Saturday, July 20, 2024: Walked, studied, slept before going to Snowflake w/ Rita, lunch @ LaDon's and then pictures at the high school, Dennis, Denise & Peg, Sue Hubble, Skyler & Kaitlyn, Rain

Okinawa, Japan

186th operating temple

Dedicated: 12 Nov 2023

By: Gary E. Stevenson

Book of Mormon

Alma 32:1-13

Come Follow Me

"The Virtue of the Word of God" by Elder Mark D. Eddy, October 2022 General Conference

April General Conference

"The Powerful, Virtuous Cycle of the Doctrine of Christ" by Elder Dale G. Renlund

D&C 109:52

And if it cannot be otherwise, that the cause of thy people may not fail before thee may thine anger be kindled, and thine indignation fall upon them, that they may be wasted away, both root and branch, from under heaven;

This morning I walked, studied, and slept before getting ready to go to Snowflake. I left my house @ 10:22 and drove in to the Quality Inn in Show Low. Rita said this is where Marion & Deanne are staying. The plan was to meet at the hotel at 11 and all of us drive over to Snowflake together. I got there a little before 11 and saw no one. I texted Rita and told her I was at the hotel in a white Chevy Equinox, parked out front between the highway and the front entrance. This was at 10:55.

I heard back from Rita who was still at her brother Arlee's where she had spent the night: I'm loaded in and about to leave Arlee's. Marion and Deanne went on so they could go to the car show. Be there is a jiffy. Well, it wasn't a jiffy, more like 20 minutes, but she did make it and I followed her to Snowflake. She drives a white Toyota Rav4.

When we got to Snowflake we went the back way in case the parade was still going on. It's a good thing Rita was leading because I would have never found my way to LaDon's, but she took us right there. I guess I could have found it using MapQuest but I was grateful to her for knowing exactly where to go. 

I had gotten a call from Dennis on the way to Snowflake. I had talked to him the other day about coming to the reunion but he said he didn't think he would come.  Denise's mom, Peg is here visiting and she wanted to come down to Snowflake to see some of the historical homes and to go to the arts and crafts show.  She said she would really like to see me. They were just going in to the John Freeman home in downtown Snowflake next to the stake center so I told them I would meet them there.

I explained to Rita and told her I would be back in less than an hour. 

We took some pictures while we were in this pioneer home. One of the women who worked there had the last name of Trezise. I talked to her a few minutes but I don't think she is directly related to Ian's family. Just a coincidence.

Dennis, Peg, and Denise

How nice of Peg to wear Snowflake's

Royal Blue. She said she didn't know.

The four of us went to New York together right after

9/11. I fell and hurt my arm and Peg helped me do

my hair. She was my partner. It was great to see her.

She is 88 years old and in great shape. She just

finished one of her Bucket List items. She has

been to all 50 of the states in the United States.

We said our goodbyes as I went back to LaDon's and they were on their way to the arts and crafts fair at the park. Later Denise sent me this picture:

Dennis graduated from Snowflake in 1972.

I graduated in 1966 so we never went to high

school together.

Back to LaDon's where I thought we were helping her set up for lunch. When I got back everyone, Rita, Deanne, LaDon, Loretta Smithson Willis, were just sitting around in LaDon's living room. I said, "Is this the work crew?" "This is my kind of work." Everyone just laughed. 

LaDon lives in her parents old home. The one she grew up in. It is on the street next to the back of the school. It is a very small, older home. We were going to eat outside in the front yard, but it was too warm. We were a little crowded but it was better than being too hot.

Those who were here for lunch:

Rita, Deanne & Marion, Loretta & Randy, January S. Stratton, Kathy Hunt Brewer, LaDon, Alan Frost and his wife, Bobby & Karen Martineau, Pete & Christ Whipple, Bruce Greco, Anita Slick, Richard Gonzales, Jim & Debbie Reedy and myself. I introduced myself to Debbie Reedy. She said they came all the way from Amarillo, Texas for the reunion. She definitely had a Texas accent.

For lunch we had rolls with roast beef, macaroni salad, potato salad, nacho cheese with colored corn chips and lots of desserts. I had part of a sweet roll for dessert. 

 After lunch we walked across the street to the front of the Stake Academy building and had our class picture taken. My friend Sue Hubble and her two little grand daughters, Skyler and Kaitlyn were waiting for me when I was finished. I gave Sue a hug and Kaitlyn came over and gave me a hug. It was so great to see my dear friend.

After talking to Sue I told Rita I was going home and told her goodbye. I said goodbye to Deanne too. Rita has a motel room in Taylor for tonight so she can stay for the mix and mingle. I needed to get home to work on my lesson for tomorrow.

I had something to eat and fell asleep in the recliner until it was time for James to come in and go to bed. We said prayers together and I stayed up until past midnight to work on the lesson while he went to bed. I'm not going to get much sleep tonight. I guess I can sleep tomorrow afternoon. We got a good rain this evening.

Kacey's post

Western Drug memories

One dazed kitty

Tom taking care of a bug

Friday, July 19, 2024: Up @ 4:45 Let Tom out, James still asleep, J takes his tire to be fixed & other errands, Global Tech outage, 2pm SUHS class lunch @ Eva's, Rain, Tom in,

 

Bangkok, Thailand

185th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 Oct 2023

By: Ronald A. Rasband

Book of Mormon

Alma 31:24-38

Come Follow Me

Alma 31:5-6

Because of Jesus Christ, anyone can change.

April General Conference

"Pray, He Is There" Sister Susan Porter

D&C 109:51

But if they will not, make bare thine arm, O Lord, and redeem that which thou didst appoint a Zion unto thy people.

I got up at 4:45 and let Tom out. James was still asleep.  I said my prayers and studied my scriptures for awhile and then took a Tramadol nap. 

James took his tire in to town to be fixed and ran a couple of other errands. Daryl Johnson was supposed to pay us back today for the money he borrowed to get his car out of repo but he said he couldn't because of the Global Tech Outage. That's funny, I was able to send money through Zelle today. 

At 2:00 we met some of the other members of the Snowflake Union High School graduating class of 1966 at Eva's for lunch. We had out own special banquet room. LaDon Warner was in charge. She had some games for us to play and some cute little handouts. Here are the people who attended: Bobby Martineau and his wife Karen, Deanne & Marion Hatch, Rita Solomon, Jerry & Carol Dunaway, Robert Freeze, Kathy Hunt Brewer, Barry Flake & his wife, Loren & Lina Hatch, Anita Slick, January Smith Stratton, Loretta & Randy Willis, Steve & Ann Broadbent (Steve and Ann are brother and sister), Jim & Debbie Reedy, James and Karen Lambson, Richard Gonzales, Wendell Allen and his wife, and Ladon Warner.

Rita rented a room for tomorrow night in Taylor. She invited me to stay with her. I told her I had to teach Gospel Doctrine. She told me to ask James to teach for me. I asked him but he said he needed more time to prepare. 

We had lightning, thunder, and rain. Tom was ready to come in. 

James finished "The Brooding Baron" and started the book I am reading, "Secret of the Sonnets."

Thursday, July 18th, 2024: Tom killed a centipede last night, Overcast, no rain here until after dark, J sees Dr. E & gets a new brace, Walmart, Kays Lumber, Lesson

Feather River, California

Dedicated: 8 Oct 2023

By: Ulisses Soares

Book of Mormon

Alma 31:12-23

Come Follow Me

Alma 31

God's word has the power to lead people to righteousness.

April General Conference

"Words Matter" Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Inklings

"God's Intent Is To Bring You Home" Elder Patrick Kearon

Omni 1:26

Home - dwelling, family, temple

"God is in relentless pursuit of you"

"I Am infinitely loved by a God who pursues me. I am making my way along the covenant path to my home with Him, where I can experience eternal joy."

I was up at 5 this morning. I went down the hall to get something out of the laundry room and I noticed the rug was out of place and then I saw a huge dead centipede. Tom must have killed him Thank you Tom! We have to get more serious about spraying the house!

Today it was overcast with rain all around us but we didn't get any until after dark. 

James had his first doctor's appointment since his surgery. Dr. Ellsworth said everything looked good and gave him a new brace to wear which looks so much better than the wraps he has been using. Again, I should have taken a picture. 

I dropped James off at the doctor's and then drove the truck over to Walmart to do a little shopping and to pick up my blood pressure medicine, Metoprolol. James walked over after his appointment and picked out a watermelon. He hurried me along saying he had to get to Kay's Lumber Supply before they close at 4. 

We made it right at 4 and James was able to pick up what he needed. He comes out and tells me that the girl who runs the front desk brings her three month old baby with her to work and how cute the baby is. She said they told her that she needed to come back to work and she set the condition that she needed to bring her baby. So far it has worked out.

I bought some ham and Swiss cheese from the deli and made myself a sandwich for dinner. I can't believe how much better the deli meat and cheese is than the packaged. 

James walked while I worked on my lesson for around three hours.

"Words Matter"

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"Let me suggest three simple phrases that we can use to take the sting out of difficulties and differences, lift, and reassure each other: 'Thank you.'

'I am sorry.'

And 'I love you.'"

Tom's perilous adventures

In front of the Feather River, California Temple

One of Tom's lookout spots

You swish my flies and I'll swish yours

 

Wednesday, July 17th, 2024: Up before 5, 3 dead trees, beautiful 2 hour rainstorm this afternoon, "Secret of the Sonnets" 12,000 steps, "CFM" podcasts galore, Armando passes final inspection, 30 min phone call w/ Catherine Halcomb, watermelon w/ seeds, write checks for James

McAllen, Texas

183rd operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Oct 2023

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Alma 31:1-11

Come Follow Me

Alma 30:56-60

The adversary does not support his followers.

April General Conference

"A Higher Joy" Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

D&C 109:50

Have mercy, O Lord, upon the wicked mob, who have driven thy people, that they may cease to spoil, that they may repent of their sins if repentance is to be found;

I was up before James this morning. It was around 4:40. I will probably need an early nap, but I just could not sleep anymore.

As I was walking outside on the deck I picked out the three dead pine trees on our property. I am always sad when one more tree dies.  

We had a beautiful two hour rain this afternoon which cooled things down and made it enjoyable to walk outside on the deck. While walking I listened to "Secret of the Sonnets." 

Kim found a conference talk from 2022 by Elder Mark Eddy entitled "The Virtue of the Word." It is soo good and goes right along with the lesson. I also listened to Tyler Griffin and John Hilton III.

I wrote some payroll checks for James this afternoon and we received the news that Armando passed the final inspection at the Bama Barbershop. The only problem is Daryl Johnson is demanding that Armando put in new vents. James says it wasn't in the contract and so it will be an extra charge. Daryl says he told Salvador, but if it's not written down then it doesn't matter. Daryl doesn't want his customers looking at ugly vents while they get their haircut.

I had told Catherine Halcomb I would call her today, and I did. We talked for over 30 minutes about Trump and the election, the LDS Church and the Disciples of Christ Church which she used to belong to. Catherine said she would like to go to the Truth Rally because her grandmother used to take her to revivals when she was growing up in Oklahoma. I told her I wanted to go too so I could see what "truth" they were teaching. 

The watermelon we bought has seeds. Seeds are annoying. jk 

The weather was so gorgeous this evening I propped the back door open.

Notes & Quotes

 "A Higher Joy"

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly the "good news of great joy"!

It is a message of matchless hope! A message of yoke-bearing and burden-lifting. Of light-gathering. Of heavenly favor, higher understanding, holier covenants, eternal security, and everlasting glory!"

Lolli Camp

I wish I could have been at Lolli Camp!

Domino effect if their was no Christ