Sunday, February 16, 2014

James is speaking in the singles branch today so I went to our ward by myself.  Our program in sacrament meeting went something like this: Shelly Applegate was the youth speaker, who spoke on honestyMa and integrity,  the stake indexing director Sister Reissner spoke about indexing, and Brother McArthur from the high council spoke about the importance of having the church magazines in our homes.

In Sunday School we studied about Noah and the ark and discussed the importance of spiritual and temporal preparedness.  Sandra Wilhelm taught the young women about what the purpose of life is.  maddie was here and she gave me a hug.  Trenda wasn't here today because she was tired and needed some rest. 
After the block Rosie Lauritzen and I visit taught Lannie Gillespie.  I went home and had lunch with James and then went to visit LeeAnn Hunsaker with Shelly Applegate, and Diana Curtis. 

At 4pm James and I attended the Book of Mormon class.  Sean Hunsaker wasn't there so Brother Jerry Scott taught the lesson on "The Whore of all the Earth."  James and Brother Scott left together after the meeting to go to a High Priest Group meeting in Show Low.  I went home to relax.

Both Sheri and Stacy contacted me today and told me that Chris Butler gave an awesome talk in Sacrament meeting.  Max said it was the best talk he had ever heard.  I certainly hope everything works out all right between him and Janny.

When James gets home we watch the latest episode of "When Calls the Heart." 

Facebook finds:

A dust storm in Phoenix

The Trezise boys and friends at the temple.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

I was up at 4am to get ready to go to the temple with the youth.  As I was getting ready I looked at Facebook and read this post by Alicia Hunsaker: It's been a LONG night.  Yes it's 3:50 am and I'm sitting in the ER in Springerville with LeeAnn been here since 11:50pm.  Test results in.  She has to get her appendix out.  No surgeon here.  I so didn't know that or would have gone west instead of east.  Could Have saved me some money!!!  All pediatric beds full at Summit, gotta wait here till 6am and she gets a ride in an ambulance to Sumit and straight to OR.  She's finally sleeping.  Good thing for pain killers.  LeeAnn is one of our young women and was supposed to go to the temple with us this morning.  Before our group left we said a prayer for LeeAnn.

Our temple group is small, but mighty: Bishop and Sister Hall, Lane (it's his first time), and Westin, John Wilhelm, Trenda, Talon and Alice.  Collin Dewitt, Jim Diewald, Rick Lauritzen, Diana and Blain Curtis, Shelly and Jordyn Applegate and myself.  Most all of us went to El Cupido's after the baptisms.  We finished in the temple before 8am.  Shelly and Jordyn rode over and back with me.

Alice and Trenda Wilhelm, Shelly and Jordyn Applegate

When I got home I made a Texas sheetcake for tonight's friendship dinner.  This afternoon James and I went on a Razr ride.  I wanted to go as far as Gillespie Flat and come back but the road got muddy so we turned around and came back early.

This evening we had dinner at Audrey Guerrero's with Audrey, Rosa Westbrook, and Elder's Westover and Russell.  Audrey cooked steaks,green beans, and salad.  Rosa made scalloped potatoes and I brought homemade rolls.  It was nice.  Afterwards we went to the church for dessert and to meet up with the other members of our ward who went to dinner at various homes.  Elder Russell is from Tucson so of course I had to tell him how ASU beat UofA in basketball last night.  He was surprised.

At the church there was dessert and then we played a getting to know you game.  These are some things we learned about fellow ward members:

Tamara Applegate was born in Iran.

Elder Westover has 18 siblings.

Kathy Crane was a singer and dancer at the Golden Horse Saloon at Disneyland.

Millie Scott helped her husband build a boat in their garage, then she sold it to pay the rent.

Brother Scott still hasn't forgiven her.

Wendy Dewitt has a case full of beauty pageant trophies and crowns.

Addy and her dance group competed in a dance competition in Tucson and they got first place even though they were one of the youngest groups competing.

 

Facebook finds:

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day

It's going to be 70 degrees here and Carmen is shoveling two foot of snow in Pennsylvania.  I wish we could get a little moisture here.

Today I baked rolls using Cathy Arnett's recipe, which makes several dozen.  They turned out delicious!

The rolls are for the friendship dinner we are attending tomorrow night at Audrey Guerrero's.  It's a Relief 

Society/ward party.

To back track a little, James made us a big breakfast this morning: hash browns, eggs, green chilies, sausage, and ham.  It was so delicious!

James finsihed his talk for Sunday and I typed it for him.  He is speaking at the singles branch on Sunday.

James cut my hair this afternoon.  Also I moved 16 cans downstairs.  Kim got me a Valentine box as she did Sheri and Stacy.  In the box she put the move Austenland.  I can hardly wait to get mine!

Today I watched The Walton's and Wind at My Back, two of my favorite shows.

Facebook finds:

Thursday, February 13, 2014

It was fun to spend the day with James when it was so unexpected.  We shared our notes for 2 Nephi 15, 16, and 17, some of the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon.  There is so much symbolism involved in the writings of Isaiah.  I learned from reading Brother Ridges commentary that 2 Nephi 16 is symbolic of the Atonement and how it helped Isaiah prepare for his calling as a prophet.

James and I went into town and had lunch at Grumpy Jakes BBQ.  I loved their BBQ sauce and my brisket sandwich and the coleslaw.  Definitely going back when Sheri comes up in March.

We stopped at Book Barn and got journals for our Book of Mormon writings.  I came home and found an Angel Moroni journal online and ordered two.  I will use the one I got at the Book Barn for notes on General Conference.  It's purple.  I also stopped at Walmart to get some candy for the sisters that I visit teach. 

When we returned home I moved 16 cans downstairs and paid some bills, and did some blogging.  I also watched Downton Abbey with James. 

Facebook finds:

McKell and Dave Miner at 

McKell's wedding reception in December.

McKell just got these pictures and posted

them on Facebook.

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hughes

One of our favorites!

Forgot the name of this bird but

I loved this picture.

 

President and Dianne Heyman

serving a mission president and mission mom

in Argentina.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Happy Birthday to one of the nicest people I know:

Trina Lambson

 

Now

Then

Evan said to Sheri: "Was Washington the president when dad was born?"

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." - Alma 37:6

There is a great article in the Ensign this month to strengthen marriages: "Speak, Listen, Love."

I love my Book of Mormon Made Easier and Old Testament Made Easier books by Brother Ridges.  They help me understand the scriptures better.  

James came home today with flowers, an Azaela plant, cranberry celebration, and green mixed burros from Burger House.  I am so glad he's home, only I had to leave and go off to Mutual.

Tonight at Mutual we planned and prepared for New Beginnings and the girls sang: "Come Unto Christ."  It sounded so beautiful even though we only had five girls attend  Kelly, Maddie, Hope, Heaven, and Kilee were no shows.  The girls loved their Valentines but I still have lots more to hand out.  

 

Diana was back from the valley.  She got her hair cut in a short pixie cut.  It suits her very well.

 

James and I watched "Hope for Christmas" when I got home from Mutual.  He liked it as much as I did.

Facebook finds:

James and Joshua are good buddies.  Here James is teaching

Joshua how to tie his show.

Love this picture.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

"Be not afraid, only believe." - Mark 5:36

James left for the valley this morning.  I am going to miss him.  This morning I finished cleaning our bathroom and bedroom.  I love my Norwex cleaning cloths!  The one that cleans windows and mirrors, called the polishing cloth did an amazing job on the mirrors.  

Before going in to town today I paid some bills so I could mail them.  I also mailed Jared & Tricia's box of Valentine's and candy.  James called me on my way to town and said he found the temple handkerchiefs.  They were under one of his notebooks downstairs on the air hockey table.  Stacy had looked there twice and failed to see them.  She called me and apologized.  I think she was quite embarrassed.  

I made a deposit at National Bank and then stopped at the Book Barn, Show Low's answer to Deseret Book.  I got two volumes of the Old Testament Made Easier and a new tote for my scriptures.  Happy Valentine's to me.  

Did some shopping at Walmart and then headed for home after stopping at Taco Bell for dinner.  At home I watched American Idol and Wind at My Back.  That last show is on BYU TV and is a story set in the 1930's in a little mining town called New Bedford which is located somewhere in Canada.  I like it.  It reminds me of simpler times when technology didn't dominate everyone's life.  Like the Walton's it teaches good family values.

Facebook finds:

Florence Cluff, a dear friend from my years in Chandler.

Her daughter Tammy took her to the Gilbert temple open house

for her 92nd birthday.

Snowy owl

Shirley Temple passed away today.

She was in her 80's.

 I love the family tree!

Fields of flowers in Japan

Kaytlynn, Zachary, and Quentin

Jacaranda trees

Monday, February 10, 2014

James made me some freshly squeezed orange juice from the orange trees he planted in the orchard in Chandler and it was the best I have ever tasted.  Amazing!!

Chelsea Elmer Pace announced on Facebook today that they are moving to Portland in three weeks.  Brian responded that he only had one more summer in Arizona and he would be gone too.  It sounded to me like he and Kim are planning on moving to Portland before the summer of 2015 after Joseph graduates from high school.  No one has said anything to us, but I think the writing is on the wall.  What will Christmas be like without Kim to remind us of all our traditions?

I have searched high and low and can't find the temple handkerchiefs that Kim gave to us.  I have prayed and looked and looked and prayed.  I also called Stacy and alerted her to look downstairs, but she didn't find them either.  James goes down tomorrow and if he doesn't find them I will call Kim and tell her of my dilemma and see if she will order me some more at my expense.

Today I cleaned our bathroom and finished my blog through January.  James went to see Dr. Moffat today about his shoulder and thumb.  The doctor says he has arthritis and told him to take two Naprosyn three times a day.  James was hoping for a better answer and came home quite discouraged.  He knows that Naprosyn is not good for you and can cause bleeding ulcers.  The doctor also told him he was doubtful that his insurance would cover laser back surgery.  On a positive note, James brought hom Panda for dinner.  I had orange and teriyaki chicken with rice and noodles.  The noodles were too greasy but everything else was good.

I paid Ft. McDowell and White Cap bills today.  James is stressed about insurance on the Maple Chase house and wondering why the new owners haven't paid it or the February payment.  When you sell a piece of property doesn't that mean you are no longer responsible for it?  I guess not if it's a wrap around mortgage.

For FHE we read 2 Nephi 14 & 15 and watched "When Calls the Heart." 

Facebook finds:

How true.

Kari Lambson, Aaron's second wife posted

this picture of Michelle, Aaron's first wife,

with Aaron and Michelle's three kids:

Sammy, Beckham, and Katie.

Aaron and Kari with their four children and a friend.

I love this.