Snow Days!

In the last two weeks we have been sent home early from the temple twice & the temple was closed one day two weeks ago & today because of snow storms. We are feeling more at home with the weather. It is so refreshing & not so stifling. It is a different kind of snow. When it comes it dumps & I saw the biggest snow flakes I have ever seen. They were as big as cotton balls. It was really pretty & very cozy to be inside looking out. I don't think the people who live here love it as much as we do but we don't have to be in the traffic, etc. as much as they do. There are some snowfall records being set & a lot more winter left but we are loving it.

We have been traveling a lot the last couple of months. We figured out that in the last 7 weeks we have been in 7 different wards in 7 different states. How fun!!! We went to New Hampshire; Rhode Island; Rochester, New York, with Amy & Brad for Christmas; Charlottesville, Virginia, with Dad; Connecticut; Ellsworth, Maine, & Massachusetts.

We spoke in Maine & Pres. Wood said he would like us to speak in small Branches around the Temple District since the Presidency can't go to all of the Wards & Branches. We are excited for this opportunity to meet new members throughout the area. It makes it more special when we see them at the Temple. Of course they have to remind us of their names & where they are from but they are patient with us.

We are going to have a new missionary couple next week so we are excited to meet them.

We love our mission because we love what we are doing & we send our love to everyone.

Memories

In these two pictures, same house, but the second one is more modern, this brings back memories. I lived in this house in the basement the last five months of my mission. Its interesting how you have a different perspective of the area and the home, from a 20 year old and a 58 year old. The Church still owns this as the Mission home, what a surprise. Things are so much smaller today. I remember serving in Schenectady, New York, and we tracked out an 83 year old sister, and baptized her. I always wondered if she stayed active or not. We visited the ward, and a good sister told me that she remained active through the rest of her life. That is a special blessing for me to receive that news. I served in the Cumorah Mission from Jan. 1972 to Jan. 1974.
. This past two weeks the temple has been closed. We went to Charlottesville, Virginia, to see my mom and dad, and brother and sisters families. As my mom is in the nursing home, I think I grew closer to her this time than ever before. I felt that she loved me and I was able to let her know how much I loved her. Even though she can't recognize me by sight, I felt her heart, and I know she felt mine. What a blessing that the Gospel brings knowledge to our minds through our hearts. It was special to be with dad and have that relationship that only a father and son can have. This week we have been working in the Temple. I recaulked all the pillars in the Celestial Room and all the needed areas. We changed the scriptures in the Chapel and in the Baptismal font area. We also had to take care of some administration. This next week I'm going to be trained as assistant recorder, and learn a little bit more of the workings of the temple.
This Sunday we are going to Ellsworth, Maine, to visit a Branch and speak and share our testimonies of the Temple and the Gospel. We look forward to meeting new people. It's been a real blessing to be in the mission field. I thought that we would serve these good people in the Boston Temple District, but they have been serving and blessing our lives. Need I say more? I love this work!!!!