Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Apostle Richard G. Scott passed away today.

He was 86 years old.

"Recognize the good in others,
not their stains."
-Richard G. Scott

James calls elk out on the porch every morning and every evening.

I think this group is onto him because they aren't responding.

James went with me today to visit two of the sisters on my visiting teaching beat.  These were the handouts I gave for the lesson on the divine attributes of Jesus Christ, power and glory.

The quote says:

"The Savior uses His Power to Redeem

and Empower us.  Our Faith in Him will increase as

we Remember that He is full of Power an Grace."

This quote is attached to a small Book of Mormon.  I told the sisters that I feel like I get power from reading about the Savior in the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.

We left the house around 9am.  Our first visit was with Elida Pope.  The Pope's live further away from the ward building than any other family in the ward.  We met Elida at the second well on Stanford Rd.  It is 14 miles from the Stanford store to Elida's house, mostly all on dirt roads.  Her house is actually closer to Taylor than it is to Vernon, but there are no roads going into Taylor from where she lives.

 On the road to the Pope's

The Pope's home.  They have solar energy

and a generator and their own well.

I told Elida she was truly a pioneer.  She also home

schools her little boy Ethan.  She has three boys but

Eli and Edmund aren't in school yet.

I had a nice visit with Elida.  I was impressed with how soft-spoken she was with her kids.  She is a convert and she says her husband Eric introduced her to the gospel.  They served in the military together.  She just returned from a trip to her home state, Florida, for her great grandmother's funeral.  She said she was glad to get home and loves the peace and quiet which surrounds her at home.

After our visit with Elida we headed back to the well where we met her and turned to go to visit Hailey Chafin at the Chafin ranch.  

The Chafin's have no electricity.  They have solar power

and a generator and their own well.

Hailey had her baby Huntley Nicole with her.  Her baby has more hair than any baby I've ever seen and it is black and sticks straight up in the air.  Sorry I didn't get a picture.  

We figured we traveled about 60 miles round trip to visit with these two sisters.  I just hope I can make it when it snows.

After our visit with Hailey we headed into Show Low.  We wanted to have lunch at LaCasita but there was no place to park, so we went on down the road to Grumpy Jake's BBQ.  I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of cowboy beans.  It was all very tasty!  Kyle Thomas, a member of our ward when James was the bishop in Chandler, was in the booth right behind us.  He is a dentist and lives up here now.  

We drove on to the Lakeside Cemetery to check on the mums on my Mom's grave.

They are blooming because of all the rain.

James checking to see if the soil is wet.

On the way home we stopped at Walmart for a little shopping.  When we got home we took a nap and watched a Hallmark movie.

I also worked on my blog and did some cleaning.  James worked on income taxes.  When we went to bed, it started to rain.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Vernon friends: Lynda Tanner, Sean Hunsaker
and Lorraine Vaught

"Your beliefs don't make

you a better person,

your behavior does."

I wanted to go on a Razr ride this morning but when we went out to the garage I noticed that one of the back tires was flat.  We went out on the porch instead.  While I read, James clipped and painted my toenails.  He's a keeper!

Bishop Miller's wife Ann gave birth to a baby boy this morning:

 They named him Uriah Ellis Miller

Bishop's mother Debbie holding Uriah

while big sister Andyn looks on.

Andyn and Uriah

Katherine and Uriah

Hyrum and Uriah

Congratulations to the Miller family!

It rained most all afternoon and into the night.  James got a text and a picture from Paul of Oregon.  His wife Janelle got her elk.

 Janelle and her elk

Here is the elk she originally wanted but missed.  Someone else got him.

He's a big one!

I think both of these elk were shot near Nutrioso.

Paul asked James if he wanted some salmon that they caught in Oregon.  Of course he does!  We met Paul on the highway between here and Springerville.  James stood out in the rain and talked to him for several minutes.  I hope he doesn't get sick.  Thanks for the salmon Paul.

James worked on income taxes most of the afternoon.  He has to have four years of taxes done before October 15th.  I worked on my blog and paid some bills and then we watched two Hallmark movies.  One was about two people who get heart transplants from a couple who were killed in a car crash and left behind a little girl.  Of course they fall in love and are drawn to the little girl.  They get married and become like parents to the little girl.  It never says they adopt her, but I am hoping they did.  I am not sure if this was based on a true story or not.  

The other movie was a Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters, starring Lori Laughlin.  

 This is a picture of Sister McAfee, the Primary 

chorister in the Galveston 3rd ward.  They just

realigned ward boundaries in the Chandler West stake 

and now, just before the Primary program, she

was put in the Pleasant 1st ward.  The Galveston 3rd ward lost 

several of their children and their Primary chorister.

So very sad.

The kids loved her!

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Weston and Trenda

Today was Weston Hall's missionary farewell.  He will be serving in the same mission his dad served in, the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission.  He brother Kendall is in Argentina right now serving in another mission.  

Weston said there were two things that helped him prepare for his mission.  One was scuba diving into the Book of Mormon instead of just swimming.  He said Jacob 1:18-19 was especially meaningful to him.  The other thing that helped him was attending missionary prep.  

Weston is a very friendly guy and I think he will be an outstanding missionary.

Weston said that one of the things in his life that he was the most grateful for was his mom.  He said that without her he probably wouldn't be going on a mission.  It was a nice tribute.

Shelly Applegate was the youth speaker and she spoke on self-esteem and did a great job.  Shelly is one of my favorite young women.
Elder White, one of our missionaries, spoke on service, and Bishop Miller finished up the meeting.  I am excited for Weston and his family.  He will be missed here in Vernon though.
Today in our Primary class we talked about the apostle Peter and his testimony.  I gave the kids this handout on the five points of a testimony:

I had to make it bigger because it was so blurry.

I encouraged the children to include these five elements when they bore their testimonies and I asked Braylin if he would come prepared to bear his testimony next week in class.

These were the children who attended class today: Zemira, Braylin, Jolee, Kasey, and Ashten.  

After the block John Wilhelm invited James and I into the bishops office.  His father, Mel Wilhelm, who is the ward Sunday School president, was in the bishop's office waiting for us.  John issued the call for James to be a Sunday School teacher and at this time be assigned to the Gospel Doctrine class.  James said he would be glad to accept the call as long as he had a voice.  He did say he was a little intimidated because he had never taught adults before.  I am just sad that I won't be able to attend his lessons because I will be in Primary.

James came home and made us this for lunch:

 A chili dog with onions and a salad.

Jared had a date with Camie Burgi last night in Gilbert.  They went to watch her son perform at a coffee house.  He is the lead singer in a rock band. Today he is flying home to El Paso.  Camie invited him to her house for lunch.  Camie sent me this picture and message:

"Jared came over for dinner.  We wish you and James were here."

I sent this message back:

"You two look like you belong together.  We wish we were there too!"

This afternoon we had a visit from our new home teachers, Dave Westbrook, and Austin Carroll.  It was a nice visit.  Dave is our age, and Austin is Maddie's older brother.  He is probably in his early 20's.  

When our home teacher's left we read our scriptures and from our book, "The Baron's Honourable Daughter."  Afterwards we went on a Razr ride.  Of course James blew his elk call but we didn't see any bulls, only a cow and a calf. Sorry, I didn't get any pictures.

We came home from our ride and watched a Hallmark movie.

The Galveston 3rd ward in Chandler has a new bishopric.  The bishop is Eric Wanlass and his counselors are Brother Allen who was in the old bishopric, and Mike Ellsworth.  There was also a boundary change and the ward lost several families to the Pleasant 1st ward, including: The McCook's, Max was sad because his best friend is one of the McCook boys, Brennan and Laurie Ray, Bishop Lewis, and Sister McAfee.

Church friends, Lynda Tanner, Sean Hunsaker, and Lorraine Vaught.

Sister McAfee and her fans

Sister McAfee was the Primary chorister in the Galveston 3rd ward.

She is now in the Pleasant 1st ward and the Galveston 3rd ward has no chorister for their upcoming Primary Program.

These girls made it back to the south rim today.  It wasn't easy, but they did it!  Trystin hurt her knee and had to take the shuttle.

It looks like Sheri is smiling, 

but she's really just gritting her teeth.

 

Saturday, September 19, 2015

I love the Prince, Mr. Kit!

I didn't get a quote from Sheri this morning.  I guess she's too busy hiking the Grand Canyon.

 I got up at 4:30 this morning so I could take Alex and Ben to the Allen's house.  They are going to do baptisms for the dead with the other young men in their ward.  The streets were dark and quiet until we turned onto Brother Allen's street and it was filled with young men in white shirt and ties.  It was a sight to behold on an early Saturday morning!

Joshua, Evan, and Rowan were awake before 7am.  Stacy told them if they woke up before 8 to try and go back to sleep.  I could see it wasn't going to happen, so at 7:40 I left with them to go to breakfast at IHOP.  

Evan and Rowan checking out Joshua's artwork.

Rowan ordered a chocolate pancake with chocolate chips

and a whipped cream smiley face.

Oh yes, that side of bacon belongs to Rowan too.

Stacy said Joshua would be tired if he got up before 8 

and I think she was right.

 Evan ordered two pancakes, a side of hashbrowns,

and he drank two glasses of orange juice.  He is the only

one that qualifies for the "clean plate club."

I think Rowan is caught in a "sugar fog."

Joshua ate his bacon and silver dollar pancakes and just a

couple bites of his eggs.

At 9:30 we had a meeting with our realtor, Jen MacLay to go over the inspection report. It was a looong list of things that needed to be done.

James seems a little overwhelmed.

Seth and Adam were carrying heavy things up from downstairs and loading them in James's trailer.  They finished and then waited around for James to finish his meeting so Adam could get paid.

Adam carrying my old suitcase from my college days and

pulling an empty dolley.

Seth carrying a drink.

Stacy took the boys to team pictures while we finished our meeting with Jen.  She took my car since Michael had left to go to a cross country meet in the Montero. 

James and I had a few minutes after the meeting with Jen so we went in our bedroom to read scriptures.  Someone knocked on the door.  When I opened it I was surprised to see Jared standing there! I squealed and gave him a big hug.  We got to visit with him for just a few minutes before leaving for the boys soccer game.  

We stopped by Sonic for a diet cherry coke and James also got a New York dog which has saurkraut and onions.  I told him Stacy was going to be upset  that she made her car smell funky.  When we got to Discovery Park he aired out the car and got rid of the trash.  He said: "She will never know."  "Wrong!" As soon as she got in the car she called me and said: "Did dad go to Whataburger?"  I had to tell her it was worse than that.  Both her and Kim are just  like me, they have blood hound noses.

Our team is the green team.  Sad that none of

my grandsons are in this picture,

 or this one.

Our boys lost 0-5.

The Three Musketeers:
Rowan, Evan, and Joshua

After the game we took the three boys to get something to eat.  Rowan wanted Chikfila and the other boys wanted In-N-Out Burgers.  They were getting a little fidgety waiting in two drive-thrus, so I started asking them questions.  My first question was: What is your favorite animal: Evan said either a fox or an Artic fox, Rowan's was a long finned Maco shark ( or a hammerhead), and Joshua's favorite animals are bats.  I asked where they would like to live if they could live anywhere.  Joshua said Oregon, and both Rowan and Evan said Australia.  Where would they like to serve their mission: Joshua said England because that's where his aunt Tara lives.  Of course Evan and Rowan both said Australia.  There were more questions but I can't remember them right now.  Every time I would stop for a minute Rowan would say:  "Ask us some more questions."  It was a fun way to get to know more about my grandsons and it stopped them from pinching and fidgeting in the backseat.

When we get back to the house the boys gather up their stuff and they all go do to Evan's to play for awhile.  It was time for me to get ready to go back to Vernon.  I went to Sam's Club to get gas and some candy for my Primary class.  Regular gas is $1.99.  That is the cheapest that I've seen it for awhile.  

The plan was for me to drive my car and for James to drive the truck, pulling the trailer.  When I got back from Sam's Club James said he had decided he wanted to go with me.  I was excited!  He drove and I read to him.  

When we get to Vernon it's raining very hard.  After we get settled in we watch the Garage Sale Mystery, The Wedding Dress.  I had already seen it but I wanted James to see it too.  Time for bed.

This just in from the Grand Canyon:

Tristyn, Lexi, Trina, and Sheri

Sheri posted on Facebook:  "I can do hard things, and I have to do it again tomorrow.  I'm so thankful for such strong, inspiring women who encourage me to try hard things.  This was the hardest thing I have done in my life, but also the best." #canyongirlsforlife

Friday, September 18, 2015

Sheri's quote of the day:

Pres Uchtdorf said:

"If you feel small and weak, please simply come unto Christ,

who makes weak things become strong."

Phillipians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ

who strengthens me.

This scripture, along with prayer and Norman Vincent Peale's book, The Power of Positive Thinking, got me through a very difficult time when I first came down with arthritis in 1982. I am so grateful for the scriptures and living prophets!

 I bought this hat for Lola from Shelly Kaufman,

Elliot Kaufman's wife.  I am so excited to give it to her.

Sheri and Alex both texted me this morning to check and see if the house passed inspection yesterday and if the buyers still wanted it.  I told them we had several items to fix, but yes, the buyers still wanted it.  Thank goodness!

James left early this morning to pick up Adam so both of them could go to the construction yard to work.  Thanks to Bill Valentic we still have a place to call a construction yard.  They also worked downstairs pulling things out of the years supply room.  It is amazing to me how much stuff we still have in this house.

After work James and I took Adam to lunch at Nello's and then we took him home.  I must say Adam is fun to be around.  He and James talked about animals for the longest time.  James told Pete the Crow stories and Adam told about an orangutan who kept breaking out of his cage at the San Diego zoo during the night. He was making pick locks!  They thought they got them all but he still got out at night.  He had hid one in his mouth behind his teeth.  Talk about a smart animal!  Isn't that called deductive reasoning?

 Those are some big hands!

After my nap and some blogging, I went to get a drink at Sonic and then picked up Sheri to take her to Trina's.  Trina, Sheri, Lexy - Trina's sister-in-law, and Tristyn, Trina's sister, are hiking the Grand Canyon.  They are leaving tonight and hiking from the south rim to the north rim tomorrow and then from the north rim to the south rim on Sunday.  

I took the minion hat to give to Lola but she wasn't there.  Trina had already left to take her kids to her mom's.  Darrel doesn't get off work until 8pm.  He will pick up the kids and take them home, except for Rowan who is coming to our house so I can take him to his soccer game tomorrow.  

I am here to help Sheri and Trina as much as I can.  I took Max to his football practice at Tumbleweed park.  I sat and waited through the practice and then brought him home.  

Sandra, baby George, Trenda, Alice, Zemira, and Curtis Wilhelm were in the valley today because Curtis had a doctor's appointment.  Curtis is 7 years old and they discovered he had cancer when he was 4.  He has been in and out of the hospital for the last three years but right now he is in remission and only has to come down for checkups every other month.  They called and asked if they could come swimming tonight and of course we said yes.  Alice and the two boys enjoyed swimming and Joshua and Evan joined in the fun.  

John Wilhelm's sister, Hazel McClaws lives in Chandler and she came by to see Sandra and the kids.  John is Sandra's husband btw.

Rowan got here around 9 or so and now the Three Musketeers are together.  They set up a "boy cave" in the living room.  They watched the move "Monster House" before going to bed.

"Boy Cave", minus the blankets and legos.

Old TV from the bedroom and 

"Monster House."

 

 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

He looks like a tree.  How does an elk with antlers this big hold up his head?

Sheri's quote of  the day:

Elder Ochoa: "... if you ever come across anything that causes you to question your testimony of the gospel, I plead with you to look up.  Look to the Source of all wisdom and truth.  Nourish your faith and testimony with the word of God.  there are those in the world who seek to undermine your faith by mixing lies with half-truths.  This is why it is absolutely critical that you remain constantly worthy of the Spirit  The companionship of the Holy Ghost is not just a pleasant convenience - it is essential to your spiritual survival.  If you will not treasure up the words of Christ and listen closely to the promptings of the Spirit, you will be deceived."

I was up at 6 a.m. to do my blog.  At 8:30 I left for the valley.  I stopped at the Sonic in Show Low for my diet cherry coke.  

As I am traveling between Show Low and Globe I pass so many motorcycles.  A big group was stopped in Salt River Canyon.  

There is probably a law against taking pictures while driving.  Those are two motocyclists traveling together.  I wished I would have counted how many groups I passed.

This motocycle parked at the McDonald's in Globe where I stopped for a potty break, was my favorite.

Purple with orange flames

Probably a Phoenix Suns fan

As I was leaving McDonald's an older Indian woman came up to my car so I rolled my window down.  She asked me if I had any change, which I didn't, and then said she and her family were looking for work.  When I told her I didn't carry cash she was very polite and said, "God bless you."  I wished her good luck and asked her name so I could pray for her.  Her name was Holly.  As I think back on this experience I wish I would have offered to take her and those with her inside McDonald's and bought them something to eat.

It seems funny to pass up Burger House without stopping.  I made it through the blasting area without having to stop, but then I have to stop between Superior and Apache Junction for about 10 minutes.  

 I arrived in Chandler around 12:30.  The home inspection was scheduled to start at one, but the inspector, Leon Vogel, came a little early.  He starts his inspection in the kitchen.  

James and I went to Olive Garden for lunch.  I had the soup, pasta fagoli, salad and breadsticks.  James tried a new chicken dish, and for dessert we shared a piece of pumpkin cheesecake.

It was delicious but my favorite is still the lemon meringue cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory.

After lunch we went to see this movie:

 A true story!

Back at home the inspection is still going on and it lasts for over six hours.  Jennifer, our realtor is there, and introduces us to the family buying the house.  There are the parents, Zach and Jennifer and their children Ashley a girl who is 15, Hayden a 13 year old boy, and Orion a 10 year old boy.  Orion and Joshua play together but Stacy is concerned because she says the boy uses bad language.  Darn!  I didn't need to hear that.

A VA loan requires a thorough inspection and because the house is older, I am sure we will have quite a few items to take care of.

For dinner we go to Taco Bell and then we watch Cinderella on my computer.

 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Sheri's quote:

Elder Vinson's talk in the October 2013 conference called 'Drawing Closer to God' was all about adversity and just what I needed to hear today.  He says:

"The Lord gives us ways to help remember Him and His sustaining powers.  One way is through that common lot we all share - adversity (see Alma 32:6).  As I look back at the trials I have faced, it is clear that they have resulted in my growth, understanding, and empathy.  They have drawn me closer to my Heavenly Father and His Son with experiences and refining engraved into my heart."

I read to James from our new book, "The Baron's Honourable Daughter" before he left for the valley.  We also had family prayer.  He will listen to his scriptures in the car and I will read mine at home. We are in 3rd Nephi and 2 Corinthians.  Goodbye Honey, I will see you tomorrow!

  New author for us

Today I worked on my blog, read from "Jesus the Christ", and listened to two conference talks from the priesthood session, Elder Gibson and President Uchtdorf.  I also watched an episode of "Chopped", a "Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress", and "Here Comes the Nanny", starring Cameron Mathison.  I saved the Garage Sale Mystery for James to watch because I liked it so much and thought he would too.

I did several loads of laundry and almost decided to go to Chandler because I was so lonely.  I also talked to Laura and told her that we sold the house.  I hope the inspection goes well tomorrow.

I called all the sisters I visit teach and only Hailey Chafin called me back.  I have an appointment to visit her next Tuesday with James.  My partner, Lorraine Tieman will be out of town.  

Terry had his 8th heart stint put in.  He seems to be doing very well.  Dave says he always has a proceedure done right before they go hunting.

The elk are lonely tonight because James is not here calling to them.