Wednesday, July 29, 2015

National Cheesecake Day 1

Looks delicious!

 

Ian's half brother from England and his family have been here visiting.  Sheri, Ian, and the boys absolutely love them.  Ian's brothers name is Michael, his wife is Alyson, their two boys are Eli who is 8 and Fraser who is 5.  Their last name is McMillian.  Alyson has a son Sam who is 13 from a previous marriage who was also here with them.  His last name is Crisp-McMillian.  Here are some pictures:

The cousins, except Fraser who was taking a nap.

That is Mattea in the middle.  She is Sean and Megan's little girl.

Here is a picture of Fraser

Max teaching Eli and Fraser how to play

America football.

Aly, Sheri, Ian, Sean, Betty, Michael

Michael had an amazing story to tell of how he found Betty.  He was visiting the hospital where he was born.  He was told the room where he was born but had to ask permission to go in because there was a woman in the room about to have a baby.  When he walked in, the woman in the room said, "You're Michael."  It was Betty's sister.  I think the Lord may have had a hand in leading him there at that particular time. 

Because he grew up on the streets and had a troubled childhood, he helps guide troubled youth now.  Sheri thinks he is one of the neatest people she has ever met. They would like to move to the states but Alyson share custody with Sam's dad so she can't leave England.

 

Brad MacLay took pictures of our house today and put them on an online MLS listing and then sent us the link so we could look at them.  There are 21 pictures.

 

I went shopping today for Molly's birthday.  I got her the same thing I got Ruby, a twirling Cinderella Barbie, a Cinderella coach, and a Cinderella dress.  I also got her a Cinderella wig. 

 

For dinner James and I had soup and sandwiches. 



 We love this soup!

They sell it at Target.



 

 

 

 



 





Tuesday, July 28, 2015



Pioneers An Anchor For Today

July 2015 Ensign, p. 50

Three ways pioneers can become an anchor for us today:

1.  Remember the Pioneers - Remember the pioneers, their stories, and the sustaining, saving, delivering power of God that came as a result of their faith and hope.

2.  Remember their Unity - The pioneers had a sense of community and mutually shared responsibility which produced a unified effort to follow God's prophet.  That is a major reason the pioneers succeeded as they did, and it is an important part of the legacy they pass to us.

3.  Pass on the Pioneer Spirit - When we consistently exercise faith in the Lord and anchor our souls with hope in Him, we become "sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." (Ether 12:4).

"Avoiding the temptations and evils of the world requires the faith and fortitude of a real modern-day pioneer." -Elder M. Russell Ballard.

To be a pioneer means that we "be not weary in well-doing" (D&C 64:33).

As we live the gospel, follow the prophet, choose faith over doubt, and do the little things that grow faith and produce soul-anchoring hope, each of us will be a pioneer, preparing the way for others to follow.

 

We picked up Adam for work and on the way over I read from "The Curiosity Keeper."  We also took him home and then stopped at Elmer's to pick up lunch.

We love their strips, cheese, and hot sauce!

I also had a machaca taco

 

After lunch I left for my doctor's appointment with Dr. Allen on Power and Baseline.  He says my hormones look good, but I need more thyroid. 

After my appointment I went shopping for the tea party I am having at the cabin for the girls.  I went to Michael's and Hobby Lobby.  I struck it rich at Hobby Lobby! 

 

This evening Stacy went for a walk with Janny Butler.  I a glad they are good friends.

 

Michael, Joe, and Alex get to meet the guys and "hang out" with the guys from Good Ole War.

A great day for Michael, Alex, and Joe!



 





 



Monday, July 27, 2015



Roxy giving Evan a kiss

Roxy is Alex's pet chinchilla he has had for 9 years.

 

Joshua and Holly

 

I polished the wood floors today before our appointment with Jen MacLay, our realtor. Before I could finish though I had to make a trip to Walmart for more floor polish.  While I was there I saw and spoke to Diana Dowdle, Karen Payne, and Michelle Thompson.

 

The meeting with Jen went well.  She wanted her husband to come and take pictures of the house but I told her we weren't quite ready for that yet.  He is going to come on Thursday.

 

After our meeting with Jen we went out for a late lunch/early dinner at Olive Garden.  FYI, their fried zucchini is not nearly as good as Cheesecake Factory's,  

 

We started a new book this evening, "The Curiosity Keeper" by Sarah E. Ladd.

I love having a husband who enjoys reading my books with me!

 

Kim, Brian, Joe, Alex, and Michael left for L.A. this afternoon.  They are going to a Good Ole War concert.  Michael and Joe got backstage passes for Christmas.  This time they rented a bigger car.

 

This sign went up in our yard today.



   

 

 

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Home Sweet Home

 

 

James said he would help with my Primary lesson today.  Alex looked nice in his Sunday clothes.  Seth looked more like he was prepared to go to church in the country.  We had family prayer and then made our way to the Vernon ward.

 

It was announced that Brother Bruce Tieman passed away and his funeral will be in Phoenix on Friday.  I received my new visiting teaching beat.  Lorraine Tieman is my partner and we are to visit Hailey Chafin, Elida Pope, and Sister Howard.  When I left Vernon seven months ago Hailey and Elida were my visiting teachers.  They live way out the other side of the Stanford store closer to Taylor than to Vernon.

 

Today was Sadie Westbrook's homecoming.  She just returned from her mission to Mexico.  She took most of the time, but the bishop got up after she was finished and said a few words.  I quote:

"You cannot measure the effect of one worthy missionary.

The impact is felt throughout eternity."

I think he was quoting President Hinckley

 

I am glad James was there to help me in Primary.  We ended up teaching two classes.  My class: Ashten Hall, Isabelle Miller, Kasey Westbrook, Braylin Chafin, Talina Singleton, and Zemira Whilem.  We also had the 8 and 9 year olds: Jace Singleton, Curtis Wilhelm, and visitors, Bentley, Jack, and Taylor.

 

We had a little extra time so I asked some of the kids what their favorite foods were.  Isabelle said hers was mussels.  I was quite surprised by that response.  What 9 year old girl likes mussels?

 

Brielle Hunsaker Rohner gave the lesson in Relief Society based on Elder Bednar's talk: "Therefore They Hushed Their Fears."  I visited with Brooklyn Carroll before class.  She is Sadie's niece and best friend.

Brooklyn and Sadie



 

Back at home we had chili for lunch and then played Hearts.  James ran it two or three times and lived up to his bragging about being the champ.

 

On the way back to Chandler we stopped at Monte's and Tasha's to pick up a piano they gave to Sheri.



 



James, Alex, and Seth struggling to get the piano

on the trailer.

I failed to get a picture of the police officer who came

over and helped by picking up one end of the piano and walking

up on the trailer with it. 

He saved the day, and James's back.

 

Monte was in California with the Show Low High School football team for a training camp along with Brian, Harold and Dennis.  Here are the coaches having a little fun.



Can you spot the Maxwell's

 

Home Sweet Home





Saturday, July 25 2015

View from our porch

 

The boys went on an early morning Razr ride with James.  When they returned James made steak, gravy and biscuits for everyone.  This is one of Alex's favorite meals!  I think Seth liked it too but he may have had a difficult time chewing because of his wisdom teeth being pulled this week.

 

I got a call from Becky Skousen this morning asking if I could teach the 9-10 year olds in Primary tomorrow.  I told her I would be glad to so she delivered the manual to me.  The lesson is entitled: "The Triumphal Entry and the Last Supper."

While I was doing the dishes and laundry, the boys and James went to Stanford's store to get gas for the Razr and passion fruit punch sherbet for dessert.  James loves this sherbet as much as I do.

 

This afternoon while sitting on the porch we saw a double rainbow.  It was raining and the sun was shining at the same time.

I posted this picture on Facebook.

When our neighbor Donna Peeler saw it she commented:

"You see everything on your porch."

 

Seth and Alex took a drive to the top of Green's Peak this afternoon.  When James checked his wildlife camera this picture came up:

I call this:

"The gathering of the bulls"

 

The guys went out coyote hunting this evening.  When they returned I fixed pancakes and sausage for dinner. 

 

James and I finished our book "The Tutor's Daughter" today.  I liked the heroine, Emma Smallwood.  She likes to make lists, read, collect books, and write in her journal.  I love these things too!

 

One more picture from our porch.

 

Back at home in Chandler, Michael gets a much needed haircut.  Joe promised he would cut his hair after Michael got his cut.  When we reminded him of this, he said: "I didn't say how long after."  Tricky Joe, tricky.  We were all disappointed, including Amanda.









 



Friday, July 24, 2015

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"The role of the family in God's plan is 'to bring us happiness, to help us learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and to prepare us for eternal life.' 

The beautiful traditions of religious observance in the home need to be embedded in the hearts of our children."

"Like the young sunflower, when we follow the Savior of the world, the Son of God, we flourish and become glorious despite the many terrible circumstances that surround us.

He truly is our light and life."

 

I spent the morning getting ready to go to the cabin.  We are taking Alex and Seth with us.  They have been wanting to go all summer but James has been too busy working on the house to take them. 

I picked up Alex at the Chandler seminary building around 11:45.  Seth was waiting at our house.  He just had all of his wisdom teeth pulled so he was lying down on the couch.  Alex helped load the trailer.  We are taking a saw and our BBQ. 

Of course we stopped at Burger House for burros.  (We should call it Burro House).  I ordered a green mixed burro and a red burro.  I ate the red burro on the way.  It was good, but I still prefer the green burros. 

 

The boys stopped at the Safeway in Show Low to do some shopping.  Since this is the 24th of July weekend and there is a big pioneer celebration and rodeo in Snowflake, the Safeway parking lot was packed and the boys said it was crazy inside the store.

We stopped at Show Low Motors and bought a new gas cap for the Razr.  It cost around $20. 

As we came into Vernon the guys had seen some antelope out in the field across from the post office.  They wanted to take the Razr in and get a closer look.  They got about half way down our road and it sputtered and died.  Water in the gas tank.  While they were trying to get it started Seth looked down on the ground and found the original gas cap.  Well, now we have two. 

James spent the next hour or so trying to syphon gas out of the Razr.  He finally got it to run but it was too late to go looking for the antelope.  Now he smells like gas.

 

James and I watched a Hallmark movie called "Novel Romance."  They boys watched "Shrek."

 

I took a picture of our backporch view and posted it on Facebook.

 



 



Thursday, July 23, 2015



 

James picked up Adam for work this morning around 6am.  Adam hauled granite, mowed and edged the yard, and helped James take down the trampoline.  James rented a power sprayer and Adam started to spray off the porches and sidewalks but had to leave because he had a job interview at Rositas restaurant by his house.  James finished using the sprayer which really didn't do the job we wanted it to. I took Adam home and picked up lunch at In-N-Out Burger on the way back home.

 

Louise and Heather cleaned this afternoon and Ron Cherington cleaned the carpet in the three bedrooms and the pit.  I think James is going to have him come back later to do the downstairs

 

Evan invented a board game and brought it over this afternoon.  Joshua and I played with him.  At one point I had to answer any question that Evan asked me.  His question was: "What is the square root of 64.  I answered wrong and he corrected me.  I wonder how many 8 year old kids know the answer to this question.  I was surprised that Evan knew.  Joshua ended up winning the game.

Evan's board game

I didn't stand a chance against these two.

 

For dinner tonight James and I went to Carrabas.  Here is what I had.



 Pasta with tomatoes, cheese, peppers, and chicken.

It was delicious!