Sunday, April 8, 2012

Today's spiritual thought is by Pres. Thomas S. Monson:

"Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place - the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed.

The empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job's question, 'If a man die, shall he live again?' To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth.... My beloved brothers and sisters, in our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning: "He is not here; for He is risen."

James and I drove separately to Church today because he left after sacrament meeting to go hear Trina speak in her ward. I couldn't go because Adrienne had ask me to say a few words of goodbye in Relief Society. This is our last Sunday to be official members of this ward.

Paula Casto sat by me in Sacrament meeting. My nickname for her is Tinkerbell because she is so tiny and cute. I was sad because none of the Trezise's were at any of the meetings. I enjoyed Bro Chubbs's Sunday School class. I got to sit by Paula for all three of our meetings. I teased her about Bro. Stermetz and said he had a nice profile and didn't she think he was cute. Cathi gave the lesson in Relief Society on the immortality of the soul. How appropriate since the passing of her mother last month. Laura and Dave are back in town. They just got back from Idaho and Utah.

We had FHE this evening but the only ones here were Stacy, Adam, Dallin, Michael, Joshua, Alex, Ben, Max, Evan, and James and I. Using pictures from the Gospel Art Packet, we talked about the last week of the Savior's life. Everyone participated. Evan helped James hold up a picture but then he left early. I bore my testimony at the end. These are the pictures we used: 1. The Triumphal Entry, 2. Cleansing the Temple, 3. Sermon on the Mount 4. The Last Supper 5. Jesus washing the Apostles feet 6. In the Garden of Gethsemane 7. The Betrayal 8. Peter's Denial 9. The Crucifixion 10. The Burial 11. Christ's appearance to Mary 12. Christ's appearance to his Apostles 13. The Ascension 14. The Second Coming. Stacy said she really felt the Spirit and she told Paul he missed a good lesson.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Today's spiritual thought taken from Elder Bednar's talk on the atonement:

"King Benjamin teaches about the journey of mortality and the role of the Atonement in navigating successfully that journey: 'For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord' (Mosiah 3:19). I draw your attention to two specific phrases. First - "putteth off the natural man." The journey from bad to good is the process of putting off the natural man or the natural woman in each of us. In mortality we all are tempted by the flesh. The very elements out of which our bodies were created are by nature fallen and ever subject to the pull of sin, corruption, and death. But we can increase our capacity to overcome the desires of the flesh and temptations "through the atonement of Christ." When we make mistakes, as we transgress and sin, we can repent and become clean through the redeeming power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I was up at my normal time, 4 am but instead of studying the gospel I was cooking. I started out making my Calico Easter beans. After I got them in the crockpot I started mixing up a batch of sugar cookies to replace Stacy's that got eaten yesterday. Next came Marci Lamoreaux's strawberry cupcakes, then the cheesy potatoes and the ham. Thank goodness for Sheri. She picked up Darrel's girls, frosted the cupcakes and the cookies for me so I could take a shower.

Oh yes, she also hid the Easter eggs, and made delicious homemade rolls. Kim brought two desserts and with the cookies and cupcakes I made we had four desserts. I also had cranberry celebration from Fry's because it is a family favorite. After eating the kids went out to find the Easter eggs. Everyone had two eggs with their names on them. Each egg had a dollar in it. Most of the rest of the eggs (there were 110) had quarters, and a few had either gum or candy. Ian hid the two $5 eggs, one for the kids 8 and under and one for the kids over 8. Max found the one for the younger kids and Dallin found the one for the older in a drain pipe and his $5 was all wet.

Sheri was the lifeguard for the kids who wanted to go swimming. James did the dishes so I could go lie down. Darrel offered to but I knew he was tired from camping and his feet really hurt from his arthritis.

James and I went to Costco this afternoon to get some of their yummy filet mignon steaks to cook for dinner tomorrow. We also got some Alpine Valley bread. I spent a relaxing evening in front of the tv just vegging out. I watched Pioneer Woman and American Idol while the Gonzo's were gone to Rudy's.

Friday, April 6, 2012

In this month's Ensign there is an article by Elder David A. Bednar entitled: "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality." I learned so much from this article and I will be sharing excerpts from it for the next few days.
"President David O. McKay said: 'The purpose of the gospel is . . . to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature.' Thus the journey of mortality is to progress from bad to good to better and to experience the mighty change of heart - to have our fallen natures changed (see Mosiah 5:2). The Book of Mormon is our handbook of instructions as we travel the pathway from bad to good to better and strive to have our hearts changed.''

I spent several hours this morning spraying off the porch, patio and deck in preparation for Easter. This afternoon Kim, Joe, Sheri, Alex, Ben, Max, Evan, Trina, Addy, Rowan, and Ruby came over to dye Easter eggs. Joshua joined in the fun too but he only did one egg. He wanted it to be red so he left it in the dye a good long time. It turned out to be a beautiful dark pink.
Tomorrow is our egg hunt and potluck. I spent the evening filling plastic eggs with money while I watche Person of Interest with James. I have decided this show is too violent for me.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

No walk to Walmart this morning. Sheri and I went to the grand opening of Rudy's BBQ on 54th Street and Chandler Blvd. We got there around 6:30 am for a 7:00 opening. We had said if there was a large crowd we wouldn't stay. There were 12 people ahead of us in line. When the doors were opened we were greeted by a row of friendly people and one of them handed us a gift card worth $20 in Rudy's BBQ Bucks. The first 100 people all got one. Sheri and I bought ready made breakfast tacos (burritos). I bought a bacon, potato, sausage, and a brisket. James said the brisket was really good. On the way home we stopped at Circle K and got diet Dr. Pepper. It was our lucky day!
For lunch Karen Schneider asked me to go to the mall with her. When I went to pick her up she had lamps, a clock, candler holder and a huge comforter and some pillows she wanted to give me for the cabin. Thank you Karen. You have such good taste and nice hand-me-downs. We had lunch at Paradise Bakery. I had a salad and chicken noodle soup. Karen is a good friend and I am going to miss her.
I got my grocery shopping done at Fry's and Walmart before Sheri called me to go to north Scottsdale to visit a new confectionary shop there called Sweet Tooth Fairy. They have one in Provo, Utah and now this one in Scottsdale. They sell cupcakes and a delectable little treat called cake bites. I bought a baker's dozen of cake bites. I almost went in to a food coma on the way home. Very sweet and delicious. My fav was the fairy fetti. I did save some for Kim to try. Boy, it's a good thing it's in north Scottsdale because I shouldn't go there very often.
This was a day for eating out. Something I won't get to do nearly so often when I move to Vernon. James and I took Alexander to Nello's for his birthday date. We went there last year too. I forgot how good their pizza is!! First we got a pizza crust as an appetizer at Alex's request. Yummy deli-iscious! I had the individual bbq chicken pizza and let me tell you it was a little bit of heaven. I was going to save some for tomorrow but I couldn't stop eating it. James got a thin whole wheat crust crab pizza that he loved. It's Alex's favorite restaurant and now it's one of mine too!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Walked to Walmart, worked in the yard, and began packing up the hall closet.
James had a meeting with the homeowner's association at Dobson Ranch today. He is getting ready to do some work there on April 23rd after all of the snowbirds go back to Canada. Thank goodness we have some work on the horizon.
I ate lots of cookies today and I am ashamed of myself. Sheri made oatmeal scotchies and I have a weakness for them. I ate many. Stacy made sugar cookies and I had one. It was a big one. I think I need to go off sugar. I am so proud of Joe for going off sugar and losing 25 lbs.
For dinner James and I went to Chili's because I had a gift card with a $10 balance on it. I made a good choice for dinner. I had the carribean salad with grilled shrimp. It was very tasty. James raved about the ribs and the broccoli he had.
James and I started a new Victoria Holt book this evening. This one is called Judas's Kiss. James says Victoria paints pictures with her words. I think we have somewhat replaced TV watching with reading.
Evan is so excited about our Easter egg hunt on Saturday. He can hardly wait and everyday he tells me how many more days until the Easter egg hunt.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

When Jared's family was getting ready to leave for Texas James Hayden told me that they were moving to tornado alley. Jared said, "Oh there hasn't been one touch down since 1981." I guess they were overdue. Today in Dallas county 15 tornadoes touched down wrecking havoc and destruction in the area and throwing trucks into the air. In Frisco the siren went off. Tricia was very nervous so she went to the school to pick up her kids. The school was on lock down and the kids were in "duck and cover" which means they were all in the bathrooms hunkered down. Tricia thought Anna would be scared and upset but she was actually very calm. When she went to get Emmy, Emmy burst in to tears. She wasn't upset about the tornado warning she was upset because she knew this would mean that her first softball game would be cancelled! I was glad when Tricia called to report that everyone was okay! We never get weather like that here in Chandler. Some times we get windstorms in the summer but nothing like 15 tornadoes.
I walked to Walmart again this morning and then worked in the yard. We got another check fro the US treasury today. This one was for 1626.00. Thank goodness James initiated this. It couldn't have come at a better time!
Watched Castle this evening with James. I am annoyed by the whole Castle and Beckett cat and mouse game.

Monday, April 2, 2012

The excitement at family search is the 1940 census is available online today to be digitized.
I walked to Walmart this morning. I wasn't going to wear a jacket but as soon as I went outside I could see that I needed one. It was windy! The high today was suppose to be in the 80's but it never got passed 75.
After my walk I loaded up most of the leftovers from our garage sale, at least everything that would fit in my car and dumped it at Goodwill. James will have to take the big stuff that was left in his truck.
James and I are in another money crunch and I wasn't sure how we were going to make our biggest credit card payment which is due tomorrow. I went online to check my account and there was a $1793.00 deposit from the U.S. Treasury. James applied for his social security and this is my share for February and March. I conside it an answer to prayer and am so grateful for tender mercies.
This evening James and I had dinner at one of our favorite places, Elmer's Tacos. We each had two machaca tacos and they were delicious. Later Alex brought me down some homemade mac and cheese that Sheri had made. It was delicious!! No wonder I'm finding it so difficult to lose weight. I just love food too much.