Thursday, October 2, 2014

"We all make mistakes.  Sometimes we harm ourselves and

seriously injure others in ways that we alone cannot

repair.  We break things that we alone cannot fix.  It is then in our nature to feel guilt and humiliation and suffering,

which we alone cannot cure.  That is when the healing power of

the Atonement will help."

-President Boyd K. Packer

 Happy Birthday to James's mother who

turns 87 today.

Lois is one of the most amazing women I have ever met.  She is the mother of eight very talented children.  She raised her children to be hardworking and independent.  She is an wonderful cook, and seamstress.  She makes the most beautiful Barbie clothes you have ever seen.  She is smart and not afraid to try new things.  In the last few years she has taken up painting and like so many other things she does, she has a real talent for it.  For years she has bought Christmas and birthday gifts for all of her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She makes the most beautiful bows and packages you have ever seen.  She grows beautiful flowers and up until recently did most of her yardwork herself.  I have just scratched the surface of her many talents.  I have been a part of her family for 46 years and she has been such an amazing mother to me, especially after my own mother passed away.   Thank you Lois.  I love you!

James went out elk bugling this morning.  He wants to get close enough to take some good pictures.  For breakfast this morning I made bacon, eggs, and biscuits.  I had quite a crowd for breakfast, Darrel, James, Alex, Kyle, and Adam when he eventually woke up.  James tried to get the boys to try the jalapeno jelly but the only one who liked it was Kyle.

James and I went into town today.  I bought enough groceries at Walmart to feed this group for four days and then we stopped and bought Little Caesar's on the way home.  

It was an absolute gorgeous day here with the high between 65-70 degrees.  

This afternoon I read to James and then I fixed calico beans and cornbread for dinner.  They boys went into town to get gas for the Razr and to try and download a game that came out this evening at the McDonald's where they have free wifi.  I guess it was way to slow they so they came home.  I told them they couldn't use ours until we get our plan changed because we are already over our limit.  

Darrel gave 25 shots today, one for shingles and the others for flu.

Today is Throwback Thursday:

Sheri thinks this picture of me looks

alot like Evan.

My grandparents, Verdie and Arlee Maxwell

The Chandler vs. Hamilton game was tonight.

For the first time in 10 years, Chandler won

and it was at Hamilton's field!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

I think fall is officially here.  It was 39 degrees this morning.  

I am so frustrated with Verizon right now.  I am trying to change our plan but it won't let me because it says I am not an authorized signer on the account.  I thought James put me on but apparently he didn't and so I can't do anything until he gets here.  

James made it home by 5pm just like I asked him to with my car.  He also brought Burger House burros with him but I didn't have time to eat one before leaving for my young women's presidency meeting scheduled for 5:30pm.

The big debate is when or if we are going to have our chili cookoff.  Every date seems to have a conflict.  Finally we turned it over to Brother Wilhelm and told him to ask the bishop if we could be excused from this one.  He will get back to us.

For Young Women's we practiced for next week's virtue program.  Brother Applegate helped us with the video download of "Virtue Makes You Beautiful" off Youtube.  Hope, Heaven, Maddie, and Coty were not here.

Adam, and Alex, and Adam's friend Kyle came up in the truck.  They got here right after Darrel arrived, around 10:45.  We saved a burro for Darrel.  

Sheri took her boys to the zoo today.  It looks like they had a good time.

 Petting the stingrays

Feeding the giraffe

Also on Facebook:

Cher saw this fox this morning when she

went for her walk near Fool's Hollow Lake

in Show Low.

A very unique kind of

mountain goat.

 

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

"Disciplining the natural man in each of us makes possible a

richer, a deeper, and a more enduring love of God and

of His children.  Love increases through righteous

restraint and decreases through 

impulsive indulgence."

-Elder David A. Bednar

 Happy Birthday Dawn!

Dawn is the one on the far left and the rest of the

people in this picture are her brothers and sisters.

Let me tell you a little bit about James's younger sister Dawn.  She is one of the most patient, kind and considerate people you will ever meet.  She always thinks of others before herself.  She is dedicated, hard-working, and determined.  She has a doctorate in education and teaches at ASU.  She lives with her mother and because of Dawn, the rest of the family knows their mother is well taken care of.  Dawn's "school room" in their house is a favorite with the kids.  She has so many interesting learning materials that are very engaging, to kids, both young and old.  I have known Dawn for over 40 years and I can honestly say she is one of my favorite people in the world!! 

James is leaving this morning so I get up to have prayer with him.  I am in alot of pain this morning.  Both hips hurt and my left shoulder is very sore.  I must have slept on it wrong.

Since I have no car I won't be going shopping today.  Instead I stay home and pay bills.  I have a nice talk on the phone with my good friend Diana Curtis.  Sometimes I get lonely when I am here alone so I appreciate friends and family texting or calling.

I can't seem to get all the things done that I want to do.  I need to be working on family history and going through all the boxes of stuff in my office.  By the time I finish paying bills the day is almost over.  Maybe I need to cut down on my TV shows.  Tonight I watched the premiere of Castle and Once Upon a Time.

 A painting of Hayden Lambson

done by his son Dallen.

Hayden is James's cousin.

Monday, September 29th, 2014

Thank you Pres. Monson

Today is Kim & Brian's 19th wedding anniversary.  I think it was a good one.

 To Kim

From Brian

"He knows her well."

A Jack the Pumpkin King clock

and

a trip to the beach in San Diego.

What more could a girl ask for!

Brian is clearing away the seaweed so Kim can take a

picture of the sunset.

James had mainly office work to do today and he decided he could do it here just as well as in Chandler, so he stayed here.  This afternoon we went into town.  We stopped where the elders live, and they were there because it is P-day, and left them two dozen chocolate chip cookies.  The Concho elders are there too because they wrecked their car so they are all serving together.

 Next stop was the post office.  I had to show my driver's license to get the mail because I left my key in Lexy. When we got into town James stopped in at Wizard's to order a fireplace insert.  I stayed in the truck.  We had to go to Walmart so I could get a new curling iron.  Mine burned out yesterday.   Someone told Darrel that The Cattlemen's restaurant was pretty good so we stopped there for dinner.  Their salad bar was small but good, the bread was good, and the steak was okay, but nothing like Black Angus or Outback.

When we get home we go on the porch outside of our bedroom and read.  While I am reading James is glassing for elk on the hill just north of us.  He uses his call and the elk on the hill call back.  What a fun hobby for him!

When James is here he loves for me to read to him and he loves to watch Sue Thomas F.B.Eye with me.  We did both today.

Sheri posted this picture of Evan on Facebook:  I call it: 

"Sly Guy"

Sunday, September 28th, 2014

Kim took the picture of

the Gilbert Temple.

James had an early high council meeting this morning.  He has to be back before nine or I won't have a way to church.  While I am studying this morning I watch Women's Conference again.  I know because of some of the experiences I have had that I will bear my testimony in sacrament meeting today.  This highlight of my week was this conference.

It was raining a little when we went into church this morning and I didn't have an umbrella.  All of my umbrellas are in my car which Darrel has in the valley.

 I guess I didn't want an umbrella anyway.

One of my friends took this picture at her place before coming to church:

 Yes, she has a teepee.

I did bear my testimony today in fast & testimony meeting.  I told how this week had been a week of spiritual highs and lows and that I would like to share some of the highs which were: Giving a Book of Mormon to Denise with my testimony in it, meeting with my 87 year old aunt and doing some family history with her, and then I told of Darrel's accident and how we felt it was a tender mercy of the Lord that he was able to walk away without a scratch.  I then talked about the Spirit I felt because of women's conference and bore my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and of the Savior.  Sometimes you just know when you are supposed to share your testimony and bear witness.  The Spirit lets you know.

Today in Sunday School our lesson was based on Amos 3:7; "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."  How appropriate for the week before general conference.

In Young Women's Diana gave a lesson on Christlike attributes.  Her lessons are always so very good.

After the block James was busy with some meetings.  Kathy Crane asked me to go visiting teaching with her, so I did.  We went to one home and the sister wasn't there.  We were afraid to get out of the car because of her dog.  Next we went to Angel Wings nursing home where Kathy visited two sisters.  She left them with the message and gave each of them a small plant.  I am glad I went with her.  I could tell it made her happy.

I went home and broke my fast.  James was meeting with the Elder's quorum presidency and he attended the ordination of Matt Chafin who was ordained by his dad to be an elder.  Just in time as his son his going to be baptized on the 11th.

After James got home and had something to eat, we took a nap and then he went home teaching with Tyler Hunsaker.  I sent a birthday gift for Alice W.  She turns 13 on October 3rd.  I sent a small Preach My Gospel, a journal, a notebook and pen, a candle, and a picture of the Savior.

Alice

Her siblings, Ruthie, Trenda, and Johnny

Trenda

I made scalloped potatoes and ham for dinner.  I also made Oreo truffle brownies.  We scraped the Oreo part off and just ate the brownies. 

 I believe Kim posted this picture.

Gorgeous!

 

Saturday, September 27th, 2014

I love President Hinckley!

James woke up with abdominal pains.  He had them yesterday but today he says they are worse.  I convinced him he needed to go to the emergency room so he got ready to go.  He went outside only to find he had a flat tire.  He changed the tire and then said he needed to go to Discount Tire to get some new tires and didn't know how he would do that and go to the emergency room.  I had planned on cooking most of the day as the missionaries were supposed to come over for dinner, but I felt going with James was more important, so I got ready and off we went.  

We stopped at Discount Tire where James ordered three new tires.  I then drove him to the hospital and did a little shopping at Walmart before heading back to Discount.  

James is waiting for them to do a scan to see if he has diverticulitis.  I was stressing about the missionaries so I called and told them we would have to cancel.  I spoke with Brother Bomer who was very concerned and told me not to worry about it.  I felt better after talking to him, but I really do hate to let people down.  

While the new tires were being mounted I walked over to KFC for some lunch.  While there I saw and spoke to one of our Young Women, Arizona.  

I got to the hospital just as James was leaving his room.  They had done the test and determined it wasn't diverticulitis and were releasing him to go home.  The doctor said he probably just pulled a muscle.  James thinks he may have some kind of a virus.

On the way home I tried to call the missionaries to see if they wanted us to bring them some food, but they didn't answer.  James stopped to get something at KFC.  I didn't  eat because I had already started my fast.  Hopefully we will get to feed the missionaries again soon.

They always leave a message and bring a wonderful spirit into 

our home.

This evening I listened to the best General Women's Conference that I can ever remember!  They were talks I absolutely needed to hear, especially Sister Marriott's and President Uchtdorf's.  I was crying when the meeting was over.  I also enjoyed a group of Primary girls from Korea singing "I love to see the Temple" and the choir of women and girls singing "I Know that My Savior Loves Me", and "I Know that My Redeemer Lives."  I went to bed feeling so uplifted and full of the Spirit.

In Chandler, Dallin, Joseph and Joseph's friend Amanda, all performed at SoZo's.  

 

 I have some very talented grandsons!

 

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.