Monday, June 22nd, 2026: Happy Birthday Gail, Dr. Smithson fiasco, Kim mowed the back lawn, sweeping off patio, DVR on Dish not working, "Remarkably Bright Creatures", Bucc-ee's grand opening, dream about Janna's marathon

The Hague, Netherlands

Temple #114

Happy Birthday Gail! We hope it was a good one.

I got up at 5:23. My left foot really hurts! I had prayer, Perk, a shake, and a sugar cookie. James gets his meds and goes back to sleep. For breakfast I made a perfectly creamy bowl of Malt-O-Meal for him. He also had his Pom juice, some walnuts, and a shake. 

When we left the hospital they told us to make an appointment with James's primary care physician this first week we are home. I called while we were still in Chandler and the soonest they can see him at the Springerville office is August 13th. Come to find out he is only at that office 2x a month. What? That's crazy! I called his Show Low office but they won't see him there because they don't have any of his information. He is in his office in Show Low 2x a week. We are so frustrated!

James tried to call Dr. Smithson on his private line I got off the stake directory. Dr. Smithson is also President Smithson in our stake presidency.  It went straight to voicemail. James left a message but he never got an answer. He is so frustrated and he is worried he hurt his leg when he fell in Circle K.

I got a little frustrated with James today. He wanted the backyard mowed. Kim offered, he said, "let's go do it now." It was the middle of the afternoon. I said, "why don't we wait until 6 when it's shady in the backyard. James then decided to go take a nap. He woke up around 5 and mowing the lawn was still on his mind. Kim, the people pleaser she is, went out with James to start the mower. She mowed the entire backyard before it was shady, and her face was beet red when she finished.

I had a bad pain on the left side of my chest and was quite grumpy. I was sweeping off the patio and scowling at James. He knew I was upset. I went inside and got a text from Kim: "Dad wants to come in." I calmed down even though I still felt miserable and helped James inside. 

After dinner we wanted to watch a movie. I couldn't get the Dish dvr to work so we could watch the latest recorded Hallmark movie. Kim suggested a Netflix movie, "Remarkably Bright Creatures" starring Sally Fields. We watched it and really enjoyed it.

Today was the grand opening of the first Bucc-ee's in Arizona. It is in Glendale and over 40,000 cars came on this first day.

I had a dream last night about Janna Grombach so I called to tell her about it today. In my dream she asked me if I would run a marathon with her. When I told her she laughed and said that was the last thing she would ever ask me to do. She asked about James and I mentioned to her that we needed a new mattress on our bed. She said her mom's was brand new from Costco and she would be happy to give it to us. Janna is such a good friend.

Rosie and Rick Lauritzen brought us dinner today. Ham, beans, and corn. Rosie also said I could keep the bag and use it when I gave my lessons on Sunday. Rosie is a dear friend too.

Bishop Crane had to re-dig his well. You can hear

the rigging from our deck outside our bedroom.

Quotes from the Emma M. Lion Journals

Found these after I posted Father's Day:

Trina's post

Addy's post

Rowan

Ruby

Trina posted this.

 

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.