Monday, January 18, 2016

Silver Creek in Woodruff, Arizona

I read the Ezra Taft Benson lesson on marriage and family which was given last year in Relief Society.  I am trying to "catch up" with my Sunday journal.  James is reading Kim's book, "More Than the Tatooed Mormon."  He is really liking it.  We read 1 Nephi 13:10-14:8 for our morning scripture study.  I also read President Uchtdorf's talk, "Be Not Afraid, Only Believe", and a couple of articles from this month's Ensign. 

We said goodbye to Kim and Brian.  I am glad they had the long weekend so they could come and visit us.

 Kim let us keep her book until we come

down this weekend.  I want to read it when James is finished.

I also worked on my blog and paid bills.  I also went with James to the dump.  First we had to go to Stanford and get some cash, a drink, and peanut M&M's.  

It was overcast today but the sun came out to create plenty of mud!

James loved the oven stew I made for dinner.  It was quite good with mushrooms and bell peppers along with the regular stew ingredients.

For FHE we read from the Tatooed Mormon book and watched "The Wedding Planner Mystery."

A day at the zoo for the Gonzales's did not end well.

Feel better soon Joshua!

 

 

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Happy 14th Birthday Anna!

Here dad posted this:

 She really is a great girl!

 I was a little rushed getting ready for Primary this morning.  Brian and Kim attended our sacrament meeting.  It was high council Sunday and Brother MacArthur was the high councilman who spoke.  I really enjoyed his talk.  He spoke about the five points of a testimony.  He shared personal experiences and never once looked at any notes.  I was impressed and I felt the topic was very timely.  

My lesson in Primary was on Nephi and his brothers obtaining the brass plates.  I was impressed when Curtis Wilhelm could tell the story about how Nephi obtained the plates.  Kacey, Zemira, Curtis, and Braylin all attended class.  

Denice Hall did singing time today.  The kids are learning a new song called, "Listen with your Heart".  It will be part of next years sacrament meeting program.  Our theme this year is on the scriptures.

Rosa and Dave Westbrook came home teaching this afternoon.  Rosa and I had a nice visit as did James and Dave.  Afterwards Dave gave the lesson.  Kim and Brian were napping downstairs when they came.

Again, we thank Kim and Brian for dinner.  James helped Brian cook the steaks he bought from Tyson Bogle.  Kim fixed green beans and mashed potatoes.  It was a nice dinner.

Kim worked on her puzzle while the rest of us watched Brooke Shields new mystery program: "A Flower Shoppe Mystery - Mums the Word."  It was okay.  None of us are Brooke Shields fans.

I colored for a while and then went to bed.  It was a nice Sabbath day.

   

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Sweet and simple.

James left early this morning to take the youth to the temple.  I made breakfast for Carmen, Rebecca, and Dawn.  We had scrambled eggs, biscuits with jalapeno jelly, and bacon.  Rebecca said the jalapeno jelly was the best she has ever tasted.  I told her I would be sure and let Kathy Crane know how much she enjoyed it.

Carmen, Rebecca, and Dawn go with me to help clean the church.  The other family who is supposed to help is out of town, and with James gone I would have been by myself.  Before we could leave we had to get the snow off the truck.  Of course James took my car to the temple.

 Carmen cleaning the windshield

 Carmen and Rebecca at work.

Besides cleaning the inside of the building, we even had to shovel the snow off the walks.  There was alot of it, especially on the north side of the building.  Afterwards the girls built a snowman.

 He even has a necktie for church.

Meet Brother Snow, the newest

member of the Vernon ward.

I so appreciate Carmen, Rebecca, and Dawn.  They were so fun and such a great help.  I said my goodbye's and told the to drive safely back to the valley.  It will be awhile before we see Carmen again.

James returned as we were finishing.  He stayed at the church and prepared a drawing on the chalkboard for his Sunday School class tomorrow.

He said when Trenda found out I was cleaning the church she offered to come down and help, but he told her his sisters were helping so she wouldn't need too.  It was nice to know she was willing.  We might need her in the future.

Back at the cabin Kim and I played a round of Five Crowns.  She beat me.  Kim also worked on her new Disney puzzle.  It's a hard one and she might not finish before she has to go home.

When James got home he and Brian made us some elk steak and gravy.  Brian helped because he wants to learn how to do it himself. It was delicious!  

We spent a relaxing Saturday afternoon.  I colored in my coloring book, Kim worked on her puzzle, Brian watched TV, and James worked on his Sunday School lesson.  

Kim and Brian also went for a walk in the snow.  Kim got a Fitbit for Christmas and she wants to get her 10,000 steps in.

Kim made nachos for dinner.  They were delicious.  Since she made dinner, I did the dishes.  

James had a great time using the knife sharpener I got him for Christmas.  I think he sharpened every knife in the house!

Brian watched the Cardinals beat Green Bay, making the Cardinals the NFC champs of our division.  The NFC championship game will be against the Carolina Panthers next week.

We watched a new Hallmark movie called: "Love From the Sidelines."  We all liked it.

Back in Chandler Joshua made up a fun game that he played with Stacy and Paul.  One of the things Stacy had to do was wear a diaper on her head.

Paul and Joshua

 Stacy in her new hat.  I think it's kind of cute.

Friday, January 15, 2016

The Provo City Center temple open house starts today.

James and I read 1 Nephi 12:11-13:9.  How sad for Nephi to see the destruction of his people.  I also read some articles in the Ensign.  One article was written by Howard W. Hunter's son about his dad.  President Hunter is the prophet we are studying this year in Relief Society/Priesthood.  I love reading about what a kind man President Hunter was.

I just got a text from Carmen.  They are at Forest Lakes.  That is our cue to get ready to go meet them at the Home Depot in Show Low.  We gave them coats, hats, and gloves and they brought us our new radiator which we immediately took to Richardson's Garage. (I believe in a previous post I called it Richard's, but when I actually went there I noticed it was Richardson's.) 

The day was cold and overcast, not a great day for James's sisters to go skiing.  Carmen and Rebecca are helping Dawn fulfill one of the items on her bucket list, skiing.  

James and I got lunch at Panda and headed for home.  Soon it began to snow.  

I was busy cleaning upstairs when James told me that the car was ready.  I ask if I could please finish upstairs before we left to get it.  I did everything that needed to be done except polish the wood floor.  When I got home from Lakeside I finished the floor just before our company arrived! 

Getting to Lakeside wasn't a problem, but driving back to Vernon, we drove in blizzard conditions. I got behind a lady weaving all over the road and was grateful when I finally got to pass her.  It is so great to have Lexy back!

  James waited for his sisters at the church.  They left the ski run early because of the weather and are coming from Springerville.  Dawn said there was no snow in Springerville, which was crazy!  

I was worried about Dawn's little car making it up the hill to our house, but it did!

Lois sent lasagna and a lava cake.  I had some Texas toast and Kim and Brian stopped at Safeway and got us some stuff for a salad.  We had a nice dinner.  

Kim and Brian rented an SUV because they weren't sure that Chloe would make it.  I am glad they did.

Lexy looks so cold!

James, Carmen, Rebecca and I played Five Crowns.  

 Dawn, Carmen, and Rebecca

Kim and Brian

So glad they all came to visit!

I love this post about Evan:

 

  

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Friends from Chandler who moved to Utah
 Recently we go to see them at Marisa Ellsworth's wedding.

For gospel study James and I read 1 Nephi 11:31-12:10.  I read an article in the January Ensign entitled: "By Small and Simple Blogs" about sharing our testimonies on social media.  I also read general conference articles by Elder Andersen and Elder Holland.  

I finished sweeping, cleaning, and polishing the wood floors today, except for the ones upstairs.  We are expecting Kim and Brian and Carmen, Dawn, and Rebecca this weekend.  I also changed sheets on all the upstairs beds

The chicken marsala recipe I made for dinner was kind of gross.  Next time I am going to try Olive Garden's recipe.  

Sheri, Ian, Alex, and Ben plan to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon this summer and camp at the bottom.  Sheri wants us to come and watch Evan.  Max will be at scout camp in San Diego.

Watched the movie "Love Is Complicated."

Joe performed at Sozo tonight as Super Motel.  Thanks Kim for the picture.

Sorry I couldn't be there.

Love this picture that someone posted on Facebook.

 

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Words to live by.

Sunrise in Vernon

 Gary and Gailene Butler on their wedding day.

One one of my trips to the bathroom during the night I heard a funny clicking noise.  My first thought was, something's wrong with the well, I should probably wake James up and tell him.  I didn't do it because I was tired and also because I didn't want to disturb him.  

When I woke up around 6am James was already up.  Normally I get up before he does.  When he came back in the bedroom, he said we had no water and he couldn't fix it.  He came in, looked at some instruction papers, and went back out.  When he came back in he said we had water, and something about the faucet freezing up.  Thank goodness he didn't give up and was able to solve the problem.  I am so grateful!

I finished working in the basement and got things pretty organized.  For dinner I made a yummy taco casserole.  

James went down to the church to get the key so we can clean the building on Saturday.  We watched the movie "The Memory Book" when he returned.  

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

The Wanlass family

Megan, Taylor who just returned from his mission,

Ian, Brayden, Christy, and Eric

Eric is now the bisop of the Galveston 3rd ward.

I read two general conference talks this morning.  The first was: "Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ", by Elder Dallin H. Oaks.  Elder Oaks says: "Becuase of His Atonement, the Savior has the power to succor - to help - every mortal pain and affliction."

The second talk was by Elder Neil L. Andersen, "Faith Is Not by Chance, But By Choice."

James went back into town today to get the radiator Erik ordered for us.  It wasn't at Autozone, but at O'Reilly's Auto.  He too it to Richard's Automotive in Lakeside, the place where Lexy is being fixed.  He dropped it off and left.  A couple of hours later the guy from Richard's called and said it was not the right radiator and that it wasn't going to fit.  James called Erik and he said the guy told him they don't make the original anymore and this is the replacement.  Evidentally that wasn't the truth.  Richard said he could order one from Lexus for $550.  Erik says he can get it for us for $350, so we are having Erik order it.  The trick is getting it up here.  

James helped me finish cleaning downstairs in preparation for Kim and Brian coming this weekend.  He hung the curtains on the new curtain rod and put up the plastic shower curtain liner and cleaned out the bathtub.

I got all the Christmas stuff put away except for the manta garland and the tree.  They stay up until next week after Kim and Brian leave.

Tonight James and I watched "October Kiss".  Sam Jaeger from Parenthood is the male lead.  It was a good one!

I had to post these action pictures I found of Darrel & Trina's kids:

Addy snowboarding last year at Sunrise.

Rowan looks like he's having fun!

Ruby riding the bicycle she got for her birthday.

Little Miss Lola