike than the rest of us."

Ben and Alex are gone on a Scout hike until tomorrow evening. Sheri had to work today and since it is spring break both Max and Evan came to our house. Max wanted to go home after being here only an hour. I was trying to stall him so I offered to make him my homemade buttermilk pancakes for breakfast. I was sure he would love it. He tasted it and I asked: "How is it?" He said: "It's okay." I was crushed. As a consolation Stacy, Dallin, and Adam all loved them.

I had lunch today with Drea Boles at a place called Jimmie John's subs. Drea invited me when she heard how much I love Jersey Mike's. I must say the bread on the sub was delicious, and I love both Mike's and Jimmie's for different reasons.

This afternoon Sheri invited me to go see the Dr. Suess movie "The Lorax" with her, Max, Evan and Joshua. Evan refused to wear his glasses. Sheri is going to have to think of something to motivate him. It was a cute movie and I really enjoyed being with Sheri and the boys.

Went to bed early. I miss James.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Mountain Man Rendezvous Day is finally here. I was up at 4:30 finishing James's shirt. He realized at the last minute that the boys medical release forms were not complete so he spent the morning running them off the computer so he could have the parents fill them out and sign them. After I finished the shirt I started packing food. I got the chicken all ready and Kim helped me load it into the truck. When they, James, Joe, and Michael, finally left to go pick up the boys an hour late, Stacy made the comment: "Boy, that was stressful." That is so true but now it is peaceful and my life can get back to normal . . . until they return on Saturday and we start to unload and do laundry.
At 11:00 this morning Karen Schneider picked me up and we went to Serranos to have our birthday lunch with Janis Willis and Jackie Hall. This month we are celebrating Karen's and Janis's birthdays. We also discussed the visiting teaching message. Jackie and Karen are Janis's visiting teachers and I am Karen's.
This afternoon Trina and her kids were here. I had Stacy tell her that they probably wouldn't be ready to move out by the end of the month. Trina acted like it was no big deal but I could tell she was upset and disappointed. I feel bad but don't know what I can do. Stacy should be getting some work with a temp agency next week and hopefully they can get enough money to move out by the middle of April. If not, Trina and Darrel may move in anyway.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

This morning I digressed from my normal schedule and spent the morning working on a mountain man shirt for James to wear to his Mountain Man Rendezvous. I cut, cut, cut and I sewed, sewed, sewed, until about noon. I had to stop, eat some lunch, take a shower and short nap before my dentist appointment at 2 pm at Dr. Hillary Douglas's office.
Today I got a crown replaced. It's worse than just getting a crown because it takes some pullin and yankin to get that old crown out. The two shots were bad enough but the worst was the tapping, pulling, yanking and grinding. It was not my favorite way to spend two hours even though I got to sit in a comfy chair the entire time. Dentists truly are the Masters of Torture!
When it was all over I was starving but since the entire left side of my mouth was numb making it difficult to chew I went to McDonald's and got a mint shake. It was tasty.
This evening at 7:30 I had a presidency meeting at Adrienne's. When I got home around 9:30 the house was a disaster. Mountain Man Rendezvous has taken over our lives and our home. My sewing mess is still on the dining room table and now added to it are scraps of leather that James has added. Camping equipment on the floor and food for the trip sitting out on the table. I quickly left the room, and covered up my head in bed. Hopefully this will be over soon.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Happy Birthday Terry!
What a busy day I had today. I did lots of errands, most of them to help James get ready for his Mountain Man Rendezvous trip on Thursday. I went to Cracker Barrel and bought a cast iron skillet with a lid so James will be able to make fried chicken one night. I went to Joann's Fabrics and bought material and a pattern to make a shirt for him. I went to Walmart and bought all the stuff for fried chicken so we can try out the receipe James wants to make. I also bought diet coke and Hershey's kisses with almonds for Terry's birthday and then I stopped at Sweet Daddy's and got him a 'Mother Lode' chocolate cupcake because Cathi says he's a chocoholic.
Before James got home from work I soaked his chicken in a water and salt brine for two hours. Then I coated it with flour, cornmeal, spices, buttermilk and eggs, set it on a wire rack and let it sit in the refrigerator for two hours before cooking it. James actually cooked it in the cast iron skillet I bought and in my cast iron dutch oven. It turned out delicious! It was juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. I think it will be a big hit! We shared with Stacy's family and they liked it too.

Monday, March 12, 2012

James left early this morning for the San Carlos Indian Reservation. I was walking down Willis Rd. He stopped and gave me a kiss. Drea Taylor was with him and she said, "I wish someone cared for me like that." James said, "That is the person I love more than anyone else in the world." I am truly blessed.
Evan came over this morning even though Sheri didn't have work. She took Max to the doctor though. Evan was in a sugar cookie mood. Several weeks ago he brought over a mix for me to make and for one reason or another I never got around to making them. He said: "Remember that time you were going to make them and you had to take a long shower and wash your hair?" Sorry Evan I don't remember but I will make your cookies today. When I got them made he ate one and I asked if he wanted to take a plate full home. He said no.
I didn't get much packing done today because I paid bills, and there were alot of them. James had planned on going to the cabin after work and wasn't due to come home until tomorrow evening. I decided to go to Jersey Mike's for dinner. It was kind of lonely. I went home and watched Pioneer Woman's cooking show, did a little blogging and was in bed by 8:30. I was surprised when at 9:00 someone was kissing me goodnight. He went to the cabin and came home early! He said he almost rolled his truck when a cage someone was pulling broke loose and hit his truck. He swerved and almost rolled. I know Heavenly Father heard my prayers of safety for him and he was protected.