Monday, August 10, 2015

Happy 9th Birthday to Rowan,

one of the most loving and kind

boys I know!

 I had an infusion at 9am this morning at the Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Center in Mesa.  I think the new medicine, Actemra, is going to work for me!  I am feeling almost as good as I did on Enbrel. 

 

James and I went to lunch at Oregano's on Dobson and Germann.  I had the Vino Bambino salad. 

Thanks Marci Coombs for telling

me about this salad!

James likes the Oregano's Favorite

Not sure what that "tree" is sticking out of his salad.

 

Today we took Rowan and Joshua on their birthday dates.  Joshua will turn 9 on the 14th.  Evan wanted to come too and of course that was fine with Rowan and Joshua although his birthday isn't until November.  Both boys were looking for the same Lego set; Raptor's Rampage from the Jurassic World collection.  First we went to Toys R Us.  They had lots of legos, but nothing from Jurassic World.  Next stop, the Lego Store in the Chandler mall.

No Raptor's Rampage, but they did have some other Jurassic World sets the boys liked.

Joshua new his parents were getting him the set Rowan chose, so

he chose a different one.  Yes that's Evan on the escalator.

I love Rowan's smile!

Joshua, the clown!

Evan looks a little sad.  I told him he could get an early

birthday present, but he chose to wait.

After shopping, we went to the food court for dinner.

Rowan and Joshua both had cheese pizza and

Evan had a turkey sub from Subway.  He said it was

delicious!

Yes, that's grandpa in the background.

These boys are such good friends and so much fun to be around.

They call themselves the Three Musketeers!











Sunday, August 9, 2015

We attended the mission farewell for these two young men today:

E.J. Castillo and Lolo Escondone.

 

E.J. is the son of Kendall and Kristy Thomas who were in our ward when James was the bishop.  We are so proud of E.J. for choosing to serve a mission.  He will be the first in his family.  Lolo is a convert of just 2-3 years, but what a wonderful testimony he has. 

I am so glad that Alex and Michael went with us to this farewell because it was so inspirational.

E.J., or Edward told a story about reading the Doctrine and Covenants for seminary and coming across this scripture:

"Thus saith the Lord God, the Mighty One of Israel: Behold, I say unto you, my servant Edward, that you are blessed, and your sins are forgiven you, and you are called to preach my gospel as with the voice of a trump;"

D&C 36:1

It was this scripture that made Edward realize he wanted to serve a mission.

The young man in the middle plays on the Chandler High football team and Alex says he's the best tackle in the state.  His last name is Tillini.  He dad played the ukele and he sang

"O Lord, My Redeemer"

At the end of the song he had tears in his eyes and so did I and several other people in the congregation, including President Mitch Jones.

Bishop Richardson spoke highly of both young men.

Here he said he now knows what an Oreo cookie feels like.

President Jones came off the stand before the meeting started to come to the middle of the row where we were sitting to shake hands with James.  He did this same thing when we attended Joseph's seminary graduation.  He and James have known each other since college when they wrestled on the same team at Mesa Community College. 

After the meeting I got hugs from my dear friend Sheila Young.  Sheila and I both grew up in Show Low and I knew her sister Wanda and her mother Louise who was one of the nicest sisters I remember in our Show Low ward.  Sheila and I have become good friends.  I also got a hug from Kristy Kaufman Boyer whom I've know all of her life, but whom I've gotten to know better via Facebook.

Oh yes, one more friend in this Ray 2nd ward.  Mark Coria, a friend of Sheri and Kim's in high school conducted the meeting.

 

We got a call from our realtor Jen MacLay this afternoon saying someone wanted to show the house.  James and I were on our way to Rowan's birthday party so it worked out fine. 

Rowan's birthday isn't until tomorrow but he celebrated tonight with his family.

9 years old tomorrow

I visited with Suzy Case.  She has two of her kids and their children living with her right now.  She is an amazing mother and grand-mother.  She works in the temple and is the Primary President in a ward with about 120 children.  I admire both her and her husband Bob.  They are wonderful people! 





 



 

 





Saturday, August 8, 2015

Happy 12th Anniversary

to

Darrel and Trina!

Happy 6th Birthday Molly!

James invited me to go with him on the Razr to place his wildlife camera.  We saw a total of 12 pickups before this ride was over and over 11 ATV's and three hound dogs and a scampering squirrel or two, but no elk. 

James returned to the cabin before placing the cameras because he knew I was tired of riding on the back roads and because I needed to go to the bathroom.

Before we left for the valley, it looked like it was going to rain, which made it harder to leave.  We saw a semi-truck in Salt River Canyon that had gone off the road on the mountain side.  The trailer was smashed flat but the cab was only crushed on the passenger side.  Highway patrol were there helping the driver get out.  On the way into Globe we passed 10 more first responders, fire and police. 

We stopped at Burger House for 8 burros, one for Stacy, Kim, Brian and Joe.  I got Stacy a red burro and the rest were green.

James made three trips to the store this evening at my request.  He is so patient with me, most of the time.

We started our new book this evening.  It's called "The Apothecary's Daughter."











Friday, August 7, 2015

Rain and lightning storm in Phoenix tonight

 

It was overcast most of the day here in Vernon but we never really got any rain.  It did sprinkle a little while James was outside working. 

 

I had a bagel with berry cream cheese for breakfast.  After breakfast we took a drive to the Stanford store to get me a drink.  They don't carry Dr. Pepper 10 so James got me a fountain drink and a 2 liter bottle of diet Pepsi.  We came home and had scriptures.  We read Romans 9 and Alma 5. 

 

We can't stop reading "Lady Maybe," and we finally finished it today. 

 

James worked downstairs putting together shelves in the storage room.  I mop, dust, vacuum and sweep in the kitchen, dining, family room, and living room.  I don't have any cleaner for the wood floor so I order some on Amazon.

 

Here is a picture of a tiny house I found on Facebook.

James says when he's finished with the storage building,

he will build us one of these to use for a guest house,

or a place for the kids to hang out.

 

After a dinner of vegetable beef soup we watched a Hallmark movie called, "Love Again," starring Teri Polo.  She is one of my favorites.

 

James is complaining about his leg hurting.  I think he needs to see Dr. Ortega.

Sunset.  I took this picture standing on the

ledge of our front planter.

As part of their Christmas, Jared is taking all of his kids on a special date.  This week it was James's turn.  They went to San Francisco to a music concert with lots of different performers.  Here are some pictures Jared posted on Facebook:

Ready for the concert

 

 

 

I love this picture!

 

 













Thursday, August 6, 2015

The view from our bedroom porch.

We love to sit out here and read and watch the humming birds and the clouds roll in.  It's one of my happy places. 

 

I called one of the sisters on my visiting teaching beat this morning because it was her birthday.  I wanted to go visit her but she had a full day of plans. 

 

Yesterday on our way up we stopped at Burger House.  Both of us got two green chili mixed burros so we could have one for lunch today. 

 

After cleaning the kitchen and taking a nap I read to James from our book "Lady Maybe."  It is one of the best ones we have read although parts of it are a little more daring than most of Julie's other books. 

I found this picture on Facebook and James says he can build us a patio very similar to this one.  I am excited!

There are 38 declared Republican candidates running for President of the United States.  There were two debates tonight with the candidates because of the large number.  We watched the second debate which included: Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Dr. Ben Carson,  and Scott Walker.  James and I like Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, and Dr. Ben Carson, not necessarily in that order.  Donald Trump has some good ideas but he is so arrogant and outspoken, I just cannot see myself voting for him.  He is leading in the polls right now.

 

I want to close with the following picture because I think it is beautiful!

I wonder if this was photoshopped





Wednesday, August 5, 2015

These three cuties started school today at Pioneer Elementary in Gilbert.  Ruby is in 1st grade, Rowan is in 3rd, and Addy is a 6th grader, and I might add, Addy scored higher on the placement

tests than anyone else in her school.  We are very proud!

 

I got a call from my friend Karen Schneider today.  She just wanted to talk and see how I was doing. 

 

I love watching these two boys play together.  They are lucky to live so near each other.











 They usually play Legos.

Ready for school

James and I left for the cabin this evening and arrived around bedtime.  I got a phone call and on my caller ID it says it was from Anna so I answered it.  It was Tricia.  We talked for about an hour and a half.  In the mean time James brought all of the stuff in from the car and went to bed. 

 

On the way here in the car we finished the conference talks and read from "Lady Maybe." 

 

 



Tuesday, August 4, 2015



 

Rowan and a few of his cousins spent the day at Bearazona

for Rowan's birthday.  Some of the kids thought it wasn't worth the money, but Rowan loved it!  I guess you drive around in your car and look at bears out in the wild. His birthday isn't until the 10th, but he starts school tomorrow.

 

James left his notebook at the jobsite so I drove over with him to pick it up.  Of course I had to read to him while we were driving.  On the way home we stopped and picked up lunch at one of our favorite burger joints, In-N-Out Burger.

I love that they toast their buns

We deposited some checks today.  James got paid from three jobs and two individuals who owe us money.  I was able to pay some business bills.

 

We had dinner at our favorite sub sandwich restaurant, Jersey Mike's. 

 

Read from Lady Maybe.