Friday, May 8th, 2026: Gilbert temple see Rita & James sees Kathy Jones, Olive Garden, Target, Susan Goodman, R&R, Deseret Bk, Costco, D off 2 hrs early, Lola's recital, Darrel home - blood condition, cauliflower crusted pizza

St. Paul, Minnesota

Temple #69

Numbers 22:12 - And God said unto Balaam, thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed. Balaam's donkey sees an angel which Balaam doesn't see. When the donkey refuses to go forward, Balaam beats him three times. Finally the donkey asks Balaam why he has beaten him three times. Balaam finally sees the angel. The angel speaks with Balaam. Numbers 23:8 - How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? verse 12 - Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?

James and I went to the 10 o'clock session at the Gilbert temple. James forgot his temple bag so he had to rent some clothes. Kathy Jones was the temple worker who helped him. 

I was upstairs in the waiting room where everyone gathers before the session waiting for James to join me. I looked across the aisle and up a couple of rows and saw my cousin, Rita Tenney Solomon. I went over to say hello and asked her if she was alone. She said she was there with her ward Relief Society. When James came in he went over and gave Rita a hug too.

The session was full with about 60 people. There were 9-10 couples in the prayer circle and there were 7-8 spots for sisters at the veil so we went through the veil without waiting too long. We talked to Rita afterwards. She was meeting Katy Rogers (Cher Maxwell's Mom) for lunch at Cane's so off she went. After she left I thought we should have taken a picture together but I didn't catch her in time.

A gorgeous sunny day 

I love the temple!

We had lunch at the Olive Garden on Gilbert just north of Germann. 

We had the cutest little waitress. Her name was Kylee. She had a tiny nose ring, three butterfly tatoos and the cutest curly hair. James ordered his favorite, stuffed Marsala chicken. I decided to go healthy and ordered the chicken Margarita. Here is a picture.

That's enough broccoli and chicken for

at least two meals.

After lunch we went across the street to Target. While driving I got a call from one of my friends who also happens to be one of my ministering sisters, Susan Goodman. We had a nice visit. She told me about visiting her granddaughter and helping her with her new baby, Mabel. We laughed about the name Mabel remembering the jump rope rhyme, "Mabel, Mabel set the table." I told Susan that James's nephew has a daughter named Mabel and we have learned to like the name because we like Mabel so well. She said it was going to take her awhile. I love Susan and I am so grateful for her call. I told her we went to the Gilbert temple this morning and she said when she lived in Globe she worked at the temple for seven years. She also said one of her granddaughters going on a mission took out her endowments recently in the Gilbert temple. This granddaughter is going to Philadelphia on her mission. I thought of our grandson James who lives in Philly.

I forgot how much I love shopping at Target. The aisles are so wide and clean and it is such a pleasant experience. We bought a bouquet of pink roses to give Lola at her dance recital this evening. We got a beautiful purple orchid for Trina for Mother's Day. I got a package of Havariti cheese because I love it and they don't have it at Walmart in Show Low. I got a mini Zaro (famous New York bakery) carrot cake, and some water. We were going to go to Hobby Lobby but we were too tried and went back to Darrel & Trina's for a nap. 

After our nap we headed out on one more shopping trip. This time we went to Deseret Book where I got my conference journal.

Then next door to Costco to get some of the chicken like Trina fed us last night with salad.

After shopping we went back to Darrel & Trina's. Trina had picked up a couple of cauliflower crusted pizzas on her trip to Costco and that's what she fixed for dinner. James and I had some and we both really liked it. We will get some on our next trip down. 

Darrel is on his way home. RFK, Jr. let him off two hours early today. He says RFK is his boss. He just missed making it to Lola's recital.

We rode with Trina and Lola to the recital so we wouldn't have to worry about parking. One of the highlights of the show was the daddy dance. They are such good sports and always a big hit!

Cute one of Lola. I look like a

deer in headlights.

Ballerina sans the ballet shoes

Trina's parents were at Kylee's graduation

Laurie Lambson Thomas

(Public Relations specialist for the 

Mesa Easter Pageant for many, many years)

 

Thursday, May 7th, 2026: Exodus 20, left for valley around 7:50, "Follow Him" Numbers 22 the talking donkey, AARA, Red Lobster, Green Acres Memorial, Mera Chandler for over 55, Costco, D&t's,

 

Raleigh, North Carolina

Temple #68

Exodus 20 - People murmur because there is no water. Vs. 6 - Moses and Aaron went to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and fall upon their faces and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. 

Moses didn't sanctify the Lord in the smiting of the rock for water, therefore he was not allowed to enter the promised land.

Instead of speaking to the rock as the Lord told him too, Moses struck it twice with his staff. Moses and Aaron failed to give credit to the Lord for the miracle. "Must we fetch you rebels water out of this rock"? At the end of his life the Lord did take Moses unto Himself. He appeared on the Mt. of Transfiguration and to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland temple.

Aaron dies and people mourn 30 days. Miriam dies also. 

Exodus 21:9 - We don't earn blessings, but we do qualify for them.

We left for the valley a little before 8 this morning. I felt so sorry for Tom. He wanted to come in the house. We had prayer and scriptures in the car and then listened to "Follow Him." In Numbers 22 there is the story of Balaam, an angel that his donkey sees but he doesn't, and the donkey talking to Balaam. Good stuff.

Today is 40 cents off of gas per gallon day at Circle K. We ended up paying $4.57. Costco was cheaper at $4.49.  James dropped me off at AARA where I got my infusion given to me by Tanelle. (Ang says, "You remember, Captain and Tanelle.") Ang and I remember but Tanelle is way too young to remember. Frances was there but I didn't even get to speak to her. My next infusion is scheduled for June 3rd.

From AARA we drove a few miles to the Red Lobster north of Baseline on Alma School, across from what use to be Fiesta Mall. It's so sad they just tore down this mall. I remember when it first opened and the excitement surrounding it.

While we were at Red Lobster Trina texted me to see when we would be at their place. She said she just flew in from Farmington. She left with Darrel on Sunday and spent a few days there looking at houses. Here are a couple they liked:

Trina and I both like the second one best, although the first one is on a golf course, it only has two bathrooms.

Back to our lunch at Red Lobster. There were only two people working with about four tables to serve. We were there longer than usual. James has been wanting to go to Red Lobster for awhile. I thought for sure he would order scallops, but he didn't, he ordered two kinds of shrimp, Walt's and grilled on a skewer. I had steak with asparagus along with a biscuit and some salad. 

When we were finished with lunch James wanted to go over to Green Acres Memorial Gardens to look at our cemetery plots. When we arrived James got out and tried to figure out where our plots were but since nothing was labeled on the map it was difficult. We do have 5 plots so we have three more than we need. It's a warm day with the high around 105.

From Hayden and McKellips we drove south on the 101 to Chandler. I wanted to look at the over 55 apartment complex on Dobson and Pecos. It is called Mera Chandler and I will definitely be calling them. 

On the way to Darrel & Trina's we stopped at the Costco in Gilbert. I wanted some chocolate covered strawberries and James needs some more Pom juice. 

Addy stayed with the girls this week and she was at the house when we got there. She left her trademark chocolate chip cookies all over the kitchen. Her boyfriend, McKay Crockett helped her move out and Trina said he was pretty amazing. Lola was there, getting ready for dance practice. Ruby told me about her invitation to run in a race in Eugene, Oregon on June 19th, the day after her birthday. Lola has girls camp June 18th and then there is the Case family trip to California which means they won't be going to New Mexico until July. 

Trina made us salad with chicken for dinner. She got the chicken at Costco. I have to go back and get a bag. 

We settled in upstairs taking over Lola's bathroom and "school" room. I hope she doesn't mind too much. I watched the finale of "Hope Valley" and was pretty miffed when Joy Beth Lenz got arrested and the show was over. I even had to call Kim. Now I have to wait six months of so to see what happens!

Ari & Kylee's wedding in Sedona

All  I can say is Wow!

Curtis Wilhelm's 

Grad announcement

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

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!