I guess this comes with the territory.

David received a phone call from one of the counselors in the Stake Presidency informing

him that his office at the church had been broken into.  Somebody had busted

out the window come through and rifled through his credenza.

This is what we saw. 

David's Credenza

Broken window in Bishop's Office

Broken window in a classroom.

Criminal evidence. (broken tile from roof of church)

I don't know who reported it or when it happened but it

was probably in the night and somebody called today.

The physical facility people were already there as was

the counselor in the Stake Presidency.

David was concerned on the way up there because

he keeps very personal and private information in

his office.   It looks like they were looking for money.

And it may have been someone familiar with the

lay out of our church buildings.

He was relieved to learn that nothing was missing that

mattered.  And it didn't appear to be personal towards

him.  (I can't imagine that it would have been.)

As far as being a Bishop this is about a one or two

on a scale of one to ten when it comes to his concerns.

Poppy Season

These pictures were taken by some friends of ours.  They were ranching

east of Safford for Spring break.  It is definately spring in the desert! Enjoy

Many Moons Ago.

On 30 March 1963 my family was sealed in the Arizona Temple.

That was 47 years ago today.

From left to right-back row: My sisters Lynne (14-15) and Coleen (16-17), my dad (46)and

my mom (38).  That is me, (10), and my younger brother, Jeff (8). My oldest brother, Randy,

was sealed to my parents about 7 years ago in the Snowflake Temple.

I distinctly remember that day.  I know I didn't understand the importance and

was happy for this to happen.  I just remember it was a long day.  They had a

nursery with a couple of cranky old ladies watching the kids and stale crackers.

I also remember the murals on the walls of the Temple.  I think of that

everytime we go to the Mesa Temple. 

I took my favorite stuffed animal, Tiger, with me.  I took him everywhere

and I did realize this was a big day and he was invited.  I thought, while I

was in the nursery with those cranky old ladies, of ways to take

him with me and have him sealed to our family.  Maybe have him under my

arm so when we held hands his little paw would touch hands with

my family and he would be sealed to us too.  I ended up chickening out

and he stayed with the old ladies.  I wish he was in this picture. 

We stayed in a Mom and Pop motel.  It had big french doors and when they

opened you could smell orange blossoms.

I think I will call my brother and sisters and see how they remember
that day.   

PALM SUNDAY

Today is the day the Christian world traditionally calls Palm Sunday. You will remember that it was on that Sunday nearly 2,000 years ago that Jesus Christ entered the city of Jerusalem during the final week of His mortal life. In fulfillment of Zechariah’s ancient prophecy, He rode in on a donkey, and as He did so, a great multitude came out to greet the Master and carpeted the path before Him with palm leaves, flowering branches, and even their own garments. As He approached, they cried, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord” and “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

Perhaps the disciples thought this was a turning point—the moment when the Jewish world would finally recognize Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. But the Savior understood that many of the shouts of praise and acclamation would be temporary. He knew that soon He would ascend to the Mount of Olives and there, alone in Gethsemane, take upon Himself the sins of the world.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

 MARK CHAPTER 11

1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
7 And they brought the acolt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; aBlessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 aBlessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Sunday is David and my 35th wedding anniversary. I went through the Temple the first time on the 20th of March 1975 and married on the 21st in the Manti Temple.
David and I feel like so much has changed since that day. But on the other hand so much is still the same. The excitement of that day was for two young people and it can’t be duplicated today. But we have today’s life that we love.

I think enduring marriages are ones of acceptances. We can’t keep that “new love” feeling but we can feel love that belongs with our time in life. And we do and we accept that. I don’t need that handsome skinny easy going new husband. I need a man for today. And he is that man. I am that woman for him.

We have had rocky times. David’s dad once said that if married people tell you they always agree and don’t have fights that they are lying. That statement was made on his and Marian’s 50th wedding anniversary. Enough said.

Marriage has been a great blessing in my life. I am happy to have David as a companion to navigate through this mortal existence. We love each other in a 35 years together way. Our experiences make us who we are today and how we love.

We tried to remember what we have done on our anniversaries. This is how we remember it.

FIRST ANNIVERSARY 1976
We lived in Show Low in our trailer and I was six months pregnant with Peter. We ate Pizza the first night we were married and I wanted to eat it every anniversary. Steak….Pizza….Steak….Pizza. Steak won.

SECOND ANNIVERSARY 1977 We had moved back to Joseph City to run the store with David’s dad. At that time we were temporarily living in a camping trailer. Pete was a baby so it wasn’t that bad. The trailer was by the store.  David brought me a set of dishes from the store. I remember seeing him walk out the entrance with a box in his arms and he came to the trailer and handed it to me and said happy anniversary.

THIRD ANNIVERSARY 1978
We went to the valley to play. That was the year we had our first old fashioned picture taken. We rode go carts. Can’t remember much more except we could not find a room. We ended up staying in a dive on the Black Canyon Hwy. David’s folks kept Pete.

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY 1979
That was our last year in Joseph City. We think we went to Flagstaff for dinner and a movie.

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 1980
We were living in the Pink house in Show Low. Jill was born in January. Can’t remember what we did.

SIXTH ANNIVERSARY 1981 Living in Pinetop.
I was pregnant with Tim. I am thinking that Lynne kept Pete and Jill in Holbrook and David and I went to Flagstaff. We watched Popeye the Sailerman movie.

SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY 1982
Three kids….overwhelmed....probably stayed home.

EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY 1983
Ditto.
SOMEWHERE IN THESE YEARS WE STARTED FARMING THE KIDS OUT AND WE WOULD RENT MOVIES AND BUY A PIZZA AND JUNK FOOD AND JUST HAVE THE HOUSE TO OURSELVES.

NINETH ANNIVERSARY 1984
Pregnant with Heidi. I think this could have been one of the farm kids out years.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY 1985
This was a big event for us. 10 years! I ran into two older women in the store and told them that David and I were going out of town to celebrate our big 10th anniversary and they just laughed at me. We went to Flagstaff. I was nursing Heidi…..glad when we got home.

ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY 1986

Can't remember. 

SOMEWHERE IN HERE THE MOVIE AND PIZZA DAYS WENT BY THE WAY. OUR CHILDREN HAD SPRING BREAK AND WERE ALSO STARTING TO RUN TRACK AND THIS BEGAN THE YEARS THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY, “OH” WHEN WE TOLD THEM WHERE WE SPENT OUR ANNIVERSARY.

TWELVTH ANNIVERSARY 1987

We went to Cottonwood to spend a few days with Dad and Beverly. We did some site seeing. I loved that little trip.We stayed in Flagstaff at a Motel 6.  Our room didn't even have a phone.  They were down the stairs hanging by the dozen on a wall.  I made little bags for the backs for the car seats for the kids to put stuff in to keep them busy while we traveled. To finish that trip we went to the valley and went goofy golfing.

13TH ANNIVERSARY 1988
We took the kids to Tucson and went to the Desert Museum.


14th ANNIVERSARY 1989
Pregnant and sick with Lee. We went to David Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson to an air show.  We spent the night in Globe and we had Russ Jones with us and we had the Plymouth Reliant.  We piled in and went.

15th ANNIVERSARY 1990
We planned a trip to the valley. Just for a movie, dinners a little shopping. David told me to get a room before we left. I didn’t think we would have to worry about that. But it was spring and every motel was full. We even drove out to Casa Grande and were turned away. I finally called my sister, Coleen, in Phx and (lucky for us) she was home and said to come on over. We drove to Flagstaff the next day. Plenty of rooms there.

16th ANNIVERSARY 1991
May have spent this one in Round Valley at their indoor invitational track meet.

17th ANNIVERSARY 1992
Ditto. Our anniversary may not have been exactly on the weekends but we couldn’t spend our money twice and we love track meets so we were good with that.

18th ANNIVERSARY 1993
Went to Globe. We stayed at the motel on the NE corner as you drive down the hill into town. We spent two nights. I just remember we went swimming in the pool.

19th ANNIVERSARY 1994
Probably RV track meet.

20th ANNIVERSARY 1995
Pete’s last year home and last RV track meet. We really out did ourselves this year. After the track meet we got a room in Eagar and called home and told the kids they were on their own until tomorrow.

21st ANNIVERSARY 1996
Probably RV meet. Pete was gone but Tim was running track now.

22nd – 26th ANNIVERSARIES 1997-2001
Blue Ridge track started going to Morenci these years. So we either went to RV or Morenci. We actually stayed at the Morenci Motel and ate the Morenci Café one year.  We loved it. Everything was named “Morenci”.We had a good time. Tim graduated in 2000 but Heidi was in High School now so we continued with the track meets.

THIS IS GETTING KINDA LONG ISN’T IT? “)

Well, OK, for the rest…..
If we didn’t just go out to dinner this is what we did to bring us to date:

~ We drove to Hole in the Rock. That was a great little trip. We stopped in Flagstaff because Jill was at NAU and spent some time with her. We took a dirt road north off the highway that goes to Kanab and saw the most beautiful landscapes. We spent the night in Escalante, Utah and drove to Hole in the Rock the next day. (I have to laugh. We had David’s big white Chevy and the last little way is all over rock. There was some climbing in 4 wheel drive. I got out and walked because it scared me.) After going to the San Juans that was nothing. Anyway, we enjoyed that trip a lot.

~ We drove a dirt road behind the Graham mountains. Very interesting. Sorta like seeing the other side of the moon….looks pretty much like the front side but now you can say you had been there. We did see Apple orchards. Which is were we got the idea you can pretty much butcher your trees in the pruning process. Which we did later. Thankfully our tree survived. It was questionable. And we also saw these tomato farms.

~ We drove to Iowa for our 30th anniversary. Pete was in school in Des Moines. We loved seeing the Midwest and seeing those guys. They took us to the state capitol building. It was beautiful. I love stuff like that. Megan was my pal that day.

~Last year we went up Four Peaks……as close to “up” as you can get. Those peaks are the center of Arizona. Probably not really but you can see them from the Rim, from the valley, from the Globe Hwy. So we wanted to see them up close. I realized, just this year, that our Arizona license plates have Four Peaks on them. From the highest point we reached you could see Roosevelt Lake. A bird’s eye view of where things really are situated in relation to each other is so interesting.

Now it is this year. Tomorrow I am running in a half Marathon in Moab, Utah. We are headed there now. I told David I feel like this a weekend for me and that our anniversary isn’t getting the attention it deserves. But there he sits as driver….in his jeep. There is always the possibility of finding something spectacular off road in Moab. For which we can always say “that is what we did on our 35th wedding anniversary”.

I thought they were just rounding up when they said the race was THIRTEEN miles.

35 years ago yesterday I went through the Manti Temple and received my endowments. The next time I did anything of significance on March 20th was yesterday. I mentioned this today to David and we laughed and then he said, “And both times I just stood around and watched”.

My bib.  My very own Marathon bib!

Yesterday’s significant thing for me was running my half marathon in Moab, Utah. I say mine and it was me that ran it but I know it has been because of many people I did it.

Smiles before I boarded the bus.

I don’t feel anything euphoric today but I have an idea that in future days when it sinks in that I actually did it I will know why Patty pushed so hard for me to complete this. I have already felt many benefits.

You might not think that someone who pushes you to run is Christlike. But she is. Nine months ago my youngest child was married and my husband was made the Bishop of our ward the very next day. That meant I would be released as the Relief Society President. The perfect storm was coming together to engulf me. She pulled me aside and said running would help me move on.

And I have. I am used to my empty nest. I have a better understanding of how to support David and I have let go of the mindset and activity that comes with being a Relief Society President.

She told me IT IS GOOD TO DO HARD THINGS. This HAS been hard for me. But it has been the hardness of this whole thing that moved me out of my lost and lonely state. IT CONSUMED MY MIND.  If I learn nothing else from this I have learned that I can be mentally tough and I can push myself.

That is the Colorado River.  I ran beside it for ELEVEN MILES!

I have to say that David pushed me, too. It was the same kind of pushing that he used on our children when they were involved in sports. I could go on about that but I won’t. Can I say that there were a couple of times that I wanted to slap him! But at this point I thank him, too. He really has been supportive and wanted so much for me to complete this goal.

My children have been so supportive. When I was trying to decide to do this I ran it by my children a couple of times. Finally Pete said, “Mom, it is just yes or no”. I realized over and over again that “yes” is a huge word. I wanted to be strong for them. Quitting was never allowed when they started something. I am now so aware how much it took, mentally and physically, for them to stick with it. They are strong people. In many ways.

Friday evening someone knocked on our motel door and David opened it and there stood Jill and Lee. I hadn’t asked anyone to come. I know their lives and concerns and they are busy people. I had talked with them and I knew they supported me. But when that door opened in that instant I felt a flood of love and support. I just started crying.  David knew all the time they were coming.  That man can keep a secret.

(Reinactment)

Patty hooked me up with her mom, Jenny Dixon. What a good woman and new friend. She got me where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there and shared insights that were SO valuable. Except for my deer in the headlights look I think I had very few stumbles (no pun intended) through the whole process. Thanks, Jenny. She is 69 and a great runner. I see where Patty gets her running genes from.  Jenny took off and I never saw her again!

 These roads I have run these past months, including Hwy 128 in Utah, are special places for me. They are avenues that helped me make more of myself than I have been.  It is nice to be able to talk the talk because I walked the walk.  No...no...I ran the run.  I really did it!

We drove up the river and took these pictures the night before the race.  Only after we

had been transported to the start did I see people with cameras.

I wish I had had my camera to show how many people were there

and all the stuff along the way.  But I didn't.....

I thought this might be the sweeper car.  They would just come along

and scoop me up.

No, I didn't win.  But I finished it.  All 13 miles.
  A while back I heard someone say that you needed your
own word that would motivate you to the finish.  I chose
"finisher"as my word.  They made a back drop for me with my word
on it.  That was sooo nice of them!

Visitors

We have had visitors!  Abbey and Parker spent two days with us last weekend.

And Abbey, Mikey and Benjamin came again this weekend with their parents.

These little people are so much a part of my life. My heart is invested and I think about them all the time and pray for

their protection and happiness every day.

(Kitchen helpers...sampling the cheese.)

This is the week.

I can't believe that this is the week of the half marathon.  I get teary eyed just with

the reality of it all.  It has been nine months of training.  I have never done anything

like this before.  And I have never done something that, at this point, still has a great

deal of unknowns.  I have no idea how this race will go.  I am not scared of

the unknowns.  I just want to go the distance.  I think my body is getting

weary.  I am amazed that I can run the miles but I am tired of hurting.  I hope

the energy and excitement trick my complaining joints into a good run.

Look at this map!  It should be a beautiful run. 

SCOUTING

Last night I went to an Adult Recognition Dinner for Boy Scouting.

I haven't thought about scouting much at all in many years.  But being there

and seeing all these scout leaders being honored and honoring their peers

brought back memories. 

My three older children were in scouting.  I was the den mother for my boys

most of their Cub Scout years.  Jill had a wonderful leader in Girl Scouts named

Joan Pearson.  She had a daughter Jill's age and she took them through the

6th grade and all of the advancements to that time. 

I can totally understand why you involve  yourself in these programs

when your children are in them.  But it was amazing to me to see these

adults, who obviously don't have children in scouting anymore, continue

making the programs go.  I could hear them talk about upcoming Jamborees

and Camps and Woodbadge and what they had been doing. 

It was wonderful to see that Scouting is alive and well.  And that

because of these adult leaders.  They all deserved their recognition.

By the way for those who know Kent Brooksby he received the

Silver Beaver Award last night.  Way to go Kent!

TIM

This is Tim at a Pinewood Derby.    And his 3rd grade school picture.  He thought about

having that picture taken and was pleased to wear his Cub Scout uniform.  I loved the group of boys his age.  There were alot of them and they were really into Cub Scouting. 

Tim is the oldest boy of that group so he became a Cub Scout about a month before

the next boy came in.  I remember the night he was brought into Cubs.  He had on his

uniform and there was some ceremony and awards (typical pack meeting stuff) then

the boys took off to run around the Stake Center.  I watched Tim.  He ran to catch

up with the boys that were older and already in Cubs.  He got left behind.  I saw him

look down at his uniform as if to say, "I got my uniform on....what's the matter?  Wait up."

Within a short amount of time he had a den full of Wolves his age.

JILL

These two pictures basically have the same girls in them.  The top ones

are brownies and the bottom ones are 5th or 6th grade.

Jill is closest to the "bridge" in the Brownie one and in the

middle with fluffy blonde hair in the bottom one. 

Joan did great things for/with these girls.  One Christmas they

made little sleighs as a decoration.  I loved it.  I still put it up.

I can't remember how they earned the money but they earned enough money to

go to Disneyland!  I went with as a chaperone.  It was such a fun trip.  We flew

on a plane, took a bus to our motel and walked to the park and just

had a great time.

PETE

Top picture was from a Scout-o-rama.  That is Jill by Pete.  Scout-o-rama's

were always sooo windy.  This one was inside the elementary school at

Blue Ridge.  I think we taught people how to make paper airplanes.

Bottom picture is one of Pete's Pinewood Derbys.  That is

Tim sitting by him.  ( I see Mikey in that picture).  Look at the

man standing with the jacket behind them.  It is Grandpa Merrill.

It is sweet to remember those times.  It is also a time to be grateful for.

So many people influenced our children for good.  They have good

memories of those times and events.

Bode's Birthday Party?

 

 A week or so back my daughter, Heidi, called and asked if we were coming down on Bode's birthday.

She said he wanted Grandpa Dave and Grandma Trish to come to his party.  We weren't able to

come down on his birthday but we were coming on the Friday and Saturday a week before (David

had classes).  So she said maybe we could have an early party for him on that Friday evening.  She

would make it a cousin event at a really cool park.

Sounded great to Grandpa Dave and Grandma Trish!!

So on that Friday, after David's class, we headed to the party destination.  With a

stop to buy Bode a Doctor's Kit at Barnes and Noble.

We found the park and drove in and thought we saw Heidi at a Ramada.  She

appeared to be looking at us and had her hands on her hips.  So I called her.

At first she said, "no, I'm not there yet".  I said, "oh, we saw somebody that

looked like you looking at us".  She said, "it is me...you're not supposed to be

here yet".  "What?"......She tried to make us not stop but ended up telling us that

this party wasn't for Bode it was for David and me.

IT WAS A SURPRIZE PARTY FOR OUR 35TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!

And we were surprized!!!

We were so pleased.  These are my favorite people to party with.  I can't quite explain

how it feels to know that your children felt that this was an important occasion. 

They are all married and working on their relationships so I am thinking they

understand that 35 years together is an accomplishment in itself.  Maybe they

just like us.  We do like them!!

A COUPLE OF FUN PICTURES FROM THE EVENING.

This is Megan saying the blessing on dinner.  OK, maybe I should have had

my eyes shut...but I just wanted a picture of her saying the prayer.  Look at

Bode....I think he wants to grow up and marry "Gogan".

Train Ride.  This almost got derailed.  A fuel pump went out and we were told

the train wasn't running for the evening.  But they got it going.

Look at the happy faces!

And A Merry Go Round ride!....or carousel as Abbey calls it.

THANK YOU CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.  IT WAS A PERFECT EVENING.

This always makes me laugh.

MY DAUGHTER, JILL, WROTE THIS LETTER TO THE PRINCIPAL OF HER MIDDLE SCHOOL.  SHE WAS PROBABLY A 4TH OR 5TH GRADER.  I FOUND IT WHILE GOING THROUGH SOME STUFF.  REMINDS ME OF BEEZUS AND RAMONA....ONLY BETTER.

Dear Mrs. Butler,

We really need some rules for the parellel bars. 

There has been a lot of confusion. 

Even though there is only 3 days of school left, we still need some rules. 

You can use them for next year.  Here are some rules. 

2 waities

2 messupps

1 practace rounds

1 cangie 

no calling place backs on other bars while playing on other parellel bars 

turn over

Please try to look into thies rules. 

Your students,

Jill Merrill,

Brett Hardy

Amber Denton

 Thank you!!