Happy Thanksgiving! Thursday, November 27, 2014ria

"To be a Christian is to admire Jesus so sincerely and so fervently that the whole life goes out to him in an aspiration to be like him."

-L. Tom Perry

James helped with the turkey this morning.  He seasoned it and prepared it, and had it in the roaster oven by 7:21.  

Jared got a call at 6:30 this morning.  Tricia, Molly, and Emmy were on their way to the Wallen's for Thanksgiving and were in a rollover accident just outside of Deming.  Everyone is okay but Tricia is stranded in Deming where there are no rental car places open.  Jared and Anna have to leave to take her to Tucson where her dad picks her and the girls up.

 The van is totaled

Tricia fell asleep at the wheel.  Thankfully no other

vehicles were involved and the girls were safely buckled in.

 Molly and Emmy were excited to ride in an ambulance.

I sent Anna off with her chocolate pie.  I also made croissant sandwiches with ham and cheese for them to take on the road.

They ended up traveling 775 miles today by the time they got back to El Paso.

 James and Brian watching a Hallmark Christmas movie while James plays the piano in the background.

 Joseph playing the guitar while Kim works in the kitchen.

Joseph is actually an awesome guitar player!

 Alex finally got someone to play Settlers with him.

James carving the turkey.

 Kim whipping up the mashed potatoes.

They were yummy!

 Brian was the punchmaker.

 The boys are ready to eat.

 We have much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.  

I am most thankful for my family and for the gospel.

I am thankful that Tricia and the girls are safe.

I am so very happy and realize how truly blessed I am.

After dinner James and Brian did all the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.  James said it took them two hours.  Kim and I went in the bedroom and watched a couple of Christmas movies:

"What I did for Love"

and "Christmas in Palm Springs"

Kim, Alex, and Joe taught James how to play "Hearts", or as I call it "Be Nice to Your Neighbor."

 Does James look confused?

 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

"The color purple symbolizes spirituality, nobility, royalty, honor, richness and power..."

 -Cloaked in Purple

James and I were home alone today.  I made Food Nanny rolls but there wasn't enough.  I overbaked the first batch, so I decide to make Cathy Arnett's rolls which makes anywhere from 48-64.  The first two times I found weavels in the liquid and then realized they were in my powdered milk so on the last batch I used fresh milk instead.  I must have forgotten to put the salt in the recipe because they turned out very bland but I am too tired to make anymore.  

I also baked the pies, or should I say I put the frozen pies I bought into the oven to bake: Apple, pecan, and pumpkin.

I cleaned and changed sheets upstairs in preparation for our company.  

Our guests: Kim, Brian, Joe, Alex, Jared, Anna, and James all arrived late after we went to bed.

Facebook finds:

This is Brother Tom Baker from the Vernon ward.

He was mistaken for Santa while shopping at

Costco this week.

 Sheri posts pictures of Lola to make me jealous.

It works!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and...set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18

 James took my car to the job this morning.  He gets home in the late morning and we go to Greg Hatch's office to pick up a check.  We were going to get the oil changed in the car but we ran out of time.

We picked up Adam from the job and took him to lunch with us at the Hangar Cafe.  

 

The guys had the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing special.  I had the chicken and bacon croissant sandwich.  Everything was very tasty!  After lunch I took James and Adam home and I went shopping at Walmart.  

We loaded up two ice chests and a cold bag and all the food, gifts and luggage into my car and there was no room for anything else.  

I left a gift for Tricia at the house because she is picking up James there on Sunday. 

On the way home we stopped at Burger House.  James got a mixed green burro and I got a bean burro.  

When we got home we unloaded everything and watched a great Christmas movie, "The Christmas Shepherd".  I also checked in to see who won "Dancing with the Stars."  Alfonso and Witney win!

Facebook finds:

 This jaguar was found near Alpine, Arizona.

Monday, November 24, 2014

St. George temple

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep...."My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." 

(John 10:14, 27).

When we left for the valley this morning at 5am it was 14 degrees.  We stopped at the Subway in Globe for breakfast.  

The pavers were already on the job when James got there.  He went back home and I went shopping at Costco and Deseret Book.   Later this afternoon I went shopping with Sheri at Fry's and Sams Club for Thanksgiving.  We both bought turkeys for 1/2 price at Fry's.  She is having dinner at her house for the Trezise's.  

I bought new sheets today at Costco and put them on our air mattress.  They are divine!  

I missed watching Dancing with the Stars this evening but heard that Bethany and Derek are off. 

We had dinner and FHE at Sheri & Ian's.  The burgers were good but the best part of the evening was Evan's FHE lesson.  He read a story from the Friend and then tested how well we were listening by asking questions.  I was so impressed with how well he read with great expression.  He is one special kid!

Evan loves pumpkin pie so I gave him the one

I bought at Costco today. 

Facebook find:

Sunday, November 23, 2014

"On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your spiritual confidence before God?  Do you have a personal witness that your current offering as a Latter-day Saint is sufficient to inherit eternal life?  Can you say within yourself that Heavenly Father is pleased with you?"

-Elder Jorg Klebingat

I put a stew on this morning before leaving for church.  James was late getting back from high council.  I guess on the way home he stopped at the Vernon ward and attended ward council.  

Kelly, one of our young women, gave her first talk in sacrament meeting and did a great job!  Tina and Steve Allen also spoke.  In Sunday School we studied Isaiah 54 and in Young Women Sandra gave a lesson on the Word of Wisdom to the Mia Maids.  

Our stew tasted so yummy on this cold wintry day!  We offered some to Robert but he declined.  He left to go home to eat and never returned to finish the truck.  James is taking my car to the valley tomorrow and I guess I am going with him. 

Darrel got home around 6:30 this evening.  We are sad that he has to work on Sundays but the other pharmacist is LDS too.  They work 3 Sundays and then are off 3.

We had a meeting with Bishop Miller today to tell him about our plans to move back to the valley for a few months to get our house ready to sell.  He thought it was a good idea to have our memberships moved.  

 

 

Saturday, November 22, 2014

"The scriptures speak of the role of parents - that it is their duty to teach their children "the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost." (D&C 68:25)

-Tad R. Callister

We had a big breakfast with Darrel this morning before he went to work.  Potatoes, eggs, ham, onions and green chilies were all a part of this big breakfast.

Robert Kadelak worked several hours on James's truck today.  He is having difficulty getting to the fuel pump.  He says he needs a tool and will be back tomorrow to finish.  James told him he doesn't want him to work on Sunday but the guy is determined

Here are some of the things I did today: Waxed the floor, read to James, worked on my Book of Mormon journal, paid bills, posted on my blog and made dinner.  

Stacy called and wants to come to the cabin for a couple of days after Christmas to see Jared and have Joshua play in the snow.  Maybe we should pray for snow.

Our current Sarah Eden read.

She really is tutu cute!

We watched a couple of movies this evening: One of my favorites, "Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade" and a new one "A Royal Christmas."  

I couldn't resist posting this:

 

Friday, November 21, 2014

The Lord told Joseph Smith of his destiny: "The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee; While the pure in heart, the wise,...and the virtuous, shall seek...blessings constantly from under thy hand."  Why does the Lord allow the evil speaking to chase after the good?  One reason is that opposition against the things of God sens seekers of truth to their knees for answers.

-Elder Neil L. Andersen

We returned James's rental car to Hatch's this morning at 8am and drove on to the valley.  We went the Globe way.  It is a little shorter and I am getting used to it.  

We were at the house in Chandler by 11:30am.  I work on my Book of Mormon journal while I wait for James to get back from the job at the airport.  I tried to get Stacy to go shopping with me but she wouldn't come out of the bedroom.  

James and I took Alex and Adam to Jersey Mike's for lunch.  They were out painting our fence when we were leaving.  After lunch I went shopping at the Bath & Body at the San Tan mall.  I bought several antibiotic hand cleansers for $1 to put in the Young Women's Christmas bags.

 So cute!

Afterwards I went to Frost and got a sea salt carmel and peanut butter crunch.  Yummy!

Next stop, Deseret Book for Christmas Dragon DVD, Food Nanny cookbook, and two Thanksgiving plaques.  Costco is just next door where I got some blankets and gas.  Back home and ready for the 4pm temple session.  

On our way in we saw Robyn Rogers, Adrienne Ellsworth, the Boles', and the Dowdles' and the Lewis' from the Galveston 3rd ward.  They were there for a wedding.

Edonna and Crista were already in the chapel and Edonna was so surprised to see us.  It was a wonderful session and we were so happy for Edonna.  She and her daughter Serah are moving to Connecticut on December 5th so this is probably the last time we will see her.  Thanks to Crista! 

Edonna on the right.

 I love this picture of James carrying our bags into the temple.

It speaks volumes to me!

Before leaving for home I did a little shopping at Sam's Club and got some more blankets, I give one to each of the grandkids for Christmas.  On the trip home I read to James from "Friend or Foe".  We arrive home around 10:30, just before Darrel.

Exciting news for the Chandler football team.  They beat Mt. Pointe 43-22 in the semifinals and will play for the state championship next week against their arch rivals, Hamilton.