Sunday, June 28, 2015

 It has been a super busy 2 weeks.....hence the lack of posting last week!!  Sorry about that.....but not sorry for the great times we have been having!

We went back to the South Carolina Columbia Mission to finish up the Zone Conferences there.....they spanned over 2 weeks.  As we traveled back on Monday, June 15th to Florence, S.C. we drove through Bishopville, SC where the Cotton Museum is located.  We decided to stop for a few minutes and take a look.  So FUN to learn about the cotton industry here in the south.

And it was on to Zone Conference in Florence on Tuesday.  Elder/Dr. does a great job in teaching the missionaries about good health practices!  If they would only listen it would be great!

It was over to the Columbia West Zone Conference!  And there we saw some familiar faces with Barbara Gill and Marcy Polander.  How fun to see them and get caught up on what is going on in their lives.  They are actually getting ready to move to Ferguson, MO!

A little collage of the SCCM Zone conferences this week.....met another Elder that was in the Mexico MTC with Spencer!  That makes a total of 3 missionaries we have met so far in our travels over the past 2 months.  Love the little 'tender mercies'!

Thursday was a 'travel day' for us as we left Columbia and headed south to Charleston, S.C.  We decided to take a little walk through the 'swamp land' in Waltersboro, S.C.  We had passed this place once before and wanted to come back when we had time.  Today was the day.  However, there was really NO swamp because of a drought situation going on right now here in the south!  It was a nice walk though.

Oh yes......and then there is my favorite.....PIGGLY WIGGLY!!!  Love these grocery stores.  We used to shop at these when I was a kid growing up in North Carolina.  So glad there are still a few of them around.

On Wednesday night while in our Hampton Inn hotel in Charleston, we heard about a shooting at a church in downtown Charleston!  A bit close to 'home' for us and praying that our missionaries were all ok!  It turned out to be an African-American church, a historic church at that, right in downtown Charleston.  9 people were shot dead, including the pastor.  This was during a bible study time.  A white teenager came in to attend.  Sat in the study class for about 1 hour and then began to shoot people!  What is this world coming to.  So very sad.  We drove past the church on Thursday.  We found a lot of 'action' going on, the church roped off with yellow police tape, a gazillion people and reporters.

While in downtown Charleston, we drove along the Battery.  So cool and so glad we drove there.

The homes in The Battery are so cool, very quaint and probably very, very expensive.  A great place to visit and stroll along the boardwalk.

We made it to our home in PTC about 7 p.m. on Friday, June 19th.  Steven and Elinn and their family made it there first.  Tina and Kristyn and Garrett got there about an hour before we did.  A FUN dinner time for sure to have everyone there!!

We were excited to have everyone here for a visit and looked forward to a few days of FUN with them....even though we still had work to do and calls to take.

Saturday morning, June 20, we had to slip over to the GAM Home to bid a farewell to President and Sister Harding.  It was hosted by the Senior Missionaries.  We didn't actually eat breakfast with them because we wanted to get back to the family.  But we did get a foto taken with President and Sister Harding.

If you were looking for a pair of shoes, you might have been able to find something that fit from this selection!  Evidence of a good time for sure!

On Saturday, we headed up to the Atlanta Temple for a family day of being able to do Baptisms.  That was so much FUN!!!  We loved being there as a family.  Because of a really bad storm, the Temple workers allowed Kristyn, Matthew and I (Mom) to waiting in the waiting area of the Baptistry and not have to go out in the storm.  That was a little tender mercy for sure!  Kristyn is so excited about turning 12 in August and she is so much looking forward to being able to participate in this great work!  

After we finished at the temple, we headed to Newnan to have a family dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.....The Fried Tomato Buffet!  It is fantastic and we loved it!

Grandpa made a little 'repair' to Garrett's tie while the rest of us were getting ready for church on Sunday.

It was surely fun to have 3 pews of Allgaier's at church today!  June 21st.....FATHER'S DAY!!

I don't think I will be taller than these girls for long!  Of my......

And even though it was FATHER'S DAY, Steven didn't mind wearing one of my aprons and helping out in the kitchen.  He cut the watermelon for us!

Monday, June 22nd, we headed for the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta.  It was a GREAT day and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  Elders Facey and Phillips along with Sister Mason (the GAM nurse) joined us for the fun adventure.

Tuesday we headed over to STONE MOUNTAIN.  The phones were crazy busy for dad that day, so we had to 'work' but everyone else were able to go and explore and have a great time.  Wayne and I were able to join in on a gondola ride to the top of Stone Mountain for a great view of the area.  

We were also able to ride the train around the base of the mountain.  That was a lot of fun.  There was a little 7-minute 'play' about half way around the mountain.  

Tina played a fun little game with the kids on the lawn while we waited for the LASER SHOW to begin.

And it was a FANTASTIC laser show......the World's Largest Laser Show.  It was just amazing and we were so glad we got to be there for it.

On Wednesday morning we attended the last Transfer Meeting for the GAM with President and Sister Harding presiding!  What an emotional meeting.  So glad the kids could be there for it.

When we got home it was time for Tina and Kristyn and Garrett to take off and head back home.  We were sad to see them go but so grateful they were able to come down for a few days.

 On Thursday, June 24th Steven and Elinn and kids came with Dad and I to visit downtown Newnan. It was a FUN day as well.  They had a great 'truck art' exhibit around the courthouse.

We stopped in at the Bean and Leaf shop to have a cone of ice cream.  It reminded us of Beans in the Belfry in Brunswick!  Very cute and quaint.

On Friday, June 26th at o-5:00 a.m.-dark hour, Steven drove Elinn and the kids to the Atlanta airport where they caught their flight to Utah (they were going to visit Elinn's family for a week or so) and Steven headed north driving back to Maryland!!!  L.O.N.G. travel day for sure for all of them.  We tried to recover a bit.  Elders Facey and Phillips came by later in the day to get their journals that they left for everyone to sign.  They were missing everyone already and wanted to go to Maryland to visit them all!!  Here they are reading the 'writings' left by everyone for them!!

This is BELLA!!  She is Rodney's dog.  Rodney lives across the 'hall' from us.  He is such a great neighbor.  He invited Steven and Elinn to sleep in his spare bedroom.....just because he is nice like that.  As a 'thank you' to him, I am making a pink and black afghan for Bella because those of her favorite colors.  Don't know how he knows that, but .......  I think Bella is liking her blanket already.  Should have it finished in a day or so.  

So, family and friends, that concludes our 2-week catchup from this end!  We are now preparing for 3 NEW MISSION PRESIDENTS and their wives to join our Area in about 24 hours!!!  We are standing by waiting to do whatever they want us to do to help train them with medical needs for their missionaries.  I am sure it will be an interesting couple of weeks with that 'prospect' on our agenda.  We feel very blessed in being able to do serve where we are.  We love our mission and we love each of our family for their support of what we are doing!  Could not do this without that love and support!  Have a great week.......

Sunday, June 14, 2015

 And OFF we go on a road trip this week to the South Carolina Columbia Mission!  We had a little problem getting out of town because we spent the first 6 hours at the Honda dealership getting our AC looked at and fixed!  Can NOT live without the AC here in the south.  BUT after the delay we were on our way......and then ran into storms along the way.  Never a dull minute!

But even with the storms, we found beauty in those clouds.  And good to see the Palmetto Palms again!

We LOVE our mission and all of the great missionaries we get to rub shoulders with!!

Everyone of them different, coming from many parts of the world and coming from many different cultures.  But, we love them all!!

Elder/Dr. Allgaier is such a GREAT teacher to the missionaries.  Teaching them great health practices.  If they would just listen and do what they are told, it might save a few extra phone calls!

Thursday night we headed back over to Georgia for the Georgia Atlanta Mission AND the Georgia Atlanta North Mission.  At it turned out, both missions had Zone Conference in the SAME building (next to the temple)!  Worked out great for us to be able to 'divide and conquer'!!

Even with the 2 missions in the same building, it worked out well!

Had a little package waiting for me when we got home......a couple of pins that Alyssa and Emsley picked up for me while they were in Greece.  I have added them to my mission 'hats'!  Thanks Alyssa and Emsley!

Our little cats missed us while we were gone!  We had a little 'treat' for them.....Blackie (R) and Lucy (L).

We are SO excited that we will have our first VISITORS from the family this coming week!!!  Getting a few things in the apartment ready for them......can't wait to see y'all.....Steven and Elinn and family along with Tina and Kristyn and Garrett!!!

Even though we didn't make it to the Atlanta Temple until 3:30 p.m. (they close at about 4:30 p.m.) we were able to participate in a few sealings!  We were grateful for that.  Good to be there.

When we drove to the Atlanta Medical Hospital to see our sister missionary (still in a coma), the traffic was SO bad that we drove downtown Atlanta.  We found this PEACH on top of the apartment building.  We have often seen it from the freeway but never up close!

We LOVE this view of part of the downtown Atlanta.  We drive across a bridge to the hospital every day and this is what we see.  

I was able to get 3 more doilies completed and ready for gift-giving.  Not sure who I will give them to yet but I have no doubt I will find 'someone'!!  Glad I can keep my fingers busy when I have to sit and wait!!

We love our mission!!  Off to another week of South Carolina Columbia Mission again this coming week.  Y'all all be safe!!  Love you....

Sunday, June 7, 2015

To say we have had a very busy week would probably be an understatement.  I will try to recap as briefly as possible:

We have been to the Hospital in Atlanta every single day this past week checking on our critically injured sister missionary from the Atlanta North Mission, Sister Beckstrom.  Her family has been there most days as well.  President and Sister Bennion have had a LOT to endure with this challenge in their mission.  We are trying to be there as much as humanely possible to help them out.  They, obviously, rely on Elder/Dr. Allgaier as the AMA (Area Medical Advisor) to help them understand what is going on.  

Wayne reports daily the progress, or lack thereof, of Sister Beckstrom to Salt Lake City, specifically Elder Schwitzer and President Bennion.  We have come to know this part of Atlanta very, very well.  It has been amazing to us that we are actually 'in town' this week while all of this is going on.  That is about to change for the coming week when we take off for the South Carolina Columbia Mission.  Don't worry.....there will be daily progress reports that Wayne will be getting from the nurses at the hospital.  IF we were needed to come back to Atlanta, we would be back ASAP.

In the middle of all of this I had to take time out to go get another shot in my eye!!!  I know I have to do this to preserve my eyesight so I try not to complain.  It would make life easier if I didn't have to do that, but.....it is what it is!!

 This mural painted on the side of the building is one we pass every single day going back and forth to the hospital.  It is actually much prettier than the foto shows.

After my eye appointment on Tuesday, we headed down to the Georgia Macon Mission to attend a Zone Conference at the request of President and Sister Cottle.  We love them!  They are so good and have turned into great friends of ours.  After Zone Conference they wanted to take us to this carry-out Japanese Restaurant in Tifton, where the Zone Conference was held.  It was REALLY good.  I would definitely go back there again if I could find it.

 Sister Cottle and I had a little 'Project Life' time during the evening once we arrived at the mission home.  They had invited us to stay there and we were so delighted to be able to do that.  She is really into the PL App and physical book.

And come to find out.....we have the exact same binders!!!  How fun was that when we discovered our tastes were so much alike!!

And while we were sitting there talking we even discovered we have almost identical diamond rings as well!!!  What a hoot that was!

The next morning before we left to head back up to Atlanta to the hospital, Elder/Dr. Allgaier and President Cottle needed to visit with a sister missionary.  She and her companion came to the home where they could meet.  What sweethearts they are.  They were fascinated with my apple watch and we decided we wanted to take a little selfie with my watch!  Hence....the foto below.

And my Heavens....in the middle of so much going on it was GRADUATION DAY for Tim-A-Do and Emsley.....opposite sides of the country at the exact same time.  If only I could have been a 'fly in the sky' maybe I could have seen both of them walk down their respective aisles at probably the same time!!  

CONGRATULATIONS to our High School Graduates......I know there were several other grandchildren who graduated this past week from either elementary school or middle school!!  We want to CONGRATULATE each of them as well.  I think I might be getting old but I am not completely sure who did what and when or where.  I think I possibly knew something was going on.  Trying to keep up with 'things' hopping in the mission for us right now and 'goings on at home fronts' has been a challenge for us this week.  Sorry family....but we love all of you!!

Meanwhile, back in the Georgia Atlanta North Mission we were attending a Zone interview meetings with several districts.  President Bennion was doing things a little different this go-round.  Which turned out to be absolutely perfect because the tragic death of one of his missionaries and the critical state of the companion.......they were actually able to spend one-on-one time with each of the missionaries instead of being in a larger group.  Amazing how 'things' work out just exactly the way they are suppose to work out.  Poor Elder/Dr. could only find ONE ROOM to set up the 'Doctor's office' and that was in the ward library.  It worked out well though!

 On Saturday evening, after a daily visit to the Hospital and a quick stop at the Atlanta Temple,  we dropped in on the wedding reception of President and Sister Harding's son, Brit, who returned from his mission back in November 2014.  He got married int he Atlanta Temple on Saturday and we were invited to the reception.  It was a beautiful reception at a country club north of Atlanta.

And to round Saturday out, we got to watch most of the Payson Temple Cultural Event held at the BYU Football Stadium!  Somewhere in the 13,000 youth participating we had Ele, Thomas and Jake as a part of that group!!  So excited they got to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event.

The Payson Temple Dedication was held on Sunday, June 7th.  Kevin and Lauren had tickets and were able to attend.  That is always a great opportunity anything any of us have a chance to attend a temple dedication.

And now......NOW, this week we are headed to the South Carolina Columbia Mission for Zone Conferences.  Wayne will be doing a presentation as well as seeing missionaries for some follow-up things he has been talking with them about.  We love our mission.  We never seem to have a dull moment.  But we are happy and loving it!!  Love everyone....have a great, safe week!