Sunday, December 21, 2014

It's Christmas at our house!

 Thanks to James we have a decorated tree and the house looked like Christmas when Darrel & Trina and the kids arrived tonight after 10.  

I gave my lesson to the Mia Maids and Beehives today.  There were two girls: Heaven and Hope.  Rosie and Analee were also there.  We discussed things we need to do to have a Christ-centered home.  I love lessons that focus on the Savior.  

Stefani taught the Laurels, Jordyn and Shelly.

After the block I attended BYC with Shelly.  The focus in BYC is to come up with ways to fellowship those who are less-active.  It was a good meeting.  

I had a visit with Collin DeWitt while I was waiting for James to come and pick me up after BYC.  He said he attended Phoenix Union High School, (where I would have gone if I would have stayed in Phoenix instead of moving to Show Low), and because he was white he got beatup almost everyday after school.  I felt such compassion for him and can only imagine how terrifying that was for him.  He said the next year his family moved and he finished his high school career at Camelback High School.

I got home and ate lunch and Collin and Chuck, our home teachers came over for a visit.  Of course we talked about how we are leaving for a few months and Collin told about he and Wendy putting in their mission papers.  That is what we wish we were doing.

This afternoon I watched movies and wrapped presents.  James went home teaching to the Peeler's and then came home and decorated the tree and house.

He insisted on putting our nativity set on the

entryway table.  I said since he was doing the decorating he could put it anywhere he wanted to.

Max got to be part of a Christmas nativity.

The baby belongs to the Luke's.

 

Rowan was a wiseman at his grandma Case's this week.

 We love the Case family!

Westley and Lacey were sealed in the temple on

Saturday, December 20th.  

There are some Lambson's in there too!

 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

"There is a personalized plan for each of us.  Like the Christmas star, each of us, if faithful, has an ordained orbit, a priesthood path, as we pass through this second estate."

-Elder Neal A. Maxwell

I am a bit overwhelmed.  I have not wrapped any presents and when you figure I have two per granchild and that many or more for the kids and this spouses, that's over 50 presents.  I have not done any decorating and my tree is no decorated.  Also, I am teaching Young Women's tomorrow and I have a lesson to finish preparing.  Maybe you are thinking, well, she watches too many Christmas movies, she needs to quit procrastinating.  You could be right.  But let's take this morning as an example.  Instead of doing this things on my to do list, I am going to help clean the church with the Crane's.  Yes, two weeks in a row.  

After working almost 3 hours James and I left and he talked me into going to town with him.  What's a wife to do?  

Our first stop was LaCasita.  It has been so long since we have been here.  Our friend Charlotte seemed genuinely happy to see us and said she had missed us.  We had a nice visit with her and I so enjoyed my chicken enchilada with green sauce and their refried beans and chips.  

After lunch James needed to go to Home Depot to get something for the fireplace trim.  He wanted to know it I wanted to do some shopping at Walmart.  I just didn't feel well and did not want to shop.  

At home James finished the fireplace trim on the stove insert.  It looks beautiful!

I wrapped presents and worked on my lesson while watching Christmas movies.  

When I went to bed I took some Naprosyn because my arm and knee hurt.  I slept on the recliner in our bedroom because it is more comfortable than the bed when I am hurting.

 Gas prices in the valley have dipped below $2 a gallon.

 This face makes me so happy!!

 Christmas greetings from the Lemmerman's!

Brian and the boys

 

Friday, December 19, 2014

Happy Birthday to this handsome guy.

Michael turns 17 today.  He has been sick all week, but maybe not too sick to celebrate a little.  I didn't actually see him today but I left his birthday card and money on the dining room table.

I hope Michael has a great day because he is a great kid!

James and I had lunch at Pei Wei today.  I absolutely love their lettuce wraps and the Pei Wei spicy chicken salad!  As we were leaving we saw Lance Schneider and spoke with him for a few minutes.

I thought when we left for home that James would drive his truck and I would drive my car.  He wanted to go with me and offered to drive me.  I was so happy because I was very tired! We got nourishment at Burger House and soon we were home.  As soon as we had the car unloaded we settled down to watch a Christmas movie.  We are missing Michael's family party at Organ Stop.

One of the treasures we brought home with us was the much loved berry jam that Sheri makes every year.

 

I have wondered what to do with the Christmas cards we get from friends with family pictures.  I have decided to post them here.

 Drea and Jason Boles and their son Benjamin.

Benjamin was adopted into the Boles' family October, 2013.

 

Thursday, December 18, 2014

"From little things come big things.  This is the real spirit of Christmas - to give whatever we have, no matter how small the gift."

-Tom Brokaw

 Have I ever told you about my sister-in-law Vickie who is married to my brother Harold.  She is fearless, not afraid to try anything, and so willing to give service whenever it's needed.  If I ever need help I know I can call on Harold and Vickie and they will be here in the time it takes to drive from Linden to Vernon.  I really do appreciate them.

I left for the valley this morning in time to make it to my 11 o'clock appointment at Dr. Allen's.  The results of my blood test are this: My thyroid is working at 54% and I have absolutely no hormones!  No wonder I am tired and listless much of the time.  I started on a new thyroid and will gradually add in hormones, the first being progesterone.  I really do like Dr. Allen and how he operates.  Here is to feeling better in 2015!

After my appointment I did some shopping.  My first stop was Deseret Book in Gilbert and then Costco which is next door.  I couldn't find the towels I wanted for Kim & Brian at Costco so I went to Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond in Chandler and then to the Chandler Costco.  Finally I had to settle with what they had at Chandler Costco.  While I was out and about James called me and asked if I would pick up his check from President Hatch's dental office in Tempe, which I did.  

I wanted to go to the temple this afternoon but I was so tired that I just went home and crashed.  I ended up taking a 2-3 hour nap. 

When I got up I asked James if he wanted to go to Bass Pro and get James Hayden's hiking boots.  Although he doesn't like to shop, Bass Pro is his kind of store.  We couldn't find size 11's so we got size 12's knowing we would probably have to take them back after Christmas, but I wanted to have them under the tree for him.  

After shopping we were hungry so we stopped by Logan's Roadhouse.  I wasn't impressed.  The service was extremely slow and the food was just ok.

 Sheri, Kim, and Trina took their kids caroling to Lois's this evening.  

Seth came too. 

A picture of our family for Throwback Thursday.

 1984

 

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

"The Savior of the world, our Redeemer, the Prince of Peace, gave us the greatest gift we could ever receive through His atonement and crucifixion.  He satisfied the demands of justice and broke the chains of death.  By so doing, we can live forever and become like our Heavenly Parents and our Elder Brother."

-Merrilee Boyack

We got some snow today but it doesn't stick.  In fact, by the end of the day, all the snow had melted.

 

Before the melt.

I got a call from Maddie Carrol this morning before 7am.  She asked me if I was going to town today and if so could I give her a ride to school.  It just so happens I need to go pick up a prescription so I told her I would take her.  Her mom thought school would be cancelled because of the snow.  Really?  Maddie's friend Brisee had spent the night.  They were both a few minutes late but I guess that's better than missing the whole day.

  Our drive into town.

Diana Curtis is gone this week so I guess that means I am in charge at Mutual.  All I can say is thank goodness for Stefani and Analee Hunsaker.  We filled stockings with candy and took them to the fire station.  I drove home while the youth were filling the stockings and got some clementines I had bought.  We thought we might need them to fill the stockings.  They were a nice touch.

It was cold as we all walked over to the fire station.  Brother McNeil and Brother Diewald were there with the boys.  Stefani led the youth in a couple of Christmas carols.  Those who were there at the station, two men and a woman, were impressed and thanked us for remembering them.  Afterwards we went back to the church and had hot chocolate and donuts.  I had made the hot chocolate ahead of time and put it in our five gallon water container.  It was still nice and warm.  I used the cannery chocolate we had in our food storage.  

The bishopric came and joined us.  Bishop Miller showed me the shoes Jordyn had painted for his two girls, Andyn and Catherine.

 Andyn likes owls and Catherine likes mice.

I came home and watched a new Hallmark Christmas movie, "The Christmas Parade."

 

 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

So proud of this boy who turns 15 today.

Happy Birthday Ben!
Grandpa took Ben to Panda Express, Ben's choice, for dinner.
Ben asked if he could bring a friend.  He chose Max.  

 "It is worth every price we must pay to be able to enter and involve ourselves in the blessings of the House of the Lord,"

-Colleen W. Asay

I was up at 4am today but at 7am I needed a nap.  

I blogged about our trip to California.  It took me a good two hours!  I also made a pot of chalupa.  The house smells great!

This afternoon Randa and I went visiting teaching to Mary Swift and Joyce Malone.  The handout looked like this and was attached to a bag of Dove chocolates.  I also gave everyone warm socks!

Today was a beautiful sunny day with the high around 55 degrees.  There is not much snow left.

I set up a table in my bedroom in front of the TV for gift wrapping.  Ironically one of the Christmas movies I watched today was "Love at the Christmas Table."

I hope Darrel enjoyed the chalupa as much as I did smelling it! Chalupa always reminds me of my friend Jackie Hall.  We used to make it when we served in the RS presidency together when we had to do a dinner.  I got my recipe from Jackie.

  

Monday, December 15, 2014

"Christmas is also a time to ponder the gifts given to us by our Heavenly Family.  Heavenly Father gave us the gift of life the gift of the Creation, and then the gift that made it possible for us to become like Him and return to Him: His Son, Jesus Christ."

-Merrilee Boyack

It was 21 degrees this morning, but it is sunny, so the snow is melting.  I went visiting teaching to Julie Wilhelm this morning.  My partner Randa couldn't make it but Julie and I had a nice visit.  I shared the message that the Savior is the Prince of Peace, and she told me about her trip to Vegas to see Gary Allen, a country singer, and Dave Ramsey who is a money and sound advice guru.  

Afterwards I did errands.  I stopped at the post office and picked up Hogwarts Legos and the Christmas game, then on to the carwash, Sonice, the Book Barn, and Walmart.  On the way home I dropped off a Christmas gift to Diana Curtis.  

This afternoon I worked on my blog and paid bills while watching some Christmas movies.  

Darrel stayed here tonight.  I made some Kempton goulash for dinner because I know how much he loves it.

Jared Ammon graduated from ASU today.  We are all very proud of him.  His degree is in sports exercise and he is planning on getting his Masters.

He always was a studious guy!

 Jared and Blade

Jared Ammon and Sheri

 

James is in the valley.  He went to Joe's Christmas concert at Chandler High with Kim, Brian, Michael, Alex, and Brian's parents.  I was sorry to miss it but I have to be here for Mutual this week.

 I told Joe he can't grow any taller.