Friday, March 8, 2013

We woke up this morning to rain.  James had to cancel his concrete at Zaki's. 
I went shopping again this morning.  I need ink for our computer printer and Walmart was out.  I went to another Walmart and they were out too so I ended up getting it at Staples.  I also went to the bank and deposited a check from Zaki.  I stopped for lunch at In n Out Burger. 

I stripped wallpaper until 10pm and only got half of the room done.  I guess I will finish next week.
James finally got his gun reloader.  He doesn't have all the components he needs to reload though.  Cabellas says they run out as soon as they get them in.  I guess everyone has the same idea about reloading and buying ammo.  James says George Saros owns most of the ammo manufacturing plants and he will only sell to the government. 

Dallin and Kevin were rehearsing to play at the Ostrich Festival this evening when they got a call that their show was cancelled because of rain.  How sad.

Random post.  My friend Jani Huso from my days growing up in Show Low posted a picture of the old McNary General Store.  We use to do most of our shopping at this store which is no longer there.  It's sad going to McNary now because everything I remember is gone since the lumber mill closed down. 

My brother Harold was born in McNary.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

I got a wake up call from James at 6:30.  I guess I stayed up too late last night watching my movie.
I got up in time to see this sunrise:

I showered, packed, winterized and was ready to leave for the valley by 9am.  I stopped at the bank and the gas station in Show Low.  I also stopped at Horne Auto Dealers to take a picture of a truck for James. 

In Payson I had lunch at Taco Bell.  I enjoyed seeing the wildflowers on the desert just outside Fountain Hills:

The first thing I did when I got to Chandler was visit Dave.  He is helping me learn how to download videos onto my tablet.  I guess part of the problem is that I don't have a wifi at home and downloading using my data card takes way too much space and costs too much.  Thanks Dave for the continued computer training.

I am amazed at how many weeds have grown in the yard.  It's pretty overwhelming.  I think I may have to hire some help to do a major cleanup in our yard.

I made a trip to Walmart to get a few groceries and some Krud Kutter.  I did some wallpaper stripping and watered the front lawn at the same time.  

When James got home we went to see a movie with Kim and Brian.  They actually paid our way.  Kim said she has lots of free movie tickets.  Thanks guys.  We saw Safe Haven and we all really liked it.  Josh Dummael and Julieanne Hough were the stars.  

Stacy worked on an art project for Joshua today.  It was a green alligator kite.  Why didn't I get a picture?  It turned out really cute.

I saw this picture of a restaurant in Georgia on Facebook and thought it was cool.

I wonder what it looks like inside.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

"If strong and securely attached to the rock of our Redeemer, faith will help us to safely climb the gospel path, overcome every challenge of mortality and return to the majestic presence of our Heavenly Father.  All things are fulfilled by faith." Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy

My morning sunrise pictures.

I went on a walk today for the first time in a long time.  I walked 25 minutes, went one miles, and burned 107 calories.  Hey, it's a start!

I cleaned and listened to the Book of Mormon on my phone.  I also studied about faith this morning.  

Several months ago Kristy Thomas asked me to prepare her grandparents names so they can be sealed.  I told her she needed to get permission from her dad and his brothers before I could move forward.  She assured me they would be fine with it so by next week I should have them ready.  I also decided I needed to do some of my own family history.  I remember Karen Schneider saying to put one name on a post-it card and put it by your computer.  I chose my grandpa Strickland's mother, Mary Eliza Lewis.  I need to find her parents.  I am taking baby steps today in two areas of my life, exercising, and family history.

Natalie, Kaeli, Brother Smith and I had a young women's presidency meeting this evening before Mutual.  After opening exercises Natalie went home and asked me to take her girls.  We were suppose to have a song practice with the choir director Stephanie Hunsaker but she cancelled at the last minute.  The only other things we had planned was to visit Alex Jones and take her a sock cupcake.  All the Mia Maids and Laurels and I walked to Alex's house.  We knocked several times but it was evident that she wasn't home.  We walked back to the Church.  Now what do we do for the next 30 minutes.  The girls wanted to play a game so we played Truth or Dare off Trenda's phone.  I didn't like it and will not go unprepared for Mutual again!

I came home and watched a Hallmark movie, "Personally Yours" which was filmed in Alaska.  Beautiful scenery and a cute story.

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!