Wednesday, December 12, 2012

I am reading Mormon chapter 6 and crying.  Everyone is wicked, except Moroni, who is keeping the record.  I quote from Mormon 6:17 - "O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord!  O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!"

I talked to Sheri yesterday and asked her what Evan wanted for Christmas.  She said he wants a train that works.  I saw one yesterday at The Book Barn.  I made a trip into town this morning to pick it up.  Afterwards I did some shopping at Walmart and then stopped at Wendy's for some chili.  I didn't get a frosty this time.  I am trying to cut down on my sugar consumption.  I am surviving on sugar free cough drops and diet Dr. Pepper. 

My visiting teachers, Alicia Hunsaker, and Linda Price came by for a visit this afternoon.  I always enjoy their visits.  Poor little Colter was sick today and never left his mother's lap.

I made chocolate chip cookies this afternoon to take to Mutual.  Both the young men and young women are going to Mary Swift's basketball game.  I was the only Young Women leader who went.  When we got there Shelly and I were the only ones with money.  So we paid for everyone.  I am sure the ward will reimburse us.  Monte and Tasha's daughter Kaitlynn is on the team also and Dennis, Harold, Vickie, Cher, Monte, and Tasha were all at the game.  I sat by Dennis and had a nice visit. We lost the game to St. Johns.

I came home and fell asleep watching "Matchmaker Santa."  James tried to call me but I had my phone turned off.  I texted him to let him know I was okay.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

I love the Christmas stories in this month's Ensign.  I made a trip to town today to get baking supplies.  I am baking cookies tomorrow and Thursday for my sisters that I visit teach and for Mutual tomorrow night.  I also bought 15 bananas to bring home and ripen so I can make banana nut bread for the people James home teaches per his request.  He wanted banana nut bread instead of cookies.

I got phone call from my friend Karen Schneider today.  She wanted to know if I was going to come down anytime soon.  She does a danish brunch for some of her friends and she wanted me to come.  I told her I wasn't coming down until the 24th but would call her after Christmas and we could get together for lunch of something.  She also told me some sad news about President Heyman and his wife Diane who have been serving a mission in Argentina.  President Heyman was called to be the mission president in Restencia a year ago last July.  Diane suffered a stroke in September and has been in the hospital in Buenos Aires which is 12 hours away from Restencia.  Diane was sent back home  to Chandler in hopes that the hospitals in the United States could help her more than they have been able to in Argentina.  President Heyman's mother said he has not been released and everyday he gets up and puts his suit and missionary badge on.  Diane is one of the most obedient and faithful people I know.  I am sure that whatever happens she will have the Lord's blessings.

In other news from Chandler, the actress, Jane Seymour was at the Chandler Deseret Bookstore today signing her new book.  Cathi and Mary Johnson both had their picture taken with her and posted it on Facebook.  Fun times. 

I paid bills today, ordered some Christmas presents online and watched a couple of  Christmas movies, "A Princess for Christmas", and "Love at the Christmas Table".

Monday, December 10, 2012

I knew James was leaving for the valley today so I got up and made him breakfast, bacon, eggs, and biscuits.  Of course I had to eat some too.  I made myself a bacon and egg biscuit.  Quite tasty.  After breakfast we read our scriptures and from the book The Time Keeper.  We are on track to finish the Book of Mormon together for the second time this year.

James didn't leave until 2:30.  He had lots of business to take care of first.  I started decorating the tree and making a Christmas card list.  It was nice today with the high around 48.  That is good weather as long as the wind isn't blowing. 

My Christmas movie was "A Boyfriend for Christmas."  It was good and was filmed in Salt Lake because they showed a picture of the Salt Lake temple.

I had a hard time going to sleep.  I have this problem of seeing people in my room.  Tonight after I did go to sleep I woke up and thought I saw a guy in a baseball cap looking at me.  The other night it was someone coming through a trap door in the ceiling.  It is always men.  I woke James up last week and said: "I'm in a bind.  Someone is in our room and I am not dressed."  Well I guess it keeps life interesting.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

James was sustained as a high councilman for the Show Low High Council today in our sacrament meeting.  Brother MacArthur, the high councilman over our ward did the honors.  President Williams was also here.  Brother MacArthur is the CEO at the hospital.  He has been a bishop twice, in a stake presidency, and a high councilman five times.  After the block President Williams who was born in 1976 and is the same age as Jared, set James apart.  They found out they have something in common.  They both wrestled at ASU.  President Williams has two cauliflower ears and he noticed James's and ask if he was a wrestler.  It was fun to get to know him on a personal level.
In Young Women's we divided into classes.  I taught Shelly and Trenda, and oh yes, Brother Smith was in my class also.  The lesson was on the peace that comes from righteous living.  My handouts looked like this:

The girls love when I give food as part of the handout.

Things are a little more lax here in Vernon.

For lunch we had our own potato bar with chili as a topping.  The potatoes were left over from last night and they were delicious, some of the best I have ever had.  For dessert, Texas sheetcake.  

I reclined in my favorite spot on the couch and took a nap while James went home teaching.  When he got home he fixed the lights on the tree and put the garland on the mantel.

My Christmas helper.

His pants are baggy because he has lost over 30 lbs.

We had a little mini-crisis this evening.  James couldn't find the notebook he used to take notes about meetings, phone numbers, etc. from President Williams.  We looked everywhere and he even called the Hunsaker's and Peeler's where he went home teaching to see if he left it there.  It was not to be found.

We forgot about it for awhile and watched our Christmas movie, "Hitched for the Holidays" starring Joey Lawrence.  We really liked it and it lightened our mood.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

It feels good to be back home in Vernon.  James and I love it here.  We unloaded my car and started putting things away.  James hung the wreath on our front door.  I set out two nativity sets and some poinsettas (fake), and put tablecloths and center pieces on both tables.  Our house is beginning to look more Christmasy.  We still need to fix the lights on the tree and decorate it.  James said he would do the lights tomorrow.  He said he was too busy today. 

James made us a delicious lunch.  A loaded ham sandwich and a salad.  Very tasty.  As you can tell, I am all about the food.  After lunch we laid down for a nap.  I was up within an hour but James slept for 3 hours.  I guess he needed it. 

This afternoon I made two Texas sheetcakes for our ward party.  We had a potato bar and James helped serve.  I was part of the entertainment.  I got up with the young men and young women and sang Christmas carols.  After the party was over James and I both stayed and help clean.  We were some of the last to leave.  It was a fun, low-key evening.  We sat by Chris Skousen and his wife Becky.  I enjoyed visiting with Becky.  James worked with Chris in the High Priest's.  They are in their fifties and they are taking care of his parents.  That's why they moved to Vernon.

When we got home we followed our December tradition of watching a Christmas movie every evening. 
Here are a few we have watched so far: The 2nd Day of Christmas, Annie Claus is Coming to Town, The Road to Christmas (one of my favorites), The Christmas Card (another favorite), A Nanny for Christmas, A Christmas Wish, A Christmas Proposal, and Dear Santa.  I have to admit I have watched some of these alone when James is out of town.  We actually started watching them around Thanksgiving time.

Friday, December 7, 2012

James and I had scriptures and prayers together before he left for work this morning.  I spent the morning working at the dining room table in our house in Chandler, where I use to sit and work when I lived there. 
For lunch I went to Elmer's and ordered two machaca burros and two machaca tacos for lunch.  I came home and ate my burro and saved the rest for James when he gets home. 

I love this Chandler icon.

I beat the high school rush by 15 minutes!  They already had tons of chips, etc. set out for the high schoolers.

This is a sight I haven't seen too many times.  Usually Kim does all the lights on our tree.

Even though the picture is blurry I had to include it.

Today is Paul's 42nd birthday.  He is in San Francisco for work.  I bought him this card today.  It said: Sorry the entertainment for your party had an accident on the way over.

Paul hates clowns.

I did some shopping at Walmart and Sam's Club today, and also raided my downstairs Christmas closet and loaded my car clear full except for the front seat.  I followed James over to Tempe Toyota where he had an appointment with Gail's son Erik to fix the differential which was leaking.  On the way back to Chandler we stopped at Rudy's BBQ and got some moist brisket, beans, potato salad, and creamed corn.  I took it home to Stacy and her boys but they didn't eat much.  James ate his share though and so did I.  We took the rest of it home with us.  

This evening I took Ben on one half of his birthday date.  We went to Barnes and Noble where he bought a couple of books and had money to spare.  On the way home I asked him what his favorite Christmas song was and he said "Frosty", but I don't hear it very often.  I turned on the radio and guess what was playing?  Frosty.  I told Ben they played it just for him.  Ben will be 13 on the 16th of December.  He is such a sweet, gentle and kind boy.  I love him.  It was after 7 when I left for home.  James already left.  We are going home this evening because I made the mistake of turning the heaters off at the cabin and James is afraid if it gets too cold the pipes will break and freeze.  I made it home without falling asleep.

Our friends, Tim and Katy Glemser had a baby boy today.  They named him Kieter pronounced Kiter.  They also have a little girl named Alice. 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

At 8 o'clock this morning I left for the Valley of the Sun.  I have a lunch date with Sheri and Trina at 11:45 at Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert.  Sheri called and said the time was changed until 12:15 which gave me time to stop at Circle K and get a drink.  Because I was a little pressed for time I went the Salt River way because James says it's between 15-25 minutes faster.  On the way out of town I saw this:

Smoke from another prescribed burn.  Grrr...

I am not so sure the Salt River way was faster today.  Look what I got caught in between Miami and Superior.

I was stopped for about 10 or 15 minutes, then traffic crawled along another 15 minutes.

  Sheri and I met at an outlet store on Baseline and Val Vista to see if they had any good buys for Christmas.  While there I bought something I have been looking for, a mini-trampoline, otherwise known as a rebounder.  I read an article recently about all the health benefits of using one for a short time each day, and since then I have been wanting one.  It was regularly $89 for $50.  I was so excited.  Sheri put it in the back of my car for me.  There was a long line when we got to Joe's.  It's a beautiful day to be here where we can eat outside. 

Sheri is always dressed so fashionably.

James came all the way over from his job in Phoenix to have lunch with us.  What a sweetie.  

We had some Ruby time.

Good company and good food. I love their

chicken pesto sandwich and their pickles are freshly made

and grown in their onsight garden.

It was a beautiful day to eat outside.

Sheri had to work this afternoon and Trina had things to do so I went shopping by myself.

I went to Target and Michael's to look for Christmas gifts for my young women.  I found lots of cute things and decided to do hot chocolate mugs filled with goodies.  I found so many goodies I should have bought bigger mugs.

This evening Addy's drill team performed at halftime at the Highland High School basketball game.  I drove over to Darrel and Trina's and went with them.  James was still at work.  Addy posed for me:

What a cutie.

Addy's cousin Kayla was also performing.  These two girls are best friends.

The two cutest girls on the dance team.

I love Addy's stance.

Addy and Kayla on the back row.

It was a fun evening and I am so glad I went.  I love spending time with Darrel and his family.

Rowan invited me to stay for a slumber party.

He is such a sweet boy!