Sunday, December 22, 2013

I got up this morning and did some studying.  I also wrapped some gifts.  I wrapped all the "couples" gifts, the sheets I ordered from Nomorerack.  Joshua keeps asking to play with my phone.  I told him he would have to wait until after church. 

We attended the Galveston third ward today with Sheri and Stacy.  We know many people in this ward, some from Del Rio 2nd and some from Chandler third and tenth wards years ago.  Here are some of the people we saw and spoke to: Robin and Kerry Finlinson, the Miner's, Cathi, Terry, Dave & Laura, Paula Casto, the Ellsworth's, the Boles, Lynda Cull, Karen & Lance Schneider, Brennan Ray, the Braddock's, Laurie Jensen, the Coffey's, Janny St. Onge, the Leib's, Wanlass's, and the Jiminez's.  Although Jeff Chubbs is no longer in this ward, James called him today to wish him a happy birthday.  It was so wonderful to re-connect with old friends.

We really enjoyed the Christmas program presented in sacrament meeting.  Lynda Cull is the choir director and she did a wonderful job.  Ernesto Jiminez was the narrator.  It was fun to hear the choir sing and to be able to join in on many of the Christmas carols.

It seemed like old times with Michael Ellsworth teaching the gospel doctrine class.  He ask James and I to give the opening and closing prayers.  He had prepared a lesson on the Savior supporting us in our trials.  It was really very inspirational. 

Cammie Soderquist, (I don't know her, but I loved her lesson), taught Relief Society.  I got to sit by my dear friend Karen Schneider.  Cammie's lesson was taken from President Monson's conference address: "I Will Not Fail Thee, Nor Forsake Thee." 

After the block Sheri's family, Stacy, Joshua, and Michael and James and I all gathered in Bishop Lewis's office for Ben's ordination to the office of a teacher.  James did the ordination with Ian and Bishop Lewis in the circle.  It was one of the best ordination's and blessings that I have ever heard.  It was very spiritual.  Afterwards Evan said: "Boy, that was a long prayer."

After Ben's ordination James and I saw and visited with President Jones and his wife Kathy.  They just returned from their second mission at the temple in Monterrey, Mexico.  President Jones was our first visit when we moved to Chandler and Kathy and I were visiting teaching companions.

Sure enough, as soon as we got home Joshua asked to use my phone.  He had me download a game for him to play.  I wonder why he never asks to use Paul's phone.

I had lunch, took a short nap, and did some more wrapping.  I visited a little while with Stacy and then James and I went down to Sheri's.  She was making rolls and had some delicious homemade berry jam to go with them.  Yummy!  The family was watching "A Christmas Story".

Back at home James and I read scriptures and he visits with me while I wrap a few more presents.  It was a wonderful Sabbath day.

Facebook finds:

 Happy Anniversary to our friends,

Wes and Jill Lueck

The Megan (Bogle) and Reuben

Craghead family

A Mario game that Evan made

Saturday, December 21, 2013

This first thing I did this morning when I got up was finish making out and addressing Christmas cards.  I hadn't been in the mood to send them until now.  Around 9 am our home teachers, Brothers Church Crane and Collin Dewitt came for a visit.  Collin brought cookies and we gave cookies and a calender to each of them.  We had a nice visit about the importance of missionary work.  When they left I finished packing and getting ready to go to Chandler.  James sat and read his Uncle Delbert's book, "When Comes the Spring."

It takes me awhile to pack up because I am all the Christmas presents I have yet to wrap.  Well James waits until I am ready to go to decide that he needs to winterize everything, so instead of him waiting for me, I am waiting for him. 

We made cookie deliveries to the following people: Alex Jones, Kaeli Nicoll, and the Covert's.  We took Lynda Tanner a wax warmer, night light and Uncle Delbert's book.  She posted on Facebook a little later in the day how much she loved the book.  She knows Uncle Delbert and really likes him.

We meet Bishop Hall in the parking lot of Panda Express to deliver his family's cookies.  I told him to make sure Westin got his fair share because of the help that he gave me the other night when we went caroling.  On the way out of Show Low we went through the post office and mailed our Christmas cards.  We went the Payson way so we could drop off gifts to Dennis and Denise, and Harold and Vickie.  It was snowing when we left.  Here are some pictures I took at home and along the way.

We stopped for water at the Circle K in Star Valley.  James is tired of driving so I drive the rest of the way to Chandler so he can get some rest.  We arrive at the house, unload the car, and take Michael to Olive Garden for his birthday dinner. 

This was my dinner, chicken, pasta, and peppers in

a delicious sauce, topped with cheese.

After Olive Garden I went shopping at Walmart to get some food for tomorrow.  I see Charlotte Mattice in the parking lot and visit with her for a minute. 

Friday, December 20, 2013

Gospel Study

"Lamentations of Jeremiah: Beware of Bondage"

-Elder Quentin L. Cook

"Our challenge is to avoid bondage of any kind, help the Lord gather His elect, and sacrifice for the rising generation."

The clouds are rolling in this morning.  It is suppose to snow and I am so excited!

I made more cookies today but this time I used my new Kitchen Aid mixer.  Yes, I talked James into letting me open it early.  It is a dream!

My new mixer, which I love!

We made a trip into town today.  We got two checks today, one was the final one from Horne Auto.  We went into town and made a deposit and then we went to lunch at Panda.  It was packed!  Afterwards I did some shopping at Walmart.  I bought some wax warmers as Christmas gifts and I bought an electric shaver to give James.  

I made chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies today.  James made a home teaching visit to the Hunsaker's and then he took cookies to the John Wilhelm family.  He wasn't able to visit with the Wilhelm's because they had company.  We were going to deliver our other cookies tonight but decided to go tomorrow on our way to the valley.  

Tonight we missed Michael's birthday party at Organ Stop Pizza and Addy's guitar recital.  Addy did say she would play the guitar at our family Christmas party on Monday.

James and I watched "Christmas in Conway."  It was good, but a tear jerker.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Happy 16th Birthday to Michael!

I had a visit from my visiting teacher's today, Alicia Hunsaker and Dian Gillaspy.  Colter was here too but he mostly visited with James.  The message this month is appropriately on the life and mission of the Savior.
Alicia gave me a plug in light and wax warmer.  I love it!  I gave each of them the book "What Would a Holy Woman Do?" by Wendy Watson Nelson.

I went visiting teaching this afternoon.  I visted with Linda Diewald and Rosie Lauritzen.  Rosie's husband Rick, fulfilled a life long dream by getting a Mastiff dog.  Yikes!  Poor Rosie and her cats!   As I visited with Linda and Rosie I bore witness of the Savior and gave them Sister Nelson's book.  My partner, Joell Miller just gave birth to a baby boy.  Excitement for their family as it is there first boy. 

I wasn't able to set up a visit with Lannie Gillespie.  She is the assistant superintendent of Navajo county schools and said she was in Holbrook today and could I see her after Christmas.  Will do.

This evening I picked up Shelly Applegate at the library where her mother is the librarian, and we went to Diana Curtis's.  We helped wrap gifts for the Hansen children and then the three of us delivered them along with a tree and decorations.  One of our Young Women, Arizona Hill, is a part of this family.  After the Hansen's we met Denice Hall out on the road and she led us to Hunter Crowe's, another of our Young Women.  It's Hunter's birthday tomorrow and we took her a gift.  I met Hunter for the first time.  She has never attended Young Women's since I've been here.   We never would have found where Hunter lives without Denice.  We passed three dead end signs before we got there.  They are in a beautiful spot surrounded by pine trees.  We had a nice visit.  Shelly rode home with me and I gave he the mini Preach My Gospel book I bought for her at Deseret Book.  She was so excited you would have thought I gave her a $100.  I love this girl!

Went home and watched "Finding Christmas" with James.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

I got up at 5, did some studying, and then went back to bed and didn't wake up until 8:30.  We began packing up and soon left for home.  On our way we stopped at the Walmart in Chandler and then we stopped at Burger House in Miami.  On the way we listened to scriptures and then I slept while James drove.

We were back in Vernon in the early afternoon.  I watched the finale for The Voice.  I'm glad Tessanne won even though she if from Jamaica.  I loved her redition of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters", "Nowhere to Hide" and her duet with Adam, "Let It Be."

I tried to do some indexing but it was slow going.  I only did 15 names. 

At six I met Diana Curtis and Kaeli Nicoll at the church to get Christmas goodie bags ready for the Young Women and to sign the CD's Kaeli made for them.  The CD's have the pictures from camp on them that Kaeli showed at our Young Women's in Excellence.

For mutual we went Christmas caroling with the Young Men.   Brother Mayfield brought his wagon with bales of hay for us to sit on.  The weather was nice enough for us to be out in the open and it was very enjoyable.  Westin Hall was such a gentleman.  He helped me in and out of the trailer at every stop.  The first home we went to was that of Alex Jones's.  We sang, but no one ever came to the door.  At Pasha Westbrook's she ask us to stop because her children were sleeping.  Every where else we went we were well received.  We sang at a nonmembers home and Kaeli invited them to church.  It was a fun and successful evening.  We had hot chocolate and cookies at the church.  The Young Women were in charge.

We sang by the light of the moon

Came home and watched Holidze with James, starring Jennie Garth and Cameron Mattison.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Today is my only day to do Christmas shopping somewhere other than Walmart or online.  My first store of choice was Target where I bought Legos and Lalaloopsy dolls.  I wanted to find something about bats for Joshua so I went to the teaching supply store on Gilbert and Southern but I found nothing.  I also went to the Deseret Book next door but most of their books have been moved to the new store in Gilbert.  At this point I took a break and went back to Chandler to go to lunch with James.  He chose Jersey Mike's.  He is now addicted to their Jersey Shore Favorite sandwich as I am.

After my lunch break I drove over to the new Deseret Book in Gilbert, next to Costco and not far from the new temple.  What an awesome store!  I also go across the street to the Barnes and Noble at SanTan Village, another of my favorite stores.  Next it was time to go home to rest before going out with Sheri.

While I was gone my Christmas present came but James wouldn't let me open it.  He says I have to wait.  When Sheri gets off work we go shopping at Sports Authority and Target Greatland.  I got seven giftcards at Target and bought Kelly Clarkson's Christmas CD for Sheri.  My shopping is mostly done and I am tired.

James and I take Ben to Nello's for his birthday.  Max and Evan come too.  They have the best pizza ever!

I think Ben's in a food coma.

I had the chicken marguerita pizza and it was divine!  We had a great time with these boys!

This evening Stacy said something that got me to thinking.  She said, "I hate Christmas because it's too commercial.  I had to agree and I think I want to do things differently next year.  I want to focus more on the Savior and giving the gifts he would want us to give.

In other news.  We have had some successful hunters in our ward recently.  Not only did Talon Wilhelm get his elk but both Alice and Trenda each got one too.  So did Tyler Hunsaker and Collin Dewitt. Gail's friend Paul's wife Janelle got her deer and it was a nice one.

 On the Blue in Arizona

James was so impressed with Paul and Janelle.  They gave him some smoked salmon from Oregon which he thoroughly enjoyed and they have invited him to come up to visit with them and they will take him fishing. He wants to go next summer.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Happy 14th Birthday to Benjamin David Trezise!

Benjamin (on the right), and his

best friend, Ian Wanlass.

 Sunrise in Vernon

Gospel Study

"The Strength to Endure"

Brother Richard J. Maynes

"Our ability to endure to the end in righteousness will be in direct proportion to the strength of our testimony and the depth of our conversion."

We left for the valley earlier than I had planned because James had to take care of a traffic ticket in Show Low before 11 am. We delivered cookies to the Peeler's, the Crane's, both Hunsaker brothers families, the Curtis's and the Vaught's.  After delivering cookies and taking care of James's ticket, we went to Arby's for lunch in Show Low.  

When we get to the valley it's 75 degrees.  I make a trip to Walgreen's where I see Janette Bleazard.  She calls me Cathi and I correct her.  For dinner Stacy, Joshua and I went to Chik-fil-a.  Joshua tells me that he wants to be a zoologist when he grows up.  He is very interested in bats.  I guess they studied them at school.  

I am frustrated with my order from Disney.  I ordered two Olaf's and only received one.  I call the store and they guarantee that my other one will arrive before Christmas.  I am doubtful.  

The reason we came down today was to attend the Chandler High Choir Christmas concert.  Joseph, Michael, and Alex are all members of the men's choir.  The concert was awesome.  Those who attended:

James and I, Stacy, Paul, Joshua, Kim, Brian, Sheri, Ben, Max, and Evan, Darrel, Trina, Addy, Rowan, and Ruby, and Dallin.  All of us except Dallin sat in the same row.  

 Chandler High Choir

Dressed in their pajamas for

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

That's Michael on the left.

After the concert Diana Dowdle gave me a Christmas card.  On the front it said: To James and Laura Lambson.  I have been in Chandler less than 24 hours and I have been called Cathi and now Laura.

I walked out with Addy and she was excited to tell me that her family is the proud owner of two rabbits, Hoppy, and Brownie.  Of course Rowan and Ruby had to tell me all about Brownie and Hoppy too.

Back at the Trezise's there was a party for Ben.

 Ben's birthday treat is a long john donut

Stacy and Joshua's trees