OUR FAMILY

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026: Happy bday Brian Maxwell, Numbers 13, Meekness, Scott's gofundme, tithing, fo & humanitarian aid, Stacy's Covid test, "The Nobleman's Daughter", James climbs the logs

Edmonton, Alberta

Temple #67

Numbers 13 - Twelve spies are sent to the land of Canaan. Verse 30: "Others saw the giants, Caleb saw the Lord."

Moses changed the name of the leader of the tribe of Ephraim from Oshea (meaning salvation) to Joshua (meaning Jehovah is salvation.) This change may have been a reminder to the Israelites that God was leading them and that they could obtain the promised land through His power.

Numbers 14 - Israel murmurs and speaks of returning to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb give a good report. 14:9 - Joshua & Caleb: "The Lord is with us, fear them not."

Meekness - righteous responsiveness and willing submission to God's will. Alma's people's burdens were made light and easy to bear. Mormon identifies meekness as the foundation from which all spiritual capacities and gifts arise.

Elder Teh - The Lord can change common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change.

Christina & Jon Hoose started a gofundme for Scott's burial expenses. Instead of sending money through gofundme which wanted to charge me $82, I Zelled Brent some money. James said we could send more later if needed.

I paid tithing today on the money we received as a result of James's downwind cancer case. I don't think I've ever paid this much tithing before, at least all at once.

For lunch today we had steak and salad. Yum. I walked 12,000 steps and did two blogposts. I listened to six conference talks and reviewed last weeks Inklings. I'm enjoying my book, "The Nobleman's Daughter" which is based on a little bit of English history even though it is fiction. I cuddled with Tom today.

James worked on taxes and logs. Stacy got a Covid test. It was negative. I told both Laura and Carmen.

"The fire of yesterday's testimony can warm us for only so long. It needs constant nourishment to keep burning brightly."

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Numbers 14:14

And they will tell it to the inhabitant of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy could standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Now this is a dog I could get excited about!

In 2015 Addy was a violinist

Autumn's bakery

James takes on the logs

Love this shirt!

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026: Dennis's 72nd birthday, a beautiful rainy day, Lunch @ El Rancho in Pinetop , Maddie's & Quentin's graduations, Walmart, gas, "The Way Home", 12,000 steps, does Stacy have Covid?

Billings, Montana

Temple #66

Today we got rain! It was so beautiful, and exciting!

It's my brother Dennis's 72nd birthday today. Harold called and invited us to meet he and Vickie and Dennis & Denise for lunch at the El Rancho in Pinetop. It is our least favorite Mexican food restaurant up here, but it must be the Maxwell's favorite.

We met at 11:30. I ordered chicken and beef fajita's and when the waitress brought them out sizzling Harold said, "what is that"?

There were lots of onions and little meat but these fajita's were tasty. James ordered a green chili tomato burro. He didn't like it very well and said he hopes we don't have to come here again. Such an attitude. We paid for everyone as a gift for both of my sweet brothers' birthdays.

James is the photographer.

I love my brothers and their wives!

Here are some of the things we talked about while we were sitting around the table together:

* Maddie, Monte's daughter, is graduating from vet school and will be working in Sierra Vista, Az. This got us to talking about the Thanksgiving we spent there when Harold & Vickie lived there. This was before Denise was a part of our family. Vickie and I remembered waking up on Thanksgiving morning to find that our turkey was rotten. She, mom, and I went driving around Sierra Vista to find a store that would be open on Thanksgiving morning. Vickie remembers buying a turkey at 7-11. I remember it as Circle K. It doesn't matter. We found a turkey and we saved Thanksgiving.

* Harold & Vickie's anniversary is on June 7th. Dennis & Denise will be in Tennessee celebrating Denise's mom, Pegs, 90th birthday. I love Peg. She was my traveling buddy when we went to New York.

* We talked about Darrel moving to Farmington and how Dennis's boys all lived in Durango at one time or another. Durango is 50 minutes from Farmington. Darrel wanted to know if Tyler still lived there. He does not. He lives in Arizona with his mom.

After giving hugs and saying goodbyes, James and I headed for Walmart to pick up my Volsartan prescription. Humana paid for the prescription. We thought we were going to have to pay $55. I was most grateful.

After shopping we picked up drinks at Circle K and got gas at White Mountain Carwash because it's cheaper if I use my debit card.

At home I rested and watched the latest episode of "The Way Home." (Time-travel through a pond on the Landry farm).

I walked 12,000 steps, listened to my book, and listened to the conference talk I will be teaching in RS, "I Will Give Away All My Sins to Know Thee."

Jared Ammon wants to come up on the 18th with a friend. He wants to know if we will have a new Razr by then. I told him that we probably wouldn't. It is a stress right now until we sell that $3,000 engine.

Does Stacy have Covid? That is the question of the day. She told Carmen she thought she did and now Laura thinks she has it and is worried that she is coming to Scott's funeral on Saturday. Stacy - please don't use the "C" word when you are sick unless you are positive you have it!

"Build peacemaking in our homes by using the Lord's patter to influence our relationships with one another; persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, and love unfeigned."

- Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Number 14:9

Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Pretty scary as fields around Buckeye burn

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Monday, May 4th, 2026: Hotel brkfst w/ Charlie who prays, Kacey & Jared before saying goodbye, we wait at the hotel a couple of hours before leaving for AARA & my injections, Costco 1st 5 cases of shakes for me, 4 cortisone injections by Dr. Kumar - such a relief! lunch @ Aunt Faye's with her, Carmen, Sydney, and Rebecca, home through Globe, Tom happy to see us, prescription Jared wrote for me, Charlie's piano recital

Regia, Saskatchewan

Temple #65

Our last breakfast at the hotel and Charlie said the blessing on the food. After breakfast we went back to our rooms and said goodbye in the hall. The flight for Texas leaves at 10:55 and they have to get to the airport and turn their rental car in before leaving. They will lose two hours going home. Charlie has her piano recital this evening. I am looking forward to hearing it.

James and I had a couple of hours before we had to leave so we had prayer and scripture study and then relaxed in our room before packing up and leaving.

We left in time to go to Costco before my injections appointment. We bought 5 cases of Fairlife shakes for me and one case of Core Fairlife shakes for James. We bought large garbage sacks and Pom juice and ended up spending $276.

James dropped me off at AARA across the street for my cortisone injections while he went back to Costco to get gas.

I waited about 30 minutes for Dr. Kumar who finally came in and gave me my 4 cortisone injections, one in each shoulder and one in each knee. It is such a relief to get these injections because they help me to feel so much better! I was finished by 11:30 and we headed for Aunt Faye's where we are having lunch before going home.

We went straight east on the 60, getting off on Power Rd. and then driving up to Main and turning right to Fellowship Square.

Dawn was waiting for us out front. She said she was out there for Rebecca who wasn't sure where to turn in.

There were 7 of us for lunch, guests of Aunt Faye's. Dawn, Carmen, Sydney, Rebecca, Aunt Faye, James and I. We each either had salad or soup. Actually everyone had salad except for Sydney who had black bean soup. There were three main dish choices: beef stroganoff, crab salad, and cheese enchiladas. There was a side of veggies also available. I sat by Sydney and we ordered the same thing, cheese enchiladas with a side of breaded cauliflower. James got the crab salad and said it was delicious. I'm wishing that's what I would have gotten too. It was so kind of Aunt Faye to have us all for lunch. I think she is lonely.

Now, where are we?

Brother & Sister discussion

I just got these last photos from Carmen and had to include them. They were taken yesterday. Notice the beautiful crepe paper flowers.

We love spending time with family!!

We left Aunt Faye's and headed out the 60 towards Globe.

Tom is so happy to see us when we arrive home. We had to go to Walmart to pick up prescriptions before going home.

James did some walking while I watched the latest Hallmark movie about the Kentucky Derby, "Kentucky Roses." I did some walking and ended up with 7,000 steps.

I started the medicine for my eyes tonight before going to bed.

Charlie made it to her piano recital:

Good job Charlie!

Kacey sent me a video. I still don't

know how to post videos on here.

I love this!

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Sunday, May 3rd, 2026: Galvesto 3rd ward mtgs w/ other Lambsons, old friends Dave Miner, Jackie Hall, Laurie Jensen, Hilary Jiminez, Diana & Jared Dowdle, Lynda Cull, Laurel Chipman & her mom, Sheri & Ian's for lunch, C&T to see Carmen, her girls, etc., Wendy's bday, back to Sheri's for dinner, Max, Evan

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Temple #64

We attended the Galveston 3rd ward meetings today along with several other Lambsons: Dave & Laura, Carmen, Hayden & Cheryl, Sheri & Ian, Erik's family, and Christopher's family. Cathi, Terry, and Dawn were at home and watched through Zoom.

James, Jared and I all bore our testimonies. Mabel, Erik & Amelia's 16 year old son also bore her testimony.

It was nice to see so many friends in this ward: Jackie Hall, Dave Miner, Robin Finlinson, Lynda Cull, Laurie Jenson, Diana & Jared Dowdle, Hilary and Ernesto Jiminez, Laurel Chipman and her mom. Robin and Kerry Finlinson were anxious to show me their sons mission plaque. He is serving in the Atlanta, Georgia mission and the only elder serving from their ward among four or five sister, including Nora Chase who is serving in Paris, France.

Carmen, Jared, Kacey, James and I attended Sunday School together. I could not hear very well. Here is my takeaway: Jared said that President Boyd K. Packer said that we teach the doctrine of Christ and keeping the commandments will naturally follow.

We all squished in together with Charlie sitting on James's lap as we took Carmen to Dave & Laura's in Jared & Kacey's Rav4 rental car.

Cathi, Terry and Dawn watched sacrament meeting via Zoom. When we visited Cathi thanked me for my testimony.

We went back to the hotel and changed our clothes and then we all went to Sheri & Ian's for lunch. We took two cars because Jared, Kacey and Charlie were ready before we were.

Ian was ready to make us all breakfast sandwiches. He had bacon, sausage, eggs, and two different kinds of cheese all served on a sourdough roll. Very tasty and delicious. We visited with Sheri & Ian and I gave Evan a hug and then we went to Cathi & Terry's to visit with them and Carmen and her girls, Sydney and Sarah.

Cathi, Terry, Dawn, Wendy, Carmen, Sydney and Sarah were all at Cathi & Terry's, along with the dogs, Zoe and Wally. Today is Wendy's birthday so we wished her a happy birthday. She came for the funeral and also her daughter Kylee is getting married in Sedona on Thursday. Carmen extended her stay until after Scott's funeral next Saturday. She is also going to make Kylee's wedding cake.

Zoe takes a liking to Charlie. I asked Cathi if Zoe was Terry's dog. She said: "Terry steals all the dogs." She then pointed to several bags of treats sitting by his chair.

There was a vase of crepe paper roses sitting on the table in front of me. They were deep turquoise and purple and they were beautiful. I thought I got a picture of them, but I didn't. Rebecca came over and taught Laura, Dawn, and Cathi how to make them. Now Dawn is going to go to the Montessori school to teach the kids how to make them for Mother's Day. Dawn has been asked to come in at special times to do art projects for the school since she is no longer able to teach. I am sure this helps her to feel like she has a purpose.

James enjoyed visiting with Sydney and Sarah. They asked him about the cabin and Sarah showed him an island she made for her apartment. It was beautiful.

James giving some kind of finger demo

Looking at Sarah's cabinet/island that she

made with her dad.

Back at Sheri's we had dinner; roast, mashed potatoes, and charred broccoli. Charlie also had a sourdough pancake which she said was delicious. Charlie got a little bored while waiting for dinner so Jared and I played a game of Yahtzee with her. Jared ended up winning. Charlie said: "I don't like it when my dad wins. I'm not sure why, I just don't."

Dinner was delicious! For dessert we had chocolate cheesecake squares for dessert which were wonderful.

After dinner James, Jared, Kacey, Charlie and I played Five Crowns. We only went to ten and James ended up winning.

Max came home from work and we got to give him a big hug.

I learned this from Sheri: " It's not enough to feel gratitude, you must express it." Sheri said Hank Smith said this on "Follow Him" this week. I guess I missed it.

In one of our conversations Jared asked if I remembered how we did prayers. I said no. He said we each had our day that we said all of the prayers. He said his day was Thursday. This brought back memories. Having a prayer day for each member of the family simplified things. If it was your day, it was your day, no arguing.