LAST ZONE CONFERENCES

So many lasts...it's amazing to me that as much as we want to go home and be with family, saying goodbye can be so hard!  We had 4 days of Zone Conferences last week, so the week went by in a hurry.  We were asked to bear our testimonies at each of the conferences and that was emotional!

Sunday was our last day in our Louisville First ward.  I wasn't sure we had made much of a difference there but we did have lots of people come up and say they were going to miss us.  I will definitely miss all of them.  We have loved the diversity of our ward and the absolute love and acceptance everyone is welcomed with.  I hope I will take that back with me and be better at showing love to others.

TRAINING ;)

This week begins our formal training of Elder and Sister Crowe.  Sister Crowe is a retired RN who was a L&D nurse for 35 years.  To say she's a little nervous dealing with young men and women is an understatement.  I'm sure she'll do just fine, it just takes time to feel comfortable in any job!  Elder Crowe was in the Merchant Marines and took big container ships around the world.

Our first day of training was yesterday and she left kind of dazed.  But she'll catch on just fine.  She will be working from the office M-W-F and the rest of the time from home.  I know Sister Hughes is concerned about her being available but Sister Crowe has assured her she will be.

So Sunday night, we're getting ready to turn out the light and we hear this huge crash upstairs.  The people up there are pretty noisy but this was really loud.  Don called up, "are you okay" and we didn't hear back, and the dog wasn't barking.  I looked outside thinking maybe the tree in front of the house had crashed, but it was still there.  Then, when we were coming home from the office yesterday, I noticed it wasn't the tree in front of the house...but the one the one just south of it!

It split apart and damaged the roof .  I'm not sure if the people upstairs were home or not when it happened but it was so loud in our apartment, I can't imagine what it was like in theirs!  The trees out here sure lose a lot of limbs and split like this.  I wonder if it's because there is so much rain and they just get saturated.  However...the weather person said the other night that we would be getting rain to "help with the drought".  They have no idea!!!

This is what the view through our car window was like yesterday.  It did rain some the night before but most of the condensation was just humidity!

Not a lot to report this week.  Next week will be Zone Conferences so there will be more to come, I'm sure.

The Church is true, the Lord loves His children and wants us to all be kind to one another!

OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

Once again, we had new missionaries come in on Monday and the 15 were paired with their companions on Tuesday at transfers.

  We went to the temple Tuesday night with the 22 missionaries going home, then they spent the night at the mission home and went to the airport to fly home and be released. 

This is the last transfer for us in the mission.  So all of this activity is bittersweet. We have loved meeting the new missionaries as they come in...some of them anxious and nervous, and some just excited to be here!  And saying goodbye to those going home has been so hard.  It's easy to get attached to certain ones, and knowing you may not see them again is hard.  They come in tired and go home tired!  This last group of Elders (not the sisters) stayed up all night and then they all left for the plane around 0530.  Everyone except Elder Bettridge.  That's him lower right with his arm around Sister Mortensen.  His parents came to the Mission Office to pick him up and tour the mission with him.  His Mom had me video their hugs with him...tears everywhere!  Such a great young man and really nice parents.  He was one of our AP's a year ago and we really learned to love him!

Next week, I will begin training Sister Crowe to take over my position while Don trains her husband as the Vehicle Coordinator.  I've been cleaning out my desk and going through the files and getting rid of things she won't need.  I politely suggested Elder Breinholt may want to do the same:

As you can see...he has much more equipment and supplies than I do and I'm not sure there's much he can do to make it better! 

We've been talking about our mission a lot lately.  Don gets teary-eyed when he thinks about leaving.  This has been such a great experience for us both and I can't think of anyone I'd rather have gone on it with!  It hasn't been without it's trials...emotionally, mentally, physically (me), but we have learned so much.  We've been lifted by the Spirit, strengthened in so many ways, learned that the Lord truly does qualify who He calls.  We've been humbled as we've realized limitations that we weren't aware of...but again we've been blessed.  We've learned to laugh at ourselves and not take ourselves too seriously.  We've learned more about the Gospel than we'd previously known and our testimonies have grown.  We've learned that our capacity to love is larger than we knew and that it includes people from all walks of life.  Don has learned that he can drive on a freeway and I have learned (somewhat) to keep my mouth shut when he does!😩 We have opened out hearts and they have been filled.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

The Fourth of July was this week.  It is a working day for all of the missionaries until 6:00 and then they can go to members homes for bbq, fireworks, etc.  The senior missionaries are supposed to man the office as usual.  However...we have one couple who really wanted to have the office close for the day so they could do "fun" things on the holiday.  President Hughes said, "No, the office needs to be open" so the sister asked if we could take 3 hour shifts so someone would always be here.  He reluctantly agreed.  We had just planned on being here as usual, but ended up pulling the 8-11 shift.  On the way home, we stopped by the Cave Hill Cemetery.  It is a national cemetery so there are a lot of white military markers, including many from both sides of the Civil War.  In addition, Mohammed Ali and Colonel Sanders are buried there.

Kentucky has really big cemeteries but this is by far the biggest one I've ever seen.  It was chartered by the General Assembly of Kentucky on Feb. 5, 1848 as a rural cemetery.  It was dedicated in July of that year and Cave Hill Farm became a beautiful and historic cemetery. There are rolling hills and ponds, and a natural spring that feeds Beargrass Creek.  It is just beautiful.  As the city prospered, the headstones and monuments grew.  I got so many pictures of interesting ones.  

There are many modern mausoleums and markers, but I found the older ones more interesting. It is truly a "garden cemetery".  They even have a "Scattering Garden" to scatter loved one's ashes.

After visiting Colonel Sanders, we decided to grab a bucket of his chicken and take it home.  That was lunch and we had time for a nap!  After that, I cleaned out some drawers and that evening we had hot dogs and listened to the fireworks.  The AP's came over and got a key from us for the office.  They bbq'd outside and locked themselves out!  Elder Breinholt had a good visit with them.  I, of course, was in my nightgown so I hid in the bedroom!  They are such great young men.  They left me a note on my computer while I was in Idaho:

The weather here has been nearly unbearable.  The highest has been around 97, but with the humidity, the heat index is 111.  This is an example of what the office window looks like when we get here at 8:

We're supposed to cool down into the mid 80's for a few days so that will be nice.  All in all, this week has been good.  Next week will be busy as we have new missionaries arriving, transfers, and releases.  Four weeks from tomorrow we will be on the road towards home.  It is amazing that the time has come and each week is flying by.

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

I've put off writing for several reasons.  We had Zone Conferences June 12-15, going from Lexington to Evansville.  Having the usual four conferences with all 7 zones.There were great messages and trainings given and so many missionaries inquiring about my recovery.  There is so much fun, joy, and love when these sweet disciples of Christ get together.  They exude a special spirit!

The next week, we took Friday off (with our phones and computer) and went to Berea.  It's an artist community with a small college.  We were able to see a rug being made on a loom, blown glass, etc. and then we drove about 6 miles out of town to a potters.  She makes and sells only usable things.  We watched her throw some cups and a bowl. And of course, I had to buy some things.  I got a "johnny cake" pan and a pitcher.  I love pottery pieces.

We drove back to Danville to spend the night.  We'd just gotten back to our room when the phone rang and it was Robyne.  She was hysterically telling me that Jared was "gone" and I couldn't wrap my head around it.  He had been riding their 4-wheeler around the irrigation ditch and had somehow lost control and ended upside down in the ditch, pinned under the ATV.  It was comforting to learn that he did not drown and that he probably died instantly.  He was wearing his helmet and there wasn't a blemish on him. 

There are no words to describe the next week.  The earliest I could get to Idaho was Sunday.  Chris and Heidi picked me up at the SLC airport and drove me up to Robyne and Jon's where I stayed until Wednesday, after the funeral and meal.  The sorrow and pain of these days were contrasted by the most loving and caring acts of service by the whole community.  There was non-stop food and hugs and offers of extra beds for family.  A motor home and 5th wheel were brought over for family to sleep in.  There was so much food we didn't need to cook and there was enough left over for Jon and Robyne's family to freeze for later.

All of my children were there and Ron and Colleen, and as many of the cousins who could come.  It was so good to be back among all of them but it was such a bittersweet reunion.

The funeral was beautiful.  Jared looked so good and while it was heart-wrenching to see the pain in everyone's eyes, the service was wonderful.  Chris gave the family prayer before the service.  The songs were beautiful..."How Firm a Foundation" (one of Jared and Robyne's favorites), "How Great Thou Art" (sung by Alesia), a piano arrangement of "Army of Helaman", and "God Be With You Til We Meet Again."  The speakers did such a great job of sharing Jared's life (his Uncle Lance) and giving comfort and encouragement to serve and live our lives more like Jared (the Bishop and Stake President). The prayers were by his two grandfathers, Ron giving the opening and Alan the closing.  The dedication of the grave was by Jacob and he did such a wonderful job.  It was just perfect!  Jared was laid to rest next to Jon's sister, Dawn, who passed away at 16 yrs. of age.

I have learned many things in the past few weeks.  I have learned that we can do hard things.  I knew this before and have always told my children this, but witnessing it in such a raw setting...I really know!  Things that we would never imagine doing, can be done! 

I have learned that the phrase, "The Lord never gives you more than you can handle" is false.  He does give us more than we can handle.  There are certain things we cannot handle...alone.  I believe He allows this so that we can learn to rely on Him and His grace.  So that we can realize that we need Him in our lives in all things and at all times.  So that our testimony of Him and His goodness can grow.  I know that the Lord loves each of us more than we can fathom and I have felt His love and His hand in the details of my life.

FAMILY FUN AND RECUPERATION!

Well...we're up to the first few days of June.  Angie reminded me a couple of weeks ago that she hasn't seen any blog posts lately.  There's a reason for that...I haven't felt like it!  But, I'm back and ready to catch up.  Beware there will be pictures...lots of pictures.

We left here on April 29 and drove to Wyethville, West Virginia for the night. 

                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            West Virginia State Capital



The next morning we drove the rest of the way to Kinston, North Carolina where Mike & Brooke live.  We enjoyed seeing them and their home.

I thought, "Oh what a cute

white house...until I looked

closer at the picture!!😮

                                                  We asked Emily to come and swim at
                                                  the motel, only to find out...after they
                                                  got there it was an outdoor pool and
                                                  not open yet!

 Mike was our tour guide on Monday as we drove around Kinston.  We ate at a place with "dough burgers" and red hot dogs which, Mike says, is a North Carolina thing.  Evidently in the depression ground beef was mixed with flour to extend it as they made hamburgers.  They still make them 😒.  I had a BLT!
The next day, May 1, we went to a really nice lunch place in an older home that I'm sure Brooke would like to go to!!    That night we took a scenic drive to Jacksonville to see Jaycie and Devin.  It was so much fun to visit with Jaycie and Nova  while we waited for Devin to get home.  Then we went to a bbq place they like.  Jaycie and I had red-neck nachos...a huge plate of bbq meat, beans, cheese, etc on bbq potato chips.  Much too much to finish so Devin had leftovers for work!  The kids look good and are happy and fun to be around!!

Weds morning we got up and drove to  Yoder's Dutch Pantry...a Mennonite diner where I had the most delicious french toast I've ever had!  The diner is attached to a large store with all sorts of needs.  Good thing we don't have one close by...I'd be there every week!

Then we drove to a coastal inlet where we wandered around and  I was able to get a few pictures. 

That night we had birthday pizza and cake with Emily and family.  Lot's of Fun!!




The next morning we got up and left for home.  We stopped in St. Albans, West Virginia for the night.  Ric and Tina's granddaughter, Brytanee lives there with her dad and mom and three little sisters.  Quite the change for Bryt as she was an only child until she was 16.  Now she has three year old twin sisters, and a two year old sister!  Unfortunately we didn't get to see her Mom, Shannon, because she was sick and stayed upstairs to avoid spreading it to us.  We were grateful for that but missed seeing her.

Brytanee, Charlie

Bella, Lillie ,Rosalie

Zoe

Walking up to their front door, I lost my footing on the landing and ended up falling into the side of the house, breaking 5 ribs.  Needless to say, that night in the motel and the drive back to Louisville was not the most comfortable.  But, we made it and I basically spent two and a half week lying on my right side.  Then came back to the office half days for a couple of weeks.  I'm back pretty much full time now but I still get some twinges now and then.  I am so grateful for our bodies and their ability to heal!

Next week is Zone Conferences.  We only have the one this month and next before we head home.  The time has gone by fast and we have loved (almost) every minute!