Sunday, June 10, 2012

I wasn't sure if James was feeling up to going to church, but he was.  He hates to miss church.  Of course Jared went with us.  Judy Hunter and Dave Westbrook were the speakers in sacrament meeting.  Judy spoke on how to have peace in our lives and Dave talked about temptations.  Dave was in Iraq for 5 1/2 years and told some interesting stories about his experiences there.
The lesson in Sunday School was about Alma becoming the first chief judge.  In Relief Society Linda Tanner taught  lesson 11 from the George Albert Smith manual on revelation.  Sister Swansey, the new convert, told of an experience she had before she joined the church and was struggling with some word of wisdom concerns.  She was on her way to Show Low and was thinking about telling the missionaries she didn't want to give up her cigars, bourbon, and coffee when she heard a voice say: "You can do this."  She was alone in the car and she knew she hadn't spoken.  The experience was so profound she called her husband and told him she had received revelation.  She stopped that very day from smoking cigars, and drinking coffee and bourbon.  She said that coffee was the hardest for her to give up.
After church Jared had some lunch with us and did some laundry and was on his way back to El Paso.  I sent Tricia's birthday card with him.  He is going home to Frisco for Father's Day next week.  It will take him 5 1/2 hours to get back to El Paso.  I told him to call me when he arrived safely and he did.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

We played the waiting game this morning.  James was anxious to get out of the hospital but of course we had to wait for the doctor and an echogram.  When Dr. Memon came in he ask James to take 10 laps around the hospital corridor to try out his new stent.  As we were taking our laps the technician came to do the echogram so we stopped at four, but I am sure James could have done ten.  Dr. Memon told us we would be out by noon and he was almost exactly right.  Our first stop on the way home was Walgreen's to pick up a new prescription.  We went by the house to say our goodbye's to Stacy and Sheri and then we were on our way.  Jared is at the cabin waiting for us.  We stopped in Miami at the Burger House and picked up 6 green chili mixed burros, two for each of us, including Jared.  Jared is the person who told us about Burger House originally.  They have the best green chili burros on the planet.  If you get them with beans they are not quite as hot, so that's what we do most of the time.
It felt good to be back in Vernon where the weather is so nice.  Jared said he went on a Ranger ride to Green's Peak and was going to hike up but it was too windy.  Jared fixed us dinner: grilled chicken, grilled asparagus and a Caesars salad and sour dough bread.  Yummy!  Thank you Jared.
It was so nice to visit with Jared.  He showed me pictures of the two houses they are looking at to rent in El Paso.  They are both older but very nice with lots of room and each of them has a pool.  I liked the first one the best.  We watched some TV and went to bed.  James was very tired.

Friday, June 8, 2012

The third and final day of making cinnamon rolls.  This batch turned out the best yet, well at least they looked the best, I didn't actually taste them.  Right in the middle of making these rolls I got a call from James. He said he was at his cardiologist appointment with Dr. Memon and the doctor was sending him straight to the hospital.  He said he should not be having chest pains with the medication he is on.  They are going to do an angioplasty and possibly put a stint in.  I hurried and finished my cinnamon rolls which were for a dessert auction tonight at the Navajo Taco dinner to raise money for girls' camp.  I made arrangements for my neighbor Kathy Crane to take my c-rolls to the dinner.  I left Vernon around 1:30 and headed for Gilbert Mercy, the hospital where James was admitted.  I got there around 5:25 (made several stops) and just missed seeing James before they took him back.  Our family really came to the rescue today.  Dave and Terry gave James a blessing.  Lois, Dawn, Dave, Laura, and Terry stayed with him for about three hours until Stacy, Paul, Sheri, Kim, got there.  I'm just sad I didn't make it there in time to see him before he went in to surgery.  When the surgery was over Dr. Memon came in and told us he had a 99% blockage in an artery difficult to see, behind the heart.  Darrel, Stacy and I went back with Dr. Memon to the room off of the surgery room and he showed everything to us on video.  It was amazing.  Dr. Memon made the comment that someone is looking after James from up above.  We couldn't agree more.  This evening our friend from Del Rio 2nd, Judy Pargetter came by for a visit.  She stayed a couple of hours and helped me find bedding for the couch in James's room (Rm 2011) where I will be sleeping tonight.  Judy has been the caregiver for her husband for the past 2 or 3 years.  We love her.  She said she put James's name on 5 temples and Allen, her husband, gathered their family around and they all said a prayer for him.  We are blessed to have such wonderful family and friends!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Day #2 of making cinnamon rolls.  This batch turned out much better than yesterday's.  I made sure the yeast was activated by checking the temperature of the water and putting a little sugar in the water.  You know the yeast is working if it gets bubbly. 

My other big accomplishment of the day was dusting all of the blinds in the house.  

Today is Harold & Vickie's wedding anniversary.  They were married one year after we were so it's #43.  I tried to call Vickie but it went straight to voice mail so I left a message wishing her and Harold a Happy Anniversary.

The most fun thing I did today was go on a Ranger ride.  James doesn't think I should go when I am here by myself in case something happens but I was getting cabin fever and needed to get out.  I drove about 12 miles to Gillespie Flat and did not see one other person.  It was awesome!  I love having the forest right in our back yard!

I came home and fell asleep watching The Finder.  James called me several times today and I called him.  I am so anxious for his return tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

I went to bed early last night so I could get up at 4am and do my gospel study.  At 7am James and I started out on a walk.  He went about half a mile or so and was in so much pain he turned around after sitting on the ground for awhile and went back.  I went 3 miles.  I was tired and sore afterwards so I took a bath in the jacuzzi tub. 

James heard from our attorney in the Norquay lawsuit.  We mailed him a 6 page information sheet regarding the job we did for them on Monday.  James wrote it out and I did the typing.  After looking at it they are pretty sure we will be able to recover some of the money they owe us.  It was the first time the attorney has been so optimistic.  James spent several hours today sending him copies of emails between him and Norquay.

I tried to make a batch of cinnamon rolls but the yeast didn't rise.  I determined that I didn't get it hot enough.  The rolls were still good but they were more of the consistency of biscuits than rolls. 

James left to go home around 6pm.  He has a doctor's appointment tomorrow, he is working on cleaning off Nate's lot, and he needs to look at the pool.  There was a problem with it earlier in the week.  The pump went off.  Paul got it to working again but not before some algae grew.  He also needs to meet with Zaki about building his house.  I was sad when he left because he seemed sad and I could tell he didn't want to go. 

I was lonely this evening.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

James and I made a trip into town today.  It proved to be very costly.  Our first stop was El Rancho.  We both got green chili burros only James got his with beans.  They were good but nothing like the Burger House.  I ate half and was going to take the other half home but I went off and left it.  Darn!  I hate wasting good food. 

Our next stop was Walmart.  I sent James to get birthday cards for Dallin, Brian, and Ian and a sympathy card for LaMont Ball.  His son Karl passed away on Saturday.  He had cancer and was the same age as Stacy.  They used to live next door to us. 

Our ward is having a Navajo taco fundraiser dinner for girls camp on Friday evening and they are also having a desert auction.  I volunteered to bring a dessert to auction off.  The other day while watching Paula Deen she made some yummy looking cinnamon rolls so I decided that is what I wanted to make.  I bought the ingredients for the cinnamon rolls and some non-food items.  When I went to check out I got restaurant gift cards for Brian, Ian and Tricia and some cash for Dallin.  I was appalled at what my total was.  James had gone to the McDonald's to get me a drink so he didn't see and I didn't tell him. 

This evening James and I went for a walk.  It was a short one because James was in so much pain.  We went on a Ranger ride and he felt much better!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Happy 7th Birthday Emmy!  I called Emmy today and wished her a happy birthday.  When I asked her what she liked best in her birthday box she thought for awhile and said: "The bouncy balls!"  (Oh, you mean the ones that cost less than a dollar?) 

Harold, Vickie, and Madison are in Washington state.  Harold and Vickie take their grandkids on a trip when they graduate from the 8th grade.  Madison wanted to go to Seattle and to Forks to see where Twilight was filmed.  I know this because Vickie called me on Friday to wish me a Happy Anniversary.  I wish we could take our grandkids on a trip...this year that would be Michael and Alex.  I feel like a slacker grandma.

We went on a Ranger ride today.  James showed me "The Village."  Alex, Ben and Joe were talking about it when they were here.  It is an old abandoned Boy Scout camp, A-frame cabins, outhouse, and all.

For FHE James and I watched Wendy DeWitt's DVD on food storage.  We were both very impressed with her system.  She is in the Vernon ward during the summer and I have wanted to talk to her but I am a little intimidated.  She will be my "contact" this week.  I knew her husband Collin when I was growing up in Phoenix.  We were in the same ward.  I remember him but he doesn't remember me.  I remember him because I liked the name Collin and because I thought he was cute.