EXCITEMENT & SADNESS!

We are getting more excited each day that we will be going home, but at the same time there is sadness as we contemplate leaving this wonderful place and the great people that we have become close to.  I will miss my twin Mike and his wife Janie.  I'll miss my 'sister' Sister Schuck and her husband Elder Brian Schuck.  They are only the ones that we work with each day.  There are many more in the ward here that we have become friends with and will miss when we leave.  There are a few that will linger in our hearts for ever.

I know that you have never seen us in our "missionary attire" and so here we are.  Sister Fisher doesn't like to have her picture taken, but consented to these.  I am glad she did and wish she had been the only one photoed.  We'll be home in about two weeks.  It will be tough leaving!

SUNDAY PONDERINGS!

It is a cold Sunday afternoon and we are at home for the evening. Sunday was not as spiritual as I would have liked it to be...but that is my fault. The Spirit is always there for anyone who is in the right frame of mind and has come with the spirit. We have only one more month and then our mission is over. We will find it as hard to leave to go home as it was enjoyable to arrive. This is a place where we have come closer to our Father in Heaven than we have ever been. We want to go on another mission if our health permits. Both Sister Fisher and I have worked hard on keeping healthy and losing weight. If we can maintain, we should be in good shape to go again. I am going to throw in a few pictures and they fit in with my "ponderings". (We have learned a great deal about pondering. It is a wonderful way to remember the things we study and pray about.

This is a picture of the nativity taken with my cellphone. Each year on the two days following Thanksgiving, they have have a live nativity with a donkey (Annie), two sheep named 'Two Kisses' and 'Maple Dot'. 'Dot' had to go home and 'Snickers' took her place. This year they had two alpacas for the Nativity performance. They were 'imitation camels' with no humps and they couldn't stay for the season.

Our site director's wife is a wonderful lady with a great sense of humor. She is modeling a nose warmer that she made for one of her grandchildren. She made several of them. She is my "sister".

I have had the good fortune to be able to revive and old talent. I love to draw and the subjects here at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial are wonderful. I have drawn a picture of each of the modern day prophets and some of the Lord, and some other church pictures. The Lord has blessed me and I am grateful.

Joseph Smith was called a "Polished Shaft in the quiver of the Lord" The monument is to show that feature and as you can see, the 107 year old obelisk is as shiny as it was the day it was erected. The summer flowers are all gone and the leaves have left the trees, but the spire shines on. You've heard of a "partridge in a pear tree"? Well if you look real closely you will see three of them in this tree...it isn't a real pear tree, but those are partridges.

QUECHEE "P" DAY

With a day off here it is sometimes hard to figure what to do, because we use 'work' days to do a lot of the "P" day things. Well...today, we went to Quechee, which is a little town(like they all are) where we wanted to see a glassblower in action. We went to the Simon Pearce Gallery. He has a large crew of young folks that make amazing glass objects. We had our cameras, but were so entranced with the process, that picture taking was forgotten. We were also awed by the prices they want for the glassware. A little candle holder cost $85.00...but then there is no tax!!! We opted to look and not touch. The studio is on the edge of the river and last year when "Irene" came through it did a lot of damage to the place. I did get some pictures of the waterfall just out the back door. They will give you a little idea of how much the water rose to do the damage. I'm standing about 3' above the floor of the studio while taking them.

JUST SOME THOUGHTS...AND MAYBE PRAYERS

I have been searching for purpose a little bit lately. The wife of the Site Director and I often exchange thoughts about the tours and the wonderful experiences that we all have here. She asked me why I was so gloomy. I didn't realize I looked gloomy or down in spirit at all. When she asked me the second time a little later, I started to think...why am I here. When there are so many people I know that could do a better, or at least as good a job as I do I started thinking about it and it got me a little down cast I suppose. She noticed and I told her and her husband, the director what I had been feeling. This wonderful lady looked straight into my face and told me some beautiful things that she felt about me. I won't repeat them here...they are very spiritually personal, but I will always remember them and this amazing couple. I wrote this little poem to her.

SPIRITUAL & MELANCHOLY DAY TODAY!!

Today is Monday and we had FHE at the site with all of the missionaries and some single adults that always come. There was a pair of sisters that are scheduled to be baptized this coming weekend. They aren't from our ward here, but go to the ward in West Lebanon where the Starleys attend. We were all excited for them. Oh yeah and the melancholy part...the Starleys are heading home at the end of this week. We will really miss them. They have been so much fun to be around, and they are very spiritual...neat. It is getting cold already and the leaves are starting to turn...much too early. The locals here say that it won't be a good year for the "leaf peepers" (those who come out east to see the New England fall colors). Last night the temperature went down to 36 degrees and it is already to 48 degrees today and it is only 8:00 pm. But...to cheer you up here are some pictures of the flowers that are coming into bloom here now.

Oops...well there are always a few "weeds" in every "flower patch"!! AN ODE TO FRIENDSHIP “TRUE STORY” This morning at four forty four, I could sleep no more. My mind was racing and I went to pacing. I wanted to express to you how deeply I have felt, And so to Heavenly Father I have knelt. The feelings of love and joy, for knowing Patsy and LaVoy Are ones I will never forget, oh no, no and yet, I feel so sad at their leaving, but won’t do much grieving, ‘Cause at the very first chance, We will make an appearance. Fillmore isn’t much to see, but living there, there be, A family so fine, I wish they were mine, And so you must see, in heaven together we must be Though the passage may be rough, I know you two are tough. We didn’t have much time together, but like birds of a feather Down the road a little way, we’ll stop by to say, “Thanks for the memories, let’s make some more. Patsy!!! Don’t you dare slam that door!!” And so to Father’s glory, we’ll make this a “true story”!

MENTAL MEANDERINGS!!!

These are the wonderful missionaries we get to spend time with. They spend most of their time, however, keeping the place looking spectacular.

They are from left to right, Elder Vernon, Sister Vernon, Elder Starley, Sister Starley, Sister Charchenko, and my twin...Elder Charchenko. Actually, I guess we aren't twins, but quadruplets!!!! The sisters keep the flowers and shrubs looking awesome and the men do just about everything else.

These folks are just leaving church on Sunday. They are leaving for the south any day now, and won't be back until next spring. We hate to see them go, but know they must.

Since coming on this mission, I have done a little drawing...something I used to do many years ago. I guess it is a talent and I figured I had better use it or I'll lose it.

BEAUTY AND THE BEASTS (CHAINSAWS)

Time has taken its toll on the huge trees that stood where the original cabin stood in 1805 where Joseph was born. They were rotting inside and were threatening to do severe damage to the office building, or the monument. I don't believe Heavenly Father would have allowed the tree to fall on and damage the monument, but the office is another story. This first picture is of one of the tree before the chainsaw did its work. This is what it looked like today after it fell. But let's not dwell on that...let's look at the beautiful Plume Gorge we saw on our last "P" day. It is about a two hour drive from the site and we had a beautiful day to take advantage of. (You should never end a sentence a preposition with, but I did anyway.) The pictures that follow are all of the Gorge...aren't they beautiful?!!!

SOME FUN THOUGHTS AND FLOWERS ETC.!!

Well, folks...I would like to introduce you to Solanum lycopersicum or we know him by his nickname...'Luigi'! I found him hanging around outside our front door. He makes great salads, sandwiches, and salsa. He is good to get to know. He isn't as mature as he will get after having been with us for awhile. He was in the prime of his life before I picked him to be our chief salad, sandwich and salsa maker.

The flowers at the site are more beautiful than ever. The 'flower sisters' keep them blooming better and better each day. Sisters Charchenko, Vernon, and Starley work on them continuously. I call them the "flower sisters"!! Without them these would never look this good.

Incidently, the large flat stone in this last picture is the original front doorstep to the cabin that Joseph Smith Jr. was born in.

JUST FLOWERS...JUST?!!!

Because you can't come out here and see the flowers, I thought I would send some pictures of them to you! No particular message other than we get to see these everyday! Wish you could too.

OUR GARDEN!!!

We have a garden. We are growing tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and carrots. We have at last count about 150 tomatoes coming. We have been eating the squash, tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers already and will have to preserve some of them because we won't be able to eat them fast enough. As you can see, the garden is in buckets and empty peanut jars. It seems that we could grow them almost anywhere here. We have learned a few things and plan to have the same type of garden at home.

MISSIONARY THOUGHTS!!

I haven't blogged for quite some time now and thought that because I am a little under the weather (cold) I would sit here and narrate a little blog to myself and of course to you. Who you are is a curiosity to me. Let me know who reads my blog...if anyone anymore. We have become a little more busy now that we are in the middle of summer and the pageants are on (Nauvoo and Palmyra), so we get people going on Church History Site vacation tours and we are the first one on their lists if they are from the east. Folks out west usually see us last and some say they wish they had done the trip in the other direction because this is where it started in this dispensation. Today, though I wasn't feeling very well, I had to conduct a tour. It was a non-member couple and the wife asked many questions and stated that she would like to be baptized but doesn't want to join the church. She could not hear that the Lord wants her and all of His children to be baptized and do all the other things He has asked them to do. She left thinking she was going to be saved in Heaven and didn't need to do it the correct way. I didn't argue with her but encouraged her to read the Book of Mormon...especially Moroni 10:4&5. She said she would and we left it at that. It was frustrating to speak to someone who does not have the 'ears to hear' nor the 'eyes to see', but I did what the Lord has asked me to do and either she will someday 'see and hear' or she will get a rude awakening on the other side of the veil. I am including in this blog a few pictures just because I like them and hope you do too.

THE SPIRIT IS VERY SENSITIVE

I have come to realize that the spirit is very sensitive. If there is even a little discord it's gone. It is so important to create an atmosphere wherein it will stay. A happy heart, good thoughts, cheerful countenance, positive attitude and a few other fleeting things that are necessary for the spirit to be with us. The weather, be it blustery, cold, humid, hot...doesn't have a single affect on the spirit...just us. Moderation in all things is a great motto to adhere to while on a mission or at any time in life. I am going to include some pictures just because...so there!!!! This was a fantasy tour I had in a dream one day. What do you think? The bottom line is...keep your eye on the ball!

'PROFILE FALLS' AND SOME FLOWERS

I know...I know...its been a long time since I blogged last. We haven't been out and around much until today. We are spending most of our time studying or being on duty at the Memorial. Today, however, we went to a place called Laconia, New Hampshire. There we looked up and found a place called Profile Falls. We had to hike into the place a few hundred yards and saw this magnificent scene. I hope I can get the picture of the falls that we took on my cell phone. I'll throw in a few others if I can get this thing to work this time.

I will blog again tomorrow likely and I will post some pictures of our garden and show how some critter has wiped out our zucchini plants. We could likely use something to repel the groundhog that we think is doing it, but that would likely chase the chipmunks we've adopted as well. My thought is that we can afford to lose a few zucchinis for the sake of keeping our "neighbors"!

JUST RAMBLING, BUT ENJOYING IT IMMENSELY!!!

When I started blogging almost a year ago, I mentioned that I would let you know what is going on here on our mission. I thought at that time I would let you know the spiritual experiences we were experiencing. I have come to realize that they are too sacred and personal for the whole world to be able to read. The pictures show the place where we experience these wonderful things and you can only imagine what the beauty here brings to the soul as we talk to members and non-members alike. They all seem to feel the spirit that is here and I don't want to lessen the impact with mere words. I will continue to include as many new pictures of the area and the people as possible and will reserve telling anyone about the very personal spiritual experiences until we are together. Here are some new (to you...I hope) pictures.

Oh...come on...it's just a picture of my ancestors, which brings me to another exciting thing that has happened here. I have really gotten involved with genealogy. I just found a link that traces my mother's line back to...are you ready?...1240! That's right...with many of the complete information about their birth dates, birthplaces, and death dates, etc. I have a lot of work to do to get the information into the church program to have the work done in the temple for them, but it will happen. Here's another old picture that you might enjoy!

Here is some of the beauty up close. Aren't they gorgeous. I have come to appreciate the beauty of the world around me more since coming here!!

THE WONDERS OF THE MEMORIAL ON A GORGEOUS SABBATH DAY!

As you can see, I have been taking more of my favorite pictures...the monument and the beautiful surroundings here at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial. Today is Sunday and we were busy at the site. There were over 120 people come through today. That was just on our shift which was from 11:30 am. to 2:30 pm. How many came after that I don't know. We have not been this busy since last fall. Whew!!!! I just discovered that my cellphone...a Droid X can take the best pictures of all the three cameras that I have. I can take 'negatives' with this one. What do you think?

Today was very spiritual...and the experiences of today were so spiritual that they can't be entered here. I will be glad to share these with any who wish in a personal setting someday. Sister Fisher and I learned of some things that the prophet has said about this site that are oh so special and we hold them dear. Check out the new pics and let me know what you think of them.

A BEAUTIFUL SABBATH!!

I went for a walk around the 'loop' here and when I was just coming back I noticed the brightness of the monument. I went and got my camera and took these pictures. I have another one of the sun shining off the side of the spire, but I wanted one off the pyramid at the top of the spire. I got these. I had a great tour today with a couple who are from New Jersey and just came up here today on their way home from commencement ceremonies at Norwich. We talked about the beauty of this place and the serenity and peace that everyone feels here. The music of the Tabernacle choir is played all day long in the trees at the edge of the 'green' here. It is marvelous and something we will never forget. It's going to be hard to leave when the time comes to go home.

After our shift today, we came home and had some dinner, then when it started to rain, we went out onto our 'patio' and watched the rainbows in the heavens. They were spectacular. I only wish I had a better camera so as to get better pictures. I'm throwing in a picture of our 'patio' as a contrast to the beauty of the rainbow. As you can see the trees are really greening up, but they will get more green as the days go by.