SUMMER IS HERE

June 2013

This month got off to a great start with Lee's Mom and sister coming to see us for a few days.  Frances and Susan arrived June 1st.  We were able to take them to all the historic sites and they also got to visit all the buildings at historic Palmyra.  On our preparation day we toured Sodus Bay Point and the George Eastman House.

This month the senior couples had the opportunity to visit Harmony, PA, site where the priesthood was restored to the earth.  Half of the couples got to go on the 3rd and the other half on the 10th.  We were in the last group to visit - what a treat!  It rained most of the day but it did not dampen our spirits at all.  Bro. Baker and Bro. Gammon (CES) went with us and gave us so much valuable information.  We also toured the Joseph Knight home and the Josiah Stowell home; then visited the marker where Joseph and Emma Smith were married.  Fabulous trip!  So glad we were able to do this.  The weekend before our trip, Elder Bednar made a visit to that stake to announce the way had been cleared for a visitor's center to be built on the site at Harmony...that would be a great mission in which to serve!

Harmony PA

Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Monument

Harmony PA

Joseph Knight Home

Cemetery Marker in Harmony PA

Statue t Joseph Knight Home

Marker where Emma & Joseph Smith were married

June 13th brought the arrival of Kerri and Maggie to visit for a few days.  Kerri was here to cover the Gwinnett Braves game with the Rochester Red Wings.  Since she is the Social Media Consultant for the Braves, she was able to get tickets for the games Thursday and Friday.  The Howells were able to join us on Friday and we enjoyed having them with us (since they are avid baseball fans).  Lee and I had a shift at the Whitmer Farm Friday morning and Maggie went along with us.  She really enjoyed spending time with the sisters and getting to know them (especially Sis. Madsen).  June 16th was Father's Day and it was great to have them here to spend the day with Lee....something he does not get to do very often.  All too soon it was time for them to leave.

This month also saw us saying good-bye to five wonderful sister missionaries...Sisters Aiello, Madsen, Earl, Potts, and McManama.  They were terrific missionaries and will be sorely missed by all of us.  We have been blessed to know them and be able to serve with them at the historic sites.  

Sis. Madsen

Sister Earl

Sister McManama

Sister Potts

Sister Aiello

This month has been a fun filled one.....lots of family and lots of fun things to do.  Now...looking forward to July with the 4th and the Hill Cumorah Pageant.  Wish us luck...it will be an exhausting month!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

May 2013

Seems as though our days are going by faster than ever!  The sites are getting busier and we have so much we want to do before we leave our mission.  But first things first....

My foot continues to do good.  It has progressed as expected all month.  By the end of the month I am able to wear shoes and go barefooted around our apartment.  It has been a LONG time coming.  Feels good to be able to do my part during our shift.

The first weekend this month a terrible tragedy happened in Palmyra.  Mark's Pizzeria, a well-known establishment in downtown Palmyra burned along with several other businesses. Missionaries always enjoyed going by and getting a slice of pizza for lunch when they were at the BOMPS.  This placed will be missed in Palmyra.

May 3, 2013

May 4th we had our first experience handling a bus tour.  Two buses arrived at the Book of Mormon Publication Site with 83 people.  Lee & I along with another senior couple and two sets of sisters were on duty.  We got these people in and our in 48 minutes.  We did good!!  The tours could not have gone smoother.  I am sure all of them won't go this well, but I'm sure glad our first one did!

May 8th saw four of our sweet sisters going home.  Sisters Brown, Larsen, Raines & Schank all served an honorable mission.  They will definitely be missed, but we will learn to love the new ones that arrived just as much as we love those that left.

Sisters Schank & Raines

Sister Larsen

Sister Brown

Sister Schank

Sunday, May 19th Maxine & Bobby arrived for a visit.  They brought us some good ole NC barbeque and Maxine brought me 16  2-liter bottles of Diet Coke.  She does love her baby sister!!!  Cokes are expensive here ($1.44/2-liter)....she got these for $.99.  We were able to take them to all the historic sites.  It really took a toll on Maxine with her fibromyalgia.  She will never know how much it meant to me to have her & Bobby here for a few days.

May 20th we were privileged to have Kim Smith, great-great granddaughter of Joseph & Emma Smith here to tell us here conversion story.  She also had her son, Bryan Davis, with her.  He also spoke and they both sang.  She gave a perspective of Emma that I had not heard before.  What an opportunity to hear her!  Glad Bobby & Maxine were here for this.

Me & Maxine

Bobby

Sister Kim Smith

We had the opportunity this month to spend two of our Preparation Days with the Howells.  We always have a blast with them.  May 15th we spend the day at Sodus Bay Point and the 29th we spent the day at Letchworth State Park (Grand Canyon of the East)...14 miles of beautiful park with three waterfalls and gorges and trails. 

Sodus Bay Point Lighthouse

Stuart Howell & Lee

Howells

Middle Falls at Letchworth

Has been a wonderful month filled with family visiting and going to some great places with wonderful friends. 

SPRING YET?

April 2013

April has been a busy month for us in some respects. The month started with General Conference.  We had a morning shift at the Book of Mormon Publication site and were able to hear part of the first session of conference.  We were not busy until just before conference started and then it got really busy.  I guess ALL Mormons do not watch ALL sessions of conference...hehe.

We received our assignment for pageant week.  We will be working at the Joseph Smith Farm!  We are so EXCITED!!!  The Smith Farm is right next door and we will be able to walk to our assignment every day.  During the ten days of pageant, we do not rotate to all the sites.  We are assigned one site to cover during that ten day period.  I know it will be tiring, but I am really looking forward to the Hill Cumorah Pageant.

The next missionary transfer date is not until May , so we did not lose any of our young sisters.  It is always so hard to see them go, but we learn to love the new ones coming in just as much.

I had my foot surgery April 19th.  Afternoon prior to surgery Lee & Elder Howell gave me a priesthood blessing.  Afterward, I felt perfectly at peace; this surgery is the right thing for me to do.  Dr. Carrie O'Neill performed a decompression osteotomy on my left foot.  That means she replaced a screw in my left great toe, removed a bone spur and cyst, shaved the bone, realigned the malformation of the bone and re-inserted a screw.  OUCH!! The surgery went really well.  Following surgery, I could not believe the outpouring of love from all the senior couples...cards, phone calls, food, more food, shifts covered for a couple of days, and even flowers.

Recovery is slow, but I see improvement every day.  Looking forward to being able to walk in the Sacred Grove and feel the spirit there...soon.

April 26th was our 17th wedding anniversary.  How blessed I am to be married to such a wonderful man.  He honors his priesthood, is a wonderful example to our grandchildren, and such a sweet and compassionate husband.  Throughout this trial with my foot, he has been wonderful.  I love him dearly and look forward to many more years together. 

By the way, did I mention that it snowed April 20th & 21st!!!!  Just flurries, but I am so ready for Spring!!