Thursday, February 12, 2015

Happy Birthday Trina!

 

I agree with Sheri on this one!

 

I took Trina a journal, a dozen brownies from Kneaders, and gift certificates from one of her favorite restaurants, Chopshop and one of her favorite stores, Hobby Lobby.



Lola really wanted to try a brownie!

Such a cutie.  None of the other kids were home from school yet when I went to see Trina.

When I left Trina and Darrel's I noticed that

Brownie, their bunny was at the neighbors house trying

to dig a hole to cool off in.  He is a long haired bunny.

 

Chandler schools had early dismissal today for parent-teacher conferences.  I took Joshua, Evan and Max to Peter Piper Pizza.  The one on Queen Creek Rd. was too busy so we went to the newly remodeled one on Chandler Blvd. and Dobson.  The kids weren't happy with the fact that they no longer had their playground.

 

Crazy Kids!

 

I made stuffing and pork chops for dinner tonight.  They were quite tasty.  Of course I had to have some applesauce to go with my pork chops. 

 

James erased files from his computer today and accidentally erased some of his pictures.  He has a love/hate relationship with his computer.

 

I wonder, did I live my religion today?









Wednesday, February 11, 2015

 

"Let thy  bowels also be full of charity

towards all men, and to the household of faith,

and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly;

then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence

of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil

upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion."

-D&C 121:45-46

 

Last night I took some Nyquil because it felt like I might be coming down with a cold.  As a result, I didn't get up until after 5am.  James was already up writing a letter.  James and I did our scripture reading by the fire. 

 

We left the cabin around 10am making stops at Analee Hunsaker's to take her some Young Women's materials, and the post office.

 

Thanks James for the picture, scary as it is.

No mail, it has all been forwarded to Chandler.

We also went by Mike and Joyce Malone's.  I gave them a January and a February Ensign and told them they would be receiving it from now on in the mail.  Joyce was very grateful.  Goodbye Vernon, I am not sure when we will be back.

We stopped to get gas in Show Low.  We finished our book "Flight of Fancy" about Cassandra Bainbridge. 

 

We were home by 1:30.  After unloading the car James took a nap.  I worked on my blog until the Sear's dishwasher repairman came.  I really liked the guy.  He said the only thing wrong was the dishwasher mounts had come out so he remounted it was some blocks of wood he had and charged us the minimal amount.  It was actually refreshing to work with someone who was totally honest.

 

James, Kim and I went to the 6:15 session at the Gilbert temple.  We are all fasting for Jared.  After our session James and I visited with Steve and Nancy Brimhall, old friends from Snowflake High, and now temple workers.



Two of my favorite people.

 

We invited Kim to go get something to eat with us but she wanted to go home.  James and I broke our fast at Olive Garden.

I had one of my favorite dishes, chicken scampi.

 

I went to bed with my left foot hurting.

 



 









Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Vernon friends:

Ruth & George Wallace

In spite of several health issues, George Wallace gives an amazing amount of service in our ward.  He especially watches over widows and single sisters.  Ruth is a dedicated Relief Society sister.  She is the Relief Society secretary and will call and remind each sister in the ward when there is a Relief Society activity or service project.  She is most known for her family history research.  She provides our ward with hundreds of names to take to the temple on a regular basis.  I love and appreciate them so much!  We have had many activities at their property.  They have a zip line, volley ball court, outdoor BBQ with a remade and benches, a beautiful garden and playground and George is now building a baseball diamond.  They give new meaning to the word "retire."

 

This morning I was able to do my gospel study and pay some bills before we left for Show Low.  We left around 11 and James has a doctor's appointment across from Walmart at 2.  We made sandwiches and ate them on the way.  There were no stops and we made it to the doctor's right on time. 

While James was in Dr. Memon's I sat in the car and put on my makeup and tried to do my hair.  When we left the house this morning Dallin was in the bathroom so I didn't have a chance to "primp."

 

I went to Walmart and did some shopping.  I saw Mary Swift and gave her a big hug.  She was one of my young women and then I was her visiting teacher. 

I went back to wait for James and was getting a little worried because it was taking so long.  I was worried the results of his stress test might not be good.  He came out in a good mood and said the physicians assistant explained a lot of things to him.  His test results showed no problems.  Good news!

On the way home we stopped at both National Bank and Chase Bank to make deposits.  The weather is gorgeous today, around 63 degrees.  It was 58 degrees in the house so we had to warm it up a little. 

 

I laid back in my recliner and finished watching the Hallmark movie I started the last time I was here, "Love Letters."  James watched "The Mentalist".  I sat at the end of the dining room table and looked on while working on my blog. 

 

For dinner we had some veggies and the roasted chicken I bought at Walmart.  Afterwards we had a prayer and began our fast for Jared per his request.  He has an important decision to make and wanted his families support.  Trina, Sheri, Kim, and Stacy fasted too. 

 

Before going to bed we read "Flight of Fancy" by the fire.



Monday, February 9, 2015

 

"When we maintain our personal purity and honor our priesthood, we become righteous examples for others to follow...

Providing an example of righteousness can help to illuminate an increasingly dark world."

-President Thomas S. Monson

 

This morning I went visiting teaching with my partner, Bunny Miner.  The lesson was focused on the Savior and on how He was without sin and offered His life as a sacrifice for us.

This was the handout I used:





 

We visited Karen Payne and Gerri Price.  Karen is Rebecca Silva's mother.  I knew Rebecca when we were in Del Rio 2nd ward.  Karen loves to index and does thousands of names a month. She also plays the organ for our sacrament meetings. Her husband is in the bishopric. 

Our visit with Gerri Price was quite short.  She was getting ready to visit a friend who has terminal cancer.  Gerri asked me if I would offer a prayer for her friend which I did.  We were finished and I was back home in less than an hour.  It almost felt like we were "cheating."

 

James and I had lunch at Pei Wei.  I love their lettuce wraps, which James and I share, and their spicy chicken salad. 

 

This afternoon I spent 3-4 hours painting in Joshua's room.  I like the blue color I picked.

 



Sunday, February 8, 2015

Happy Birthday Stacy!

 

The Galveston third ward is the ward we are attending right now with Stacy and Sheri's families.  Kim and Stacy Hamilton were the speakers in sacrament meeting today.  Brother Kim Hamilton spoke on the Plan of Salvation.  His was a good talk, but Sister Hamilton's was amazing!  She spoke on D&C 138, Joseph F. Smith's vision of the Spirit World.  Alex and I agreed with James when he said she could be a seminary teacher.  Here is a quote from her talk:

"The Atonement was the first vicarious ordinance performed for the living and the dead." 

"And Straightway They Left Their Nets" was the title of the Sunday School lesson today.  Jesus announces He is the Messiah and He chooses His 12 Apostles.  In Relief Society the lesson was taught by Marion Chase.  It was the third lesson in the Ezra Taft Benson manual and was on "Agency and Accountability."  Stacy loved the lesson and so did I.  

James and I had leftover stew again for lunch.  Paul's leftover tritip was missing from the refrigerator.  I think they thought James ate it, but I realized I threw it away.  It was wrapped in foil and I thought it was part of an onion.  I apologized profusely.  How embarrassing!

 

Sheri brought by a gift and card for Stacy on her way to The Priesthood Preview with Max.  Max will be turning 12 in July.

Kim and Joe came by too and Adam was here for dinner.  We all had a nice visit.  I would say that Adam is an expert on all things Disney and Joe is his understudy.

 

Paul made dinner for Stacy and invited James and I to eat with them.  It was quite delicious.

Pork chops, apples, asparagus and mashed potatoes.

Dallin was here for awhile, but didn't stay for dinner.

 

I think Stacy had a Happy Birthday.  She seemed to like her puzzle and I also got her a restaurant gift card and Church magazine subscriptions.



 

According to Stacy the only problem with this puzzle is that it's

only 500 pieces.

 



 

 





Saturday, February 7, 2015

 

"Home should be an anchor, a port in a storm, a refuge, a

happy place in which to dwell, a place where we are loved and

where we can love.  Home should be where life's greatest lessons are taught and learned."

-Elder Marvin J. Ashton

 

The boys had a soccer game this morning.  Trina, Lola, Addy, Ruby, Stacy, Paul, Michael, and Bob & Suzy Case along with Kreed and Kayla were all there to watch.  

 

Evan going after the ball.

Rowan on the run.

Joshua kicks the ball.

 

Joshua was a little sad because he missed two goals when he was playing goalie.  I think he is doing great for this being his first year of playing

 

On the way home from the game I stopped at Deseret Book to do a little shopping.  I bought a book for Stacy for her birthday by John Bytheway called: "Lifestyles of the Great and Spacious Building."  I also bought a book for Karen Schneider's birthday: "The Miracles of Jesus."  I also went to Costco which is right next door to Deseret Book.  I got lemon bites and brownie bites for the Robo bake sale today.  I also got some Honey Crisp apples, pork chops, toilet paper, and brownie mixes. 

 

It was 84 degrees this afternoon during the Robo bake sale.

Robo is Evan's company.  Rowan, Joshua,

and Max all work for him.

Sheri made chocolate chip cookies,

chocolate peanut butter cookies, and

snickerdoodles.  They were all delicious!

Making a sale to Joe's friend Amanda.

Ruby and Sheri having a little fun.

Trina brought cookies and goodies from Paradise Bakery.  The sale was a huge success.  The boys took in $60.  When Evan asked whe they could do it again Sheri said: "In November, for your birthday."

I think it was a little stressful for her.

After the sale was over Rowan stayed to play with Evan and Joshua.  Trina came back later this evening to get him. 

 

James and I watched a good Hallmark movie this evening starring Jason Priestly and Teri Polo called "Expect a Miracle."

 

We had stew for dinner and then James painted while I read to him.

 



 







Friday, February 6, 2015

Gila Valley Temple

We left for Jean O'Dell's funeral in Pima this morning around 10:45.  We arrived in the Gila Valley around 1 p.m.  The funeral was scheduled for 2 p.m., so we had plenty of time, or so we thought, to find the Pima Stake Center.  We thought it might be on the main drag so we traveled the main thoroughfare  through Pima and then on to Thatcher and Safford.  Having never been here we wanted to take a little tour.  We thought the stake center might be the building next to the temple but we were wrong.
We asked someone coming out of the temple if this was the Pima Stake Center and he said, "No, that's back in Pima."  Oops, we didn't know we weren't in Pima anymore, but in Thatcher.  He gave us directions to the stake center, which, by the way, we would never have found on our own.  We got there in time to get seats on the second row on the left side of the chapel.

These are the songs I want sung at my funeral.

I was the maid of honor and James was best man

at Digger and Jean's wedding.  We were the only friends

besides family who were there.

Posterity

I am jealous, they have several great grandchildren

 

All five of Jean's children participated on the program.  As they would finish and return to the audience Digger would get up and give them a big hug.  It was heartwarming.  I loved the their oldest daughter Rane read Jean's last testimony of the gospel.  I would like that done at my funeral also. 

 

After the services, we gave Digger a hug and spoke with some of our friends from Snowflake: Diane and Paul Reynolds, Stuart Smith, and Vern Turley.  We also saw Chuck Ruddy, and Paul Wyatt from Linden.  Diane and Paul work in the Snowflake temple with our friends from Vernon, the Peeler's.

 

Before traveling home we stopped at the LaCasita in Thatcher to eat.  It is owned by the Reynoso family, the same family who owns the LaCasita in Show Low. I had my usual, green chili chicken enchilada and a side of refried beans.

 

It was after dark when we got back to Chandler.