Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Sunday, March 31, 2024: Easter Sunday, 25th Anniversary of my mom's death, I rest at home, J brings me the sacrament, message to family

 

Tuxtla, Guiterrez
75th operating temple
Dedicated: 12 Mar 2000
By: James E. Faust

Book of Mormon
Jacob 1:1-8
Come Follow Me
Book of Mormon Easter Insights with Tyler Griffin
October General Conference
"Think Celestial" by President Russell M. Nelson

Happy Easter Morning. The greatest event in the history of the world happened on this day and I will be eternally grateful. 
Also, today is the 25th anniversary of the death of my mother. This is another reason for me to be so grateful for Easter morning.

I am staying home today from church which makes me sad. I watched Easter videos on YouTube while James was gone. As he came in the door after attending sacrament meeting, he said: "That was one of the best sacrament meetings I have ever attended."

Kathy Crane, Stefani and Alicia Hunsaker, and Tamara Applegate sang the song, "Consider the Lilies of the Field." The Primary children sang "Gethsemane" led by Krystal Flake and Abigail Jameson sang a song that James said was absolutely beautiful! 

Brother and Sister Gassaway spoke along with their grown daughter who is living with them with her kids. She recently went through a divorce. Here are some things he remembered from their talks:
"Love has the power to change everything in us." That was from Sister Gassaway's talk. Brother Gassaway spoke about The Last Supper. "We need to fill our lamps with the oil of love, testimony and service."
Their daughter told about rescuing a dying plant and never giving up on it. She compared this to the Savior and how he never gives up on us. "The Savior has and will do everything to save me and help me thrive."

New Callings today: Aubrey Harris as a counselor in the Primary. Ed Miller a Valiant 9 Primary teacher, and Jared Golly a counselor in the Sunday School presidency.

James asked the bishop if it would be all right if he administered the sacrament to me. He said it would. It is such a spiritual experience to take the sacrament in such a peaceful, quiet setting. I am so grateful.

James also fed me breakfast, lunch and dinner. We watched the Gospel Lessons channel on YouTube. It turned out to be a wonderful Sabbath day. I sent this to my kids, their spouses, except Ian, but including Ben and Adam:
"I just want to say how grateful I am for my Savior Jesus Christ. Because of His resurrection I know we will be resurrected also and I will see my lost loved ones again.
I am also grateful to all of you and the eternal relationship we have because of Jesus Christ and His gospel. 
Happy Easter!























Morgan Jones Pearson & Ardeth G. Kapp

I love Ardeth Kapp and will never forget the time I got to spend
with her on our Harry Potter Tour in England.




 



Saturday, March 30, 2024: Feeling poorly this morning, Leave for valley @ 9:30, Gas & carwash, Payson, Shop @ Fry's, Ro leaving for work, Darrel smoking meat, Trina cleaning, Lola, Ruby and I do puzzles, Family here @ 4:30

 

Oaxaca, Mexico
74th operating temple
Dedicated: 11 Mar 2000
By: James E. Faust

Book of Mormon
Easter - Alma 24:7-19
Come Follow Me
"The Grave Has No Victory" by Sister Reyna I. Aburto
October General Conference
"Think Celestial" by President Russell M. Nelson
Book
"The Easter Connection" by Kerry Muhlstein

It was a struggle for me to get ready to go to the valley this morning. I was moving painfully slow. James wanted to leave at 8:30 but I wasn't ready until 9:30. He was very patient with me. 

When we got to Show Low we drove to our favorite carwash at the Circle K across from Walmart. We also got gas using my Circle K debit car which gives us a ten cents a gallon discount.

James must not have been in too big of a hurry because he said we could go the Payson way. When we got to the valley we went straight to the Fry's on Signal Butte near Darrel and Trina's.  We bought cranberry celebration, a head of leafy lettuce and some matchstick carrots. We also bought some chicken wings to snack on, but they were not good. They were either too hot or too dried out from sitting under a heat lamp too long. The wings at Walmart are much better.

Just as we drove up to Darrel & Trina's we saw Rowan leaving for work. He won't be back until after 6. 

The first thing James brought in was the crockpot full of the beans that I had made. Trina plugged them in on the kitchen counter. I put the salad I had brought from home into my wooden bowl and added the green leafy lettuce and carrots. This really freshened up the salad. It looks more appetizing now. Oh yes, I also bought a bottle of Olive Garden salad dressing to put on the salad. As I finished with the salad Lola asked me if I wanted to play a game or do a puzzle. I said I would love to do a puzzle with her. She got out the cupcake puzzles I bought for them awhile ago. There is one large cupcake puzzle and several smaller ones in the box. We organized the pieces to each puzzle and put them in baggies. The puzzles were color-coded on the back. Ruby joined in the fun and James was hovering but didn't participate. Ruby had been out running when we first arrived.

Darrel made brisket outside in his smoker. It was delicious. He also tried making burnt ends for the first time. He says his friend makes them and they are delicious. He then added, but I didn't use his recipe. Something went wrong. They did not taste good and Darrel was a little frustrated knowing he would be throwing away most of these burnt ends.

We were scheduled to start at 4:30. Stacy and Paul were a little late. James sent them a text jokingly saying we should have assigned them desert. They brought a big pot of mashed potatoes, one of Pauls' specialties. 

Trina made deviled eggs. I told her James asked me to make some, but I told him I didn't even like them and suggested he make them, but I knew he wouldn't. Trina said she liked them and would look up a recipe on the internet and make them. I thanked her. 

Stacy, Paul, Adam, Michael and Joshua represented the Gonzales', Kim and Brian the Horaks', Sheri, Ian, and Evan the Trezises' and Darrel, Trina, Ruby and Lola, James and I, the Lambsons'. Rowan and Addy were both at work. 

Kim brought a beautiful carrot cake, Cadbury mini egg brownies, and fruit with dip. Sheri brought rolls and James and I brought cranberry celebration, salad, and baked beans. It was a delicious meal and a beautiful day to enjoy each others company. Brian gave a beautiful prayer and blessed the food.

I visited with Stacy, Joshua, and Michael during dinner . Joshua got his hair cut and had on a beanie to hide it. Stacy says he wants to go to prom with Alana but she's worried about the cost. Michael sat on the other side of Joshua. He started a discussion about autism which seems appropriate since he works at a center for helping children with autism. He asked me which of my grandchildren most exhibited autistic characteristics. I asked him if he could give me a definition of what autism was and we got into a discussion. I never did answer his question because I really didn't know the answer.

I loved Kim's carrot cake. I should love it because it is my recipe. Brownies are not normally my favorite dessert but her brownies were so moist and gooey and tasty I had to get the recipe. She told me to go to the store on Monday and get the Cadbury mini eggs when they will be half price. 

Darrel bought chocolate chip and chocolate with caramel cookies at Safeway. I didn't have any but Stacy said they were delicious. 

I didn't get a chance to talk to Sheri. She spent most of her time talking with Trina. Ian and Evan went outside and when I spoke to Ian he looked a little irritated. He didn't speak to me, but just gave me a nod. 

Addy returned after everyone except Kim and Brian left. I got a picture of her. Rumor has it that Crockett, one of the boys who came to the cabin, is her boyfriend.  Crockett is his last name but I am not sure what his first name is. He is leaving on his mission in a couple of weeks. He is going to Panama. 

James and I had planned on spending the night at Darrel & Trina's but I was so miserable I asked him if we could go home tonight. He was more than happy to accommodate me. Darrel said the last three times we have changed our minds and not stayed. It's nothing personal Darrel. We appreciate how you always open your home to us.

We went the Globe way and we were home by 9:30. My left knee, both arms and hands hurt. I was miserable and immediately went to the family room recliner. James got me some Tramadol and some Tylenol. 

James listened to "A Stroke of Good Fortune" while he walked. 

We never saw Tom tonight. I guess he's going to be sleeping outside. We were so anxious to get home to see him and he doesn't answer when we call.



The dessert is beautiful this time of year,
green grass and wildflowers.




Family Potluck dinner @ Darrel & Trina's




Is Paul questions Michael's knowledge of autism.
That's Adam behind the flowers. Sorry I didn't get his face.

















 

Friday, April 5, 2024

Friday, March 29, 2024: Oil change, returns shoes & refund on cat food, Easter treats for sister I minister to, Visit Catherine & Janna w/ Kathy, barbershop accessories ordered, baked beans for tomorrow

 

Albuquerque, New Mexico
73rd operating temple
Dedicated: 27 Feb 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon
Alma 15:3-12
Come Follow Me
"A Living Witness of the Living Christ" by Bishop Gerald Causse
October General Conference
"We Are His Children" by Elder Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier
Book
"Visions of Glory" by John Pontius

 James went into town this morning for an oil change. He also took back the croc shoes I bought because they were too big and wide and looked like I had duck feet.  We realized that we paid twice for our cat food which was over $18 so he needed to get a refund back. Also he picked up my Tramadol. I am grateful he saved me a trip to town. 

I had an appointment to visit Catherine Halcomb at 9:30 this morning and Janna Grombach at 10:30 with my partner Kathy Crane.

I spent the morning making up bags of treats for my sisters and one for Kathy. 

I put these in a flowered cellophane bag
and tied with a bow.

 Kathy picked me up a little after nine. She always wants to drive and she always asks me to make the appointments. 

Our first visit was with Catherine. The visit started out fine. We talked about dogs. Catherine used to raise sled dogs and Kathy loves dogs so they have something in common. I told the story of the red eggs in Emily's book "A Christ-Centered Easter." Catherine loved the story about the grandmothers in Serbia who taught their families about the resurrection of Jesus Christ in spite of the Communist government who forbade Christianity. Here is a picture of Emily's red eggs. She dyes them using onion skins.

The eggs redness represent the
blood that Christ shed for us.
The eggs represent eternal life.

 Things went south when Catherine and Kathy started talking about Ellen, their mutual friend, whom they are trying to get to go to the temple to get her endowments. Catherine mentioned that she, Catherine, wears one-piece garments. Kathy said "Don't tell Ellen about the one-piece garments." One of Ellen's hang-ups is that she doesn't want to wear garments because she thinks they will be too tight and will hurt her legs.  Catherine kept talking and Kathy said about 2 or 3 times more "Don't tell Ellen about the one-piece garments." Kathy knows that Catherine is hard of hearing and I think that is why she kept repeating herself, but it really upset Catherine who evidently heard her every time. She yelled at Kathy, "I know Kathy, I'm not stupid!" When it got quiet I said, "Catherine, Kathy doesn't think you are stupid." 

When we got ready to leave Kathy told Catherine she loved her and only wanted the best for her. When we got to the car and were driving to Janna's Kathy said she didn't know if she was good for Catherine. I asked her if she wanted to continue being her ministering sister. She said, "Not if she is going to treat me like that."

Getting to Janna's was wonderful. We had such a good visit with her and Kathy made the comment that Janna was like a breath of fresh air. We sat in front of the TV where Janna had found an Easter picture on YouTube. We started talking about some of the videos on YouTube and Janna told us about a channel that she and Willy love called Gospel Lessons. She thought is was a Ben Wilcox channel but I looked it up and the guys name is Kevin Prince. 

Janna also told us about a video they watched regarding looking for Joseph Smith's tomb in Nauvoo. I didn't realize at the time, but Joseph wasn't buried in the tomb. 

Kathy's right eye is swollen and red. She said she was going to go to Urgent Care to see if they could help her, which she did. They gave her a Kenalog shot.

When we got home I went in to lie down for awhile. It was short lived because James needed my help. He was trying to buy some equipment for the barbershop job online using my Visa card that as a $30,000 limit. What he was buying cost around $11,500 but Chase kept blocking the purchase because I don't normally make these kinds of purchases with this card. Chase reps spoke with both James and I and they kept saying the lock had been lifted but we could never make the purchase go through. Finally they said because there were so many attempts that they were locking the card until Monday. We understand there needs to be security measures but when they have verified they have spoken to the owners of the card and it is still locked, that is not good customer service. I used two of my other credit cards dividing the cost of the items James needed to buy and the purchase went through. This all took well over an hour.

I watched part of the video about finding what they think is Joseph Smith's alleged tomb in Nauvoo before going in to make baked beans for tomorrow's family gathering.

I made up my own recipe using different elements from two other recipes. They turned out very good. Both James and I liked them. I put them in a crockpot and we put them in the frig overnight.

Tom slept outside tonight so I worried about him most of the night.




Lola and Charlie
Another Charlie memory

Opening night was actually last week.

Exotic Bird