Sunday, December 6, 2015

With our not being on the road this week, we got to do some things (besides answering the phone and staying glued to the computer!!) that we don't normally get to do.  The Elders who take care of our apartment when we are gone invited us to go on P-Day with them to the Delta Training place at the Atlanta Airport.  Brother Wilkin, a Bishopric member in our Whitewater Ward, is a pilot and flight instructor.  He was going to show us the ropes!! By the way....Dad WAS cramped in the back seat of the truck.  

  Here Brother Wilkin is giving us some basic instruction.  Very interesting stuff.  I think I will be just fine being a passenger, however!

It was time for us to have a whirl in the simulator!  That was so cool....and very realistic.  Brother Wilkin told us the hour that we spent in this simulator was about $15,000 worth of time!!  YIKES!!  The Elders were at the controls and YES, we were flying UNDER the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.  Way cool.....we made it the SECOND time without crashing.

 Dad and I were just fine with sitting in the co-pilot seats behind the Elders!!  TOO MANY BUTTONS for us to remember and figure out what to do with.  However, when it was about time for us to leave (because REAL pilots were coming in to 'train'!) we decided to at least sit in the Pilot and Co-Pilot seats just for a foto-op.  Little did we know that Brother Wilkin was going to have me land the plane on an approach.  I did pretty well and landed ok but then ran off the runway into the grass.  That pedal was touch to mash on!!

SO...this is what a P-Day feels like being a young missionary.  I can see why they like them!  We don't have a P-Day.....except when we take a few minutes here and there to stop and look at something.  L to R:  Elder Parkin, Elder Norland, Mom, Dad, Brother Wilkin.

Later that evening the Sister Missionaries asked to come over so they could do a little project with me....counted cross stitch Atlanta Temple picture (small round one).  L to R:  Sister Hunter, Sister Barrett, Mom and Dad.

Because we were home all week, the Elders were loving having us nearby.  They have their 'spot' on the floor and they got a hold of my phone.....so that meant a SELFIE!!

And 'Lucy' was even glad we were home this week.  She loves sleeping on our bed.

Then there were 4 young missionaries and Dad (and me taking the foto).....we were out taking a walk and the Elders happened to pull up at their apartment building (which is next to ours).  We had to stop and chat with them.

Saturday we drove up to the Atlanta Temple.  The KING and QUEEN were shining in all their glory this morning.....bright clear skies!!

And a little different view of the Atlanta Temple before we go inside.

Well...the Elders were goofing off (why do they do dumb things sometimes!!) and Elder Chamberlain got caught and hurt in the cross-fire of the nerf dart gun!!!  He got hit in the eye.  After finding out from both Steven (thanks for the consult Steven!!) and advice from a local Ophthalmologist, it was determined he needed to stay 'low' and home for the next 4 days!!!  The Elders all felt terrible about this.  SO, Elder Chamberlain has been spending some time at our apartment when we have been home.....our walls are a different view than his 4 walls.  AND he loves cats.  So, he and Lucy have hit it off very well.

Sunday night we were invited to dinner at the Allen's home (Aaron and Nancy).  We love the Allen's. We first met them when we were in Kingsport, Tennessee.  They moved here to PTC a few months ago.  We have become instant friends!!!  AND the Sister Missionaries were invited to dinner as well along with some non-member neighbors of the Allen's.  GREAT evening.

Will, one of the Allen's sons, made us this beautiful snowflake!!!  We LOVE it.....it reminds us of the snowflake that was made and given to us by a Finn when we were in Finland on our first mission.

And we found the PERFECT having spot for the snowflake.

Tonight the Elders came to our apartment to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on our TV.  Since Elder Chamberlain still can't go out we let them come here.

After the broadcast, Elder/Dr. Allgaier checked Elder Chamberlain's eye again to see how it was doing.....with a little help from the other 3 elders!

With that being the end of the Sabbath, that ends our week.  It was kind of nice to be home this week.  We have enjoyed it.  However, we hit the road again tomorrow.....headed to the South Carolina Columbia Mission.  Y'all have a great week and be safe.....watch for reindeer!!  Love y'all.....