Thursday, May 16, 2013

I only chased cows twice today.  I think they might be getting the message. 
I had a visit today from my visiting teacher Alicia Hunsaker and her four year old son Colter.  I always get the toys out for Colter.  He loves the cars and trucks the most but today he was excited to find Mickey Mouse.

Alicia and Colter.

One of the things I did today was clean off the patio table we brought from Chandler.  Now we have a nice place to sit while I read to James, when he is here.

James poured concrete at Bob and Betty Bogle's today.  He is pouring them a new courtyard.  The original courtyard was made out of large smooth rocks but was very difficult to walk on.  Jamie Bogle worked with James on the project.  He is back in Chandler.  He is a retired Colonel from the army.

James called.  He's coming home!  He brought me a bean burro and green burro from Burger House.

He was so tired, his knees and back hurt, all he wanted to do was relax and watch some T when he got here.  I had him watch my two Amish movies, "The Shunning", and "The Confession" and then we watched the season finale of Elementary where Moriarty is revealed.  A real twist to this ending.

It was also the season finale of American Idol although we didn't watch it.  Candace Glover won and Krees Harrison was the runner-up.

In other random news:  

The Soderquist's are very disappointed.  The girl who was giving up her baby to them for adoption has changed her mind.  Now she wants to keep the baby.

Lloyd Lambson is in New York where he is getting remarried.

That's all for today.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Today I read from D&C 13.  It is about the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood which occurred on May 15, 1829.  Good timing.
I also read 2 Nephi 5-9, 2 Nephi 16-18, and Alma 18-21.
I am on cow watch at all times.  I moved cattle three times today.  Some of them just don't get the hint.
I made a trip to town today to get the ingredients I need to make an apple cobbler for tonight's Young Men, Young Women activity.  My first stop was to get gas then I had lunch at Taco Bell.  While in the car I called Alicia Hunsaker and asked if she would have LeeAnn call Kelly Reynolds and tell her about tonight's activity.  Kelly is new and she wasn't here on Sunday to here the announcement.
Obama is dealing with two scandals right now.  The one in Bengahzi and the IRS targeting tea party members.  I wonder if his presidency will survive these scandals.
Well, things are heating up in tornado alley.  There was a tornado today in Granbury, Texas.  It must not have been a very big one because I didn't hear too much about it.  I am sure glad that Jared & Tricia moved out of that part of Texas.  According to James Hayden they were right in the middle of tornado alley.
Mutual activities at the park were suppose to start at 6pm.  But when I got there nothing much was happening and no one was there except Mary and Glenzo. The Young Men are in charge and the original plan was that they would cook hotdogs for us to eat while the dutch oven desserts were cooking.  The young men were suppose to bring two desserts and the young women two.  Brother Hunsaker has said the fires needed to be started by 5.  It was obvious that didn't happen.
Finally Brother Diewald, Brother Dewitt, and Brother Hunsaker showed up and started the fire.  Brother Dewitt was the only one from the young men's who brought a dessert.  The young women had two.  My apple cobbler and a peach cobbler made by Tina Allen.  There was no water so I shared what I had in the back of my car.  No paper goods so when Kaeli went to the church to go to the bathroom I asked her to bring back plates and forks.  In spite of how ill-prepared the Young Men were we had an enjoyable evening.  My favorite dessert was the peach cobbler.  Those who attended.  We had some of the 11 year old scouts and their leaders too: Collin Dewitt, Jim Diewald, Sean Hunsaker, Jimmy Applegate, Wes Smith, Brother Mayfield, Ann Miller, Tina Allen, Kaeli Nicoll and myself.  Young Women: Trenda Wilhelm, Jordyn and Shelly Applegate, Kilee and LeeAnn Hunsaker, Maddie Carroll, Hope and Heaven Lootans, Kelly Reynolds, and Mary Swift. I don't know the names of all the Young Men so I am not going to list them. Mary went home and got some hotdogs to cook because some people were starving.  Expectant mother Kaeli Nicoll had four. 
Kim had a fieldtrip today and posted this picture on Facebook.  I am re-posting it here.

Sunset at the park.

Darn light pole.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

"I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love."

2 Nephi 1:15

I went visiting teaching this morning to Linda Diewald.  Linda is about my age and lived in the valley before she and her husband retired and moved to the valley.  Her husband's mother just past away so they were gone a couple of weeks.  We had a nice visit.  I gave the message from Elder Richard G. Scott's talk entitled "Peace at Home."  Here are a few quotes from Elder Scott's talk:

"One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a 

Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught,

covenants are kept,

and love abounds."

"Invite the Holy Ghost's influence and act obediently on promptings."

"Have daily personal and family prayer, 

daily personal and family scripture study,

and weekly family home evening."

"Make decisions based on 

what the Lord would have you do."

"Be wise in how you embrace technology."

"Be a worthy example."

"Recognize the good in others."

"Be a true friend."

When I asked Linda if they had any plans for the summer she said they always take their travel trailer up to Delores, Colorado and camp on the river for some fishing and relaxation.  Sounds like a good idea.

She also wanted to know how she could get a copy of her patriarchal blessing.  I told her to look on lds.org.

I chased cows today several times.  It's my new hobby.   The sky was overcast today and the high was around 70.  It's 101 in the valley.  Sure glad I'm here.  I wish James could be here too.

I watched two Amish movies today, "The Shunning" and "The Confession."  I am saving them so James can watch them too.  I also watched the results show for "Dancing with the Stars."  Ingo went home.  The four finalists will be: Kellie Pickler, Zendaya Coleman, Aly Raisman, and Jacoby Jones.  Not sure who I wat to win.  Also the first episode of the tryouts for So You Think You Can Dance was on tonight.

James is preparing for his talk on the Book of Mormon by reading President Benson's 1988 Conference address, "Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon."

I talked to my friend Karen Schneider today.  She is going to London this weekend and is excited about eating at Harrod's like she and I did when we were there.  I remember the food was good but very pricey.  In other news she said our friend Charlotte Mattice had a stroke and was in the hospital.  The good news is that her girls seem to have stepped up and are taking care of her.  Karen and I are going to take Charlotte out to eat when she gets out of the hospital and Karen gets back from her world travels.

Tonight's sunset:

 Ominous sky.  I thought for sure it would rain.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Today's sunrise

Gorgeous!

Woke up to some wildlife in the yard.

Elk!

Where are the bulls?

I have a new hobby.  It's called chasing cows Ranger style.  I am protecting James's trees that he planted.  

James started his job at Dobson Ranch today.  He is excited for the work but a little concerned because most of his help is in California.  Today James knocked down a thousand feet of wall by himself.  

While working on the computer I watched the move "Doc Hollywood" starring Michael J. Fox.  I can see why Sheri had a crush on Michael when she was younger.

Those darn cows! They came back just after dark.  I don't like chasing cows in the dark.

I saw a bright light in the sky while I was outside.  At first I thought it was an airplane but it wasn't moving.  I went to get James's binoculars for a closer look.  While I was trying to get them focused it just disappeared.  

Later on Facebook there was a post from someone in the valley who claims to have seen the biggest and brightest meteor he has ever seen at the Badad Dw'ag vista point.  He said it traveled 10 seconds across the sky and then broke up right over a saguaro cactus. 

Meteor.

Back in Vernon, here is what the sunset looked like:

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day!

I am grateful to all the mother's who have influenced my life,

especially my own sweet mother whom I miss everyday.

I am grateful to my grandmother's and my wonderful mother-in-law.

I am grateful to have daughters who love being mothers and who

do it so well. 

I found this beautiful card on the table when I got up this morning.

Thanks Honey!

Before Church this morning I cut James's hair and colored mine.  On our way to church James asked me a strange question.  He said if he got up in church and declared his love for me would that embarass me.  I told him yes it would, and please don't do it.  Well, he did it anyway.  He had to take care of stake business in sacrament meeting and then he did a tribute to me.  It was sweet but I was very uncomfortable.  Afterwards several people mentioned to me how much they enjoyed it.  

Westin Hall was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting.  He started out by saying, "Do you know what the definition of awesome is?"  "It's Mothers!"  He also said mothers brought us in to the world and they can take us out!  I love that kid.  He is so funny.

Analee Hunsaker and Sean Hunsaker were the other speakers.  It was a good meeting.  Afterwards all the women received a letter from the bishopric.  Nice, but I was hoping for chocolate. (How rude of me!)

In Sunday School we talked about keeping the sabbath day holy.  In Young Women Tina Allen gave the lesson on the importance of living Prophets and revelation.  

James fixed a wonderful lunch for us.  Grilled filet mignon, corn on the cob, and a salad.  Afterwards we watched the movie "Meet My Mom" starring Laurie Laughlin and Stephanie Powers.  Appropriate for Mothers Day. 

Around 5pm we took dinner to Bishop Hall and his family: Roast with carrots and potatoes, salad, rolls,and chocolate chip cookies.  We only got lost once on the way there.

We drove up to the girls camp site and then we went home and James made chocolate covered strawberries for me.  

I got a call from Jared and his kids,and a book by one of my favorite LDS author's, Wendy Watson Nelson.  Darrel & Trina gave me two Chili's gift cards and I got a very sweet message from Stacy.  It was a nice mother's day.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

I decided to get something done this morning, so I went in to clean the small bathroom off of the room that Adam stayed in.  It was quite dirty and had to use a pumice stone to get the ring out of the toilet.  I guess no one uses it since Adam left.  Well now it's mine so I moved my stuff in.
Once I was finished I began getting ready for my breakfast date with Kim and Sheri.  We are going to Mimi's.  I love their carrot cake muffins.  Sheri is buying my breakfast as my Mother's Day gift.  Kim gave me the movie Safe Haven and some chocolate covered pretzels.
At Mimi's I had an omlet with avocado, cheese, spinach and tomato with a side of bacon and potatoes, and of course a carrot cake muffin which I shared with Kim and Sheri.  I always love being with my sweet daughters!
After breakfast I packed up to get ready to go home.  James was already there getting ready.  We are missing Rowan and Evan's soccer game, which I now regret, and Dallin running the 800 at the state track meet.  James has been here all week and he is so anxious to get back to Vernon I just couldn't ask him to stay any longer.  On my way out I stopped at Paradise Bakery and got a dozen chocolate chip cookies to take to the Hall's with their dinner tomorrow.
James stopped at Burger House and picked up some burros for dinner.  I stopped at Safeway in Show Low
to get the ingredients for a salad to fix tomorrow.  I also got some corn on the cob and steaks for James and I for our Mother's Day dinner  I met Dennis & Denise there and gave them their Five Crowns game.  They seemed excited to get it.
At home we unloaded and sat down to relax.  We watched Elementary and Person of Interest before going to bed.

Friday, May 10, 2013

"To be prepared for war is one of the most

effectual means of preserving peace."

-George Washingtom

This morning I studied 1Nephi 17-18, 2 Nephi 12, Alma 9-10, and D&C 11.  I was supposed to have a doctor's appointment at 11:15 but the office called and cancelled.  My appointment was with Tiffany, one of Dr. Caldron's assistants and she has a son home sick today.  I am re-scheduled for Friday, May 31st.

James and I had lunch together today at one of his favorite fast food places, Quizno's.  I had the chicken pesto sandwich.  It was pretty good.  Afterwards he went back to work and I went shopping for Mother's Day and graduation.  

I got a call from Wendy DeWitt, the compassionate service leader in our ward.  She wants me to take dinner to Bishop Hall's family on Sunday because the bishop is in the hospital.  While I was out shopping I picked up some rolls at Deseret Book.  I have a roast at home with veggies that I was going to fix for us but we can have something else and we will take the roast to the Hall's.

I went in to "Things Remembered" and bought birthstone necklaces for Mary Swift and MaKenzi Hunsaker for graduation.  I wanted to get something for Lois for Mother's Day but nothing seemed quite right.  I finally gave Dawn a call and she said she would like to have James Patterson's new book "The Twelveth of Never" so I went to Barnes & Noble and picked it up.  I am sure glad I called.  

This evening we picked up machaca burros and tacos at Elmers and headed for Tempe.  We spent the evening with Lois.  We ate dinner and played Five Crowns.  She loved her flowers and book.  It was a nice relaxing evening.  I told Lois she was the most talented person I know and one of the nicest.  I really do have a wonderful Mother-in-law.

Lois and James.

The flowers we got Lois.

In other news, Jeffrey Maxwell, Brian's oldest, graduated from ASU this week.

Colby, Brian, and Jeffrey, the graduate.