Tuesday, March 5, 2013

"God changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand into pearls, and coal into diamonds using time and pressure.  He's working on you too."

This past Sunday in fast and testimony meeting Brother Applegate talked about the importance of patriarchal blessings.  He says he carries his with him in his scriptures.  I got mine out and typed it today and put it in my scriptures.  I am going to read it every fast Sunday.

Today I read some awesome scriptures in the Book of Mormon.  First I read Alma 5 and then Helaman 3.  I love Helaman 3:35 where it says: "Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."  I am going to share this with my girls as a followup to our lesson on repentance.  As we repent and exercise faith in Christ and yield our hearts unto God we are sanctified and made clean before him.

Here is a picture of today's sunrise.

I am grateful for the sunrise each day.

One of my friends from Chandler, Michelle Thompson posted this picture of the Gilbert Temple.

We are so looking forward to the completion of this temple.

While cleaning today I listened to I-Heart radio.  The first song they played is one of my favorites, "Arms" by Christina Perri!  I was fun to clean and dance in the kitchen.

Today Trina posted a picture of matches on Instagram.  She said she came home from work the other day and found a match in Ruby's hair.  Ruby said they only burned a little hole in the trampoline, and she blew out the one they lit in the grass and the one on the sidewalk went out by itself.  I guess the kids played with matches while Darrel was watching them.  Well really, I guess instead of watching them, he was watching TV.

James took Joshua on a date to his Mom's house in Tempe and to Taco Bell.  Joshua had fun playing in Dawn's incredible room.

Monday, March 4, 2013

I read this today:  "If an individual has had 5 or more consecutive flu shots his/her chances of getting alzheimer's is 10x higher than if they had 1, 2 or not shots."  The reason is that there is mercury and aluminum in every flu shot. - Dr. Hugh Fudenberg, world's leading immuno-geneticist.

I said goodbye to James early this morning.  I studied, put books on my bookshelves and admired my piano.  I think the piano and bookshelves make the living room and family room look more homey.  I also waxed the floor, paid some bills and worked on my blog. 

I got a call from James this afternoon.  The insurance says it will cost more to fix his truck than it is worth which means they are totaling it and giving him $16,000.  Now he's got to find a new truck. 

This evening I watched a Hallmark movie, "Loving Leah", and "Castle."  I actually watched the two episodes of Castle where is daughter Alexus gets kidnapped.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

I was up at 3:45 am to finish preparing my lesson on repentance.  During the time before church I also fixed my skirt where the hem was coming out and put on a pot of beans.
James bore his testimony during fast and testimony meeting and thanked the members of our ward for helping us this past week.
During Sunday School we had a lesson on the restoration of the priesthood.  I feel like my lesson on repentance went quite well. We did most of the reading requirements for Virture value experience 4.Here is a picture of the handout I gave the girls:

 Before class started LeeAnn Hunsaker said I had some chalk or something on my blouse  I made an attempt to brush it off and thought nothing more of it.  When I got home and looked in the mirror I realized I had a big blob of toothpast right on the front of my stomach.  I guess that's why I had James install a full length mirror in our bathroom so I could check myself before I leave, not after.
It was overcast and cool today.  We spent a relaxing afternoon resting and watching a Hallmark movie before breaking out fast.  Around sundown we drove into Vernon to get our mail.

I took this picture of the sunset.

On the way home we saw a herd of about 40 elk on the side of the road near our house.  Going into town is always an adventure.  You never know what your are going to see.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Before leaving for home this morning I took a few minutes to clean my empty office downstairs in our Chandler house.
James drove the U-Haul and towed my car. I drove his rental truck.  Of course he went the Salt River way and I went through Payson.  I made it to Show Low first but stopped at Safeway to do some shopping which means James had to turn on the water and heaters.
We had helpers here from our ward thanks to our neighbor Chuck Crane.  Blaine Curtis, Rick Lauritzen, Robert ___________, and Chuck and James unloaded the truck and put everything in place except for my desk which is sitting in the entryway.
After the truck was unloaded we returned it to Harold's place in Linden.  On the way home we stopped at Pappa John's for pizza.  I love their BBQ chicken and James loves the veggie pizza.
Back at home we did a little relazing.  We watched Elementary and Body of Proof.
It was a gorgeous day in Vernon with the high around 61.
Jared put this picture of Anna on Facebook.  I guess they went for a daddy-daughter breakfast date this morning and Anna got red velvet pancakes.

Such a sweetie!

Friday, March 1, 2013

I started out March with a shamrock shake from McDonald's.  You can only get them during March and I wanted to make sure I got mine early.
Max stayed home from school today with a slight fever.  I checked on him a couple of times and then took him to lunch at the place of his choice: Subway.

Does this boy look sick to you?

This afternoon I picked up Darrel and while I was out his house I got to see this two:

Ruby and Creed are cousins and best friends.

Darrel and I drove to Apache Junction to pick up the U-Haul truck Harold arranged for us to use this weekend to move furniture to the cabin.  We had a difficult time finding the place until we called 1-800 UHaul.  We got a 17 foot truck and a car hauler.

Thanks Harold for the U-Haul truck.

Paul, Darrel, and James did most all of the moving of furniture.  It was most impressive that the three of them moved the piano by themselves.  To show my gratitude for their help I bought dinner for Paul, Darrel, and James at Elmer's.

This evening The Oxford Clerics (Dallin and Kevin) played at a little coffee house in Chandler called SoZo.

Two very talented guys.

In other news ASU has come out with a new Sparky that no one seems to like, including me.

I think he looks evil.

He he is with Jeffrey Maxwell.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Because I am going to the valley with James I had to get up bright and early to get ready, 4am.  At least I didn't have to do the winterizing.  We stopped at the Subway in Globe for breakfast sandwiches.
I dropped James off at Enterprise in Tempe to get his rental truck.  It is a brand new Ford Ranger and would cost $50,000 if he was going to buy it.  On my way back to Chandler I got my car washed at the Sam's Club on 54th st.  I stopped in at Deseret Book and picked up 3 values bracelets for Trenda, Mary, and Kilee who have birthdays in March.  I also did some shopping at JC Penney's.  I bought two pair of jeans and two tops.  I met Sheri and James at Pei Wei for lunch.  I love their spicy chicken salad!
I worked in the yard for an hour or so and then went to my dentist appointment with Dr. Hillary Douglas.  She put on my crown. 
After my dentist appointment I came home and went through some old files and listened to Kevin and Dallin practice for their performance tomorrow night. 
When James got home from work we picked up Joe and took him to Red Lobster for his birthday.

He got the dish with mussels, scallops and lobster.

I can't believe he is 16!

James and I slept downstairs on one of the air mattresses I bought for the cabin.  It wasn't too bad once we put some more air in it.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

I got up early and made two large batches of brownies for our New Beginnings this evening.  James is here today for a doctor's appointment with his cardiologist, Dr. Memon, and he is going to make his famous punch. 
We left for town around 10 as James's appointment is at 10:30.  Denise came over from the hospital and we made a trade.  She gave me back season 1 and 2 of Downton Abbey and I gave her season 3.  She says she loves it and can hardly wait to watch it although Dennis is a little jealous of her time watching it.
We did some other errands and had lunch at LaCasita.  I had the green chili chicken enchilada as recommended by Kaeli Nicoll and it was delicious!  I think James had it too.
We got stuck in the mud on our own road going home.  There was so much mud in the wheel well that the tire could not go around.

There was only a few hours before I had to be at the church for New Beginnings.  I hiked up to the house (cabin), got a crowbar and began digging the mud out.  Man that stuff is sticky.  Soon James was helping me and we finally got it out.  I am not sure I could have done it without James. 
We went down early to setup and make punch.  Shelly and Brother Applegate came shortly after we got there.  Here is a picture of the refreshment/handout table.

Sock cupcakes.

I guess my picture of the "value" brownies didn't turn out.  I had mini M&M's on each brownie which made the very colorful.  Also we had ice cream and homemade hot fudge sauce.  Yes, Janis Willis finally gave me her recipe!

Shelly was in charge of New Beginning and did an outstanding job.  The program she chose was Personal Progress Airlines.  We moved from room to room and visited four holy places: the home, the temple, the church, and ourselves.  It was a great evening!  And all the girls did a great job with their parts on the program.

James's punch was a big hit but we had lots left over.  He sent the leftovers home with the Applegate's.  Brother Applegate said it was the best punch on the face of the planet.