Friday, September 26th, 2014

"You can't just give up on someone because the
situation is not ideal.  Great relationships aren't
great because they have no problems.
They're great because both people care enough about the
other person to find a way to make it work."

James made one of his famous "mixes" for breakfast.  This one had meatloaf, potatoes and eggs.  After breakfast we said goodbye to Darrel until next week.  

I read an article on the saints in Korean in the September Ensign.  In the 1940's the president of Korea sent Kim Ho Jik to the United States to learn how to improve nutrition in the Korean diet.  In 1949 he started to pursue a doctoral degree at Cornell University, as well as attend various church meetings around Ithaca, New York, to find the "true church."  Ho Jik made friends with a man named Oliver Wayman who gave him a Book of Mormon which he read.   On July 29, 1951, Kim Ho Jik was baptized in the Susquehanna River - he wanted to be baptized near where the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were baptized over 100 years before.  When he was coming out of the water, he heard a clear voice saying, "Feed my sheep."  That impression led him to devote the rest of his life to helping the gospel take root in Korea. Dr. Kim's devotion finally bore fruit on August 3, 1952, when the first four people were baptized in Busan, Korea.  

Dr. Kim later told a group of Saints, "I wouldn't care if I had to give up my life, or my money, or my title, as long as I could be with my Savior."  His life evidenced this commitment to serving God.

I love his sweet testimony and desire to be with the Lord!

Evan was student of the month 

for his class.  We are so proud of him!

I vacuumed and polished the floors in the family room and living room today in preparation for my visiting teachers coming this evening at 5:30.  My visiting teachers are Hailey Chafin and Elena Pope, both a couple of young marrieds.  We had a nice visit and they gave me this quote from the lesson.

  

It started raining this evening.  I made the comment to James that I hoped Darrel would make it home ok.  At 7:38 while we were watching Sue Thomas, and eating these tasty little morsels, my phone rang.

  It was Darrel he was just in an accident near Forest Lakes.  A guy with a pickup and trailer who was parked on the side of the road pulled out and made a u-turn right in front of Darrel.  Darrel's car is totaled.  He was going to have Trina come all the way to the cabin to get him but James suggested we take him one of our cars to take home, which we did.  I drove Lexy and James was behind me in his pickup.  In several places along the way it was raining so hard I almost had to pull over instead it eased up a little.  We met Darrel at the wrecking yard in Overgaard.  Here is a picture of his car.

It's pretty amazing that he made it out with

not even a scratch.  Someone has a guardian angel.

Darrel drove Lexy home.  I will miss her but she will be back next week. 

James made sure I brought out book so I could read to him on the way home.

Thursday, September 25th, 2014

"The willingness to see through each others

eyes will transform 'corrupt communication' into ministering grace.

-Elder Zwick

Throwback Thursday on Facebook

 My mom 

My mom and I

My brother Harold is #27

This afternoon I went visiting teaching with Randa Covert.  We visited Mary Swift and Joyce Malone.  The other sister we visit, Julie Wilhelm is in Montana.  She works for the National Forest Service.  I will contact her by phone.  The message was on the divine mission of Jesus Christ as our comforter.  Here was our handout:

 James got home from the valley a little before six this evening.  I had told Dennis I would meet him and Denise at Aunt Gene's around 6:30 for dinner.  James changed and we left and arrived just a little after 6:30. Here is what the sky looked like on our way into town.

I couldn't really capture how beautiful it was!

 Dennis and Denise were already at Aunt Genes and I guess Harold and Vickie aren't coming.  We visited awhile and then went down to Licano's for dinner.  Licano's was originally the Paint Pony and owned by grandma & grandpa Maxwell.  Aunt Gene was the manager.

Cher, Brian and Colby were there to

watch the ASU game and Cher and

Colby came by for a visit.  We visited with Brian

on the way out.

 Aunt Gene and Denise have a special bond.

 Dennis and Colby.

Dennis did an imitation of one of their neighbors who

sits on her porch and yells bad things about the Maxwell's.

Although the situation isn't funny his imitation

make me laugh!

After dinner we went back up to the house and took pictures of old photographs aunt Gene had.  I have got to come back for more!!

Grandma & Grandpa Maxwell

They were married on 

August 25, 1926

 Sorry this is so blurry. Grandma & Muhammed Ali.

He trained in Show Low and stayed at the Maxwell House.

This picture was taken at grandma & grandpa's

50th wedding anniversary party.

Another wedding aniversary

I can't believe how much grandma

looks like aunt Gene in this picture.

Not sure who grandma has but

grandpa has a couple of fish.

35th Wedding anniversary

Young marrieds

Square dancing days

The family, grandpa, grandma,

my dad - Marlin, and aunt Gene

when they lived in Lakeside.

Aunt Gene and my dad as teenagers

growing up in Show Low.

I love these old family pictures and hopefully I can go back and visit with Aunt Gene again and hear some more family stories.

James was tired and not feeling well but I am so grateful he came with me tonight to enjoy time with my family.

 

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

One of the Young Women in our ward.

"Forgiveness is for the

one who forgives."

-Jack Hudson on

Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye

An absolutely gorgeous day in Vernon, 75 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze.  I had lunch outside.

 

Part of my lunch consisted of a "chocolate" tomato given to me by a friend in our ward.  

  No, it didn't taste like chocolate.

Before Mutual tonight I called Kilee  to ask her to call the girls and remind them to bring their Personal Progress books.  Her mom answered the phone and said: "Kilee's visiting the tinkletorium, can she call you back?"  Clever.

Tonight the Mia Maids invited Sister Chafin and Sister Reynolds to help us with hair and nails and then to take pictures.  

 Kilee after Sister Chafin did her hair.

 LeeAnn sitting on the floor doing her toenails.

 Good job LeeAnn!

Sister Reynolds

 Sister Chafin doing Kelly's hair.

Beautiful girl with a beautiful smile!

It was a fun evening!

Joshua attended his first Cubscout pack meeting this evening.  He got his Bobcat award and help post the colors.  These boys are growing up too fast!

As an added bonus, someone posted a picture of Michael.

 

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014

Today I would like to share some insights 

I have gained over the past two weeks:

1.  Ask yourself before speaking: 

"Is it kind, is it true, or is it necessary?"

2. One of the greatest accomplishments in this world would be

that of lifting human hearts.

Blessed are they who are kind and considerate

of the feelings of other people.

-Richard L. Evans

3.  With whatever measurement you use to judge,

you must judge yourself.  What kind of a ruler

am I using?

Chandler High's new marquee

celebrating 100 years.

Wise words from a prophet of God.

  Norway

I tried a new recipe for dinner tonight.  I cooked a pork roast in enchilada sauce in the crockpot for about 7 hours.  I took the roast out and shredded it and put it in a flour tortilla and rolled it like a burro.  I put sauce and cheese on top and put it in the oven until the cheese had melted.  Here is what it looked like.

Quite good!

 I made one of these burros for Darrel before going to bed.

 

Monday, September 22nd, 2014

"The essence of righteousness is obedience."

-New Era, September 2014, 26

James left for the valley this morning around 4:30am.  I will miss him until he returns.

I had lunch with Harold, Vickie, Dennis, Denise, and Monte and Tasha today at The Bistro in Lakeside.  We ate outside because the weather was gorgeous!  The food was also delicious.  Thank you Dennis and Denise.

I had the turkey, bacon, avocado sandwich

on sourdough and it was yummy!

Here were some of our topics of conversation:

*Brian and Cher are moving to Vancouver, Washington in October.

*A young man who graduated last year was killed last night drag racing in front of the high school.

*What kind of headstone we should get for dad's gravesite.

I gave Denise a Book of Mormon with my testimony in it for her birthday.  I told Dennis and Denise about the blessing Chris Butler gave Stacy and what it meant to her.  They invited me to have dinner with them and Aunt Gene on Thursday evening.  I told them I would look forward to it.

This afternoon my neighbor Kathy knocked on my door and asked if I would like to come over and pick out some vegetables from her garden.  Of course I would!

Kathy is an excellent gardener!

This evening I watched Dancing with the Stars.  I think my favorite dancers tonight were Bethany and Derek.  Julianne Hough's hair looked like she combed it with an eggbeater.  The theme for the show tonight was "My Jam".  Each guest chose their favorite song to dance to.

James texted me and said his laryingitis is back with a vengeance.

 

 

 

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.