Monday, February 22, 2016

National Geographic Picture of the Year

Shall we dance?

Today for scripture study James and I read through 2 Nephi 14.  We are in the Isaiah chapters.  I read chapter three of "Blueprint for Christ's Church".  The chapter was: 'When and How Did the Restoration of Christ's Church Take Place?'  Some things mentioned, I would have never realized.  A very informative chapter.

James had to go into town to pick up some plan copies at Allegra Printing and he ask me to go with him.  I had a burst of energy this morning and cleaned the kitchen, made our bed, and folded laundry all before I took my shower and got ready to go.  We read our scriptures and from our book on the way.  After picking up plans at Allegra, James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to get us something to eat.  I bought some candy and chips to go with my visiting teaching handouts and some colored ink for the printer.  James bought me a green chili cheeseburger at Grumpy Jake's because he remembered how much I enjoyed the one I had last week.  He got himself a green chili chicken sandwich and he said it was delicious.  

I made two visiting teaching appointments for this week.  One with Hailey Chaffin for Wednesday morning and one with Claire Mercado for Tuesday afternoon at 4:30.  I worked on my blog and this evening James and I watched, "Signed, Sealed, and Delivered from Paris."

I ordered another ring from Mobstub and it arrived today.  Ignore how ugly my hand is and just focus on the ring.

  Not bad for $16.

This picture was taken last year when Emmy came on her "Daddy/Cousin Date."

 

Sunday, February 21, 2016

I love President Hinckley

I finished preparing for my lesson on Jacob and Sherem, and left for church around 8:25 to set up my class.  When Brother MacArthur spoke last month he said the stake president wanted us in our seats for sacrament meeting at ten minutes before the hour.  Goal accomplished for today.  

Today was high council Sunday.  Jimmy Applegate from the high council, and John Larson from the Linden ward spoke to us today.  Talon Wilhelm, the youth speaker, did a nice job talking about the priesthood and what it means to him.  

Back in Chandler Alex gave a talk about choices.  I wish we could have been there!  He texted me his talk so James and I could read it.  It was great.

I just had the three boys, Braylin, Curtis, and Zemira in my class today. The lesson was on the first anti-Christ in the Book of Mormon, Sherem.

Can you tell which one is Sherem?

  Curtis was out of control, acting like a dog in class, and Zemira was showing off for the girls in sharing time.  I can't let Zemira sit by Talena anymore.  I had a temple recommend interview with John, Curtis and Zemira's father after the block.  I mentioned to him that Curtis was a little out of control today.  

Today was our neighbor Kathy's birthday.  I hope it was a happy one. 

Chuck and Kathy

It was also my visiting teaching companion's birthday.  Happy 33rd Birthday Corrina.

 Joe & Corrina

I had lunch alone today.  James went home teaching with Rick Lauritzen.  Rick made the appointments, gave the lesson, and drove.  He's a good partner.  James still has laringitis.

When James returned home from home teaching he told me a funny story about Ed Miller teaching his Sunday School class.  The discussion was on having pure thoughts and Brother Miller said he had heard that when you have bad thoughts you are supposed to sing a hymn.  He said he was a convert and didn't know very many hymns by heart so he would always sing a country tune if he had a problem.  (He and his son, our bishop, have their own band).  He said he just had to be careful that none of the songs he chose were the ones that talked about wild women.  I love his since of humor.

We had pizza for dinner this evening and watched an Up movie, "Somebody's Child."  Alex, you will be happy to know this movies was about a black family.

Arizona sky

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Happy 41st birthday Sheri!

I texted Happy Birthday and also posted on Facebook.  James out did me with this post on Facebook:

"Happy birthday to my baby girl who made so many of my nights miserable as a baby, and caused me so much anxiety as a teenager and who made me so proud to be her dad as she excelled in high school and was married in the Mesa temple.  Happy birthday to the beautiful mother who has been raising and directing the lives of four of my amazing grandsons and has found the time to be so kind and considerate to others; especially her parents who are so grateful for her love and goodness and influence on those she has been given to love and cherish in her life.  Sheri, you truly have been a blessing to so many.  I love you forever."  Your Dad 

Sometimes James can be so eloquent!

I am tired this morning and try to get going because we have to go to town.  Finally I feel like getting ready to go.  It was after noon when we left.  We had family prayer and I read scriptures in the car.  We started the third book in our Highland Hall series.  This one is called "A Refuge at Highland Hall".

 This one is set in 1915 during WWI

I told James he could pick where we had lunch, and surprisingly he picked Grumpy Jakes, the barbecue place.  I didn't feel like barbecue so I ordered a green chili cheeseburger.  James made me look bad by ordering the cobb salad.  I did not regret my choice.  It was delicious.  I couldn't eat all of my cheeseburger so I got a to go box.  James kept stealing bites while we were in the car.  I think he realized he really missed out!

After lunch James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to Home Depot to get the specialty lightbulbs that go over our kitchen sink.  When he came back to pick me up, he loaded the groceries in the car for me.  When we got home we realized James left my 12 pack of Dr. Pepper 10 in the grocery cart.  Before we decided what we were going to do about this dilemma, we sat down and watched a movie.  This one was called "Finding a Family".  It was more serious than most of the movies we watch and was based on a true story.  It started out really depressing, but had a great ending!  This movie makes you realize how important it is for children to have a stable home life.  After our movies we decided to hunt down some Dr. Pepper 10.

Our first stop for the Dr. Pepper 10 search was the closest choice, Stanford store, but no luck.  Next Maverick, none.  Safeway, none.  Finally at Walmart James comes out with a 24 pk and says it's the last one in the store  I can't believe he was willing to do this for me!

( Of course, he is the one who forgot it in the first place.)

We came home and worked on our lessons, although Ed Miller will probably be teaching James's class because he still has laringitis.  

I coughed during the night and had to go to the recliner.

 

Friday, February 19, 2016

It's another beautiful day in Arizona!

While I was checking out and taking a picture of the sunrise, James was upstairs "checking out" the wildlife.  Somethings he does just about every morning and evening.  After the checks he comes down and gives me the report.

James fixed himself a big breakfast, but I settle for toast and Lois's homemade pineapple jam.  The jam is delicious!

I am feeling a little better today, so I go in to my computer to pay bills.  After working at the computer an hour or so I go get something to eat and lay down on the recliner to take a nap.  I can't use the bed because I am washing the sheets.  

I read scriptures to James because he has no voice.  I said our prayer and then we read from "The Daughter of Highland Hall."

I watched "A Crush on You", and then James and I went to the post office.  I was reading to James on the way back when Sheri called.  She took the day off and Alex and Ben missed school and they went on a hike with Joe and Michael.  

 This years birthday hike

Last years birthday hike.

I posted on my blog and then made German chocolate cupcakes for dinner.  We also had Tostitos and bean and cheese dip.  The bean dip is delicious and reminds us of Serrano's.  After dinner it's movie time!

 Olaf, waiting to be sent to Ruby.

 

 

Thursday, February 18, 2016

I love this picture!

It was taken about 14-15  years ago.

I am not sure why Ben wasn't in the picture.

James had an appointment with the audiologist in Show Low today to determine if he needs hearing aids.  He wanted me to go with him but I just wasn't feeling up to it.  You know I am sick when I won't go into town!  He does need a hearing aid in one ear.

James brought me back 2 1/2 sandwiches from Arby's.  I guess he wasn't sure what I wanted.  I ate the regular roast beef.  

James asked me to call Ed Miller to see if he would teach his class on Sunday, since James still doesn't have his voice back.  Ed is our bishop's dad and he is one of the funniest, most loving people I have ever met.  He's the only man besides James that can come up to me after sacrament meeting and give me a kiss on the cheek, call me sweetie,  and I won't think anything of it.

When I called, Ed answered the phone.  After my introduction he asks, "Oh, do you want to talk to "Sweet Thing"?  Sweet Thing is Debbie, his wife.  I just loved that he said that because it indicates to me how much he loves his wife.  If you ask Ed how his day was, he will respond, wonderful!, I've never had a bad one.  That's just the kind of guy he is, and yes, of course, he will teach the gospel doctrine class on Sunday. 

Debbie and Ed Miller

In 2010 Debbie had Leukemia.  She was in need of a bone marrow transplant.  She has made a remarkable recovery, although her health is still fragile at times.  This family has a great deal of faith.  When Debbie was diagnosed, the doctor's didn't give her family much hope of her surviving.

After reading a chapter from our book, James went upstairs to his office to work on his bid for Arizona Rehab's current job.  I took a long nap and then watched a few of the Mystery Woman Bookstore movies starring Kellie Martin.  They are my favorite Hallmark mysteries.  I also worked on my blog.

I got a text from my friend Linda Price asking me if I wanted to go to Relief Society tonight to here Brother Lauritzen speak on communication.  Brother Lauritzen is a marriage counselor and I was looking forward to going, but I was just too sick.  

James and I watched a movie tonight that we absolutely loved!  It's called, "Saving Sarah Cain".  It's about a woman whose Amish sister dies and she is given custody of her sisters five children.  It had such a sweet message and afterwards both James and I said we wanted to become Amish!  I saved it for Kim and Sheri to watch when they come up for spring break.

 The title is different here, but this is the movie.

 

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Glad I was in Vernon.

I woke up around 1:30 a.m. with extreme pain in my left groin.  I went to the kitchen, got something to eat and took some pain pills and laid down on the recliner.  Finally I was able to get comfortable and go to sleep.  

James left before six for the valley this morning.  He has a concrete pour at the house in Fountain Hills.  He insists he's coming home tonight but says he might be late.  He's a little concerned because he has lost his voice again.  

James was home before 7 p.m.  He brought me a tuna sandwich, a Polar Pop, and almond M&M's, all bought at Circle K.  He said he couldn't go through a drive thru because he has no voice.

I spent most of the day in the family room on my recliner watching Hallmark movies.  I have no energy and I am feeling pretty lousy.

This evening James and I read a chapter from our book and watched a Hallmark movie.  It was a good one!  Sorry, I forgot to write down the name.

 I think Lola could have been the Gerber baby!

 

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Our dear friends from Chandler,

Raylene and Mark Luke and their four children.

The weather here the last few days has been amazing.  It has been in the 60's and feels like spring is already here.  It is about 20 degrees warmer in the valley and I don't think most people who live there are ready for that.

I still don't feel very well today, but I did manage to get dressed and go in to town with James to run some copies of a plan he is working on and to pick up one of his prescriptions.  For lunch we went to Alibertos.  I had a beef taco and a carnitas taco.  

 My carnitas taco looks so pretty!

 James's machaca plate.

That's alot of food!

We also stopped at Panda and got some orange chicken and Shangai beef and fried rice for dinner.  

I blogged and watched a couple of movies this afternoon.  I have no energy and still have a cough, besides have a pain in my right groin and bumb.  I am expecting a miserable night.  

Sheri texted and said Alex is giving a talk on Sunday.  I wish we could be there to here it.