Saturday, December 21st, 2024: 40 gifts to wrap & 3 wks behind on my blog, hi for 1st day of winter 61 degrees, wrapped & watched, trip to town, cut James's hair, Taylor Lautner poster,

 

Cordoba, Argentina

145th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 May 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Moroni 10:30-33

Come Follow Me

I can be perfected through the grace of Jesus Christ

Video

October General Conference

'Days Never to Be Forgotten'

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"This statement from a New York Times article represents the spirit of much of the international coverage: 'In a United States presidential election cycle that has prompted soul-searching about aging and leadership, Mr. Nelson's milestone suggests that, at least in his church, a triple-digit birthday does not merit much hand-wringing. He remains a popular figure among church members, who view their president not just as an executive but as a 'prophet, seer, and revelator.'"

I have 40 gifts to wrap and three weeks of a blog to catch up on. 

The high today, for the first day of winter, in Vernon, Arizona was 61 degrees. Where is winter and where is the snow? Did we get it all in one day on November 4th?

I worked on my blog this morning and then began wrapping gifts in the wrapping station I set up in our bedroom. I wrapped and watched Christmas movies, one of my Christmas traditions. Kim texted me and reminded me I had the Taylor Lautner poster for the white elephant game we are playing tomorrow night at the family Christmas party. I totally would have forgotten. I'm supposed to wrap it with a real gift, which I did, an ASU hat. For our other gift for the game I wrapped the birdhouse puzzle I bought at Sam's Club and was going to give to Kim for her birthday. 

Here are the other gifts I wrapped today: A red and black plaid blanket to give to Virgil Cooper, a pink blanket for Catherine Halcomb, and a Indian design blue blanket for Kerri Halcomb. I already wrapped three blankets for the MacArthur kids, a turquoise one for Peyton, pink for Scotlyn, and a Spiderman one for Boone. He loves Spiderman. I also wrapped a Savior calendar for Chelsea & Jarred. 

James and I made a trip to town this afternoon. I needed to buy some chicken for the Christmas dinner Alayna and Joshua are going to make. I bought other needed items to the tune of $170.87. We did not get any fast food, we went home and ate TV dinners.

I wrapped only two more gifts, without bows, before going to bed, Paul & Stacy's. 

I talked a lot to Tom today who was in the house most of the day. I am going to miss him while we are gone to the valley for Christmas.

I finished my blog through November 1st and this evening I cut James's hair in preparation for the Sabbath.

Friday, December 20th, 2024: Agonizing over leaving Tom on Sunday, James's feet hurt discovers shoes on wrong feet, Oil changed in car, Ministering with Kathy, Dr. calls, she has pneumonia, 20-30 head of antelope, sorted & assigned blankets, some left, more Christmas cards,

Phoenix, Arizona

144th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Nov 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

Moroni 10:8-25

Come Follow Me

God has given me spiritual gifts.

October General Conference

'Seek Him with All of Your Heart'

Bishop L. Todd Budge

"Being still is an act of faith and requires effort. Lectures on Faith states, 'When a man works by faith he works by mental exertion.'

President Nelson declared: 'Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.' Speaking of this need to focus our minds, President David O. McKay said: 'I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion....Meditation is one of the...most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.'"

Tom is spending more and more time in the house the past few days. I am agonizing over the fact that we are leaving on Sunday and I don't know what we are going to do with him. Do we leave him inside or outside?

When James got up this morning he said his feet hurt. He has neuropathy and his feet hurt quite often. After feeding the horses, breakfast, and family prayer, James left for Walmart to get the oil changed in the car. While he was in town he also walked over to Sonoran Lab to get the bloodwork done that Dr. Moffat ordered. He bought cat food at Walmart and horse feed at Tractor Supply on the way home. When he got home he said to me: "Remember when I said my feet hurt this morning? Well, I went all morning with my shoes on the wrong feet." I'm sorry but I couldn't help myself, I had to laugh.

Kathy Crane and tried to go ministering this afternoon. We visited Janna Grombach. I gave her a Simon Dewey calendar of the Savior for 2025 and Kathy gave her a cute stuffed bird. We had a nice visit with Janna. She is such a dear friend. Kathy said a prayer before we left. 

The other sisters we visit are Chelsea MacArthur who is in the valley today with her kids and husband. They went down to see the zoo lights. Catherine Halcomb is our other sister and she says she is sick and that we shouldn't visit because she doesn't want to make us sick. 

I called Catherine and said we just wanted to drop off some gifts. That we would leave them on her porch and text her after we left. She agreed that would be fine. When we got to her house her daughter Kerri was outside. We gave her the gifts, the same things we left at Janna's. Kerri is very worried about her mom and we spent some time talking to her. I think it made her feel better just to talk to someone. 

On the way home we saw 20-30 head of antelope in the field where they normally are. They were down by the horses and the watering hole. I love antelope, they are my favorite.

Kathy called me after she dropped me off at home. She says the doctor called and said she had pneumonia. She felt better today because she was on Prednisone. The call was actually from the Urgent Care where she went today and they did an X-ray. I remembered Kathy in our family prayer this evening.

I sorted out all of the blankets I have this evening. Everyone in the family has one and there are enough left for the MacArthur kids, Kerri and Catherine, and Virgil Cooper.

Here is a list of other family and friends who sent us Christmas cards:

Brian & Amy Lemmerman, the Vernon ward council, the Johnston's, James's mom and Dawn, Kim & Brian, Ruth Gale, Steve & Carmen Estes & family, and Chuck & Kathy Crane.

My cat jailer

A few of the antelope we saw today. There were

about three times this many.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, December 19th, 2024: 3:30 up to shower but no hot water, leave at 4:30 am, Payson way before construction, Barrow Brain & Spine next to Chandler Regional Hospital, take it easy & no chain saws, 80 degrees in valley, Hatch Dental w/ Armando, Lois & Dawn's, Caldwell's BBQ w/ Sheri, Ben & Cayli, Costco, Globe way, Vernon @ 5:30pm

 

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

143rd operating temple

Dedicated: 4 May 2014

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Moroni 10

Come Follow Him

"Follow Him" 

October General Conference

'Seeking Answers to Spiritual Questions'

Sister Tracey Y. Browning

"Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught that 'asking questions isn't a sign of weakness,' but rather 'it's a precursor of growth.' Speaking directly to our personal effort as seekers of truth, our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, has taught that we must have 'a deep desire' and 'ask with a sincere heart and real intent, having faith in Jesus Christ.' He has further taught that 'real intent' means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given."

'Mortality Works'

Elder Brook P. Hales

"We should not be surprised when hard times come upon us. We will encounter situations that try us and people who enable us to practice true charity and patience. But we need to bear up under our difficulties and remember, as the Lord said: 'And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name's sake, shall find it again, even life eternal. Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies (or your problems, challenges, or the tests of this life), for I have decreed . . ., saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant . . . that you may be found worthy."

I got up at 3:30 this morning to take a shower. Oops, there was no hot water. I had to "make do" as there is no time to go upstairs to shower. We had to leave around 4:30 in order to make it to Barrow Brain & Spine in Chandler by 8 am. We went the Payson was before construction work began. We arrived at Barrow Brain & Spine at 8 am, one hour before James appointment so we could finish up some paperwork as we were instructed.

When James told the girl at the desk why we were here an hour early she said to him, "Oh, we have all of your paperwork." Do you mean that we could have slept at extra hour? This is not acceptable and is poor communication on their part. We sat and waited an hour before James was called back and then we had to wait for Dr. Wilson to get out of surgery. Finally, he's here.

I thanked Dr. Wilson for saving James's life. He said, "of course." 

James's CT scan looks good. Here was what Dr. Wilson said about going forward: Take one baby aspirin a day, but still no Plavix. See Dr. Memon, you cardiologist. Take it easy, and no chain saws. You next appointment should be in a month where you will bring a new CT scan. Thank you Dr. Wilson.

The high today in the valley is 80 degrees. A perfect day for winter visitors. Our next stop was at Hatch Dental where James had a meeting with Armando. From here we went to Mesa to the Landings and James and Armando had a meeting there to talk about an upcoming job.

Finally we got to Lois and Dawn's for a visit. They gave us homemade candy and an amarylis from Connie. We talked about our kids and grandkids coming to their house caroling last night and how much they enjoyed it. After saying goodbye we headed to east Mesa where Sheri invited us to lunch at a place called Caldwell's BBQ. 

We met Sheri, Ben & Cayli. I think Sheri paid for everyone. I had tri tip with macaroni and cheese and it was delicious. James agreed, except for the mac & cheese of course. Thank you Sheri.

After lunch we headed for the Costco on Sossaman's since we are going home the Globe way this was not out of our way. The only problem is, we did get stop for road construction because it was not yet 2 pm. I drove until right outside of Globe where James took over. We got home to Vernon around 5:30. Hello Thomas, did you miss us?

Happy Birthday Michael!

Kim made the cake with very little frosting

at Michael's request.

Michael and Namira

Thanks Sheri for lunch.

Cayli took the picture.

I wish she was in it.

Alex went to Costa Rica on the 16th 

with Shayna's family.

 

 

Wednesday, December 18th, 2024: James working on a bid for a Chinese company, J-Dr. Moffat while I shop - Ross, Dollar Tree, JC Penney's, Book Barn, pickup James, Walmart, Culver's, J has fatty liver, gall bladder stones, "3 Men and a Little Boy", Caroling @ Grandmothers

 

Gilbert, Arizona

142nd operating temple

Dedicated: 2 Mar 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 1

Come Follow Me

"The Faith to Ask and Then to Act"

President Henry B. Eyring

October 2021 General Conference

October General Conference

'I Am He'

President Jeffrey R. Holland

"How did Jesus love? First, He loved with 'all of His heart, might, mind and strength,' giving Him the ability to heal the deepest pain and declare the hardest reality. In short, He is one who could administer grace and insist on truth at the same time."

After family prayer and Come Follow Me James began working on a bid for a tenant improvement on a building that will be rented out to a Chinese company. I'm not sure about this one.

At 10:15 this morning James and I left for town. He has an appointment with Dr. Moffat and while he is at his appointment I am going shopping. After dropping James off at Change Point, where Dr. Moffat practices, I drove to Ross. I was looking for some more blankets but I only found one. It was larger than most that I buy so I think I am going to give it to Palmer. After Ross I went to Dollar Tree and then on to J.C. Penney's. I found several blankets I liked at J.C. Penney's. I went to the local Church bookstore, The Book Barn and bought some calendar's to give to the sisters I minister to and to the Crane's. After The Book Barn I went back and picked up James and then we went to Walmart and then Culver's. I am just about finished shopping for blankets. 

After putting things away I got comfy on the bedroom recliner and took a rest. James continued to work on the bid he was working on this morning. He had a phone meeting regarding the bid and he said it went well. 

Here is a brief report from James's visit with Dr. Moffat. The doctor says James has a fatty liver and gall bladder stones. James said he was very thorough but made the statement that James never told him he had a headache when he came in for his last visit and that Kerri didn't record him having a headache either. He is just covering his tracks to avoid a lawsuit. It makes me think less of him.  All James said was: "That's the reason I made an appointment."

No matter what I have done during the day, at the end of the day this time of year, I always want to watch a Christmas movie. Tonight I watched "Three Men and a Little Boy" the sequel to "Three Men and a Baby" starring Andrew Walker, Paul Campbell, and Tyler Hynes. It was written by a Hallmark actress, Kimberly Sustad. I really enjoyed it and so did Tom. 

Some of our kids and grandkids went Christmas caroling to Lois and Dawn this evening. I think this is the first time that Jared Ammon has gone with them.

Christmas Caroling at Grandmother's

Great to have Jared Ammon and both Trina and

Darrel here together!

Thanks to Kim for taking so many great pictures, but

I didn't see you in any of them. 

Kim said Ben & Cayli came, but they left early and

she didn't get any pictures of them either.

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024: Ate poorly & acted badly today, Organ Stop - Gonzales family photo, Giraffe photos, Stacy's call, we stay there, they come up Christmas day, wrapping in our bedrm, Anthony Romyak,

 

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

141st operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Mar 2013

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Moroni 10:3-7

Come Follow Me

I can know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost.

October General Conference

'In the Space of Not Many Years'

Elder David A. Bednar

"And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites, because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts. And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out his Spirit upon the Lamanites, because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his words." Perhaps the most stunning and sobering aspect of this decline into apostasy by the Nephites is the fact that 'all these iniquities did come unto them in the space of not many years.'"

This was not a good day for me. It's as if I had an evil bug inside of me or a chemical imbalance. I ate poorly and I acted badly.  I did manage to do my two blog posts today.

I got a call from Stacy. She was a little stressed. Jared, Kacey, Charlie are flying in to Arizona on December 31st. They will visit Lois and Dawn and then drive up to Vernon for the rest of their stay. 

Here is the problem. Joshua says all he wants for Christmas is to come up on Christmas day and stay until the following Sunday which is the 29th. Stacy said they can't afford to come back but she really wants to see Jared, Kacey, and Charlie. Because Joshua said that going to the cabin was all he wanted for Christmas of course that's what they made plans for. Maybe Stacy can see Jared's family when he goes down on Saturday, January 4th to go to the Mesa temple. Sheri is babysitting Charlie so that's when she will see them.

Stacy said she would get Paul to clean the carpet in their spare bedroom when Jared Ammon stayed and we can stay in the there from the 22nd until Christmas day. She said it is twin beds and she doesn't have sheets for the beds so we will need to bring our own sheets. No problem.

I have my wrapping station all set up in my bedroom, now I just need to get busy and wrap some gifts. 

I went to the post office this afternoon with James. We got a Christmas card from Pam Giles and one from Peter Ray's family with family photos. My favorite was the card we got from Autumn, Palmer, and Scarlett. 

I also got the burrito blanket I ordered for Joshua, a new credit card to replace mine which was hacked, and a $4,700 check from the Glendale Airport.

Our friend, Anthony Romyak, called James this evening. He said he was frustrated because he was kicked out of the Vernon post office. He can no longer receive his mail in Vernon. He is so upset that he called his congressman. Anthony knows how to contact people to get things done. He is losing his eyesight so he contacted Social Security and Medicare part F (never heard of it), is helping him with his eye care. 

I watched a movie with Tom while James did some walking.

Sunflowers from Anthony.

He also bought us a carrot cake when he

found out about James's hospital stay.

 

Monday, December 16th, 2024: A quiet house, slow-moving today, Need 10 more blankets, What to do with the Razr, Kathy Crane, Sammi the leg swiper, Ben's birthday, Love my tree, fireplace, and nativity

 

Calgary, Alberta

140th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Oct 2012

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 20, Moroni 10:2-3, Moroni 10:32

Come Follow Me

Dec 16-22

"Come unto Christ, and Be Perfected in Him"

Moroni 10

Introduction to the lesson

October General Conference

'The Man Who Communed with Jehovah'

Elder Kyle S. McKay

"Joseph's life of regular repentance gives me confidence to 'come boldly unto the throne of grace, that I may obtain mercy.' I have learned that Jesus Christ truly is 'of a forgiving disposition.' It is neither His mission nor HIs nature to condemn. He came to save."

'Embrace the Lord's Gift of Repentance' 

Elder Jorge M. Alvarado

" Joseph's sincere desire to repent and seek the salvation of his soul helped him come to Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness of his sins. This continuous effort opened the door to the continuing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Tom is grateful for a quiet house but he is still cautious before leaving the bedroom. I was slow moving today, especially this morning. 

I have all of the Christmas blankets on our bedroom floor, picking out which ones I want to give to who and putting names on them. I still need to buy 10 more.

What are we going to do with the Razr. James is thinking seriously about taking it to Epic Motorsports where we bought it. They have the diagnostic equipment to determine what is wrong with it.

James worked inside on paperwork most of the morning. This afternoon he went outside and used the log splitter. Kathy Crane happened to be here as I ran off her family Christmas photo for her. She was very worried about James overdoing it.

I did two blog posts today, November 20th and 21st. Will I ever catch up?

Sammi, our outside cat, is what I call a leg hugger or more accurately, a leg swiper. When I go out to feed him he goes back in forth in front of me rubbing up against my legs in gratitude. It makes it rather difficult to walk.

I watched a couple of Christmas movies today as I was working on the computer and read from President Nelson's book, "Heart of the Matter." I don't think I am going to finish it before the end of the year.

Vickie texted today to see how James is doing. She checks on him from time to time. 

I wore my new hearing aid for about 30 minutes today and so did James. Tomorrow I am supposed to add 30 minutes to that time and everyday after in an effort to get use to it.

I am trying to fill out paperwork for James's appointment at Barrow Brain & Spine on Thursday. Some of it is impossible and I guess we are going to have to go in early to do it before his appointment at 9:00. 

I love the meaning of Christmas and I love my nativity, tree, and grandkids stockings hung on the mantle. 

What do you want for Christmas?

Happy Birthday Ben!

Is this the apple biscoff cake?