Tuesday, July 7th, 2026: Mornings are a challenge, trip to town with Jim & Kim, bank, Lowe's, Culver's, Susan Goodman's visit, appointment w/ Pierce and my 9 cavities, J finished House of David, Christmas movie

 

Draper, Utah

Temple #129

Mornings are a trial right now. I take my Tramadol around six and go back to bed until I feel a little better. Most of the time I take Tylenol too. Right now my hands are really bothering me.

Today was a busy day. Kim, James, and I went to town. Kat & Larry are working so we had to stop at the bank and get some cash for them. We also went to Lowes to return a smoke detector which was the wrong model. Kim came so she could get the wheelchair in and out of the car. By the way, I love my handicap plaque! 

After our two errands we stopped at Culver's to pick up an order of shrimp for James and I to share. Kim didn't want anything. 

At three this afternoon, one of my ministering sisters, Susan Goodman came for a visit. I really enjoy Susan's company, she is a good friend. Susan left and I followed her home for my dental appointment with her husband Pierce. Susan is Pierce's assistant so I get to see her some more. 

I can't believe I have 9 cavities that Pierce had to fill. He said it could be from the medication that I am on which causes dry mouth. Dry mouth is a sure way to get cavities. From now on I am going to be more aware of taking care of my teeth.

I only had to have one shot. Most of the cavities were small. Pierce also rebuilt my cracked tooth and when he was finished, I felt like I had a makeover and it only cost me $320. 

While I was gone James finished the last episode of season 2 of "House of David." Season 3 should be out by the beginning of 2027. 

Kim and I watched a Christmas movie this evening. It was one we had seen before.

"When we strive to follow the Savior, He will use us to bless others."

- Elder Michael John U. Teh

2 Kings 2:11

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Four beauties, inside and out!

Sheri's dinner at the place where 

Jazmin works.

I just can't get enough

Picture of a mourning dove taken from

Dave Elkin's wildlife camera.

Monday, July 6th, 2026: My hands hurt every morning, my computer crashed - using Brian & Kim's laptop, Dump w/ the Tarwater's, post office - happy birthday to Rosa, patriotic puzzle for Kim, "House of David",

 

Twin Falls, Idaho

Temple #128

My hands hurt me every morning. It makes it difficult to start my day. They are a little better after taking some Tramadol and then some Tylenol.

My computer crashed this morning. Thank goodness my blog is on a website so I can access it even when my computer crashes. I used Kim's laptop to work on my blog.

At one o'clock this afternoon, James, Kim, and I left for the dump. It was so busy after being closed on Saturday. The line was backed up to the highway. Kim had called Neal & Kim Tarwater to help us unload our huge pile of junk in the back of James's truck. The Tarwater's were ahead of us in line and when they were finished unloading their stuff, they said they would come back on their ATV to help us, which they did. Neal backed the truck up for me, which was most helpful. Neal, both Kims, and James emptied the truck while I sat and waited. James was proud of himself. He said he thought it was going to cost us $50 for our load but he talked the guy down and it only cost $16. Thank you Tarwater's! 

It looked like it was going to rain all day, but it never did. I felt like shooting an arrow at a cloud that looked like it was full of rain. 

We stopped at the post office on the way home from the dump. I told Kim there were two places to meet people in Vernon, besides church of course, and those two places are the dump and the post office. Today I met my friend Rosa Westbrook. Her birthday was a few days ago so I wished her a happy birthday. Rosa is my age. She has 9 kids, 7 boys and 2 girls. I picked up the patriotic jigsaw puzzle I got for Kim.

Happy 250th

After lunch James watched a couple of episodes of "House of David" and worked on Applegate's paperwork for a while. He and Kim watered the back lawn. Kim and I took clean sheets upstairs and set them on the beds they are to be put on. Kim said she will put them on tomorrow. Thanks Kim.

We watched the newest Hallmark Christmas in July movie, "Christmas Under Construction" starring Daniel Lissing & Jessica Lowndes. We all like Daniel but find Jessica a little unbelievable.

I started listening to "Seeking Persephone" on my Deseret Book Plus app on my phone just to compare with the movie. I also started following Sarah M. Eden on Instagram. She has two more movies coming out, one in August. I also texted with Kacey today.

One of Sarah's new movies

Some of those clouds I wanted to shoot

an arrow into.

Sunday, July 5th, 2026: James's 1st sacrament meeting in 5 weeks, fasting for religious freedom, I bear my testimony, food pantry w/ Paula, Goodbye to our visitors, K&B arriving, "Seeking Persophone"

 

Panama City, Panama

Temple #127

Today James attended the first sacrament meeting he has attended in five weeks. We were sad that none of our visitors came with us. Trina had said yesterday they were planning on coming today but when Darrel got up and discovered he forgot his white shirt and his dress shoes he decided he wasn't coming. No one else came either. We were a little sad. I am grateful to Darrel for feeding the horses again. 

The First Presidency has asked us to fast for religious liberty today. I took the opportunity to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting. I wanted to thank everyone for fasting and praying for James. I also testified of the importance of religious freedom and how we read the scriptures and prayed to help us feel the Spirit in the hospital. 

James didn't want to stay for the second hour, so we left after sacrament meeting. We sat way in the back because James didn't want to draw a lot of attention. We still had several people come up and talk to us; the Tignor's, the Reynold's, Collin DeWitt, just to name a few.

When we got home Michael, Xander, and Jazmin were ready to leave. We thanked them for all they did as we said our goodbyes.

Michael, Xander, Jazmin

A little before noon I met Paula Johnson at the food pantry. She helped me to unload the boxes ohf food in my car, and we stacked the cans in with the other food. She said those expiration dates really don't mean anything. She said she used a can of Rotel that was 12 years old once and it was fine. 

Janna Grombach brought over her mother's handicap sign that you hang in your car. She is giving it to me and it never expires. Thank you Janna!

James was exhausted and after lunch he slept most of the afternoon. 

Darrel, Trina, and Lola left for New Mexico and Addy, Rowan and Ruby left for the valley this afternoon. Lola was crying because Ruby is staying with Addy for a couple of weeks so she can go to FSY with her friends in Flagstaff. Before Addy left she told Darrel she hadn't changed the oil in her car for awhile. He checked and she was a quart low. Darrel told her to stop and get a quart of oil when she gets to Show Low and have Rowan put it in. 

Ruby, Trina, Darrel, Lola, Addy, Rowan

We will miss you!

Thank you for coming!

Kim and Brian arrived back around 4 this afternoon. Brian casts my phone to the TV so we can watch "Seeking Persephone" before he turns around and leaves to go home. Kim, James and I watched the four episodes. It took us 3 hours and we absolutely loved it. James and I have read the book on Deseret Book Plus. It is written by Sarah Eden, one of our favorite authors. She has lots of books that we have read. Watching this movie/series makes me want to read the other Lancaster family books in the series. 

So good!!!

James & Lola

July 4th, 2014

 

Saturday, July 4th, 2026: Happy 12th Birthday Lola!! Popcorn mess in the kitchen, Michael apologizes and cleans up, D & L feed the horses, biscuits, eggs, bacon, fruit - Trina & Jazmin help, Addy goes on a run, Paula will take expired pantry food, Rowan stains logs, well house work continues, dump closed, Darrel installs smoke detector & does some power washing, Greens Peak for M,X,J, Dinner & they do the dishes

 

Curitiba, Brazil

Temple #126.

Happy 250th Birthday America 

&

Happy 12th Birthday Lola!

I got up to a popcorn mess in the kitchen. When Michael got up he apologized and cleaned it up so we could start breakfast.

I am so grateful for Darrel & Lola. They fed the horses for me. Lola absolutely loves the horses and wanted to go for a ride, but it never happened. So sad.

I love that Lola loves the horses!

Trina and Jazmin helped me fix breakfast. We had the same thing as yesterday only we substituted ham for bacon. Addy went on a run while everyone else was eating. Smart girl.

Something happened while I was taking a nap yesterday. Trina and the girls were looking for something to do, so they went to Michael who is sort of spearheading the project. Michael told them to go through the pantry and get rid of everything that had expired. James is against this, but he didn't know. He says a can is good, no matter the date, as long as it isn't bulging. Anyway, I was bothered by the waste because there were a lot of cans, so I got an idea during the night. I think I remember Paula Johnson, a friend who runs the community food bank, that they would take expired canned goods. I called Paula and sure enough she said they would love to have my expired food. I had Trina and the girls box up the cans and put them in the back of my car. After church tomorrow I am meeting Paula at the food pantry which is located in the same building as the library, just down from the church.

Lola had a birthday party this morning and opened the pile of gifts that her mom brought for her. 

Darrel is saying, "Don't take my picture"!

Sorry Darrel.

Ready for the Sock Hop

The girls washed windows today. Jazmin and Trina included. We even found a couple more little Jesus figures. Lola kept asking to watch "Iron Giant" and I wasn't sure why. I knew there was a Jesus behind the movie. Rowan even went outside and got the one out of the tree.

Darrel put new brakes on Addy's car for her today.

I fixed lunch. Hamburgers and hotdogs. We ran out of hamburgers and Lola wanted one. I felt bad but Trina found a can of tomato soup and asked if she could have it instead. Of course. Lola was totally happy because she loves anything with tomatoes. She ate so much tomato soup when she was here. After lunch I went into the bedroom to rest with Tom. 

Michael and Xander finished up in the well house and loaded up James's truck with a huge pile of stuff to take to the dump. Too bad it isn't open today. I guess Kim and I will have to go on Monday. 

Darrel installed the smoke detector downstairs so Kim will be happy. Aunt Faye and Dennis both checked in on James.

After work and before dinner Michael and Xander too Jazmin for a ride up to Green's Peak. They saw lots of wildlife and Jazmin thought the view from on top was beautiful. We saved dinner for them, pork chops, beans, and corn and they agreed to do the dishes. 

Addy made a blueberry loaf cake and Lola made a strawberry cake for her birthday, so we had lots of sweets.

It was a great day and I think James was happy about the progress that was made.

For those of us who were up and in the dining

room, we got to see a deer drinking from the

horses water. James missed it.

He refused to wear the harness we bought.

Trina was a little stressed.

My new plants

The Lambson family 4th of July firecracker,

Lola!

She started out as a little sparkler.

President Oaks

Friday, July 3rd, 2026: big breakfast, Home Depot to get supplies, Walmart - J waits in car, lots of mail, Millie a hug & kiss, D's family arrives, nap while Trina cleans pantry, Darrel meets a Lambson, Corn Hoe, Dinner, Smores

 

Rexburg, Idaho

Temple #125.

Jazmin helped me fix breakfast this morning. We made biscuits, scrambled eggs and ham, and set out some fruit. After breakfast Michael and Xander were ready to work. James wants them to start in the well house. The garage has been set on the back burner. After assessing the situation a bit,  Xander asked if we could get some large bins to put things in. I told him I would make a trip to town.

James came with me to town. Our first stop was Home Depot where I got six bins and lids. We also got masks, gloves, paint, primer and some drywall mud. This is all for cleaning out the moldy well house.

James was tired so while I went in Walmart he stayed in the car. I only had a few things to get: a meat thermometer, labels, fruit, salad, burgers, and cheese. 

We had lots of mail waiting for us at the Vernon post office. I got to see my friend Millie Scott at the post office and give her a hug and kiss. She was so concerned about James and offered to help. She is so sweet!

Darrel, Trina, Ruby, and Lola arrived around 3pm, and Addy and Rowan a little later. Addy needs new brakes, and we forgot the smoke detector for downstairs, and we want plants for the backporch, and since there is a parade in town in the morning, Darrel, James, and Addy made a trip into town. 

Rowan and Lola played Trina and Ruby in a game of Corn Hole. I believe Trina and Ruby won.

So glad someone is using this game I bought!

For dinner we had roast beef, mashed potatoes, rolls, green beans with bacon, and for dessert an apple cake made by Addy, or if you preferred, Smores by the fire.  I was exhausted and was so grateful when Darrel stepped in to do the dishes. He told me about meeting someone in a store and they got to talking. This guy has kids the same age as Ruby and Lola. When Darrel asked the guy his name, he said, "oh I'm a Lambson." Darrel doesn't remember his first name.

This is what happens when you move to a small town in New Mexico.

Smore making

More cornhole

Addy and Ruby planting flowers. That looks like Michael's water

bottle on the table and some of the tools he and Xander are using

in the well house. I didn't get any pictures of him and Xander working today, but they worked hard. There was more to do in

that tiny well house than meets the eye.

Ruby and Lola working on their miniature bakery and tea house

with some help from Trina. Looks like the guys left some tools

on this table too.

Two beautiful people, inside and out!