Wednesday, April 19, 2023

 My heart is broken.  My baby girl Krystal just informed us that she wants a divorce.  YUK!  Last year she told us that you no longer goes to church.  These a actions that hurt my heart.  I am afraid of what can happen when you ignore covenants made in the church.  The divorce is hard, Gary and I were both concerned about it in the first place.  Kerri was too.  However, we have some absolutely darling grand children from this union.  SO we will have to see where this takes Krystal.  She said in North Carolina couples have to be separated for one year before they can file for divorce.  So there is still time. 

Bailee is now 6 and I wonder if Krystal will have her baptized when she is 8.  


Garrett is on dialysis.  He has kidney disease.  This has been a long week already.  He woke up with a swollen arm and hand yesterday so off to the emergency room.  Turns out he just needed to full 4 hour session to get the toxins out of his  body.  This morning he felt soooo much better.  Plus Gary gave  him a blessing.  Today he wanted to drive himself to dialysis.  Mostly I take him.  


Desire.  I don't usually read my Patriarchal Blessings.  My feelings were hurt when I received it many years ago.  But the last time I read it, I noticed a reoccurring word, DESIRE.  hmm, that must mean something.  I never thought my blessing said much in the past.  In Sunday School class I was reminded of it again.  So I read it again.  YUP!  it is very helpful after all.  I could of been progressing instead of sitting stagnate all these years if I would have only given it a chance.  I find that my desire to do, want, go, learn, etc. fuels me.  So when the Bishop mentioned he sometimes prays for help with his desire to do what he doesn't want to do, a great big bell sounded in my headed.  Ah Hah.  Someone else understands.  My blessing really is for me if I would just embrace it.


My birth mother Lucy Alejo Moreno passed away three years ago.  I went to the Phoenix Temple to do her baptizm and my great grandmothers also,  Now I need to do the iniatories and then the endowments. Lilian, my oldest granddaughter graduates from high school in May.  Kimberly lives  in Logan Utah.  She made an appointment for us to do this work in the Logan Temple while we are there.  This is another sadness about Krystal...she will not be attending the Temple...I don't want her to be without the protection of her covenants.  

My health.  Last year when I went for my yearly visit to my primary care doctor my sugar was so high that I had enter into the Diabetes 2 Zone.  She wanted me to take meds for it.   I didn't want to do that so I asked what other options did I have.  She said I could reverse it but it would take work.  I op[ted for that choice. My carb intake could only be 40mg a day and NO sugar.  She also said the blood work indicated my liver was suffering.  So I needed to eat in way that I could cleanse it.  Good news!  This year's check up was much better.  My A1C blood test was 5.5  no more diabetes, my liver was normal and I lost 25 lbs. So I am on the right path.  I still have maintain but it is working.  

Now it is my teeth.  I had to have a root canal done in January.  Once that was finished I needed a full examine done and three teeth are cracked and need crowns.  $5,000.  I told Garrett that his dad was going to trade me in but Gary said I was damaged goods and I cant be traded.  Also my toe is infected and I can't exercise to help with my weight.  I have been trying to do 10,000 steps a day.  I can do 5,000 easily but tat is not enough.  Now I have to wait for this infection to clear up. Which means I can not have any treats because I can not work off the calories.  UGH!

43 years.  Gary and I have been married 43 years.  The Bishop said me that we didn't look old enough to be married 43 years.  How sweet.  Krystal has often said we look so much younger than other people out age.  I guess we are doing something right.  Love my man,  He is the bestest part of my me. 


CANCER.  It has raised it ugly head in our family.  Marsha, breast cancer.  Kimberly, thyroid cancer, Sandi, breast cancer.  I had a scare of pre-cancerous cells in my cervix 4 years ago.  Grandmama, uterine cancer.  All is well now, except Grandmama passed away.  But that was her heart.  We have all seem to be able to dodge the bullet for now.

Pearl Girl.  Gary bought me a new car.  2022 Chevrolet Equinox AWD LT.  Yes it was a wonderful surprise.  It has all the latest safety features and it sits off the ground higher and has a hatch back.  The seats and steering wheel are heated at a touch of a button.  I can talk on my phone through the cars speakers,  there are cameras on the car that detect cars in my blind spot and warn me with a little flashing light and beep.  The cruise control keeps track of the car ahead of me and adjusts the speed so I don't can concentrate on driving and not the speed.  She is pearly white, hence the name.  I really enjoy driving this car.  At first I was angry.  I had a perfectly good car, Champagne.  2000 Oldsmobile  She was comfortable, ran well, not too small, had a bit of style, no payments and we got along so well.  I did not want to make a car payment.  Plus the insurance and tags are so much more.  I actually had anxiety driving the new car.  My heart would race.  I missed my Champagne.  But as time as gone on, Pearly Girl has been so wonderful.  Yes I hate the payments but I feel safer in her.  And its more comfortable to travel in even thought Champagne was good also.  Gary bought me personalized license plates for the car.  VDH  When we were first married, I noticed that there were cards with VD...at the front of the license number.  I would point it out to Gary when I saw them.. I would say, there will be a time when we will see VDH on a plate.  He never forgot that...so he put VDH on my Pearl Girl.  Such a sweetie

Until next time...Cleaning and Organizing, visits from the girls, Rain, my friend. Art at school, wiggles and sweet pea, decorating with white branches, Knit and crochete

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Mini posters

One of my hobbies is to create mini posters, or quote cards.

dressed up for spring




This winter I went for a walk and took photos of the frost in the neighborhood.  I particularly was taken with one tree.  Today the same tree is covered with pink blossoms.  It's spring again the trees are telling me...

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Hiking with my honey






I visited a couple one day who had just returned from a hike. The Constellation Hike.  Some years ago a plane (The Constellation) went down in this area and a  Eagle Scout built a monument for those who lost their lives. This is a new set of trails located at the Granite Dells.  Mike  gave me copy of the map and Gary and I decided to give it a try.  It is the perfect hike for me.  Mostly flat with a do-able incline and a few rocks to climb over.  It is a fun hike for families or older people (like myself) who have problem knees.  The view is pretty and the rocks remind me of the hike I use to take with my sisters and father at the South Mountain park in Phoenix.  It was a gorgeous day; sunny and cool breezes.  There were quite a few people hiking that day.  I believe it will become a well used hiking area .  When my grand children come for a visit we will certainly make use of these trails.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Fat Heads or poster child?

Whenever the grandchildren visit I ask them to draw of poster of themselves to put on my wall.  I love being able to see them everyday.  Rylee is a new addition.  Who needs to order a Fat Head poster when I have such wonderful artists in the family!  These works of art can been seen in the entry way of our home.  They are first to greet any visitor.

Holiday activities with The Balls

decorating a rice krispys treat train

rylee added her picture to her cousins on the wall
rylee creates a life-size poster for grandma mia



modeling winter hats 



how do I  LOOK!


this one fits better
rylee dresses mom for the cold


put gg and baby to bed


                         

Our Christmas Elf--Rylee


Our little elf inspecting gifts at Grannies Christmas Eve Party
 clothing optional

 snowman, santa and reindeer puppets

 ahh, this horsie rocks

Rylee liked the looks of this horse but wasn't too sure about the rocking.  She srood next to it and rocked by the handles.  Hopefully she will want to ride on it later.









  

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Beautiful day outside so I decided to put up the Christmas lights.  It's only a couple of days early.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Country Road - Jack Johnson with Paula Fuga (With Lyrics)




While I was visiting the Howards this song was played regularly while we traveled on the two lane country road which this song is written about. Kam hiway    It is my new favorite.  Enjoy.  (I reallly like the whistling solo, it reminds me of my dad, he always whistled to his favorite tunes)

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Trunk or Treat



 DraculaCruella DeVille   and Super Ninja ....this event is much
more fun than trick or treating.  The families gather in the cultural hall, have dinner, dance and play a game, than we all  happily cruz by all the decorated cars gathering treats and when all is done, have ice cream and choc. chip cookies for dessert.  We had a marvelous time.  The halloween festivities have now begun.  Oh, as for Jaxon, he wasn't dressed up when this photo was taken. 

Sunday, July 15, 2012

One small adjustment



 I know you are wondering, "what in the world does this trailer have to do with Verda?"  Well, I have been struggling with the mere fact that I do not know who I am.    And recently I have been formulating a plan to get my answer. It has taken me 6 months to get to this point.   As I was watching this movie the  story being told made an impression on me and I wrote it down.  (By the way, I researched it; the story is true).  I have put this simple idea of "making small adjustments" to use in my everyday life and it has made a world of difference.  Have I figured it all out? mmm, I'm still working on it.  I  am, however, very pleased that I am  making progress.   It is very slow, and at times I get very discouraged, but I want to find my answers more than I want to give up.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Take me out to the ball game...

Introducing Team Lamb.   This year Gary decided to play softball with the guys at work. They play at Pioneer Park on Monday nights.   Let's go Lamb Chops , let's go!





Wednesday, June 27, 2012

RED, the quad or Verda's ride to work






I've been riding my bike from work because Garrett is taking a summer school class   monday thru thursday.  Gary took pity on me and bought this quad for me to ride instead. I  bought the helmet at the thrift store. My next adventure is riding this during the monsoons.  So far it has been dry.  We will see how long that lasts.  Who wants to go for a ride?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun please shine down on me...

One of things I share with my daughters is the wonderment of watching the sun set.  I enjoy watching it most on the ocean.  When I would visit my mother in La Jolla, California my favorite part of the trip was sitting on a bench above the beach and watching the sun slowly drift into the horizon. I 'm generally with my sister during these times and it's so nice to be together quietly  visiting, solving the problems of the day.. There is a peacefulness that accompanies  that time of day.  It's just you, the ocean breeze, the waves brushing up on the shore and the sun.  Depending on the day there would be or not be a display of vibrant color.  It doesn't matter to me, I like watching the sun go down.  It's relaxing and soothing.  Since my daughters have both lived on an island, I have enjoyed this early evening wonder with my grandchildren.  I also like to watch the sun rise, but I don't get around to that too much.  It was something I looked forward to when I taught early morning seminary.  I love the color the sun projects onto the clouds in the early morning hours.  Alaskan sunsets are amazing also.  I have been dazzled by the effects of the setting sun on the ocean and ice. Brad and Kerri always chase the sunset, not matter what the temperature is outside.
Many times we have to pre-plan to have these experiences because you have to drive a ways to find  "just the right spot" to sit and watch.  It is always an adventure and unforgettable.   As you might already assume since I live in the Prescott area that I also enjoy the sunsets in the mountains.  It is not uncommon for me to pull over while I'm driving during the sunset to take a picture.  I have so many photos of sunsets.  They might look all the same to someone else, but I know the difference and remember the circumstance of just about every one of them.



 One I will remember is while visiting Kim and her family we sat on the beach and while waiting for the sun to lower we also had the fortune of watching the whales.  Two for one.    When I visited Kerri just recently we took fun photos of the sunset. Unfortunately my camera is not the greatest and my photography skills are very weak, but the time we spend together on these adventures is priceless.  Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden Sun, thanks for shining for our fam-i-ly!