Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Sweet Lola

"The sacrament becomes a spiritually strengthening experience when we listen to the sacrament prayers and recommit to our covenants." 

-Cheryl A. Esplin

We left the motel before daylight and missed the breakfast buffet.  Oh well.  I am fasting anyway because I have to go into Dr. Allen's and get my bloodwork done.

We finished our book "Courting Miss Lancaster."  We also discovered there is a gas station at Chiracio Summit between Coachella and Blythe.

Once we reached Chandler I said goodbye to James as he dropped me off at the house.  He took the tank to the job and I went to get bloodwork done at Dr. Allen's.  After I was finished I decided I wanted to take a treat to Trina's kids because they were all home from school sick.  I stopped at a Sonic on Baseline road but their credit card machine was down so I went to Fry's and bought popsicles, jello, and sherbert. The kids seemed grateful.  They didn't seem to sick either.

 Rowan doing his math homework.

Addy played some Christmas tunes on the guitar.

Rowan playing Christmas songs on the piano.

Ruby swinging Lola and

looking cute.

 I finally said goodbye and left for home. It was a gorgeous day.  I went the Globe way and it was actually quite pleasant because there was no traffic.  I stopped at Burger House in Miami and got three bean burros and one mixed burro, two beans for me and a bean ad a mixed for Darrel.  I got home around 4:30.  I needed some rest and relaxation so I sat down to watch "DWTS."  

I was at the church before seven.  Tonight is our YW/YM combined activity with the YM in charge and we are going to the aquatic center in Show Low.  It was a fun evening and after swimming Brother DeWitt had donuts and hot chocolate waiting for everyone outside.

Those who attended this activity:

LeeAnn and Kilee, although they didn't swim.  Maddie, Kelly, Hope, Heaven, Kyah, Holly and Ashten, Shelly, Trenda, Weston, Tyler, Jackson, Talon, Jace, Daniel (Trenda's friend), and Sister Hunaker, myself, Sister Curtis, Brother DeWitt, Brother McNeil, and Bishop Miller.  Oh yes, and Colton, Maddie's brother who rode in my car. 

 

 

 

 

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Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Happy 113th Birthday to my grandpa, Arlee Maxwell.  He looks too serious here, I always remember him with a smile on his face.

That's my grandma, Verdie Rea Robinson Maxwell with him.

Also, since today is veteran's day I want to thank all the veteran's out there and those now serving in the military who put their lives on the line to keep our country safe.  Thank You!

We left before 5am Arizona time pulling a twenty two foot trailer behind us.  As is my usual activity when James is driving I slept and read, outloud to James of course.  

We stopped in Ehrenberg on the Arizona/California border at the Love Gas Station.  While James got gas I went in and ordered breakfast from Wendy's: a bacon, egg biscuit for each of us and a diet coke for me.  

Bakersfield is 500 miles from Phoenix.  MapQuest took us there but once we got to Bakersfield it sent us on a wild goose chase.  We finally had to call the company we are getting the tank from, Containment Solutions,  for directions.  

 It's loaded!

 Making sure it is secure.

Now for the trip home.  We head south on the I-5 and then east on the 210 back to the 10.  We stop in Banning at the Sizzler for dinner.  It took us a few minutes to find a parking space big enough to park this rig!  

We ordered Malibu chicken to share and the salad bar.  I forgot how good their Malibu chicken is.  This was so much better than fast food!

 Yummy!

We were headed towards Blythe and realized we forgot to get gas so we turned around and headed back to Coachella.  James decided he was tired and we were going to spend the night in Coachella.  We stayed at the Quality Inn, room 120.  It was nothing fancy but the sheets were clean and comfy, I had a nice pillow and the air was cool.  I am looking forward to a shower in the morning!

Monday, November 10, 2014

I want my road to look like this.

"Decisions of character are made by remembering the right order of the first and second great commandments."

-Matthew 22:37-39

Elder Lynn G. Robins

We left at 5:30 this morning for the valley and I was ready on time!  We went the Globe way because James says it is faster, and I am beginning to agree with him.  I had my red neck pillow and our book so I slept and read most of the way.  Pinky pillow is leaking and must be tossed.  We stopped at the Circle K on Signal Butte in Apache Junction for a potty break and some snacks: a diet Dr. Pepper and a tuna sandwich to share with James.

I took James to Chandler and we unloaded the car and then I drove back to Power & Baseline for my appointment with Dr. Allen.  I have to come back fasting so they can take my bloodwork.  Hopefully I can do that this week before we go home.

Back to Chandler.  We have a lunch date with Sheri to go to Carolina's mexican food in Phoenix because we have heard how good it is.  When Sheri got off work she went straight to Urgent Care because she has an ear ache.  We waited because when we go with Sheri she does all the driving.  Here we are at Carolina's:

   It's definitely in the hood so it must be authentic.

 Waiting to place our order.

Sheri enjoying her lunch.

James doing what he does best...talking on the phone.

 I had a taco that was good but a little greasy.  I also had a bean burro that was delicious.  James liked his mixed green burro.  We also got some tortillas to take home but I didn't think they were any better than El Sol's in Chandler.

This evening I went to see the new Disney movie Big Hero Six with Darrel and Trina and all the kids.  Lola was great!  I got to sit by Ruby and Addy.

 Lola is ready for the movie.

James was going to come too but he had to go home and get the truck and trailer ready for our trip to Bakersfield, California tomorrow to pick up an underground storage tank for the Hatch job.

After the movie was over Darrel's family gave me a ride home.  The only sad thing was that Addy said she felt sick, otherwise it was a fun evening.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Unique view of the Gilbert temple.

"We preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write

according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

-2 Nephi 25:26

It was on this day 25 years ago that the Berlin wall came down.  I can still remember.  We lived in Chandler and Ray Heyman was our bishop.  It was a miraculous day!

Today was our fast and testimony meeting.  President Williams attended our ward and reminded us of the community fast coming up on November 16-22.  

James and I came home and broke our fast and then laid down to take a nap.  I slept an hour or so and then got up to make some pumpkin bread for John Wilhelm.  When I made a loaf for his family the kids didn't save him any so now he gets his own loaf.  James slept for 3 1/2 hours.  I guess he needed it.  

This evening we watched our Hallmark Christmas movie.  This one was called: "The Nine Lives of Christmas."  

 I love this picture!

Just a reminder to all the youth:

Saturday, November 8, 2014inet and the

This is a picture of the barn that we want to build.

"Trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ; keep His laws and commandments.  In other words - live the gospel joyful."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Every night I want the heater and the fan on.  I think I drive James a little crazy!  We are having an indian summer right now.  The high today was 65 degrees!

For breakfast we had potatoes, onions, peppers, eggs and ham.  Darrel joined us.  CVS's pharmacy doesn't open until 9am on Saturday.  

We finished our book, "Courting Miss Lancaster"  and will soon be starting "Friend or Foe."  We are addicted!

James spent the day working on fixing my doll cabinet and the hole he made in the wall when he fell off the ladder last year.  

 Garage workshop will someday be replaced

by a workshop in our big barn.

I got a little nervous when he starts climbing up a ladder.

I was glad when he was finished and back on the ground!

While James was doing his remodeling project I was working on my self-reliance lesson for Young Women's tomorrow and blogging.

We started our fast this afternoon for Fast Sunday and then this evening we watched "Hats Off to Christmas" starring Haylie Duff.

 

 

Friday, November 7, 2014

"We must stand firm in our faith and lift our voices to proclaim true doctrine."

-Neill F. Marriott

James and Adam went to work for awhile this morning.  I stayed home and visited with Stacy and packed to get ready to go home.  

One the way home we went back to the airport job, then on to the Wallen's to drop off the helmets Jared left at our place this summer.  We had lunch at Firehouse Subs:

James waiting for his sub.

Notice the dalmation table.

A friend from Chandler, Tim Glemser came in and we visited with him for a few minutes.  He has a Christmas album out.  He plays the piano and is very good.  

We went next door to Deseret Book and bought 3 more Sarah M. Eden books:

This is the one that we will be reading first:

 This book is about Philip Jonquil and 

Sorrel Kendrick, two characters we have

already been introduced to.

We got gas at Costco and then drove out to Dan Taylor's cabinet workshop.  He is making some drawer covers for two of the drawers in our Chandler kitchen.  Finally, on to Burger House in Miami where we picked up burros.  My favorite are the bean burros and James's are the green mixed.  We were in Show Low by 4pm.  We stopped at Chase bank and made a deposit for the Maple Chase house in Queen Creek that we sold.  We also made a deposit at National bank and then finally, home!!  

After unpacking I read to James and did some Book of Mormon study.  This evening we watched "Snow Bride", one of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies.  

We went to bed and left two burros for Darrel, one bean and one mixed.

Evan had his birthday party today.  

His party was at Flipside.  

Addy and Ruby are the two girls.

At Flipside the kids got to bowl, play laser tag and arcade games and there is also a play area.

Evan loved the art supplies that Kimmy gave him.

Paul and Sheri both posted pictures of their family during scripture study.  I can't help but smile at the contrast.

Gonzales family scripture study.

Trezise family scripture study.

 

 

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Happy 8th Birthday to Evan William Trezise!

I left around 11:30 today for the valley.  Today is Evan's birthday but it is also Ian's brother, J.D.'s funeral.  I arrived around 3:30.  My lunch was a tuna sandwich and a Hershey bar from Circle K with a diet Dr. Pepper to drink.  

The funeral is at 5 in Mesa and Adam and James don't get home from work until after 4, but somehow we still make it in time.  

The funeral is at Meldrum Mortuary with an open casket.  I didn't think I was going to like the open casket but it actually was okay.  There was a slide show of pictures from J.D.'s life with some of his favorite music playing.  Ian and his brother Sean both spoke. Ian bore his testimony which was very sweet.

 I agree with Ian's father, no one should ever have to bury one of their children.

Those attending from our family: Stacy, Paul, Adam, Jared Ammon, Michael, Joshua, Sheri & Ian's family, and James and I.  The flowers Sheri ordered for the casket were beautiful.

Max and Ben are really struggling.  Max does not like the fact that J.D. is being cremated.  He is worried about him being resurrected.  Ben is just a sensitive guy and shows his emotions.

After the service James, Adam, and I and Sheri's family went to Matta's for dinner.  

 Alex is missing because he was at our table.

Ben must have brought a change of clothes.

When Adam gets home Paul and Stacy sit him down to have a talk about his diabetes.

Something I found fascinating on Facebook today:

I know for a fact that Joe has a hobbit hole

in his back yard.