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.