Thursday, January 4, 2024

Monday, December 25, 2023: gifts from Lois, Dawn, Kim, Brian, Sheri's for family brkfst, Darrel better, Lois & Dawn's for lunch, pickup Evan, Vernon, S,P,J,A & dogs Vernon

 

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
165th operating temple
Dedicated: 1 Sep 2019
By: David A. Bednar

Book of Mormon
Moroni 6:1-7:19
Come Follow Me
Revelation 15-22 "He That Overcometh Shall Inherit All Things"
Introduction
October General Conference
"Jesus Christ is the Treasure" by Elder Dale G. Renlund

I woke up at 2 am and my right arm was throbbing. I couldn't sleep because of the pain, so I got up and ate a roll and took some Tramadol and went back to bed.

When James and I got up we unwrapped our gifts from Lois, Dawn, Kim, and Brian. Here is what I opened: a purple towel set, shopping bag full of gizmos and gadgets for the kitchen, 2 tops, an Amazon $50 gift card, a bracelet and a Family Tree to list birthdays from Lois and Dawn. From Kim & Brian - A leather journal with Philippians 4:13 on the front and a set of colored pens. Also a Disney 1500 piece puzzle.
Here is what James opened: From me two shirts and a pair of pajamas. From Kim & Brian a $50 Amazon gift card. From Lois & Dawn: a nice leather portfolio and a leather journal, a cold weather hat, a top and some socks, James says, "the good kind."

A little before 10 we left for Sheri's for breakfast. She was already cooking bacon and scrambled eggs and some of the biscuits we got from Stacy last night. She had a tray of cinnamon rolls that she had bought. They looked like homemade. I had one and they were delicious. I also had a couple of pieces of bacon to make sure I got my protein. There was orange juice but I didn't have any.
After I ate breakfast I took a walk around the neighborhood. The weather was perfect. I got 1200 steps.

Ben was excited to tell me that his blanket was the best one he has ever gotten. It is purple and soft. 

Glad you liked it Ben
Here are the rest of the Trezise blankets:






Here are the Horak blankets:

 
Dark blue







Darrel and Trina's family:



I wrapped most of the blankets going to Texas before taking pictures. Kacey's was like Kim's and Jared's was like Rowan's. Charlie and Scarlett's were white with pastel dots or hearts and they each also got a Christmas blanket. Autumn's was white and I think Palmer's had stripes. Anna's was white, James's was black, Sadie's purple on one side and white on the other. Here is a picture of Emmy's and Molly's.
Summer's was a light shade of purple with white flowers and I can't remember what Tanner's looked like. I like to take pictures of the blankets I give so I don't duplicate next year. 

Some of the Texas gifts






It was good to see Darrel this morning. He was in bed yesterday with vertigo. He feels much better. Trina worked today, making $900. 
Dallin and Jared Ammon were not there.

Cathi and Dawn were working in the kitchen and said they didn't need my help. Aunt Faye came over and sat by me and we visited and Uncle Paul sat by James. 

Uncle Paul is 92. He looks good for his age.

Aunt Faye was very enjoyable to visit with. She told me about the retirement home where she lives. She wanted to do something useful rather than play Bridge or other games some of the residents played. She started a hymn singing group a couple of times a month and a weekly bible study. She is a retired minister so these are the things that are important to her.

She also shared some stories about babysitting for James and his brothers when she was 14. She said Lois and George were in Gallup where they were filming a movie. They were extras in the movie and were supposed to return in the evening but the weather got bad so they stayed overnight. Terry was a baby who slept in a buggy that had a hole in it near the bottom. She put a blanket in the buggy to stop up the hole. When she woke in the morning Terry was not in the buggy. She panicked and began looking everywhere even outside in the chicken coop. (Terry wasn't old enough to walk so I'm not sure why she looked there). She asked Dave and James where Terry was but they weren't old enough to know anything. Those were her words, not mine. As she called for help someone told her to look under the bed. When she did she saw him curled up asleep under the bed. What a relief!

Another story about Terry as a baby and his older brother James (Older by 14 months). Terry was drinking his bottle and she heard him start to cry. She went in to see what was wrong and found Terry without his bottle. She looked under his bed and there was James sucking on Terry's bottle for all it was worth.

As we sat down to dinner I was seated next to James on one side and Aunt Faye on the other and across from Lois. Lois thanked us for the dinner and I said that Dawn and Aunt Faye helped pay for it and they should be thanked too.

The dinner was good. I am glad James and I brought some cranberry celebration. It was perfect and one of my favorite things. 

Lois ate very little. Dawn says she has been gagging and throwing up alot which is very concerning. Because of the gagging she never wants to eat and when she does she doesn't eat very much. I suggested to Dawn that maybe she get her some liquid Ensure. She said she would.

We went back to Chandler to pick up Evan before heading home. 
Stacy, Paul, Joshua, and Alayna and all of the dogs, Sophie, Shipley, and Vader made it to the cabin a few minutes before we did. 

It is cold as we unload the car and start putting things away. 

Paul brought up a Honey Baked ham and he and Stacy put together a dinner for everyone. 

James made a big roaring fire and soon we were no longer cold. 

Evan, Joshua, and Alayna played games in front of the fireplace. 

Stacy and Paul watch the TV in the family room. James and I go into our bedroom to walk and to watch a movie starring Erin Cahill who lives on a cattle ranch. It is an Up movie which is a little different than Hallmark. It was a little rough in spots but had a good message. I think it was called, "Christmas on the Range."

Lola giving Santa a hug

Sheri got these plant pots from Alex & Shayna.
They made the figures of Ziggie and Ollie.

Ben gave Sheri this puzzle of Ollie
and Ziggie.

My socks were purple and there
was a $100 gift card to Deseret Book
inside the white bag.
Thank you Sheri!
Sheri made these for gifts:
A bag of Giradelli candy instead of a
white snowman sack with a sock for
the hat and a sock for the scarf.
So cute!

Merry Christmas
from Texas!













Now, back to yesterday to post some more pictures that I found.




















Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Sunday, December 24, 2023: Up @ 5:30, J forgot his dress shoes & white shirt, McQueen 2nd ward w? Stacy & Paul, Joshua, Sheri, Cayli, Ben, Evan, Lois & Dawn's house

 

Fortaleza, Brazil
164th operating temple
Dedicated: 2 June 2019
By: Ulisses Soares

Book of Mormon
Moroni 1-5
Come Follow Me
"Opening the Seven Seals" by Richard Draper
October General Conference
"Our Constant Companion" by President Henry B. Eyring

I was up at 5:30 this morning. I took a shower and did some preparing, praying and studying. 

We had planned on attending church in Stacy & Paul's ward. They meet in the McQueen building at 9:00. Kim & Brian meet in this building too, at a different time.

James forgot his dress shirt and shoes. He had a gray dress shirt he wore with his suit and his tennis shoes. He was pretty embarrassed.
 
Ben, Cayli, Sheri, Sariah, Paul, Adam, Evan
James, Me, Stacy, Alayna, Joshua
I really need to work on my smile and so does James.

Joshua gave the prayer on the bread. I was so grateful he was worthy and willing to honor his priesthood. 

Before the program began, Armando, whose family is in this ward, came over to say hello. If was so nice to look back and see him sitting with his wife and a row full of children. 

The program went something like this:
"Picture the Baby Jesus" - the Primary children. Their Primary is small than ours.
"Angels Lullaby" - Women's group
Piano Solo - "Angels We Have Heard on High...medley
"O Come All Ye Faithful" - Congregation
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" - Men's Group
 (Joshua and Paul sang in this group)
"Away In a Manger" - four children
Closing Address - Joey Harris (Paul's friend from high school)
Growing up Joey's dad was not a member of the Church. Joey gave a list of things he would teach his dad about the gospel. I didn't get them all, but here are some of them.
1. The Church is based on Jesus Christ. Because of His Resurrection we will be resurrected.
2. We can be forgiven of our sins.
3. We can learn about Jesus every Sunday in Church and everyday at home.
4. Priesthood blessings can heal as if it were Christ giving the blessing.
Joey then bore his testimony.
"Silent Night" - closing hymn
Benediction

We didn't plan very well for Sunday meals. I had a roll this morning so I could take my pills but now here we are at lunch time, hungry, and nothing to eat except sweets. Stacy and Paul invited us for dinner this evening but no plans for lunch. I suggested we get Whataburgers. At first James disagreed with buying food on Sunday which is something we do not ordinarily do, and then his tummy growled and he said okay. 

We drove to the nearest Whataburger, there are several new ones in this area, and we each ordered a Whataburger Jr. We waited until we got back to the hotel, room 121,  to eat. After eating it was nap time.

Around 1:30 James delivered gifts to Kim, Brian and Joseph and received our white envelope and gifts. He also got Lois and Dawn's white envelopes. Here was our white envelope gift:
Mom and Dad,
Your white envelope gift this year is a secret act of service to make someone feel seen and loved.
Anita is an older woman who lives in a very tiny apartment in Mesa by herself. She lost her husband earlier this year.
We dropped off an anonymous Christmas basket filled with Christmas cheer and some needed supplies in the hopes that she will feel loved and not so alone.
Love, Kim and Brian

I love the fact that Kim and Brian do these services for Christmas. It is a wonderful thing.

At 4:00 we picked up our Christmas feast at Mimi's. A turkey, ham, green bean casserole, sweet potato and pecan casserole, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. The only thing they forgot is the rolls.
James lifted this heavy box, put it on his shoulder, and carried it to the car. From Mimi's on Chandler Blvd. we drove to Tempe to Lois and Dawn's. Dawn will heat everything in the morning and make some rolls. Oh yes there was a pecan pie, a pumpkin pie and a couple of small loaves of nut bread. 

We stayed and visited a little while, snacking on a tray of chocolate dipped fruit that Connie sent. Also from Carmen a paper with a key called the Keeper of the Inn, and a mini Night Before Christmas book that Rebecca made. We left in time to be at Stacy and Paul's by six. 

Paul made street tacos with and they were very good. He also made Mary's delicious refried beans. Michael came over, Adam was there and Joshua has just returned from Alayna's where they exchanged gifts. Alayna drew Joshua a picture of the three dogs and put it in a frame. It was really cute. 

After dinner they opened their blankets. Jared Ammon and Dallin missed Christmas Eve with their family and Stacy was pretty sad.
After dinner we went back to room 121 at the San Marcos so the Gonzales's could do what they normally do for Christmas Eve. 

I wrote out my testimony and posted it on our family thread.
Here it is:
Christmas isn't just about the baby Jesus. It's about the life and mission of the Savior, Jesus Christ. How He healed the sick, caused the lame to walk and the blind to see. How he overcame that awful monster death and hell.
Without Him we would become angels to a devil to be shut out from our God and to remain with the Father of lies in misery like unto himself. (2 Nephi 9:9-10).
Even though He was the Creator of the Universe, He came to earth as a little child. He is my Savior, Redeemer, and the Healer of my soul. The one thing I want my family to remember about me is that I testified of the divinity of Jesus Christ and I tried to follow Him in my life. I know He lives. Come, let us adore Him!

Kim sent me lots of pictures from the family party which I am going to post as soon as I am finished here.

 
On our bed in our hotel room

Lois and Dawn's tree
Our gifts

More blankets


Emmy


Christina's kids

Charlie

Love this Family!

Sheri and Trina followed their tradition of hiking A mountain
on Christmas Eve





The Wallace's as Mr. & Mrs. Santa
Roger and Lynn