Saturday, July 18th, 2026: Bagged up garbage and sent $9 with Chuck, run off handouts and work on my blog, Eva's, Beh w/ Kim & Brian, James's 2 houses, simply overwhelmed, "A Snowbound Holiday"

 

Calgary, Alberta

Temple #140.

I watched a Christmas movie on my phone this morning before James and I bagged up garbage for Chuck to take to the dump. I put $9 on top of one of the bags.

While working on my blog this morning I ran off my handouts.

At 12:30 the four of us, James, Kim, Brian, and I left for Snowflake in Brian's Bronco, Bruce. I required a stool to get in the back seat. We are all going to Eva's for lunch. Kim & Brian had plans and I ask if we could come, offering to pay for everyone. 

Kim had her stuffed Poblano chili, I had a chili relleno, Brian had a sour cream enchilada and taco, #2 on the menu, and James had his green chili chicken enchilada with a side of refried beans. 

After lunch Kim wanted to see the houses that James had lived in as a teenager. We found two out of three:

It rained most of the afternoon and in to the evening. It was so beautiful!

We stopped at the Walmart in Taylor so I could get some envelopes and labels for my handouts. James bought two watermelons, one for the horses and one for him. 

All my handouts are runoff. Now all I have to do is cutout, paste, laminate, and write the name of the lesson on the envelopes, and write on the KitKat bars. Thank goodness Kim will be here to help.

As I look around the house, I see so many things I want to do but can't seem to get anything done because I don't feel well. I am simply overwhelmed. When I see all that needs to be done outside, I am overwhelmed for James. We have more dead trees and he says he needs to cut them all down. There is also one section of railing to fix on the deck. He says he needs a new log to attach this section to. He has to go up on the hill, chop down a tree, shave it and shape it into a log. 

We still have not notarized the addendum to our trust. James is holding back and time is ticking on.

Our movie tonight was the newest from Hallmark, "A Snowbound Holiday."

"Because Jesus Christ conquered death, surely He can conquer any danger, confusion or doubt we face."

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

2 Kings 21:12

Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

Scott Tibbetts leaving on his mission to

Taiwan.

Friday, July 17th, 2026: Handouts, no rain, Brian sets up James's new computer, Star Wars puzzle, text w/ Stacy, cancelled Netflix account, town by myself Walmart only, dinner for James, Brian cooks for Kim, "Following 'Yonder Star"

 

Brigham City, Utah

Temple #139

Kim is helping me with my lesson handouts. I don't think I could do it without her.

We got no rain today and Brian said maybe he brought bad luck. I don't think so. He helped James set up his new computer and transferred all of his files. 

Kim worked on her Star Wars puzzle. It's much harder than the patriotic one and is taking a long time, but she will finish.

I texted with Stacy and she told me about delivering in the huge storm they had on Monday. She saw at least 20 downed trees in east Mesa. Monsoons are here!

I did two blog posts today, cancelled my Netflix account and our Dish protection plan and then went to Walmart by myself.

I bought turmeric for Brian and a honeydew for James. Kim forgets to tell me that James wanted some vegetable beef soup. After I get home and put the groceries away, I fix some dinner for James. I went downstairs in the years supply room and found a can of vegetable beef soup from 2015 and brought it up. I fixed it for James, along with his favorite crackers, cottage cheese and fresh pineapple. He said the soup was delicious. Kim couldn't believe it when I told her.

BTW, when Brian is here, he cooks every meal for Kim. 

We watched a great family Christmas movie this evening: "Following Yonder Star" starring Brooke D'Orsay. We all enjoyed it.

Mason

Phoenix sky

Thursday, July 16th, 2026: Inklings, "Love @ the Thanksgiving day Parade", Brian on his way, Kim says she's taking a shower and I'm on "Dad" duty, clean frig, "Seeking Persephone" audio book, Emma M. Lion, rain, started copying bookmarks, Brian here, Christmas movie

 

Manaus, Brazil

Temple #138

Inklings this morning with Emily. It's always a great day when it's Inklings day. Today's talk was "Jesus Christ - The True Vine" by Elder Ulisses Soares. 

Inklings Affirmation

I am deeply rooted in Jesus Christ. His life flows through me, giving me strength, peace, and purpose each day. As I abide in Him, I bear good fruit and become all He created me to be.

I watched one of my all-time favorite Hallmark Christmas movies, "Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade." It was made in 2012 and stars Autumn Reeser and Anthony Cupo. I have to watch it every year.

Brian is on his way up. Kim says she's taking a shower and I'm on "Dad" duty. Okay. Thank goodness he has an inside job keeping him busy. He has the Applegate plans spread all over the dining room table figuring out counter measurements for Tamara.

We had a nice rain this morning and again Kim was worried about the horses. She said Luna's stall is completely flooded. We need to get some hay for their stalls after James digs the trenches. 

I cleaned out the refrigerator today. It was pretty major and there was lots of Snapware to put away afterwards. I hate to throw food away, but no one was eating it and some of it had been there for a couple of weeks. 

I listened to "Seeking Persephone" while doing my two blog posts. I also took a break and read from Emma M. Lion, volume 6. 

I started copying my Attributes of God bookmarks for my lesson next week. I need to do 8 handouts a week to be finished by next Sunday.

Brian arrived this afternoon. Kim & Brian seem genuinely happy to see each other. Brian brought horse feed and a big bag of cat food.

We watched another Christmas movie before going to bed.

Is this AI?

Adding to my handout envelope.

New Lambson family book

 

Wednesday, July 15th, Laura's birthday, sent a card Monday, J, K, T leave, rain this afternoon and evening, no watering! Kim worried about horses, Christmas movies,"The Snow Must Go On" quote, Applegate's - see Shelly

 

Kansas City, Missouri

Temple #137.

Happy Birthday Laura. Laura is a living miracle, and we are so grateful to have her in our lives. We sent her a card on Monday. 

Jared, Taliq, and Kaitlin left this morning. I was having a bad morning and did not make it out of the bedroom to say goodbye. Kim took the pictures.

Taliq, Kate, Jared Ammon

Yes, those are her pajamas pants

I got up after my Tramadol and Tylenol went to work. 

It rained this afternoon and into the night. Kim was happy she didn't have to do any watering. She is so worried about the horses. She went out to feed them some oats and said they were shivering and the water was coming into their stables. James says when he's feeling better he will go out and dig trenches around the outside of the stable to divert the water. I distracted Kim from worrying about the horses by having her watch a Christmas movie with me. It's our favorite thing to do in July. 

Kim has us drive over to Applegate's today to look for something he thinks he might have left there. It's a stick, like a yardstick only bigger, that he may have left there. At first we didn't see it, but then Kim go out of the car and went looking and found it, and we were on our way out when someone came out of the house. It was Shelly, the Applegate's daughter, and one of my former young women. She had come home from work for lunch and to check on the dog. We visited a few minutes and I introduced her to Kim. Shelly was my all-time favorite young woman, with Trenda Wilhelm being a close second. 

We watched two Christmas movies, "If I Only Had Christmas" starring Candace Cameron-Bure, and Warren Christy. It was fun to look for all the Wizard of Oz references in this movie. The other movie, "The Snow Must Go On" wasn't quite as good but I wrote down a quote from the movie that both Kim and I really liked:

"Someday is the one day that will never come, until you make time for it."

Love that she's reading the

Book of Mormon before her baptism.

Reminds me of Michael

How many times can I post these two together sleeping?

I love her voice in this movie.

My favorite all-time movie.

Do you know how many times I have seen it?

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026: Haboob in the valley, Kate & the guys leave for Greens Peak @ 6:30 am, shake & cake for breakfast, texts from Kacey & Trina checking on James, Hemp cream, rain after JA & Taliq finish their run, J's new computer here, Chase 45 minute call about LOC

 

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Temple #136

Well, I guess the monsoons have started. There was a big storm in the valley last night that closed down Sky Harbor Airport. 

Jared, Taliq, and Kate left this morning for Green's Peak at 6:30 am. The guys are running up and back, almost 34 miles in honor of Jared Ammon turning 34 this week. We are at 7,500 feet and Green's Peak is around 10,000 feet. 

I had a shake and cake for breakfast before I fed the cats. Sammy and Scooter are hiding because we have company. I am quite miserable this morning, so I lie back down for a nap. Sheri, Kacey, and Trina all checked on James. It's nice to have a family that cares.

Kim brought me some Hemp cream when she came back up last week. She said Joe had done some research and found this particular one got really good reviews. James and I both feel like it helps us with our pain. 

I went to the post office this afternoon and picked up my Attributes of God bookmark. I also met Michelle Beckham at her mom's and picked up the picture of Christ she did for me. I need both of these things for my lesson this week. Michelle asked for $30. I gave her $40.

The guys and Kate got back around 2:30, about an hour before it started raining hard. What an accomplishment!

Coming up our road.

Kate, Jared, and Taliq celebrated tonight by going to Cattlemen's for steak. I told them next time they need to go to Charlie Clark's instead.

Monday, July 13th, 2026: JA, Taliq, Kate are here, I fix them breakfast, they all go to town, J&I go to town, Bank, Home Depot, PO-Wet Vac, "Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper"

San Salvador, El Salvador

Temple #135

Jared Ammon, Taliq, and Kaitlyn are here. Jared and Taliq are running to Green's Peak and back tomorrow and Taliq is their "safety" girl or the one who brings drinks and refreshments to them. Kaitlyn, or Kate, as Jared calls her, seems very nice and also very young.

I made everyone scrambled eggs, ham and toast for breakfast. Afterwards our three visitors went into town.

Kat and Larry are here today. They are usually here on Tuesday and Thursdays and I go into town on Tuesday morning and get cash out for the week to pay them. I was a little miffed that I had to go to town on a Monday. 

James went with me to town. Kim asked if she needed to come and we both told her no. I told her we were just going to the bank to get money out to pay Kat & Larry and to the post office. 

James and I head out and he casually mentions when we are about 10 miles down the road, "oh, by the way, I need to go to Home Depot to get some stain." What? I told Kim she didn't need to come because we were only getting the mail and some cash. "I know, but I need some stain." Why didn't you say so earlier? "I don't know."

I picked up my wet vac and John, the postmaster said I smelled good. He gave me a dolly to carry the vac out to the car. A guy named Paul helped me put the vac in the back of the car. James was upset because he says he has several. I said that might be true, but this one was for my car only and was mine and it has attachments that I need to vacuum out my car. Enough said. It's quiet until we get to the bank. 

After the bank we went to Home Depot and then to get gas and back home. 

This evening Taliq made James a burger. Jared Ammon and Kate are cooking hotdogs outside on the fire in the firepit. Kim, James and I were watching "Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper." It is one of my all-time Hallmark favorite Christmas movies. 

Tom enjoyed sleeping on my lap. He was very cuddly tonight.

Love

Are you sure?

Cute idea

What a fun grandma Rebecca is!

Mason and Charlie

 

Sunday, July 12, 2026: All 3 of us are miserable & tired but we go to church anyway, Robles family speaks in sacrament meeting, back row w/ Kim, Kim frosts 2 cakes, leave for Barbara's surprise party with 2 cakes, ice cream and all the paper goods, plus a birthday card, Happy 90th to a wonderful person, "O Little Christmas Market"

Kyiv, Ukraine

Temple #134

All of us felt pretty miserable this morning but we went to sacrament meeting anyway because it was the right thing to do, and because we wanted to partake of the sacrament. Of course we sat in the very back row with Kim, the Reynolds', and the Tignors', the gun toters.

The Robles' family were the speakers in sacrament meeting today. Makenzi, the 11-year-old girls' talk was my favorite. I felt like she put a lot of effort into her talk and she quoted lots of scriptures. I texted Natalie, her mom and told her how much I enjoyed all of their talks but be sure and tell Makenzi hers was my favorite. 

None of us felt like staying for the second hour, James was especially uncomfortable, so we left. Naughty us. I talked to Amy Reynolds who is teaching Relief Society today and told her I knew she would do a great job and that I wasn't avoiding her class. It's just that James was hurting and needed to get home and in bed. Amy is a wonderful person and a great teacher.

Kim made cream cheese frosting and frost two cakes, and it took her most of the afternoon. The cake board wouldn't fit in my cake carrier on either cake, so we used box tops. We sat one in the back of the car and James held the other one and off we went to surprise Barbara.

We arrived a little before five. Cope Reynolds was there with T-Bo. Amy had gone with Barbara to visit their new neighbors, the Hansen's. Other guests soon arrived and we all sang Happy Birthday to Barbara when she and Amy came in. 

We sat around and ate cake and ice cream and then Barbara asked people to share what books they were reading. Susan Goodman said she was reading a book, I don't remember the title, about an 86 year old man and all of the wisdom he had learned throughout his lifetime. 

Pierce was next. He was reading a book about the pros and cons of vaccinations. He also is reading about the Revolution and he and Susan saw the movie, "Young Washington." 

Susan Maxwell who is leading the charge against the proposed wind turbines in Vernon, read a1400 page booklet about the company who makes and distributes the turbines. She wants to know her enemy. She says she gets up at 4 am to accomplish this daunting task. 

Barbara is reading about what would happen if a country attacked us with an electro-magnetic pulse which would disrupt our entire electrical system and power grid. 

I decided not to share that I am reading a proper romance novel from the Regency period called, "Seeking Persephone."

I sat by my friend Oksana and so enjoyed visiting with her about her geese and chickens and just life in general. Here is a list of all who attended the party: Ralph & Cheryl Sedig, Susan & Don Maxwell (the only non-members), T-Bo & Barbara, Cope & Amy, Lynn & Roger Wallace, Lynda Finnell and Oksana, and Pierce & Susan Goodman. 

Barbara Tignor's 90th Birthday Party

Barbara and Lynn Wallace

Such a sweetie!

After returning from the party Kim and I watched Hallmark's latest Christmas movie, "O Little Christmas Market."