Wednesday, July 29th, 2026: Tom disappears after breakfast, Khole goes home after 3 hours of work, lots of thunder, no rain, 2 Lacey Chabert Christmas movies, James mouth hurts,

 

Sapporo, Japan

Temple #151.

Tom disappeared after breakfast today and we didn't see him until this evening coming off the hill. This, after staying inside most of the day yesterday. He came inside for awhile and laid down on my lap, then jumped down and eventually begged to go outside. Some days he's cuddly and needy, and other days he's very independent. 

Khloe and Gabe came to work this morning. Khloe only lasted about 3 hours before Gabe took her home. James wondered if it was because she didn't like the work. Gabe said no, she has stomach issues. James paid her $38.50. I'm not sure why he didn't pay her $42. Gabe stayed 8 hours and got $112. 

Lots of thunder this afternoon, but no rain. I made an appointment for James and I to go to the temple on Friday. His mouth is still bothering him from the two teeth he has had pulled. It it's not better by tomorrow, Pierce says to come back because he might have dry socket. The hurt goes on for both James and me.

James and I watched two Lacey Chabert Christmas movies this evening, "Christmas at Hart Castle", and then "Christmas in Rome." James didn't like the first one very well because it was based on a lie. He really liked the second one, even though he remembered seeing it before. I liked both of them, because the lie was for a good reason, they learned from it, and it all got sorted out in the end. I told James that we can always learn from others mistakes. I also watched a 2019 movie with Candace Cameron Bure called "Christmas Town." It was the best of the three movies.

"To Nephi, Jesus Christ was not someone distant or merely known by name. No, to Nephi, the name of Jesus was his salvation."

- Elder Aaron T. Hall

Ezra 7:26

And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Brian found Jesus in the plant above

the doll cabinet.

Mason loves the weighted turtle we

sent to Kacey.

I love this!

I wonder if we could get Scooter

to do this?

Tuesday, July 28th, 2026: Unfroze our check account, Gabe Peralta & Khloe Mack work for us outside, James's tooth pulled -not a pleasant experience, trip to town for stain & paint, Culver's, Tom is cuddly, rain tonite, Kacey gets her package, Christmas movies continue

 

Provo City Center, Utah

Temple #150.

The first thing I did this morning was call Chase and unfreeze our bank account. James was amazed at how easy it was.

Gabe Peralta and Khloe Mack worked for us today. It started raining about the time for them to quit. Khloe came in to use the restroom. I told her Brother Lambson was gone getting a tooth pulled. She said they would wait for him to get back, which was an indication to me that they were expecting to get paid. I told her we could pay them checks today or cash tomorrow. She went outside to talk to Gabe, came back and ask if they could have checks today. I wrote them each a check for $112 for 8 hours each. 

James's tooth pulling experience was quite horrendous. Pierce gave him five shots to deaden the pain. He kept bending the needles because he was hitting bone. He had to drill a hole in the bottom of James's jaw so he could shoot medicine in for pain. It was quite an ordeal. Pierce felt so bad he didn't charge him anything. 

After the tooth pulling James and I made a trip to town to get stain and paint. James says he is going to have Khloe paint the garage door. We drove through Culver's for my chicken cashew salad and James an ice cream. He put the cup of ice cream up against his jaw most of the way home because the cold felt good. He is pretty miserable. When we got home he took some meds and took a two hour nap. 

Tom was very "needy" today. He slept with me on the recliner two times today and then slept with James on the bed. I like it, but I didn't get much done. 

Kacey got her care package today and was very grateful. 

We got some rain this evening. Here are some of the Christmas movies I watched today: 2015 - "Once Upon a Holiday" starring Paul Campbell, 2016 - "Sleigh Bells Ring" Erin Cahill, David Alpay, 2017 - "Switched for Christmas" Candace Cameron Bure, 2018 - "Christmas in Love" with Brooke D'Orsay & Daniel Lissing. 

Lots of sitting today because I am not feeling well.

Culver's cashew chicken salad

Monday, July 27th, 2026: Sent Laura another bday card, J sees Pierce and has to have another tooth pulled, Dr. Ellsworth visit, Walmart, Circle K, Culver's, bank fraud on our checking account, more Christmas movies

Tijuana, Mexico

Temple 149.

I slept on the recliner last night because of my knee. 

James went to see Pierce this morning because his mouth is still bothering him. Pierce said the tooth next to the wisdom tooth he had pulled is rotten, deep down, and has to be pulled too. Pierce wanted to do it right then, but James has a doctor's appointment in a couple of hours and didn't want to do it today. He will be coming back tomorrow at 3 to get it pulled. 

Khloe Mack and Gabe Peralta are coming to work tomorrow. Gabe is Khloe's uncle and Gabe is also Tom Peralta's son who just got out of prison not too long ago. Khloe just turned 16 and wants to earn some money towards getting her own car. James wants her to work inside but I told him no. I am going to hire Kim to help me with inside work. He needs to find something outside for Khloe to do. He finally relented. 

We left for town around noon for James's 1:15 appointment. After checking in James was sent down to wait for an x-ray. Just ahead of us in the x-ray waiting line was Johnny Wilhelm and his mom Sandra. I gave Sandra a big hug and we had a nice visit. I love the Wilhelm family and Sandra is a saint!

James no longer has to wear his boot. There is still a hairline fracture. We need to check back in six weeks. If it is not healed, Dr. Ellsworth may want to move the screws in the hardware in his leg that are close to the fracture. 

The first thing we did when we got to Walmart was mail Laura's second birthday card. Who knows what happened to the first one. I must have done something wrong on the envelope. 

I sent James in one direction to get Coke Zero and DPZ while I went to the other side of the store to get non-food items, such as another TV tray and several other items. I also got a steak and some more turkey links.

Across the street to get gas at $4.34 a gallon and two Polar Pops. We saw Kerri Halcomb in Circle K and she helped me clean up the soda on the floor that James spilt. 

We went through the drive-thru at Culver's. I got a chicken cashew salad and James got vanilla ice cream in a cup with a waffle cone turned upside down on top. James said the cold ice cream fells good on his rotten tooth. I forgot how much I love this salad!

James got a call today from someone who said they were on the Chase fraud prevention team. They asked James if he had Zelled money to someone we had sent money to only once. When James told them no, they told him that fraud had been committed and he was to tell no one. He needs to come in to Chase tomorrow morning and close our checking account and open a new one. He is not to talk to any tellers because they think someone in the bank is the culprit. They made him an appointment at 10 at the Show Low office. 

When James got off the phone and told me about this call and how he wasn't supposed to tell me, I told him it sounded like fraud to me and that I was going with him tomorrow. 

An hour or two later, I got a call from someone at Chase fraud prevention department. When I told Aron, the person I spoke to, he said he had no record of such call being made and said the first call was fraudulent. He said he has seen this happen before and when the new account is open the hackers take your money. James spoke with him for quite awhile to determine if he was telling the truth. Aron said he was going to freeze our account and that we needed to call the 1-800 number on the back of our debit card to have the freeze taken off the account. I told James I would take care of it in the morning. Aron is legit.

James told Pierce about our experience and he said the same thing happened to Susan only she went in and closed her account and opened a new one and was taken for $20,000. 

Clouds today, but no rain. Christmas movies: 2014 - "One Christmas Eve".

Darrel's family

 

Sunday, July 26th, 2026: A day of highs and lows, mostly highs, Jamesons' speak in sacrament meeting, Mikki Gilbert, my lesson, cookies a hit, Sister Jensen's prayer, "The Trouble with Christmas Mistletoe"

 

Indianapolis, Indiana

Temple #148.

Today was a mix of highs and some lows, but mostly highs. My low was my left knee that is so stiff I can barely bend it.

I got up around 4:30 and finished the outline for my lesson. I also added one more handout to my packet. This one comes from Preach My Gospel, Chapter 6: "Seek Christlike Attributes", 'A Pattern for Becoming More Christlike.' 

I wore my black dress today with my pearl necklace and pearl earrings. I matched Linda Stephens, as she had on a black dress with white pearls. 

I knew my new black belt had been delivered to the post office. We left early and I picked up my belt and wore it with my dress. It is stretchy and fit perfectly. I love it.

The first people we saw when we drove up to the church were Roger & Mikki Gilbert. I have not seen Mikki since before James's accident. She was in a wheelchair as she has had her foot amputated and doesn't yet have a prothesis. James got to speak with Mikki while I was setting up my room.

I set up for my lesson while James looked for someone from the Primary and Young Women's to give handouts to.

The Jamesons', Georgie, Jeanette, and Devin spoke in sacrament meeting. I especially enjoyed Brother Jameson's talk about how he changed his life to become active in the church again. I used his example of giving up TV programs he knew he shouldn't be watching if he wanted the Spirit in his life in my lesson. 

There were several people gone today but we also had lots of visitors, including Camrie Hunsaker Griffin, who participated in Relief Society.

Sister Jensen gave a beautiful opening prayer in Relief Society, inviting the Spirit to be with us. We are off and running. I had listed on the chalkboard Christlike characteristics mentioned in the lesson and in Preach My Gospel. In closing I challenged the sisters to choose one Christlike attribute they would like to develop in their life and work on it for the next month. I told the sisters that mine was going to be patience.

I felt like the lesson and discussion went well. Teresa Smith is in the temple prep class with Debbie Schwarz. The class is taught by Judy Hunter. I told Teresa I would save her and Debbie a handout and would bring it next week. She seemed excited. I am excited that Debbie is preparing to go to the temple.

Kim's cookies were a hit. I handed them out at the beginning of the lesson and the handouts at the end. Those I spoke to after the lesson:

Tina Allen, Camrie Griffin, Linda Price, Rosie texted me as did Sue Young, and Linda Stephens direct messaged me on Facebook.

Several sisters talked with James when he came in to help me load up my things and said they enjoyed the lesson. One of these was Cheryl Sedig, the RS president. Today was Cheryl's birthday. I have a card for her but I thought her birthday was the 29th. I am her ministering sister so I made an appointment to go see her this week and bring her card and a small gift. 

This evening we FaceTime with Charlie, Kacey, and Jared. Charlie asked me if I would speak on the Holy Ghost at her baptism. I told her I would love to! It's on the 29th of August. We had a nice visit with them. We always love seeing their faces and talking to them.

Kacey is doing something amazing for the Fears' family. She is making a memory quilt featuring Tracy Fears, the father and husband who passed away in the accident. A friend is helping her with the quilt and they are embroidering things said about him when he passed. His name will be in the middle of the quilt. I am anxious to see it when it is complete and think it is such a wonderful idea!

"Our belief in the Resurrection. . . encourages us to fulfill our family responsibilities in mortality. It helps us live together in love in this life."

 President Dallin H. Oaks

2 Chronicles 30:27

Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.

San Francisco and Max's Marathon

Said by Sheri

Go Max!

This is the dress Charlie got when they went to

San Diego. I love it!

Saturday, July 25th, 2026: Anthony calls James, Brian fixes my phone ringer, Kim makes RS cookies, K& B leave for home, thunder & rain, Lynn Jones calls, started EML volume 7, blog, "Love Under the Mistletoe" wordstrips for lesson

 

Trujillo, Peru

Temple #147.

James woke up with a call from his friend, Anthony Romyak. Anthony just wanted to visit. He talked about his cat and his beautiful roses surrounding his property. It made James want to pay a visit to Anthony. It was good to hear from him.

My new phone has not been ringing and I'm not sure why. I asked Brian if he would look at it. He did and was baffled until he went in to settings and scrolled down to Sounds & Haptics. My ringtone was turned down. Brian turned it up and everything was fine. Thanks Brian!

Kim was making my oatmeal butterscotch, chocolate chip cookies for Relief Society tomorrow. She is making 48. James and I both tried one and we both loved them. Kim had quite a baking schedule for July. Here are the things that I remember: Brownies for Ruby, sugar cookies for Lola, snickerdoodles for workers who helped us. Cadbury chocolate brownies for Jared Ammon, Cadbury chocolate chip cookies for Joe, some kind of an apple cake for Max's birthday, two carrot cakes for Barbara Tignor's birthday, no-bake cookies for James - two batches, 48 oatmeal butterscotch and chocolate chip cookies, 100 chocolate chip cookies for Brian's elders quorum. 

There may be more, I will have to check with Kim. All of this baking and Kim hardly eats any carbs herself.

After Kim was finished with the cookies, she and Brian left for home. She is going home for a week to see Joe, her kitties, and to teach her Primary class. Stacy has been teaching the last month. 

Love these two!

Lots of thunder and lightning this afternoon and a little rain. Scooter was sprawled out asleep on the little table I have out on the deck. After a crash of thunder I looked out had he was hiding under the couch. It is raining all around us but we are just getting a slight drizzle here.

President Lynn Jones called me today to check on James's progress. We had a nice visit and I thanked him for his care and concern.

I started volume 7 of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion today. Niall Pierce kissed Emma at the end of journal six and I want to see where this relationship goes.

I spent time studying for my lesson tomorrow about the "Character of Christ" by President D. Todd Christofferson. This is such a good talk. Kim has only been gone a few hours and I already miss her.

I finished blogging July 9th and 10th then went in to watch the newest Hallmark Christmas movie, "Love Under the Mistletoe" starring Jen Lilley and Nick Bateman. It was nothing special but it was festive. I made wordstrips of the attributes of Christ from chapter six of "Preach My Gospel", The Attributes of Christ. James came in and joined me. I love it when we are cozy like this.

The picture of Christ Michelle Beckham

made me.

Joe and Belle

Friday, July 24th, 2026: 60th High School reunion in Snowflake, Walmart, showers on the way home but none in Vernon, Ruby finished her miniature, Kim mows lawn & James edges, Christmas movies

Payson, Utah

Temple #146.

I got up at 3 am and took my Prednisone. Later I took 2 Tramadol and 2 Tylenol. I want to feel my best for today's high school reunion. Before I left I took 2 more Tramadol and 2 more Tylenol. 

James and I left around 10 am. for Snowflake. The first event for our reunion is lunch at the Silver Creek Senior Center. I have the address in my phone but I wasn't using it. The address is on Main St. in Snowflake so I figured we couldn't miss it. I remember seeing on MapQuest that it was next to a Furniture Gallery. As we were going through Belly Button, the little community between Taylor and Snowflake, I saw the Furniture Gallery, so I was on "high alert." 

Northern Pioneer College had a sign, Silver Creek Senior Center so I made a turn and followed the sign around behind a building and there it was, the senior center, in a manufactured building. There was a big sign that said, "Welcome Class of 66." We thought we were still in Belly Button, but I guess we were on the edge of Snowflake. 

We went in the same time as one of my old boyfriends, Gene Coon. He was my boyfriend when we were in the 8th grade and he would walk to school with me everyday. I remember he had a job as a short order cook at a restaurant called the Malapai Inn. I was impressed that as an 8th grader he had such a "prestigious" job.

First we had to find our badge and then pay for our lunch before we found a place to sit for lunch. We visited with a few of our classmates before sitting down. I loved seeing my friend Sharon McCleve who came down from Utah to be here. I also enjoyed visiting with Deanne Hunt Hatch who is Rita's cousin on her dad's side. She told me her older sister Sonya has Rheumatoid Arthritis. Interesting that Rita and a cousin on both her mother's side of the family and her father's side of the family all for RA.

We sat by Ted & Carol Kiepke, and Gene Coon. There was an empty seat next to Gene and I told him maybe someone would like to come and sit by him. He commented, "No one wants to sit by me." I thought maybe Rita would but when I spoke with her she said John Payne had already asked her to sit by him and she didn't want to be rude. The only problem is, John has a wife. Rita says she is bedridden, but that shouldn't make a difference. She also said, "we aren't going to do anything." Later, when John left his seat, Gene went and sat by Rita. It made me laugh. I'm cheering Gene on because John is still married.

For lunch there was a small salad bar and homemade chicken noodle soup, pulled pork sandwiches, beans, and potato salad. For dessert there were some kind of cookies. James said the potato salad had a smoky flavor and was really good. 

We sang on high school song and then a gentleman with the last name of Adam's told the story of America's fight for freedom and the coming forth of the Constitution. It was really good, but a little long.

Mr. Adams, probably a relative of 

John Adam.

That's Ladon Warner holding the microphone. She is the one

that makes all of the reunion arrangements.

Ladon wants us to ride in Snowflake's 24th of July parade tomorrow. James and I will pass. She has also ordered lunches for everyone from Sonic. We told her we would not be here tomorrow. 

James and I snuck out a little early because it sounded like Ladon was going to go around and have everyone tell a little something about their lives. We didn't want to stay that long as we were both tired. We did stop at the Taylor Walmart and pick up a few things.

Those who attended the reunion: Ladon Warner, Deanne & Marion Hatch, Rita Tenney Solomon, Gene Coon, Ted & Carol Kiepke, John Payne, Bruce Greco, Barry Flake, Sharon McCleve Beck, Loretta & Randy Willis, Richard Farabee, Deon Whipple, Pete & Chris Whipple, Blake & Karen Sherwood, Alan & Delsey Frost, Kent & Ava Hall, Kathy Hunt Brewer, Charlie Hendrickson, Richard Gonzales, Michael & Margaret Chlarson, and two guys sitting by Loretta that I didn't recognize.

We got rained on on the way home but there was no rain in Vernon today. Brian is here with Fairlife shakes, and trail mix from Costco.

Kim mowed the back lawn and James edged it. 

I got a text from Ruby. She finished her miniature teahouse. Lola says she is almost finished with hers. Also, Darrel & Trina got a new truck. 

It was 117 in Phoenix today.

Today's Christmas movies: "Christmas Scavenger Hunt" starring Kevin McGarry, "Double Holiday" starring Kristopher Polaha.

James, Barry Flake, Gene Coon

James and I at our reunion

 

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026: Happy Birthday Summer! Inklings - A Mary Magdalene Day, Kat & Larry here, trip to town - mail Kacey's pkg, return cane w/seat, Charlie's scriptures, HD, call from Harold, more rain, finished 65 handouts, Kim & cookies, more Christmas movies

 

Cordoba, Argentina

Temple #145.

Inklings was so good today. Emily discussed President Uchtdorf's talk, "Encounter at the Empty Tomb." These were Emily's suggestions to come closer to Christ:

1. Get 10 minutes of sunlight every morning.

Remember, Christ is the Light of the world.

2. Have your first encounter with Christ through prayer, scripture study, etc.

3. Go forth testifying and doing good.

4. What did I feel, see, experience, today?

5. Consider this a disciples journey. (Kacey, did you get #5?)

Kacey ordered Charlie's scriptures and carrying case today and I agreed to pay for them as I have done for all of our grandchildren.

Kat & Larry came today, maybe for the last time. Kim, James and I made a trip to town to mail Kacey's care package, return the cane with the seat, and buy some more stain at Home Depot. While we were in Home Depot shopping, Harold called and said that Polly's funeral wouldn't be until August 22nd and they didn't know where it would be yet.

We got some more rain today and I got a flash flood warning on my phone. I kept getting the warning over, and over, and over again. Maybe it was for the Kick'n'Back camp. They are down in a wash.

Kim and I finished my 65 handouts for Relief Society, Young Women leaders and Primary leaders. 

Along with the handouts each sister in Relief Society will get an oatmeal butterscotch cookie.

Kim has been making cookie dough all week and freezing it for their ward's elder's quorum. Brian is the elder's quorum president and he ask her if she could make 100 cookies. They Young Men and Primary kids have been coming in to get cookies. When the 100 are gone, they are gone.

Kim is also making two kinds of no-bake cookies for James. He remembers his mom making these cookies and he loves them. The first batch she made had peanut butter, and the second batch had Nutella. Honestly, as much as I like Nutella, I liked the peanut butter ones better.

More Christmas movies!!

Happy Birthday Summer!

The series I watched when I was first

bed-ridden with arthritis.

Dr. Hamblin's house on Woodland Rd. in Lakeside.

He has 12 or 13 children.