Saturday, September 5, 2015

Happy 37th Birthday Darrel!

I couldn't resist posting this one!

Darrel didn't get a fancy cake like Aaron, but Trina made him two of his favorites; white cake with white frosting, and yellow cake with chocolate frosting.  

I made french toast for Addy and Ruby this morning and scrambled eggs for Rowan.  After breakfast they went on a Razr ride with grandpa to get his wildlife cameras.  While they are gone we get a text from Addy asking us to please have hot chocolate ready when she gets back.  Trina went right into action.  One more text before they get back..Please!

 A beautiful day for a ride.

 I love these three cuties!

Jared went into town around noon to meet his friend Camie Burgi at Safeway.  He was a little nervous.  Here is a picture of Camie with her children.  She has been a widow for 8 1/2 years.

While Jared was gone I made some chicken tacos for James for lunch.  Instead of using canned green chilies, I used green enchilada sauce.  They weren't nearly as good.  Sorry honey.

I gave Jared some money to get a dozen tamales but he said they were all gone.  Wow!  What a business.  

Camie brought oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, and a table runner.  We liked her instantly.  She was so friendly and easy to get to know.  She was amazing while she was here.  She played with the kids, help cook, clean and wash dishes.  She listened to James's stories with rapt attention and was genuinely fun to have around.  We are so glad she came.

 Camie and Ruby coloring

Camie even sat down and watched the ASU game with Jared.  They ended up getting beat by Texas A&M.  Their uniforms were hideous.  All white with bright shiny metallic gold lettering and numbers.  No wonder they lost.

For dinner Darrel and Trina brought burgers for everyone.  I think Jared ended up grilling them because it was Darrel's birthday.  I made homemade mac and cheese using the recipe I got from Trina's sister-in-law Lexy.  Addy told me how good it was and she was right.  We also had Busch baked beans, and of course cake and ice cream.

Darrel & Ro playing chess with Addy giving some advice.

I know this is blurry but I couldn't pass up posting

Jared's smile.

 Waiting for cake and ice cream

I hope their pictures were better than mine.

 I love this post Addy put on Instagram

I think Darrel had a fun day.  He took Trina on a Razr ride, shot his pistol, watched football, ate good food and to top it off we ended the day with a fireworks show.  Thanks Jared for bringing such awesome fireworks!  Ruby and Rowan joined in the fun by holding Roman candles but Addy doesn't like the noise so she declined.

Back home in Chandler Joshua helped rake up leaves.

Good job Joshua!

 Paul said he was excited to help. 

Also in the valley, Michael had his first track meet

 Go Michael!

You're ahead Michael but somebody's hot on your trail.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Sheri's quote of the day:

"It is by faith that you can lay hold upon every good thing.  Just as you are marked as a target by the enemy of righteousness, you have been protected and watched over by your Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  They know you  They know all the forces and individuals around you.  They know what is ahead of you.

And so They know which of the choices you make, which of the desires you satisfy, and which of the circumstances around you will make the most difference in keeping you walking in the light.

I testify that by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come.  Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe.  You need never be discouraged or afraid.  The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith."

Today is Aaron Lambson's 37th birthday.  He is just a day older than Darrel and five days older than Jon.  Erik's wife Amelia made this cake for him.  It looks amazing!

James and I drove into town this morning and returned the Toyota Corolla to Hatch's so we wouldn't have to pay for another day.  

James drops me off at Walmart to do some shopping while he goes to Home Depot to get a new toilet for the hallway bathroom.  Alicia Hunsaker catches us kissing in the parking lot.

Walmart is crazy the first of the month when everyone gets their government checks.  I run in to an old friend from our early days in Chandler, Sandy Bear.  Sandy and her husband John have a summer place in Lakeside on Rainbow Lake.  She said they are having a family reunion with their five children and their spouses, their 33 grandchildren, and 44 great grandchildren.  What a posterity!  She also said they have land in Vernon that they want to sell.  James wants to know where it is.  I told him I didn't know because she couldn't tell me.

James finishes at Home Depot and helps me do my shopping.  On the way home we stop across from Maverick and buy some tamales.  We get three pork and three green chili and cheese.  They are both delicious.  The lady said she had 58 dozen and expected to be sold out by tomorrow afternoon.

When we get home we eat tamales and unload the car and head to the Wilhelm's to see baby George.  

We are greeted by Curtis who is 7, Ruthie who is 5, and Johnny who is 3 or 4.  They have bow and arrows.  James sees the baby and says hello to Sandra then he stays outside with the kids while I visit with Sandra and baby George.  We brought the chocolate cake, a Payday for Sandra and a card and gift card, and a box of diapers for George.  As Sandra and I were talking she tells me that Trenda is working at Dr. Moffat's.  I tell her I have called in a prescription to him but haven't heard back.  She gets Trenda on the phone and she calls in my prescription for me.  Such service!  Trenda is only 17 yet she has her two years associates degree, is a phlebotamist, and a medical assistant.  Impressive girl.

The Wilhelm family

Baby George

James put in the new toilet he bought.  It is wonderful not to have to worry about jiggling the handle so it doesn't run.

Darrel and Trina's family arrived this evening.  We were so excited to see them!  We all watched the movie "Away and Back."  Ruby cried when the ornithologist took the swan eggs away from the little girl who rescued them.

Lola is walking everywhere and she is walking fast!  She points to the animal heads on the wall and says, "What's that?" She points and says it over and over again.

I should have gotten one of her walking!

Jared arrives and we stay up late talking with him.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Sheri has been sending me quotes of the day for quite sometime.  I look forward to them.  Here is the one for today:

 "We were not placed on this earth to walk alone.

What an amazing source of power, of strength, and of comfort is available to each of us.  He who knows us better than we know ourselves.  He who sees the larger picture and who knows the end from the beginning, has assured us that He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask.

We have the promise: 'Pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good.'"

 Dahlias - always remind me of Carmen

I spent a couple of hours outside today cleaning off the back patio and the deck.  That pine tree on our back deck certainly makes a mess.  I also finished cleaning our bedroom and bathroom, paid tithing, did laundry, and worked in the kitchen.

I ate the Payday I got for Sandra Wilhelm and now I have a stomach ache!  Serves me right.  

James has decided to come home tonight instead of tomorrow.  Kim goes to Costco and gets the chocolate cake I want to give to the Wilhelm family.  It arrives safely in James's truck.  That in itself is a miracle.  

I am working upstairs in the common area when James arrives around 8:30pm in our rented Chevy Cruz.  Now we have two rented cars parked in our driveway.

Before going to bed tonight we watched a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie called, "Away and Back."  The movie stars Jason Lee as a widower who lives in Washington state near a lake where trumpeter swans come during the summer.  It was so good we decided to save it and watch it with Darrel and his family when they get here tomorrow.

 This is Dobis, Jared Ammon's dog who now lives with

Jared's friend Danielle.

 

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

September is James's favorite month in Vernon.  This might have something to do with the fact that September is the month that elk start bugling to gather their cow herd.  The picture of this elk was taken last September in our yard. 

 I woke up to an elk bugling this morning very close by.  Although I never actually saw him, I did see two cows and two calves playing just off our porch.  They were there for a long time until the bull bugled again and they ran off.

I met Harold, Vickie, Dennis, and Denise for my birthday lunch at Licano's today.  I wish I had taken a picture.  We had a great time talking and laughing and just spending time together.  They bought my lunch for me, a chicken enchilada and a taco.

  As we were leaving Dennis went to his car and brought a grocery bag filled with all the pieces of my Precious Moment's nativity set that he had gathered after the Pinedale fire.  They were some of the only things left after the fire. I am not sure what I am going to do with them.

I went to Ross before going home to get a gift card for Sandra Wilhelm.  Trenda suggested that she might like one.

It rained on the trip back to Vernon.

I love the rain!

When I am here by myself I watch more TV.  Today I watched a Hallmark movie starring Jaclyn Smith as a judge who takes in a foster child.  It was called "Ordinary Miracles."  I also watched a movie I had seen before with Dean Cain called "Operation Cupcakes."  

I also did some cleaning.  I cleaned upstairs and put sheets on the bed downstairs where Jared's friend Camie is going to stay.

News from Chandler: Stacy is starting her dental hygiene job today.  Ben and Alex are both scheduled to get their patriarchal blessings.  Ben is the Sunday and Alex the next.

Read Alma 63 - Helaman 2 today.  Now both Helaman and Moroni, two of my heroes, have died.

I love Elder Holland!

 

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

This is a '57 Chevy for those of you who are too young to remember.  Even though I was a teenager in the '60's, this was the car of my dreams.  My older cousin, Danny Strickland, had one and I wanted to buy it from him.  When I asked,  he said it was a stick shift, which was fine because I learned to drive on a stick shift but Danny was a race car driver and he had it all "souped up" and was afraid it would be too much car for me.  I was disappointed.  One of my dreams that was never realized.  I still love this car!

James is on a roll.  He fixed delicious scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning.  He has to leave for Chandler, so I drive with him to get another rental car at Hatch Motors, to drive while I am here alone.

They didn't have any red '57 Chevy's, so

I settled for a Toyota Corolla.

James and I say goodbye in the Hatch Motors parking lot as he heads to Chandler and I head to Walmart.  Why do I buy so many sweets and carbs?

On the ride home to Vernon I enjoy the scenery, especially all the fields of yellow flowers.

 Sunflowers and small yellow daisies!

Blogger is driving me crazy, first I couldn't post pictures.  I solved that problem but now I have another problem.  I can't type labels for my posts.  I am not sure if it is Blogger or Internet Explorer, but it's driving me crazy!

The reason I stayed here in Vernon is to make sure the house is ready and there are clean sheets on all the beds for our company this weekend.  Also, I am going to lunch tomorrow with my brothers and their wives.  I do a little bit of cleaning then I stop to watch a movie or do something else I enjoy.  Today I watched two movies, "Recipe for Love", and "That Robbins Girl."  I get lonely when I am here alone and having the TV on helps.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

 

Monday, August 31, 2015

 James makes the most delicious oatmeal with walnuts.  He made some for me this morning for breakfast.  

I washed sheets today, getting ready for company this weekend.  

I am sorry to say that I am now 25 days behind on my blog.  How does this happen?  I get lazy, that's how.

On a more positive note, it rained most of the day today.

 After the rain came the rainbows!

James and I watched two movies today.  Yes, it was that kind of a day.  One was a mystery woman movie starring Kellie Martin and the other was called "Midnight Masquerade" starring Autumn Reeser.  We also read from our new Julie Klassen book, "The Dancing Master".  James says he feels like we are on our honeymoon when we are here alone like this.

I did do some work today besides washing sheets.  I dusted in our bedroom, which is no small task, and worked on this blog.  Since I am 25 days behind, I have to at least make two posts a day for 25 days to catchup.

James fixed dinner tonight besides fixing breakfast this morning.  He fixed what I call a "preparin' for the hard times" dinner.  Rice-a-roni, canned chicken, canned chicken broth and canned green beans.  Actually, it was quite tasty.

 

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Steve, Sherry, and Lilly Estes

Grandma Carmen

James's sister Carmen just became a grandma and I think she is really enjoying it!

We left Chandler at 4:31 am for Vernon.  We stayed last night to watch Joe's performance at SoZo and it was worth it.  James was going to drive his truck but instead he drives with me in the rental car because he says he wants to be with me.  We arrive in Vernon around 7:40, just in time to get ready for church.  

Today was the Butler's mission farewell.  The Butler's are an older couple in our ward.  Patricia has always wanted to go on a mission.  Her husband Stephen had to give her talk because she had to go to the valley to be with her daughter who was having a nervous breakdown.  Stephen gave her talk, but did not have time to give his own talk.  

Jackson Allen and Ed Miller were called up from the audience to give their testimonies.  

Bishop Miller gave a short talk about Lehi and the Tree of Life.  

After sacrament meeting I met Jean Howard, one of the sisters I am assigned to visit teach.  I gave her the visiting teaching handout which consisted of a quote by President Monson and a dish towel.  The story of the Savior washing the apostles feet was in the lesson.  I talked about how this towel can remind her of the importance of serving others.  I also visited with Elida Pope.  I was going to follow her home but she wasn't sure our rental car would make it.

I did not teach Primary today.  The teacher's had an inservice lesson presented by Lannie Gillespie.  I think Virginia Chafin taught my class. Marci Butler Westbrook did singing time today.  She let the children chose their favorite songs.  What a fun person she is.  Her parents were Wade and Jackie Butler.  When I was a teenager in Show Low Wade and Jackie lived across the street.  Jackie was my Beehive advisor.  Wade was a high school friend of my dad's and Jackie was a good friend of my mom's.  

I have Marci's daughter Kasey in my Primary class.  She is such a sweet girl.

Lannie Wilhelm Gillespie did our last sharing time on the miracles of Jesus.  It's been a great month, learning again about the Savior's miracles.  She encouraged the children to look for miracles in their everyday lives.  That is good advice for everyone.  

James and Rick Lauritzen home taught Virgil Cooper at the church after the block today.  He doesn't want them to come to his home.  He told the story how his wife and children left him over 20 years ago when she inherited $40 million dollars.  He says he hasn't seen her or the children since.  It is such a sad story.

Jen called and said someone wanted to see the house today.  I told her to call and talk to Stacy, which she did.  I guess everything went okay.  

I finished listening to last April's General Conference talks, including the Women's and Priesthood session for the 5th time.  One more time before October conference.

James and I watched a Hallmark movie: "So You Said Yes."

Sunset at Fool's Hollow Lake in

Show Low, the place where 

James proposed marriage to me.