Monday, May 5, 2014

"It was my privilege just over a month ago to dedicate the Gilbert Arizona Temple, a magnificent structure.  The evening before thededication, a cultural event was held at the nearby Discovery Park.  Twelve thousand young people performed a 90 minute program.  The dancing, the singing and musical performances were outstanding."

-President Thomas S. Monson

I got up early to study.  James went out and secured the load we are carrying to Vernon.  It's the bedroom furniture we bought from the Schneider's.  We left the two couches, loveseats and chairs in Chandler, one set in the living room and the other in the family room.

We left right at 9am.  We have a lunch date with Dennis, Denise, and Harold and Vickie at noon in Show Low at Licano's.  Today is Dennis's 6oth birthday and Denise invited us.  

We stopped once in Apache Junction and James realized that he lost one of the drawers to the chest of drawers.  I wondered why he didn't lie it flat with the drawers facing upward.  Oh well, maybe he can get Dan Taylor to make a new one.  

We had to stop for roadwork 2x and we were ten minutes late for lunch.  I had a chicken enchilada with green sauce and a taco.  I loved the enchilada but the taco was overdone and too greasy.  Denise bought everyone's lunch.  They made Dennis wear the sombrero while we sang happy birthday to him.  The battery in my phone was almost out so the picture is very dark.

 Sorry you can't see Dennis's face.

When we get to Vernon I help James unload some of the furniture.  He promises me that he will call for help when it comes to the heavy stuff if he doesn't think he can handle it.  I should have known better.  He thinks he can handle anything.  He called for help and this is what I saw:

That chest of drawers is sitting on his bad leg.

I freaked out and then helped him

carry it into Darrel & Trina's room.

I am not proud of this, but I was pretty upset for the rest of the day.  It feels like he takes unnecessary risks.

This evening we watched The Mentalist and Dancing with the Stars.

I tried to not be upset when we went to bed, but it really scared me today when I saw James trapped underneath that dresser.

 

Sunday, May 4, 2014

"No one can know of spiritual truths without prayer."

-p. 39, Preach My Gospel

"In answer to our prayers, the Holy Ghost will teach us truth through our feelings and thoughts."

I had my gospel study this morning.  James and I are fasting for some family members.  

At 9am we attended the Galveston 3rd ward fast and testimony meeting.  Paula Casto came over before the meetings and gave me a big hug.  We sat behind Adrienne and Mike Ellsworth so I got to talk to Adrienne.  

Bishop Lewis conducted the meeting and bore his testimony.  He also awarded Geoffrey Dowdle his missionary plaque and read from a letter Geoffrey's mission president sent.  It was pretty incredible.

 These were the people I know who bore their testimonies: 

Hilary Jiminez and her two daughters Evie and Elise, Sheri, our sweet daughter, Geoffrey Dowdle, Diana Dowdle, Dahlia and Isaac Dowdle, Paula Casto, and Bob Kaufman.  It was a good meeting.

We attended the gospel doctrine Sunday School class taught by Mike Ellsworth.  He is an awesome teacher!  The lesson was "Look to God and Live."

During the last hour was Alex's ordination to the office of a priest in the Aaronic priesthood.  James gave the blessing and ordination and did an incredible job.  Paul, Michael, and Ian were all in the circle.  

Back at home James and I broke our fast and went down to Sheri and Ian's to help fix dinner.  We did fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, corn and asparagus.  Everyone liked the chicken.  Sheri says that is a rarity in their family.

 Sheri's new shirt.  I need one too.

  After dinner we went home and took a nap and then got up to go visit with Darrel's family.

It was nice that Trina was there too!

 Love these kids!

We sat on the back porch while Rowan fed the bunnies and Addy told us about her trip to the Grand Canyon.  It was a nice visit, so relaxing and fun.

 I'm not sure what Rowan is after in this picture.

We couldn't stay long because James had to get back for Jacob and Isaac Dowdle's Court of Honor.  He is being honored as one of Jacob's mentors and received another mentor's pen.

Jacob, Diana, Jared, and Isaac Dowdle

and the back of Bishop Lewis's head.

 

Saturday, May 3, 2014

I got up at 3:40 to shower, wash my hair, and get ready to go to the valley.  We are going to Dahlia Dowdle's endowment session.  She has been called to the Chicago spanish speaking mission.  Her brother Geoffrey just got home from his mission to Guatemala two days ago.  Here is a picture:

We left at 5am and went the Globe way.  James drives while I sleep.  We are developing a pattern here.  We arrived at the Gilbert temple a little before 8:30.  

Dahlia was the only one taking out her own endowment in the 9:15 session.  Her bishop, Bishop Lewis and his wife Cindy, were the witness couple.  Here are some of the other people we knew in the session: Diana, Jared, and Geoffrey Dowdle, Jason and Drea Boles, Michael and Adrienne Ellsworth, Christy Wanlass, Katie Gunther, Janet Burchfield and her son, Dave and Laura, and an uncle and two aunts.  

After the session we went to Deseret Book and then to lunch next door at Cafe Rio.  I had to wait in line for about 30 minutes while James saved us a table.  I had the sweet pork salad.  James had a chicken toastado and a beef green burro. Quite delicious.  Now we are ready to start our fast.

We went home and I had a short nap before going to the Schneider's to fix up furniture we are buying from them.

Brian, Joe, Michael, and Alex helped for 

about three hours.  

Thank you so much!

Sheri and I made a run to Circle K for drinks for the boys and then we went to get pedicures.  Sheri is doing this for me for mother's day.  I loved it.  Thanks Sheri, you are awesome!

Sheri, Alex, and I went shopping at Fry's for the ingredients to make fried chicken for tomorrow's dinner.  We are using the Barefoot Contessa's recipe for oven baked chicken.  It is delicious and the first step is to marinate it overnight in buttermilk.  

Earlier in the day Michael and Joshua did some yardwork.

 

Friday, May 2, 2014

Mosiah 5:2

"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."

We got up and packed the car this morning for our trip home.  We took a few pictures before we left.

E

Even though Emmy is a bit of a tomboy she can be a

sweet young lady too.

 Look at this brown eyed beauty!

 One last hug from Molly before we leave.

Our trip home was pretty uneventful.  We stopped in Deming and got something to eat at Burger King.  James did all of the driving this time.  We gained an hour going home and arrived in Vernon around 1pm Arizona time.  

James took a nap and then went on a Razr ride. The weather was gorgeous!

 I watched Dancing with the Stars and finished my gospel study, and did some laundry.  We both did most of our packing for tomorrow since we are leaving at 5am.  

It was nice to sleep in our own bed even if it was for only one night.  

I texted Jared to tell him we got home safely.  He thanked me again and said he was at Emmy's school carnival with the girls.  Tricia and James will be home on Sunday.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

3 Nephi 17:9-10

And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.

And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.

For family scripture study Jared read from 3 Nephi 17 with his girls.  These are some of the most wonderful recorded scriptures we have.

Jared went in early to work so James took Emmy and Anna to school while I got Molly ready for preschool.  She has pictures today with a cap and gown so they said no ponytails.  Molly really wouldn't let me do much with her hair so I hope it looks ok in the pictures.  

 James and I had the house to ourselves except for Florie who comes in and cleans on Thursdays.  The dogs stayed outside.  We left around 11am to go pick up Jared for lunch.

4722 E. Montana St.

We went to Kiki's to get mexican food.  It was delicious!

 Authentic Mexican food 2 miles

north of the border.

I had Aaron Sanchez's favorite dish, the machaca.  Yummy!

 Comes with egg, chili con queso,

and the most tender shredded beef.

Taking Jared to lunch was a small way for us to say thanks for the eye exams and new glasses.

We got back in time for James to take a nap and for me to mix up the dough for sugar cookies.  When Molly got home from school she said she was going to drink her slurpy that was in the frig.  I said that was okay.  Later when Anna got home she asked where her slurpy was.  I guess it was really Anna's slurpy that Molly drank.  I felt bad so I scrounged up some money for Anna so she could go to Circle K and get another drink. Another problem: someone ate James's Lemonheads but no one will admit to it.  

When Emmy got home from school she read the Scholastic News to me.  She read about seals who were caught in an oil slick wearing sweaters and elephants being hunted for their ivory.  Also: should we ban plastic grocery bags?

When Jared got home he made beef stroganoff for dinner.  It was very tasty.  Molly did ask if we could go back to that place where "they put sugar on stuff."  I think she was referring to the cinnamon breadsticks at Pizza Hut.  After dinner the girls decorated cookies.

 Anna joined in the fun too.

 Anna is so excited that she's almost as tall 

as Grandpa!

We tried to play Five Crowns but it was pretty much a disaster because of Molly.  Soon she will be old enough to play according to the real rules and not according to Molly's rules!

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Mosiah 3:7

 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

Ben had surgery on his hand this morning. 

He had to have a torn ligament in his hand re-attached.  He also has to wear a cast to help the break.  He broke the top part of the growth plate.  I guess he was pretty loopy after the surgery and was talking about how oxygen smells like cinnamon.  He also asked what ice is made of.  In spite of it all, Sheri says he was positive and didn't feel too sorry for himself.

I watched TV with Molly this morning.  We watched Lego Friends and Horseland.

Penny tries to chew up a scarf.

 

  For lunch we went to Pizza Hut.  Molly had some change and wanted to use it in the little candy vendors.  She thought the jaw breakers were bouncy balls and she was going to get one for her sisters too.  At first she said she didn't like this place very well but when she had some of the cinnamon sticks from the buffet she said: "I do like this place."  

After lunch we went to White Spur Park.

  

After the park we went home and took naps.  I woke up a little before Molly and went to pick up Emmy from school to take her to volleyball practice.  

 Emmy and two of her teammates who are actually twins.

 Emmy's team.

One the way home we stopped at Circle K for drinks and candy.

Jared fixed us ham and cheese sandwiches on pretzel rolls for dinner.  We also had Lay's Dill Pickle chips.  They were yummy although Jared says the Limon ones are better.  We ate outside.

 Bruce and Penny are part of the family.

Emmy and James played a game of tetherball and so did Molly and I.  Emmy and Anna practice their volleyball by throwing the ball against the house.  It's great to see these two girls with something in common.  

We watched American Idol and Castle this evening.  Anna went to Mutual.  When she came home Sister Pasow had to come in and tell us how wonderful her lesson was and that they had three non-members girls attend.  She was so proud of Anna, and so are we.

Jared read a story to Molly this evening.

Emmy had to show grandpa some of her artwork.

 

Molly working on some of her art work.

Back in Arizona Joshua had a date at McDonald's with his grandma panchita.

 

 

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Omni 1:26

And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption.  Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

Molly left at 8:30 for her preschool.  Sister Jensen came and picked her up.  She said she was going to the zoo and would be riding goats and horses.  We shall see.

James and I left around 10 for Jared's office which is clear across town, about 20 miles away.  We filled out paperwork and met everyone in the office: Robert and Dr. Jeff Ekery, Rosie (LDS), Audra, Tony, Jamelle (who is Cosette in Les Mis), Terry, Carol, Espy, Shay and Rosette.  

 Jared, the new owner of

El Paso Optical

After our exams and picking out glasses, I picked purple frames and purple frames for my sunglasses, Jared, James and I headed for Costco to do a little shopping and to get some lunch.  Jared and James both got the pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and I got a hotdog.  James also got a chicken bake because I guess he was extra hungry.  We took Jared back to the office and then James and I headed for home.  James drove home with his eyes dialated and a pair of paper framed sunglasses on.

Back at home I had time for a short nap before Molly got home from preschool.  The first thing she said when she came in was: "Our fieldtrip was cancelled.  We don't think she really had one but because Emmy has been talking about her fieldtrip Molly wanted to have one too.

When Emmy got home the first thing she did was do her homework and then read from her book.  Molly had to read from her book too.  She finished Harry Potter, The Prisoner of Azkaban, in about five minutes.

I offered a dollar to whomever could find the remote to the TV but they finally gave up and watched a show on the computer.  Later when Jared got home he found the remote.

 What you do when you can't watch TV.

Anna didn't come home from school today.  She went to the Ainsworth's to help babysit while Sister Ainsworth ran errands.  She sent me some pictures she took on her phone but this is the only one I received.  It is actually one she sent me in January, but I'm going to post it again.

 Molly and Anna

Jared came home with some dinner.  Freshly made flour tortillas that were still warm, delicious pico de gallo and guacamole, carne asada and shredded beef, and refried beans and cheese.  Everyone got to make their own burros.  It was yummy.  

 After dinner, Jared, Anna, Emmy, Molly and I walked to Circle K.  It's about half a block away.  James had some work to do so he stayed home with the dogs.  

This evening I watched Psyche with Anna and then James and I watched The Mentalist.  We remembered Ben in our family prayer.  He is having surgery on his hand tomorrow.