Weekend in Joe City

This weekend Cory and I went to Joe City in northern AZ where Cory grew up. We left the city to get out of town, see a Joe City high school football game, and visit grandpa Miller. I could not wait for the car ride up. I would think that most people hate the car ride up with their families but Cory's family is so much fun. We laughed the whole time.

First of all Jim (mother-in-law's husband) wanted us to sing "Life would be a dream" "sha-boom, sha-boom" the whole time! We had a conversation that started with grapes and ended with meeting "Bubba" in jail and getting a soap on the rope. (don't ask) Jake (nephew, age 8) got a new phone and kept calling everyone on their phones even though he was sitting right next to you. Dylan (nephew, age 7) was telling on Cory for not farting. "Mom, Cory's not farting when I pull his finger!" Cory got yelled at because he was holding the seat belts behind people so when they went to put their seat belt on they couldn't, and Jim fell asleep and started snoring. Cory thought there was something wrong with the engine.

We stopped at sonic for drinks and bathroom break on the way up
(Jake and Dylan)

Here we are walking into the football stadium at Joseph City High School. For being such a small town they have a great high school.


This will tell you how small of a town Joe City is : During the game the announcer said "Ross Mayor your car lights are on." Not the owner of a Blank blank, no they know everyone in the town and what they drive. Very small town!


At half time the kids and some of the men got to go onto the field and try to kick a field goal. If they were able to make it they could pick anything from concession stand.


Here is Jake taking his turn.

The football game was great to watch and even though we lost, the game was close. Don't worry, we will come back and kill them at state.

Night Number 2: Fireworks!!!!

About ten miles outside of Joe City they have what they call the Bad Lands. As you can see they have some neat hills there. Most the time you come out here to have bond fires, parties, BBQ, and to shoot off some fireworks.

We all sat around while the men set up the show

This is Sophie's "big smile". She can't wait for the show too!

The fireworks were great. Bigger and better then I thought they were going to be.

Great time! I can't wait to make my way back. Thanks for the fun Joe City.

That Darn Cat!

I really love my job. I am not being sarcastic either. I really, really enjoy my job. I get to play with cats and dogs all day. How could that not be fun? The answer . . . . . when they do not want to play back.

That is a cat bite on my arm. Today I met a cat that really did not want to be held. It really does not look that bad either. The cat really could have ripped my skin off but he didn't, just a nice little bite. The problem with all of this is the cat was a stray cat that ended up testing positive for a disease. Now we have a hole different set of problems!

Down to urgent care I went. They had to clean everything out with sterile water, which stung worse then when I got bit. They took an x-ray to make sure that there was not little pieces of cat teeth still in my arm, and gave me antibiotics to help fight off any infection that the dirty cat mouth might have given to me.

Now I am just waiting to hear back from the county to see if the the cat has rabies. So if I start foaming at the mouth and going crazy, now I have a valid excuse for acting the way I do.

That Darn Cat!

Young Women

Four weeks ago I was released from my calling with my church. Over the past four weeks I have had a very hard time coming to terms with this because I loved my calling and working with the people that I worked with. I was in the Young Womens, which means that I worked with the 12-18 year old girls in my church. We had lessons on Sundays and weekly activites on Wednesdays. I only had the chance to do this for about one year, and I loved it, more than can be told through words. I can not stop missing "my girls". I know that all the changes that have been made are all for the right people and that the new women that are in there now will do a great job. I know that, but I hate not being in there with them. I hate my empty wednesday nights.

Last Sunday I went to the "adult womens" class, and as I sat there (in the back corner of the class) I started crying. It's just not the same. The lesson was great. The Spirit was there. I felt loved but at the same time I was missing the biggest piece of my Sunday . . . .my girls.

I am so thankful for the time that I got to spend with my young women. I learned so much and I hope that in the furture I will be able to find my way back into the young womens program. I love each and every one of my girls. I hope that in some small way I was able to touch their hearts and that they will be able to take the things I have taught them and remember them, use them, and grow from them.

I love you girls,
Sis. Whittaker

You know when there is a shirt or something that you wore the other day and you want to throw it on again? After looking on the floor, under the bed, and anywhere else that you throw your clothes when you you get home you remember that you put it in the dirty clothes hamper and so you start digging. Don't lie, I know you do it too.

Well, tonight that happened. There was a shirt that I wanted to throw on that I knew I wore the other night. I told Tank, my yellow lab, to get out of the way that I was going to put the clothes right where he was laying. He didn't move, and so . . . .


This is what happened.

The best part is that he just sat there with the clothes on him for like an hour. Crazy dog. He didn't care that we were laughing at him and taking pictures or anything. Just happy to be with his people. I love my dogs.