Sunday, April 26, 2015

It has been quite the week!!!  Let me see if I can recap the highlights....as briefly as I possibly can.

I was able to get a few more of the Atlanta Temple hangings finished to give as gifts.  Feels good to accomplish!

I got a doily made for Ms. Shen in Shanghai!  Thanks David for delivering that to her.  She likes orange....and so, of course, I made her an orange.

On Wednesday we went to the Temple with one of the Zone's from the Georgia Atlanta Mission.  They go to the temple about every 6 - 7 weeks and asked if we could go with them (or at least one of the Zone's) this time around.  That was a long time to be away from the phone.  As soon as we got to the front door Elder/Dr. had a phone call waiting for him.  He got the phone call just outside the front door of the temple.

How fun to see Sister Echols at the temple.  We will surely miss her when she finishes her mission in a few short weeks!!!  So sad to 'loose' some of our missionaries but they deserve to be able to go home.

Elder/Dr. Allgaier got a GREAT shot of the Atlanta Temple....lighting was perfect.  I think we might have enlarge this one and frame it!

What better for lunch at a Zone Conference than PIZZA!!!  And LOTS of it.

I got started on yet another afghan......love the colors chosen by the recipient for this one.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning we were invited to attend and present at the Interim Mission President's Seminar for the 18 mission presidents and their wives of the NorthAmerica SouthEast Area.  The Area Presidency presided and invited us.....Elder Soares, Elder Kopiskche and Elder Zwick.  It was a wonderful experience....although intense because of so much to cover in such a short amount of time.  We LOVED being with such wonderful people and learning from them.  These mission presidents and their wives are absolutely fantastic....as well as the area presidency.

We were certainly fed well from the scriptures.

Our mighty Georgia Atlanta Mission President (President John Harding) celebrated his birthday while attending the seminar.  He is a giant in many ways....spiritual and physical!

When the conference finished on Saturday, Elder/Dr. and Sister Bean and Wayne and I headed down to Plains, GA. where we wanted to visit again.  We enjoyed our visit 2 weeks ago and the Beans were headed back to Florida that same direction so they decided to join us.  NO Sister Bean is NOT on the phone during the Jimmy Carter Sunday School lesson.....it was before he arrived and came in.

'Miss Pat' was our orientation leader with lots of information about the Carter's and also instruction and protocol of 'things' would happen one former President and Mrs. Carter arrived.  She was 'right-on' with her explanation of things.  It was truly an 'experience'....once-in-a-lifetime!

What an AMAZING experience it was to be with the former U.S. President and his wife.....Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.  They are very gracious and full of energy.  He will be 91 in October.  They were kind enough to allow the guests in his class today have a little foto op with them AFTER church.

This will certainly be a TREASURE foto for Wayne and I to have.  Jimmy Carter was very kind as he talked about his love for the Mormons in his Sunday School class.  He talked about the wonderful missionary program the Mormon Church has.  He said he even tried to implement such a program in his Baptist Church but it never took off!  I am not surprised.

We were seated on the 2nd row, center of the chapel.  We were so close to him.  Very cool experience.

As we drove from Plains, GA and headed back to Peachtree City, we saw a sign about the Starr's Mill which proved to be a great little stop along the way.  It actually turns out to be just a few miles from our apartment here in PTC!

After attending Jimmy Carter's church we headed to our Whitewater Ward back up in Peachtree City. We parked right next to a family golf cart.  It must be summer time again in Georgia....golf carts are out EVERYWHERE!!!  Nice to see them again.

I had a package waiting for us when we got home.  It is the KENTUCKY DERBY HAT that I ordered to take to the Kentucky Louisville Mission this coming week.  It just s happens that it will be Kentucky Derby the day we are in Louisville for Zone Conferences.  The Mission Presidents' wife said we were going to wear hats for the occasion (probably at lunchtime!).  I guess this will do!!

W.O.W. what a week.....I think we are a little exhausted, not sure.  Too tired to figure it out.  We are in  for about 3 weeks of traveling to Kentucky and Tennessee for Zone Conferences.  Stay tuned......Love our mission!

Sunday, April 19, 2015

This past week found us on the road again....this time to the North Carolina Raleigh Mission.  They were having two days of Zone Conferences in addition to a Senior Missionary Conference.  Half of the mission this week, the other half of the mission next week.  The President and Mission President's wife call this the 'Fun Zone Conference'.  This week it was being held in Wilmington, N.C.  It was a 7 1/2 hour drive from Peachtree City for us.

Fortunately, we were able to do a free upgrade to a king suite for the 3 nights we would be at the Hampton Inn.  Makes it easier to get 'set up' and work from the hotel room in the evenings.

The first night we got there we went down to Wrightsville Beach to walk on the pier and see the view.  The last time we went we got there at dusk and we couldn't see anything at all!  It was perfect this time.....albeit very WINDY!  Normal for the ocean.

We got some very pretty fotos of the ocean, the Oceanic Restaurant where we had dinner with the Burnsides, who joined us and sunset over the ocean.

One little piece of training that took place was making sure the missionaries knew exactly what to do if they needed to evacuate in the event of a HURRICANE!  Complete with buckets for their 72-hour kits if they needed them.  Great directions and council for the missionaries if they will just do that.

After lunch, the missionaries got their Preparation Day clothes on to have some activities.  Wouldn't you know it....one elder ended up with a badly sprained ankle!!!  Good thing we brought a pair of crutches with us.  They were needed.  The Elder ended up being taken to the ER for an x-ray.  Fortunately he did not break it.....just really badly sprained.  That was the only injury of the day.

On Wednesday afternoon when the young missionaries finished their part of the meetings and activities, it was time to switch gears.  The Senior Missionaries had a meeting from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.  After that we went to the Pilot House for dinner.  It was very nice and overlooked the Fear River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean.  There were about 24 of us.

On Thursday, as a continuing part of the Senior Conference, we all went out the Ft. Fisher.....a strategic spot for the Civil War.  It was a bit rainy but not a downpour.  Because the Fort is located on the Ocean, Wayne and I walked over to the shore and walked a little bit to get a good view.  Hence, the selfie.

 A little collage of some fotos taken as we were out walking around Fort Fisher.

After the tour of Fort Fisher we went out the the N.C. Aquarium and looked around....it was fascinating to see the ALBINO ALLIGATOR which was the first one I have ever seen.

After the morning tours, we returned back to the church for lunch and to hear President Brue, of the Mission Presidency, speak about the history of the Wilmington area....both community and church.

We then drove around the old part of Wilmington with Elder and Sister Burnside to see some of the things President Brue spoke about.  Below is the original chapel in Wilmington.  Looks a lot like the Arlington and Chevy Chase Chapels built in the same era.....late 1950's.

Friday morning we headed out and back to Peachtree City.  But we stopped at the USS North Carolina Battleship to take a quick tour.  It was drizzling a bit, hence the umbrella.  And, of course, we are still on call.....24/7.  Wayne got a phone call just as we got on the ship deck.

 Another collage of fotos from our time to Wilmington.

Saturday found us attending a luncheon at the historic restaurant in downtown Atlanta.....Mary Macs Tea Room Restaurant.  It was very nice.  This was attended by some of the Senior Missionary Couples from the Georgia Atlanta Mission.  Wayne took the foto and therefore not in it.

Chatting outside the restaurant before departing to our homes.

I was able to finish the baby blanket to send to baby girl Pavel and Elenna in Finland!  Their little girl is due in May.

We needed to get a few groceries on the way home.  Yup....it IS spring in the south as evidenced by all of the GOLF CARTS in the parking lot at Kroger's!!!

I made my CARROT MUFFINS with a recipe given me by Mary that I met in the milk aisle of Kroger's.  It is good and I think I will be making it again!!  Kiitos Paljon Mary!

We are giving a medical presentation next week at the NASE Area Mission President's Seminar.  The Area Presidency, Elders Soares, Elder Zwick and Elder Kopischke, has asked that we, along with Elder/Dr. Bean (NASE South Area) and Elder and Sister Hardgrave, Area Mental Health Directors, attend this training.  We feel honored to be invited.  We were gathering little 'gifts' to hand out with our presentation.  Don't worry.....we have more than these couple of Atlanta Georgia pens.....we have enough for ALL those attending.

And thus we end yet another very active week.  We are gearing up for another active week!  The End!

Monday, April 13, 2015

It has been another fairly 'easy' week.....that is, with not a lot of traveling to any of the 9 missions, other than attending the Transfer Meeting for the GAM (Georgia Atlanta Mission).  We miss it when we don't do a lot of traveling.

I had my 'regular' eye doctor appointment on Tuesday morning......time for another shot in my eye.  The q-tip sticking out of my eye is actually part of the numbing process.  Kind of weird how he does this but, oh well!!  After my eye appointment, we were actually able to come back home which allowed me to be able to rest my eye.  Normally, it seems like we are having to drive 5 - 7 hours to attend Zone Conferences.  This was a real luxury!  I also got my first haircut here in Georgia since we have been here!!!! (9 months ago)  That surely felt good.

Oh Wednesday evening we went to the mission home to say goodbye to some of the 19 returning missionaries.  Those are always exciting days....lots of activity, lots of luggage, lots of bikes, lots of everything!!!

Thursday was a 'baking day' for me.  It felt good to be able to bake chocolate chip cookies again!  We gave a whole bunch of cookies to our apartment neighbors!  That was fun too!

I received a package with LOTS OF YARN in it.  This one will be for Kara.....a gal who works in Becky's office.  I also have yarn to start Spencer's mission afghan as well.

Wayne and I decided to take a day-trip and drive down to PLAINS, GEORGIA....the home of President Jimmy Carter.  As usual, we LOVE driving on the back roads.  This great red-clay dirt road was a perfect example of the kind of red-clay roads that I remember walking home from school on when I was a little kid in elementary school in High Point, N.C.  The south is known for their red-clay dirt roads.  They have kind of a beauty to them, don't you think??

It would NOT be Jimmy Carter country without visiting the LARGE PEANUT in his hometown.  I think it was worth the stop....to see 'his' smile!

 We had fun seeing the typical tourist attractions in Plains.  

Because ANDERSONVILLE, GA just only a few miles away, we decided to visit that as well.  It was a Civil War Prisoner of Camp location.  It is 'famous' because of so very many deaths that happened here.....due to the poor conditions and the fact that it was made for 10,000 P.O.W.'s and there were almost 50,000 at one point.  Very sad indeed.....but nicely portrayed.

The cemetery reminds us of Arlington National Cemetery as well as Gettysburg Battle Field.

On Saturday we went to the Atlanta Temple, as usual.  Much to our surprise we were greeted by Tatiana Alvarado!  She is a young lady from our home ward in Maryland (Brunswick Ward) who is attending college in western North Carolina in Waynesville!  We have been there.  She came down to attend the temple with her ward temple day.

I typically order my 4 x 6 fotos once a month and put them in my album.  I don't have a lot of work space in our apartment so I use whatever I can.  That includes kneeling on the floor and using the sofa.  Hey, whatever works!  It is so easy to catch up!!!

We will be traveling this week, so we will see how this pans out!!  WE LOVE OUR MISSION!

Monday, April 6, 2015.....

A day late.....but that is because we had the missionaries come over and visit us on Sunday evening!  We LOVE it when the missionaries come to visit us!  They are wonderful and we love them.....Elder Robinson (who will be leaving in 2 days to return to his home in California) and Elder Dimanche (from Haiti).

I finished the FIRST of the Atlanta Temple cross stitch hangings....of probably many to come while we are here on our mission.  At least as long as my eyes hold out!!  Wayne made the pattern for me.....need I say more.  He is so good with making my patterns!

We ordered some CHOCOLATE MINT WHOOPIE PIES from the Amish country in PA and they came this week.  OH MAN....they were so good.  We had to order a dozen and we only wanted a couple.....so, of course we shared them with the missionaries!

Wayne and I decided that we would take a little 2-day diversion (while still working, of course) and head up to North Georgia to Cleveland, Helen and Dahlonega.  We had heard so many great things about these 3 cities and knew we could cover them in that time frame.  

First stop was Cleveland....home of the CABBAGE PATCH DOLLS!  Who knew!!!  All 6 of our children had them when they were little.....it was THE thing to have!  This is a beautiful setting and wasn't just for little kids!

Yup.....I had to 'adopt' a baby.  However, I will be giving this one as a gift!

It was on to HELEN, an Alpine Village right here in the south!  What a great little place to visit.  We really enjoyed our time there walking around and exploring.  Wayne, bless his heart, had his phone ringing CONSTANTLY!!!  He just did not get a break at all.....I would visit the inside of the stores while he stayed outside and talked on the phone.

Even our Hampton Inn Hotel was 'Alpine' decor.

Poor Wayne had SO many phone calls that we decided to just go back to our hotel and let him work in peace!!  And the weather was so nice outside that we moved his 'office' outside on our deck so he could enjoy the beauty!

As we were driving from Helen to Dahlonega we came upon this CHEROKEE INDIAN PRINCESS BURIAL GROUND....literally at the intersection of 2 highways!  Fortunately I had seen it on some literature I was reading and was looking for it.  And we found it.  It was cool to see.  People would put stones on the grave because they felt it would bring them good luck.  We may have to add a stone or two next time we drive by there!

We got back home and had some pretty SPRING LILIES delivered to our apartment....with that cute little boot vase.  I had ordered them prior to our leaving so they would be delivered then.  We wanted to enjoy a little spring!  And I made a SWEET POTATO SONKER in my new Mt. Airy Sonker Pan.  It was very good!!!  I'll have to make that again.

Saturday afternoon we were getting ready to eat lunch in between General Conference sessions.  Wayne went to the car to get something for me and discovered that we had a new neighbor moving in......Russ.  I quickly texted the elders to see if they could come help and they were there in like 30 seconds!!!  Tender mercy.

We enjoy our walks when we get to take them.  We try to go every day when we are home (except for Sunday).  Right now the weather is nice for walks.....not too hot or humid, YET!!

We looked around on this walk to find LUCY following us!  She has never done that before but there she was.  Bless her heart.  A dog came along and scarred her into the bushes.  We kept on walking figuring she would go back to the apartment and wait for us.  NO.....not so.  We got back to the point where the dog scarred her and she came out of the bushes!!!  She had waiting right there for us.  Bless her little heart.

It was good to hear from President Thomas S. Monson at Sunday morning session of General Conference.

Monday for Preparation Day BREAKFAST, we prepared breakfast for the 9 elders who live close to us.  Elders Robinson and Smith are leaving this week to return to their homes while one of the spanish Elders is headed to Brazil after receiving his VISA he has been waiting for.  Elder Robinson had requested a specific menu:  Scrambled eggs (2 dozen), sugar toast (2 loaves of bread), sausage 2 1/2 lbs), bacon (3 lbs), homemade hash browns-almost 10 lbs of potatoes (not the frozen kind), watermelon (1, cut up), orange juice (1 1/2 gallons) and milk (not much because most wanted O.J.).  It was a FEAST!!!

I think they all enjoyed it......not much food was left!

We had 2 tables set up for them.

The 3 departing missionaries got a 'gift' of the Atlanta Temple cross stitch that I made them.

When all was QUIET and everything cleaned up, it was back to work on Garrett's blanket for him.  I almost have it finished......'U' for Urbana High School.  That is what Garrett wanted!

And thus we end another week......we will see how things 'pan' out for this week!!!  We LOVE our mission!!!