Oct. 25, 2015

Oct. 25, 2015

Sunday (Oct. 18th) on our way to church in Batavia (1 hr. drive) we drove into snow.  Here is the first snow of the winter:

(I Look like a jolly fat snowman!)

Good use of old tires, right!

Another week in paradise!  We began the week by having our weekly meeting and we are always inspired by the leadership of President Francis.  He is a great leader and makes us want to be better missionaries.  We had a lunch for Sister Paskett and Elder Workman’s birthdays.  We had tacos and I made lemon meringue pies for dessert. 

The colors here are beautiful.  The trees are red, yellow, orange and every shade in between.  It is hard to describe the beauty of this place.  The grass is still green and the winter wheat is growing very well and then you have a background of so many fall colors of the trees.  This picture really doesn’t even do it justice.

This is the Hill Cumorah, still doesn't do it justice!

We drove by a Chevrolet dealer in Macedon that had a few Corvette's on their lot.  Dennis counted 39.

On Thursday afternoon we went over to Seneca Lake camp and had our semi-annual Senior Couple retreat.  It is good to be together with the other couples and we were taught by many of them, including our President.  We ate, laughed, rode the golf carts, and had great conference type meetings.  

Elder Dieu looking at the millstone (don't want that thing around my neck)

Sister Dieu and Sister Kennedy--beautiful fall colors!

I couldn't talk them into doing the Mama Mia jump into the water

We heard from the missionaries preparing to return home and also from those who are working so hard out in the field to make a difference in the lives of those they contact.  We love all of these good people!  Everyone has fun stories from their lives that add to everyone’s testimonies.  It’s also interesting how many of them are serving with their 2^nd companion.  (another marriage)  It makes me so glad that we have been able to serve a mission together.  Our mission has been a blessing to our marriage.  I haven’t been able to spend this much time with my husband and it is good to be together.  He has such a willingness to help and do things for others.  He loves to serve!  I love my companion!

We stayed overnight at the camp and had another full day on Friday.  While we were in one of our breakout sessions Steve Aldrich called and talked to Elder Merrill.  They are ready to come to New York.  Now we just need to see if our President can make that happen and how quickly they can come.  We are hoping they will be during our stay also.  They may not like New York in the winter too much, but it doesn’t last forever, right?  We are lucky to be able to be here for 2 winters.  We are used to the winters in Idaho and it isn’t too much different here.

Now a subject that was brought up quite a bit at the conference.  Mental illness—there seems to be LOTS of it here.  Why??  Is there a lot of it at home and I am just so naïve that I don’t recognize or realize it?  I asked another Sister why she thought there was so much.  We discussed the poverty level here and the welfare attitude.  We also wondered about more drug abuse than we are used to.  Everyone!  Please keep your minds healthy!  Don’t give away your sanity for the use of drugs, alcohol or other substances!  I want to be able to think clearly to make good decisions and choices.  I want to follow the Savior and be like Him.  If we are willing to dull our senses, we are risking the consequences of the choices that follow.  Please stay safe, there is safety in living the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

Happy birthday to Greg, Annette, Brent, and Chuck (and anyone I missed)  I am so proud of you!  

Isn't this the best idea EVER!  Leave it to Wegman's to figure this out.  I always want to scream when I had to take little kids by all things tempting!