Friday, April 11, 2014

Bluebells in Hallis Forest, Belgium

Gospel Study

The children of Reuben and Gad call their altar ED.  I'm not exactly sure why. 

-Joshua, O.T.

Mosiah 5

Be obedient to God's commandments
Be called the children of Christ
Be found at the right hand of God
Be called by the name of Christ
Be steadfast and immovable
Be brought to heaven.

This morning I worked outside for quite awhile.  I am amazed at how well these steroids are working for me.  The pain in my knees is entirely gone, at least for now.  I finished pulling grass around the mailbox.  Now I want to plant some vincas which are good and sturdy and will last through the summer.  I guess that's for another day.  I also swept off the front porch and driveway.  

Dr. Douglas called and said she could see me around 11:30 to put in a temporary crown.  I hurried to Staples and Target to do my shopping there and then went to see Dr. Douglas.  I had a nice visit with her about the temple open house, etc.  Afterwards I finished up my shopping and errands at the bank, Walmart, and Sam's Club.

 Jason and Drea Boles legally

adopt baby Benjamin.

James came home from work as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders.  He has been released from his contract at Camden Foothills.  They couldn't agree on who should be doing the grading and when he told them he would lose money if he had to do it, that it wasn't in his bid, they let him go.  He thinks they were afraid he wouldn't be able to pay his bills and they would have liens against the property.  I am so grateful.  This is another tender mercy.

This evening James and I went to Ian's parents house, John and Betty Trezise's, so James could price out how much it would cost for them to enclose their carport into a garage.  The last bid they had was $20,000.  James thinks he can do it cheaper, but there are some problems involved.  I had a nice visit with Betty while James and John discussed the job.

!

This reminds me of Ruby

who loves bandages!

James is concerned that I spent too much money on discretionary items this week.  He's probably right.  I will do better.  

Love this picture!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

My quote for today comes from one of my favorite shows: 

"When Calls the Heart"

This is Elizabeth speaking:

"One has to be willing to lose everything in order to gain what God has shaped them for.  Because there's a cost to the things that matter most in life and it's that sacrifice where we find our true treasure.

When my father saw me off on my journey west he said he hoped I would find what God had shaped me for and then give my whole heart to it.

One often has to go against one's nature to dig deep into the trenches of life."

 Sunset at the Grand Canyon

I left a little late for my 11am appointment at Dr. Douglas's.  She's going to replace my crown.   I tried to hurry and was only 15 minutes late.  Dr. Douglas took an xray and felt like the root canal needed to be looked at by a specialist.  Consequently they only temporarily replaced the crown and while I was out to dinner at Olive Garden this evening with Adam I lost the crown, never to be found again.  Back to the dentist tomorrow.

 

These are the insulated suits Chandler Rogers'

Mom is making for all her family

in preparation for the "hard times."

  My brother Dennis and his granddaughter Lizzy.

Lizzy is home schooled by her

grandmother, (Chandler's Mom), Trisha Rogers.

Here Dennis is helping her with her homework

while she's here for a visit.

Some other things I did today while James was at work:

Bought a new air mattress at Walmart, came home unloaded my car and set up the bed.  I think I'm going to like it!  I got to visit with Stacy for awhile and pick up Ben from school.  I was invited to go to Olive Garden with Adam and loved visiting with him.  

When James got home he was tired and discouraged.  The chicken marsala I brought from Olive Garden cheered him up a little, but this job at Camden Foothills is wearing him down.  

Joshua ate our leftover breadsticks from Olive Garden.  James and I went to bed early.  I wish we could say that we slept like babies, but it's not true.  I had to give James a pep talk throughout the night.

I love this!

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

"The anchor of the gospel and the rock of our Redeemer will keep us steady and secure.  Life is beautiful and worth living.  Wind, storm, and prevailing currents may tempt us to drift into dangers seen or unseen, but the gospel message and its' divine power will keep us on our path back to the safe harbor of our 

Heavenly Father.

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

April 2014 Ensign, p. 5

Isle of Mull, Scotland

I took 10 mg of hydrocodone today instead of 5mg and got sick to my stomach.  I start on my steroids today.  Hopefully they will help with the pain in my knees.

The Lord works in mysterious ways and I felt his tender mercies in my life today.  When I came out to get in my car after Mutual this evening I had a flat tire.  Because I was at the church there were people there to help.  Here are my tender mercies:

Diana Curtis, supervisor, Elder Russell,

Elder Oakley, Brother Applegate, and

Brother Curtis.

If the tire had gone flat at any other time I would not have had anyone to help me change it and I was scheduled to leave for the valley by 7am.

Another tender mercy.  When I went to look for my Book of Mormon Gospel Art Packet pictures they were all missing.  I remember a few months back I used them for a lesson and evidently I did not put them back.  I searched everywhere and couldn't find them.  I remembered my purple family history roll suitcase.  I looked, and there they were.  Something just made me think of that suitcase.  Again, I feel like it was the Lord helping me.  

For Mutual this evening I had a Personal Progress with Maddie Carroll. This month we are working on Individual Worth.  For her value project Maddie is going to raise a steer for 4H.  She is in the process of trying to find one to buy.  Hopefully we can get her on the right track.  She will be turning 15 in a few weeks.

For our activity tonight Diana talked about self-esteem and gave each girl a paper asking her to give it to a family member, a Young Women's leader, and a friend.  Each person is to give a brief description of what they like about the young woman.  It turned out to be a neat activity as the girls exchanged papers and wrote about each other.  I wrote something about Hailey Lootans, Carmen, the Hunsaker's foreign exchange student, and Maddie.  We had another visitor, Dakoda, Hailey's "friend."  For refreshments Jordyn had made us some lemon squares.  It was a good evening.

 

 

Evan had a fieldtrip to the zoo today.

He and a friend "brushing" a goat.

Proof that the Easter Pageant is in full swing.

Michael and Grady Ellsworth from

our ward in Chandler.

 

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Ian drew this picture while watching the

priesthood session of conference.

Gospel Study

2 Nephi 32:3

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.  Wherefore, I say unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."

I finally got a call from Dr. Caldron's office.  The doctor prescribed a 5day steroid pill and methotrexate.  These two prescriptions are costing over $83.  Methotrexate is $60 a month.  Yikes!

I had a pound of hamburger in the frig that I needed to use.  I made some spaghetti using whole grain noodles.  It was quite tasty.  James and I will enjoy the leftovers on Sunday.  

I took a short nap and paid some bills before going to town.  On the way to town I called James's mom Lois and had a nice visit with her.  She seems to be doing great and was in a good mood.  A call from James wasn't quite so positive.  On the way to work his guys were stopped and because of unpaid tickets they were sent home to Flagstaff.  James and Lloyd, two cripples,  had to pour concrete without them. I keep telling him to do his best, trust in the Lord, and things will work out.

One of my favorite quotes

from General Conference.

I was disappointed to find the lilies I planted at my grandmother's grave side were very wilted and droopy.  If they don't pick up by next week I will be planting some more.  I am determined to have lilies at her grave by Easter.  Today the high was 72 degrees.  An absolute gorgeous day.

After getting home and putting groceries away I get a call from Kathy Crane asking me if I could go to the Relief Society dinner a little early to help with final touches.  I pick her up and take the cans of cranberry sauce I bought for the dinner.  It was a wonderful evening entitled "To Know You Is To Love You."  Wendy Dewitt had asked for everyone to send her a baby picture and a young adult picture of oneself.  It was fun looking at the baby pictures and trying to figure out who everyone was.

Deana McNeil and Millie Scott in the foreground.

Food Table

Turkey, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole,

salad and rolls.

Our new RS president Kaeli Nicoll

recognizing and rewarding the past 

presidency, Alicia Hunsaker,

Rosa Westbrook and Rosie Lauritzen.

(Rosie is not pictured.)

Went home and slept on the recliner but not before finishing "once Upon a Time" and "The Voice."

 

 

Monday, April 7, 2014

Sheri with baby Benjamin

Gospel Study

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto our souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

James left this morning which is always a sad thing.  I love him so much and I am so grateful for all he does for me.  

I watched a 12 year old girl on YouTube talk about why abortion takes away the rights of the unborn child.  She did such a wonderful job.  I hope what she says will make a difference in someone's life.

I took a hydrocodone 5mg for my knees and a few minutes later I felt pretty darn good.  I called the AARC and asked for some help.  I spoke to Theresa.  She took notes and she said someone named Rosie would be calling me back.  I never got a call today but if I don't get one by tomorrow I will be calling back.

 Love this picture!

Diana said she would teach for me on May 4th so I can attend Alex's ordination.  I am so grateful.  I love working with her.

I did some vacuuming today, got out my Easter basket and plastic eggs, and worked on finances.  At 5:15 I decided to make a quick trip to town to deposit a check and get a burrito supreme from Taco Bell for dinner.  On the way home I stopped at the post office and Kaeli Nicoll and Joelle Miller pulled in behind me.  Kaeli asked me if I was going to the Relief Society dinner tomorrow night.  I said I would for her.  

My mailbox was packed full and my lightbulbs from Hobby Lobby came so I had alot to carry home. 

Back at home I watched Dancing with the Stars.  Katherine McCormick from SYTYCD did a Macy's Stars of Dance special with Derrick and some other male dancers.  It was amazing.  Also, Meryl Davis danced with Val instead of Maks because it was "change up" week and was phenomenal.  She got 3 10's.  

James said our air mattress has a hole in it which means I am going to have to buy another one.  

 

 

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Dandelion Sunset, Tuscany, Italy

Gospel Quote:

"When a woman is called to preach the gospel she is given priesthood authority to perform a priesthood function.  The same is true of a woman set apart as a teacher or in a presidency."

-Dallin H. Oaks

Priesthood Session of 184th General Conference

 Balintore Castle, Scotland

I woke up with my lower jaw on my left side swollen.  I ate a lemon and drank some lemon juice.  It didn't seem to help.  Did I mention that I was up before 4am.  I spent the last four hours of the night on my recliner. 

I fixed our "conference" cinnamon swirl pancakes for breakfast. They were yummy, but I think they made me tired.  I kept nodding off during the first session of conference this morning.  I even had James stop the recording for awhile so I could take a nap.  We had an hour for lunch before the start of the next session.  I made BLT's for lunch.

Baby Polar Bear

The next session was even worse as far as my sleepiness.  I could not stay awake.  Luckily I will be able to look at all the talks online in a couple of days.  

For dinner I made a salad and brownies and we finished off the chicken-stuffing casserole I made yesterday.  

After working on my blog James lit a fire and we sat by it while I read from The Book Thief.  World War II is kicking into high gear.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Addy, Ruby, Max.

Got up and took some Naprosyn and then got sick to my stomach.  I went back to sleep on the recliner until just before conference at 9am.  I loved this first session!  Here are a couple of quotes:

"Remain steadfast in the faith.  At sometime you

will be called up to defend your faith."

-Jeffrey R. Holland

"Pure Christ like love flowing from true righteousness can

change the world."

-Jeffrey R. Holland

"We need to value what the Lord values."

-Ronald A. Rasband

"The Savior has the power to heal and cleanse you."

-Linda S. Reeves

 Lake Side, Styrn, Norway

For lunch I made a chicken, onion, green bean, gravy, stuffing casserole.  James loved it and so did I.  We were ready for the second session when it was time.

"Keeping divine commandments 

brings blessings every time."

-Elder Russell M. Nelson

"We must sincerely love those we

want to help in righteousness."

-Elder Richard G. Scott

"Through our obedience we show our love for God."

-Elder Robert D. Hales

 The Johnson-Gonzales family

a few years back.

After the second session we took a nap and then I cut James's hair.  I made us some strawberry shortcake before he left to pick up Chuck Crane and go to the priesthood session.  I discovered the priesthood session was on here so I watched it too.  I especially enjoyed Elder Ridd's talk on technology.

Great Market, Brussels, Belgium

When James got home I finish watching President Monson's talk while he does some paperwork for his job and then we watch last week's The Mentalist.  

Love this mountain!

I found a way to keep my tooth in during the day.  It's called cinnamon Trident gum.  I works better than anything else.  I still take it out at night and when I eat.  

 Holly, this one's for you,

just a reminder as to what can happen.

 On the edge, Pulpit Rock, Norway

 Zakynthos, Greece