GREATS...are great!

The week started in the best possible way...with a new great-grandbaby!  Ruger Austin Caldwell was born on Tuesday, July 25 and he is a definite cutie!  Sam and he are doing well and Hesston is loving on him which is a good sign.  We are so blessed and love the growth in our family and look forward to the next "great" coming this fall.

Wednesday evening we left the office a little early to meet our Sisters at the library for a lesson with one of their investigators...John.  John has been investigating a long time and I'm not really sure how serious he is about it.  He comes to church every week and still meets with the Sisters but doesn't follow-through on the assignments they give him.  They've set a tentative baptism date for him but he has to stop smoking before then.  Hopefully...

We had a nice surprise this weekend.  We got a text from a couple that was in the MTC with us...the Davis'.  He is a retired physician who basically has the same calling as I do.  He retired after he got MS and then went on to teach college classes for awhile.  They are in the Cincinnati Mission on a 1 year mission.  Anyway...they were coming to Louisville to go to the temple and wanted to meet up with us afterwards for lunch so we did.  It was great to see them. It was fun to compare notes! Don said, "This is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done!" They are from Idaho.  Their mission has really put them to work...they are in the YSA branch and  working on getting it to ward status plus they teach Institute at Cincinnati University.  He works out of their apartment.  Anyway we enjoyed our visit.

Church yesterday was interesting.  The Sisters brought an African American couple (Terry and Teresa).  They have been to Sacrament Meeting once before, but this time they stayed for Sunday School (Gospel Essentials).  She is quite knowledgeable about several different religions.  She says she's just waiting for one of them to resonate with her husband.  When he says, "This is it" , then they'll get involved.  She actually participated and added a lot to the lesson...along with a few, "I hear ya's and "amens".  It was a great lesson and the Spirit was really there.

I realized yesterday that we have bars on the windows of our church.  I'd never noticed before...but I guess you do what you gotta do!

I feel bad about the condition of our church.  It's a two story building, and has been "remodeled". Those in the know say it was better before they remodeled it!  The chapel also doubles as a meeting room, banquet room, etc. so there are no benches...just stackable chairs (kind of like at the lake branch).  The problem is, it gets "deep cleaned" twice a year by the facilities dept. and that's about it. Since we've been here, Sister Brough got the missionaries to help clean it once and that's all.  They don't enlist families or auxiliaries to sign up and help.  Guess maybe I'll talk to the RS President and see what, if anything they've done in the past.

Well...that's the weekly news from Kentucky!

Still Buggy After All This Time...

If you haven't caught on by the previous posts...Kentucky is full of different bugs (well different to us).  I'm finding a big part of my calling this time of year is getting calls, describing bites, asking them to email me a picture, and then trying to decide if they look more like chigger bites or bedbug bites, spider bites or ringworm, poison ivy or shingles (yes...we've had that!).  I may become an entomologist after this!!

Another huge concern this time of year is dehydration.  I've gotten so many calls from missionaries being "exhausted, tired, weak".  The first thing I ask is, "Are you drinking enough water?"  They think they are but with the heat and the humidity together, they're perspiring it out of their system as fast as it's going in.  I doubt, on the hottest days, you could drink too much.

Elder Breinholt... on the other hand...has TIWI's falling off windows with the heat, along with minor accidents.  The way people drive out here, it's a wonder there's not more of them. People follow so close, many of the cars around here have either dented bumpers or front ends!  Our car, except for being keyed, has been spared...so far!

Speaking of bugs...I had forgotten about June bugs.  We had them in Oklahoma.  Brown bugs about 1/2 inch long that show up June-July and...Cicadas.  They make a buzzing sound in the trees and shed their skins all over the grass and pavement.  Supposedly we are 4 years away from the 2021 Cicada Apocalypse they are expecting.  So the ones this year and next will be much less than then!  Thank heavens...I was beginning to worry ;)

This weekend was a stay at home one...sort of.  We did the usual grocery shopping in heat and humidity that takes your breath away.  It feels like it's sitting right on your chest.  Then in the afternoon we took the car in to be washed.  That was the extent of our Saturday travels.  Saturday night and Sunday we had thunderstorms, so that cooled Sunday off a bit.  We had the Sisters over for dinner and then picked up one of their investigators up and took him to the new member and investigator fireside.  By the time we got home, it was 9:30...way past our bedtime but it was a good day.

Our new MP and his wife have had quite the initiation.  Their first week was zone conferences and the last two have been interviews.  I think it's been quite the eye opener for both of them.  Sister Hughes is having a hard time with the bugs around here.  She worries a lot but I'm sure she will get acclimated soon.

Just a couple of pictures this week...

The first two are from our offices.  We got a cute letter from Sister Sorensen's CTR 6 class with pictures they drew.  We put them on our office walls and sent them pictures of us with them.

                     This last one is of Sister Cook, John (their investigator) and Sister Allred

ALL THE GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS

We did it!  We actually left the apartment Saturday after lunch and went to Fort Knox.  It was a pretty drive, the weather wasn't too hot and, apart from the 45 minute wait to be screened before we could enter, it was a nice day.  We actually went specifically to see the General Patton museum.  The Priors had gone last Saturday and said it was worth the drive.  Actually it's only 50 minutes. So most of the pictures this time are from there.

                                               This is it!!!  Where all the gold is kept
                                                We took our lives in our own hands
                                                       just getting this picture!

This week is supposed to be HOT!!!  I'm grateful for air
conditioners that work!  One thing about it, the scenery here is beautiful  Don and I were saying on the way home Saturday that we're really glad we were sent here.  Most people are friendly, you can't beat the flowers and foliage, and even driving on the freeway (outside of the city) is beautiful.  Don has become a true Kentucky driver.  He intentionally ran a red light the other evening!  The only time I've heard of anyone getting a ticket was on the freeway...for going the speed limit in the left hand lane...because they were holding up traffic for those who were speeding.  One thing about it though...they really have this merging thing down.  People just slow down to let others merge.  Amazing courtesy!

                       

                            Okay...so I did it.  Cut it off.  Now I need to re-learn how to style it!

One of the things I'm learning out here is that the more people you learn to love, the more the capacity to love expands.  It's kind of like having children...when you have one, you wonder how you can ever love a second one, etc.  I truly love these young Elders and Sisters...even the ones who make it hard to be loved!  Some of them come with such high expectations for their missions and then they run into a road block and don't know what to do or where to go.  Helping them to look at other ways to see things is something I enjoy doing, and putting them in touch with others who can help as well, hopefully helps them to go on and finish their mission in a good frame of mind.  The program I have to keep track of the missionaries has a place to enter notes each time you talk to them about health problems.  Then  it keeps a total of the number of notes.  It really shows the difference in maturity and self-sufficiency to see how many have no calls to medical during their whole mission and those who have MANY!!  I just need to remember, as Elder Schweitzer said..."They're just six years out of primary".

Don's experiences are much the same as mine in the fact that maturity really shows behind the steering wheel.  The TIWI's in the cars record absolutely everything...and then he gets to call them and reprimand them for their sometimes aggressive driving habits.

I'm excited for Sam and Austin...a new baby to love next Tuesday!  He will be a year old before we get to see him...past the cuddling stage.  Can't wait to see pictures tho.  And then we get another new great in November. It's just amazing to me how much our family has grown in the last 12 years. Once again...the love just expands!

                           This is the last 1/4 mile of our trip to the office.  Pretty, isn't it!?

ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

The weekend came and went too fast.  We've got to do something other than grocery shop and laundry on Saturdays!  Actually we did go for a ride through Cherokee Park Saturday afternoon.  It is a large park (over 400 acres) in the west central part of Louisville.  Beautiful, tree filled roads that have walkers, runners, dog walkers, and anything else you can think of.  They occupy the left hand lane through the park while the cars have the right hand lane.  There is a golf course and pavilions with play areas for the kids...but mostly those who love exercise!

We did go out for dinner Friday night to Shalimar...an Indian Cuisine restaurant with the Flemings and Priors.  I had shrimp curry and it was quite good.  Don got a sampler tray that had several different things (including goat) and he said his was good also.    The picture Don took of us there shows what humidity does to my hair!  Just took some clips and pulled the sides up that day.  Not the best look but good enough to get me through the day.  I'm debating on continuing to grow it out so I can pull it up or cutting it off.  So far I can't decide.

Our ward attendance Sunday was almost the size of a "real" ward.  We've gotten several new young couples here.  There's a medical and dental school here so that kind of improves the attendance as the students gear up for fall.  There was a cute young couple sitting behind us in Sunday School...they are both from St. George and she is a Webster.  Her Grandfather is Mark...Richard Websters brother.  He is the one who owns the little house on the hill, behind Richard and Jackie, that Chris and Heidi lived in when they were first married.  Austin used to follow Mark around when he'd come to water his trees.  That was kind of fun to have that connection.

I stayed home yesterday (Wednesday) rather than sit at my desk for 8 hours with nothing to do.  I cleaned the refrigerator.  Yes... contrary to popular belief...I do clean it once in awhile! Sewed a button on one of Don'e shirts, and actually fixed a decent meal.  If I don't get something in the crock-pot before we go in the morning, and if we don't have leftovers...it's kind of hit and miss.  Anyway...I only had two calls from missionaries during the day so it worked out well.  I think next week I'll sew. I haven't used the sewing machine much since we go here.

So...today (July 13) is five months since we went into the MTC.  It's amazing how fast it's going. Next month 1/3 of our mission will be over.  We are so glad we decided to come and are enjoying the opportunity to serve, the people we meet, and of course the missionaries!  We are so grateful to all of you for helping each other out and supporting us while we're here.  It makes it so much easier knowing everything is taken care of at home.

No pictures this week.  Maybe we'll do something fun for the next one.  Love to all!!

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Our new mission president and wife arrived Friday night.  They were met at the airport by the Brough's and got to spend about 3 hours with them.  After which they checked into their "home" for the next few months (Residence Inn) while the mission home is being remodeled.  They are very nice, have five grown children, are from Nampa, ID. and are about 10 years younger than we are.

They are getting a baptism by fire!  Monday was their first day at the office.  Tuesday was MLC and Wednesday started three days of Zone Conferences.  Since they are only doing 3 hour conferences, we only really need to be there for one of them so we can hear what is being taught.  No auto inspections this month.

Don and I went to the conference on Thursday.  It was interesting to see the difference in the two presidents.  Pres. Brough is very outgoing and energetic (for lack of a better word) and Pres. Hughes is more quiet and reserved but with a great sense of humor.  He was a banker, married his high school sweetheart, and they have raised all their children in the same house.  After 27 years, they decided to sell their house and build another one.  And then they got a call from Salt Lake!!  He gave a wonderful message in zone conference and I could really feel the love he and Sister Hughes have for the missionaries already.  That's one thing that amazes me...that you can so quickly learn to love these young men and women you've never seen before.  I think that is one of the blessings of service.  The more you lose yourself in the service, the more you love those you serve.
The fourth of July came and went...just another day at the office for us.  Actually I was asleep around 8:30-9:00 every night this week.  Not sure what's up with that!  We did have hot dogs that evening...about as festive as we got!

Last Friday evening we went to dinner at the Mellow Mushroom...a wood fired pizza place.  We went with the Priors and it was really good.  Tonight (Friday) we are going to Shalimar with the Priors and Flemings.  It's an Indian restaurant that they both have been to before.  Sounds good.  So...see we are getting to know some good places to eat, for those who may want to visit!

The weather is interesting...still.  It poured yesterday afternoon and evening and was about 78 degrees.  This morning it was 74 as we drove to work and now it's 87 with 63% humidity.  So far the humidity hasn't been too bad.  I guess as long as you have air conditioning wherever you are...it's bearable!

This is a picture of our windshield one morning before work.  No...it hadn't rained...just humidity!
That's all for now folks!  Love and miss y'all.