Sunday, July 29, 2012

I had no lesson to prepare today.  It's the 5th Sunday and so the bishopric is in charge of Young Men and Young Women's.  Eric and Anita Pope spoke today in sacrament meeting.  They spoke on service.  I hope my young women were listening.  We had a lesson on service last week and I have been emailing them service challenges to do everyday.  I know Trenda is giving lots of service with two of her little brothers in the hospital, she is in charge at home with the help of her grandpa, Mel Wilhelm.  She is such an awesome young woman.  I also know that the Applegate girls, Shelly and Jordyn give alot of service.  The girls in this ward are hard workers.  The Hunsaker girls, Kilee, Leann, and Mackenzi help their dad's pour concrete.  Although they are getting paid I am still impressed that they are willing to do such difficult work.

James went home teaching to Sean and Stephanie Hunsaker's today and he brought back two of the Hunsaker girls with him.  Kilee, who is Sean and Stephanie's daughter and Leann, Kip and Alicia's daughter.  They are both Beehives and are 26 days apart.  They have been asking me if they could come over and now seemed like the best time.  I gave them a tour of the cabin.  They both loved it.  We made smores using Nutella instead of candy and then we played Apples to Apples.  They had dinner with us, James grilled us some burgers, and then Leann, Kilee and I went to the fireside in Show Low.  Brother Crockett, the stake patriarch was the speaker.  Sean Hunsaker was the only other leader from our ward there and the only other kids there were Mary and Glenso Swift, Arizona Hill (I finally got to meet her!), and Aaron Windsor.
Glenso rode home with Leann, Kilee and I.  They had the windows down and the sky roof open.  If was a fun afternoon and evening.  My car was a muddy mess when I got home because of the rain this afternoon.
I love Kilee and Leann.  The Hunsaker's are such a great family!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

I wish I could do something to get rid of James's back pain.  He is in such pain it is difficult for him to enjoy anything.  In the morning we sat out on the porch off of our bedroom and read and took pictures of the humming birds and watched it rain.  It was one of my favorite ways to spend a morning here.

Two birds like our feeder.  One of them is a bully and chases the 

other one away.

This guy is the bully.

How many pictures of a hummingbird can we take?

They are more fascinating in real life.

Here is my picture of the rain.  Hopefully something

green will grow where all that dirt is.

 This afternoon we drove into town to get some lunch.  James wanted to stop at La Casita but it was raining so hard we drove on up to El Rancho in Pinetop.  It was still raining, but not nearly as hard.  We both had green chili burros.  I wish we could give them The Burger House's receipe so they could make them for us.

I watched Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh win their first set of beach volleyball in the Olympics.  I think these girls are unbeatable.  I would like to design them something a little more modest to wear.  

James and I watched a cute modern take on the Jane Austen move "Sense and Sensibility."  This one was called "Scents and Sensibility."  James thinks the producer must be LDS.  I am no so sure, but we both liked it.

Friday, July 27, 2012

I love this quote by President Henry B. Eyring:

"You will succeed through your faith."

We had both sunshine and rain today.  It was gorgeous!

I wanted to take a meal over to a sister that I visit teach who had surgery on her foot and her foot is not healing.  Her name is Lannie Gillespie.  When I called and told her I had some taco soup I would like to bring over for dinner she said that was nice but she had been quarantined.  She said her nephew had been diagnosed with spinal meningitis and she had been with him,  hence the quarantine.  I asked if it was one of John's kids and she said yes.  John Wilhelm is her brother and he is the elder's quorum president in our ward.  His four year old son has leukemia and now his baby has spinal meningitis.  It is so sad.  They are a wonderful family.  Trenda is their oldest and she is one of the Young Women in my Mia Maid class.  I love her!  We will definitely remember the Wilhelm family in our prayers.  

James did some home teaching today.  He visited Brother and Sister Peeler, one of the retired couples in our ward and then he went to the adult pinewood derby activity this evening where he met Sister Vaught and her non-member husband.  While he was there he was asked to judge the races.  He was supposed to get some pictures but he forgot.  Alicia Hunsaker had a car that looked like a woman's foot in a flip flop complete with nail polish.  She won one of the races by a close margin and James said "She won by a toe", which made everyone laugh.  Darn I wish I had a picture!

I watched the opening ceremony for the London Olympics this evening and I give it a mixed review.  Part of it was weird but much of it was fascinating.  My favorite part was when Queen Elizabeth and James Bond jumped out of a helicopter and parachuted down to the ceremony.  Also the lighting ceremony was awesome.  Let the games begin!

I went for a 50 minute walk this evening and burned 265 calories.
Since I didn't get any pictures from the pinewood derby I am going to post a picture of Ruby.

I sure do miss this girl, and her brother and sister too!

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