I got up at 4:30 this morning. I was able to do a little gospel study before leaving.
* Why did God send the flood to destroy the wicked?
- God does all things for the benefit of the world. (2 Ne. 26:24)
* What is significant about the coating of the pitch both inside and outside the ark?
- It is a protective covering like the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for us.
* The ark was designed as a tabernacle/temple:
- 3 decks, 3 divisions of the tabernacle and 3-fold layout of the Garden of Eden. Each deck was the same heighth as the tabernacle and 3x the area of the tabernacle court.
I was ready to leave for the valley by 6:00, our pre-determined time. James realized he left his solar generator at Applegate's on the job. I told him we needed to go pick it up, even though it might make us a little late. We ended up leaving Vernon at 6:30.
We arrived at Chandler Eyecare at 9:38 for my 9:30 appointment. I greet Cayli and then Ben. Sheri was on the phone. Addy took me back to screen me before my appointment. Dr. Vanover did my exam and everything seems to be in order. My eyes have changed just a very small amount.
Sheri and Nancy helped me pick out new frames. Nancy adjusted my old glass frames so they don't rub on my face. My frames are Kate Spade and very different from the ones I have now. Sheri says it will take 10 days to come in.
Although Sheri cancelled our appointment at the temple tomorrow because she says she has been sick. She did say she and Ian want to come up next week for her birthday and wants to go to the Snowflake temple and to Eva's with us.
Ben asked if he and Cayli could come up on March 6th. I gave Trina's birthday card to Addy to give to her mom. She said she would.
I arrived at AARA for my 11:15 appointment before 11. I tried to make an appointment for my next cortizone shots but she said she couldn't do it but she would pass my request on to someone who could help me.
I showed Frances and Ang my open wound from where Emma, the MacArthur's dog scratched me yesterday. They always ask if you have any open wounds before they give you your infusion. They both said they thought it wasn't serious enough for me to not get my infusion. Amanda stuck in the needle with my Orencia.
James was walking around the building when I came out. We went across the street to Costco to get Pom juice and Fairlife shakes. James got two bottle of juice because instead of $9.39 they were $6.39. I got only one case of shakes and checked out the Perk. They still have a good amount but I did not get any. I really am trying to cut down on my spending. We had lunch in the food court. I had a hot dog with no bun and a drink. James had cheese pizza and a drink. Since we were already so close to Mesa, we decided to go see Catherine Halcomb at Brooksdale on Brown Rd.
Because she is now in the memory care section of Brooksdale, she and her comrades are behind locked doors. Catherine was the first person I saw as we entered. She was sitting at a table with two other women eating something out of a small bowl. It turned out to be three bean salad. I made the mistake of letting Catherine know that we were here and she would not finish her meager lunch. Here are some concerns I have about my dear friend: 1) She is always in a wheel chair and can't seem to put any weight on her legs. Last time we were here she was going all over the facility with her walker. 2) It looked like she had barely anything for lunch and I did not see anything for her to drink. 3) She cannot stay focused and she seemed confused when I mentioned her birthday on March 11th.
Seem things that she said: Her family is all separated and she is going to fix them. She wants to go camping with Kerri in their new motor home. She would like to go to Oklahoma. She thinks the ward should have a hotdog dinner. She wants me to take her to the Mesa temple where she worked for 13 years.
We didn't feel comfortable leaving her in her room alone so we took her out on the patio with one of the attendants and some other patients. The attendant told us, "we don't give individual care." If there is anything Catherine needs it's individual care and attention.
James and I were both sad when we left. It almost felt like a prison and she has definitely gone downhill since the last time we saw her.
Our next stop was at Cathi & Terry's to visit James's mom. She seemed to be doing quite well although the hospice nurse will now be coming every week instead of every other week, something about having purple finger tips. Mom, or Lois, also says she does a lot of belching every time she eats anything and she is concerned about this. She gave me a big box of Precious Moment figures, including a nativity scene that we had given her over the years. What do I do with them?
We did not see Dawn. Cathi said she was busy in her room. Her memory is becoming worse. When we left last time Cathi said she asked who we were. She always tells us she remembers us. She is good with numbers and Laura takes her to play bingo every Thursday at Tumbleweed park. I missed seeing Dawn but didn't want to disturb or confuse her.
Before going to Kim's we stopped by the local UPS store on Alma School and Germann to return the pillow with the brown wrapping paper on the outside. James took it in and the woman working behind the counter said: "Oh, we can't take this with the brown paper on it. We need to see what's inside." What? I guess we've come full circle. The clerk did say she would take the paper off and reinstate the label. I guess she did that and sent it off to Amazon because a couple of hours later I was notified that a refund was issued. The crazy world of Amazon returns.
We had an appointment with Kim at 4:00 to watch a movie, or at least I did. I honestly thought we were going to spend the night and even packed and brought my suitcase. James says he needs to go home tonight, even if it is midnight.
Kim had made Rice Krispy treats and bought Harkins popcorn for us to snack on. I cuddled up on the loveseat with a soft and warm blanket and we watched the latest Hallmark movie. James went outside to take phone calls and then he came in and sat by me for awhile. He needed some sleep but said he couldn' t sleep with the movie on so he went outside and slept in the car.
We left Kim's somewhere between 6 and 6:30 and were home by 9:30. Tom was so happy to see us, he ran around the house for about 10 minutes.
James was freezing when he went to bed. He used his heated blanket.
"It ... takes great courage for some of our sisters and brothers to step into the arena of life every day."
- Sister J. Anette Dennis, OGC 2025
Genesis 9:15
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Max & Evan
