Wednesday, February 5, 2014

I am gaining some valuable insights from reading Elder Bednar's conference address on tithing. Here are a few:

1.  Spiritual and temporal blessings come into our lives as we live the law of tithing.

2.  A grateful person is rich in contentment.

3.  Do more with less, prioritize and simplify and take proper care of the material possessions we already have.

4.  Change our own circumstances rather than expecting our circumstances to be changed by someone or something else.

5.  When we plead for relief rom physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience.

6.  Honest payment of tithing is an important step in personal sanctification.

I made another trip to town today, don't ask me why, maybe I was lonely.  I saw Mary Swift.  I always look for her when I'm in Walmart.  There was a little snow again today.  On the way home I stopped at the Jalapeno Cafe and got a sweet pork salad.  It was quite good.

Back at home I saw a herd of about 10 elk walking across our back yard.  I was afraid to open the door to take a picture because I thought I would spook them.  While talking on the phone with Sheri I also saw a bluebird.  I took a picture through the window.

Sorry he wasn't looking at me.

Tonight Analee and I were the only Young Women leaders at Mutal.  Diana wanted the girls to cut out hearts for our New Beginnings program. 

It's blurry, but it's the only picture I got so I'm keeping it.

I let the girls have the Krispy Kreme donuts I bought from Trenda.  They ate the entire dozen.  After they were finished making hearts, most of them went out to play basketball.  Shelly went into the primary room to practice the piano.  She just started taking lessons.  

Trina sent out a group text to Sheri, Kim, Tricia and I to tell us that she's having a girl.  She told me to tell Stacy since she doesn't have her number.  After telling us the baby was a girl she sent the following text: 

"Also there is a cyst on the baby's brain that could be a normal variant

but could also be a sign of a fatal defect so I have to go back in 2 weeks

for another ultra sound so pray for the baby."

That is so scary, and we will definitely be praying.  Trina wants to name the baby Mae.  Although Nannie's name was Myrtle Mae she always went by Mae, so I am pretty happy with that choice.

 

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Today is my brother Harold's 64th birthday.  I tried to call him to wish him a happy birthday, but I didn't get an answer so I left a message.  I want to have him and Vickie, and Dennis and Denise over for dinner but it probably won't be until March.  February is so busy.

James took Zaki to the temple open house today.  Zaki really enjoyed it but while James was gone from work the guys didn't do very well.  Now instead of finishing the job at Lake Park Village on Friday, he won't be finished until next Monday.  He had to call me and vent a little.

I worked on my 2013 scrapbook.  This highlights for last year were Emmy's baptism and Dallin's graduation from high school.

To keep from being lonely I turn the TV on while I work. I watched several episodes of the Walton's while I was working on my scrapbook.

I am so thankful for my hard-working husband.

Facebook finds:

Sounds yummy!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Took a picture of the gorgeous sky this morning.

I love mornings like this!

James left for the valley this morning with a bottle of water and a Jimmy Dean ham and cheese croissant.

I am home alone and I'm already feeling lonely.  This afternoon I paid some bills and took them to the Vernon postoffice.  I went into Show Low to deposit a check and ended up at Walmart.  It was cold, cloudy, and we had a little snow today, but not enough.  I had Taco Bell for dinner.  

I talked to Stacy this afternoon.  She had to tell me about the Super Bowl and how excited Michael was that his team finally won.  This is the first Superbowl win for the Seattle Seahawks.  She said she felt sorry for Peyton Manning, the quarterback for the Broncos.  Adam came over for their "Superbowl party."  Not that he likes the Superbowl, he sat and read a book the whole time, but he was anxious to eat some of Paul's burgers.  Jared Ammon had to work but they took him a burger at work.  Dallin was a no show.

  I wish I could say I took this picture,

but I didn't.  I found it on Facebook.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

My left arm is sore and I couldn't lift it to do my hair this morning.  Our drive to church was in a snowy winter wonderland.  I wanted to stop and take pictures but there wasn't time.  The snow was all melted after church. 

Today was fast and testimony meeting.  Kaeli, Shelly and Sandra Wilhelm all bore their testimonies about our trip to the temple.  Braylen Chapin, a little crippled boy, bore his testimony and it was so sweet.  It was the highlight of the meeting.

In Sunday School we studied Adam and Eve's transgression which caused the Fall.  The Pillars of Eternity are: the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement.

In Young Women's Kaeli gave a lesson on the Plan of Salvation.  It was good.  Maddie, Kelly, and Coty were not there.  After Young Women's I had a meeting with Diana.  She is going to be gone Wednesday and Sunday.  I will do Mutual by myself and attend ward council for her next Sunday. 

Home for a nap.  We are still fasting.  James was at the church for an audit.  I picked him up as he walked home.  When we get home we break our fast.  We are fasting for missionary work and selling our property.

James took the left over cookies I made yesterday to the Book of Mormon class and brings me back a purple scarf from Lorrain Vaught.  I didn't go because I stayed home to write the family message for this month. 

James and I visited Julie Wilhelm this evening so he could call her to be the stake camp hiking specialist. 
James did the dishes this evening because of my arm.  We watched the Walton's.  We missed watching the Superbowl.  It was kind of a blowout, Seahawks 43 and Broncos 8.

On Thursday Joe, Michael, and Alex went on a trip to California to compete in a men's barbership choir competition.  Chandler High won the high school competition.  Here are some picrures from the trip.:

We are very proud of these boys!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Our youth group and leaders met at the church at 6:15 this morning for our trip to the Gilbert temple open house.  We had a total of 39 people in 8 different vehicles who went.  Adults and leaders: Bishop Hall, Brother and Sister Applegate, Sandra Wilhelm, Brother and Sister Ulmer, Collin Dewitt, Kaeli Nicoll, Diana Curtis, Audrey Guerrero, Sean and Stefani Hunsaker, and myself.  Young Women and Young Men and other children: Westin, Lane, and Ashten Hall, Shelly, Jace, Ty, and Jordyn Applegate, Hailey, Hope, Heaven Lootans, Kelly Reynolds, LeeAnn and Kilee Hunsaker, Aaron Windsor, Glenzo Swift, Daniel R., Sy Westbrook, Tyler Hunsaker, Holly Hunsaker, Rusty and Jackson Allen, and one young man I did not know. 

The Vernon youth group

Audrey Guerrero, Kilee and LeeAnn Hunsaker rode with me.  We went by to get Maddie Carroll but she was sick.  We all went the Globe way because it is closer to the temple.  Kaeli Nicoll started out in the lead but it wasn't long before Bishop Hall and Brother Applegate passed her up.  I stayed behind until we got in the valley.  Kaeli's car and our car stopped in Globe for a potty break and snacks.  

Stefani and Sean Hunsaker beat us to the temple and they went the Payson way.  Brother Hunsaker does have a reputation of having a lead foot.  

One of the best parts of the tour was when Kaeli showed Shelly the mirrors in a sealing room.  Jordyn was fascinated with the artwork and the agave plants as a part of that artwork.  Many we in awe of the chandaliers, and Trenda said this is definitely the temple where she is getting married.  

After the tour we all met at Golden Corral where Bishop Hall and the ward budget bought us lunch.  I think the highlight of Golden Corral was the cotton candy.

 Kaeli enjoying some cotton candy

Kaeli told the girls about Chris's new job with the Tempe fire department and that 

she would be gone from Wednesday meetings for the next 14 weeks.

Kilee asked me to go home through Payson because she was afraid she would get sick if she went the other way.  That was fine with me.  LeeAnn's money was burning a hold in her pocket on the way home.  She must have made 10 phone calls to her mom asking first if she could get a trac phone, then false eyelashes, and then a Valentine's gift for a friend.  As she hung up the last time she made the comment: "I wish I had my own money."  I told her, well, I guess you are going to have to get a job.

There was snow in Vernon when we got home, more than we've had for quite awhile.  How exciting!  When I got home I crashed on the couch.  James and I watched Elementary before going to bed.

 Any snow is appreciated in such a dry year.

 Tyler Hunsaker, Allen Jackson, Talon Wilhelm

I love to see the temple.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Here it is the last day of January and still no snow.  This has been a very mild winter so far and I am getting a little concerned.  Hopefully there will be lots of snow in February. 

James and I spent a nice quiet day at home until about 3:15pm when we left for the Snowflake temple.  It was very windy in Snowflake but we managed to make it to the 430 session.  I notice that my recommend expires in March.  I thought it was May.  I guess I better do something about that.  Our session is very full with 32 women, and 28 men.  They had to bring in folding chairs because there are only 40 permanent chairs. 

Of course it is dark when we come out of the temple.  We head to El Cupido's for dinner.  While there we see David Gale with his wife and little boy.  After dinner we get gas and then make a stop at Bashas for laundry detergent. 

Back at home we put on our comfy clothes and sat down to watch Treehouse Master's and the Walton's.  We went to bed reasonably early because I am going to the valley early in the morning with the youth.

Facebook finds:

Evan learned to ride a bike!

I want this tree!

Thursday, January 30, 2014

My face is still swollen, but not nearly as bad as yesterday.  I left for Dr. Moffat's around 7:20am.  Some big guy crowds his way into the elevator and instead of letting ladies go first he heads out and beats me to Dr. Moffat's.  He goes in after waiting about 5 minutes and I have to wait over 30 minutes.  How rude! 
Dr. Moffat looked at my face and decided it wasn't an infection.  The swelling is lower, down on the front of my jaw.  He thinks it is a blocked salivary gland and told me to go home and "suck a lemon."  At first I thought he was rude or making a joke, but he wasn't. 

I made a trip to Walmart and then went home and sucked on a lemon.  Surprisingly, it did seem to help. 

James called me this afternoon.  He's coming home and bringing green chili burros!  He called me at 3 pm and said he was on his way and then he was home by 4:45 with the burros.  It is so nice to have him home, especially since I will probably be gone on Saturday with the youth. 

This evening James and I watched Downton Abbey and Sherlock. 

Facebook finds:

How true!

Kim took this gorgeous picture this

morning in Chandler by her house.

Plan of Salvation T-shirt

Michael and Alex contemplating their

choir trip to California.