Thursday, March 3, 2016

Morning sunrise in Vernon

I told myself before I left for Licanos to have lunch with my brothers and their wives, don't forget to take a picture.  Guess what I forgot to do?  Take a picture!  So here is a generic picture of the outside of the building.

Licano's is known for their Mexican and American dishes.

James and I arrived a little early for our lunch date at 11:30.  James was going to have his muffler fixed at Speedy Automotive so I followed him in so he could drop off his truck.  When he heard their price, he decided to get it fixed in the valley next week instead.  We arrived at Licano's around 11:20.

We had a nice lunch with Harold, Vickie, and Dennis to celebrate Harold's birthday.  Denise had to work today so she couldn't be with us.  She has the day off tomorrow, but Harold will be at a track meet in Queen Creek tomorrow.

I was going to get an enchilada and a taco but Vickie told me how delicious the tamales were, so I ordered a beef tamale with red sauce and she was right, delicious!!

On our way out we were introduced to the owner of Licano's, Richard Walpole.  He has been a friend of Harold and Vickie's for a very long time.  

When I got home I settled down in my recliner for a nap.  After my nap I did some work on the computer and finished paying some bills. 

James went upstairs to his office to work on his Marvel Masonry bid.  

Happy Birthday!

This evening we watched the movie "Mending Fences."  Angie Dickinson played the grandma who owns a ranch and is going blind.  It was a fun movie and we enjoyed it.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

I love this picture of my nephew Monte's and his wife Tasha's kids on my Nannie's 1952 Chevy truck.  This picture was taken at Harold and Vickie's and was given to Tasha as her Christmas present.

Happy 15th Anniversary to Jon & Jamie!

Great pictures!
 

 I love this quote by Elder Haynes from the last General Conference:  "It matter not what sins we have committed or how deep we have sunk into that proverbial pit.  "....What does matter is that Christ is pleading our case before the Father.....That is what really matters and what should give all of us renewed hope and a determination to try one more time, because He has not forgotten us.   I testify that the Savior will never turn away from us when we humbly seek Him in order to repent, will never consider us to be a lost cause; will never say, 'Oh no, not you again'; will never reject us because of a failure to understand how hard it is to avoid sin.  He understands it all perfectly.  Repentance...has the power to lift burdens and replace them with hope."

One more quote, this one from Sister Neill F. Marriott in her talk "Yielding Our Hearts to God."  "When we open ourselves to the Spirit, we learn God's way and feel His will.  During the sacrament, which I call the heart of the Sabbath, I have found that after I pray for forgiveness of sins, it is instructive for me to ask Heavenly Father, 'Father, is there more?'  When we are yielded and still, our minds can be directed to something more we may need to change - something that is limiting our capacity to receive spiritual guidance or even healing and help."

I made a most delicious lunch today using the Pioneer Woman's recipe for pot roast.  James and I both loved it!

The spices on top are thyme and rosemary

This is our storage building decision.  Instead of building a larger one right now that will hold all of James's equipment we can only afford to build a small one for his tools and saws.  The one he looked at cost $9,600.  He says he can build it for $1,500 and claims he can have it done by the end of March.  I say go for it!!

We watched a movie tonight called, "You've Got a Friend".  This one was about an orphaned boy who goes to live with his aunt and uncle and his uncle doesn't understand he desire to build a soap box car so he seeks the help of a former champion who is now a recluse played by John Schneider.  This one was a good one for families.

Maybe James and I should become astronauts!

 

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Today was Super Tuesday

Here are the results for the Republican candidates:

Oh dear, it's not going to be like this is it?

This can't be happening!

I read Elder Ballard's conference talk today, "God is at the Helm".  I also worked on the Book of Mormon gospel doctrine Sunday School lesson, "My Soul Delighteth in the Words of Isaiah."

I sent out a group text inviting the family to an Easter egg hunt and picnic at Sheri's on March 26th.  So far I've only heard from Sheri and Stacy. 

Today is the birthday of one of my favorite young women, Trenda Wilhelm.  Here is what her mother wrote about her on Facebook and then a picture of Sandra, Trenda's mom, and Trenda.

Sandra and Trenda, two of my favorite people.

Tomorrow is Sandra's birthday and she is just as awesome as Trenda!

James's bid for the Arizona Rehab group is due today.  He wrote it out and I typed most of it for him.  He got it in in time and Jerod Bowen wrote the other members of the group that he felt like the bid should go to Lambson Construction.  It made James feel good.'

Today I want to address the issue, 'Why I watch Hallmark movies.'

One of my grandsons shared with his mother that he was having horrible nightmares about someone trying to kill him.  Her response to him was: "Everything we see, read, and hear has an effect on us."  That's why I watch Hallmark movies.  There is no violence, no bad language and no sex.  I use to watch the show "Person of Interest" with James and it started to effect me in a negative way so I had to stop.  Bring on the cheesy movies!

Speaking of cheese, here are the movies I watched today: 

"Love Again"

"Hello, It's Me"

"Mystery Woman Books: The Game"

Okay, I will admit Mystery Woman Books usually has a murder, but there is nothing graphic or gory.  

What do you do when you give someone else advice and it comes back to bite you in the behind.  Is love really, always the answer? 

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!