Tuesday, March 31st, 2026: 27 years ago today, overcast w/ some rains, Millie's surgery postposned, James @ Verizon store, Sheri's request,

Taipei, Taiwan

Temple #31

27 years ago my mother passed away in a horrific accident. Now she is our families guardian angel. I still miss her everyday. (see Jared's Facebook post on yesterday's page.)

It was cooler and overcast today with some rain. I like this kind of weather but it depresses James. 

Millie Scott was scheduled to have heart valve replacement surgery today. Millie told me to check in with Judy Hunter as to her progress. When I called Judy this afternoon she said the surgery had been cancelled and that Millie was at home with pneumonia. My prayers for my dear sweet friend will continue.

James went in to the Verizon store to look at new phones. He ended up coming home without one because he wanted my approval. I told him he could buy whatever he wanted. Dennis had told us he got an I-phone 17 and didn't pay anything for it as long as he continued with Verizon service. James was afraid he wasn't getting the best deal.

I worked on preparing our income taxes again today. Hopefully we will be able to get the information to the accountant before the deadline. We may have to ask for an extension.

Sheri said that Xander's (that's what she calls him) girlfriend was doing a birthday party for him and would like everyone at the party to have written a note to him. Sheri asked us if we would write notes and send them to her. Of course we will.

"The more we identify with and remember Jesus Christ, the more we want to be like Him."

- Elder Dale G. Renlund

Jacob 4:4

For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.

Sister Jameson is serving a full-time mission in

the Sydney, Australia mission.

Dark clouds hang over us

This is the Easter Walk Dennis & Denise went to.

Dennis texted this to me and said they loved it

and that we should go.

 

Monday, March 30th, 2026: BM, CFM, Holy Week study, 8:20 doctors appt w/ Dr. Brady, oil change, VPC call, Pat Tedder's call, Stacy's call, short ribs from Costco, Sunday block changes, skunk

 

Dallas, Texas

Temple #30

After family prayer James and I have scripture study in the morning. We always study the Book of Mormon first. We then do a section of the "Come Follow Me" lesson, which this week comes from the Easter lesson, "He Will Swallow Up Death In Victory," Since this is Easter we are also doing a Holy Week study. Today was Day 2: "The House of Prayer" (Matthew 21:13). It is a wonderful way to start our day.

I had a doctor's appointment with my primary care physician, Dr. Brady, this morning. This appointment was my three month checkup for my Tramadol prescription. Things went well. My weight was 120 and my blood pressure 116/68.

  We also have an appointment this afternoon to get the oil changed in our car. James decided he would go with me this morning and while I was seeing the doctor he went to Walmart to see if they could change our oil this morning instead of this afternoon. I was finished with my appointment at 8:30 and when I called James he was in town buying an air filter. He said Walmart said they could take him if he could bring an air filter because they had cancelled all of their morning appointments because they were out of air filters. 

I walked from my appointment over to Walmart and met James inside at the Carl's Jr. We each had a small breakfast burrito, sans the tortilla. James saved us another trip to town this afternoon. He has an appointment with the Virtuous Pain Center but it is via the phone.

Pat Tedder called me this afternoon. Her daughter Janna had called me earlier and told me she had been bit by either a black widow spider or a brown recluse spider. I was going to call Pat but she called me first. Her spider bite was very serious as both of these spiders are poisonous. Marvin Johnson's first wife died from a brown recluse spider bite. 

Pat said the bite was above her knee and a long scar on her leg and that's why she didn't feel the bite, as her leg around the scar is numb. The bite has become quite large and was beginning to eat away the flesh. When Pat showed the bite to Janna, Janna immediately took her to the doctor. She is now on an antibiotic. She was almost put into the hospital. 

Pat said they think it was a brown recluse because of the symptoms and the eating away of the flesh. Pat is feeling fine but would rather not have visitors for a week or two. 

Stacy called to check up on us as she knew James hadn't been feeling well. We had a nice conversation. We talked about Jared Ammon and his alcohol treatment and his mourning the loss of Ellie. April 13th is her birthday and he wants to come to the cabin to distract himself from thinking of her.

The Church News announced today some changes to the second hour of Sunday meetings. We will have both Sunday School, YM & YW, RS & EQ every Sunday. Twenty five minutes of Sunday School, a five minute break, and twenty five minutes of YM & YW, RS & EQ. Everyone has their opinion, some are happy, like Jared, to have YM & YW every week. Brian seems a little frustrated because  he says 25 minutes isn't enough time to really get in to a lesson. 

I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.

Some of the other recent Church policy changes: No more General Conference Saturday night meetings, women can now be in Sunday School presidencies and no new temples announced in General Conference.

When James opened the door this evening to let Tom in, there was a skunk eating Sammy's food. He chased him off and said it was not the same one as the previous skunk. 

I finally listened to the Relief Society Worldwide Devotional talks today. It was very good.

Sunday, March 29th, 2026: Point 22 ward sacrament mtg, Case's and Darrel's family, Ruth Wallace, Jason Boles, Lunch, rest and visit, leave for home, Easter Walk @ stake center, Dennis's text

 

Manila, Philippines

Temple #29...

We attended the Point 22 ward special Palm Sunday sacrament meeting today with Trina, Darrel, Ruby, and Lola. We sat next to Bob & Suzy Case. Suzy was called to be the second counselor in the newly formed Relief Society presidency. 

Before the meeting started I saw our friend formerly from Vernon, Ruth Wallace. We went over, said hello, met her daughter LeeAnn, and gave Ruth our love and I gave her a hug. How great to see a friend!

We have other friends in the ward, Jason & Drea Boles and their son Benjamin. James spoke to Jason asking him where Drea was. She is home recovering from a complete hysterectomy. Drea is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. She is one of Lola's Young Women leaders and Lola loves her and Drea loves Lola.

The young sister who was the first speaker, Sister Kuzdes, was just released as the Relief Society president. She said the last couple of years her family had suffered through some severe trials. She told about her six year old son William and how he came down with some rare disease. He developed several dangerous aneurysms and over the course of two years had 700 shots. Sister Kuzdes shared a quote from Sister Camille Johnson's recent talk: "I know that life is hard. You can do hard with Jesus or you can do hard alone. That is your choice. But when you do hard with Jesus Christ, the hard becomes holy." She said in the process of this ordeal they fasted and prayed and called upon others to do so also. The last tests that were done on William showed he had no aneurysms. The doctor said he had never seen anything like this before and that it was a miracle.

After the meeting we all went home and had lunch. I took a picture of Ruby as she was walking home. We had leftovers from last night for lunch. After lunch we sat and visited. We are going to the Holy Week Easter Walk at our stake center before going home so we have a little time to visit.

We left a little after noon and arrived at the White Mountain stake center in Lakeside around 3:30. We waited until 4, when the exhibit was scheduled to open, before we went in. There were several rooms set up depicting the last days of the Savior's life.

This sign was posted on Lola's bedroom door

 Texas Sweethearts

Saturday, March 28th, 2026: James's stomach pains subside and we leave for the valley, Costco, KFC, Darrel & Trina's, Easter Potluck,

Sydney, Australia

Temple #28

James had severe stomach cramps and bloating that plagued him most of the night and now he is miserable this morning. I got him some soda water. He had the dry heaves. He can't vomit because of a valve in his throat that was put in during a surgery. 

James got up around 8 and I went out with him to feed the horses. He seemed to be feeling better. The longer he stayed up and the more attention I gave him, the better he felt. 

I helped James clean up around where he had been re-finishing a log near the front porch. We then got ready and left for the valley around 11. 

Just past Salt River canyon James stopped the car and ask me to drive, something he very seldom does. We stopped for gas at the Circle K just outside of Superior. The price of gas was $4.19 a gallon, the cheapest place we have seen today. We also got 20 cents off so we paid $3.99 a gallon! In the valley we saw it as high as $4.79 a gallon. 

Before going to Darrel & Trina's we stopped at the Costco on Sossaman and Baseline for some protein shakes. I bought 3 cases of my Fairlife shakes and James got one case of a new brand of shakes that he got a sample of. It is more of a meal replacement shake with lots of vitamins and minerals. 

When we got to Darrel & Trina's Darrel was just starting to prepare the tri tip for the smoker. Trina was gone shopping at Target. James and I unloaded and then headed for KFC to pick up some coleslaw. 

Everything started to come together when Trina got home. Lola began making brownies, Darrel got the meat in the smoker, Trina set up the tables and began decorating. I put the beans on to warm up.

Sheri and Ian were the first to arrive. Sheri brought sourdough rolls and a few regular rolls. She didn't get the memo that I was bringing regular rolls. She also brought a couple of small veggie trays. Stacy and Paul brought mashed potatoes and a strawberry cake. Mary Johnson, Paul's mother came with them as she didn't want to be alone tonight. Kim and Brian brought Rice Krispy treats made with Cadbury eggs and a fruit tray with fruit dip. Joe, Michael and Adam brought themselves. Rowan and Addy were here too. Addy made two chocolate cream pies. 

Brian blessed the food before we began to eat. Our menu looked like this: A beautiful tray of trip tip, beans, corn, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, rolls, veggies and fruit. For dessert, brownies, pie, Stacy's cake and Kim's Rice Krispy treats. It was quite a feast and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Those attending: Darrel, Trina, Addy, Rowan, Ruby, Lola, Sheri, Ian, Kim, Brian, Joe, Stacy, Paul, Mary, Adam, Michael, James and I.

Kim always takes the pictures and so she invariably is not in them.

I've got to remember that at our next family event.

Texas Family