Sunday, September 21st, 2014

"We don't discover humility by thinking less of ourselves,
we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves."
-Pres. Uchtdorf

James left early for church this morning.  He had to finish an audit he was doing with Brother Gillespie.  

Sacrament meeting was really good.  LeeAnn Hunsaker gave a talk on patriarchal blessings.  LeeAnn got her patriarchal blessing recently and said it was the greatest experience of her life.

Paul Wyatt from the high council and his wife Pandora were the main speakers.   They spoke about General Conference and the importance of following the prophets.  We need to be prepared for the messages that are meant for us.  

The bishop called me up in sacrament meeting to present me with my Young Women's medallion.  I was glad to receive the reward but certainly don't like getting up in front of people to be recognized.

 It took me two years of serving in 

Young Women's to earn this award.

During Young Women's Diana had me get up in front of the girls and gave me a gift which included this crystal container to

put my necklace in.  She is so very thoughtful.

  In Sunday School we discussed the book of Hosea and in Young Women's Randa Covert gave a lesson on fasting and prayer.  I was spiritually fed by the end of the block.

The Chandler West Stake had a special conference presided over by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the quorum of the 12 apostles.  After the conference was over he invited all the youth and children to come forward and shake his hand.  Max, Evan and Joshua were excited to be able to shake the hand of an apostle.

Max and Elder Christofferson

 Evan's interesting handshake

 Joshua to the right of Elder Christofferson

Sheri said it was a wonderful conference and such a great opportunity to hear an apostle of the Lord.

I made chicken tenders for lunch and brownies for dessert.  While I was making brownies, Kim was making this:

 Looks delicious!

James and I went to stake auxiliary training this evening at the stake center.  He went because he is offer the Sunday School.  We took Ruth Wilhelm and Diana Curtis with us.  It was a very good meeting.   Here are some of my notes:

President Williams: The essence of leadership is teaching.  Don't reinvent the wheel, just build upon it.  Let people know they are loved.  Be patient.

Sister Crookston: The youth say that one of the things they like about the new curriculum is how they learn from each other.  The scriptures and our prophets are our measuring sticks.  Take the role of a learner as well as a teacher.

Sister Garvin: Quoted from an article by Elder Oaks, "The Challenge to Become".  Act, think, converted by it.  3 Nephi 17:3.

Sharing, learning, living, a "mighty change of heart."

Sister Jones: Video: "Learning and Teaching in the Church."  Bear testimony to seal the truth of the doctrine.  Elder Holland says that miracles occur because of apostles, prophets, and teachers.

 

 

Saturday, September 20th, 2014

All honest work is the work of God.

"A consecrated life is a life of labor."

-Elder D. Todd Christofferson

As Darrel was getting ready to leave for home this morning he pointed out that we had several wooly worms outside in front of our porch.  I took a picture for you enjoyment.

James and I went on a Razr ride this morning.  Although much of the forest is still beautiful, much of it looks like this:

One of our favorite trails.

 So sad.

It looks like Buckelew Falls had been running, but was dry now.  After our ride I came home and took some pictures outside before coming in and making brownies for our ward party tonight.

 All of these flowers were taken

in our back "yard."

 There is beauty all around.

We are so blessed!

 Adjusting the wind chimes.

Just can't keep this man from climbing.

Evan had a soccer game today.

That is one of the things I miss about not living in the valley.

This boy loves soccer and he is so good!

We got to the ward party at the Wallace's a little late so we were towards the end of the food line.  We visited with the Applegate's about Ty's injuries.  I had a nice visit with Tina Allen about Rusty on his mission.  Chuck Crane told us Collin Dewitt wasn't there because Wendy was in a car accident in Gilbert.  As he was going down to see her his truck broke down in Superior and he had to have it towed.  I guess everybody has problems.

I also visited with Diana Curtis, Kaeli Nicoll who says she loves Darrel working at CVS, and Amy Reynolds.  Heaven Lootans did a gymnastic trick for me just as I was leaving.  It was a fun party but just as the bishop and his dad started to play and sing it started to rain and they had to stop.

James bring my container.  He spent awhile looking for the lid.

Bishop Miller and his dad.

 

Friday, September 19, 2014

How true.

James made sausage gravy and biscuits for breakfast.  We also had fresh strawberries and jalapeno jelly.  I know that Darrel doesn't have time for a lunch break so I want to make sure he has a good breakfast.

My plate.

Darrel told us something funny that Rowan said to Trina:

"Mom do you think dad is really going to work or do you think he is just playing games and eating candy at the cabin?"  Funny.  He knows that's what we do when their family visits.  He forgot to mention Razr rides.

Darrel's car was so caked in mud in the undercarriage that it shook when he tried to drive it so he took my car to work.  

James's crew poured their last batch of concrete at Hatch Hanger today.  Now James has to lay most of them off.  Such is the nature of this business.

Adam and his "crew" are painting at Reed & Janis Willis's.  

I spent most of the day paying bills both business and personal.  It is a long and tedious process.  I also did two blog posts, I'm still a week behind.  James worked on billing Greg Hatch and projecting how much more it would cost to finish the project.  

Chandler High School is celebrating its 100th year birthday.

Oldest high school in Arizona?

Evan's selfie

  Selfie of a Cutie!

James washed the mud off Darrel's car today.  Darrel is working until 10pm so he won't be going home tonight but will go home in the morning.  

I made homemade mashed potatoes and swiss steak for dinner while James watched Sue Thomas.  He got frustrated because the disk kept skipping.  We did enjoy a delicious meal together before going to bed and made a plate for Darrel when he gets home.

 

Thursday, September 18, 2014

"You have the Savior 

of the world 

on your side.

If you seek His help and

follow His directions,

how can you fail?"

-Bishop Gary E. Stevenson

Here are my Throwback Thursday pictures:

Darrel & Jon on one of 

their San Diego trips.

 These guys are "Throwbacks"

to our days in Chandler.

Devin Johnson, and

Bishop John Bear.

I fixed Darrel and James bacon and eggs for breakfast.  As I was washing the dishes I looked outside and a cow was staring back at me.  She brought about 12 of her friends with her.  I just can't tolerate cows in my yard so I jumped on the Razr and away I went.

James went out to "shoot" some elk.

Again we had to go into town to fix a tire from my car.  We had lunch at Panda and did some shopping at Walmart.  I saw Vickie, Kaytlynn, Cher and Brian in the prescription line.  Vickie said one of the techs that works with Darrel told her to talk him into moving up here because they like him so well.

This afternoon I read to James from "Longing for Home", did some menu planning and worked on my blog.  

Jared and Sheri are in Las Vegas at the Vision Expo conference.  

 Sheri met up with an old friend,

 and had a blast trying on sunglasses.

In the evening Jared took her to a Vegas show.  I told them to take some pictures but this is all I got.

We were in bed tonight, but not yet asleep when we got a call at 10:40.  It was Darrel.  He was coming home and going a little too fast on the CR3261 that goes past Hunsaker's and he went off the road into the muddy ditch.  He couldn't get out so James, who is expert at getting cars out of the mud, went to his rescue.  Going too fast on a dirt road late at night, and talking to your wife on the phone are not a good combination.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Today I enjoyed rain, jalapeno jelly, chicken pot pie, and James.

For Mutual tonight we had a combined activity with the Young Men in charge.  We went to the Wallace Ranch and rode the zipline, ate hotdogs and smores and had a wonderful time until Ty Applegate got hurt.  After becoming quite dizzy on the merry-go-round he got off and walked directly in front of the swing his sister Shelly was on.  The swing hit him in the face and knocked him to the ground.  He was out for just a few seconds but was carried back to the ramada by Jacob Flake.  He lie there for a long time while Brother Dewitt, who is a paramedic examined him and determined he needed to go to the hospital.  The problem is Ty's parents are in the valley.  Brother Dewitt took him and spent several hours with him at the hospital until his mother got here.

Ty has a break between his thumb and his wrist, a broken nose that may require surgery, several chipped teeth, and injury to his collar bone.  He is a little guy and a couple of years ago he fell out of a tree and wore a cast around his chest for several weeks.  

Here are some pictures of our activity.  As you can see, the Wallace's have a beautiful place and we are grateful to them for sharing it with us.

 Ringing the dinner bell

 Shelly loves to swing

 Wallace's is located 11 miles out of Vernon

on CR3144 and 12 miles out of Lakeside.

Brother Wallace began clearing trees in 1996.

There are five acres developed for

recreational activities.  You can stay

here for family reunions, girls camp, and

have your wedding reception here as

Paul's sister Dorina did.

 Ruth Wilhelm admiring the garden.

Two friends

 A cutie named Kilee

 Shelly on the swing

 Alice getting ready to go on the zipline.

 Nice view.

Berry bushes

The youth loved the merry-go-round.

 Westin on the zipline. 

 Shelly being helped off the zipline.

 Zipline crew.

 Sunset.

Most of my zipline pictures didn't turn out 

because it was too dark.