Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The Salt Lake temple in winter.

Laura came by the house today to drop off a gift and we had a short visit.  We talked about her health.  She has been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and is feeling the effects.  She is on oxygen at night and becomes winded if she exerts herself too much or does any stair climbing.  The doctors want to do a biopsy probably sometime in January.  If she does have pulmonary fibrosis the estimated life expectancy is three years.  Laura has a positive attitude and is determined that she is going to live because she has so much to live for. I must say I was taken aback.  I can't imagine losing Laura.  That would be devastating to so many people.  She is so well-loved and such a dear, dear friend and sister. We will do all we can to keep her here.  

I made a short visit to Cathi's house to deliver their Christmas present, a calender featuring pictures from the life of the Savior.  I gave Laura the same calender.  Colton was there and I talked with him, but he really doesn't remember me.  Terry, Brian, and Collin were in the backyard putting up a "fort" and swing for Collin who is three years old now.  

When James got home from the job we went to his mom's to visit with her and Dawn and take them their Christmas presents.  Ours seemed so meager when compared with what we received from them.  We gave Lois the movie "The 100 Foot Journey" and Dawn a calender.  Dawn gave us several boxes of steaks, etc. from Omaha Steaks and of course Lois had several beautifully wrapped gifts for each of us.  We had a delicious tamale pie for lunch.  

James went back to the job at the airport and I drove to P.F. Chang's to meet with Dennis, Denise, and Rachel.  I sat and visited with them while they ate.  They came down to look for a dress for Rachel for her wedding which is scheduled for June 13th.  After they were finished eating we walked out to Denise's car and she handed me a box of her delicious rice krispy cookies for our family.  I gave them a calender and one for them to give to Harold & Vickie.

Back at the house it was time to pack up and head for Vernon.  James drove his rental and I drove Lexy.  I went the Payson way.  I was so tired I had to stop two times to take short naps.  I stopped in Payson and got a grill burger at DQ.  It was delicious.  I also had to stop and buy some aspirin because I was in so much pain!

When I got to the cabin Trina and her kids were there waiting for Jared and his kids to arrive.  Darrel was at work.  Trina helped me carry my stuff in.  James arrived shortly after I did. 

Jared and his kids arrived around 10pm.  It was a time of great excitement especially for Molly and Ruby, and Emmy and Addy.

Lola was in great demand.

  Molly and Lola

 Lola loves Anna!

 Emmy and Lola

 James Hayden is a handsome guy!

Jared with his baby and Trina with hers.

Trina also has a new iphone 6plus!

We are so excited to have Christmas here at our home in the mountains with our boys and their families.  James built a fire in our new stove and it and the lighted tree proved a cozy setting for our visit this evening.

Monday, December 22, 2014

"Christmas is what we make of it.  Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration.  If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas."

-President Thomas S. Monson

We left at 7:38 this morning for the valley.  Our car looked like this:

 James, putting one last item in the car. 

James dropped me off at the house and then took the rental car to the job so I could unload the car.  

Thank goodness for Adam.  He finished wrapping my gifts for me so I could get my shopping done.  I went to both Sam's Club and Costco.  Costco was insane!  I got food for tonight and food for our Christmas dinner.

 Saturday Michael's friends took him to Tucson for his birthday.

The hiked Picachio Peak.  Here is Michael at the top.

Tonight we had our annual Lambson family Christmas party and white elephant gift exchange game.  For food we had appetizer's and desserts.  Stacy sang "Christmas at Our House" and I talked about remembering what Christmas is for  Joe and Michael sang and Joe played the guitar.  Stacy read the story "Trouble at the Inn."

Here are some pictures:

 Brian opened the first gift.  It was the Taylor Lautner poster that has been passed around for years.  Notice Ben's grin in the background.  I think he may have had the poster last year.

I think that is Seth bending over but I'm not sure if he's picking a present or putting a piece in Stacy's puzzle.

Evan opened a soft and cozy blanket, but he didn't get to keep it.  Joe got to choose last and Amanda wanted the blanket so he got it for her.  Funny, because Kim brought the blanket and she chould have just given it to Amanda.

 Evan held on to the blanket for awhile.

Connor, Michael's friend, got the most awesome monkey hat.  This gift definitely went to the right person!

 Trying on the new hat.

 Looks good!

Looks like Evan got a new gift and I'm not sure what 

Sheri is looking at.

 Sheri made sure her boys, Evan and Max, knew they couldn't whine or complain about the gift they got.

Seth trying to explain to Alexis what

her gift is.  Wish I would have written it down.

Joe and Amanda

You can't see him but those are Jared Ammon's hands

opening up the Quelf game that I brought.  He ended up

taking it home.  I am pretty sure Catherine ended up with the

box of weird food and miscellaneous items that Kaitlin brought.

Max opened the gun that Connor brought, but notice how Joshua

is eyeing it.  Joshua ends up with the gun, but Max was totally a good sport about it.  He ended up with the cat food Alex brought.

Adam and Kaitlin have been friends

for over 8 years.  

  Ben looks sad.  Maybe he misses the

Taylor Lautner poster.

 Stacy discussing something with Michael while

Sheri and Alexis look on.

 Alex and Seth discussing something.

Joseph in deep thought and striking a pose.

Not sure who came up with his outfit.

This is the gift that I came home with, Nemo!

I love it because Alexis made it in her ceramic class.

He looks so cute sitting on the edge of my bathtub.

James didn't play the game.  He gave his gift, a DVD containing all four of the Superman movies to Catherine who didn't bring a gift so

she could play.

Kim brought some of the best gifts, including movie tickets and a $10 Target gift card and of course the snuggly blanket Amanda went home with.

 

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."