Monday, February 29, 2016

Coyotes among us.

James woke up this morning to the howling of coyotes.  He saw three in our yard and I saw one.  The one I saw was out front walking on our road.  These coyotes are after my rabbits, and if I have my way they aren't going to get them!  James grabbed his rifle and went upstairs.  A few minutes later I heard a shot.  When I ask if he got one, he said no, it was too far away.  Nonetheless, we have not seen any coyotes since.

Sheri called me this morning.  She missed work because Evan was sick and so she is working on getting JD's information ready for the temple.  I told her to run off the ordinance request form off and take it to the temple.  She is excited about doing this and wants to take her boys to the temple during spring break to do the work.  
In other news, Alex starts his job at the Hungry Monk today.  He is going to be the host.  She wanted to take a picture of him, but this is the best she could get.

He looks tall in the picture!

I wonder if Adam made his move in with Stacy and Paul today.  I haven't heard anything from Stacy but I am assuming he did.  

James has a favorite new snack, and I can't keep enough of it.

 It's the Tostitos zesty bean & cheese dip.

He says it is better than Serranos.

I had a talk with Debbie Miller this morning.  Debbie is the visiting teaching supervisor and she called for my February visiting teaching report.  I told her about Jean Howard and how she never returned my call.  Every month I seem to have a problem with her.  She is very nice when I actually talk to her but there is always some reason I can't come.  I know she has serious health issues and Debbie even said she had been in the hospital.  I wish someone would have told me.  Anyway, I told Debbie I would continue to be her visiting teacher if that's what they wanted, but maybe she would respond to someone she knows a little better.  She said she would talk to the Relief Society president about it.  We will see what happens.  I will also be getting a new partner in March since my partner has moved.

I am continuing to unpack family photos and artwork.  Now I need to decide where I am going to hang everything.  I am very slow.  Sometimes I wonder, am I tired or lazy?  There is a fine line.

James put on his camo this evening and took off on the Razr to look for coyotes at the edge of our property.  He said a truck came along and he didn't see anything.

Our movies tonight:

"All of My Heart"

"Mystery Woman Books: Oh Baby"

The crash in Vernon which occurred on Sunday morning.

There was a candlelight vigil at the high school for 

Skye Perez and her father who were killed in this crash.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Enos Praying

We learned today in our Primary lesson about Enos praying for his enemies the Lamanites.  I ask the kids why we should pray for our enemies?  Curtis said:  Because if we do that could be our friends."

Out of the mouths of babes.

Today in sacrament meeting Layne Hall was the youth speaker.  He spoke on the importance of choosing good friends. George Wallace told about his conversion and Wayne Todd Mayfield spoke on 2 Nephi 31-33.

I love my Primary class.  Today Kacey was here in a beautiful white dress.  Zemira and Curtis are so helpful to Braylin, carrying his scriptures for him and putting his chair up.  Zemira also put my chair up after sharing time was over.  Braylin helps Curtis when he is reading scriptures.  These kids just give me a warm feeling all over!

Today was Joe and Corrina Westbrook's and their children's last day in our ward.  They are moving to Royal City, Washington.  We will miss Joely, Stratton, and Traven in Primary and I am sure the Young Women will miss Kyah and Macy.

Macy, Joely, Nana Rosa, and Kyah

Stratton and Aunt Sadie, Stratton and Traven.

Most people call Trave, Blue.

I came home from church alone again today.  James and Brother Lauritzen visited the Wallace's.  Brother Wallace says his place is booked up with girls camps, etc., until August.  He is also developing more of his land and putting in a pond.  

James and I read 2 Nephi 21 today.

Lloyd and Tracy Lambson welcomed a baby boy, Roger to their family.  This is Tracy's first baby.

Tracy and Lloyd were recently sealed in the temple.

Baby Roger

Our friends Robert and Kambri also had a baby boy today.

Congratulations!

There was a fatal accident today near Vernon.  A van pulled out at the Crossroads, 3148, onto Highway 60 and was t-boned by a semi-truck.  The girl who was driving the van was a senior at Show Low High School.  Her dad was with her and both of them were killed.

 Skye Perez and her father.

James's niece Christina Tibbetts Hoose shared a post on Facebook today about her last pregnancy and having a rare disease.  

" March 1st is World Rare Disease Day.  I've never had anything to share before, but I do now.  I rarely bog, but this post is my story of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy, and Ander's birth story.  It's long and personal.  If that's not your cup of tea, no problem.  The take-home message is this:  Itching (with no rash) in pregnancy is not always normal.  Sometimes it's an indication of a huge problem.  If it is caught early, it could save your baby's life.  If pregnancy is a part of your life or that of your friends, please inform yourself.  If sharing my story saves one baby, the whole thing will be worth it."

She goes on to share her story and if you are interested go to: findingfriday.blogspot.com. Read: My Little Itch

Christina, Jon, and Ander.  

Anders name means "Man of Courage." 

This is an incredible story.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Happy Birthday Dad.

He would be 85 today.

James and I made a trip to town today.  We went to the bank and then James dropped me off at Walmart.  He was going to go look at storage buildings.  When he came back to pick me up he had a pizza from Papa John's and wings from Walmart.  The pizza was a think crust veggie, and it was delicious!

I texted Cathi today to see how they were doing and this is the response I got: 

"How funny.  I was just thinking about you.  Missing you, too.  We are healthy, happy, and a little stressed.  Leaders from the Family History Department in SLC came to Mesa last week and called us as the new directors at the ROC.  We start serving 5 days a week starting March 7th.  Yikes!"

I said: "Wow! I thought you were only going to serve 2 1/2 days a week. (They still wanted Colin to be able to spend the day with them once a week on Monday.)

Cathi: "That was the plan.  Terry always told me that you shouldn't turn down a call, so there it is.  Out of retirement we go."

Me: "You will be blessed!  I can't think of two better people to serve in that calling!  Congratulations!

Cathi:"Thank you.  I know that we will be guided by the Spirit and that is what is keeping me balanced.  I love you both and am looking forward to your next trip to the valley."

Me: "Thank you, so are we.  We are so proud of you!"

Colin, Terry, and Cathi.

Sheri called James today and shared this with him.  She said Max said to her today while they were shopping.  "I sure do miss my grandpa and wish I could see him more often."  I think this message made James's day.  

On the way into town we read our scriptures and on the way home I read from "Refuge at Highland Hall."  On the way home we also found part of James's muffler which he lost yesterday coming home from the valley.

In other news today:

I listened to Kelly Clarkson's new song "Piece by Piece" about her dad leaving her when she is six and how she knows her husband will never leave their little girl.  It is a very emotional song and Kelly does an excellent job singing it.

Trina and Lexy ran a marathon today.

Congratulations Lexy and Trina!

 Also Addy and Rowan both have braces now.  

Joshua is feeling better and Adam is getting ready to move in with Stacy and Paul.

We did not watch a Hallmark movies tonight.  We were both too busy working on our lessons for tomorrow.  Mine is on Enos and his prayer.  

 

Friday, February 26, 2016

Happy 26th Birthday Adam!

My favorite picture of Adam

Happy 19th Birthday Joe!

James left for the valley around 5:30 this morning.  He has a doctor's appointment with his cardiologist, Dr. Memon, at 9:45 in Chandler.  I stayed home in an effort to get some more rest and get well.  It seems like I should be getting better by now.

Dr. Memon told James everything looked good with his heart.  He also mentioned that the plans are almost ready for his 18,000 sq. ft. building he wants James to build.  He says he needs to retire because the government is making it harder and harder for him.  James checked online.  Dr. Memon made around $967,000 last year.  

James also went to Erik's about his truck.  On the way home this afternoon he lost his muffler pipe.  He also went to Glendale to check out the job site for the job he is bidding right now, and then he came home, with a stop at Burger House.  He was home by 4 this afternoon.  He was gone about 10 1/2 hours.  

Chuck Crane found a knife in the road and called James to ask if it was his.  It wasn't but James had seen the knife too and just never stopped to pick it up.  Chuck said it was a really nice $500 knife

Kim posted this picture on Facebook this evening.  She took these boys to dinner at Red Lobster to celebrate Joe and Adam's birthdays.

Nice looking bunch.

James and I watched an Amish movie on the Up channel called, "Charmed."  We both love the Amish culture and their values!

 

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal

We originally got this handout from our good friend and former gospel doctrine teacher in the Del Rio 2nd ward, Jeff Chubbs.  Since this was part of James's lesson today he wanted to make them for his class.  He copied the one I had saved and we went into town to Allegra Printing to have the laminated.  We also stopped at Panda, Sonic, and Subway for lunch.  

On the way home we stopped at the post office.  I got two rings from Mobstub, but nothing from our friend Gerardo Rico.  When I got home I took a nap and then got ready for my 4:30 appointment with Claire Mercado.

When I arrived at Claire's no one was there so I called her on her phone, but she did not answer.  I wait a few minutes and then knock on the door.  As I suspected, there was no one at home.  I left the framed family proclamation and a candy bar on her front porch.  I just home no animal comes along and eats the candy bar.  I also texted Corrina to see if she was coming, she forgot.  After waiting 20 minutes, I left for home.  

The only other sister we have to visit is Jean Howard.  I tried to call her the other day but I think I woke her up from her nap.  She asked me if she could call me back, but she never did.  I don't know what to do.  I don't want to be a pest.  I get the feeling she is not interested in having me as her visiting teacher.  I know she has alot of health problems and maybe that's it.  She is always very nice to me when I talk to her on the phone, but still, I am hesitant.

James texted Jared Ammon about picking up his car tomorrow.  Come to find out, I had the wrong phone number for Jared.  Maybe that's why he never returns my texts.  

James has an appointment in Chandler tomorrow with Dr. Memon.  He is leaving early in the morning without me.

We watched a movie called The Locket.  It is based on a story by Richard Paul Evans.  We both really enjoyed it.

I love this quote by John Wayne!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Happy Birthday to my dear friend Karen.

This is a picture from last year as we celebrated her birthday at

Firebirds.

Today was my visiting teaching appointment with Hailey Chaffin.  Because she lives on a ranch several miles out of town and the road is terrible, James agreed to drive us.  We left our house a little after nine and picked up my partner, Corrina, on the way.  This will be the last month that Corrina will be my partner.  She and her family are moving to Royal City, Washington on March 4th.  Her husband, Joe, has a job at a grape vineyard.  They have 5 children ages 13-4, three girls, and two little boys.  

Hailey called Corrina on our way to her house.  She said she had to do some shopping while she was in town and she was running a little late.  She wasn't there when we got there so Corrina and I walked around outside as we waited for her.  

A calf Brother Chaffin made for his kids to practice

their roping.  I want James to make one for us!

We didn't have to wait more than five minutes or so for Hailey to arrive.  We helped carry her groceries in for her.  Hailey seemed a little stressed.  She told us she has four calling; Scout advancement chairman and a member of the Scout committee, assistant librarian, and a member of the Relief Society activity committee.  Tonight is the Blue and Gold banquet and she is in charge of decorating, and making some of the food.  I offered to go with her to the church to help decorate but she said it wasn't necessary.  

Corrina gave the lesson and I read the quote on this bag of chips by Elder Bednar.

  Candy bar and chips to help Hailey get through her day.

On the way home Corrina asked if we could stop at the Stanford store, which we did.  She did a little shopping and James got me a drink.  

I went home and took a short nap and watched a movie.  James worked on his bid for awhile and then came down and joined me on the couch.  

Tonight at 7 p.m. I had an appointment in Show Low with President Danny Crandall of the Show Low stake presidency for my temple recommend interview.  We had a nice visit and he says he knows Harold and Dennis and has visited with them in their homes.  

It always feels good to have a new temple recommend!

We went home and watched, "Signed, Sealed, and Delivered."

 

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

James's cousin Hayden is a wildlife artist and so is his son Dallen.

This picture was done by Dallen and reminds me of the time James and my brother Harold went bear hunting.  When they actually saw a bear, they were so excited that Harold grabbed James's rifle, and James grabbed Harold's rifle.  Needless to say, they both missed.

James left for the valley at 5:30 this morning.  He went to check the building he is bidding on in Glendale.  He also went to Erik about fixing his truck.  He was home in record time, at 3 p.m.  He brought me two burros from Burger House.  I ate the bean burro tonight and save the green burro for tomorrow.  

After James left I couldn't go back to sleep.  I kept thinking how small the bags of chips were that I got for my visiting teaching handouts and remembered seeing larger ones at the registers when I was shopping yesterday.  At 7 a.m. I left the house to go to Walmart.  I got my bigger bags of chips and also got protein shakes, and cough drops.  I should shop this early in the morning more often to beat the crowds.  I got a sausage Mcmuffin and hashbrowns at McDonald's as I was leaving.  Both were subpar and I couldn't even eat the hashbrowns.  I didn't even go to Sonic to get a drink even though it was the a.m. happy hour.  

Back at home I unload family pictures from the garage.  I take down all the pictures in the hallway and decide to make the hallway a family photo gallery.  This one of Anna & James is a favorite.

 Such a cute little couple.

Of course, before James and I went to bed we watched a Hallmark movies together.  I love the fact that my husband likes these movies almost as much as I do.

I love C.S. Lewis!