I was trying to show Bethany how my blog was not working and letting me post pictures, and then here was the picture.
So here is the first thing we saw as we crossed the desert and came into Arizona is September. This desert stuff is a far cry from the green of Missouri.

Jesus loves me, this I know
Jesus knows me, this I love

Happy Report:
I am happy to report that I had a pain-free night! Yesterday I went to the dentist in Gallatin. He determined that I had a cracked tooth and needed a root canal job. The sad part to me was that it could not be done for another eight days. I was feeling just terrible. There was plenty of medicines that our son-in-law, Rob, and the dentist here had prescribed for me, nonetheless they were just making me sick to my stomach because I could not get any food in my stomach first. I was in quite a whirlwind.
Some of the sweet sisters here brought over some soft food: rice pudding, Jello, and potato soup. I was able to eat enough to settle my stomach, the pills stayed down, and I was able to sleep throughout the night. Life looks so much more hopeful with a good night's sleep.
Rob called last night with some suggestions. He is such a wonderful son-in-law! I appreciate his tender care so much.
So I off this morning trying to get caught up with housework.

Once again my blog will not let me download any pictures. I would have shown you the float that Lloyd and I rode last weekend. This is the second float I have been on since coming on our mission! Who would have thought!
I have been suffering from a toothache for a couple of weeks. I do not know if I can last until my appointment with Dr. Matthews. This is not any fun. Then there are all the people that are wanting to say goodbye to us by having us eat with them...eating is no fun these days. With my luck, I won't even loose weight from all this.

A-Z's all about me
A- Age: 61 (for a few more days)
B- Bed size: king, of course
C- Chore you hate: Cleaning the shower, Lloyd has taken over that task
D- Dad's name: Lloyd
E- Essential start of your day: scriptures
F- Favorite color: red
G- Gold or Silver: I like them both
H- Height: 5' 8"I
- Instruments you play: Piano a long time ago
J- Job title: Mom
K- Kids: 5
L- Living arrangements: with my family
M- Mom's name: Marjorie
N- Nicknames: Grammy, Woo Hoo
O- Overnight stay in a hospital other than your birth: when kids were born- I have spent about 5 night there
P- Pet Peeve: People mispronouncing the word "Ensign"
Q- Quote from a movie: " We're walking, were walking"
R- Right or left handed: left
S- Siblings: 5 bro, 3 sisters
T- Time you wake up: 5:15 a.m.
U- Underwear: yes
V- Vegetable you dislike: Eggplant
W- Ways you drink your coffee: I don't, but I love really good hot chocolate
X-rays you've had: Lots
Y- Yummy food you make: cookies
Z- Zoo favorites: Giraffes
Now pass this on to three friends you want to get to know better.
I am tagging: Nelly, Paige and Lori (You are the only ones that I know that look at this. Sorry)

We got to go to our annual trip to the temple in Nauvoo this last weekend. I was surprised to discover these sculptures that had been added to our experience at the Visitors' Center. These pictures do not do them justice, but you can get an idea what they are like. There about a dozen of them depicting moments in the Savior's life. The details are just marvelous. Even the expression on Christ's face changes with what is going on. The work is done by a woman named Angela Johnson. I was told she is from Gilbert. After watching our daughter, Paige, work on some sculpting and the time it takes, I just cannot believe anyone was able to make these in one lifetime.

A few months ago when Elder Joe J. Christensen was at our home for dinner, I made my Navy Bean Soup. He liked it so much he asked me to fix it every time he comes. I have respected his request. I have never had a recipe for it. Many people have asked me for one. Today when Sister Christensen asked me to please write down some instructions, I just to do my best. I am putting a copy here on my blog. Let me know if you ever make it and how you like it.

Navy Bean Soup

Soak 2 cups of Navy Beans over night. Rinse the beans in the morning. Cover with about 2 or 3 inches of water. Put on stove and heat until the water boils. Reduce heat to a simmer. Add a ham hock, chopped onion, 1 grated carrot, and 2 stocks of celery. Cook for 3 or more hours. When meat easily comes off bone and beans are soft, remove ham and cut into bite size pieces. Return ham to soup. Season the soup with garlic salt and pepper. I often add a chopped green pepper and chopped basil or parsley.

Let me introduce you to Jeremy Hunter shown here with his two children, Lewis and Blythe.
I actually have written about him earlier. He was the person who had a "run-in" on the property here. He has a marvelous story, that we will be happy to share with you when we get home. We have had a great experience getting to know him and introducing him to the Church. He worked side by side with the men for two weeks. He became an honorary missionary, attended the Tabernacle Choir concert with us and is shown here on Father's Day at our home after lunch.

This is a test to see if things work.

THE CHINESE FARMER
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
A Chinese farmer lived on a farm in a small village. He had one son who was old enough to help him with the hard work he had to do in order to make a humble living from the soil. He was very fortunate that he also owned one horse, which did much of the heavy labor in the fields.
One night accidentally, as they finished working and put the horse into the pasture, the gate was left unlatched. During the night, the horse went out through the gate. Next morning the farmer discovered his horse was gone. His neighbors were asked but they did not know of its whereabouts. His neighbors expressed their sadness for him and further mourned that without his horse he would not be able to earn a living. “You will be without means, how unfortunate, all is lost for you,” they said. The farmer replied, “I do not know that. I do not know that there is no hope. I am not wise enough to know those things.”
Several nights later, while the farmer and his son were sleeping, his horse returned to the farm drawing with him a herd of wild horses. They went into the unlocked pasture and were there in the morning as the farmer arose. These fine animals were now his. When they learned about this good fortune, his neighbors came and exclaimed, “How fortunate you are. You are a wealthy man. Oh, how blessed you are! Now you can have anything that you want.” The farmer replied, “I do not know if this is good fortune. I do not know that these things will be. I am not wise enough to know this.” And he continued his work.
His son was attempting to train the new horses. One day there was an accident and the boy was thrown from a wild horse. He received a very serious injury to his leg. He was unable to work and suffered great pain. The neighbors came to the farmer and said, “Oh how tragic, your son will never be able to walk. He cannot help you with the work as before. You will not be able to enjoy a bounteous harvest. You are most unfortunate.” The farmer replied, “I do not know if this is bad fortune. I am not wise to know if what you say will be so.” And he continued to do what he could do.
Then one day, a warlord of the providence in which they lived sent out a decree that all young men of the providence would be conscripted into his army, to fight his enemies of a neighboring land. Soldiers were sent into the farmer’s village. They gathered all of the young men of the village. Because of his injured leg the farmer’s son was of no use to them so, he stayed home with his father.
Within a short time, news of a fierce battle was received in the village. It reported that all of the young men from this village had been killed.
Are any of us wise enough to know what good fortune is and what is not?

Here are a few of the wild flowers we have seen this spring. Aren't they beautiful! See what a lot of water can do.