Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025: James's racoon problem, hem my pants and jammy pants, T-Bo & Barbara come to see about cats, we leave for the valley Chandler Walmart, Del Taco, Circle K, Stacy & Paul's, family party

 

Huntsville, Alabama

Planning and approval phase; site location announced;

exterior rendering released; zoning board recommends

approval of special exception to allow religious building

in current zoning; groundbreaking not announced.

Book of Mormon

Ether 15:18-34

Come Follow Me

"Follow Him"

October General Conference

'Proved and Strengthened in Christ'

President Henry B. Eyring

James has a racoon problem. He breaks into the tack room, eats some of the feed, and then uses it for a bathroom. T-Bo says he needs lead poisoning (shot). I say no. James said he may buy a live trap, catch him, and move him somewhere else. I'm okay with that.

Getting ready to go to the valley and leaving by noon seems to be a challenge. I am so glad we already delivered all of our gifts!  

After our morning devotional, I went upstairs to hem my black pants and my new jammy pants. I put my last Christmas Hallmark movie on my phone to watch while I was working. The name of the movie, "Christmas Baby." It was a good movie, even though if involved a gay couple. Everyone needs love.

Hemming these pants took me an hour. As I was coming back downstairs, the doorbell rang. I was not company presentable so I turned around and hobbled back upstairs. It was T-Bo and Barbara coming to see what they needed to do to feed the cats. Tom knows we are leaving. He looks sad. He stayed inside when we left. 

We forgot our skillet and bread knife and turned around in the drive way to go back and get them. We went the Payson way so, according to James, it takes 20 minutes longer. I don't care, I like it so much better. 

We stopped at the Chandler Walmart on Pecos and Arizona Avenue. I call it "the Hood" Walmart. We bought canned milk, water, paper plates, etc. We couldn't get change, all of their checkouts are self-checkout and none will give cash back. How sad. We need some ones for the game we are playing tonight and Stacy asked me to get some for them too. We got $3 at Del Taco and then went to Circle K and got the rest. 

When we got to Stacy and Pauls, Joshua was making mashed potatoes and Alayna and Stacy were baking cookies. The kitchen was busy and I needed to make my sliders. Stacy said, "Oh I didn't know you were making anything." Can you wait until 5:40. Yes I can.

James helped me with the sliders and he said they were great, which made me feel good. Ian & Sheri brought a huge platter of Chikfila nuggets. Kim & Brian brought lots of food trays, both savory and sweet. Trina had to work so she wasn't there. This is Kaitlyn's 18th year, more than half of her life. 

We sang, "Away in a Manger", and James offered an opening prayer. 

I talked about light and "Jesus being the Light of the world." Max played the guitar and sang, "Be Yourself," by Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Max did a great job. He loves folk songs. Stacy sang and played the piano. She took the song, "Little Altar Boy," and changed it to "Little Holy Child." It was beautiful. I was very impressed with her piano playing and her singing.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the World

"Be Yourself"

Max

"Little Holy Child"

Stacy

The next thing we did was play the $3 left, right, center game. Those who played: Stacy, Adam, Joshua, Alayna, Kim, Brian, Joe, Darrel, Addy, Rowan, Ruby, Lola, Sheri, Ian, Max, Evan, Kaitlyn, and James & I, everyone except Paul. I think this game is a family favorite.

Last year Lola won the prize money of $66. This year it was Brian. I can't think of anyone more deserving!

$60

I have mixed feelings about the white elephant game. Maybe it's my own fault because I pick the wrong gifts. I chose something I know someone will want and buy it, assuming they will end up with it. 

This year it was Batman gifts because I know how much Addy loves Batman. Sheri opened the gift, Addy got the gift for most of the game, until it was Evan's turn. He took the gift from Addy and I'm not sure what she ended up with. After the game was over, Darrel said they needed to leave because Addy wasn't feeling well. This broke my heart. 

I ended up with a puzzle game and some macarons from the Little Baker. (Kim & Stacy's friend).

Not only are they a work of art, but they

are delicious. I know because I ate the

peppermint swirl. This Little Baker (she is 4'9")

really knows how to make macarons. She has been

in business since 2015.

Other memories from this year's party:

* We missed Michael. He and Joe were supposed to do a song together. He never said why he didn't come but I think it had something to do with his girlfriend April, who lives in Tucson.

* Brian's personal revelation while shopping at Tractor Supply:

"You need to move to Vernon."

* Evan got straight A's in his frist year of pursuing a degree in electrical engineering at ASU.

* I admired Kaitylyn's Kate Spade purse given to her by her boyfriend, Jeremy.

* Alayna is majoring in filmmaking at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. She hopes to be a video editor.

More Pictures:

Kim takes the pictures, so we don't

get many of her. I love this one!

Addy with the Batman switch blade

Ian, is that Stretch Armstrong?

Now we know who has the poster.

Thanks Kim!

Monday, December 22nd, 2025: Wrote my message for the family party, oil changed in car, meet Gilbert's @ Maverick & give them their Nutella bars, new pj's, wrap white elephant gifts & Virgil's blanket, Sue Polar Express

 

Buenos Aires City Center, Argentina

Planning and approval phase; site location announced;

exterior rendering released; groundbreaking 

not announced.

Book of Mormon

Ether 15:1-17

Come Follow Me

Dec 22-28: "The Matchless Gift of God's Divine Son"

Christmas

Introduction

October General Conference

'Prophets of God'

Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus

Lesson

"Lovest Thou Me?"

Elder Steven C. Barlow

This is what I wrote to share at the family party tomorrow night. 

"One of my favorite things about Christmas is the lights. It reminds me that Jesus is the light of the world.

"Jesus Christ is the light of the world because He is the light which 'proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill in immensity of space. (D&C 88:12)

"His light is 'the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' (D&C 93:2)

"His example and His teachings illuminate the path we should walk to return to our Heavenly Father.

"Each of you is a blessed being of light, the spirit child of an infinite God. You bear within you a potential beyond your own capacity to imagine.

"It is my prayer that in the Christmas season of light you will connect your light to His light, even Jesus Christ, whose light and love for you is infinite and eternal.

"In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

James and I left for town about 7:45 this morning for our 8:30 appointment at Walmart to get the oil changed in our car. The traffic was slow, but we made it on time. James dropped me off at the door so I could shop while he took the car to be serviced.

James ended up in the Carl's Jr. cafe with his work notebook, working on the flooring bid for Ravi Gupta's office. Ravi says he is disappointed that "nothing has been done on the house." James couldn't believe that comment. Ravi will tell him to do something and then he talks to his attorney, and his attorney tells him to back off. It has been so frustrating. James was going to start on the roof in January. Ravi had the roofer come and do an estimate on the house he is living in, something about fixing a leak. The price was way too high so now he doesn't want the roofer working on his house. James is back to square one. This is what he told Ravi: 

"Nothing has been happening because you and your attorney won't allow it." He also said he would find work elsewhere for now. If Ravi gets ready to start and wants James to work for him, he can call and let him know. I think he is still going to do the bid on the flooring for the office.

After we were finished at Walmart I called Mikki Gilbert about the Nutella bars. They were just getting ready to leave for town. We arranged to meet them at the Maverick where James took them their goodies. Mikki texted and thanked me, saying they were delicious!

I bought a pair of pajamas at Walmart, or at least I'm going to use them for pajamas. It is a soft, black stretchy top and red plaid pants which are way too long and need to be hemmed. Hopefully I can hem them before we leave tomorrow. 

We forgot to get canned milk and oil for James's gravy so we will be stopping at the store on our way in to Chandler tomorrow. 

I wrapped our two white elephant gifts and Virgil Cooper's blanket. I am finally done with all of the wrapping.

T-Bo and Barbara are going to feed our cats while we are gone. We will leave the front door open for them. They will come over tomorrow and we will show them where and how to do it. We are very grateful.

"One of the most significant of God's helps for His faithful children is the gift of the Holy Ghost."

- President Dallin H. Oaks, AGC 2025

Helaman 14:4

Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

Elk near the Show Low stake center

Visiting the MacArthur's

Molly Jean

My friend Sue Hubble took her granddaughter's

on the Polar Express.

Sunday, December 21st, 2025: Christmas Sacrament meeting, James's steak and gravy, Nutella bars for the Gilbert's, Stacy's sad car story, "Another Sweet Christmas," a sad day for me

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Planning and approval phase; site location announced, 

exterior rendering released; proposed development

notice posted on site; neighborhood meeting

held on August 21, 2025; groundbreaking

not announced.

Book of Mormon

Ether 14:8-31

October General Conference

'Look to God and Live'

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Lesson

"Lovest Thou Me?"

Elder Steven C. Barlow 

I wore my brown dress with the white polka dots to church today. I called myself June Cleaver and James was Ward with his tan suit, brown tie and brown shoes. 

Today was the Christmas program in sacrament meeting. It was scripture reading and singing, no soloists. James and I were disappointed as we wanted Jennifer Golly to sing. If we had stayed in Chandler, Stacy sang and Brian spoke in their sacrament meeting. 

The Spirit was still in our meeting and I loved Bishop Crane's message at the end of the meeting:

"I invite you to pray for the spirit of joy, peace, and grace for yourself and others." 

Ether 12:41 - And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in your forever. Amen.

My favorite musical part of the program was Chimi Tesarek and Alexandria Dobson playing a duet of "Carol of the Bells" on their violins.

I spoke with Kerri Halcomb briefly about her mother this morning. I told her that I was concerned about how her roommate was treating her and that her roommate didn't like the TV. Catherine loves to watch TV. 

The Tignor's gave us a tin of goodies, brownies and raspberry treats. Yum. We also got a card from Mikki Gilbert. 

Today is winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. 

For lunch today James made venison steak and gravy. He is testing it out to make sure it will be good for our family breakfast on Christmas morning. It was delicious!

Stacy called and told me the story of why they won't be getting the new car that Paul already ordered and bought insurance for. She is so very upset with Paul. Chad & Nicole are giving them Zane's car as he is on a mission and will get a new car when he returns. Stacy and I both cried. She was so happy about getting a reliable new car.

I made Nutella bars this afternoon for the Gilbert's. I doubled the recipe and will take some to our family party on Tuesday. I forgot how labor intensive they are. It took me awhile to smush the dough onto the cookie sheet, spread the Nutella, and then smush more dough on top. James helped with the smushing. 

After the bars bake, they need to cool. We were going to deliver them today, but due to a bit of a late start and the amount of smushing we had to do, it was going to be too late to deliver. I arranged to meet the Gilbert's in town sometime tomorrow morning. We have an appointment to get the oil changed in our car and Mikki said they would be in town until 12 or 1. 

James and I watched a Christmas movie together this evening. It was a GAF movie starring Candace Cameron Bure and Cameron Matthison, "Another Sweet Christmas." It was good.

For some reason I was sad today and had a couple of crying spells. Hopefully I can get my act together before we go to the valley on Tuesday.

"Christ's Resurrection frees us from death, from times frailties and physicality's imperfections."

- Elder Gerrit W. Gong, AGC 2025

1 Timothy 5:8

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

Love!!

Flowers from Ian's garden that

Sheri took to her grandmother

Benson is 5 months old!

What a beautiful family!