Thursday, January 22, 2015

Phoenix temple

 

"I believe that Heavenly Father binds us to our

kindred dead in many ways.  I feel bound to

Great-grandmother Ballard by the priesthood sealing

ordinances.  I also feel bound to her faith, which I

have learned about through her own written

words and those of other family members who have

recorded her history."

-M. Russell Ballard

 

While James and David were finishing up at the Willis' this morning, I went shopping for James's birthday at Kohl's.  I bought him a shirt, pants, and shoes.

 

This afternoon we went to the Gilbert temple.  On the way we stopped at Deseret Book and got another book by the same author of the last one, Laurie Alice Eakes.  This one is called "Reluctant Courtship."  I think we missed one that goes between this one and the last one so we will be reading them out of order.  Oh well.

This series is called The Daughters of Bainbridge House.

 

Oh temple session was wonderful, and just what I needed.  I always feel such peace and comfort in the temple.  We took the opportunity to put several family names on the temple prayer roll. 

 

After the temple I met with John Usher and we walked around the yard.  It looks worse than I have ever seen it.  He came me a price and said he would come and do it while we are out of town on Saturday. 

 

This evening we joined the other fans of the "Scuba Steve's", the name of Michael and Joe's band, at Sozo's Coffee House.  They put on an awesome show!  One of their favorite bands is "Good Ole War" so they sang some of their songs.  One of the guys who used to be in the band "The Format" introduced them.  Tara, Paul's sister,  even came clear from the British Isles to hear Michael perform.



 

"Better Weather"

I had to include this!

John, Michael, Matt, and Joe

 

 

Joe doing a solo

Michael and Joe

Connor joining the guys on stage to help sing Michael's original

song, "The Pirate and the Bear."  I think it was my

favorite song of the night.





Wednesday, January 21, 2015

 

"The effort and the determination to seek Him and to follow Him will  be rewarded with the blessings we need"

-Elder Eduardo Garret

 

I went to Staples today and made copies of this 3 month schedule for reading the Book of Mormon.







Here is the deal:  Everyone who reads the first column by our first FHE on February 15th gets $20.  The second column by March 13th when Jared and his kids are here for the next FHE is another $20.  And the last column must be read by Easter, April 5th for the last $20. Stacy, Kim, Sheri, Ben, Michael, and Joshua are really trying to make the deadlines.  Sheri is way ahead and says she loves reading 3 or 4 chapters a day.  It's fun to see people excited about the Book of Mormon.

 

We took my car to Sears today to get the oil changed and the tires rotated in preparation for our trip to El Paso on Friday.  While there we had delicious grilled fish tacos from Rubio's and read from our book "Necessary Deception."  

 

I missed my meeting with John Usher, the guy who is going to give me a quote on cleaning up the yard, because Sears was so slow.  

 

In other news, the Pinewood Derby is this Saturday and Paul takes it very seriously.  Michael and Dallin took first and second in the stake when they were in Cub Scouts so he feels like he has a reputation to maintain.  

  Joshua sanding his car.

 



Max's pirate gun came today.  The first one I ordered was plastic.  This one looks like the real deal and came all the way from Europe. 

  

 

When we take the kids to Disneyland they get to choose a souvenir.  Max wanted a pirate gun but they were all out so I told him I would order him one.  I think he liked it.

 

 

Evan is an artist and a writer.  This is a picture he drew for an assignment for school.

 

I especially love the guys face!

 







Tuesday, January 20, 2015

 

"Irony and contradiction are two of the best descriptors of Gethsemane's bitter cup, causing thoughtful disciples to reflect on the nature of tests and trials in mortality and how the lessons of the bitter cup can have profound meaning in their lives."

-Andrew C. Skinner

 

James got locked out of his truck three times this morning.  If he leaves it even for a minute it locks.  He was so frustrated!

 

I had my own frustration this morning and ended up cutting almost an inch off my hair.  James helped me with the back but he kept saying that I cut it too short and I kept saying, "It will grow back."

 

 

We went to Olive Garden for lunch today.  In keeping with our "diet" I had no pasta or breadsticks.  I had a new lo-cal chicken dish that was quite tasty. 

 

After lunch I went over to visit with Dave and Laura.  They are concerned because Laura seems to need oxygen more than she did before her surgery.  Hopefully that will get better with time. 

 

 

Gas was $1.68 for regular at Sam's Club today.  We haven't seen it that low for years. 

 

 

James got a call from Debbie Holyoak, the postmaster in Vernon.  They have been trying to forward our mail to Chandler but the Chandler post office keeps sending it back.  I made a trip to the post office here in Chandler this afternoon to straighten things out.  I filled out a form for Lambson Construction and for our personal mail. 

 

Made a trip to Costco to get some groceries and while there I saw my friend Shellie Seymore.  We had a nice visit. 

 

James painted at the Willis's today and while he was working Janis came out and sat in a chair and visited with him.

 

James and I had Chili's leftovers for dinner. 

 

Evan wrote a story and had me read it.  I didn't tell him this, but it was a little disturbing. 

 

Joe and Michael practiced their songs for the big show on Thursday.

 

My big accomplishment for the day was doing laundry.

Monday, January 19, 2015

 

Today is Martin Luther King Day so there was no school.  Here is one of my favorite Martin Luther King quotes:

"Education without morals is like

a ship without a compass,

merely wandering nowhere."

 

James worked at Reed and Janis Willis's today.  I had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Allen.  He wants me to start on my second hormone, Estradiol.  After my appointment I went through Sonic and got a chicken sandwich and a drink. 

 

Sheri and Trina took their kids on a hike this morning.  Afterwards Trina and her kids came out for a visit.  At one point Ruby came to Sheri to report that Ben was taking Sheri's chocolate.  Sheri posted this on Facebook:

 

 

Rowan had a great time playing with Joshua, Evan and Max, but Addy and Ruby were a little bored so Sheri, Trina and I took them to Bahama Bucks. 

 





Yummy!

Ruby is amazed!

Ruby needed a little help. 

Poor Lola, all she got was an empty

water bottle.

 

I had a little talk with Addy about reading the Book of Mormon by Easter.  She said that reading 5 1/2 pages a day was just "too much" for her. 

 

James and I had cooked cabbage for dinner.  We watched a Hallmark movie called "Wedding Bliss" and read from our book "Necessary Deception." 

 

Laura is feeling a little better today.



 

 





Sunday, January 18, 2015

 

"There are very few big and spectacular miracles in most of our lives.

But it is a quiet multitude of little miracles that makes life sweet

and adds to our testimonies."

-Marjorie P. Hinckley

 

Today is what is being called "Honoring the Sanctity of Life" day.  It was 42 years ago since the Roe vs. Wade decision was made.  I pray everyday that abortion will be stopped.

 

Stacy and Paul went to John and Shelly's ward for their son Preston's mission farewell.  He will be leaving soon to serve in New Jersey.  Stacy was very impressed with his spiritual maturity and how ready he is to serve.  Three Johnson cousins are now serving missions. 

 

We had a missionary who just returned from his mission speak in our ward, Cameron Payne.  He gave a great talk.  I was impressed with how well he knew the scriptures.  We know his sister, Rebecca Silva and her husband Tony.  They were in Del Rio 2nd ward with us. 

 

James and I met with Bishop Lewis during Sunday School.  We told him that we were going to be here until around the first of July and would like to serve in the ward, especially as home and visiting teachers.  It was a good visit.

 

Amber Reyna gave the second Ezra Taft Benson lesson on prayer today in Relief Society.  She started out by casting a fishing line with a gummy worm on the end of it into the audience.  It hit Robyn Rogers' mom in the chest and she called out: "Oh, don't worry there is no hook on the end of that line."  Pretty funny.

 

I made chili for lunch and then we took a nap.

 

Stacy had a little fender bender in Tara's red car today.  Nothing too serious but it will need to be repaired.

 

Sheri came over this evening for a visit.  We played a game of Five Crowns with here.

 

Laura came home from the hospital today.

 

 



Saturday, January 17, 2015

 

Happy Birthday to our oldest granddaughter Anna

who turned 13 today!

 

We love you Anna!

 

Joshua, Evan, and Rowan's soccer team had pictures this morning at 7am in Gilbert.  Ian took Evan and Stacy and I took Joshua and of course Trina was there with Rowan.  After the team pictures their game started at 8. 

The three amigos!

Here they are again.

Thanks to Paul for the great pictures.

 

Those who attended the game besides those who came for team pictures: Darrel, Addy, Ruby, and Lola, Paul and James, and Trina's mom.  Sheri had to work.  Evan was sad after the game because while he was playing goalie the other team scored.  The same thing happened when Rowan was goalie but it didn't affect him like it did Evan.

 

After the game I cam home and fixed James and I eggs, potatoes, onions, and green chilies.  We watched a nap and then watched a Hallmark movie starring Jenny Garth called "The Last Cowboy."

 

For dinner we met Kim, Brian, Stacy, and Paul at Zinburger.  We Sheri and Ian and Trina and Darrel but they didn't come.  James ad a chicken sandwich and he said it was okay.  My burger was absolutely delicious, probably the best I've ever had!

 

After dinner James and I drove to the hospital in Mesa and visited Laura.  She is in a lot of pain and won't know the results of the biopsy for a week or so.  She was coughing and having a difficult time breathing so we didn't stay long.

 

Came home and read from our book "Necessary Deception."

 

Dallin didn't come home tonight.

 

Facebook find:





Cute picture of James Hayden taken

at his grandma Wallen's house.





 



 



Friday, January 16, 2015

 

"I have noticed children quite naturally possess

attributes that we sometimes end up missing in our adult lives: an inner desire to do right, a sense of worth, the ability to be happy, a capacity to love, an innate sense of wisdom, and a deep and trusting faith."

-Brad Wilcox

 

I was up at 4:30 this morning to study.  Today was a very productive day for me.  I caught up on all the Lambson Construction bills which took a few hours  I finished cleaning out the closet downstairs for Michael.

 

In case you forgot what Michael looks like here

is a picture of him with his friend Alexis.





I went shopping and got the rest of the supplies I needed plus a few groceries  I came home and worked on my blog. 

 

I wanted to go visit Laura but David said she was not feeling well and it would be best to waiting until she was doing a little better.

 

Addy and her cousin Kayla and Kayla's dad Bryce (Trina's brother) getting ready to board the bus for their oceanography trip to San Diego:

I'm not sure who is he most excited!

Addy and a baby ray