Wednesday, September 4, 2013

James got the money from Zaki's bank today, which is a big relief.  We thought maybe they would freeze the funds because of Zaki's and Ariana's divorce. 

I paid more bills today.  I also went to the dump and got rid of 8 bags of garbage. 

This evening at 5:30 I attended a Young Women's presidency meeting with Diana Curtis, Analee Hunsaker and Kaeli Nicoll.  We discussed, among other things, our fundraiser coming up on September 21st.  We are doing a pancake breakfast at the park.  Analee was just called to be a temple worker.  She is also our ward organist, so she now has three callings.  I guess it's a good thing she is older and all of her kids are grown. 

Tonight the young women made signs to advertise for our pancake breakfast.  Thos attending: Jordyn Applegate, Shelly Applegate, Maddie Carroll, Kilee and LeeAnn Hunsaker and Hope Lootans.  We missed Trenda.  She has several AP classes and school and sometimes has lots of home work.  I enjoy being with the girls and the other leaders.  Maddie told us a story about how they had a family roping and she won a pot of candy for being the best roper. 

 Maddie, Shelly, and LeeAnn

Hope, Shelly, Maddie, Diana Curtis, LeeAnn, Kaeli Nicoll

Kaeli Nicoll, Kilee, Hope

Shelly, Jordyn, Maddie

I wore blue nail polish to Mutual because I am working on Divine Nature as this month's value.

Came home and watched The Walton's with James.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

James has a speaking assignment in Cibecue next Sunday and needs a speaking companion and someone to drive him there.  He tried getting one of our home teachers, Chuck Crane and Collin Dewitt, but neither one of them could do it.  I told him to call Blaine Curtis and he did.  Blaine said he would be glad to do it.  Thank goodness!  He saved me from having to go.

We finally received the check for the work done on Desert Highlands golf course in July.  It came to our home in Chandler.  Sheri picked it up and deposited it for us.  Now we can pay some bills!

We started out to go to Buckelew Springs on the Razr but remembered we didn't have enough gas so we came back.  We made a trip to the post office to mail the Ft.McDowell concrete bill and then to get gas for the Razr at Midway station. 

I finished off the black walnut ice cream I bought for the Young Women and felt disgusting afterwards.

James is preparing a talk on the importance of temple attendance to give in Cibecue.  He has given several talks on the temple and will use some of the information he has given before.

Sherry Swansey, a convert of a little over a year, went through the temple today for her own endowments.  About twenty sisters from our ward went to be with her.

A flock of Canadian geese flew over this afternoon.  It was overcast all day with some rain but nothing like yesterday.

Monday, September 2, 2013

 Happy Labor Day!

Made biscuits for everyone before they left to go hom and played Five Crowns with Kim, Sheri, and James.  Ian took the boys on a Razr ride.  Kim, Brian, and Joe left around 9:45 and Sheri and Ian left at 10:30.  I gave everyone a hug before they left.  I had an overwhelming feeling of sadness and loneliness after Sheri and Ian left.  I started to cry while I was reading to James and he had to take over for me.  I miss my family.

James thinks we got 2 inches of rain.  We went on a Razr ride between downpours to check the Falls. (Thank goodness for the mud flaps!) They still aren't running.  There are no elk in our special palce so we head for home. As we were driving we had to stop and take a picture because we saw a strange object in the sky.  James said it looked like a UFO.  I guess other people saw it and it was declared to be a weather balloon.

 We also saw a red hawk as we were coming up our road.  I tried to take a picture but he flew away.  I did get this picture though.

 

When we get home we read from the Book of Mormon, The Guardian, and we also read Jeffrey R. Holland's last conference address.  We also watched a couple of episodes of The Walton's.  I miss Olivia, Grandpa and Gramma, and the old John Boy!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

I put two roasts in the crockpot with BBQ sauce this morning. 
Before we leave for church we have family prayer with everyone.  James and I sit in front by the Applegate's so James will have room for his walker and leg.  Sheri, Ian, Kim, Brian and the kids sit in the back.  James and I both bear our testimonies.  So do Shelly and Trenda.  James and I are fasting for Dallin today.

Brother John Wilhelm is called to the bishopric to fill the vacancy left by Wes Smith.  Wendy DeWitt gave the lesson again in Sunday School.  It was on the life and martyrdom of Joseph Smith.  I wish Kim and Sheri would have stayed.  Sandra Wilhelm taught about strengthening families in Young Women's. 

This afternoon James and I read our scriptures together and I read by myself.  I restarted the Book of Mormon for the 7th time this year.  We also took our nap.  After naptime Sheri, Evan and I start to go for a Razr ride but Sheri is too cold so we go back.  Evan wants to go to Greenspeak but when I tell him about the Falls he wants to go there.  James and I take a break from our Five Crowns game that we are playing with Kim and Sheri to take him.  The sad thing is that today the Falls were not running.  I think Evan was happy just to get to go on a ride.

This evening we had dual dinners.  Brian made honey line chicken and I made bbq beef.  We also had beans, macaroni and cheese, a salad, corn on the cob and watermelon.

We did not have FHE like James and I had talked about.

Some photos I took today of the gorgeous sky:

 

I should do a calendar.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

When I got up this morning I see all four of Sheri's boys asleep on the couches.  Ben, Max, and Evan were in the family room and Alex in the living room.  All of the adults slept in.

I love the sunflowers!

 

James and I take the Razr and go into town to mail my prescription payment to Humana.  Evan comes with us.  It's a beautiful morning for a ride.  We see Sheri on her morning run on the way back.

When Sheri returned home, and after her shower, we went into town to get a few groceries.  We invited Kim to go with us but she said she would be going with Brian a little later.  After doing our shopping at Walmart I tried to order some green burros from LaCasita, bt could never get through.  Sheri stopped at Little Caeser's to get some pizza.  I got some wings for James and I.  We saw Bishop Hall and Lane.  I congratuledted bishop on being the Dad of a soon to be missionary.  Kendall got his mission call to Salta, Argentina.

James enjoyed the wings for lunch.  I didn't think they were that great.

Sheri took this picture today.  A walker standing outside by itself is never a good sign.  He must be on the Razr.

 

Kim tells us about how the teacher she has been teaching with quit because she was being harrassed by the curriculum director and the owner of Bright Beginnings.  Even though she had some issues Kim says she was a nice person and the kids loved her.  The acting principal of the school, Jennifer Jackman, is going to fill in until they find someone to hire.

James, Kim and I took a ride to see the falls near Buckelew Springs.  Sheri was sleeping upstairs so she missed the fun.

About 3 miles from our house

Brian fixed hamburgers for dinner and Sheri and I fixed pancakes and ham.  Ben was disappointed because they weren't my homemade pancakes.  I told him that the next time he came up I would fix them for him.  

After dinner we played Five Crowns and after Kim went to bed Sheri, James, and I watched Cedar Cove.

Dark skies and green go together.

Friday, August 30, 2013

More rain.

  I wash my car because I have a visiting teaching appointment with Linda Diewald this morning.  I get it all washed and then she calls and says her daughter and her family came in unexpectedly so she is going to have to cancel.  Oh well, at least I have a clean car.

We were expecting to receive money from Zaki this week but it didn't happen.  James needs to talk to Tiffany Gonzales at Johnson Bank regarding Zaki's funds but he has not been able to reach her, so he wrote her a letter.  Zaki said that Ariana is filing for divorce and for that reason the funds for the house may be frozen.  Let's hope not. Thank goodness Jeff from National Turf said our check for Desert Highlands went out!!

 We went in to town to mail the letter James wrote to Tiffany and of course when we returned my car was covered with mud.  The mud was so packed on the tires and in the wheel wells I thought I better wash it off before it dried, so I washed my car for the second time today. 

I finished cleaning upstairs and also cleaned the kitchen, the frig and mopped the floor. Sheri, Ian, Kim and Brian are all coming up this evening.  Sheri and Ian came the Globe way and Kim and Brian of course went through Payson.  We are so excited to have them visit!!

In other news, Trina posted this picture of Ruby and Kreed today on Facebook.

Best friends!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

We were up at 4am and leave a little after 5 for James's doctor's appointment in Scottsdale.  We stop for breakfast at the Jack in the Box in Payson.  Their croissant breakfast sandwiches are delicious!

Our first stop was at SMILE Imaging where James had his X-rays taken.  His X-rays are fascinating because you can see all of the hardware in his leg.  Now he can put 10 lbs of pressure on his leg and we will be back in six weeks on October 8th.

Next we went to Greg Hatch's dental office where James had a short meeting with him and the architect on the Chandler Airport hanger job.  President Hatch now says he wants James not only to do the concrete but to be the general contractor on this job.  That's exciting!

We went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch where I used the gift card Darrel & Trina gave me for my birthday.  James and I both ordered chicken stuffed tortillas which is our favorite item on the menu.  I couldn't eat all of mine but I did make room for some cheesecake with fresh strawberries.  Yummy!!

Had a short visit with Joshua.  He showed me the dragon he got for his birthday.  (It's the same one Rowan got.)

 

After lunch we went to the Target Greatland behind the Chandler mall.  James sat at the snack bar with the computer while I went shopping for Lalaloopsy dolls for Addy for her birthday. (See picture posted on August 28th). 

Trina dropped her kids off at Sheri's before going to work so we got to see them for a few minutes before we left for home.  Sheri is a little stressed right now because they just found out they have termites. 

It was around 6pm when we left for home.  When we got home it was raining hard and the electricity was off so we couldn't open the garage door.  I had to walk around to open the back door.  Thank goodness for the flashlight app on my phone!  When we got inside we lit our kerosene lantern and our gas fireplace.

Cozy scene.  The fireplace is gas.