Mathias's in Oregon

We had a great trip to Oregon to see Tammy & Ammon and family. What beautiful country! We really enjoyed our visit with them and all the Allen & Geraldine Mathias's! We've adopted their children in our grandma/grandpa hearts! Their family is wonderful. Here are a few pictures of our trip. I have TONS more.
It was so hard to leave them - but I know they are happy and where they are supposed to be.

My 100 Day Challlenge

On September 22, there were 100 days left until the end of 2008. I made a personal challenge to myself that I would exercise 5 days out of 7 each week and read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. I'm please to announce that today is day 75 until the end of the year and I have been successful to this point. Yeah!!!! My daily routine has been to wake at 4 AM, throw on my exercise clothes and drive to the gym at Higley & Baseline. I then do about 40 minutes of cardio/fat burning (elliptical, treadmill, stairstepper, or bike) while reading the Book of Mormon and then about 10-15 minutes of weight lifting/circuit training. Then I will shower, throw my wig on and get to work by about 6AM. The man who checks me in at the gym always looks at me pretty funny - when he sees me coming in looking like I just got out of bed (which I did) and then an hour later when I leave I have perfect hair - aren't wigs great! I'll put my face on (you know, makeup!) at work and then get on with my day. It feels so great to exercise each morning. I actually look forward to it and I have an internal clock which wakes me up on time each day.....unfortunately even on Saturdays and Sundays. I love reading the Book of Mormon each morning - such a great start to each day. It will be no struggle to finish the Book of Mormon before December 31, 2008.

Latest exciting news - A NEW GRANDBABY IS ON THE WAY! Rick & Tammy announced that they are expecting their 5th!!!!! OMG!!!! Jenny and the new baby will only be about 13 months apart! Whoops!!!! This new grandchild will be number 22! How blessed we are.

Don & I are going to Coos Bay, Oregon on November 7-10 to see Tammy & Ammon and family. Allegiant Air had some $29 each way fares (to which they added taxes, seat fees, luggage fees, priority boarding option, change reservation options, etc.....)So instead of it costing $29 each way per person - it is costing about $60 each way per person - which is still a great deal. We will fly into Medford, Oregon and then will have to drive about 170+ miles to Coos Bay. Tammy and Ammon will either pick us up or we will rent a car. We'll see. I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE MY MATHIAS BABIES! I miss them so much - not to mention my sweet Tammy and entertaining Ammon. Oh how we miss his animated stories.

Mathias Update

Mathias's got to Coos Bay yesterday (Wednesday 8/20/08) during a rain storm – but their vehicles did make it upppppp the hill ok using their 4 wheel drives pulling the trailers. Last night after the kids were all in bed (13 of them total – ALL under 11 years - OMG!!!!!!!) the power went out. Evidently when it rains the trees get so heavy they fall over on the power lines. Evidently a common occurrence. Tammy said the couches are more comfortable than sleeping in the car. They don’t have the motor home there yet for them live in – but hope to soon.

Their cell phones do not work at their house. But they do if you can happen to catch them in town. Internet only works during the mornings and evenings!

Alexis is excited about having a girl cousin who will probably be in the same class as she is. They haven’t got enrolled yet in school, but there are no foreseeable problems.

Jacob learned that you eat when the food is put in front of you. They don’t have snacks at their house. He chose to not eat lunch yesterday and got hungry around two – but learned that food wouldn’t be available until dinner time! Tammy said that her children will learn all about living in a huge family, without her and Ammon having a huge family!

Even though things were rough getting up to Oregon – Tammy and Ammon still feel good about their move. She sounded good!

Ammon’s brothers name is Allen and his wife is Geraldine. They have 9 children all under 11! Geraldine is evidently a saint – Allen leaves early in the morning and doesn’t get home until around 9 pm.

I’m missing them…….I think they’ve gone back in TIME about 10 years or so. It will be an interesting adjustment for them all. Lots of changes – but she did say IT IS BEAUTIFUL up there.

Tammy & Ammon - Oregon bound

Here's the UPDATE referred to at the bottom of this post - 8/19/08 5PM - CALLED TAMMY - they were in Northern California - didn't leave Modesto until around noon today, Tuesday. Ended up purchasing a nice walk-in type trailer with a skylight which Ammon will be able to use for his work. Sold their other trailer for $10 to the motel manager! They were going to try to get as far as possible with just maybe a nap at the side of the road. All are happy - Tammy does sound tired.....duh!!! I don't know why! Can you imagine the incredible endeavor, journey, etc they are going through? What a couple! What a woman! What a family! I love them so much!

*******

It's been an emotional last couple of weeks with Tammy & Ammon and family getting ready to leave for their relocation to Coos Bay, Oregon. I think it was a bigger job than what anyone thought it would be to get their house packed up, patched, cleaned, etc. I really think the Lord wants them to be in Oregon - because they were being hit with so many things to delay and make harder the whole process. They were learning lots of lessons and being tested to see how they would handle everything that was being thrown at them....Ammons accident, the children running fevers, repairs not going smoothly, etc....

I really enjoyed having them at the house for the week prior to leaving. I love those children so much. They are so precious and sweet. Don & I spent some time on Friday evening recording some little 10 second messages on some sound picture frames with pictures in them of Don & I and each child. The funniest one we did was Joseph's. We said "Grandma & Grandpa love you Joseph, - KNUCKLES!!!!" He loved it and would laugh when we said knuckles. That is his favorite "high 5" type greeting. Abby's was "Abby, Abby, Grandma & Grandpa love you". Jacobs was "Sergeant Jacob - your assignment is to withstand the temptings of Satan! We love you!" The sergeant thing is something he and Don had going on. Alexis's was "Alexis - Always remember your special scripture - we love you!"

We got up Saturday morning and finally made it up to their house and got things finalized and they were on their way! A very teary time for me & even Grandpa had some wet eye moments.

Tammy & Ammon and family left Apache Junction around 11am on Saturday. They called around 6 pm on Saturday and were in 29 Palms in California. Still driving…….
Tammy called Monday 8/18/08 about 8AM. They were stuck in Modesto, CA with a blow out on the trailer that Tammy was pulling. It happened about noon on Sunday 8/17/08 – (they had been driving for about 24 hours) at an off ramp. Long story short - they rented a motel room and just settled in there Sunday & Monday night. Tammy was hanging out at the hotel with the kids while Ammon tried to take care of finding a tire & rim and/or a trailer. He found a tire & rim, but they wouldn't work because the axel was bend and the tire rubbed on it. So last I heard they were looking for a trailer.

They are all doing well – except Tammy – she is freaking out a bit – her legs are swollen from all the sitting and her arm is sunburned – I guess from hanging it out the door? Having the tire blow wasn't fun. But her spirits are up and they will be fine. Gerta is hanging out in the car – it’s cool enough. The motel has an outside and an inside entrance – so they are able to keep an eye on the trailer. Tammy was joking about their wagon breaking down and now they are worrying about the Indians stealing their possessions!

I haven't heard anything from them today - Tuesday - but check back for updates!

Brigham's Blessing

We were so proud of #4 son Billy Peterson as he blessed his first son, Brigham Lance Peterson (grandchild #21!) on Sunday 8/3/08. It was a very special day. Uncles Rick, Jason & Ammon, and Grandpa Don, and members of the bishopric joined Billy in the circle to give Brigham a name and a fathers blessing. Grandma Debbie & Brigham's mom Trina both bore their testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ and his atonement. Aunts Tammra, Susie, Tammy, cousins Stuart, Austin, Ashley, Tyler, Lucy, Destiny, Rachael, Micael, Jenny, Jacob, Alexis, Joseph & Abigail were all in attendance; as well as Uncle Chris and Grandma Debbie Tinsley. Most of the family joined us for an early dinner of grilled pork chops, rice, pasta salad, corn and yummy lemon bars (thanks Aunt Trina!). We also had lots of red koolaide mouths!

Nurturing Marriage

To all you husbands & wives out there - I found the following in my files and think it is appropriate at this time. It's a talk I gave back in 2006 in Sacrament Meeting. This is just a small part of it. I pray that you will do what you have to to make your marriages strong and true - strong enough to weather whatever is thrown at you in your lives. Always remember that this life is a test. What are you doing with life? What are you doing with your marriage? What we do HERE and NOW determines whether or not we are together in the next life. We don't have time to put it off. We must be strong and faithful NOW!

NOW JUST DON'T SKIP OVER THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES - IT GETS INTERESTING A FEW VERSES DOWN:

Alma 32 – Alma is teaching the poor whose afflictions had humbled them. Alma compares the word unto a seed – it must be planted and nourished – then it grows into a tree from which the fruit of eternal life is picked..

1. And now, I impart these words unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all, little children could do well to have these words given unto them, that they may grow up and be loving and nurturing husbands & wives.

2. I behold that you are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye.

3. Behold you hath said, What shall I do? My sweetheart hast cast me in on the couch, that I cannot be loving and nurturing.

4. But, I say unto you, you haven’t been very good at that loving and nurturing….

5. And so, behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye can love and nurture your sweetheart no more than once or twice a year and stay off the couch?

6. I say unto you, it is well that ye have been cast on your couches, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom.

7. For it is because ye are cast out, and that ye are despised of your sweetheart because of your exceeding slothfulness in nurturing your marriage, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.

8. And now, because ye are compelled to be humble, blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find themselves off the couch; and those that find themselves off the couch, and nurturing their marriage, and enduring to the end, the same shall be happy forever!

9. Therefore, blessed are they who nurture their marriage without being compelled to do so; or rather, in other words, blessed are they who believeth in the words of Sister Hubbs and start to do all the little things that count towards a truly wonderful and happy marriage.

10. And now, I continue on – as ye have desired to know what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out.

11. I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; you have not been cast out; for I verily believe that there are some among you who have already humbled yourselves, and have done what is necessary to keep your marriage happy and full of life and vitality.

12. But those of you have not yet humbled yourselves, behold if you will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, even if ye can no more than desire to believe that it will work and that ye can get off the couch, let this desire work in you, even until ye will have a wonderful and fulfilling friendship with your sweetheart.

I want to thank the Bishopric for asking me to talk today on Nurturing our Marriages. My sweetheart Don, has been on his best behavior this week! His teasing and sarcasm have been at a minimum. And Friday night, he wanted to know what I was going to say about him! He still doesn’t know!

Paul said that “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11).

The Family Proclamation says: “that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God” and

Elder Russell M. Nelson in his talk “Nurturing Marriage” states that “marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship.” And paraphrasing - yet some married couples fall short of their full potential and they let their romance become rusty, they take each other for granted”
President Spencer W. Kimball said “Many couples permit their marriages to become stale and their love to grow cold like old bread or worn-out jokes or cold gravy,” “These people will do well to reevaluate, to renew their courting, to express their affection, to acknowledge kindnesses, and to increase their consideration so their marriage can again become beautiful, sweet, and growing.”

He also said in his book .” (Marriage and Divorce, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976, pp. 22–23 “Love is like a flower, and, like the body, it needs constant feeding. The mortal body would soon be emaciated and die if there were not frequent feedings. The tender flower would wither and die without food and water. And so love, also, cannot be expected to last forever unless it is continually fed with portions of love, the manifestation of esteem and admiration, the expressions of gratitude, and the consideration of unselfishness)

I asked some of the people I work with what they did to make sure their marriages stayed happy and alive…What they did to nurture their relationship with their husbands or wives.

One young father, who has recently been released as a Bishop, said that he feels the most important thing in his marriage is communication. Talk, Talk, Talk! He shared experiences that he had as a bishop, where the first time a husband or wife knew about a problem was when they heard about it sitting in front of him as their bishop. Their marriages were struggling, they had come to their bishop for help and advice, but their communication levels with each other were such that neither one of them knew what the other one was feeling or that they had a problem.

Another man in our office is totally committed to his wife who has health issues. He is also committed to his job as the CFO and to his calling in a Bishopric. He makes us tired just watching his life. He works long, hard hours, and we have to make him take vacations, but if his wife needs him, he doesn’t hesitate. He is with her at all her numerous doctors appointments, checking up on her at noon, and just by his actions, she knows that she comes first and that he will always be there for her.

Another man in our office says he thinks it is the day to day little things that he does for his wife that keeps their marriage happy. Yes, he brings her flowers, he never forgets her birthday, or their anniversary, or the anniversary of when they met, etc….but what really matters is when he sees her mopping the floors after their 5 boys have tracked in mud, and he gets right down with her and helps her….or he recognizes that she is about at her wits end with their baby or the rest of boys, and he takes the child, changes diapers, tells his wife to go in the bedroom, lock the door, take a hot bath, and just relax – he will take care of everything.

My husband is the best wife and husband ever! I never knew what it was like until I married Don to go to the grocery store together. That was such a new experience for me. We have a great time in the grocery store isles. He does all our laundry! He cooks most of our meals or takes me out often. He always makes our bed and even gets the decorative pillows on right! Lately, he makes sure the shower stays clean. On special occasions, like secretary day, he not only brings me flowers, but brings flowers to all the other women in my office and in his.

We enjoy being together so much, and we are best friends. Yes, we irritate each other occasionally, but usually at the end of the day, right before he puts his ear plugs in so he can’t hear me snore, he tells me “I love you, beautiful”. And my heart just melts, and I smile and fall asleep. I feel loved and cherished. I can handle anything this world brings forth as long as I know he loves me and that he still thinks I’m beautiful, even as I get older.

And if he doesn’t tell me “I love you, beautiful”, I usually know that I’ve done something to irritate him, or I look really old & ugly that night, and then I can’t sleep. Then I wake him up early, we communicate and cuddle and all is well with our world.

One special thing Don does, is that when we come together in the Celestial room after doing a session at the temple, he puts his arms around me and tells me “Thank You”. And I know he means thank you for bringing the gospel into my life, for loving me and for putting up with me and thank you for being a great wife!

(Irving Caesar, “I Want to Be Happy” [1924])
I want to be happy,
But I won’t be happy
Till I make you happy, too.


The foundation of our marriage and most good marriages is friendship. Don is my best friend. I would rather be with him than anyone else. I would rather do things with him than anyone else. Now, Don is a great sports fan and loves pasta & Italian food. I love sea food. Do I love baseball? No! Do I love Italian food? No! Do I love football? yea, I do like football. Hockey? No! But do you know what we do for recreation, for vacations, where we go to eat often?....to baseball games….we’ve visited a lot of baseball stadiums across the nation, to football games, we went to the Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio when John Elway was inducted, we go to Italian restaurants, etc….and do you know why we go these places, when they aren’t my favorite things to do? Because I am a great fan of my husband. I like to make him happy, because when he is happy, I am happy. And he will go out of his way to make me happy. And I get a lot of fringe benefits….we get to travel a lot! when we go to stadiums, we always try to go to a temple session. We’ve seen a lot of the world. I have found food that I like at Italian restaurants. It’s just great being with him. And because we love to be with each other, and he loves me, he will still take me to Red Lobster, (he hates sea food & won’t eat anything there), but he will go across the street and get him something at Olive Garden to go, and then bring it over to Red Lobster so we can eat together!

President Kimball said “There must be continued courting and expressions of affection, kindness, and consideration to keep love alive and growing.” (Kimball, p. 17.)

Think more of your husband or wife than you do of yourself.

With friends, you do things together, you are considerate of them, you consider their needs above yours, you find out what makes them happy and then you find joy in providing that happiness.

In a good nurtured marriage, there is no room for selfishness.
You cooperate with your spouse
You show confidence in them,
you help them through depressions and hard times, you say “We can make it through this” I love you, you’ll make it!

You show them courtesy. Men, hold the doors for your wives – open the car door, especially if she has her hands full of the baby. It shows that you have care and concern for them, and that you think they are special enough to do that. And wives, let them open the doors – it is a great example for your sons.

Be affectionate! Show each other daily by touches, hugs, kisses that you love each other. Both men and women love romance.

When friendship is a part of marriage, romance can ripen and becomes enduring. Do you want to know what will lead to romance? Be friends, that friendship will lead to time spent together. And as we spend time together, we will learn to communicate. And as we communicate, we will cooperate with each other. And as we cooperate with each other, we will learn to be considerate. And that consideration will lead us to confidence in each other, and commitment, and on to romance. Don’t you just want to hug and squeeze your husband or wife to death when they are being your best friend…as they are listening to you, as they are cooperating, etc….

You should know your spouse. Give to your husband or wife expressions of love. Do they like flowers, candy bars, books?

Make time to do things together. Keep courtship alive. Go for a walk, read a book together, go swimming, rub their back, work together,

When your children see you being friends, hugging, doing things for each other, your children will know that mom & dad love each and that your marriage is important. Your children will feel secure as they see your love for each other.


If we will love the Lord more than our own lives and then love our husbands or wives more than our own lives, if we work together in total harmony within the gospel, we are sure to have great happiness. When we go to the temple together, kneel in prayer together, go to church together, keep our lives chase – mentally & physically, and work together in building the kingdom of God, our happiness will know no bounds.

13. Now we will compare your marriage unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your marriage, behold if it be a true & good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your slothfulness, it will begin to swell within your breasts, you will feel these swellings of happiness, and ye will begin to say within yourselves, - it must needs be that this is a good seed, this is really smart of me to be trying to nurture my marriage; this is beginning to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, this nurturing my marriage, it beginneth to be delicious to me and to my sweetheart!

14. Now, behold, as your marriage is nurtured, and your love for each other swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then ye must needs say that this nurturing is a good idea.

15. And I say unto, Yea; it is a good idea, for every sweet little thing you do bringeth forth unto yourselves, its own likeness.

16. Therefore, if a marriage is nurtured and groweth, it is good, but if it is not nurtured and groweth not, behold it is not good, and therefore ye findeth yourself cast out on the couch again. Because of your diligence and your patience, behold your marriage will have strong roots, and by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your nurturing, and your diligence and patience, and long-suffering, and ye shall be eternally happy together with your families and with our Father in Heaven!

I love you all! Debbie/Wife/Mother/Grandmother/Sister

Sophie Renee Rigert

Cindi has a new granddaughter! Sophie Renee Rigert was born to Mike & Karla Rigert on 7/15/08. 8 # 11 oz, 20 inches.

Mathias's Pack Meeting

Don & I went to a great Pack Meeting at Tammy & Ammons ward last night. Jacob received his religious award and Tammy received her leader award. I'm not sure about the exact names of what they received....but it was fun being there. Notice in the pictures above that Joseph had to have a bandana around his neck too! Ammon awarded some awards to the boys he has stewardship over - he was his typical funny self! When Jacob was receiving his award - they were pretending to follow a trail along a great river or lake - using binoculars - and when they stepped off the trail - they got sprayed (they fell in the lake..Ammon grabbed the squirt bottle and sprayed Jacob all along the way and said something about "welcome to Oregon" or WET is how it's going to be in Oregon. It was a fun night. Their ward is going to miss them. It is sort of a bitter sweet experience being around them right now. I'm going to miss them all so much - they are only going to be here about 15 or 16 more days. It hurts so much to think that I won't be able to see them whenever I want to.

Emma's Princess Party for her 5th birthday was a huge success! All the royal guests had a great time - at the castle on Escalante Road. The royal events started out with playing on the splash pad, grilling hot dogs, opening presents, and eating the beautiful pink strawberry princess cake Queen Sarah made (she did a GREAT job!).

Then princess & queen crowns were decorated, lots of pictures were taken, and then our hair, nails & make-up were done. Some of the princesses watched movies, ate popcorn, and even played a few songs on Rock Band. A beautiful story - "Parable of the Princesses" by Jenny Phillips was read. We had a few princes in attendance - Prince Mikey & Prince Brigham - and Great Grandma Queen (Nadine) was right in the middle of all activities. Queen Tammy & Princess Abigail slept in the upstairs guestroom, Queen Sarah & Princess Eliza in the downstairs guestroom, and all the princesses (Brianna, Ashley, Alexis, Destiny, Lucy, Emma, & Rachael) slept on the floor in the basement or on the futon, or pull-out bed. Princesses Amber & Jenny went to their respective castles and slept with their Queens Trina & Tammy & Kings Billy & Rick! Even though most didn't go to sleep until midnight, pancakes were served bright & early before King Grandpa went to help a lady in distress (move) and then to help Main Queen (me - Grandma Debbie) at a primary water activity day. It was a full, happy day!

Princess Party

All's Quiet on the Home Front!

The Johnson grandkids are back home now with mom & dad! We truly enjoyed having them with us - what delightful children....they're so related to me! hehehe:) Friday night we took them to R & R Pizza Express and had some great pizza - then we headed on over to Fry's to pick up a few groceries. While driving over I was racking my mind trying to figure out how to keep them happy and busy at the grocery store. Bright Idea! Have them play ABC Groceries! I had each one of them try to find a product or item that started with each letter of the alphabet in order. When they found an item they had to come back to Don or I, tell us the item, and then take off to find the next letter. They had fun and we did too! Don't remember who won....I think we all did! What a joy grandchildren are.

Princess Party coming up tomorrow 7/25/08! Just for princesses & queens! We're celebrating Emma's 5th birthday with a slumber party, goodies, arts & crafts, make up, and a beautiful story and song entitled "The Parable of the Princesses" by Jenny Phillips. I will look so beautiful after the granddaughters do a makeover on me! Fun, fun, fun!

I'm enjoying serving in the Primary. Saturday 7/25/08 we are having an Pioneer Activity Day complete with water games, pioneer games and otter pops! Sunday - we are having a Pioneer Sharing Activity complete with pretend campfire, pioneer dresses - (I will look so cute!) songs and stories. I'm going to tell this story:

Mary Bathgate & Isabella Park were handcart pioneers - part of the Daniel McArthurs company of 1856. They were old women - about 60 years old - older than I am!!!

They didn't have a handcart to push or pull - they were Walkers, and were pretty smart - they always liked to take the lead which kept them out of the dust and game them the firmest footing. They bragged about how they were going to walk all the way to Salt Lake City and vowed that they would never ride in a wagon or cart.

One day Mary was talking and visiting with Isabella as they walked and all of a sudden something bit Mary on the ankle! It was a RATTLESNAKE! Mary didn't hear the rattle of the snake until just a second or two before he struck. Oh, it hurt so bad!

Mary sank to the ground, pulled her long full skirt up above her ankle, took off her garter that she used to hold up her socks and feeling faint & sick to her stomach, tied the garter tightly above the bite.

Help was called for and the captain of the company came to help. He told Mary that he was going to have to use his pocket knife and cut the back of her leg above the ankle to - between the four puncture bites to get the poison out. Mary asked him if he had brought his consecrated oil so they could administer to her (he had!). She said "There's power in the priesthood & I know it".

One of the men held Mary tight, so she couldn't move and the captain took his big knife and made one quick but deep slash between two of the puncture wounds. Blood spurted out! Mary screamed - it hurt so bad....her body was trembling. Then the captain told Mary he had to make another cut. He did it quickly and Mary moaned. They thought she would faint - but she didn't - she just took in air with quick frantic gulps. The captain began to squeeze the leg and blood poured out and dripped onto the sand. They had to get all the poison out.

The the priesthood leaders laid their hands on Mary's head and gave her a priesthood blessing. Mary had great faith that the Lord would heal her. Brother McArthur wrote "...we took and anoited her leg and head, and laid our hands on her in the name of Jesus and felt to rebuke the influence of the poison, and she felt full of faith." The men told Mary that she would have to ride in a wagon and she got really mad. She didn't want to ride in a wagon. But she was smart enough to finally realize that she couldn't walk on her leg.

But she told the group - I want you to be my witness - "That I never got into a wagon until Iwas compelled to by that cursed snake.

Isabella had been giving comfort to Mary throughout this ordeal. And when it time to travel on, Isabella wanted to check on her friend Mary one more time, so she moved towards the wagon really fast - so fast that the teamster didn't even see her. The lead mule knocked her down and she fell beneath the hooves of the teams. She fell directly in the path of the wagon sheels. The front wheels of the fully loaded wagon went directly over both hips. She screamed out in agony. Fortunately one of the brethren was standing just a few feet away. When he saw whwat has happening, he dived for her, grabbed her arms, and dragged her outward. Quick as he was, he wasn't quite quick enough. The rear wheels then passed over both of her ankles. She was in agony. That wagon had passed over her body twice - and it was fully loaded with flour, about four thousands pounds of it! And do you know what? There was not a broken bone! But she was in tremendous pain and had bad bruises.

The priesthood brethren administered to her, just like they had to Mary. They got Isabella into the wagon. Her friend Mary teased her about wanting to give her company.

Mary & Isabella were quite sore for a while, but before they got to the Salt Lake Valley they were out there walking together again cheering each other up. They walked together, they rode together, and suffered together....and together they witnessed the power of the Lord.

A Week with the Johnson Grandkids

It's been three days now with Austin, Ashley, Tyler & Lucy Johnson. Mom & Dad Susie & Jason Johnson are in Chicago at a trade convention. What a joy the children have been. There have been a few sad teary episodes of missing mom & dad, but overall there have been no problems. Great Grandma Nadine has been supervising during the day until I, Grandma Debbie get home. I think they really like it when Great Grandma watches them - because they can basically do anything they want within reason. It's working out great for me. I leave the house at 5:30 am and get home about 4:00 pm. We fix dinner when I get home and I believe they are just having cold cereal in the mornings.

The first night we fixed grilled tilapia, corn, & rice pilaf. The tilapia was yummy. I baked me some salmon....but the tilapia was better. I nibbled.......

Last night, Wednesday 7/16/08, we had homemade Pizza made by Aunt Tammra! It looked yummy! I didn't partake because of my low carb diet, but it looked like everyone enjoyed it and there was even an extra one for them to eat during lunch today. Tammra & Rick and their children, Destiny, Rachael, Michael & little Jennifer were over because their air conditioning had gone on the blink on Tuesday night. They slept over on Tuesday night and stayed and "played" on Wednesday. Rick thanked me for letting them stay and I told him "family helps family"! How blessed I am to have my children so close.

Today, daughter-in-law Trina called to say that she turned on the central vac system at the same time the children were playing on the "splash pad" and it evidently caused a breaker to blow and both turned off. Found out they are on the same breaker and we can't run them both at the same time! She was unable to open the small breaker box to try to fix it - so we called the homebuilder to get an electrician over. He came and all is well. The kids are out on the splash pad as I write.

Don & I are going to listen to a Glen Beck broadcast tonight - he is an LDS talk show personality with definite opinions on various subjects. Don really enjoys him - I can take him or leave him - I really don't like conflict, controvery or politics - and I really dislike talk radio. BUT I am a fan of my husband, so where he goes - I will follow! (maybe) :)

We pick up grandson Stuart from football camp tonight, along with Tyler who has spent the afternoon at Aunt Sarah's making a bottle rocket with cousin Calvin for tonights cub scout pack meeting. Tomorrow is grandson Austins 13th birthday. The kids plan to spend the day playing Rock Band with each other and their uncles. We think uncles, Rick, Billy, and maybe Danny & Jimmy might be coming over. We celebrated his BD on Sunday, while his parents were still here.

Danny shared with me a good quote from Henry Eyring (father or son? I don't know).... he said "You ought to find something that you love so much that when you don't have to think about anything, that's what you think about." That’s a great quote - makes me wonder what I would think about ……I do think about Don – love him so much! I do think about my Primary church stewardship – I love serving. I do think about improving my health and mind. And I marvel and think about my children and grandchildren all the time.

TAMMY & AMMON MOVING!

Sunday, July 13, 2008 at our weekly Sunday Family dinner/devotional Tammy & Ammon announced that they will be moving to Coos Bay, Oregon!

WOW - really came as a shock to us! There were a few tears shed and whys asked. Alexis was so sad to be leaving she was just sobbing on Don's lap. He made her feel better by inviting her to lunch today - they went to Burger King! Ammon had called earlier in the week and invited Don & I to dinner. We were really wondering what it was all about - thought maybe they needed some money to help them get a new truck - since Ammon had been rear ended on the freeway earlier in the week. But no, we thought, that can't be it - they never ask for anything - they are always the ones giving and doing things for others!

They fell in love with the country two years ago while attending a family reunion. Tammy received a strong impression that this was where the Lord wanted them to be. They don't know why, but obedient they are! They have been preparing for the past two years and getting things in order.....completing their family - having their Abigail, getting their home finished up, helping us finish our cabin, etc. Ammon has studied and earned his contractors license from Oregon. They will be living near Ammons brother and will have 9 cousins to play with! There are two wards in Coos Bay and I'm sure the Lord has need of their service there.

We are so sad for us, but happy for them and the exciting times ahead of them. We will miss Jacob and his good example and leadership of the cousins! We love Alexis and her songs - we will miss hearing them. It will be so hard not to have Joseph around - those curls, those football poses, those flirty smiles! And his "I love you, too!" And Abigail - will she keep that full head of hair? She is such a beautiful baby - that porcelain complexion and precious smile.

Ammon will be missed - he entertains us so much with his descriptive stories - he makes us laugh so much. And it is so fun to watch Tammy just shake her head at his antics!