Wednesday, December 25th, 2024: Merry Christmas! Stacy, Paul, Adam, Jared Ammon, James & I watch Joshua open his gifts, breakfast @ Sheri's, Home to Vernon, Asian Bistro for dinner, Stacy's puzzle, "Flapjack"

 

Tijuana, Mexico

149th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 Dec 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 1:4-22

Come Follow Me

Jesus Christ Was Born to be my Savior.

Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 2; 3 Nephi 1:4-22

October General Conference

'The Words of Christ and the Holy Ghost Will Lead Us to the Truth'

Elder Takashi Wada

" A particularly sacred experience was when the missionaries taught me to pray. I learned that we should address God by name. When we pray, we should speak from our hearts, express our gratitude, and share our hopes and desires."

Merry Christmas!

We slept in until after 8 o'clock. Joshua was anxious to go downstairs and open gifts so everyone got up, Stacy, Paul, Adam, and James and I. Oh yes, Jared Ammon was here too although he didn't spend the night.

Stacy gave the family prayer before Joshua started opening his gifts while the rest of us watched. His stocking was full and he emptied it then opened several shirts. Stacy also got him a jacket but it isn't here yet. She got Adam one gift to open but because of cash flow she and Paul weren't able to buy the other boys any gifts. Part of Joshua's gift is also coming to the cabin with Alayna on Christmas day.

After we were finished James and I went upstairs and began packing. We have the family breakfast at Sheri's at 10 and then we are leaving for home right afterwards. I have been thinking about Tom and wondering how he is doing. He is outside and Easton Crane, the boy James hired to feed the horses and the cats, has not seen either cat. He leaves food out and the food gets eaten, but he has not seen either Tom or Sammie.

At Sheri's James is making his famous venison gravy only instead of venison it's beef. Darrel and Trina brought the beef, several packages of stew meat. I was the sous chef and James and I both started cutting up meat. In the meantime Sheri was cooking bacon and scrambled eggs. Kim and Brian brought a huge container of biscuits and Paul brought orange juice. We brought the paper goods and flatware. Stacy didn't come. She doesn't eat in the morning and she thought it would be too hard to watch everyone else eat. 

It was pretty chaotic with everyone talking and eating and the dogs barking, especially when Adam should up with Shipley, that really set Ollie and Ziggy. I'm wondering Adam, why?

People ate eggs and bacon and then they were waiting for the gravy and biscuits. James kept cooking and I kept cutting up meat. Finally we had everyone fed, even ourselves. I even got Trina to try some of the meat and gravy just as she was leaving. I'm not sure whether she liked it or not. Not only did James cook, but he cleaned up the kitchen too so I could visit with Kim and Sheri. The only people not here were Stacy, Dallin, and Alex, and of course Jared's family. I miss Alex. He won't come anywhere his dad is going to be. It is so sad.

It was a beautiful sunny day here in Chandler By the time we left for home, it was afternoon. We had to go back to Stacy's to get our ice chest and then we headed for the hills. We went the Globe way and stopped in Globe to get gas. 

The higher we climbed, the cooler it got. When we got home the first thing that both James and I did was call for Tom. I was in the front and James was by the door on the deck by our bedroom. James yelled Tom a couple of times and Tom came running and ran right in the door. When I came in I fed him his treat, which he devoured. He followed me around meowing and talking to me. I imagined him tell me how much he missed me and how cold it was outside. Finally I spread his blanket on the recliner and he laid down and fell asleep. I finished putting our stuff away before Stacy, Paul, Joshua, and Alayna got here. 

Before we got home Stacy called and said she had forgotten the parmesan cheese and the broccoli for dinner. Neither Stacy nor I want to cook so she asks if there are any Chinese restaurants that might be open. I told her the only one I could think of was the Asian Bistro in Lakeside. She, Paul, Joshua, and Alayna ate there and brought us back our dinner. I had orange chicken with lo mien noodles and James ordered the lettuce wraps. We love the lettuce wraps at Pei Wei and P.F. Changs. These lettuce wraps were too spicy hot for James and for me too. I told him he could have some of my food but he isn't really a fan of orange chicken.

Stacy started doing a puzzle on the high table. It's a puzzle that Alayna's mom gave her for Christmas. Paul, Joshua, and Alayna watched "Flapjack" on the TV. I said good night to everyone and went in to get ready for bed. James was in the bedroom with my phone, walking.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Tom, in his happy place

She can bring home the bacon....

Missionaries

Our biggest surprise and delight!

Tuesday, December 24th, 2024: Bass Pro Shop & Deseret Bk for James, Polar Pop, I wrap blankets, Joe's Real BBQ beans, Walgreens and gift deliveries, Stacy & Paul's Christmas Eve celebration

 

Indianapolis, Indiana

148th operating temple

Dedicated: 23 Aug 2015

By: Henry B. Eyring

Book of Mormon

1Nephi 11; 13:36; Mosiah 3:5-10; Helaman 4:1-13

Come Follow Me

Jesus Christ was born to be my Savior.

October General Conference

'Nourish the Roots and the Branches Will Grow'

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"One of the most important things we can learn in this life is the difference between what is eternal and what is not. Once we understand that, everything changes - our relationships, the choices we make, the way we treat people. Knowing what is eternal and what is not is key to growing a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Church."

Merry Christmas Eve from Charlie!

James woke up with a bee in his bonnet about going to Bass Pro Shop and spending his gift card that he has had for several months. At first, I reminded him that he was gone half the day yesterday and he had said he wished he could help me. I could tell I was upsetting him, so I changed my tune. I said he should go after we get the unwrapped blankets out of the car so I could finish wrapping while he was gone. He got the blankets out, went and got me a Polar Pop and then left for Bass Pro Shop. When he finished at Bass Pro he went to Deseret Book to get some garments. He also renewed my Platinum Rewards card which cost him $25, and later I learned he also got me a $50 gift card. 

I finished wrapping the rest of the Chandler and Mesa gifts around noon. I still have Jared & Kacey's family's gifts to wrap at home. I was thinking I would send them back to Texas with them when they come until I realized they are flying and won't be able to take them with them on the plane. Duh.

Tonight we are eating with the Gonzales's. Paul is making tri-tip sandwiches. I asked Stacy if we could bring anything and she said maybe a side if we wanted to. The first thing I thought of was Joe's beans from Joe's Real BBQ. I called and ordered a large container that is supposed to feed 24. The girl asked me if I wanted them hot or cold and I said hot because James and I will eat some of them for lunch.

It was afternoon when James returned and we set out for Joe's. We got there around 1 and they were very busy. Lots of people were ordering food for Christmas and Joe's closes at 3 today. James picked up the beans and I got the re-heating instructions so I can warm the beans up this evening before we eat dinner. I had forgotten how much we love these beans. We had our fill for lunch, and still look forward to eating them tonight.

We have gifts to deliver. I made a schedule of deliveries and off we went. First stop was the local Walgreen's to get Amazon gift cards for Lois and Dawn. We got them Christmas cards while we were shopping at Walmart last night. Next stop, Kim and Brian's. We delivered their gifts and then Kim had cards she wanted us to take over to James's mom and Dawn.

Next we left for Darrel & Trina's. They were all home, and we sat around the Christmas tree and visited for a while. Trina noticed my teeth and commented on how good they looked. I thanked her. On the way out Trina showed us her Botox room. I sat in the comfy chair. I told her I knew I needed Botox but I wouldn't be getting any, at least for a while. She said it works better on people who are in their late 30's and 40's. I guess it's too late for me anyway.

Later Trina texted me and told me they loved their blankets and she especially loved hers. I specifically picked it for her because it looks like a two-colored cow. Hers is brown and white and Darrel's is black and white. I don't have a picture of Darrel & Trina's but here is a picture of the kids with their blankets. I wish I had known how much Addy likes Batman, I would have gotten her a Batman blanket.

Addy, Lola, Ruby, and Rowan

Over to Tempe to see Dawn and Lois. We gave them their cards from Kim. Kim sent a letter telling Lois they had made a donation to help families in need and Lois made the comment, "This just makes my Christmas."

On the way to Darrel & Trina's I developed a terrible pain in my upper left shoulder. I couldn't even move my arm. Dawn let me use their vibrator, which felt so good. She also made me a small meat burro. We gave them their cards with the gift cards inside and they gave us a pile of gifts. It is always like this.

When I left, my arm was still in a great deal of pain. We stopped at Sheri and Ian's and I didn't even get out of the car. James and Sheri took the gifts inside. 

Sheri said how much she hates Christmas and I made the comment, "well, let's simplify so we don't feel so stressed and let's make it more about the Savior." Later Sheri texted and said they all loved their blankets. That was nice of her.

Back at Stacy and Paul's I went upstairs, took some Tramadol and laid down on the bed to rest. Hopefully I can feel better soon so I can go down and have dinner with the family. Stacy and James brought me something to eat. My arm felt a little better so I went down to be with the boys, they were all there, including Sammi, Dallin's girlfriend.

After dinner they had a little program. By the way, everyone loved the beans and there was less than a bowlful left. Paul and Stacy bore their testimonies and so did James. I bore a short one and then we played a game where we each drew someone's name and had to tell what we like about them. I got Jared Ammon and James got me. It was a nice way to end the evening. I so much enjoyed being here and I am so grateful that I came down. I truly felt the Spirit.

After the program everyone opened their blankets and seemed to like them.

Hiking A mountain is a tradition for

Darrel & Trina's family, and

Sheri and her boys

Evan had to work today. He works as a jumper for Ian on

his UPS truck.

Walking memory

Dennis and Kyle's girls

Lexy, Suzy, Tristan, Lacey & Trina

making candles.

Guess who is seven months old today?

So cute!

Monday, December 23rd, 2024: J leaves for Landings meeting, Armando @ Hatch's, Dr. Memon's new project, I wrap 11 gifts, Jersey MIke's, J works on bids and cash from Salvador, Salvador's retirement, Wlmrt on Gilbert & Germann, "Wicked"

 

Trujillo, Peru

147th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 June 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Helaman 5:9

Come Follow Me

Dec. 23-29: "He Shall Come Into the World to Redeem His People"

Introduction

October General Conference

'Simple is the Doctrine of Jesus Christ'

President Henry B. Eyring

" The Book of Mormon says: 'And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just - yea, it had ... more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them - therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

James and I are staying at Stacy and Paul's this trip. We are in an upstairs bedroom where Jared Ammon stayed. There are two twin beds. Stacy said there were no sheets, so we brought sheets. There is no fan in this room so I asked James to please open the window. We are sharing a bathroom with Joshua who is across the hall.

James had a meeting this morning at 8 with Donna Ramsey at The Landings to look at some more work. She loves James and when he told her about his recent health scare, she gave him a big hug. James says she is probably 65 years old and she has cancer.

After his meeting at The Landings, James met Armando at Hatch's. Armando is beside himself. He had planned on going to see his kids in Wyoming for Christmas but Susan, his wife, said it would not be convenient for him to come on Christmas day. This is after saying he could come. When he asked for the day after Christmas, she said that wasn't convenient either. She finally said he could come the day after when he protested and reminded her that she keeps changing her mind. He also had his attorney mail a notice that he was filing for divorce. When he asked for her parents' address, she gave him a different address. I feel so sad for him to have to deal with all of this, especially at Christmas time. His son Chandler asked if he could please come and live with him.

While James was out and about he got a call from his cardiologist, Dr. Memon. The doctor wants James to come and bid on some work for him. I didn't know about this or the visit with Armando when I called James to see where he was. He had originally told me he would be gone an hour or so. It was after noon when he finally returned.

We were both hungry so we went out to get something to eat. We agreed on Jersey Mike's. We sat in the car in the parking lot near Jersey Mike's to eat. James finished his sandwich, he was really hungry, and I finished half of mine. I wrapped the other half to save it for later. I told James we were not going to eat at Stacy's because the smell of our sub sandwiches would bother her. I wrapped my half sandwich and put it in the paper bag it came in, closing it tight. When I got back to Stacy's I took my sandwich and put it in one of my bags and closed it. Stacy and Joshua were gone shopping when we returned. As soon as Stacy came in she said, "something smells like onions, what is that? It smells like Subway." I didn't say anything. She finally said it must be Paul's Spanish rice which was sitting on the counter. My first opportunity I took my sandwich upstairs in our bedroom. I had told James it would be like this, but I really thought I had covered my tracks.

Now that the car is back I can begin wrapping gifts. I wrapped 11 today, exactly half of what I must wrap. No bows, there just isn't time. While I was wrapping in the family room at the coffee table, James was at the kitchen table working on the bid for Dr. Memon. He finished and then went to Salvador's to pick up some cash he owes us.

I finished wrapping Stacy's family's gifts, and all of Sheri's family except Ben & Cayli's, eleven in all. Time to get ready to go to the movie. We are seeing "Wicked" with Sheri, Kim, Ben, Cayli, and Nancy Van Vleet. I am excited!

We were a little early so we did a little shopping at the Walmart near the theater on Gilbert & Germann. Afterwards we met Sheri, Kim, Ben, and Cayli in front of the theater. We got snacks and went to sit in our assigned seats. There were maybe two or three other people in the theater we were in. Of course Sheri got seats in the row where we can rest our feet against the railing. This movie is almost three hours long so we need to be comfortable.

We all loved the movie, even James and Ben. Nancy said we have a date to come back next year on December 23rd to see part two. We all agreed.

On the way back to Stacy & Paul's, James was hungry so we stopped at Sonic and he got a burger.

Stacy asked us how we liked the movie when we got back to her house. We both said we really liked it and we were looking forward to part 2. James did some walking outside before going to bed.

 

Stacy and her dogs

"Wicked"

Sheri is our fearless leader

Alex's trip to 

Costa Rica

Charlie memory

I couldn't resist posting these

Sunday, December 22nd, 2024: Ward choir sings prelude music, Christmas program highlight, Jennifer Golly singing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", goodbye Vernon hello Chandler, Family Christmas Party @ Stacy & Paul's

Payson, Utah

146th operating temple

Dedicated: 7 June 2015

By: Henry B. Eyring

Book of Mormon

Title Page

Come Follow Me

Review

October General Conference

'O Youth of the Noble Birthright'

Brother Bradley R. Wilcox

"It is one thing to be loved and another thing entirely to be trusted. In the 'For the Strength of Youth' guide, we read: 'Your Father in Heaven trusts you. He has given you great blessings, including the fulness of the gospel and sacred ordinances and covenants that bind you to Him and bring His power into your life. With those blessings comes added responsibility. He knows you can make a difference in the world, and that requires, in many cases, being different from the world."

When we walked in to sacrament meeting this morning our ward choir was singing the prelude music. I didn't even know we had a ward choir. They sounded great.

Our ward Christmas program consisted of a few families telling something about one of their favorite Christmas hymns and then everyone singing the hymn. The Gassaway's were first, then the Jensen's, Wendy DeWitt, and for the last number Jennifer Golly sang, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." I love Jennifer's voice and she did an amazing job on the hymn. It was beautiful and I went up and told her so after the meeting was over. Sister Jensen and six of her children sang an unfamiliar hymn and harmonized beautifully. She told the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and we sang the hymn/carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Oh, I almost forgot, the Primary children sang too.

After the meeting I also spoke with Julie Wilhelm and Shelly and Jordyn Applegate. We had no second hour and so we went home and had lunch. I made tuna sandwiches and then we each had a nap, along with Tom. 

Happy Sabbath!

Brent & Rebecca's family

Scarlett

Charlie

Our naps were short as we needed to get ready to go to the valley. The family Christmas party starts at 6 pm so we needed to leave before 2:30. Tom looks worried as we hustle around the house getting things ready to go. We ended up leaving him outside because we couldn't find him when we left. Easton Crane is going to feed him and Sammy (can't decide if I should used an i or a y), and the horses. When Easton feeds Tom he will let him in the house and out again later according to Tom's desires. We told him, "Tom is the boss." The problem is, he never saw Tom the entire time we were gone. His food did disappear.

 I packed 22 blankets into the car. I will have to wrap them while staying at Stacy's. We left somewhere between 1:30 and 2 and delivered gifts to Virgil and the Halcomb's. The MacArthur's are still in the valley. We will stop by Christmas day to deliver their gifts.

We arrived at Stacy & Paul's in time to get heat up our mini pigs in a blanket appetizers. I headed up the steak bites too, but they were disgusting so I ended up throwing them away. I also put out my pink yogurt pretzels. 

Some of my favorite food at the party: Ruby's mac and cheese, everyone raved about it, Sheri's pulled pork, and Kim & Brian's chips and salsa from Chili's. Paul made Spanish rice and it was very good too. There were lots of goodies and cookies, and plenty of food although we did run out of Sheri's pulled pork.

The first game played was the money game. I had brought my $3 but it was so crowded around the table I decided not to play. Kaitlyn Booth didn't play either. She still feels guilty about winning last year. Lola ended up winning the jackpot, $63.

If James couldn't win, I'm glad

it was Lola. From now on we are

calling her Lucky Lola.

In the White Elephant game Evan got the #1, the best number to have. Many people knew which package had the poster in it, but Alayna didn't know. She picked it and then gave it to Ian and took what he had, so Ian was the first one to open the poster package.

Ian thought he had the poster for a year but Evan had a surprise planned. When it came back around to Evan, he took the poster from Ian, we were all shocked, and then he gave it to Joshua as Joshua was standing next to him saying, "Evan wouldn't do that to me." Evan did because he wanted the In N Out gift card that Joshua had. 

Here is Joshua, the final winner of the poster.

Evan getting ready to give the poster to Joshua.

Adam is the one that started the poster back in 2010.

When we use to have the Lambson family Christmas party with all of Lois's family in the valley, including her, we had a Patrick Lambson poster that went around. When we started having our own family parties I guess Adam figured we needed another poster.

For our gifts, I got a puzzle, and James got See's chocolates. Those attending this year's party: Paul, Stacy, Adam and his friend Kaitlyn Booth, who comes every year, Dallin, Michael, Joshua, Alayna, Kim, Brian, Joseph, Ian, Sheri, Ben & Cayli, Evan, Darrel, Trina, Addy, Ruby and Lola, and James and I. Max and Rowan both had to work. 

Kacey gave me an idea for next year, although I need to talk to her again to make sure I have all of the information. Every family is assigned a name the Savior goes by, such as the Good Shepherd. The family talks about what this name means to them and the significance of it in our lives. They get an ornament with the name on it. I love this idea!

I love the purple lights although you can't really

see them in this picture.

Here are some more photos from Kim