Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Saturday, November 1, 2014


"The ordinance of the sacrament needs to become more
holy and sacred to each of us."
-Elder James J. Hamula
"As we look to Jesus as our Exemplar and
as we follow in His footsteps,
we can return safely to our Heavenly Father."
-President Thomas S. Monson

It was very windy today.  I don't really like strong wind.  It destroys the peace.  I read, studied, and did laundry this morning.  At home Evan played a soccer game and made a goal.  Max made an interception and scored a touchdown in his football game.
Can you tell Evan has lost a tooth.
Evan with his Batman Lego set.
Laura and Dave organized a work day at Lois's today.
Here are some of the pictures Laura posted on Facebook:
 Another discovery on Facebook today.  One of James's best friends in high school was a young man named Walter Turley.  Today on Facebook Kristy Thomas posted this picture of her daughter Kaylena with a friend, Walt Turley.  It's the same guy.  James got his number and will call him soon.

I got a text from Jared today that went like this:
"FYI I lost vision in my right eye 3 weeks ago, that's a different eye than my droopy eye.  I had a swollen optic nerve.  I've been on steroids for 3 weeks and most of my vision has returned but not completely.  It might or might not going forward we just have to wait and see.  After MRIs and blood tests to figure out why this happened it was determined that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.  The inflammation got into my blood vessels and caused a vasculitis and that's why I had the droopy lid in one eye 6 months ago and the vision loss in the other eye.  I was started on weekly methotrexate injections to treat my eye for 4 weeks.  Next week I am getting a Rituxan infusion.  That's the short story but I thought you should know."
Since this text I have spoken to Jared and his eyesight has returned.  He is optomistic in spite of this trial in his life.  Both of my boys have rheumatoid arthritis as I do.  In looking at my mother's life history this week I found that she had rheumatic fever in the sixth grade.  Is this an explanation for why we have this disease?  I don't know.  It doesn't explain why my cousin Rita has it too.

We had stake conference meetings today.  James left with Chuck Crane and Owen Peeler for the 5:00 priesthood leadership meeting.  Donna Peeler drove Kathy Crane, Analee Hunsaker, and myself to the 7:00 meeting.  Our meeting was good and I took notes in my stake conference notebook for further reference.  One of the highlights for me was the youth choir that was asked to sing without prior notice.  I love the youth from the Vernon ward!  Kilee Hunsaker, Trenda, Talon and Alice Wilhelm, Jordyn, Shelly, and Jace Applegate all participated in this choir.  
After the conference session was over I met a dear friend from high school, Jeanene Thomas in the hall on the way out.  This is one of the things I like about living up here.  So many people that I remember from my early days here.
We stopped at Dairy Queen for dinner and I teased Collin Dewitt that the young women outdid the young men again.  We had 5 in the choir and the young men only had 2.  His response: "I didn't know it was a competiton."  My response: "Always."
On the way home Stacy called to tell me about their stake conference session where President and Dianne Heyman were the main speakers.  She said Dianne told her story about health problems while on their mission and her miraculous healing.  After Dianne was finished Stacy said Michael said to her: "Why did I feel so different when Sister Heyman was speaking?"  Stacy told him it was the Spirit witnessing that what she said was true.  I would have loved to have been at that meeting.  I have been a counselor for Dianne Heyman and can testify to her strong faith, determination and conviction in serving the Lord.


 

Friday, October 31, 2014

San Diego temple

"To be in harmony with heaven's divine purposes,
we sustain the prophet and choose to live according to his words."
-Carol F. McConkie
"God and Christ are literally a Father and a Son -
separate, distinct, individual beings who are wholly unified
in Their purpose."
-Elder Robert D. Hales

How appropriate that on Halloween I would have blood drawn and spend the morning at the doctor's office getting an infusion.  
I got out around 11 and went home to have some lunch, a salad, cottage cheese and strawberries.  James joined me and then we drove to Tempe to return my rental car.  
After packing we met Sheri at Elmer's for a late(second) lunch/early dinner.  I had a machaca taco and saved my burro for the ride home. 

On the way home we passed Darrel in Rye.  He's going home to his family after spending the last four days in Show Low working.

I wanted to spend Halloween with some of my grandkids but since that wasn't possible, pictures are the next best thing.
Rowan did not want his picture taken.
Joshua and Evan
Ben got glasses today.

Show Low football team
Harold and Monte in the back row
 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Thursday, October 30, 2014


"The Messiah came to redeem men from the Fall of Adam.
Everything in the gospel of Jesus Christ points toward
the atoning sacrifice of the Messiah, the Son of God."
-C. Scott Grow

I took the boys to school again this morning and then went to the 9:15 session at the Gilbert temple.  Before the session started I put several names on the prayer roll.  I love attending this temple.  It is my favorite.  My session was full and I felt so much peace as I left.  I am so grateful that I went.

Afterwards I went to Deseret Book and Office Max to do a little shopping.  I bought James and I a new book:
I also bought James's Christmas present but I won't be showing it.  It is actually something he ask for.

James and I had lunch at one of our favorite places, Pei Wei.  We each got an order of lettuce wraps and shared a spicy chicken salad. 
That's my drink that James is holding.

This evening around five we went to James's Mom's to do some yardwork and take her birthday card and gift to her.  Alex and Adam came and helped.
 James fixed a clog in her water line.

Later in the evening Trina and the kids came by for a visit.
 Love all of these faces!
 Rowan had to try out the mini trampoline.
Afterwards James and I went to Frost.  I figure it would be my last time for awhile.  I had salted carmel and raspberry.  I tasted the toasty marshmallow which was good but I thought it might be a little too sweet.  
#TBT on Facebook:
 Darrel when he was 8 or 9.

 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014


"As a member of the Church, reach out to those you do not know and greet them warmly.  Each Sunday extend a hand of fellowship to at least one person you did not know before.  Each day of your life, strive to enlarge your own circle of friendship."
-Elder Russell M. Nelson

I took Joshua, Max, Evan, and Brayden Wanlass to school this morning.  Max and I talked about our upcoming trip to Disneyland.  We decided we would leave December 3rd and come back on the 6th.  The other choice was November 20th but we would be gone one less day and have only one day at the parks, but we would be there with Kim and Brian.  Max chose the extra day.  

After school I took Evan on his birthday date.  Max came with us.  Our first stop was the Lego Store at the Chandler mall
Both of these boys love Legos!
I love them too.  This was my favorite set
but it was a little pricey at $239.99.

After looking around for awhile Evan finally decided on the Batman set.  I don't know why I didn't take a picture because it was pretty neat.  
We also went to Barnes & Noble and picked out individual Lego figures.  We didn't know what we were getting but this is what we ended up with.
These boys really are good friends
and love each other.
 
After we were finished shopping we went to the food court where the boys got pizza and garlic knots.  For dessert it was Wetzel Pretzel.
I had a blast with these two boys!

Joseph and Amanda carved pumpkins
tonight.
 

Monday, November 3, 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014



"Just as a man does not really desire food unti he is hungry,
so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows
why he needs Christ.  No one adequately and properly knows why
he needs Christ until he understand and accepts the doctrine
of the Fall and it's effects upon all mankind."
-President Ezra Taft Benson

James has not been able to use the wireless printer he has here in Chandler for quite awhile.  He even tried to get Adam to fix it but Adam said he couldn't do it either.  I worked on it this morning and was able to get it to work.  To say James is happy is an understatement!

This morning I went with Sheri to Target.  She is discouraged because both Max and Evan are home from school with coughs which means she can't go to work.  She is discouraged.
I came home and fixed chicken salad sanwiches for lunch for James and I using the roasted chicken I bought at Fry's on Saturday night.  
After lunch I went to Penney's, Hobby Lobby, and Target again.  The only thing I bought were birthday cards for Lois, Dawn, and Jared and three $50 giftcards.  Oh yes, and I went to one more place, this time by myself....Frost.  I got salted carmel and hazlenut.  Salted carmel is still my favorite.  

James went to Susan Jacobson's to help her with some home repairs.  I stayed at home and helped Joshua with his homework.
That's Adam holding Skittles
 Weird

I taught Joshua his 9 times tables and showed him how all the answers added up to 9.  He liked that.

Later Joshua came downstairs to play a game on the computer.  Grandpa was working at his computer too.

A tragedy occurred in Ian's family tonight.  His brother JD fell on the back of his head and dislodged his brain.  He passed away around 11pm.  

Monday, October 27, 2014

Phoenix temple open house

"Choosing to live without faith in Christ
is choosing to admit defeat and
surrender hope."

James and Adam left for work this morning at 6am.  They were back around nine so James and I could go rent a car.  Here is what they gave me:
 A red Toyota Corolla.  I love it!

On the way back from renting my car I met Sheri and Evan at Costco so Sheri could get her picture taken and get her membership
card which I bought for her when I was down in August. Evan is home from school today because of a cough.  He was very excited to get Costco pizza. 

Kim came by around noon to pick me up so we could go to lunch.  We went to Olive Garden, one of our favorite places.  I got the chicken scampi, my favorite Olive Garden dish.  Of course we also had salad and breadsticks.  For dessert we shared a slice of pumplin cheesecake.  It was delicious!

I went home and took a nap and then James and I got ready to go to Darrel and Trina's.  We were there by 4pm.  We all went to the Phoenix temple open house in their new Yukon.  It holds 8 and we filled it up.  

One of the things I liked most about this temple was the beautiful artwork depicting the life of the Savior on the walls.  It was a very enjoyable way to spend FHE.  Afterwards we stopped at Frost for gelato and sorbet.
Grandpa had hazlenut and dark chocolate, Ruby
had pumpkin, Addy had her favorite raspberry sorbet, and
Rowan had chocolate.  Darrel and I got salted caramel, and
Trina got pineapple with dark chocolate.  It was delicious
and has much less fat and calories than ice cream. 

James and I were still hungry when we got back to Chandler so we went to Jersey Mike's to get our favorite sub sandwich. 




Saturday, November 1, 2014

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Calgary, Alberta Canada

Christlike attribute:
"Virtue"
 I am clean and pure in heart.
Psalm 24:3-4
I have no desire to do evil, only good,
Mosiah 5:2
I repent of my sins and strive
to overcome my weaknesses
D&C 49:26-28
Max, Joshua, Evan

Today we attended the Galveston 3rd ward sacrament meeting program in the Chandler West Stake.  The name of the program this year is "Families Are Ordained of God."  Max, Evan and Joshua all had speaking parts and Joshua sang a solo: "I'll Seek the Lord Early."  He did an awesome job!  Alexis Coffey sang my favorite primary song: "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus."  The program is always wonderful and this year was no different.  It was fun to see Rebecca and Ethan Luke singing and speaking.  Rebecca was so shy about going in the nursery a few years back.

 It was fun to see so many of our dear Chandler friends.  I spoke with Shelly Seymore who was a counselor for me when I served in the stake Relief Society.  Shelly lived in Pecos Ranch and then moved to Queen Creek.  Now she is back.  I was so happy to see her!

Because James could neither talk nor hear he asked if we could go home after sacrament meeting, something we never do.  Sheri was surprised.  

Sheri invited us down for lunch.  We had roast beef with potatoes and carrots.  I took her one of the apple fritters I bought at Fry's last night.

James and I went back to the house to read and to take a nap.  While looking through some boxes downstairs I found some family group sheets I had never seen before for Nannie's family,  Nannie is my maternal grandmother, Myrtle Mae Strickland.  Her mother was a Walker and this particular family group sheet has her mother, Artie Elizabeth Walker as a child.  

Stacy had taped a show from between the sessions of General Conference called "A New Day for the Book of Mormon."  James, Paul, and I watched it.  It was very good.  

Michael says he should get the grandchild of the month award because he brought two non-members to sacrament meeting: Alexis and Connor.
I love this!