Fall is in the air

Well, as we go out of doors each day there are more and more trees getting color. It is going to be beautiful when in full fall colors.

We are just hoping that there are some still when Brett, Andrea and Greg and Jaron get here. It is sure going to be good to see them. Just about a month and they will be here.

It's been a crazy and busy two weeks. Almost too busy. I am really tired. I think Dad is, too. Next week has one free evening so far. I guess it's good to keep busy.

The Zone Outs were fun and the missionaries had a fun time. After the zone out we went out to dinner at a place called Hoggies for bbq brisket and pulled pork, went to an antique car show, to a place called Rosati's for frozen custard (always have to have our ice cream), then we went to a Cuyahoga Genealogical Society class on Women Spies of the Civil War. It was really interesting. Institute classes started up again. Sister Stay is an awesome teacher and so very smart. She will only be here until the end of October and then they are moving to Salem, Utah, where they bought a house.

Sunday, 20 Sept. 2009

Will try and finish this up this afternoon. Just finished dinner and dad is taking a nap. He doesn't get those very often so takes advantage when he gets the chance. I am going to work on an anniversary album I am making for Elder and Sister Haight's 50th wedding party we are having in December. It is going to be a surprise. I have been in contact with a son and daughter in Utah. They are collecting pictures and doing a dvd of "memories" of their parents/grandparents for me. I hope that it will be special for them. It's a special celebration for them and as they can't be home we are going to make it as special as we can.

Our month is practically full until after Brett, Andrea, Jaron and Greg are here. A couple days break then full until the middle of December. It is great to serve and help out where we are needed. Went to the Columbus temple yesterday with the Haights. Had a very special day. When we first got there a group of children were having their picture taken in front of the temple. We at first thought it was for someones wedding but found out that it was a Primary class and their teacher. They were all dressed in their Sunday finest and she had brought them to the temple and this Primary teacher was teaching her class about the importance of temples and what we do there. What a GREAT teaching moment. Then in the session we got to be the witness couple and there was an elderly African-American gentleman who was very disabled and had lost his wife about 6 years ago, and was going through the temple for the first time. He was assisted by a very kind Home Teacher/Bishop and his wife. It was an opportunity to serve while helping him dress and participate in the endowment session. When it was time for the prayer circle he went up with the aid of his bishop and wife and participated in that sacred ceremony. Some "tender mercies" took place that day. What a special day and feelings were in our heart. The temple is such a sacred and special place. We hope all who can, take advantage of this blessing in their lives.

We are anxious to go to the two new temples in the Salt Lake valley and on the way home we will stop in St. Louis and go to the one there. We hope also at Thanksgiving time to go to Palmyra and spend a couple of days.

We are going Monday after work and inspect thee missionary apartments, We do that every six weeks before transfers take place. Then Monday evening we are going over to Sister Moore and Gibbs for a BBQ and Family Home Evening. Tuesday, is Institute class, Wednesday Visiting teaching, Thursday, Taste of Home Cooking School in Canton with some of the Senior sisters, Friday date night Saturday the Women's Conference Sunday church and then start over, The next week we will have everyone at our apartment for General Conference brunch on Sunday and then Dinner between sessions. It isn't until 12 noon 1st session and then 4:00 for the afternoon one. So that will be fun. Then Brett and them will be here and then after they leave all the seniors here are going to Astabula and see the fall colors and the covered bridges. then we are having Thanksgiving here and this 50th anniversary party. Christmas parties at the ward and at the archives. Then January will be here and we will be on our way home. Sister Moore said that she put in our departure papers this past week. I am really having mixed feelings about leaving. But we are going to do some kind of a mission there when we get home. It's great to serve!!

We love serving and giving of what we have to help others. Our mission has cost a lot more than they said but we have had plenty to do what we need. The Lord blesses you when you do what you are asked. Paying tithing brings such great blessings. Never not pay that first. The Lord blesses us with so much he deserves back a little. We can never give back enough monetarily for all He gives to us.

We love all of you and know you will be blessed in all you do if you just do those things you know are right. Have faith and prayerfully seek for guidance in all decisions that you make. You are in our prayers always. Love Mom and Dad

Pictures to follow

Hi, I guess I best take some time to catch you up on what we have been doing lately. Haven't written anything for a long time. We seem to keep really busy. We went through the Metro Parks two weekends ago, to Put-in Bay with Jack and Nancy Zoulek, did a missionary apartment move and this past weekend on our anniversary we went on a train trip down the Cuyahoga Valley on the train, and went to Hale Farm and watched a reenactment of the Civil War. Was a damp but fun day. We went with the Hartmans, Haights, Delastatious, Sister Moore and Gibbs.Was fun to see people in period costumes, encampments, artisans of the period, eat food of that time, and see Abraham Lincoln and General Lee. What a sad but I guess necessary part of our history in order to bring about freedoms that are enjoyed now. But so many lives were lost because of it. Dad and I went to P F Changs for dinner that night.

Our main computer has crashed and we are trying to get it up and running. So I am typing on our laptop and it seems to be slow. We lost the access to the use of our Internet air card. Took two days and about 5 hours on the phone with an Internet "support tech" to get it back up and running.It has been pretty inconvenient especially to send off our weekly reports to Salt Lake City and commute with any of you. Hopefully we can get going I can't get into any of my pictures, recipes, our report forms. I'm not fond of this technology stuff but it seems to be a necessary part of our lives.

This week is a busy one. We are working 10 hour days at the archives so we can get in enough imaging so we can go to Zone Conference this Thursday. It will be even more special than usual as Elder Packer (President Packers son) of the Seventy and his wife will be here for three days and on Friday night we Senior missionaries will meet with them in the auditorium at the visitors center in Kirtland. We have to take a car load to the one Zone Conference in Perrysburg.They are only having two instead of the usual five.

We have two sister missionaries staying with us this week as the members home they usually stay in they can't as the wife is gone for a week. They really only sleep here and then do everything else there after the husband goes to work.

We had a BBQ at the archives today. Was a beautiful day. I sure miss not being able to grill every day or at least once and a while. It really has been a mild summer here. The "natives" are complaining how dry it is and how cool it is.We have really only had one week that was hot and humid and that wasn't to bad as long as you were in where it was air conditioned.

We are waiting for everyone to get here after their church meetings for dinner. I was hungry for ham and scalloped potatoes and that's to hard just for two of us and any way company is fun to have. So I will work on this a little more. What an awesome Zone Conference we had with Elder Packer and his wife. They and President and Sister Sorenson had lots of council for us. One thing that struck me was when Elder Packer said we pray for the work to spread to all the corners of the earth and for the missionaries to find those who are ready to be taught, he said maybe we have received that answer in the form of what is happening in the world today with all the calamities, unemployment, illnesses,etc. It takes people to become humble to be receptive and to listen to the spirit and to become closer to our Heavenly Father. President Sorenson talked on how important it is to keep those who have been taught and baptised active. I think all of us could do better in this area. Some of the quotes I wrote down were 'Heavenly Father doesn't just see us here and now, but into the future", "It's easier to keep Satan out than it is to get rid of him", "The 4 C's" No Comparing, Complaining,Criticizing,Condeming" ( President Sorenson is a real stickler on these).

We are so looking forward to General Conference in October and to be able to listen to the Prophet and the other General Authorities. This is one of my favorite times of the year.

Yesterday we went on a ride with Sisters Moore and Gibbs. We went to see Marblehead Lighthouse and had a picnic. Then we stopped in Vermillion at an old fashioned ice cream parlor and had sundaes. It was a nice afternoon.

Saturday, September 5,2009 Well maybe I will finish this today. Ha! We went on a move yesterday with the Hartmens. They closed down an area in the mission so we moved two sisters to a members home, then had to go to Kirtland to take two beds up to a couple of sisters, then bring all the excess back to either storage or the church dumpster. Takes most of the day to do this. We were tired when we got home, Then went to Costco and Sam's club to get stuff for the Zone Out the next two Monday's. We will leave after church tomorrow and go to Bowling Green Ohio and stay overnight as we have to pick up the missionaries at 6:15 am in order to get to Hiriam and the John Johnson farm by 9:00 am have a fireside, activities and Lunch then head back at 3pm and bring them back and get back home around 10 pm that night. Then the next Monday do the same. Should be fun for the missionaries.

We are going to the hospital this afternoon to visit a sister that I go Visiting Teaching to that just had cancer surgery. Then this afternoon we will just do household things like laundry cleaning, etc. Then maybe go out for ice cream and go see the sunset out over lake Erie. We haven.t done that yet. Weather has been just perfect this past week.75 was the high and down to 35 at night one day. Usually in 50's at night, though.

Glad the kids are all liking school and doing good. Sure anxious to see Brett, Andrea, Greg and Jaron in just a little over a month. We will be home in just 4 1/2 months. Have mixed feelings. Miss everyone but love our mission and the friends we have made here. Will finish this and try to write sooner so it's not such a long one We love you all Mom and Dad

4th of July

Hope you all had a happy 4th of July. We had a really nice day. We met the Haights and Delastatious in Akron and went to Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. What a place! The house was remarkable. It was the home of the Siberling family. He was the originator of Goodyear Tires and later Siberling Tires and Rubber Co. He was a man before his time. He had things in his home that weren't available until the late 1900's or later and this house was built in 1908. Once was 3,000 acres but now is only 110 acres. Has gardens, an indoor swimming pool, indoor basketball court, closets on tracks, intercom system, phones hidden in the walls, a music room, huge dining room, photography studio and dark room, a kitchen and preparation rooms to die for, a room just to arrange flowers for display in the home, servants rooms, a carriage house, home for his poultry master and chicken coops, you name it and he probably had it plus.

Then we went to the Haights apartment and had hamburgers, potato salad, melon, baked beans and all the trimmings. Then we sang some patriotic songs, said the pledge of allegiance, and the talked about why we love America. Sister Haight wanted to do this and it was fun. We played some silly games and visited and came home. Saw a few fireworks that evening and then went to bed.

Hey, did I tell you guys that the "fireflies" are out? What an amazing little bug. I wish I could catch a jar full and send it to you. They wouldn't make the trip I'm sure. But it's fun to watch them each evening about dusk. It's impossible to take a picture as they don't stay lit up very long. They are just fun to see.

This weekend we are going to go to Kirtland to see the play (musical) "This is Kirtland". Everyone says it is really good. They do it every Thursday-Saturday evenings in July. Are having the young sister missonaries for dinner on Wednesday, work at the Family History Center on Thursday, also am helping Sister Franklin give a breadmaking 101 class for Relief Society. So that pretty much takes care of our week coming up.

Be sure and send us some pictures of Jaron's birthday celebration.

Love mom

Scottish Highland Games & an update

Guess I better get you caught up with our weeks events. Last weekend we went to the Scottish Highland Games in Wellington, Ohio. Was a pleasant day weather wise. A slight breeze and not to hot. Was a fun day to enjoy the culture and activities of the Scottish people. Kilts were beautiful colors, bagpipes and drums being played in competitions and groups, dancers, singers, native Scottish foods (such as meat pies, shepherds pies, haggish, deep fried vegetables, etc.) genealogical booths to see if your heritage was of one of the clans and animals native to Scotland. There were also, Highland games like the Kbar toss, etc. That's really the only one we got to watch as the others were later than we planned on staying and a long ways off from each other. But we had an enjoyable day.

Then we went to an Amish bulk food store. They sell everything in plastic bags instead of boxes and at a very reasonably price. They have spices, flours of every kind, sweeteners, healthy cereals, pastas, mostly homemade, and just about anything you can think of for cooking. They also have non-electric lights, stoves, etc. Lots of these kind of stores out in the countryside of Ohio.

Got some more pictures of unique buildings and of coarse more clock towers. Every town has a clock tower it seems. One day we have to go and take pictures of the unique churches here in Cleveland. The Catholic churches are usually really ornate, especially the older ones.

Well, you are all getting together for the 4th and to celebrate Jaron's birthday. We will be thinking of all of you. Travis turned 16 this past week and Jaron will turn 1. What milestones in both of their lives and ours. This means that everyone is growing up. It is so awesome to see these young missionaries out her and to think that as few as three years Trav will be out here, hopefully, serving our Heavenly Father. The growth you see in these young men and women, spiritually, is something to behold. How important that it is to teach our children the gospel, of our Heavenly Father, and the practical side of living. That seems the thing we see that the missionaries need to know besides the gospel, is how to manage money, take care of a car, and just basic living skills. They have depended on their family or others to take care of these things and when they get out here they haven't a clue. They should have their own money once in awhile to know where it goes and how to budget it. The basics of taking care of a car. Like checking the oil and other fluids, changing a tire, how to contact emergency and insurance companies in case of an accident, etc.

Our Garden is growing!!! Our squash is just full of blossoms and about 8 squash, the one tomato plant has twelve tomatoes of various sizes and the other one lots of blossoms and no tomatoes. Our zucchini plant will be a week or so out as we planted it later. We also have some herbs, sage, oregano, rosemary and parsley. So we are al set to make spaghetti sauce.

Today, Friday, we are off at the archives as it's their holiday for the 4th. We are doing catch-up here. Doing some laundry, dad is making a display case for the Stake President's office to put a map and pictures of all the Stake missionaries in, going grocery shopping and then meeting some friends tonight for dinner. Going to go take some pictures of a couple of yards we really like for future reference when we get home. We are going to totally landscape our yard when we get home. There are such beautiful yards here. On Saturday we are going to Akron and having a BBQ at the Haights (who do the same mission we are only in Akron) and then going to go to Stan Hywet gardens and mansion. They are like Thanksgiving Point only bigger I guess. We will probably go over to the sisters apartment that night and watch the Boston Pops and the fireworks from Boston.

We love you all and miss you. You are always in our prayers and thoughts. Mom and Dad

Time is flying by!

Well, time is flying by so fast. It has been three weeks since Heidi and Kirk and the kids were here. It was so great to see them. Kids are really changing and growing. We crammed a lot into five short days. We hope they had a good time and got to see some fun and interesting things.

Since they left we have been busy. Dad went up and worked on the Joseph Smith store. We thought it was his home. .......Wrong!! His home is owned by the Community of Christ Church at this time. Someday our church will own it among other historical places. But needless to say it was lots of work and special in that the prophet and Emma worked here. As far as they can tell it was used as a storehouse (Bishops Storehouse, you might say) for goods stored and traded during when the Law of Consecration was practiced.The store itself is in pretty good shape. It has been built and added upon several times. Dad was dirty and tired when he got done. I didn't dare go in all that dust. Everyone else was coughing and sputtering after working in there. I don't need any of that kind of stuff. Have hard enough time at times here anyway. Will send some pictures along, of some of the stuff that was found in there.

Went to Chagrin Falls the next weekend with the Senior Sisters and got an ice cream. We are finding out all the GOOD ice cream places here. Every week we go out at least once. Our favorite is Handel's Homemade Ice Cream. ...So far!!!

Dad and I went to Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday of this week and visited Elder and Sister Maney at their archives and saw what they did. We picked up Elder and Sister Haight in Akron on our way down. We all are doing Record Preservation missions. After lunch the Haights and us went to the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton. Boy what a huge place. Planes of every era and war are there. They are very well preserved and displayed. Dad said that it is larger than the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Was a very long day. We left at 6:45 am and didn't get home until after 10pm. But was an enjoyable day.

We have an other assignment in our mission. We have been asked to inspect some of the missionaries apartments on a regular basis. We are also helping with some reactivaition, teaching with the missionaries, and institute. So every evening is really busy.

Dad is getting pretty fast at imaging. Last week he got over 9,000 images for the week and we were there only on a half day Wednesday and missed a couple hours on Tuesday due to finally getting his MRI. Still haven't heard anything back from Dr. Jensen. Pray everything is okay. He feels great and his knee hardly bothers him, either.

Tonight is Elder Hartman's birthday so we are all going out for dinner. Then tomorrow we are helping with an Open House for President and Sister Peterson, our mission president and wife. They will be leaving the first of July and we will be getting a new mission president, President Sorenson.
We went to the West Side Market today at lunch time. It is right down the street from the archives. What an experience. I am sending some pictures. Strange and weird and fun stuff. Fresh meats and fish, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, food booths, Artisan breads and sausages of all kinds. Prices are really pretty good and the meat looks really fresh, as well as most of the fruits and vegetables. When purchasing fruits we've been told to pick up and hand them what you want or you may get some bad fruit from behind the counter. We'll go down again but not on a Friday and for sure not at noon time.

Well, it is Sunday. We had the Open house last evening and had a good turn out. But lots of food leftover so President and Sister Titera (our Stake President) invited the ward members who wanted to come to come and help eat what was left. Quit a few came, but still food left over. We sent what was left over to the mission office and then the young elders can eat it up for lunch on Monday, when they come in for their meeting with the Mission President. They are always hungry. If they would of been able to come to the open house on Saturday their probably would of not been any leftovers.

Have a busy week ahead as always. Zone Conference on Wednesday, feed all the missionaries in our zone on Thursday evening, have "big shots" from Salt Lake coming on Thursday and Friday to install an update to our current camera and program. Saturday I will be getting food ready for Sunday as all the sernior couples and senior sisters here will be coming for dinner at our apartment for Father's Day. 12 of us. We are having baby back ribs and grilled chicken, homemade ice cream, rolls, cake, corn on the cob, salad, baked beans, and twice baked potato casserole. I'm doing it all and then everyone just chips in money. Sister Moore and Sister Gibbs will come down and help get things ready on Saturday. Also have to fix lunch to take down to the archives for these guys that are coming in to do the update. Then on the 30th we are grilling pork tenderloin and Texas tri-tip at the archives for the 4th holiday as we will be closed on the third and fourth. Sometimes feels like I am running a catering service, but enjoy it, too.

Dad is feeling a little puny today and last night. Hope he gets to feeling better soon. I don't like when he is sick. He's a good patient just worries me.

So looking forward to Zone Conference. It is always so uplifting.

Well, I guess I will close for now and then maybe write more later this week. Love to all Mom and Dad

And then there were Seven

Well, the Canadian Geese have 5 new little goslings. They arrived last Saturday. When they hatched they just sort of floated off the roof and lit on the ground. Pretty weird, huh? Their rate of survival isn't very high. Either the raccoons or the seagulls sometimes get them. Guess we'll enjoy them as long as they last.
Went to a fireside last night in Kirtland. A sister Angela Johnson gave it. She was an opera singer who just one day had the feeling that she was to take up sculpturing and specific to sculpt a series of various scenes from the Bible on the life of Christ and they are entitled the "Healing Power of Christ". They are currently table top size except the statue of Christ by himself. She is currently working on life size ones of all 16 of them and in 2010 they will be permanently in the gardens at Thanksgiving Point. You must go see them. The eyes on the Savior just penetrate your soul. After listening to her story of how and why behind each sculpture, the next time we go to see them we will look at them different.
Had Zone Conference again this past week. What a spiritual high.
Also had Region Conference today. It was broadcast from Salt Lake and President Monson and others spoke.
I have had heroins in my life. When I was young it was Pochantas, then Florence Nightingale and in my later years and for some time it has been Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph. Hardly ever did she live in her own home, always sleeping and living with others. She buried children, her husband was tortured and finally martyred. Yet what a special lady, always serving others and putting them above herself. As Mother's Day approaches I see in my own mother, my mother-in-law, and now my daughters and daughter-in-law some of the same unselfish and serving attributes. I love you all and hope that your day is special. Thank you for raising your son, my beloved husband to be the man he is. Tender and loving. Thank you to my daughters and daughter-in-law for raising our grandchildren to walk uprightly before God and for teaching them to care for others and to do what is right. Teaching them to pray, to love the scriptures, to choose good friends and to respect their elders. To love. Love Mom and Dad from the mission field

Mission report for week of April 12

Best catch you up on this weeks happenings. We went to Hermitage, Pa. on Saturday and helped Elder and Sister Hartman move/clean apartments and take and exchange a wrecked car. We left at a little after 7 am and got back around 6:30pm. Boy were we tired. Went out to dinner and had a really good steak and then went to Handel's ice cream parlor and had homemade ice cream. Both were really good. I sure wouldn't want the Hartman's job. They are moving missionaries two to four times a week plus have to check out the missionaries cars at Zone Conference. They really have a hard and demanding mission. They also do office work. We will probably go with them again to help move.

Today after Church we went to the Lakeview cemetery in East Cleveland. It is huge!! Several famous people are buried there. James Garfield, John D. Rockefeller, Elliott Ness and others. The flowers and shrubs are starting to bloom.They have 100,000 daffodils on this one hill that is called "Daffodil Hill". They are just starting to bloom. Next week is the official Sunday of them being in bloom. I bet it is really going to be beautiful. There are so many monuments, obelisk's and tombs. Quite magnificent.

Wasn't Conference awesome? I really loved Elder Hollands talk on the Savior. He is so dynamic yet so humble. If you go to lds.org and click on the First Presidency's Easter message and then go to YouTube and Elder Hollands talk, the video and all combined is awesome. What a great thing to watch on this Sunday as we think of the Savior and his Resurrection and the gift of eternal life we have been given because of him if we do what we are supposed to do. Our thoughts are with you all. Hope your Easter was as nice as ours. We had the Haights, Hatmans, Sisters Redd, Ensign, Moore and Gibbs here for dinner. We had ham and all the trimmings. Plus a very pleasant visit. It's nice to have them here as our substitute family to share the holidays and special occasions. Next time we have them all here will be on Mother's Day and Dad's birthday.

On Saturday we get to go to Columbus to the temple with the Haights, Maneys and Elder McGuire. We always look forward to that. On Saturday night we are going to a Scout spaghetti dinner and auction. We donated a dinner for eight for the auction. Thought it would be a good way to get to know and meet some of the people in the ward.

Wednesday and Thursday of this week we will have Sister Redd's daughter and daughter-in-law staying at our apartment. They are driving out to pack her and Sister Ensign up to go back home to Utah. Then Sisters Moore and Gibbs will move down the hall from us in their apartment and then we will all be in the same complex, which is nice.

Well, I guess that is it for this week. We love all of you and miss you. We include you in our prayers each night and hope we are in yours. Love Mom and Dad

Magnolias & Conference Casserole

Well, we started the day with "Conference Casserole" and company. Thought because Conference didn't start until noon, our time, we would have the senior sisters and the Hartmans over for brunch. Also the Lemons who are Elder Hartman's cousins son, wife and 2-yr. old son,Caleb.They live in our apartment complex and just finished school at BYU and got a job here in Cleveland.They go to the Lakewood Ward. We had casserole, ham and bacon, raspberry muffins, orange rolls, juice, fresh fruit and good company.

I typed this once but forgot to save while dad was trying to send pictures.

Was so great to listen to conference and get our batteries recharged so to speak. I always enjoy President Eyring. He is so humble and you can just feel of his spirit. Looking forward to hearing from President Monson and Ucthdorf. Dad said there were really some awesome talks at the priesthood session last night. It didn't start until 8 pm our time, so was 10:30 pm before he got home last night.

Spring is bursting out all over. Crocus, daffodils and tulips are blooming everywhere. They say that there is a cemetery here that is just covered with daffodils. Guess it is quit the site to see. Trees are budding out so should be in full array in a couple of weeks. We have been watching a magnolia tree outside our window at the archives. It started out with buds like a pussy willow, then leaves and now the magnolias are just ready to open. I have always wanted to go to the South to see them, but now dad said we don't have to go because they are all over here. He doesn't want to go because it is hot there. But I still want to see the mossy trees, plantations and of course go eat at Paula Dean's restaurant. It is supposed to snow this weekend hopefully the blossoms won't freeze. I would like to get a picture of them.

We have a busy week again coming up. Tuesday I am fixing lunch for everyone at the archives, Wednesday a meeting, Thursday working at the Family History center, Friday we are going to Kirtland for a special Good Friday fireside at the Kirtland temple given by Brother Carl Anderson (an authority on church history in Kirtland and the surrounding area from CES) and the Community of Christ Church and then on Saturday morning at 7am we are going to Hermitage, PA, with the Hartmans to move some missionaries. Then Sunday everyone is coming here for Easter Dinner.

We started shift work last Monday and Dad has been doing some imaging. He said he is glad he doesn't have to do it for 8 hours straight as it gets pretty boring. He did 2365 images in the 11.5 hours he worked on them. At least, with doing document preparations and indexing there is a little variety. We now start at 9:30 am and work until 6pm. Gives us a little time in the morning to do a few things before we head in.

I guess I better send an update. We have been so busy it seems like every day and evening and weekend are full. Sometimes feels like we are on vacation instead of a mission. We have not had a social life like we have here, since we moved to Utah. Guess because none of us have any family to do things with we rely on each other for that interaction. A great bunch of people. Sisters Redd and Ensign are going home the middle of April. Will miss them they are lots of fun. Have two new sisters. Sisters Moore from Loa and Gibbs from Hawaii. Two weekends ago we went to Warthers Museum in Dover, to an Amish restuarant for lunch, to a cheese factory and to Lehmans Hardware. What beautiful countryside. I can't wait until spring and everything greens up. There are just rolling hill after rolling hill and lots of Amish buggies over every rise. We kept seeing these little outhouse looking buildings and thought maybe that's what they were but when we went to Lehmans there was a bulletin board with all sorts of models you could order and they were phone booths. They can't have a phone in their homes but they can outside and away from the house. Monday is always washday. Quite the site to see. This weekend we are going to finish up our wood projects for the archives. Our plans change often here. The Senior sisters called this morning wanting to know if we wanted to go to the Imax and the Natural History museum with them this afternoon.So wee will clean apartment do laundry, and get the wood projects stained and varnished and then meet them at noon. We went to Sokalowski's a Polish restaurant today for an early dinner after all our excursions. Had a fun day. Tomorrow after fast Sunday we wre having everyone over for Mexican food. We have the biggest table and most chairs and dishes. So they all come here.

We will start a split shift on this coming Monday. We will go in at 10:00 am instead of 7:00 and will work until 6:00 pm instead of 3:00 pm. Hope to get more imaging done so we cane get caught up some. We have 98 boxes ready to be immaged and Elder Mcguire only can get two- three done a week. There are about 3,000 images per box.So with dad imaging for three hours it may help.

We are having all the senior missionaries over for Easter Dinner. I will fix ham, cheese potatoes and fresh strawberry pies and they will all furnish the rest.

We are going to the Family History Center tonight. I have been asked to do their bulletin board and display case. So that will be fun. Thanks to Heidi sending me care packages I can have some neat things. They have a Michaels here but I have never liked them very much. We work at the FHC every Thursday. President Peterson got us special permission to get on to the NEW Family Search. So now we can proceed on adding names to our family lines. Going to take a long time as not much there. At least that we can see. Lots of things that need to be corrected, too.

We went to the Columbus temple with the senior couples serving in Daytona nd Akron. Was a great day. We got to be the witnesses. Went out to lunch and had a meeting discussing our work and projects. We get to do this every month.

The Stake President told us we are going to be asked to work with some less active families in our ward. That will hopefully be a special experience for us and them.

We love all of you and you are in our prayers daily.

A day at the temple

Trip to Kirtland for transfers

Part of the Newell K. Whitney store

Kitchen

Back room in store
Room in store
School of the Prophets
Store
Missionaries
New missionaries and Sister and President Peterson
Outside of store
Us in front
Chagrin River where Willard Richards was baptized on December 31, 1834
Kirtland Temple

What a GREAT day!!! We arrived at Kirtland about an hour early so we went to Mickey-D's for breakfast.

We met President and Sister Peterson, all the new missionaries, Elder and Sister Haight, Elder McGuire, Brother and Sister Carl Anderson, and Elder and Sister Beckstrom at the Kirtland Temple at 8:00 am. We were given a tour by a woman named Barbara from the Community of Christ Church. Brother Anderson (a Kirtland Historian, CES representitive, and has written a book entitled "Joseph's Kirtland") who has lived in Kirtland for 40 years, also filled in the Church's information and what took place in all of the places in Church History. What a special person. He made it all come alive in your mind.He read accounts form the Doctrine & Covenants and told us events that occurred in each room. To know the keys of the restoraton were given along with the, visit from Moses, Elijah and Elias to restore the keys that they held. Kirtland was the one place that the Prophet Joseph lived the longest.

Then we went to the Newell K Whitney Store and toured it and went upstairs to the revelation room where many revelations were written and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible took place. Then we went into the School of the Prophets( a tiny room) and there were told of some of the things that took place there. It, other than our temples now, is where the Savior appeared. He gave

Joseph the Word of Wisdom Revelation. (20 of 22 men smoked or chewed and after Emma's complaint of having to clean up after each meeting Joseph prayed and was given the revelation for the Word of Wosdom. Then went in the adjoining room and wrote it down and came back and read it to those present. They immediately threw there pipes and other tabaccos in the fireplace.) This room is not much larger than a medium sized bathroom. So you can imagine the smoke. GAG!!!

We then heard from President Peterson about How Kirtland will be, rather is, one of four places that the Church will grow and be spread in the last days, in great numbers. He then had all of us kneel down and silently say a prayer to Heavenly Father and dedicate ourselves and our missions to Him. What a special feeling we had. We then left and took pictures.

Not any other missionaries get to start their first week in the mission in such a special manner.

Tonight we get two missionaries, who are going home at the end of their missions. They will come about 11:00 pm and then we need to have them at the Presidents home at 4:30 am to go to the airport. Then we will go to the archives and work and then to the Family History Center after we leave there. Then it will be Friday.YEAH!!! Don't know for sure if we will do anything special on Saturday. We have to polish up our talks for Sunday and get things ready for Sunday dinner as we are having 8 others over for dinner. Don't want to do a lot on Sunday except eat.

Well if you need any other explanation of the pictures will call tonight. Love Mom and Dad

Letters from our Mission

We have been here almost a month. Time is going quickly, although one day last week I had one of those bad word days BORED!! It was just doing the same thing over and over and over. So now I am trying to do a variety of things to keep from getting that way again. If I don't it's going to be a l-o-n-g mission. We are so busy every day and night and weekends. Today Dad helped Sister and Elder Hartman move about four apartments of of Elders and Sisters. I went to a Stake RS Enrichment Activity and luncheon with the Senior Sisters. Hey, if you get a minute go online to reddmountianretreat.com and look at that house up at Bear Lake. Sister Redd here said we could us it anytime for a Family Reunion. It has 6 bedrooms and beds for 20. She needs dad to build her some cabinets. See what you think and we will get it after we get back and ALL of us can go up and stay.

Dad has been doing some training on the camera here. It is a little bit different than the one at the MTC as it is faster and higher powered.We will start filming in April. We will be doing shift work so we will be going in a little later and staying until about 6 pm each day Monday-Friday. They are so far behind on imaging that we need to help in order to get caught up. There are 88 boxes "preped" with about 5,000 images in each one and there are 154 more boxes to do. So we have a lot ahead of us to do.

President Peterson gave all the missionaries a copy of the Book of Mormon for Christmas and a challenge to read it in two months. We weren't here but they gave us each one and we are going to start the challenge tomorrow, March 1st.

Here it is:

We invite you to join with us and read the Book of Mormon with the following objective, to find Jesus Christ within its pages. Each day, for the next 60 days, beginning March 1, 2009, do the following:

1. Write your name one the inside cover, for this Book of Mormon will be highly prized.

2. Read faithfully each day the chapters from the reading chart.

3. Circle each reference to Jesus by whatever name He is called ie.(Jesus, Lord, Emanuel, Lamb of God, He, Him, I etc.) At the bottom of each page, write the number of times Jesus is mentioned.

4. Highlight in one color all the Savior's words when he speaks or when He is directly quoted, such as when a prophet says, "Thus saith the Lord"

5. Highlight in a second color all the teachings and doctrines referring directly to Christ's mission, ressurection, birth, crucifixion, etc.

May you develop an even greater appreciation and love our Savior Jesus Christ. May you have and increased love for the Book of Mormon, and may you have a greater ability to testify of Him because you know Him.

Then he gave them a reading chart. If you guys would like to do this and want the list I am sending it as an attachment. Maybe we can actually get through all the way.

We sure miss all of you. Hope some of you get to come out. But if not we understand. Keep us up on your doings so we can sort of feel like we are there.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Went to church this morning. What a great Fast and Testimony Meeting. The spirit was so strong. Lots testified of doing what is right and being strong in what we know is true. One young girl told of going to her High school basketball teams overnighter on Saturday and when pizza and etc were served she told them No as she was fasting. They wanted to know what that meant and she explained to them how we fast for 24 hours for something special or someone and then give the cost of the meals we skipped to those in need. What a great thing for her to have the courage to tell them and especially to do what she knew and had been taught, was right. It is hard these days to do something different form the rest of the kids, but that's why we need to choose good friends and to be a good friend back in return. Sometime you may need that special friend to help pull you away from wrong things or maybe you will be the one to help your friends. I am so glad our grandchildren and kids have good friends and will always remember "Would Jesus want me to do this?".

No matter where you go the Church is always the same. Trying to learn everyone's names. Each week we meet a few more. Guess what?...............we GET to talk in Church next Sunday. Our subject is to tell a little about ourselves and on ways to keep the Sabbath holy. So that shouldn't be to bad. Don't know if it's scarier to talk to people you know or don't know.

Have a busy week ahead. Of coarse the archives most every day. A little break this week as on Wednesday morning at 6:15 am we leave and go to Kirtland. We will meet with all the new missionaries and President and Sister Peterson at the Kirtland temple for a tour and then go down to the visitors center at Historic Kirtland to the Newell K Whitney Store and the School of the Prophets. There President Peterson will tell us about the history of Kirtland in Church History and what revelations were given to Joseph Smith and the 12 there. Then he will dedicate our missions for us. Ought to be an awesome day. Wednesday night about 10:00 pm we will get two elders that are going home, to stay at our apartment. Then at 4:00 am we take them to the Presidents home to leave for the airport.Thursday evening we work at the Family History Center and Friday evening we are going out to a Polish restaurant with all the Senior Couples and Senior Sisters from here and Kirtland. Then Saturday I think is the day we are going to the Amish town of Berlin (pronounced Berlun) to see the "Master Carver" and the shops, Leahmans Hardware Store and the Knife store (that has really awesome kitchen knives. Expensive though). A paring knife is $60.00. Probably won't buy just look.

Well best end for the day as the Senior sisters and sister Olson (who has been staying with us for a little over a week) will be home from church and I invited them for dinner.

Love ALL of you!!!

Mom and Dad

Kirtland

The Savior on display in Kirtland.

Preparing the documents

The Documents we are opening to prep for filming. We put them in these boxes that have water in the bottom so that the moisture can help that papers from being so brittle.

Happy Valentines Day!

Mom is still able to entertain and serve her yummy food on the mission. They sure are all lucky

Fasteners

Different fasteners that we find on the documents from 1900's

This is where we Git R Done

This is the Archives where we do our record preservation every day.

Week Three

Well, here it is the start of our third week. My, but time flys when you are having fun. Our days and nights are full and even weekends. We don't seem to have found any spare time. We leave for the archives at 7:00 am and get home about 5:00 pm depending on whether we have shopping to do after we are done at the archives. Tuesday nights we have Institute class. We are studing Jesus the Christ and the New Testament. Our teacher studied in Jerusalem for several years and has a very vast knowledge of what took place there and of the Savior. She makes it come to life for all of us.

Thursday nights we work at the Family History Center. We had our first staff meeting last week and will actually begin our hours of 6-9 every Thursday this week. We will be able to do some of own research and work then, too. Have missed doing that. Need some more names to work on.

We have a couple of wood projects to do for down at the archives. Dad can't stay away to long. There is a guy in one of the wards here that has a shop that we can use. He said that dad could use it as long as the guy could look over his shoulder and learn a few things. We went out Saturday to find a Lowe's to see what kind of wood they have available, etc. Now we can go and "Get er done".

Boy! are some of these records fragile. You can hardly touch them that they don't fall apart. Sure wish they knew about archival paper back 115 years ago. It's a good thing that we are capturing them on images as they won't be around for much longer.

Found a neat quote the other day. "A life that is not documented, is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory. What a tragedy this can be in the history of a family." How so very true. It is so important that each family has their families history and geneolgy. For where will you get it if you don't have your own? And your kids need to know their ancestors. And so do you. Even if all you work is done, supposedly, it's not.

I am going to send or at least try and send some pictures of our trip to Kirtland to see the statues of Christ, some Amish things, picture of the different fasteners that we find on the documents (we are going to make a shadowbox out of them) and a picture of Soba a girl from India that Dad got to go help and teach and that got baptized on Saturday. She is really a neat person.

Well don't know what to tell you except that we miss all of you and you are in prayers daily. But we are enjoying serving here and doing what we are doing. Love, Mom and Dad

We're almost there

Well, we are in Ohio, but not quite Cleveland. We should be there before noon. What a couple of weeks we have had. We had a fantastic two weeks at the MTC (Missionary Training Center). What a place to feel the spirit and closness to Heavenly Father. The first week was spent learning Preach My Gospel. If you don't have a copy in your home you should get one. Great source for Family Home Evenings and also to prepare your sons for their missions, as this is what they will be learning and teaching from. We found out through prayer you can do anything as long as you do your part. We can DO IT!!! If you know couples in your ward or family who are retirement age and needing something to do, encourage them to put their papers in and get going. They need them out here in all areas that are availiable. We met couples who were on their 3rd and 4th missions. It's cheaper than staying at home and WOW what rewards and blessings you receive and your family,too.

The second week we spent from 7:30 am-5:00pm every day learning how to digetize (image) old records to be put into the Family Search program for indexing and for people all over the world to access for their own personal records. This was so very interesting and our old minds still work. We had to learn how to calibrate and focus the camera. The circle you see on the page is called an LSI or line segment indicator. You have to find the "thinnest" line on each batch of documents and then focus on it either horizontaly or vertically, find the "pixals" (they can't be more than 4 in a single line), then focus as good as or better than the original document then start imaging. The "gray scale" lets you know that the image is focused in another way. Both have to be used every time you start a new "folder". Boy! look at all these computer terms we know. Now just to remember how to do them. Where is a grandchild or child when you really need them? Just kidding! Mybe we will finally learn how to use our camera and computer.

We spent a couple nights in Denver with Grandma and Grandpa Evers. Was so good to see them and to see Grandpa doing so much better. (That's one of those blessings we have recieved in our family from the mission.) We hope he continues to do well. They are going to look seriously at selling their house and getting a townhome. So when we return in a year they will probably be at a new location. Saw Ron/Laura, Terri/Darrell and Sara. Didn't get to see JT this time. We also spent a night with the DeRock's. They are such good friends.

Wednesday, we spent the evening in Hastings,Nebraska, and visited with Charles and Eleanor Buss, This is a cousin of Grandpa Evers. He is a very avid geneoligist. He asked to see if we could find some information on his mothers side. He knows every bodies geneolgy, who, where and what about them. He has information and pictures to go with them all. Very interesting to spend time with them. Eleanor looked better I thought than in July when we saw her. TO BE CONTINUED and pictures to follow. Wait for me to send them tomorrow or Sunday and more info. Love Mom

New email address

We have changed our e-mail address for those of you who would like it. It is kbe4ever@gmail.com
It is pretty much the same as the old one just don't forget the (e).

Our first week

Well, We have just about made it through our first week. We get up at 6:00 am and have breakfast at 7:00 am and then we start classes. We go for an hour and then have a fifteen minute break. Then start up again. We study a lesson every night of two or three chapters in “Preach My Gospel” then the next day we put the lesson into a situation like we were teaching an investigator or to an inactive member. We finish at 5:00 every evening, eat dinner and then go to computer class until 7:30 pm then come home and study for the next day and to bed by 10:00pm.

Long Days!! But what a special place to be. The Spirit is so strong and so special here. The people we have met are so fantastic. We learn from them and hopefully them from us. We have had some good feedback on some of our situations and it makes us feel that we are not totally dumb.

Prayer is such a special tool we have to receive help and inspiration from our Heavenly Father. It has been a big help here in our studies and then to have prayers answered that Grandpa Evers is doing better and that Brett got a permanent job and that all of you are being watched over while we are gone.

Pray sincerely and really think about the things that you are thankful for each day and the blessings that our Heavenly Father has sent your way and then ask him for things that you really need for in your family. Remembering that we need to do our part and then Heavenly Father will do his.

We are anxious to learn how to use the digitizing camera next week so we will be able to help out in that area in Cleveland. Say a prayer for us that we will learn quickly and then remember what we learned. We always pray for the missionaries…..now we are one of them. WOW!!

Great people work here. What special leaders and teachers. To think that in just a few years Travis, Derick, Tyrel, Tyler and Trevin will be here. These Elders look so young. They are nice to us “Seniors”.

Oh yeah…..We don’t have twin beds!! What a relief. I took a picture and will send it and one of us in front of the world map.

Love you all

Mom's Greatest Fear

Will there be two beds or one? Mom's biggest fear is that her and dad won't be able to sleep in the same bed at the MTC. Like they had to do on the I love Lucy show. Silly Mom! Dad, your job is to post a picture of what it really is.