Sunday, January 4, 2015

 

The Book of Mormon teaches,

"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made..., or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement...an infinite and eternal sacrifice."

- Alma 34:9-10

 

I gave James a haircut before church this morning.  We are also fasting and praying for Laura. 

We had to leave a little early for sacrament meeting to meet with Brother John Wilhelm.  He released me from my calling as 1st counselor in the Young Women's presidency.  Stefani Hunsaker will be the new counselor and Kathy Crane is the new Laurel advisor.

 

Our fast and testimony meeting was wonderful, and Kim and Brian were so impressed, especially with the youth who bore their testimonies.  Jackson Allen, Tyler Hunsaker, Shelly Applegate, and Trenda Wilhelm were included in that group.  James also bore his testimony and told everyone this would be our last Sunday here for about six months.  I was impressd with Chuck Crane's simple and beautiful testimony of the restored gospel.

 

I said goodbye to some of my young women before leaving church, but didn't attend Young Women's because I didn't want to be a distraction.

 

After church Kim and Brian shared their lunch with us, chili and hotdogs and then they began getting ready to go home.  Kim did a good clean of the hall bathroom which was pretty messy after a house full of boys using it all week.

 

We said our goodbyes and took some pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was inside keeping warm while James took the pictures.  I would have insisted that he take one of the whole group together. 

 

 

After everyone was gone we took a nap and then got up to clean.  James took the Christmas tree down and went to home teach the Hunsaker's and the Wilhelm's.  He took birthday gifts to Tyler, Holly, and Talon.  When he returned I was in a serious conversation with Kathy Crane.  She brought me over some homemade bread and chicken soup because I have been sick.  She told me about her daughter who is suffering from depression because of her ex-husband and some of the things he has done and she tried to commit suicide over the Christmas holiday. 

 

This evening James and I studied our scriptures together.  We read 5 1/2 pages from the Book of Mormon and also read from the New Testament.







Saturday, January 3, 2015

 

The Tree of Life

 

Happy Birthday Cathi!

 

Sheri cooked bacon this morning.  It disappeared very quickly. 

Michael, Joe, Alex, and Ian are in a phase that I call Yahtzee Mania.  Michael was so excited about one of his scores that he posted it on the refrigerator: 479 points and more than one Yahtzee!

 

 

Sheri, Ben and I played Five Crowns, and I am not one to brag, but I won again!

 

 

While we were playing games James was building and stoking the fire.  He smells like smoke so my new name for him is "LumberJim."

 

 

Sheri got ready to go home and was in such a hurry she didn't even say goodbye and I didn't get any pictures.  Ian was the last one to get in the car and he said goodbye, but no one else did. 

 

 

After the Trezise's left Kim, Brian and I played a game of Five Crowns.  Brian was heard to say this while we were playing:

"To get the booty you want,

you have to get off the one you have."

 

Also, while we were playing Five Crowns Michael and Joe were playing Rockband.  Michael couldn't find the drumsticks so he used a couple of large plastic spoons he found in the kitchen.

 



 

 

Kim watched "Christmas in Canaan" with me and she like it just as much as I did.  I think it's a classic.  Who knew that Billy Ray Cyrus could act.  I also watched a new Hallmark move: "Surprised by Love."

 

James and I made a trip to town to get something to eat while the Horak's and Michael were getting ready for their dinner.  We went to Panda Express.  I got orange and teriyaki chicken with fried rice.

 

Darrel took Addy and Rowan snowboarding at Sunrise today.  He said there was lots of falling and some tears but at the end of the day they both said they had fun.

 



 

 Addy trying to stay on her feet

 

 



 Rowan looks like he's in control!

 

 





Friday, January 2, 2015

We are all so grateful for the snow!

Sheri, Joe, Alex, Michael and I made a trip to town for drugs and drinks.  Alex needed some drugs for his cold.  Sheri didn't want to drive, so I drove.  We went to Safeway and then to Circle K for Polar Pops and hot chocolate.  It was cold today.  

As I was coming back into Vernon from the highway, I slid around the corner a little.  Luckily I did not go off the road.  

Again today there were sled rides, Magic games, Five Crowns, and Rockband.  Evan also played on his Nintendo DS and Evan, Max, and Ian had a Nerf gun fight until Max bumped and hurt his head.  

 I think this was a game of Hearts.

Alex loves playing Hearts.

An intense Rockband session

More Rockband

It was a wonderful afternoon full of snow flurries!  We absolutely loved watching it snow!  James and I watched "Christmas in Canaan"  and I think it was my all time favorite Christmas movie that I watched this year.  I wish I would have invited Sheri and Kim in to watch it, but they were busy with their families.

James gave both Ben and Max a haircut today.  We had pork chops for dinner.  Alex cooked some and so did James.  They were delicious.

I cancelled my infusion appointment for Monday because I am still sick.

We received the news today that one of our friends from Chandler, Niles Dutson passed away.  He would have been 71 next week.  He had a heart attack.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

 This guy was perched in our tree this morning.  After he left a red tail hawk came and landed in the same spot.

It was a beautiful winter wonderland outside when we got up this morning.  We had about 5" of snow.

  We were a little worried about Kim and Brian coming up but they made it just fine.  They stopped to take some pictures of the snow on the desert.

The boys and Ian had fun playing in the snow.  First they made a snowman, or snowwoman, whichever you prefer.  

Evan named him Mr. Smiley

I renamed "her" Mrs. Smiley

Evan, ready to go sledding

Evan and Max tied to the back of the Razr

And away they go!

A little scary, as there are big rocks out there.

They did have a great time though!

James made a trip to Walmart to get his hunting license.  He forgot two things: 1) the Swiss Miss hot chocolate that I asked him to get and 2) Sheri's Polar Pop from Circle K.  He was in trouble for awhile.

I played three games of Five Crowns and won two out of five.  I lost when I played Sheri and Ben, won when I played Sheri and Max, and won when I played Sheri and Kim.  

We watched more Christmas movies and The Mentalist.  We also had a little celebration for Kim's birthday.  I made here a Texas sheetcake.

I am feeling overwhelmed, unorganized and a little discouraged, inspite of my good company.

  I still have my cough so Diana said she would teach on Sunday for me.

James and I issued a Book of Mormon challenge to our children and grandchildren.  Anyone who read the Book of Mormon by April 5th, Easter, will earn $50.  That's reading about 5 1/2 pages a day.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy Birthday Kim!

Kim usually spends her birthday at the cabin but this year Brian got tickets for them to go see Brian Regan, so they won't be coming up until tomorrow and we will celebrate then.

We love you Kim!

Brian Regan show

James fixed a nice breakfast for Darrel this morning but Darrel tricked us and left early.  Luckily there were people here to eat the food.  Goodbye Darrel, see you next year.

After breakfast James went on a hike near elk hill and saw 80 head of elk.  It was a good way to start his day.  When he got home he went out to chop some firewood.  Evan put on his coonskin cap and went with him.  James chopped and Evan loaded the chopped wood into the back of the Razor.  Evan never stopped and he said to grandpa: "I feel sorry for my brothers just laying around in the house watching TV while I'm out here having all this fun."  Not only did he have fun, but also earned $5.

Evan in his coonskin cap

Sheri and I made a trip to town to Circle K and Walmart.  It was cold and windy.  It is raining in Chandler and there is snow in north Scottsdale and on the desert.  

It snowed this afternoon.  We stayed inside and watched movies and played games.  Sheri and I watched "Signed, Sealed and Delivered" and "Christmas on the Bayou."  Ian, Alex, Ben, and Max sat in front of the fire and played "Magic".

This could be a game of Yahtzee.

That's Evan's hat on the table, not a dead animal.

James, Sheri and I watched the movie Kim gave me for Christmas, "The 100 Foot Journey".  We loved it.  After the movie Sheri and I went into the kitchen and heated up all the appetizers we could for our New Year's Eve celebration.  James and I were supposed to go to the DeWitt's for a party but I still have a cough and didn't want to go out in the cold.

After "dinner" James watched the move 'Lincoln' and then we went to bed.  Ian stayed up and did his own fireworks show. 

Christmas cards

 Patrick and Heather's boys

Curtis and Hillary's girls

Jared & Diana and kids

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

"Each of our temples is an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and as certain as is our life here on earth."

-President Thomas S. Monson

I did get up and fix breakfast for Darrel this morning.  I caught up on my scripture reading.  I have to finish the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament by tomorrow night.  

I went to town today to pick up the steroid prescription Dr. Caldron's office called in for me.  While there I also went to the bank, and got gas.  It was windy and cold.

James came home from the valley today.  We watched one of our favorite shows, "The Mentalist", before Sheri and Ian's family arrived.  We are so happy to have them here for a few days.  

Evan had a very loose tooth and he was brave enough to allow grandpa to pull it for him.  Afterwards, they spent a little time playing together.

Trying out the squish sand.

 sand pie?

These two make a good team!

Darrel's last night here for awhile. James brought a burro from Burger House for him.  He was so hungry when he got home at 10:40 pm and was grateful to have something to eat.

 

Monday, December 29, 2014

"I felt a supreme joy, difficult to describe and impossible to forget.  The spirit of Christmas had filled my soul."

-Pres. Thomas S. Monson

I missed fixing breakfast for Darrel this morning because I was either too sick or too lazy.  

James left for the valley this morning.  It was a "down" day for me.  I watched more Christmas movies: "Moonlight and Mistletoe", "Our First Christmas", "Eve's Christmas", and "Christmas Town".

The one thing I did do today was call Dr. Caldron's office and ask for something to help me manage my pain.  They called me in a prescription which I will need to pick up tomorrow.  

I slept in the recliner tonight so I wouldn't spend the entire night coughing.  

Christmas cards and Facebook finds:

 Aaron and Kari's family

 Drea, Benjamin and Jason

The Case family

The Lemmerman's

The Chubbs' family

More postings tomorrow!