Sunday, August 27, 2023: Up @ 4:30 to finish lesson outline, JA's sunrise, Crane's speak in sacrament mtg., Kim comes to RS, 3/10 quotes, Millie's gift, Kim said I "glowed", Five Crowns

San Diego, California

45th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 April 1993 

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Alma 57:1-16

Come Follow Me

Review

April General Conference

"The Imperfect Harvest" by Elder Vern P. Stanfill

Today is Charlie's 5th birthday. Happy Birthday Charlie!

Little Mermaid

Sweet Scarlett

I was up at 4:30 to finish my lesson outline. 

James and I sat way, way in the back overflow, last row to be exact, because that's where Kim and Brian wanted to sit. We noticed that Scoty MacArthur was here sitting with the Umphress family. I guess the entire family is here for two weeks. They made it for Cooper's baptism.

The Crane's were the speakers in sacrament meeting. They both did a great job although Chuck didn't have much time. Sister Rosen played a piano solo for the special musical number.

Relief Society was late getting started and then there were lots of announcements so my lesson time was cut short. Kim sat in the front row to support me. I was grateful. She made a couple of really good comments. She also told me that I "glowed."

After lunch and nap time James and I went for a ride in the truck. We drove past the sunflower field and on the roads back behind it. I took a picture of this old cabin.

Look at those clouds, you would think we would have some rain.

Jared took a Razr ride this morning and caught the sunrise at Green's Peak. 

Kim and Brian went in "Bruce", Brian's Bronco, for a ride up to Christmas tree trail. If any pictures were taken, I didn't see them.

I did get a picture of Brian and Bruce.

When Kim and Brian returned James and I played a game of Five Crown's with them. Kim won, I was second, Brian was third and James was last. It was a fun game. 

Scarlett and her dog Duchess

Scarlet is very artistic

 

 

 

 

Saturday, August 26, 2023: Heart puzzle, rain, finishing deck, sunflowers, "Followers of the Prince of Peace", Cope & Amy's reception, Amy to hospital

 

Toronto, Ontario

44th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Aug 1990

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:41-57

Come Follow Me

1 Corinthians 7:29-33 Did Paul teach that it is better to be unmarried than married?

April General Conference

"Hosanna to the Most High God" by Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Up at 5:17. 

Since Kim finished the 60's puzzle I told her she could do my new "Heart" puzzle. James and Jared Ammon finished up the deck even though we got some rain today. 

I worked on my lesson, "Followers of the Prince of Peace." This afternoon I took Kim to see the sunflower field. It isn't nearly as full as it has been the last couple of years. Here are a few photos that we took.

Here are some photos James had from 2021 when the sunflowers were in full bloom:

The lane up to our house

Sunflowers on our property

Sunflower field

I guess you could say I am a little sunflower obsessed. James doesn't like them. He says they are weeds and he had to pull them when he was a kid in Ramah and that is not a fond memory.

Addy asked me to send her some photos of the sunflowers so I did. 

Brian and Kim love the cats and Luna. I can't call them kitties anymore because they are full grown. 

I went on Liberty Mutual's website today to see what the status of my car was. It is totaled and they say they are going to reimburse us with $17,756.00. That was good news because we only paid $20,000 for it. 

This afternoon the Reynolds' had a reception at the church between 3-5. James and I went. I guess when they got married originally they did not have a wedding reception so some of their friends in the ward decided to give them one after their sealing. 

Cheryl Sedig, Tina Allen, Amy, Lynda Finnell, Donna Beckham

and Janna Grombach. That's Cope sitting over at the table by himself.

Donna, Lynda, Janna, Amy, Cope, Tina, Willy Grombach and that's Cheryl walking away

Donna, Lynda, Janna, Tina, Cheryl

Amy, Donna, Lynda, Janna, Tina

That's James going to get more food.

Janna Grombach made their cake

There was lots of good food and friends at the reception. We sat by Jerry & Millie Scott, Barbara & Terry Tignor, and Paula Johnson. 

James was anxious to get home and finish up his work for the week so we left a little early. As we were leaving we saw the Miller's, Ed, Debbie and Bishop Miller come up. Bishop Miller is Ed and Debbie's son and he and his family moved to Kansas a few years ago. It was nice to see him. He is one of our favorite all-time bishops.

We found out later that Amy's heart was racing and she had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. She was released Sunday afternoon. FYI: She was bit by a brown recluse spider a few weeks ago. Not sure if that has anything to do with her heart.

We had teriyaki marinated and grilled chicken, rice and cabbage for dinner. Jared Ammon loved this chicken when we made it before and he loved it again this time. 

James and I walked and listened to our new book this evening and I worked on my lesson, quitting early and deciding I would get up at 4:30 and work three hours on it in the morning.

Derek Hough & Hayley Erbert

Kim finished the heart puzzle.

There was a piece missing. We found it in the truck between the console and the seat. Brian "fished" it out for us.

Scarlett's best friend right now is the

tooth fairy. jk

Friday, August 25, 2023:Checkout of hotel @ 5:30am good riddance, hospital check-in, Starbucks for me. Ultrasound is clean, home, rain, Brian back

 

Las Vegas, Nevada

43rd operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Dec 1989

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:18-40

Come Follow Me

1 Corinthians 6:13-20 My body is sacred.

April General Conference

"Remember What Matters Most" by President M. Russell Ballard

We checked out of Extended Stay America at 5:30 a.m. James drove the truck to the hospital parking lot and we parked on the jackrabbit level and walked over to St. Joseph's hospital. They validated his parking when James checked in as a patient. 

We took the elevator to the third floor and walked the long hallway down to the endoscopy section. There was one other couple there. I met them and found out they live in Overgaard and formerly lived in Chandler. 

It was around 7:30 before the endoscopy office was officially open. 

James got checked in and I went back to sit with him before his procedure. Dr. Redimasu came in and explained that they would put a scope down his throat and look for any signs of recurring cancer.

When they came and took James I went downstairs to get a drink and something to eat at the Starbucks. The line was about ten people deep. I should have gone to the cafeteria instead but I didn't. I got a pink drink which says it is coconut milk and strawberries and egg whites with peppers. I went out on the patio to eat, never looking at my phone. After eating I went back upstairs and checked at the endoscopy desk to see if James was out of surgery. He was. He was in the recovery room and the girl at the desk told me they would call me back when he was awake, which she did. I guess she had tried to call me earlier when I was at Starbucks but I didn't answer.

When I got back to recovery James wanted to leave to go home. The nurse told him he had to wait 30 minutes. I'm glad we waited because Dr. Redimasu came in again and talked to us. He said everything looked clean. He did do a biopsy and they won't have the results for a few days.  

I went down to get the truck. James was wheeled downstairs and waiting for me when I got to the "circle" in front of the hospital. He got in and we headed for the hills. It was 9:30 in the morning and he was starving having not eaten since yesterday morning. We looked up a Whataburger on McDowell Rd. and did the drive through. I got a Whopper Jr. and James got a Whopper. 

We went home the Payson way. We finished our audio book"The Kiss of a Stranger" and started "Hearts of Briarwall."

We arrived home early in the afternoon before Brian returned. Kim had almost finished the 60's puzzle which has 1500 pieces. Jared Ammon had cleaned off the deck which is almost finished except for the pieces that butt up against the log support posts.  

Jared Ammon went on a Razr ride looking for a bear. Instead he got caught in a rainstorm and came back soaking wet.

When Brian got here he and Kim watched, "Wedding Planner Mystery" starring Erica Durance and Andrew Walker.

James and I went to be around 10.

60's puzzle is finished!

This year's sunflowers are scarce

Thursday, August 24, 2023: James's haircut, Addy's card, sprinklers, Puzzles, some rain, ward campout postponed, leave for valley around 4, Extended Stay America just a little better than a homeless shelter

 

Portland, Oregon

42nd operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Aug 1989

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:1-17

Come Follow Me

1 Corinthians 2:9-16 I need the Holy Ghost in order to understand the things of God.

April General Conference

"The Teachings of Jesus Christ" by President Dallin H. Oaks

I got up at 5 this morning. After working outside on the sprinkler system for the yard for awhile James came in and was going to take a shower. I reminded him that he needed a haircut. His haircut looked pretty good except for the small "nick" in the back. 

I watched Inklings this morning. It was Emily and Courtney, two of my favorites. Kim and I worked on our puzzles. 

The bishop cancelled the ward campout tomorrow because of rain. Last year it rained really hard for a long time and I think he was afraid it was going to do that again. 

James and I left for the valley around 4 p.m. We left Kim and Jared Ammon at the cabin. We stopped at the post office and picked up a couple of packages. One was the heart puzzle I ordered and the other was a serving fork. I texted a picture of the heart puzzle to Kim. She was very excited. She was hoping it would come before she left, and it did.

The Extended Stay America where I booked a room. The hotel is a mile and a half from St. Joseph's hospital where James is having his ultra-sound. 

As I went in to confirm our reservation I was reminded of one other time we stayed in an extended stay hotel and how I had vowed we would never stay in one again. I almost felt like I was checking in to a homeless shelter. 

We moved in to room 201. James asked if I had gotten a non-smoking room. I said yes and he said he could smell a faint hint of smoke that it seemed like they were trying to cover up. Here are a couple of pictures I took:

I guess the room wasn't so bad except for the 

smoky smell, the TV didn't work, and there were

"gummy" spots on the bathroom floor.

Jared Ammon went on a ride on the mountain and took a video of 20 bull elk.  He was pretty excited!

James finished up his walking outside and I finished my steps here in our room. We have to be at the hospital by 5:30 in the morning so we went to bed around 9-9:30.

Sheri's post

Luna under her favorite tree