Sunday, August 17, 2014

"The primary place of teaching and learning

is the home."

-Bishop Gary E. Stevenson

"When learning and teaching are centered in the home,

they carry power that can lead to conversion."

-Ensign, Aug. 2014, p. 28

 The Gilbert temple,

taken at Discovery Park.

McKay Mills was our high council speaker today.  James got to hear him speak because he isn't speaking until next week in the Sierra Pines ward, which happens to be McKay's ward.  He spoke on the power and authority of the priesthood and did an outstanding job.  He is the youngest member of the high council but he seems very seasoned in the gospel.  His speaking companion was older and his name was Brother Emkey.  I guess he was the principal of the school where Bishop Miller attended.  Brother Emkey and his wife just returned from a mission in Spain so he spoke on missionary work.  It was a good talk and you could feel the Spirit.

In Sunday School we talked about Elijah passing the mantel of authority to Elisha.  Sandra Wilhelm gave the lesson in Young Women's on the divine role of women.  All of the lessons this month are on marriage and family.

Since Diana is not here today, she's at a family reunion in Utah, she asked me to go to BYC with our class presidents, Alice Wilhelm, Kilee Hunsaker, and Trenda Wilhelm. Trenda saved the day and made the young women look good.  She conducted the meeting and read the minutes from the last meeting.  She was awesome!  I didn't even need to be there.

James took the Wilhelm kids their birthday presents this afternoon.

Andy just turned 11 and he got a knife.

Zemira is 8 and he got a journal and Legos.

 Ruthie just turned 4 and she said she

got what she always wanted.

It's a purse with a little lamb.

For dinner we had steaks, baked potatoes, asparagus, and salad.  I knew James wasn't going to be here for my birthday so I wanted this dinner to be kind of special, and it was.  After dinner we read from our book and watched Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye.  James had a priesthood leadership meeting so I was home alone for awhile.  I took a nap.

 

Saturday, August 16, 2014

"Continue in patience

until ye are perfected."

-D&C 67:13

 This boy was baptized today

and we are so proud of him!

 He was beaming!

 Paul, Stacy and Joshua

We are the proud grandparents!
Joshua and grandpa have a special bond.
Joshua takes care of grandpa for me
and gives him hugs when he comes 
down to work and I am at the cabin.

 Joshua with some of his cousins.

 The three amigos who all turn 8 this year.

Joshua and his dad.

Joshua's brothers and his parents.

Alex, Joe, Michael, and Dallin

 Baby Lola was there too.

Paul performed the baptism.  Michael and James were the witnesses.  Grandpa Johnson gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  Nickie played the piano and Joshua's mom, Stacy, sang: "I Wonder When He Comes Again."  It was beautiful!  It was nice to have Cathi and Terry and Laura there.  They all love Joshua too.  

After the baptism Joshua had a party at home.  Max, Evan, Rowan, and his friend Bryce from school came to swim and play Legoes.

The Lego room

Michael and his friend Alexis were there too.

They did homework in the pit.

Ruby had to try out the rocking horse

grandpa made for Adam 20 years ago.

I got to celebrate my birthday today too.  I went to lunch at Cheesecake Factory with some pretty awesome people:

Kimmy and Addy

Sheri and Alex

Trina and Ruby, 

and of course Lola.

James was there too.

It was a great lunch.  I got to try the new lemon meringue cheesecake and it was divine!  Thank you Sheri and Kim.

After lunch I took Addy shopping for her birthday.  She wanted to go to the Lego Store.

 The Lego Store on a Saturday is pretty crowded.

Addy made three Lego characters:

Her, Rowan and Ruby.

We also went to Barnes & Noble where she got a white stuffed owl to sit on her shoulder when she plays Harry Potter, stuffed animals for Ruby and Rowan, and a Harry Potter book.  On the way out we stopped at the See's Candy Shop for lemon truffles and a sucker for Ruby.  It was a fun date and Addy mainly wanted to get something for Ruby and Rowan.  She is so very thoughtful of her sister and brother.

On my way out of town I took Addy and Rowan home.  Rowan told us about a funny dream he had.  He said:  "You know how Joshua is always saying, 'Hey guys, you're leaving me in the dust.' I said No, I didn't know Joshua said that but Rowan said, "Well he does."  "Well I dreamed that Max was driving a car and Evan, Joshua and I were riding in the back seat.  All at once Max said to Joshua and Evan, 'Push Rowan out', so they did and I went rolling in the dust.  When I got home I told them: "Hey, you guys left me in the dust and Joshua said," "Hey, that's my line."  Funny story, Rowan.

I left for home after 5, stopping to do some shopping at the Basha's in Payson.  I got home a little before 10 and James was about 30 minutes behind me.  It was a fun couple of days but it's good to be home.

 

Friday, August 15, 2014

"Don't do dumb things with your smart phone."

- Brother Ridd

"If you chase two rabbits,

you won't catch either one."

-Brother Ridd

This morning I studied, prayed, and watched Sue Thomas F.B. Eye

before getting ready to leave for the valley.  I left the house at 11 am just as storm clouds were coming in.  In Show Low I stopped at the bank, gas station and carwash, CVS to get James's prescription and Arby's for some lunch.  I got the BBQ brisket sandwich and it was quite tasty.  It rained on the rim but the time I got to the valley things were dry and sunny.  

I went straight to Kim's house to pick her up and we went to Toys R Us.  Kim was looking for something for Rowan and of course I was trying to get ideas for Joshua.  They have lots of Legos which is what both boys like.  Kim was looking for something Harry Potterish for Rowan though and we couldn't find anything.  I didn't buy anything because I am going to bring Joshua back to go shopping so he can pick out what he likes.

On the way home Kim and I stopped at the Fractured Prune, a new donut shop in Chandler.  I bought six donuts and it cost me $12, so they are a little pricey.  They make the donuts while you are waiting and then add delicious toppings or a glaze.  I at the lemon one and it was delicious.  I left the donuts at the house and Adam and James pretty much finished them off.

Stacy came with Joshua and I on our date to Toys R Us.  She bought him a Super Heroes Lego set and I bought him one with a cool red dragon.  Max and Evan came over to help put the Red Dragon set together.

 That is one cool dragon!

After shopping at Toys R Us we went on over to Deseret Book to get Joshua's scriptures for his baptism tomorrow.  He picked out maroon scriptures with gold trim and a black tote.  He also got a tie with Noah's Ark animals on it.  All in all it was a very productive shopping trip.  

James is worn out when he finally gets home from work.  He showers and goes downstairs to bed before I even realize it.  I got busy cleaning the pit and by the time I looked at my phone he was already asleep.  Sometimes I am not very thoughtful.

 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Happy 8th Birthday to Joshua.

Here he is at the Lego Store playing with

Evan and Max.  Joshua is smart, witty, 

kind and thoughtful and I love him!

I called Joshua this morning just as he was walking out the door to go to school.  I told him I hoped he had a great day and his response was: "Oh, I will grandma!"

Joshua's baptism is this Saturday.  I was going to come down today and take him on his birthday date but Stacy said that tomorrow would be better, so I decided to wait until tomorrow to leave.  I think James was a little disappointed.  His pour at Hatch Hanger for tomorrow was cancelled which means he wouldn't be going to bed at 6pm as originally planned.  I hope he will forgive me.

President Hatch and his family are flying to an island in the Caribbean to go scuba diving.  They leave tomorrow.  James presented him with a bill and he left James a check in his office to pick up when the next pour is done.  He is such a great guy to work for.

I had a nice talk with Jared this morning.  I left him a message last night and he called me back.  His positive attitude and testimony are very refreshing.  

James took Joshua out to eat tonight for his birthday.  I think he was hoping Joshua would chose Golden Corral but Joshua wanted to go to Florindino's to get back ziti.  I am sorry that James didn't get a picture.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

"It is better to prepare and prevent than it is to repair and repent."

-Ezra Taft Benson

There was so much fog this morning I couldn't see the sun or my mountain, Sierra Montosa.

  

James has got some major truck problems.  I think he may have gotten a lemon.  He needs new brakes, a new radiator, and something else.  Erik is going to put in new brakes this week and the radiator next week.  I wish we could afford to buy a new truck but it wouldn't be a good idea right now.

There were lots of clouds today but not much rain.  There has been some flooding in the valley.  

Our young women's president, Diana Curtis is gone to Utah for a Curtis family reunion so that means I'm sort of in charge at Young Women's  Tonight we had: Kilee, LeeAnn, Hope, Heaven, Alice, Trenda, Shelly, Jordyn and Kelly.  I missed Maddie but later I found out her dog Bumpy got hit by a car.  I also found out Hope is in a relationship (she's too young!), and Arizona is practicing with her bow so she can go archery deer hunting next week.  I got all of this information on Facebook.  I made Rice Krispy treats for the girls but they were too hard and crunchy.  I think I put too many Rice Krispies in them.  Tonight we did a little Personal Progress working on the value Good Works and then I turned the time over to Trenda so we could plan next week's combined activity.  We are doing something called "A Minute to Win It."

When I got home from Mutual I tried to call Jared but he didn't answer.  

Watched "So You Think You Can Dance."

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

"God's law of the harvest is that

if we want something later, we 

have to work for it now."

- President Uchtdorf

First Presidency Message

August 2014 Ensign

 

Good morning sunshine!

I waited for the rain all day.  It finally came and rained most of the night.  Darrel said they got some hail in Mesa.  This storm was widespread throughout the state.

 Those clouds better mean rain!

I love this view but that grass needs to be green!

James sent me this picture from Troon North Golf Course where he was working today.

 Poisonous but slow.

He's definitely not someone you want to mess with.

Let me tell you why this is my new favorite crime fighting drama.  

There is no gore and very little violence.  I love the actor's who play the main characters.  It's a drama, a comedy and heart-warming all at the same time and it's based on a true story.  Sue is deaf and the F.B.I hires her to read lips.  Levi is her number one guy, Levi is her dog, until Jack comes along.  Jack is dreamy and everything you want in a main character.  I look forward to seeing this show everyday on the BYU channel!

I stayed at home today and started scraping the polish off my wood floor.  It became overwhelming and I decided rather than scrap the old polish off, I would just polish over it.  The floor looks great!

I look forward to James's texts everyday when he is out of town.  He really is a romantic kind of guy!

 

Monday, August 11, 2014

While he was here James: changed the fluids in the Razr and got the tire fixed.  He finished fixing the toilet paper holder in the hall bathroom and did the touch-up painting.  He fixed the fender and undercarriage on my car.  Wherever he goes he makes things better.  I love him and this morning he had to leave.  His truck has a terrible knock and his brakes are going out.  We said a prayer before he left and started a new Sarah Eden book called "As You Are."  I love that he loves my books and Hallmark movies!  I made him some breakfast before he left:

The news for the day according to Facebook: Robin Williams committed suicide.  Very sad.  One of our young women, Hope Lootans says she's in a relationship.  Arizona, another of our young women whom we seldom see is practicing with her bow to go archery deer hunting.  Something else from Facebook:

 I made a trip to town today.  I stopped at the Vernon post office and saw another of my young women, Maddie Carroll.  She was supposed to have started school today but I guess she didn't.  I am afraid she won't be able to get in because she was home schooled last year and probably did not graduate from the 8th grade.  She is such a sweet girl and it will be so sad if she doesn't go to school.

I went to Chase Bank and then Walmart.  Walmart wasn't busy and I would say Monday morning might be a good time to shop but not only was the store bare of customers it's shelves were bare too.  The produce was pathetic.  

I spent a lazy day at home.  It's what I call a recovery day.  I was a little lonely so I watched quite a bit of TV.  I was also physically exhausted.  Here are some of the shows I watched: My new favorite, Sue Thomas F.B.Eye, The Next Foodnetwork Star finale.  The cowboy, Lenny McNabb was the big winner, Cedar Cove, and Master Chef where two people were sent home.  One of the contestants sent home was a gay woman named Victoria who has short hair and kind of dresses like a man.  The was Evan's remark: "Finally, the boy woman goes home."  

There were clouds here today but no rain.  A big monsoon storm did hit the valley. Here's what's going on in Colorado:

I went to bed early, around 9pm.