Sunday, December 14, 2014

"As we make sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father in the temple, He promises us that we will be able to live with Him again."

-Janette Hales Beckham

 I love snow and sky pictures!

 Frosted trees.

John and Sandra Wilhelm and all eight of their kids are leaving for their trip to Florida today.  The Make-a-Wish Foundation is paying for a ten day trip to Disney World, Seaworld, and Univeral Studios because of Curtis's illness. He has cancer that is in remission right now. They get to stay in a place called "Give the Kids the World" and the only thing they have to pay for is their trip to the valley to board the plane.  They are so excited and I am excited for them.  For Curtis's birthday we gave him a blanket.  Sandra says he loves it and will be taking it on their trip.

James started putting up our Christmas tree today.

He is going to be gone all week so probably won't finish until next Sunday.

 James Hayden was an angel for their ward's Christmas party.

Tonight in Chandler everyone met at our house and decorated gingerbread house.  Some people played with Lola too.

 Michael, Joshua, and Lola

 Lola and Alex

 Ian and Lola with the same hairdo.

 Max being silly

The Trezise houses

 Paul working on the Gonzales house.

 It turned out great!

Addy's is my favorite!

 Kim & Brian's is so cute!

 Joe & Amanda

 One of the best years for gingerbread houses!

 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

The Young Women met at the church this meeting at 9am to decorate for the ward Christmas party this evening. I got the idea to make chocolate chip cookies about 8am.  James went down to the church with me when I left because we are assigned to clean this week and although the Crane's don't want to clean until after the ward party tonight James wanted to get a head start  We picked up Maddie Carrol who called and asked for a ride.

 Hope, Heaven, and Kelly decorated the bookshelves where

we normally put the hymnbooks.

They did a good job!

 Ruth making sure a centerpiece is centered.

Diana, Trenda, Stefani

Maddie, Kilee, and Kyah at the cookie basket.

We had a good turn out.  Brother McNeil

was there to help too.

 We have fun while we work.

Maddie, LeeAnn, Stefani, Kilee.

 James cleaning the chapel.

 Back at home we had our first fire in our new stove.

It keeps the great room, including the dining room very cozy.

 James's work area.

 My work area.  I couldn't help comparing.

 Before the snow.

 After the snow.

I made a large green bean casserole for the ward party.  The food was delicious: ham, cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, and lots of desserts.  We sat by the Miller's and Amy Reynolds.

Blaine & Diana Curtis

The news is that Winna Ulmer is back in the hospital, this time to have her gall bladder removed.  

We stayed and helped clean the church but left a little early because James has high council in the morning at 6.

James and I came home and watched "The Wishing Tree."

 

Friday, December 12, 2014

Sunrise in Vernon

"When we live righteously and have received the ordinances of the temple, everything else is in the hands of the Lord."

-Elder Richard G. Scott

James has a dilemma with the fireplace insert.  The trim they sent doesn't fit.  They finally agreed to give him a refund and he is going to get someone in the valley to make a template for him for a new trim piece.

I got a call from my friend Kay McClellan today.  She is getting a divorce.  It seems that John is not the nice guy we all thought he was.  He has some real issues and I feel so sorry for Kay that she can't find a decent guy.  She definitely does not want Bill to know.

 I talked to her for over an hour. 

Tonight James and I went to the stake PEC Christmas party in Show Low.  This year the food was good.  It was from Licano's but was cold.  We sat by Jim and Joe Brookbank.  It was nice to visit with people that I know.  

On the way home we stopped at Kmart and picked up Nerf guns and then on to Walmart to get my prescriptions.  Baby it's cold outside!

Christmas movies: "Angel on Pennsylvania Avenue", and "A Princess for Christmas".

So cute!

  Elder Stott, my favorite missionary who

served in Vernon.

 

Thursday, December 11, 2014

"Let us commit to give a most meaningful gift to the Lord.  Let us give Him our lives, our sacrifices.  Those who do so will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can."

-Ezra Taft Benson

We returned James's rental car this morning.  It's still foggy out there.  We also went to Walmart, National Bank, and to get gas.  I read to James from our last Sarah Eden book, "An Unlikely Match."  

James went to the post office for me and returned the purse I ordered and hated, and sent off Jared's Christmas card and Jared Ammon's graduation card.  

Addy's Hedwig and ipod arrived in Chandler today from the Embassy Suites in Anaheim.  

Kathy Crane gave us a delicious loaf of cinnamon bread today.  It is great toasted with butter.

James had a meeting tonight with the high priest group leadership in our ward. 

Addy, Rowan and Ruby had a Christmas program at their school this evening.  Their principal dressed up like Buddy the Elf.

Addy played the violin.

We watched "One Christmas Eve", and "A Town Without Christmas."

 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

 I had breakfast with Darrel this morning.  He gets to go home today when his shift ends at 3:30.  We had more fog today.  Darrel says it takes him a good 15 minutes longer to get into work when it is foggy.

I went into town this afternoon to get something to give Shelly and Kelly for babysitting last night at the Relief Society activity.  I want them and the other girls to know how much we appreciate their willingness to serve.  I also picked up my order of Nerf guns from Walmart.  

James got home from the valley this evening just as I was leaving for Mutual.  Tonight we had our Christmas party for the girls.  We had a white elephant gift exchange and gave each of the girls a Christmas gift from their leaders.  It was a fun evening but I wish I would have made some cookies.  We did have soda's to drink for refreshments but cookies would have been nice too.
Those girls who attended: Kyah, Alice, Hope, Heaven, Maddie, Kilee, LeeAnn, Kelly, Trenda, Coty, Shelly, and Jordyn.  The best turnout we have had all year!

Kelly, Heaven, Shelly, and Trenda

Our fearless leader

LeeAnn, Rosie, Ruth, and Trenda

Coty

 Maddie, Kyah, Analee, Alice, Hope, Stefani

Kilee looks like she fell asleep picking out her present.

Maddie

Stefani, and Jordyn

Diana and Kelly

Diana, Kelly, Heaven, Shelly

Maddie, Kilee, and LeeAnn enjoying their

Crush sodas.

Stefani's reindeer shirt

Back at home in Chandler Max had a band concert.  

I watched two Christmas movies today: "A Christmas Secret", and "Silver Bells."

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents.  But there is a difference between presents and gifts.  The true gifts may be part of ourselves - giving of the riches of the heart and mind - and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store."

-James E. Faust

Lots of gospel study and I try to finish the Old Testament, keep up on my Book of Mormon reading and journal, conference talks, and church magazines.  I also did four blog posts.  

Stacy has a new job.   Her friend Penny Dolata who works at Chandler Eye needs someone to help with her mother -in-law.  Her main responsibility will be to take her on errands.  She called and told me about her first experience.  I guess she took her to the doctor and then Mrs. Dolata wanted to go to Walmart for just a few minutes.  Stacy said she spent 2 1/2 hours wandering around every aisle in Walmart and the woman ended up buying frosting and grape soda.  It was quite an experience.  

I went into town to pick up Nerf guns I ordered at Walmart but they weren't ready for pickup.  I picked up lunch at Aliberto's, by the way their bean burros can't even compare to Burger House's, and washed my car.  Came home and watched Christmas movies while doing work at my desk and computer.

This evening I attended the Relief Society activity at the church. Teresa Smith taught us line danceing.  It was fun.  The theme was Angels and sisters shared stories about times they were helped by the "angel" visiting teachers.  We had angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream for dessert.  I visited with Joel Miller and Amy Reynolds.  Kelly and Shelly babysat and I definitely think they deserve an award.

Joyce Malone made these boxes for everyone.

Inside was candy and a small angel ornament.

Robert came by tonight and fixed the truck.  Darrel was here again tonight.

 

Monday, December 8, 2014

"He was born, a long time ago - nearly Two Thousand years ago - at a place called Bethlehem. ...And then the Angel told the Shepherds to go to that Stable, and look at that little child in the Manger. Which they did; and they kneeled down by it in its lseep, and said 'God bless this child!'"

-Charles Dickens

Sunrise

Darrel left for work around 7.  James and I left shortly after to go to Hatch's so James could rent a car. We saw two nice bull elk just standing by the side of the road.   I dropped James off and drove through the fog to Walmart. The fog went from Show Low to the church in Vernon and from there to our house it was clear.  

I got home and put groceries away and took a couple of aspirin.  I worked on General Conference "catchup" most of the day and watched Christmas movies.  I also fixed a chicken pot pie for dinner using a recipe I found in one of my "Food Nanny" cookbooks.  

Jared texted today and said he is going to have to rent a van or truck to come for Christmas.  I immediately got a card with some money in it and sent it to him.  

Robert did not show up to fix the truck today.  I am beginning to think we can't believe anything he says.  He certainly is dragging his feet.  

James had to fix a broken water line under the asphalt at work.  He acted like it was no big deal.  He never ceases to amaze me.

Sheri is worried about her boys and frankly, so am I.

Max is a tough kid.  He plays football with the big boys and comes out looking like this: