Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Stacy had a job today in north Mesa.  Hip Hip Hooray!  Dropped the boys off at school and then Paul used the car to take Joshua to school.  Worked on stripping wallpaper. I finished the entryway and started the hallway.  The hallway paper is coming of much easier than that in the entry.

 This afternoon James and I had appointments to get our eyes checked at Chandler Eyecare, thanks to Sheri.  Afterwards we went to Olive Garden for lunch.  I had pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.  It was yummy!

This evening we went to the Galveston Third ward Trunk-or-Treat with Sheri and Stacy.  It was fun to see some of our Del Rio 2nd ward friends.  We visited with the Coffey's, the Wanlass's, Dave & Laura, and Terry & Cathi, the Dowdle's, and the Lueck's.  After trunk or treat we went to Darrel & Trina's.

Joshua as ninja turtle Raphael.

Sher's front door.

Jared's family all ready for Halloween.

Evan doing Halloween crafts at school.

Raphael strikes again.

Ruby, Rowan and Taylor Swift or is that Addy?

The cutest little devil ever.

Darth Vader with vampire teeth.

Taylor and her guitar.

Grandpa reading to Ruby.

Darrel & Trina

It was a fun and happy Halloween!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Started removing wallpaper this morning but stopped to take the boys to school and then Sheri to work at the mall.  I kept the car because I was going to do a couple of errands but then I ended up staying home instead and working on wallpaper.

The entryway came off in small pieces.

  James went to Quizno's after pouring concrete at the place where Christina's reception is being held on Saturday.  He got me my favorite turkey flatbread sandwich.  I went to the mall at 1pm to pick Sheri up and had to wait in the parking lot about 15 or 20 minutes.  She took me home and then she went on to work at Chandler Eyecare.  I am afraid that working two jobs is going to wear her out. 

This evening we went down to Sheri's.  James and I played Five Crowns with Max and Evan until Kim came over to make cake pops and then Evan was all about Kim.  We watched an episode of The Mentalist and then left.  The reports of the damage done by Hurricane Sandy are pretty damaging.  Many people are without power.  The shelves of the grocery stores are empty and FEMA doesn't seem to be helping much.

Monday, October 29, 2012

James left for the valley around 6:15 this morning.  He called me and told me to look out the front window.  This is what I saw: 

Full moon in the morning.

Since I am taking my car down for Sheri to drive while hers is being fixed I didn't have to hurry and get ready to leave by 6:15.  I left around 8:40.  I met Sheri at Chandler Auto Body at noon.  She dropped her car off  and then we drove to Elmer's for lunch.  James and I love their machaca tacos and machaca burros.  Thanks Sheri for lunch!

I spent the afternoon stripping wallpaper in the entry of our home in Chandler.  James worked at the home where Christina's reception is being held on Saturday getting ready for a concrete pour tomorrow.  

This evening we picked up a key at the Boles' so he could start work on their house tomorrow.  They have water damage from their dishwasher overflowing. We had dinner at Arby's and then went down to Sheri and Ian's to watch Castle.

Today Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast doing damage from Boston to North Carolina.  Some cities in New Jersey are totally covered in water.  Much of New York and other areas are without electricity.  They are calling this the worst disaster to ever hit the United States.  We are praying for the safety and well-being of those affected.

Whenever we come and stay with Stacy and Paul we take over Dallin's bedroom.  Thanks Dallin for making the sacrifice for your dear old grandma and grandpa.  We appreciate it.

 

 

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Today was our Primary children's Sacrament meeting program.  James and I, and many others in the ward, were so impressed with how well the children sang.  We only have about 30 children in our Primary but they sang loudly, reverently, and clearly.  We attribute much of their success to the Primary chorister, who just so happens to be our neighbor and friend, Kathy Crane.  Thanks Kathy for doing such a wonderful job!

James has been suffering with a sinus infection for several weeks now.  He went to the doctor who gave him something that helped for awhile but today, partly because of the smoke from the prescribed burn, it was really bothering him.  He went home during Sunday School and took some medicine so he could make it through priesthood where he is giving the lesson.

We had a nice turn out in Young Women's today including Trenda's cousin from Round Valley, Heaven, and also Arizona Hill.  Arizona came to the Halloween party and helped with the activities.  It was great to have her here today.  She seems like such a nice girl.  She is one of my Mia Maids and I hope to get to know her better.  Our lesson today was on "Worthy Thoughts."

After the block James visited with Lorraine Vaught as her home teacher and gave her a loaf of pumpkin bread.  I caught Lynda Tanner in the hall, someone else he home teaches, and had a nice chat with her and gave her a loaf of pumpkin bread.  Lynda told me her husband is a non-member and is a little antagonistic towards the Church.  She said she would prefer a visit at the Church rather than at her home.
I was supposed to visit with Rosie Lauritzen but she was home sick today.  I sent a loaf of pumpkine bread home with her husband Rick.

This evening James and I took a loaf of pumpkin bread to Lannie Gillespie.  I visit teach Lannie but was not able to get an appointment with her this month.  Thanks James for delivering my bread and a short message about honoring our covenants.  I guess you could say James helped me with my visiting teaching and I helped him with his home teaching.

There was a full moon tonight.

 I love this view.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

"Sanctification is a reward for Personal Righteousness."

Today I paid bills, make chili and cornbread and some more pumpkin bread.  This evening was our ward Halloween party and chili, cornbread cookoff.  Since the Young Women are in charge James and I went early, around 5pm to setup, and stayed afterwards to cleanup.
There were lots of different kinds of chili and cornbread.  Teresa Smith won for her chili and her cornbread.

Teresa was kind enough to share her recipes with us.

It was a fun evening and the bishop said it was one of the best ward activities he has ever attended.  The girls divided up the ward list and called everyone so there was a really good turnout.

Mary Swift, our Laurel class president.

Adalyn Soderquist dressed as a watermelon fairy.

Jonah Soderquist, was a Ninja Warrior.

Kaeli Nicoll, alias CatWoman.
Kaeli is the other counselor in the Young Women's.

Shelly Applegate as a lovely Princess

and Jordyn Applegate as Stranger Danger.

Jace Applegate as an ancient Swordsmen.

Colter Hunsaker as the cutest puppy ever.

Trenda Wilhelm ready for the stake dance

later in the evening.

LeeAnn Hunsaker and some cute kiddos.

 Hailey Lootans as a Bumble Bee 

and Kilee Hunsaker as a volleyball player.

Tamara Applegate as Cleopatra.

The cupcake walk was a very popular activity.

LeeAnn Hunsaker helping to cleanup afterwards.

James was also on the cleanup crew.

It was a fun evening and in spite of the smoke from the fire we had a great turn out!  Afterwards Trenda took Shelly Applegate to her first stake dance.  Shelly had a great time!

Friday, October 26, 2012

James and I made a trip to town today and we ate at LaCasita.  James keeps trying new dishes but I always order the same thing: a green chili burro enchilada style with green sauce.  Why tempt fate?  I know I love this dish so why should I try anything else?  James admitted today that the green chili burro was really the best item on the menu!  While we are traveling back and forth to town I read to James.  It keeps him awake and happy.
The prescribed burn is getting worse.  Natalie Soderquist said she couldn't send her kids to school because they already have breathing problems with their asthma.  An elderly couple from the ward thought it was so bad they went in to town and got a motel room.  We toughed it out but it wasn't pleasant.

That line below the horizon is smoke.

A dull haze has settled in.

I made pumpkin bread again today because I had a visiting teaching appointment with Rosie Lauritzen.  I called ahead and she had forgotten about the appointment and wasn't home.  When she got home she said she was exhausted.  She is a fourth grade teacher and she had done a mystery theater with her kids this week which required alot of extra time and effort.  We made an appointment to meet on Sunday after the block.

Darrel took Rowan out camping on the desert.  From the looks of Rowan's face he had a great time.

I love this boy!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

I made pumpkin bread this morning, and took a loaf to Linda Diewald when I went visiting teaching.
I also made some cream cheese frosting to go with it.  Yummy!  Linda is from Tempe and Bishop McCook was her bishop from 1966 to 1969.  We were in that ward after we got married in 1968 so we were obviously in the same ward.  It's a small world!

The forest service started a prescribed burn today.  I didn't notice it until this evening.  I asked James if he was burning anything and he said no, it was the forest service.  It came right into our house and made it difficult to go to sleep.

President Heyman finally posted about Diane's stroke on their blog.  It was very touching.  I would like to share some of what he said:
"Diane is amazing...and blessed.  Her memory, speech, emotions and appearance were not affected.  She is working through coordination, sensation and strength issues on her right side and some dizziness and periodic double vision.  The doctors and therapists say with rehabilitation and time she should make a full recovery.  The body is an incredible and intricate thing.  I am observing that the mind and spirit are even more impressive.
Diane has not uttered a single negative word or complaint throughout this whole experience.  Her attitude is, 'This is what it is, what do I need to do to get better?'  All of her caretakers and visitors have mentioned how positive and inspirational she is.  I always new she was both, I could never have guessed the depth of those qualities, especially in the face of adversity.
Diane is God's unique blend of beauty and toughness, spirituality and strength, determination and humility, and pragmatism with faith.  You can not think of Diane without recognizing her gift for obedience, a trait that almost seems to be on the brink of extinction these days.
Among the many lessons being learned is that while God may not prevent challenges and trials, He never requires us to endure them alone.  Diane can speak of the angels unseen, but we both have been humbled by the earthly angels who have come to our aide with loving and selfless service.  I could spend hours listing their names...those who pray, fast, write, visit, encourage, watch over our loved ones at home and take cre of Diane.
Our plan is for Diane to rehab in Buenos Aires to the point where she can return to Resistencia and continue to fulfill our assignment.  If you think for a moment of all that entails, you can begin to catch a glimpse of the greatness that is Diane Heyman.
I have always known that my greatest accomplishment in life would be marrying Diane Curtis in the Mesa Arizona Temple.  This past month I have come to a deeper understanding of why."  Ray Heyman.

I was privileged to be a counselor to Diane when she served as the Young Women's President in a previous ward that we were in together.  She is a rare combination of talent, determination, faithfulness and obedience.  It was a privilege for me to learn from her.