Friday, July 10, 2015

Friday, June 26, 2015

This is certainly true with what happened today.
For so many, June 26, 2015, is one of the darkest days of our nation's history.
The supreme court in a 5-4 decision says gay marriage is legal in all 50 states.  Immediately the Church came out with a statement
stating that marriage is between a man and a woman and is ordained of God. 
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that following today's ruling by the Supreme Court, same-sex marriages are now legal in the United States.  The Courts decision does not alter the Lord's doctrine that marriage is a union between a man and a woman ordained by God.  While showing respect for those who think differently, the Church will continue to teach and promote marriage between a man and a woman as a central part of our doctrine and practice." 
 
And from The National Organization for Marriage
President Brian S. Brown:
"Though expected, today's decision is completely illegitimate.  We reject it and so will the American people.  It represents nothing but judicial activism, legislating from the bench, with a bare majority of the Justices on the Supreme Court exercising raw political power to impose their own preferences on marriage when they have no constitutional authority to do so.  It is a lawless ruling that contravenes the decisions of over 50 million voters ad their elected representatives.  It is a decision that is reminiscent f other illegitimate Court rulings such as Dred Scott and Roe v Wade and will further plunge the Supreme Court into public disrepute. 
Make no mistake about it: The National Organization for Marriage and countless millions of Americans do no accept this ruling.  Instead, we will work at every turn to reverse it.
The US Supreme Court does not have the authority to redefine something it did not create.  Marriage was created long
before the United States and our constitution came into existence.  Our constitution says nothing about marriage.  The majority who issued today's ruling have simply made it up out of thin air with no constitutional authority.
In his "letter from a Birmingham Jail," Dr. Martin Luther King discussed the moral importance of disobeying unjust laws, which we submit applies equally to unjust laws, which we submit applies equally to unjust Supreme Court decisions.  Dr. King evoked the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas that an unjust law or decision is one that is "a human law that is not rooted in eternal or natural law."
Today's decision of the Supreme Court lacks both constitutional and moral authority.  There is no eternal or natural law that allows for marriage to be redefined."
 
 On the lighter side I had a weird thing happen today.  It was early morning and I couldn't sleep so I went in to lie down on the couch in the living room and try to sleep a little longer.  As I was lying there I was sure I saw someone pass by in the entryway.  I thought I saw a male with dark hair and a black and white patterned shirt on carrying something in his hands.  My first thought was: "Why is Joel here so early and how did he get in?  I went back into the bedroom and asked James, who was just getting up, why Joel was here so early.  He said he had no idea.  He went to check it out and Joel, or no one else for that matter, was found.  I was baffled.  I asked Michael if it could be him and he said no.  Dallin wasn't here and it wasn't Paul.  It's official: I see people who aren't really there. Enough said.
 
 

 




Monday, July 6, 2015

Thursday, June 25, 2015


Idaho Falls Temple
Kim, Brian, Joe, Michael, and Alex stopped by Disneyland for a few hours before coming back home.  I guess Brian and Kim have season passes. 
 
I still hurt a ton and have the blahs.  Tiffany at AARA says six aspirin a day is too many for me to take and she wants me to take Tylenol instead.  While I was "napping" Dave came over to help James with the lights downstairs.  I didn't know Laura came with him and totally missed visiting with her. I hate not feeling well!  Dallin was here with his guitar and he sang to her.  
 
The battery in my car died today.  James had to walk home from Winco, and then go get a new battery.  
We got a thank you note from Emmy today that went something like this:
Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Thank you so much for giving me money when you didn't have to.  You really made my day.  Thank you thank you, and thank you!!!
I can't express how grateful I am!!!
Thankful
Helpful
Arizona
Nice
Kind
Special                       (These all have to do with you!)
 
 Emmy's homemade card
 
This is a scene on the road from Show Low to Vernon.  The places where they cleared trees is now covered with Verbina.
For some reason I can't enlarge pictures on
Blogger today.
James and I finished "Maid of Fairbourne Hall" and luckily our next book came today.  It's by the same author, Julie Klassen, and is called, "The Girl in the Gatehouse."
 
For dinner James got me bbq pork from, green beans and mashed potatoes from Boston Market.  For some reason it didn't look good to me and I put it in the frig for another day and made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
 




Thursday, July 2, 2015

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

I love these roses!
 
James helped me with the top shelf of the closet today.  I can't believe how much stuff was stored in here!  We don't finish before it's time for Jen, our realtor to be here.  I stay in the bedroom and James meets with her.  She brings her husband and he really likes the house.  Jen loves what we did in the entryway.  We have a new "opening" date to put the house on the market.  July 6th.  I already know that we are going to need to change it to the 7th or 8th. 
James and I have an escape from life.  It is reading our Regency novels.  Right now we are finishing up one called "The Maid of Fairbourne."
 
Darrel and his kids came by to visit James and give him his father's day gift.  Trina was at work.  Darrel also brought us Quizno's for lunch and James got a Bass Pro gift card. 
Lola was obsessed with Stacy's puzzle on the coffee table.  I tried to distract her with some other puzzles which Ruby ended up doing, but Lola finally got to the puzzle and messed part of it up.  Rowan, Max, and Evan came to the rescue. 
 
As part of Joe's graduation present Kim and Brian took Alex, Michael, and Joe to the Nate Ruese concert in L.A. this evening.
 
 
 


Tuesday, June 23, 2015

I gave up on the hot body a long time ago, but I definitely want tacos!
 
I was afraid to take my Methotrexate because in the information guide for Actemra it says using Methotrexate, NSAIDS (aspirin, Naprosyn,) may cause stomach tears.  Also, the last few times I have taken it I have felt miserable and I don't think I can handle any more misery. 
 
Joel Kelly was here today painting the trim in the hallway.  He does such a good job! 
I am still working on our closet, what little work I can do.   I have boxes stacked in the hall that Joel had to move to paint.  There are also boxes stacked in our room. 
Ben has been working for James along with Alex and Seth and I must say he is a good worker.
The new granite is here and the boys are spreading it in the planters.  It is hard work and it is hot outside so they only work a few hours in the morning.
 
James is doing another little job for Jerrod Bowen in east Mesa and he has the boys helping him over there too.
 
Alexis is back from Hawaii which has put a smile on Michael's face.  They went to see the movie "Love and Mercy" about Brian Wilson's life as a "Beachboy."  Michael, Joe, and Stacy all loved the movie and said James and I should go see it.  He's too busy right now and I am too crippled.  Oh yes, one interesting thing about Alexis's parents.  They are boycotting Chik-fil-a because of their views on gay marriage.  Maybe they better boycott the Gonzales's and Lambson's too.
 
Watched Alex Boye and his band tryout for America's Got Talent this evening.  He got four yes's and Howie Mandall said it was his favorite musical act in the six years he's been on the show.
Alex is a black man who is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
 

A tiny polar bear is just the way to end this post!

Monday, June 29, 2015

Monday, June 22, 2015

Someday I would like to have a garden gate like this.
I am very stiff and sore this morning.  I felt a little better after taking my two Tramadol and two aspirin.
 
I got my new debit card in the mail today.  That didn't take long!
 
These are some of the things that were done around here today:
The distiller got fixed, the order of granite came, I worked on cleaning out the closet, James worked on the lights downstairs and Stacy cleaned the master bath tub.  Ben worked today whereas Alex and Seth both said they were sick.  Ben wanted to get paid today because he's going to a concert tonight. 
 
Oh yes, I found my car keys.  James had set them on top of his temple bag which sits next to where I usually put my purse.  They had fallen down inside one of the pockets.  I just reached in and pulled them out.
 
Darrel, Trina and the kids had a fun adventure at the Grand Canyon.  Trina has lived here for 18 years and never been before.

Love this family!



Sunday, June 21, 2015

Happy Father's Day
They say a man's home is his castle...I think
James feels like our Vernon home is his castle.
 
James's request for breakfast was my scrambled eggs.  I was glad I felt well enough to fulfill that request.  After breakfast we prepared for our Primary lesson until it was time to leave for church.  There was only one problem...James can't remember where he put the car keys and we can't find them.  Finally we left with Michael in the Montero.  Stacy, Paul, and Joshua went in the red car. 
 
Brother Coleman from the high counsel spoke in sacrament meeting on keeping the Sabbath day holy.  His companion, Brother Virga spoke on the plan of salvation.  Julie Turvey sang, "Where Can I Turn for Peace".  It was beautiful! 
 
We had five children in our Primary class today: Brielle, whom we haven't seen for several weeks, Brooklyn, Taylor, Isaiah, and Liam.  Oh, I forgot to mention that James told the story in sharing time today about Brother Warren Petersen saving him from a burning house when he was a baby.  The kids, teachers, and leaders all loved it!
 
We had pesto flatbread with tomato and cheese grilled in the oven for lunch at James's request and then we went in to take a nap. Sheri dropped by a card and Olive Garden gift card on their way to see Ian's parents.
 I was shocked when I finally woke up and saw that it was 7pm. Kim had come by to see us and waited 40 minutes and finally left.  Later she brought by a card and giftcard to Cheesecake Factory. 
Jared called and talked to James for quite awhile he also sent him a book.
I guess Darrel tried to call but couldn't get through.  He had to work today and then he, Trina and the kids all left to spend the night at Flagstaff and then go on to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.
 Darrel at work with his kiddos who came for a visit.
 
As we get ready for bed, we are still looking for the keys to my car.


Saturday, June 27, 2015

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Darrel took this picture of Lola. Trina's brother Bryce says she looks like Sherman from Mr. Peabody. 
 
Joel came to paint this morning and Alex, Ben, and Seth worked outside.  Seth got sick and went home early.  I think the heat bothers him.  James is remodeling the lights downstairs and left Skittles in the dark.  Skittles is the family love bird.  When Michael got home from San Diego he immediately brought her upstairs and put her cage on the floor by the fireplace.  She's been chirping and happy ever since.
 
Senor Tacos for dinner.  I wanted to go to Serrano's and get a chili relleno, but there was no place to park.  Senor Taco's chili relleno was okay but the thing that makes Serrano's so good is the sauce they put over it.  Maybe next week if I am feeling up to it.  I have felt a little better this week since my infusion.
 
James and I did a little grocery shopping at Walmart this evening.  He picked out a new watch for Father's Day since the one I got him isn't working.  I also got him some dark chocolate Hershey's Nuggets with almonds.  They are his favorite.  Walmart was crazy.  I wanted to come after dark when it was cooler and it looks like everyone else in Chandler had the same idea.
 
I also worked on our Primary lesson today which is on Repentance and the Atonement.
Michael says he's going to miss San Diego and the sunsets on the beach.