Sunday, June 21st, 2026: Happy Father's Day, finish handouts so Kim & Brian can take them to church, brownies for the Robles', Jesse Pronger's mission report, Brian leaves, "Seventeen Miracles",

Nauvoo, Illinois

Temple #113

Happy Father's Day!

I got up around 5. I fed the cats, got James his breakfast, lumpy Malt-O-Meal, walnuts, Pom juice, and one of Kim's brownies. I also gave him a shake to balance out all of those carbs. Kim fed the horses. I barely had time to finish my handouts before Kim & Brian left for church. I was in such a hurry I forgot to take a picture of them. Oh well. Sister Stephens will pick up the handouts in the RS room where Kim will leave them. Kim & Brian also have brownies for the Robles' family.

Jesse Pronger reported on her mission today. She went to the Independence, Missouri mission. I am sorry to have missed this, but James just isn't ready to go to church yet and I won't leave him here alone.

Kim said Jesse did a great job. The other speaker was Brother Cox from the stake high council. This was his first time speaking in Vernon. 

Chuck and Easton Crane brought the sacrament over for James and I.

James asked if someone would and who better than our neighbors. 

After Lunch Brian left to go home taking Oreo balls for the Polson's and sugar cookies for Dallin. 

After scriptures James, Kim, and I watched "Seventeen Miracles", the story of Levi Savage and the Willie handcart company. Those Saints suffered so much for the cause of Zion. Those who endured and had children left an amazing legacy of love, sacrifice, and enduring faith. One of the stories was of Sally & George who were engaged to be married. Sally wanted to wait until they made it to Zion so they could be sealed. They never made it. When President Faust heard their love story he made sure they were sealed. I love President Faust.

James said family prayer this evening. Kim helped with James so much today. He had a happy day because all of his kids called or texted to wish him a happy Father's Day. 

Kacey, I love you!

Paula is a member of the Vernon ward

These should have been posted yesterday!

Sorry for the delay.

Ruby is the shortest, but she is fast!

Benson is 11 months old!

Such a cutie!

 

Saturday, June 20th, 2026: Kim & Brian feed the horses, eggs for James's breakfast, shower fiasco he soaked his bandages, boot for the day, baking day for Kim, James & Brian watch "Top Gun" Tom sleeps on James,

Asuncion, Paraguay

Temple #112

Kim feeds the horses when Brian isn't here and when Brian is here, he feeds them, along with some carrots.

For breakfast I made James two eggs, over medium, toast, a shake and of course his beloved Pom juice. He sat in his wheelchair because he said the dining room chair was uncomfortable.

We had a little bit of a fiasco when James took his first shower at home. He put a plastic bag around his bandaged leg, but the water seeped through and everything got soaked. The lawn chair I put in the shower for him to sit on sunk down low and he was very uncomfortable. I took the outside wraps off and put them in the dryer. The inside cotton and even the plaster splints were soaked. I tried to dry them with my blow dryer, but it was taking forever. I suggested we take the splints and cotton off to dry them and put a boot on that we had downstairs. James agreed and he wore it most of the day without putting weight on his leg. Tomorrow it's back to the plaster of Paris cast.

It was a baking day for Kim. She finished the chocolate cake for Neal Tarwater and Brian delivered it to their home up here in Vernon. Kim also made Oreo balls for the Paulson family in their ward. They are moving to Hawaii. She also made brownies for Brother Robles and his family for fixing our well, and sugar cookies for Dallin for his birthday. Whew!

James and Brian watched "Top Gun" while Tom sat on James's lap.

I did several loads of laundry and worked on my RS handouts. Sister Linda Stephens wants them by tomorrow. She is teaching my lesson next week. I was too tired to finish and will need to get up early in the morning to finish them.

Erik's family:

Oliver, Erik, Amelia, Mabel

Aurora, Tabitha

She is my favorite

Catherine Halcomb and me at

the Snowflake Temple in 2018

 

 

 

Friday, June 19th, 2026: Homeward bound, said goodbye to Paul, Vader & Sophie, one more trip to my fav Wlmrt, James discharged before 11, Ruby's race, Culver's shrimp, Circle K trip, Brian here w/ Kim, "Illusionist"

 

Campinas, Brazil

Temple #111

I said goodbye to Paul, Vader, and Sophie this morning when I left Stacy's. They were the only ones up. I stopped and picked up a Target bag laying in the street in Stacy & Paul's neighborhood. I'm glad I did because I was one bag short when I was packing up James's room. 

I made a trip to my favorite Walmart on west Chandler Blvd. I bought a 1st aid kit for my car, a cold-hot compress, and some patches for James's ribs. I arrived at the rehab center at 8 am. 

James said he had been miserable since about 3:30 this morning. He was eating his breakfast, French toast and Cream of Wheat. He wanted his Pom juice, and I had it ready for him.

It is now 9:45 and we are still waiting for James to be discharged. James is listening to a book about Alexander Doniphan without air pods and I am writing this while eating a Built bar and drinking a diet Dr. Pepper.

Sheri has been texting with Kacey and she says Kacey is not doing well. I hope Kacey's sisters are a source of strength to her. 

At 10 am. James went back to bed and fell asleep. Finally an RN named Adam came in with James's discharge papers. We were ready to leave before 11. 

Jane, a CNA, brought James down while I went to get the car. James had no problem getting in the front seat. Jane and I had a bit of a struggle getting the wheelchair in the back of the car, but we did it!

James does not like to accept help

We are on our way, up the 101 over to Highway 87 to Payson.

Instead of listening to a podcast, we listened to my music playlist. 

The traffic in Payson was bumper to bumper. We managed to make it to Culver's where I went in and ordered 10 shrimp for our lunch. James stayed in the car. The wait was long and when I got to the car I discovered they only gave us six shrimp instead of ten. I looked at the receipt. They only charged us for six. I'm not going back in there. We aren't that hungry anyway.

We stopped at the big Circle K on the corner of the 260 and 60 for gas and for James to use the restroom. I dug the walker out from under the wheelchair. I took the walker to James and asked if he wanted me to go in with him, he said no. I saw him go through the door and trip on the mat. Someone was there to help him. I started to go in and a woman coming out said, He's okay. I went to get gas.

When we left James said he hurt his leg. I hope this is nothing far-reaching. Next we had to go to Walmart for Oxycodone and Roboxin. After picking up James's meds we stopped at the Vernon post office. We forgot it was closed for Juneteenth. 

Brian came up today too. He bought 3 bags of regular horse feed, oe of oats, and a large bag of cat food. I Zelled him $100. 

Kim and I watched "The Illusionist" while Kim made a chocolate cake for Neal Tarwater's birthday tomorrow. Tom is afraid of James's wheelchair and walker.

Jared, Kacey, and Charlie are in San Diego at the temple open house. We were supposed to be with him, which makes me a little sad.

Love these people!

They came from Summer & JB's wedding in Oregon down the

Pacific coast highway to San Diego. Here are some photos:

Ruby had her race today. She got first in her heat and set a PR. Trina taped it and sent it to Darrel and he sent it to me. It was an exciting race! Here are some photos of her trip with Trina to Oregon.

 

Thursday, June 18th, 2026: Ruby's 17th birthday, Walmart shopping, J has a migraine, complained about breakfast, Wound doctor Heather, Dr. Su, wheelchair & walker delivery, PT Christine, Cafe Rio, homecare,

Monterrey, Mexico

Temple #110

Happy 17th Birthday Ruby! I texted Ruby to wish her a happy birthday. She is in Oregon. 

I went shopping at Walmart this morning to get some more Built bars. When I got to the rehab center James complained of having a migraine headache. He was in his wheelchair. He didn't like his breakfast of bacon, sausage, and eggs. I helped him change his stained shirt and get into his nicely made bed. 

A wound doctor named Heather came in to check his sore bottom. It is healing nicely. She said we need to doctor it two times a day with the cream she left for us. 

Dr. Su came in. I believe she is the orthopedic doctor here. She said we should see Dr. Chang about James's leg. He is the orthopedic doctor James saw in the hospital. I tried to get an appointment with Dr. Smithson and the earliest I could get was August 13th. I guess he is only in the Springerville office 2x a month. He is in the Show Low office two times a week but James is not registered there. I am a little frustrated about this situation.

I listened to President Oaks's conference talk while James sleeps.

A nice guy named Albert delivered a wheelchair and walker for James to take home. Albert shows me how to fold up the wheelchair and put the leg rests on and how to lower the walker to fit James. 

Christine came to take James to PT. He complained about pain in his ribs and she asked if anyone had suggested a binder for his ribs. No one had mentioned it before, and he definitely wanted to try it.

While James is having his PT session, I made a quick trip to Cafe Rio and got my chicken salad for lunch. When I returned Christine showed me how to massage James's ribs with some healing cream. Christine was most helpful. 

Wendi, the case manager, announced we have homecare and gave us a number to call when we get home, James signed Medicare dispute release papers.

James was too tired for lunch, I helped him into bed and he fell asleep. I ate my yummy salad and then James, one of the attendants, brought James a tuna sandwich, tomato and cottage cheese, a banana, and chocolate Thrive. We couldn't get a response by pushing the call button so I took the tiniest ice pitcher in the world downstairs, filled it with ice and what I thought was water, but turned out to be lemon-lime Gatorade. After eating James had just gotten into bed when President Lynn and Kathy Jones came to visit. President Jones had a can with a seat on it because he said hospital rooms never have enough places to sit. We had such a nice visit with them reminiscing about old times. He was our first bishop when we moved to Chandler as a young couple with no children and he was the stake president that called me as the stake Relief Society president and James as a bishop. Kathy was my first visiting teaching companion.

President told several of our friends from Chandler about James's accident and he read some messages from the following friends:

Sheri Carpenter, Martin Kempton, Carol Ray, Howard & Carol Gale, Theryl & Roberta Stapley, Nygra & Jerry Lamb, and Karen Bueler. After our visit we said our goodbyes and James and I settled in to watch a movie. 

James didn't like the sloppy joe they brought him for dinner. He says he doesn't like "sweet meat", so I gave him a shake and some Pom juice. He did eat the zucchini that was on his plate.

I made two trips downstairs taking things to the car so I won't have to do it all tomorrow. The plant that Brian's parents gave us is staying at Sheri & Ian's awhile longer as there is no more room left in the car. 

In the elevator, one of the other patience, an older man, said he loved the color of my hair. Why thank you, kind sir.

When I got to Stacy & Paul's, Adam, Joshua, and Alayna were talking about video games and characters, I felt like saying, "much ado about nothing." Instead I said, "You guys are funny, I can't even understand a word you are saying.

Good night, and sweet dreams.

James's room careboard

The backseat

Snacks