Friday, December 22, 2023: Texas boxes received, J and T-Bo, Rain, wrapped 6 blankets, go see Catherine in the rain, Janna postpones until tomorrow, Giving Machines in Snowflake

 

Rome, Italy

162nd operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Mar 2019

By: Russell M. Nelson

Book of Mormon

Ether 15:1-17

Come Follow Me

Video: "The Christ Child"

October General Conference

"The Prodigal and the Road that Leads Home" by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I checked with Kacey and the two boxes we sent to them arrived today. I assume the one I sent to San Antonio did too.

It was supposed to snow today but we got rain and mud instead. T-Bo came over and worked a couple of hours with James before the rain started. James gave him his and Barbara's gingerbread box and he mentioned the pecan Rollo pretzels his daughter makes. Now I wish I had put some in their box.

I wrapped six more blankets today before Kathy came to pick me up to go visit Catherine Halcomb. We were supposed to also visit Janna Grombach but Janna postponed until tomorrow morning saying she would come by my house and asked if Kathy could meet us there. 

Catherine is 89 years old and always excited to have company. Kerri had gone to take their great Dane, Shelly to the vet. She is recovering from glaucoma. 

Catherine showed us all of her "collections." Here are some pictures I took. 

Eskimos

Tree with Santa ornaments.

They also have a life-sized Santa

Santa collection and photos of

grandchildren's weddings

Kerri's cat collection and the original

Mr. Halcomb. Also, Catherine's granddaughter on the

front of the New Era.

More Santa

Moose and Bear nativities which belong to Kerri

You can see my blouse in this one as the light

reflected off of the glass case.

Great grandchildren

She also has a collection of pictures of family

members who served missions.

Catherine's house is a fun house to visit. When we got ready to leave she gave each of us a tin of her cranberry candy cake cinnamon type rolls. I gave her the gingerbread house and Kathy gave her a loaf of cinnamon bread. It was raining when we went outside but we managed to stay pretty dry. Kathy and I exchanged gifts when she dropped me off at home. 

James and I made a trip in to Show Low for horse feed and then to Firehouse for some dinner. Our plan was to drive to Snowflake and pick something out of the giving machine to donate. Well, we drove to Snowflake with it raining the entire way. We found the machines at the John C. Freeman pioneer home the other side of the big stake center in the middle of town. Neither one of us thought to put on a jacket and it was still raining. I got out my umbrella and we stood under it but we were freezing and the line was long, so we left. 

When I got home I checked and we can donate online. 

When we got home we each had a cup of hot chocolate and James said he was feeling well so he laid down to take a nap. He was ahead of me on my walking anyway. When he got up he joined me and we listened to "Havencross."

Our stake president, President Beeler, and his family

at the giving machines in Snowflake.

A rare sight a few years ago.

James wrapping gifts. I'm not sure 

what they are though and he couldn't remember.

Charlie and Evie singing

The Case kids with their Santa

The Tignors:

T-Bo and Barbara

Alayna and Joshua

Thursday, December 21, 2023: Inklings with Emily & Elaine Dalton, Kim's cookie day, My cookie day is quite different, James does dishes, walked, movie & book, Ordered Someburros

 

Barranquilla, Colombia

161st operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Dec 2018

By: Dallin H. Oaks

Book of Mormon

Ether 14:8-31

Come Follow Me

1 Corinthians 15:21-26; Colossians 1:12-22; 1 Peter 2:21-25

Jesus Christ fulfilled His mission and made it possible for me to inherit eternal life.

October General Conference

"Be Peaceable Followers of Christ" by Elder Quentin L. Cook

Another beautiful day in Vernon. 

I listened to Inklings this morning. Emily & Elaine Dalton were the presenters. It was amazing, the best one ever! Here are just a couple of quotes: 

Emily: "I was tutored how to hear the Spirit at a young age."

Elaine: "Can you imagine that we have a member of the Godhead within whispering distance in the Holy Ghost."

Elder Bednar: "If you go to sacrament meeting and partake of the sacrament, you will have the Spirit with you."

Kacey and I texted about it afterwards. I told Kim she should listen. She said she would try but she was in the middle of making her cookie plates. 

Kim made 44 plates to give away, with 14 different kinds, plus gluten free - brownies, oreo balls, peppermint balls, rice krispy treats, and krispy kookies for Sami and Shayna. 

That's a lot of cookies

Here are some of the cookies Kim made: mint brownies, gingerbread, salted chocolate chip, Martha Stewart bards, sugar almond cookies, peppermint oreo balls, Oreo balls, mini lemon and min strawberry cupcakes. 

Makes my three types of cookies seem a little scant. Today I made Cowboy cookies, Snickerdoodles, and Molasses gingers. They all tasted good but the snickerdoodles were flat because I forgot to put in some extra flour for the high altitude. I made up six bags of cookies for the following families; the Crane's, Janna Gromback, Catherine Halcomb, Patsy Tedder, the Tignor's, and Virgil Cooper. 

I put them in the cardboard gingerbread houses along with a pair of fuzzy socks.

Gingerbread Row Houses

For dinner we had rice pilaf, green beans and roasted chicken. James finished up the dieshes for me and then we walked and listened to "Havencross." We also watched "Miracle in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania." The movie starred Laura Vandervoort and Benjamin Ayres.

Some other things I did: Ordered a Fiesta tray from Someburros for our family party Saturday night and got about a dozen Christmas cards ready to send.

James eating dinner surrounds by books

he is reading. A few years ago.

Christmas caroling memory:

Rowan, Molly, Ruby, Joshua, Sheri,

Kim and Stacy

Rowan playing the piano at our family

Christmas party.

Darrel's family stockings

Kim's tree

Emmy

Such a good movie!

  

Wednesday, December 20, 2023: "Seven Seals", Tamara's for Jordyn's socks, Walmart, Youth come Christmas caroling, Cocoa and Cookies, Trenda & boys,

 

Concepcion, Chile

160th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Oct 2018

By: Russell M. Nelson

Book of Mormon

Ether 13:19-14:7

Come Follow Me

Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20 Jesus Christ condescended to be born among us on earth.

October General Conference

"Bearing Witness of Jesus Christ in Words and Actions" by Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella

I read a couple of chapters from "Opening the Seven Seals." 

I got a text from my friend Tamara Applegate. I had asked her if her daughter Jordyn, who lives in Orem, was coming home for Christmas. She said she works retail and can't come but she is going to send her a package. I told her I had a pair of fuzzy socks for her. Tamara said she would be home this morning if I wanted to bring the socks by. 

I wasn't dressed but I took care of that in a short time. I did my hair and makeup and was on my way. I gave Jordyn one of the cutest pair of socks and wrote a little note to her. Tamara thanked me and handed me a wrapped box of chocolates. (I could tell). We hugged each other and I left, looking at their long-haired pigs as I left.

I went into town heading straight to Walmart. I bought five more pair of fuzzy socks. They had a Christmas tree decorated with pairs of socks. I wanted a pair just like the one I gave to Jordyn but they were too high on the tree. I had a roll of wrapping paper in my cart and tried to reach the socks with the roll, but the tree began to sway so I backed off. 

I bought some Scotch tape and a couple of gifts for James and a few grocery items. As I was buying paper goods for the family Christmas party I ran in to Trenda Ellsworth with her two little boys. We had a nice visit and a couple of hugs. Trenda was one of my young women here in Vernon. She is a Wilhelm. 

Trenda and her family. Her husband's name

is Emery and the oldest little boy is Emmett.

I can't remember the youngest boys name, but

it starts with an E. Ellsworth family tradition.

(That is the fireplace in the house I grew up in).

As I was waiting in line to check out, the electricity went out in the entire store. The store was packed and it looked like everyone was in line to check out. 

After the electricity came back on, it took another 10 or 15 minutes for the computers to boot up. I was first in line, but my computer never booted up so I had to choose another line. A cashier just opened another line and I was able to get in second place. 

After spending so long in Walmart I was ready to go home not even interested in stopping for lunch. When I got home I put the groceries away and then headed for the bedroom for some rest and recuperation. 

As I was relaxing on my recliner, I got a call from Alicia Hunsaker, the Bishop's wife. Alicia serves in the Young Women while the bishop serves as the Yong Men's president. Alicia said that the youth would like to come caroling at our house this evening. I told her that would be great and asked her what time. She said they were meeting at their house to put lights on the wagon around 6:00 so it would probably be around 7:00. 

I immediately got up and went to the kitchen to make some snickerdoodle cookies. I texted James and told him about the youth coming. He was working outside. He came in after six and after changing his clothes he came into the kitchen and began heating up the water for hot chocolate. We were ready when the door bell rang around 7 p.m. 

The trailer had Christmas lights around it

which aren't on right now.

Here are the youth that came: Buddy, Abigail, and Georgia Jameson, Cole and Lily Flake, Jesse Pronger, Bailey Umphress, Colter Hunsaker, Resten Tesarek, Tyler and McKyla Finnegan, and Logan Robles. Adults: Janna Grombach, Becky and Christ Skousen, Bishop and Alicia Hunsaker, Brother Hipps, and Brother Robles.

We enjoyed having the group in our home and I think they enjoyed the hot chocolate and cookies. Oh yes, they sang, "Away in a Manger" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

When everyone was gone James and I talked about how much we enjoyed the visit. We then finished up our walking by listening to our new audio book, "Havencross." We also watched "Dial S for Santa."

A couple of logs James used for the siding

on the stable.

Sheri, that is

This years Christmas card

Tuesday, December 19, 2023: 6:40 leave for AARA, no one is up, left my water bottle, AARA Frances, Ang, Amanda, J's appt @ Chandler Eyecare, Ben, Nancy, Sheri, Hilary, Cayli, IHOP, Payson way, home, Michael's 26th bday

 

Cedar City, Utah

159th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Dec 2017

By: Henry B. Eyring

Book of Mormon Reading

Ether 13:1-18

Come Follow Me

Dec 18-24 Christmas: Jesus Christ condescended to be born among us on earth.

October General Conference

"Waling in Covenant Relationship with Christ" by Emily Belle Freeman

We left Darrel's house around 6:40 this morning for AARA. No one was awake or out and about, so we left without saying goodbye. 

The regular team was in the infusion center, Frances, Ang, and Amanda. These are my girls and I'm not about to go to the Gilbert office even if it is closer to Darrel's. 

James had an appointment at Chandler Eyecare right after my appointment. Dr. Carpenter is looking at his eye to see if there is any metal in it. I visited with Sheri, and Nancy while I was waiting for him. Sheri ordered some safety glasses with his prescription in them so next time he will have safety glasses on.

James and I were both hungry and it wasn't lunch time yet so we went to IHOP because James has been craving their harvest nut and grain pancakes. We went to the one in south Chandler. 

Imagine James's disappointment when he couldn't find his pancakes on the menu. We asked our waitress and she said they had been discontinued and replaced with protein pancakes, three selections. James was pretty upset. He almost wanted to leave but instead he ordered a mushroom and spinach omelet. I ordered pumpkin spice pancakes with bacon and scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. 

I couldn't finish all of my eggs or pancakes but James ate all of his omelet and said it was delicious. He's still upset about the pancakes. I told him I would make him some whole wheat pancakes with nuts at home and he seemed happier.

We were going to go to Costco and Deseret Book but I was not feeling well, so we headed for home, the Payson way. I was feeling better when we got to Payson and we stopped at Culver's for a double decker waffle ice cream cone, one scoop of chocolate and one of vanilla. Again, James helped me eat it. He loves waffle cones.

They are still working on the road going in to Heber. It is going to be so nice once they are done. The old one was rough and full of potholes.

We put out stuff away, finished walking while listening to "Skye Fall" and then watched a Christmas movie.

Happy 26th Birthday Michael!

Jenifer and her kids

Bettylea, Elizabeth, Jenifer, Amanda, Sam

High School for me 

James gave me this sweater for Christmas

Dennis 6 years younger and Harold 1 1/2 years younger