Monday, December 7, 2015

I've only just begun!

"Our adoration of Jesus is best expressed by our emulation of Jesus." - Elder Russel M. Nelson

It was a gorgeous day here in Vernon, Arizona, with a high of 65 degrees.  

James fixed me the most delicious lunch ever!  Elk steaks and elk meat with gravy.  Yum!

 My own private chef!

No elk steak is complete without ketchup.

Believe me, it tastes better than it looks!

 

We started decorating our tree today.  It is so much bigger than our last one.  I think I am going to have to buy some more decorations.

 

For FHE tonight we watched the First Presidency Devotional.  I was a little disappointed that President Monson didn't speak.  We did hear from Linda Burton, David A. Bednar, and President Uchtdorf.

 

We also watched two Christmas movies that we really enjoyed; "Twelve Gifts of Christmas", and "The Christmas Note."

 I miss my doggies!

 

 

 

Sunday, December 6, 2015

I took my best nativity set to church this morning and left it in the Relief Society room per Teresa Smith's request.  She would like to use it for the Relief Society activity on Tuesday evening.  It really is beautiful, one of the nicest I have ever seen.  I believe I got it at Costco years ago.  Shelly Applegate helped carry in the nativity.

Today, at the beginning of fast and testimony meeting Bishop Miller gave his baby boy Uriah a name and a blessing.  Afterwards he was the first ward member to bear his testimony.  Blain Curtis was the last person to bear his testimony and he ended this way:  "Don't worry, the Lord is at the helm."

Zemira and Joely were the only kids in my Primary class today.  We learned about Paul's missionary travels.  Because it was fast Sunday I did not give them any candy.  I told them they could have two pieces next week.  

Debbie Brewer, a new convert, attended Primary sharing time today.  She always has lots of questions and isn't afraid to just blurt them out.  Those in charge are always very patient with her and try to give her the answers she is seeking.  

Alicia Hunsaker is the Primary chorister.  Sometimes she lets the kids choose their favorite songs to sing.  Most of the kids choose Primary songs such as, Popcorn Popping, Book of Mormon Stories, and Once There Was a Snowman.  Whenever she asks 5 year old Andyn Miller, the bishops little girl, she always chooses: "Nearer My God To Thee."  We always have to get out the hymnbooks.  I wonder if this is the bishop's favorite hymn too.

When we got home from church we took a nap.  We fasted until after 5 p.m.  We had tamales, yams, and mac and cheese for dinner.  I enjoyed the mac and cheese the most.  We spent a very relaxing afternoon watching Christmas movies.  We watched "A Christmas Miracle", and "A Crown for Christmas."

Now James is studying his next week's Sunday School lesson and I am getting ready to read from Jesus the Christ  We are taping the First Presidency Christmas Devotion to watch tomorrow night for FHE. 

The kids had the annual gingerbread house competition at Sheri and Ian's this evening.

Joe & Amanda got first place.  I love the Santa

in the chimney.

I think this one is Sheri and Ian's

Evan's

Kim and Brian's

Adam and Alex's

 

Saturday, December 5, 2015

So true

James and I went in to town to buy a Christmas tree today.  Kim told me she got hers at Lowe's so that's the first place we went.  The first tree I saw when I walked in the door was a nine ft. one.  It was beautiful and full like the one Kim had but it was $558.00.  I liked it but James wanted to look around, saying he didn't want to buy the first one he saw.  There were no other nine footers at Lowe's so we went across the street to Home Depot.  There was nothing there that interested us so James said he would go back and get the one had Lowe's while I did my shopping at Walmart.  I gave him $500 in cash and away he went.  They sold him the store model and he talked them into giving him a 10% discount.  He had to do some talking because they weren't going to give him any discount when he first asked.  He doesn't give up easily.  It's a good thing I didn't go because I would have paid full price.

They wanted James to take the garland but he refused.

The only drawback with the floor model is that it did not come

with a box.

One the way home we stopped and got lunch at Sonic.  I had a cheeseburger and a diet cherry coke.  Yummy!

We started our fast this evening.  We are fasting for our 8 oldest grandsons.  They are all struggling in some way.

I ordered the Star Shower laser lights for outside.  Hopefully they will get here before Christmas.

Teresa Smith called and asked to use my nativity set for a Relief Society meeting this Tuesday evening.  I told her that would be fine.  We have enjoyed it so much since I bought it at Costco a few years ago.

Nativity set

This evening we watched, "Christmas with Tucker", and another Mrs. Miracle movie.

 

Friday, December 4, 2015

Home Sweet Home

Today I spent a quiet, peaceful day at home with James until about 4:35 this afternoon when we left to attend our ward's temple night at the Snowflake temple.  

Before the session we had a devotional in the chapel with President Hancock and his wife and Bishop Miller speaking to us.  The bishop called on James to say the closing prayer even though James had told him he had laryngitis.  A test of faith I suppose.

All of the temple workers in our session were from our ward: Kathy Crane, Virginia Chaffin, Rick Lauritzen, and Owen Peeler.  Other from our ward attending the session:  Bishop Miller, James and I, Donna Peeler, Rosie Lauritzen, Julie Berry, Alicia and Kip Hunsaker, Analee Hunsaker, Virgil Cooper, Lorraine Tieman, Judy Hunter, Diana and Blain Curtis who were also the witness couple, Geroge and Ruth Wallace, and Jim and Linda Diewald.  I enjoyed this session so much because I was surrounded by people I know and love.

Snowflake temple

After the temple we went to Panda Express and got some dinner to take home.  Luckily they stay open until 10, but they were all out of teriyaki chicken.

We came home and ate our dinner while watching the Christmas movie, "Christmas Angels."

 

Thursday, December 3, 2015

I was up before 7:20 this morning to say goodbye to Cathi and Terry.  After they left I changed the sheets on the bed and washed the towels in our bathroom.  I enjoyed hanging out with my new buddies, Indy and Lady.

 Even in a picture Indy lets Lady be first and in front.

I left Cathi and Terry's around 10 am.  I stopped at Walmart on Gilbert and Germann to get some stevia for James and to look for my Star Shower laser lights.  No lights, but I did get the stevia and some more blankets for the grandkids.  

I stopped in Payson at the Soonic for a drink and a corndog, and then at the Circle K in Star Valley for a Big Hunk.  I have to have something to keep me awake!

It is a beautiful day in the mountains with the high around 55-60.  When I finally make it home James unloads my car for me.  I put things away and settle down in my relaxing clothes.  We have tamales for dinner and then watch a couple of Christmas movies:

"The Twelve Gifts of Christmas" and "The Christmas Note."

 

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

I visited with Cathi this morning while I was working on my blog.  At 11:00 I leave for my infusion at the Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates office in Mesa. One girl poked me twice trying to find a vein and was unsuccessful.  The next girl poked me once and thank goodness she was successful.  I was beginning to feel like a pin cushion. 
The TV was on in the infusion room and a special report came on.  Two armed gunmen opened fire at a county complex in San Bernadino, California during a Christmas party.  Fourteen people were killed and seventeen more injured.  The two gunmen were later killed while driving their black SUV.  It was a man and a wife, both of them were Muslims.  Since the initial attack information was discovered linking them to the terrorist group ISIS.  We are under attack right here in the United States.  

After my infusion was finished I did a little shopping.  I got a medal case at Hobby Lobby to display Michael's track medals in.  I went to Walmart to look for the Star Shower laser lights I saw there the other day.  I think it was the Walmart in Show Low.  The one here on Arizona Avenue did not have them.  I did pick up my Tramadol prescription so the stop was not a total loss.  I also went to Sam's Club and picked up some blankets.  I always give each one of the grandkids a blanket for Christmas.  
When I got back to Cathi's, Terry was home.  I had a short nap and then Cathi and I got ready to go to Deseret Book to a book signing by Ann Romney.  
There was a little crowd already gathered when we arrived.  We listened to Ann read an excerpt from her book, "We Are In This Together."  When it came time for her to sign books she said:  "How can we make this go quickly, I have a plane to catch."  Cathi and I were both a little disappointed and it felt like we were rushed through the line.  No time for pictures, unless you were her special friends, and barely time for her to look up and say: "Hello."

Ann with some of her friends

Cathi getting her book signed

After I got my book signing, Cathi took my picture.

 All of the proceeds for Ann's book go to support

research for MS, alzheimer's, and brain tumors.

When we got home we I had a tamale, some of Cathi's beans, and cranberry celebration for dinner.

We only watched one movie tonight, "Mrs. Miracle", because Cathi has to get up early tomorrow and spend 8 hours serving at the Records Center in Mesa with Terry for their mission.

 

 

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

All ready for Christmas

After I picked up Alex from school around noon and took him home I stopped and picked up Cathi and we headed for Costco.  

It was a fun time to be at Costco because they had lots of samples!  I had something I needed to return and Cathi went to get gluten free bread for Wendy, her daughter.  

We liked the tamales we sampled so well that we bought a dozen and decided we would share them.  I guess we didn't quite get enough samples because before leaving we stopped at the snack bar and got a hotdog and a drink. Costco hotdogs are delicious and a real bargain at $1.50 which also includes the drink.

This afternoon I went to Dr. Allen's to get blood drawn so I could get my thyroid prescription renewed.  Kathy, the girl who draws blood is really good and never misses.  I wish they were that good at the arthritis doctors.

I went to visit Lola and Trina when I left Dr. Allen's.  The other kids weren't home from school yet.  Lola is so darn cute!

Lola loves car keys!

I told Trina I was getting Evan and Joshua the General Grievous Lego set and she said that was something Rowan would like too.  

On my way back home I stopped at Target and got thee General Grievous's.  

I wish everyone was this easy to shop for.

Terry is coming home tomorrow with his elk.  Cathi and I cleaned out the freezer so there would be room for it.  It's a good thing the trash man is coming tomorrow.

 

Tonight we watched "Christmas Angel" and "A Princess for Christmas."