Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Today is Addy's 9th birthday.  I called and talked to her and she wants a big Lalaloopsy baby doll.  Here is what she got.

Addy and her Lalaloopsy's

Alicia and MaKenzi Hunsaker came by to visit teah me today.  Makenzi has decided not to go to the valley where she was going to go to school.  I think she is staying here to be with her boyfriend.  She's going to take some fire and EMT classes in Round Valley.

I got a text from Kaeil Nicoll this afternoon.  She worked a 9 1/2 hour shift today and wants to know if I could take the Beehives tonight.  I told her I would.  I text Diana and we decide that all the girls will meet together, with Shelly Applegate being in charge.

Shelly talked to the girls about Divine Nature value experience #3 and asked them to read D&C 118 when they get home.  Shelly played a Leroy Dunn tape on the game of life.  The girls listened and it was quite entertaining and spiritual at times but Diana and I were concerned because the girls didn't really do anything to accomplish the value experience.  Jordyn brought her sketch pad and was working on her picture of Satin, the white bat.  Maddie brought her little sister Arizona (Zonie) with her.  Her mom came home from the hospital yesterday with the new baby.  I found out Trenda is going to be the Cougar mascot this year and her first home game is this Friday.  I want to go!

I did a Book of Mormon tally and was surprised to find that Kelly and Hope are still in 1st Nephi.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Today we had a date with Dennis and Denise for my birthday.  We met them at Persnikkity's at 11 am where they bought us lunch.  The food was yummy!  james had a portobello mushroom sandwich on a whole wheat bun with a side of potato salad.  I had the strawberry walnut salad with honey poppy seed dressing.  After lunch we drove to the theatre in Lakeside to see the movie "The Butler."  It's a movie about racism in the south and a black man who was a butler at the White House for six presidents: Eisenhower, Nixon, Kennedy, Johnson, Ford and Reagan.  It was based on a true story.  A little rough in spots but we enjoyed it and we especially enjoyed Dennis and Denise's company.

It was raining in Show Low when I went in to Desert Title to get the registration on my car renewed.  It was 61 when we left Show Low but 72 in Vernon where it hadn't rained.

This afternoon James worked on putting the mud flaps on the Razr and I worked on cleaning the mud out of the driveway.  The drain is so clogged with mud that it doesn't work.  I took some of the grates oof to clean it out but James is going to have to do the rest.

 Tonight's sunset.

For dinner James made a fresh veggie medley again.  We watched The Walton's which was about Erin and Ashley Longworth, Jr.

After dark it started to rain and I could hear thunder.  I got up to look at Mars, or the double moon, but all I saw was a half moon.

Monday, August 26, 2013

The Book of Mormon isn't simply something to be read and studied, it is to be lived.  I love the Bible, the D&C, and the Pearl of Great Price, but the Book of Mormon is different.  More than any other book it is Christ-centered and gospel centered.  It leads us to the Lord and motivates us to do good.  Within the reach of those who become serious students of it's pages and precepts is an interpretive key that open hidden treasures of knowledge.  The Book of Mormon speaks directly to us because it was written for us.  I love the Book of Mormon!!!

There are cloud bursts all around us but not much rain here, a few sprinkles.  I decided it was a good time to wash my car while James attempted to put the mud flaps on the Razr.  He got one on today.  I helped.

I went out on our property today and picked some sunflowers.

 

Kathy Crane gave us some veggies from her garden today.  We got cauliflower, broccoli, flower squash, zucchini, cabbage and green beans.  We made a vegetable medley for dinner and it was delicious!  In other news from our neighbors the Crane's:  While they were sitting on their patio they saw a small bobcat on the rocks just behind their yard. 

Tonight's Sunset

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Today we said goodbye to our friends Wes and Teresa Smith.  They are leaving to serve a mission in Kansas.  Not only did Wes shave his beard and mustache but he has a real suit with a real tie and real shoes instead of cowboy boots.

Today was also Taylor Wanlass's farewell in Chandler.  He is leaving for the MTC in Mexico City and will be serving in the Texas San Antonio mission.  Here is a picture of Taylor with his dad and his brothers.

Wendy Dewitt taught our Sunday School class today in Brother Mel Wilhelm's absence.  The lesson was on eternal marriage and Wendy did an excellent job.  In Young Women Sandra Wilhelm gave a lesson on dating standards.

I finally gave Kaeli Nicoll her baby gift.  Little Natalie Jo is due in September.  We have several new babies in our ward right now.  There's Hyrum Miller, Matthew Pope, and Alexandria Carroll.  Alexandria is Maddie's little sister.  She had pneumonia but is doing much better.

The weather was gorgeous today.  It was 65 degrees with some rain.

I love these views!

I helped James do his home teaching today.  First we visited with Lorraine Vaught after church.  After church we went to visit the Sean Hunsaker's family.  The lesson was on gratitude and on keeping a journal of blessings.  The Hunsaker's shared some of their chocolate no-bake cookies with us.  After our visit with the Hunsaker's we went for a ride to see the fields of sunflowers.

Even James had to admit they were beautiful!

We came home and I wrote on my blog.  We sat down to watch The Walton's and as we were watching a bat flew by.  Oh great!  We aren't rid of them yet.

James is off pain killers and has very little pain in his leg right now.  We are grateful.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Woke up to rain and 58 degrees this morning.  At noon it was 60 degrees and there was lots of thunder.

As part of our morning reading we read President Uchtdorf's talk on Light from the last General Conference.  I love that talk! 

It rained all day today.  We spent the entire day at home relaxing and enjoying the weather and scenery.  We are beginning to worry a little about getting our car in and out tomorrow to go to Church.

I worked on my blog today and my Sunday journal.  I read with James from The Guardian and the Book of Mormon.  It was a wonderful day!

We missed Randa and Justin Covert's temple sealing this afternoon.  I was waiting for a call from Dennis.  We thought we were going to the movies and to lunch.  Dennis did call at five and said we would be going on Tuesday.  I am so looking forward to this fun time with my brother and his wife.

We love the Walton's but John Boy has moved to New York, Grandpa has died, and Grandma and Livy are gone.  It's just not the same.  I liked it when the kids were small and everyone was at home together.
I talk about this show like they are actually a part of my life.  Get a grip Karen.

Friday, August 23, 2013

 Sunrise behind the mountain

I read in Helaman chapter ten this morning where the Lord gives Nephi all power because of his righteousness.  That is so amazing to me! 

As were were getting ready to go into town this morning I see elk on our property.  There were 8 cows and 5 calves.

 

I love this scene!

We took lots of pictures and we were a little late getting into town to have lunch at LaCasit.  We both had a chicken enchilada with green sauce and a side of refried beans.  Their refried beans are the best!  After lunch we picked up James's hydrocodon prescription at CVS that Becky Skousen from Dr. Moffat's office dropped off for him.  James also wanted to look at wood burning stoves and fireplace inserts so we stopped at Ace Hardware.  When we came out it had started to rain.  When we got back to Vernon it wasn't raining, but soon after it was.  Guess we won't be going on a Razr ride until we get the mud flaps put on.

We went on the deck and read from "The Guardian."  This evening we snacked instead of eating dinner and we watched 3 or 4 episodes of The Walton's before going to bed. 

Thursday, August 22, 2013

There were no clouds in the sky when I got up this morning but it was raining hard by late morning.  We had to fold up the ping pong table on the deck because it was getting soaked.  I had to close the dining room windows and the skylight was also dripping.  It was a downpour and 58 degrees!

It was six weeks ago today that James had his accident.  This picture was taken before it happened.

 

Now this is what he does for fun.  It actually is good therapy for his leg when the jets are on.

At about 3pm it stopped raining but the sky is still overcast.  They are doing a prescribed burn.  Grr...why?

I sorted through all the mail we got in Chandler and tried to pay a few bills today.

James wanted to go on a Razr ride.  The roads are so muddy from the rain that the mud from the tires flips back at us like it's being fired from a machine gun.  We go very slow.  The water isn't running in the creek bed on Forest road 61 so we don't go down to Buckelew Springs.  We go down to James's favorite spot to look for elk.  It's the meadow this side of the Carlock Ranch.  We see a huge herd of elk, approximately 80!

James helped me cook dinner and clean the kitchen.  We had some fried zucchini from the Crane's garden for dinner.  After dinner we watched the Walton's.  Livy has TB and has to go to a sanitorium.  Sad.

I took this picture that Jared posted on Facebook today.  I guess Emmy went to work with him.
School hasn't started yet in El Paso.

Jared and Emmy