Wednesday, September 10, 2014

"The whole duty of man is to fear God 

and keep His commandments."

-Ecclesiastes 12:13

Lola, one of my greatest blessings!

I am grateful that I am getting to spend some time with Lola's daddy, Darrel.  We get to have breakfast together every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before he goes to work at the CVS in Show Low.

I listened to one of the best BYU devotionals I have ever heard this morning.  It is my habit to listen to the days readings in the Old Testament and two conference talks on my phone while I am working on my blog.  Next I try to listen to two BYU devotionals.

 This particular address was given by Richard Draper a professor at BYU.  The title: "Light, Truth, and Grace: Three Interrelated Necessities for Exaltation."  Let me share some quotes, although some are fragmented.  I am going to have to go to byu.org and download the talk:

"It is God's glory that allows Him to be all seeing."  

"Light is power."

"Light expands to receive truth."

"Obedience-Light-Truth."

"Truth is the basis for glorification."

-D&C 93:30

I picked up Kilee before our board meeting and class presidency meeting this afternoon at 5:30.  I noticed during the meeting she was looking at her phone and wasn't really paying attention.  Later during Mutual while we were working on Personal Progress she left the room several times and was again looking at her phone.  She forgot to bring her Personal Progress book.  I was so frustrated, especially after my talk with her last night.  She was given several assignments and hopefully she will follow up on them.

We talked about Integrity value experiences 1 & 2.  We talked about Job, and moral values such as language, media, etc. I talked about Moroni 10:32.  I have to ask myself this question:

"Do my actions represent the integrity of my intent?"

We got into some good discussions with the girls.  There seems to be a real problem at the high school with bad language and couples making out in the hallways.  This kids have so much to deal with!

I had to call Dr. Moffat on his cell phone today to tell him I was still waiting for his approval on some prescription refills I placed at Walmart on Monday.  His response: "Oh, yeah I have about a hundred of those and I'm way behind.  I will call that in tomorrow morning."  Someone died in the CVS drive-thru last Monday.  I hope he wasn't one of Dr. Moffat's patients waiting for a refill that was very late.  Can I use the term: 'Country Doctor.'

This little girl turned one today.

Happy Birthday

Natalie Nicoll.

Natalie's mom is my good friend Kaeli Nicoll.  We worked in Young Women's together and now she is the Relief Society president.  Kaeli  just turned 26 and she's only been a member three years but she has an awesome testimony!

 

 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

James left early this morning for the valley.  I am worried about his back and chest pains.  I tried to make an appointment with Dr. Memon but James said to never mind because he no longer had the chest pains.  

This afternoon I picked up Kilee Hunsaker from school and took her to get something to eat at Aliberto's. Afterwards we went to get ice cream at Dairy Queen.  Kilee is the Mia Maids class president and I wanted to talk to her about being an example and working on her Personal Progress.  We had a nice visit and I learned some things I needed to know about one of the other girls in our class who has been having some problems.  

I am calling today 2ferTuesday:

The piglet twins lost their parents.

They were found hiding behind a pillow on 

the loveseat.  I guess they needed a little vacation.

 Elder Allen and his companion in Mexico.

 Two lovebirds in their love nest.

 Two more love birds,

Alexus and Michael.

Oh, sorry, Michael says they are just friends.

 

Two bundles of joy:

Ivy and Lola

Before and After.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Six Things the Happiest Families 

all have in common:

1.)  They create a family mission statement

- What it means to be a part of the family

-What are our family values?

2.  They share their family history

-This is the #1 predictor of a child's emotional well-being

- Role models that show your family values in practice.

3. Hold weekly family meetings

- Ask 3 questions: What worked weel this week, what didn't, and what do we want to work on this week.

4.  Learn how to solve conflicts.

- Separate, Negotiate, Unite

5.  Have family dinner together, any time of day.

6.  Just try

 - "The Secrets of Happy Families"

Bruce Feiler

  This day will go down in history in the Valley of the Sun.  James cancelled concrete because of rain.  Just as we were leaving for our Razr ride, Stacy called to tell James not to come down.  It has been raining hard all night and the neighborhood is flooded.  Emergency vehicles are parked on Willis Rd. and they aren't letting anyone in.

This is what the neighborhood looked like:

In front of our house.

Lake front property

Chandler Eyecare's parking lot
The closed for the day as did
Chandler High and PayPal,
just to name a few places.

The I-10 west of downtown Phoenix

James was planning on leaving around 11am today but now he is staying home.  We got clouds here, but no rain.  I think the storm headed into Nevada and Utah after it left Phoenix.

We did get a rainbow

James and I had to run in to town to get some ink for the printer.  we stopped for lunch at Burger King because James was hungry for their mushroom burger.  I prefer Sonic burgers myself.

I read from our book "The Kiss of a Stranger" on the way into town and back home again.  We also took a nap and watched Sue Thomas F.B.Eye and had a very enjoyable day together.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

The Key to Spirituality:

"Arise early, pray intently, hungering and thirsting for the influence of the Spirit to fill you body,  until it does."

-Brother Ray Smith

This is what the sky looks like when you "arise early."

James went to our ward's bishopric meeting this morning at 6am.  He is now the high councilman over our ward. I was asked to attend the 7am ward council meeting with the priesthood and other auxiliary presidencies this morning and got to sit by James.  We were trained by Brother Applegate the Sunday School president on how to access church videos, etc. on lds.org.  He encouraged us to download them onto a thumb drive.

Bishop Miller talked about reaching the one and helping people to accept responsibility.  

James got some homemade cough drops from Stefani Hunsaker today that really helped his laringitis.  He smelled strongly of cloves for the rest of the day.

I missed Sunday School to setup for my Young Women's lesson.  The main topic of my lesson is to be "In the World but not of the World."  I am using a video of a talk by Sister Elaine Dalton for the main part of my lesson. 

This is Trenda Wilhelm, our Laurel class president.  She is one of the most outstanding young women I have ever met.  Sometimes she seems more like an adult than a young woman.

After the block I had an interview with Bishop Miller regarding my Personal Progress and Young Women's award.  I passed and he signed my book.  It feels pretty good for this old woman to be getting a young woman's award.

James had to break into the house again.  His keys are on his truck key chain and he's driving a rental car.  He added veggies to the roast I put on this morning.  We broke our fast and enjoyed a nice meal together.

We spent a quiet, peaceful Sunday afternoon together.  It is one of my favorite times of the week.  James is speaking in Cibeque next week so he worked on his talk a little.  Tyler Hunsaker, a 17 year old young man in our ward, is going to be his speaking companion.

 Can't wait for fall to hit the mountains here!

 

 

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Gilbert temple

"When we obey Satan we give him power.  When we obey God, 
He gives us power.  Real power to become like God is obtained
through obedience."
-Elder Paul V. Johnson

Elk were bugling in our yard this morning, so James went out and bugled back.  He got dressed and followed them for about two miles.  It's an exciting time of year for him!

The back end of a bull elk.

When James got back from his hike he cooked us ham and eggs for breakfast.  Afterwards I delivered the muffins and cookies to Collin Dewitt at the church where he was waiting for youth who needed rides to show up.  They are going to an animal rescue shelter to do service.  This 70 year old woman rescues all sorts of animals and she takes care of them.  She won't allow anyone to adopt because she really doesn't trust people.  I just wonder what's going to happen to the animals when she dies.

We made a trip to town around lunch time to mail bills and have lunch at Licano's.  I had a chicken chimi with green sauce and refried beans.  James had the prime rib carne asada special which was quite delicious.  

Back at home we started our fast and took a nap and then I gave James a haircut and settled down to prepare the Young Women's lesson for tomorrow.  I learned how to download church vides onto a thumb drive!

 Two cows and a bull in our backyard.

 

Friday, September 5, 2014

"Where there is no vision,

the people perish."

-Proverbs 29:18

Happy 36th Birthday Darrel!

Darrel & Lola

Darrel and his family bring us so much joy and happiness!

This morning before he left for work I made Darrel breakfast.  I also had a balloon, a piece of cake and a birthday card with a gift card to Cheesecake Factory inside.  He will be going home to Mesa when he gets off work tonight so I had to do his celebration this morning.  I am so proud of Darrel and what he has accomplished in his life.  He is a great dad, husband, and son and we love him very much!

I studied, worked on my blog and paid Lambson Construction bills that are due by the end of the month.  James came home this afternoon.  He loved my chili and said he was grateful to get a home cooked meal.  We started a new book today by the same author as the last one we read, Sarah M. Eden.

 We also watched an episode of Sue Thomas and then I made some muffins for the youth service activity tomorrow.  Diana has excused me from going.  I am so grateful.

Today was grandparents day at Hancock School where Max, Evan, and Joshua go.  Evan made us a card.

 His cards are awesome.

 An art lesson from Ian.

 

Thursday, September 4, 2014

"A good name is better than riches."

-Proverbs 22:1

I listened to an amazing BYU Devotional talk today by Tad R Callister entitled: "Our Identity and Our Destiny".  I am going to get a copy for my files.

We got rain today and I love it! 

Two people passed away today, one was great and one was famous.

Here is a picture of the great one,  a woman who was a wonderful example to me.  She had a large family and she always found time to serve others.  I was her visiting teacher for awhile and learned of her great love for family history work.  She convinced Cid Elmer and I to join the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, which we did.  I will always have fond memories to Florence Cluff.  She was 93 years old at her passing.

Florence and LaVor Cluff and their family taken a few years ago.

 Oh yes, the famous one was Joan Rivers who was quite the opposite of Florence Cluff.

Every Thursday they have a thing on Facebook called Throwback Thursday.  Here are some of the pictures that were posted today.

 

This picture was taken in January of 1977 on the day Jared

was blessed.  My favorite part of this picture is the happy

look on Kim's face and oh yes, James's bowtie.

Teresa posted this one.  I think it was Halloween

of 1980.  I love how Sandy is trying to keep Darrel from running off, and Teresa has a pompom in Stacy's face.

 

Aaron posted this one of him and Darrel on one

of their trips to San Diego.

I made a trip into town to get some things for Darrel's birthday tomorrow.  I got him a balloon, a large piece of cake from Walmart, and a Cheesecake Factory gift card.  I also picked up dinner for the both of us from LaCasita.  

Back at home I watched "Fixer Upper" starring Chip and Joanna Gaines.  It's the show Trina recommended and I really like it.

I got a call from the Arthritis center today.  My kidney function is down a little and I need to drink more water and cut down on caffeine.