Thursday, May 9, 2013

Here is a picture of Sheri at work.  She works at Chandler Eye Care.  The little girl is Alexus Coffey, a little girl in her ward.  I remember Alexus when she was in nursery.  She was quite the character.

 Sheri the Optical Engineer.

I couldn't resist this picture that Jared posted on Facebook of Molly holding a bunny.

 I don't think the bunny is nearly as happy as Molly is.

This next picture is of Kaeli Nicoll, the other counselor in the Young Women's. 

22 weeks.

I made a trip to the valley this morning.  I stopped in Show Low for gas and a drink at Circle K.  I went this Payson way this time because I really do prefer it, although I don't mind the Globe way as much as I used to.

I got to Dr. Douglas's office in Chandler a few minutes before 1pm for my 1pm appointment to get my teeth cleaned.  Jackie, the hygenist, asked all about Stacy and wanted to see pictures of our cabin.  Wouldn't you know it that I couldn't find pictures of either one on my phone.  

After my appointment I went home and unpacked.  James arrived shortly and because we were both hungry we went to Olive Garden to get something to eat.  I had their chicken scampi which is delicious!

Afterwards we went to Target and then Barnes & Noble to look for the game of Five Crowns for Dennis and Denise.  Denise said she couldn't find it in Show Low.  Target didn't have it but they had some flowers.  We got a bouquet for Lois and then bought Five Crowns at Barnes & Noble.  I also bought myself a purple leather journal and a nice pen.  Just what I need, another journal.

Back at home James and I played a game of Five Crowns using our old worn out cards.  I wasn't about to open the new ones I got for Dennis and Denise.

Laura called this evening and invited me to her house for quilting club.  Karen Schneider and Adrienne Ellsworth, two of my good friends were going to be there.  I had to decline because I was already in my comfy clothes watching T.V.  I was sorry to see Angie leave American Idol this evening.  James and I watched Body of Proof and Castle on our computer downstairs via Hulu Plus.

James is so happy to have me here with him. 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Another beautiful sunrise.

 I love it when there are clouds.

I had to post this picture of Dennis's granddaughter, Kyle's oldest, Bridell.  She was student of the month at her school in Colorado.

 Bridell looks alot like her aunt Jenifer.

The next two pictures are just a couple of things I found on Facebook that I thought were cute and funny.

President Monson's message to youth in this month's New Era included the following advice:

1.  Search the scriptures with diligence.

2.  Plan your life with purpose

3.  Teach the truth with testimony

4.  Serve the Lord with love.

I made a trip to K-Mart and then Walmart today.  Tonight the YW are decorating t-shirts for camp and I needed to find a t-shirt.  I found what I needed at K-Mart and then went to Walmart to do some grocery shopping.  I got a brownie mix to make for tonight.  The girls were so grateful.  Those who attended Mutual: Shelly, Alex Jones, Caitlin Cordova, and Arizona Hill.  Shelly made sure these girls were invited!!  Kilee and LeeAnn Hunsaker, Jordyn Applegate, Trenda Wilhelm, and Mary Swift.  After putting "Girl on Fire" on their shirts with stencils and bleach spray, we had a camp meal planning meeting with these leaders: 

Audrey Guerrero, our food specialist and her assistants, Diana Curtis, and Teresa Smith, our camp director Julie Wilhelm and her assistant Randa Covert, and of course Kaeli Nicoll and myself.  It was a long evening beginning at 6 and ending around 8:30 but we got alot accomplished.

Jodi Aria was found guilty of first degree murder today by a jury here in Phoenix.  She killed her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander.  Both families are LDS.  This trial has received lots of national attention.

 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

This morning's sunrise.

Jani Huso Johnson posted an article about all of the LDS canneries west of the Mississippi closing because of tighter government restrictions.  I re-posted onto my Facebook timeline and got a call from my neighbor, Kathy Crane.  Jared had already commented on my post and said he had read an article in the Deseret News that the article was wrong.  Some changes are being made at the canneries, but they are not closing, so I was prepared for Kathy's call.  Kathy and her husband Chuck are the managers at the Snowflake cannery.  She said that something like this may cause people to panic and there would be a big "run" at the cannery.  Although she was very nice I could tell she was a little upset that I had posted the article so when she asked me to come over and take a picture of her lilac bush to post on Facebook I agreed.  Here is the picture I posted.  Sorry Kathy.  I hope we are still friends.

The smell was divine!

In the way of gospel study today I read 1 Nephi 7-10 (YW), Mosiah 20 (Individual study), Alma 2-4 (James), D&C 8 (Sunday School Course of Study) and President Monson's welcome address for conference and President Packer's address "These Things I Know."

I finally planted the dahlia bulbs I ordered from Holland.  I should have opened them right away.  I hope I didn't wait too late.  They are weird looking bulbs and I hope I planted them right.  Time will tell. Where is Carmen when you need her?  It was nice to be outside working.

I did 30 minutes on my mini trampoline today in 3 minute increments.  I watched Dancing with the Stars, the results and paid bills this evening.  I actually didn't go to bed until midnight.  I am developing some poor habits while I am here by myself.  That's all for today folks.

Monday, May 6, 2013

I got to have scriptures and prayer with James this morning before he left for the valley.  We are on the 2nd round of reading the Book of Mormon  for 2013. 
After James left I spent a couple of hours looking for an activity for the Young Women to do with the Relief Society sisters on May 22nd.  I jotted down some ideas I found online and then I gave Diana Curtis a call.  She had been looking too.  She found an activity of using bandanas for making bags and we decided that's what we wanted to do.  I am so glad to have that decision made.
Nothing like having left overs for lunch: enchiladas, refried beans, and banana cream pie. 
Around 2:30 I met Teresa Smith, Audrey Guerrero, and Diana Curtis, at Judy Hunter's house.  We all went in Audrey's car up to the girl's camp site.  The property was donated to the Church by one of Judy's relatives so she was our guide.  The camp is on the Vernon-McNary road and is in a beautiful spot.  We didn't go inside the gate because it looked like guys were working there.  We will have a ramada with tables, bathrooms, showers, and electricity!!  Judy also took us to a spot her family still owns where they have their family reunions. 

Diana, Audrey, and Judy pointing something out.

Diana and Audrey watching Judy move a log.

Teresa heading back to the car.

This part of the property still belongs to the Neagle family.

They use it for family reunions.

Zaki's wife is causing James so much stress and she is delaying paying us what they owe on their house in the process.  He is trying to meet her every demand but it is apparent that she does not trust James and it is causing him to want to resign from the job.  Hopefully James and Zaki can work something out.

In national news today three women who have been missing for ten years were found today in Ohio.  They were held prisoner in a small house by a very evil man.  It is amazing that they are still alive.

Tonight I watched Dancing With the Stars and Castle, by myself. I can't decide who is my favorite out of: Kelly Pickler, Aly Raisman, Zendaya, or Jacoby Jones.

 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Sheri posted these pictures on Facebook this morning:

I love this picture!

Typical boys.

A member of our ward, Marcy Westbrook, bore her testimony today because she and her family are moving to New Mexico.  In her testimony she mentioned being Wade Butler's daughter.  Wade & Jackie Butler went to high school with my parents and they lived across the street from us when we lived in Show Low.  Jackie was my Beehive advisor and I was friends with their daughter Leann.  I talked to Marcy afterwards and told her of the connection I have with her family.  It's fun living in a place where I know so many people.

In Sunday School we talked about spiritual gifts, the greatest of which is charity.

Kaeli Nicoll gave the lesson in Young Women's on patriarchal blessings.  

After church I took a short nap and began preparing for tonight's dinner with Dennis & Denise, and Harold & Vickie.  Today is Dennis's 59th birthday.  

We had Lois's enchilada's which Denise said were to die for, Dennis's spanish rice, Mary Johnson's refired beans, and a nice salad.  For dessert we had pie, lemon meringue, Dennis's favorite, chocolate cream, Harold's favorite, and banana cream, my favorite.  

We also taught them how to play Five Crown's.  It was alot of fun.  We had to stop after the Jack round because Denise has to get up at 4:30 and go to work.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

D&C 6:7

Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. 

Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.

D&C 6:20

...Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, 

and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.

I wanted James to watch "The Magic of Ordinary Days" with me this morning and he did.  He loved it almost as much as I did.  I am saving it for when Kim and Sheri come up so they can watch it too.  

We had to make a trip to town this morning to make a deposit for Francesco.  He is working in California and is out of money.  James owes him some money so we stopped at Bank of America and made a deposit in his account.  Of course if we are in town we have to go to lunch.  The waitress at La Casita knows us now.  After lunch James went to C-A-L to get more primers for reloading.  This time they were out.  While he was in there I walked across the street to CVS to get some chocolate.  While there I also found a bag of cinnamon fire stix which they don't have at Walmart.  

James reloaded 50 bullets and says he saved $40.  Considering how much the reloader cost he really hasn't saved anything yet.  The reloading table he built:

Last week James planted two aspen trees and three apple trees.  Elk came in and ate the aspen trees but the apple trees are still ok.  I guess that's why people build electric fences (the Cranes) around their place.

James is really complaining about his back hurting.  I feel so bad for him.  Hopefully he can get something done that will give him some relief.  He also came in frustrated because he wanted to do some work around the place and he can't get the tractor started.

I want James to build some benches like this to go around our fire pit.

 

We started our fast this afternoon.  We are fasting for Dallin.

Friday, May 3, 2012

Sheri took Max and Evan to the zoo this morning.  They were so excited.

Here they are at the sting ray pool.

Jared posted this picture of Molly this morning on Facebook.  I guess she is giving her morning concert.

I wonder what she's singing?

Alex Tolman had surgery today.  He now has 3 metal plates and 15 screws in his leg.

He had a bad motorcycle accident.

He's still smiling though.

Our Vernon ward priest quorum spent the weekend fishing and having fun at Lake Powell.  Here is a picture of Rusty Allen with a fish he caught.

Rusty is such a nice boy!

James had to send some more invoices to satisfy Ariann Shakir before he left for New Mexico this morning.  That woman is really stressing him out.  How can Zaki be so nice and his wife be so unreasonable and unkind?

James left around 9am to visit with Cindy in Demming about his Dad's estate.  Afterwards he is going on to meet Jared and James at the Priesthood Commemoration Outing at Lake Robert's in New Mexico just outside of Silver City about 30 miles.  James spent the evening fishing and having dinner with James Hayden and Jared and then he decided to come home so he could sleep in his comfy bed.  It was after 1 am when he got home.  I was happy to see him, even if he did wake me up.
What was my day like?  I did errands in town.  I got gas and my carwashed, stopped at Book Barn to get a book my N.C. Allen that James wanted called "The Grecian Princess."  Went shopping at Walmart for the stuff for Dennis's birthday dinner on Sunday, picked up prescriptions at Walgreen's, and mailed Natalie Soderquist's package of seed potatoes.  I also watched two really good Hallmark movies: "Little John", and "The Magic of Ordinary Days."