Thursday, July 26, 2012

My visiting teacher, Alicia Hunsaker came by for a visit this morning.  Leann was going to come with her but she had to go out and help her Dad on a concrete pour.  Alicia brought her 4 year old son, Colter.  He was so well behaved!  We had a nice visit.  I guess Alicia's partner Linda Price is in the valley.  I miss her.

Since I missed So You Think You Can Dance last night I watched it this morning.  I loved Witney and Cheon's dance to Whitney Houston's song "I Will Always Love You."  I am sure I will watch it over and over again.

James and I went on a Ranger ride this afternoon.  We we afraid it was going to rain on us so we weren't gone long.  Along the way we stopped and picked up trash, beer and soda cans, and water bottles.

A picture of James with our collection of trash.

I talked to Karen Schneider today.  She had just come from visiting Judy Pargetter.  Judy's little grandson Nathan Thompson is losing his eyesight.  Such a tragedy for a family who has already suffered so much.

I also want to thank Drea for sending me the link for a talk by Elder Richard G. Scott from the October 1995 General Conference entitled "Trust in the Lord."  I love this talk which helps to strengthen my faith.

Also texted with my friend Paula Casto.  She and her daughter are going to come up for a visit on August 25th.  I can hardly wait!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

I went to Walmart again today, this time to get some snacks for tonite's Mutual activity.  The Mia Maids are in charge and since I am the Mia Maid advisor I thought I should help out.  I got some celery and grapes and bottles of water.  I am going to put peanut butter on the celery.  This activity is suppose to promote good health so we are trying to have healthy snacks.  I am also bring some chocolate chip cookies because everyone knows how healthy they are.  

For a look at the cookies, see Monday's post.

James got home this afternoon.  It was so good to see him!  He helped me get all the snacks ready for this evening.  I would rather stay home with him this evening but I need it was my responsibility to go to the activity.  

Brother Hunsaker and I were the only adult leaders leaving from Vernon to the Show Low skate park so I was glad I went.  Brother Applegate met us in Show Low.  Kilee, and Leann Hunsaker rode with me along with a visitor, Emily Williams and Kilee's little sister Holly.  Here are some pictures at the park.

Talon Wilhelm was the most active boy.  He jumped the track with his bike over and

over again.

Some people just sat and watched.

I wished I would have gotten a picture of Shelly on her $180 bike she bought with her own money.  She jumped the track several times even though her bike is not a BMX bike.

I think everyone had a good time and I was able to get in my 30 minute walk.  I got a little Hunsaker history on the way home from Leann and Holly.  

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Happy Pioneer Day everyone! 
I slept in later than I want to admit today.  I guess I had some catching up to do.  When I did get going I got quite a bit accomplished.  I cleaned the kitchen and polished the granite countertops.

I also waxed the wood floor.

I love it when my house is clean!

I sat down this evening to watch the finale of Design Star.  The two contestants left are Brittany and Danielle.  Brittany is my favorite and as a plus she is from Arizona.  I love her style of decorating and she always adds a little personal touch with her photography.  I can't believe the design pannel chose Danielle.  I as so disappointed!

Monday, July 23, 2012

I miss James and hope he can come home tomorrow evening.  His back is still really bothering him and he tried to make a doctor's appointment but Dr. Wilson and the physician's assistant are both out. 
I made cookies this morning before I went visiting teaching so I could take some to the sister I was visiting.

  I had an appointment to see Rosie Lauritzen at 10 o'clock this morning.  She drew me a map to her house, which is about 10 miles away but I got lost and she had to come and rescue me.  Rosie is the 1st counselor in the RS presidency and she teaches 4th grade.  Her husband Rick is the ward executive secretary and he has his own marriage counseling practice.  Theresa Smith is Rosie's neighbor and she came by for a visit while I was there.  The three of us had a nice visit and I am grateful to get to know these two sisters a little better.  I think I could be good friends with both of them.  Theresa is alot of fun and teaches line dancing every Monday afternoon and invited me to come.  Rosie is more spiritual and I really feel drawn to her.  After our visit I made a trip in to Walmart to get some appliques to use for visiting teaching cards and for YW's. 
It rained all afternoon and in to the evening.  I am so sorry that James is not here to enjoy this beautiful weather.

Can you see the rain?

 I had a nice visit with Karen Schneider on the phone this afternoon.  We had some catching up to do.  I played Scramble on my phone with Kim and Sheri.  They beat me so badly I don't know why I go back for more.
Today was the first day of school in Chandler.  Both Evan and Joshua started kindergarten. Max is in 3rd grade and Kim is the aid in his classroom.   Alex and Michael started high school and Ben started junior high.  Dallin is a senior.  Here are pictures of Josh, Evan and Max.

Joshua

Evan

Max

Sunday, July 22, 2012

I went to bed at 1am after I finished the handouts for today's lesson in Young Women's on service.  I was up at 5:40 to finish preparing the lesson.  At 7 am I attended ward council since Natalie Soderquist, the Young Women's president is still out of town.  I was supposed to do the training from the handbook but no one had told me so I read a few paragraphs and made a couple of comments and that was it.
We have several things coming up this week in the ward.  For Mutual it's a combined activity at the skate park in Show Low.  Friday night is the adult pinewood derby, and Saturday there is a stake dance for the youth, and Sunday is a stake youth fireside.  I found out today that Trenda Wilhelm's little four year old brother has leukemia and goes for treatment's every week to the Phoenix Children's Hospital.  Trenda is such an awesome young woman and the Wilhelm's are a wonderful family with 8 children.  I will be sure and pray for little Curtis.  Trenda is the oldest.  She is only 14 but seems older and is quite mature.  Maybe it's because she drives her dad's truck to church.  Things are different here in the country than they are in the big city of Chandler.
The them for sacrament meeting was pioneers.  At home Dave, Laura and Ben were the speakers in sacrament meeting.  Their theme was also pioneers.  I am so sorry I missed Ben's first talk in sacrament meeting.
Kilee Hunsaker made me feel good today in Young Women's.  She said I was her favorite.  I told her jokingly that maybe that's because she doesn't know me very well, but I was touched by her comment.
Our lesson went well and I told the girls I would be emailing every night this week and giving them a service challenge.  We are going to be Secret Service Agents.  Here is a picture of my handouts:

The spoon goes along with the story that is attached and represents loving and serving.  

The gum wrapper says: "Chews you this day whom ye will serve."

I came home from church and enjoyed some down time.  I had something to eat and did a little TV watching.  I watched Project Runway, the finale for The Next Foodnetwork Star, Justin won, and the finale for The Bachelorette where Emily chose my favorite guy, Jef, who is from Utah and is definitely LDS.

Here is a picture of Emily and Jef

I am going to miss Trina's delicious dinners.  I am still eating the enchiladas left over from Darrel's farewell luncheon.  They are delicious.  It rained hard this evening for a long time.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

James left very early this morning for the valley.  He has a job starting at Troon North Golf Course in Scottsdale. 
Trina and I went to the Show Low Farmer's market this morning while Darrel stayed home and took the kids on a Ranger ride. 

Part of the Farmer's market.

We met a guy from the Milky Ranch named Traegin Knight.  He knew my Dad.

After the farmer's market we drove up to the swap meet at Blue Ridge High School to see if we could find some bow and arrow sets like Trina got for her kids but we didn't have any luck.  Our last stop was at Walmart.  I took a picture of Trina's car and labeled it "Cars of Walmart."

Darrel, Trina and their kids left this afternoon sometime between 3 and 4 o'clock.  Before they left we put up Darrel's hammock in the backyard.  Ruby and Rowan tried it out.  Addy was too busy playing Barbie's.

I am going to miss these kiddos so much.  While Darrel & Trina were packing and cleaning I went outside and played ball with Ruby, Rowan, and Addy.  When I said goodbye to them Ruby said: "Don't worry Grandma, we will be back tomorrow."  Darrel said after they got home he explained to her that they weren't going back and she got really sad and said: "But I want to see my grandma."  Love that girl!



I am home alone.  I worked on my Young Women's lesson for tomorrow on Service.  I made a trip to Walmart to get some supplies to make handouts.  I will post pictures tomorrow.

Friday, July 20, 2012

At a midnight showing of the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises", in Aurora, Colorado a madman set off a tear gas bomb and went up on stage and began shooting at people.  At first the audience thought it was part of the show but then pandemonium broke out when people realized it was for real.  12 people were killed and 50 wounded.  Such a tragedy.  Why do people do such horrific things?

The kids went out this morning to look for lizards and came back with this guy.

They named him "Flash."

Kylie is the one who caught him.

Lexy and her kids, Kylie, Kayla, and Kreed left this morning around 11:30.  They will be missed.  We had alot of fun while they were here.  I especially enjoyed hearing Kreed call James Grandpa.

Today was Darrel's last day at his work.  He had to do a presentation and then they had a luncheon for him to say goodbye.  Trina and the kids went and Trina took her famous chicken, black bean enchiladas which were a big hit.  

This afternoon Darrel, Trina and I and their kids went to the Butterfly Museum in Greer.  Addy had studied butterflies in school and so she was excited to see some butterflies.  It turned out to be kind of a dive and more of an historical museum than a butterfly museum.  There was a small display of dead butterflies in one of the rooms.  We had fun anyway because it had been raining and the weather was gorgeous!

Being Silly.

Love these kids.

Back at the cabin Grandpa caught a baby bluebird and brought it inside.  

There seems to be alot of bluebirds around our place.  Alex caught one when he was here too.

This evening  I watched the Wizard of Oz with the kids because Rowan asked me to.  We had to get out my little miniature dolls I collected from McDonald's.  Rowan said he had been looking for the Munchkin in the movie that looked like the Munchkin doll but he hadn't been able to find it.  He was so excited when we saw the one we thought was her.  He snuggled against me and even put his head in my lap.