Friday, April 17, 2015

I read a lot from this manual today.

I have felt lousy all week and as a result haven't done very much physical labor.  I did feel like reading about the Savior, and I dearly love this manual.  I learned this week that Jesus spoke Aramaic.  I also learned that the feeding of the four thousand in Mark 8:1-9, among the Gentiles foreshadowed the blessings of the gospel going forth to all nations of the world.

 

James and I enjoyed reading from our book, "Lady Emma's Campaign." 

 

 I wanted to go somewhere this evening and the only thing I could think of was going to see Cinderella again and eating movie popcorn with Junior Mints and drinking diet Dr. Pepper.  I know, I am quite redundant and self-destructive.  James is such a good sport.  My favorite quote from the movie is by the narrator, Cinderella's fairy godmother:

"This is, perhaps, the greatest rick we will take - to be seen for who we really are." 

 



 

Ella and Prince Kit

 

Alex and Ben are gone to the Stake Youth Conference in Flagstaff.  Max said one of his dreams was to be able to eat pizza on his bed and tonight he dream came true!

 



Thursday, April 16, 2015



Happy Birthday to this handsome

17 year old!

Alex

 

I just heard the news this morning that my good friend Jacque Hatch passed away last night. Jacque was a counselor to me while I served as the stake Relief Society President and I learned so much from her.  She has been sick for quite sometime and her passing is probably a relief to her and to her family. She will be sorely missed though.

Jacque





I have felt pretty lousy all week.  For lunch I wanted some hot and sour soup so we ended up ordering some Chinese food from a place called Hot Wok. I got a teriyaki chicken salad and hot and sour soup and James ordered something called: Five Stars Over the Moon which included, veggies, beef, pork, scallops, shrimp, and chicken.  He loved it!  The soup I got was good but we still haven't found any as good as what we used to get at Lin's. 

 

 

I did errands this afternoon.  I went to Deseret Book and got the sequel to "Becoming Lady Lockwood."  It's called, "Lady Emma's Campaign."





   The girl at Deseret Book said she had read it and

really liked it.

I also went to the bank and got 10 five dollar bills for Alex's birthday.  I stuffed them into a glass light bulb container and wrote on an attached tag: "Your future is as bright as you faith." - President Monson.  My attempt at being a little creative.

 

I also had to go to Walmart to get ingredients to make a salad for tonight's Relief Society meeting. When I got home I quickly made the salad and then James and I took Alex to Red Lobster for his birthday.  It was nice to get to spend some alone time with him.  He wanted to be back by 6:15 because he was going somewhere with Seth.  We got him back just in time and just in time for us to drop my salad off at the church.  James took it in for me and while he was inside Bishop Lewis asked him if he wanted to take home a couple of prime rib and he declined!  I should have sent him back inside. 

The program tonight for RS was "Women at the Well."

My friend Christy and her daughter Megan. 

 

Another night of aches and pains.    

 

 

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Arches National Park in Utah

 

I got up and studied this morning but wasn't feeling well so I took some aspirin and went back to bed.  In the past 24 hours I have taken a total of 8 aspirin. 

 

I did manage to take a shower and get myself over to the movie theatre on Gilbert and Germann by 1pm.  I am seeing Cinderella again, this time with Karen Schneider.  She bought my ticket because I think she felt guilty knowing it was my fourth time seeing the movie.  I appreciated her generosity, but it really wasn't necessary.  I enjoyed the movie just as much this time as I did the first time I saw it!



One of my favorite scenes!

After the movie Karen and I said our goodbye's and I headed for Hobby Lobby.  I bought a small glass lightbulb container to put Alex's birthday money in.  I have a "bright" idea and will share more tomorrow.  Also drove through El Pollo and took some chicken home to James.

 

Today is tax day and once again we are filing an extension.  Instead of working on taxes today he painted the front door and put a new door, which he had to remodel, in the hall bathroom.  He painted the front door because the staining the boys did was quite a mess.  I said he should have given better instructions.  Oh well.

 

We went to visit Darrel and the kids this evening.  Trina was at work and got home just as we were leaving.  These kids love seeing us and sometimes it is a bit overwhelming because they all want to talk to you at once.  I absolutely love it because I feel like they really care about me!

I can't stand the cuteness!

 

My left calf was hurting so badly when I went to bed that I had to take more aspirin.  I also got a printout today showing how much my Remicade is costing Medicare.  My last visit was over $5600!  The sad thing is that it doesn't even help me that much.  Feeling pretty discouraged.







Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Today was Temple and Taco Tuesday for James and I.

We went to the Gilbert temple and did initiatories which took a little over an hour.  While we were there we saw several people we knew.  Pam Whetten who worked with me in a Relief Society presidency about 35 years ago, Nancy Williams Brimhall who went to high school with us, and Gerry Price who is currently in our ward.  It is always nice to see great people in the temple.

After the temple we drove to Tia Rosa's on Higley and Guadalupe in Gilbert for our tacos.



James at Tia Rosa's

James had a fish taco and a salmon taco.

He thought they needed more seasoning.

I had a shredded beef taco with a side of rice and beans.  My only complaint was the taco shell didn't seem authentic.  It looked like a "prefab" shell.  I said maybe we would enjoy it better the next time we came and James said there would be no next time.

 

I went home and took a short nap before picking up Ben at school at 2:15.  I guess there is Merit testing this week and the kids are on a different schedule.

 

We finished our book: "Becoming Lady Lockwood" by Jennifer Moore.  It was one of our favorites.  Now we need to go get a new book.

 

I also went to Sonic for a drink during happy hour and to the bank where I deposited a check from the Jerod Bowen job.  I spent the evening working on re-doing the Lambson Construction check register for 2015.  James messed it up a bit while working on taxes.

 

Heather and Patrick have a new member of their family:

Welcome to the family,

Raelynn Rose!

 













Monday, April 13, 2015

When Sheri texted me this picture this morning I had a feeling that

she hadn't gone to work. 

This is where she went with Trina and Lexy:

Trina and Lexy paddle boarding on the Salt River

Sheri and Trina

 Lexy and Trina

I told Sheri they looked like a bunch of foot loose and fancy free college girls!

Next time I want to be the one that babysits Lola!

 

James and I had more pesto flatbread for lunch.  Now if we want more I am going to have to go shopping.

 

Jared Ammon came over today to thank us for the help we have given him and to see if we could help him a little more until he gets back on his feet.  Of course we said yes.

 

Joshua got stung by a bee today.



Joshua also had a slight fever so he stayed home from

school on Tuesday.



 



Sunday, April 12, 2015

"A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who has gained a witness

through the Spirit of the divinity and mission of the Savior,

studies His gospel, incorporates His teachings into daily life by

relying on His enabling power, and spreads the news of His

gospel to others.  Disciples of Christ are not without weaknesses

or sin, but their shortcomings neither paralyze them nor prevent

them from selfless service and daily repentance.  The goal of a

disciple is not to be different from everyone else but to be more

like the Master"

-Camille Fronk Olson

 

Today was our fast and testimony meeting.  James bore his testimony and so did Hunter Jensen who is leaving on his mission for Australia on April 22nd.  Hunter's mom, Laurie was one of the last people to bear her testimony and she had me in tears.  She says she remembers seeing her husband Kurt off for his mission to Australia years ago before she was a member and she knew then she wanted her sons to serve missions.  She joined the Church while Kurt was on his mission.  She said when people ask her or her family why they live like they live and why they go on missions and serve and believe, she says: "Because of Him, meaning because of the Savior.  I looked over and Sheri was crying too.  It was a great way to end the meeting.

Clint Allen who just turned 12 and passed the sacrament for the first time bore his testimony also.  He said: "I have been waiting for this moment all of my life."  What a sweet thing to say.

 

During Primary sharing time today Paula Casto showed the movie "The First Vision."  All of the kids were so good, especially Isaiah, who was not so good during singing time.  During singing time Sister McAfee had the kids put on spring "hats" and Sister Coffey went outside to take their pictures for mother's day.  We had butterflies, ladybugs, frogs, bees, and bunnies.  They were so cute!

 

Our lesson today was on the baptismal covenant.  I actually got through the lesson and then we had activity time where the kids colored, played with Playdough and we read a story from the Friend.  The kids were good today.  We only had seven: Taylor, Brooklyn, Callie, Malachi, Isaiah, Ryder, and Liam.

 

When we got home from church we broke our fast and I made pesto flatbread for lunch.  Whole wheat flatbread, pesto sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and a slice of tomato all go under the broiler for a few minutes and it comes out delicious!

 

We had a nice nap and then we went to Tempe to visit with Lois and Dawn.  We had a nice visit but I came home feeling a little down.  Maybe because I wanted to talk to Dawn about reading the Book of Mormon but just didn't have the courage to do so.  I am just so afraid she is going to say no.

 

Evan wrote in his journal today.

 

 



Rowan played chess with his dad.





 



Saturday, April 11, 2015

We got to watch Max play football today.

He was awesome!

 

Darrel and Trina and their kids are at the cabin this weekend.

Addy took this picture.  I love it!

A twig sitting bluebird!

 





After Max's game James and I headed for Elmer's.  We each got a machaca taco and I got a bean and cheese burro and he got a machaca burro.  Tomorrow is fast Sunday.  I want to start my fast at 2pm today so when we get out of church tomorrow at 2pm we can come home and eat.  I ate my taco around 10 and then had my burro at 2 this afternoon.

 

James and I went to Adam's play this afternoon with Kim and Brian.  Alex and Sheri were also there.  I really liked it.  I think everyone else did too, except maybe Brian.

Adam had the male lead and did an excellent job.  He had three solo's and got to sword fight, and kiss two girls.

Kaitlin had two parts and was my favorite female.

The girl pirates were pretty tough.

James told Kaitlin she looked like she could be in

Lion King.

 

After the play Kim, Brian, Sheri, and Ian hurried off to dinner club.  Tonight they are eating at St. Francis's in Phoenix.

I came home and worked on our Primary lesson before going to bed.