December 2018 Catch-up: Razzle Dazzle, Walking Man, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Christmas Carol

This has nothing to do with the mission, but is interesting.  My older brother, Lorum, used to tell me I was a walking encyclopedia of unrelated facts -- here is one.   This is called dazzle camouflage.  The US called it razzle dazzle or dazzle painting.  It was used mostly during World War I, some in World War II, but less after that.  Each pattern was unique so the classes of ships could not easily be recognized by the enemy...

 

Can you see "walking man" in the middle center of the mountains.  There are other names, but this is the one we know.  It is on the way to St. George and only visible when there is snow.

Where but in Gainesville Florida - home of the Gators - would you find orange and blue (UF Colors) on the handles of the Walmart carts.

 For Christmas Eve, Brent and Dana Wainwright invited us down to the place they are fixing up that is "way down upon the Suwanee River"  and right off the Gulf of Mexico.  Note that it isn't the Swannee - but the Su-wannee.

 On the way down we passed quite a few areas that have planted pine trees for harvest.  The church lost a lot of these in the Florida Panhandle area when the hurricane hit.  The trees snap off or twist so the lumber isn't any good.  You see them in various heights along the road.

 We always like to see the post offices - this is for the town of Suwannee ..

 Brent and his sons have added this high roof and porch that goes the width of the home.  Parking is underneath, their home is on top. They have a fire pit and a sitting area and a workshop area.  It was a nice day with no rain.

Deep frying the turkey

The homes in this area have the boat docks sometimes right off their homes.  When they are not being used or when a storm is expected, the boats are winched up.

 The homes are on top.

 

After dinner, Brent took us on their little fishing boat and we went up the inlet that comes by their home, then out to the Suwannee

We do enjoy Brent and Dana, true southern hospitality

 
 Cormorant birds fill the trees like lights on a Christmas tree

 Brent and Jace fished along the way

and pulled up a crab trap.  The crabs are in the bottom left corner - people here love them.

  And then we were out where we could see the Gulf of Mexico.  We didn't go out on it because it was a little rough that day, but it is a thrill just to know you are seeing it.

 

Christmas morning we and the Schroeders - another Senior Couple - fixed breakfast for the missionaries in our zone.  

After they played Christmas song charades - pretty clever.

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

 Jingle Bell Rock - and here you have to work to find a rock.  They finally used a piece of a sidewalk that had been ripped out.  The Elder on the left is Elder Brimhall from Taylor, AZ.

 Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer -- a part that was easy for me to play.

 Someone can always think of a game - Elder Hiatt taught this one - you put a dollop of the spray whipped cream on your wrist, then you bring that arm up fast and stop it sharply with the other hand - the whipped cream flies into the air and the trick is to catch it in your mouth ... it was fun and funny.  Some did well, some missed .. Sister Schroeder did it and it flew over head and behind her. We do enjoy these young (and not so young) missionaries.

We went to see Christmas Carol in the Hippodrome Theater.  It has been there for Christmas for 38 years and there was a family there who had been every year.  In the early days the building was the post office.  It is beautiful and well preserved with very ornate trim.

 
The Haddocks, Ed (the counselor in the Mission Presidency) is standing by Mike, Marsha behind him.  The Schroeders are at the back - the other Senior Couple that serves here.  They do record preservation at the University,  They digitize the books so they are available on line.  Sister Schroeder said that sometimes Don gets caught up in the reading of the book - does that sound like something Elder Waite might do.

  The elevator was the original - still working.

Really like this from Elder Bednar when he talks about the work of the Eternal Father and of our work.  Never thought of it this way before:

“One of the most well-known and frequently cited passages of scripture is found in Moses 1:39. This verse clearly and concisely describes the work of the Eternal Father: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (emphasis added).

A companion scripture found in the Doctrine and Covenants describes with equal clarity and conciseness our primary work as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father. Interestingly, this verse does not seem to be as well known and is not quoted with great frequency. “Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength” (D&C 11:20; emphasis added)

Thus, the Father’s work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. Our work is to keep His commandments with all of our might, mind, and strength—and we thereby become chosen and, through the Holy Ghost, receive and recognize the tender mercies of the Lord in our daily lives.”   We are grateful for each and all of you and hope you had a Merry Christmas and that the New Year will bring lots of blessings.

11/26/2018 Thanksgiving with Michael

Because Michael (our oldest son, Aaron's son) only had two days for Thanksgiving, and because we have no students during Thanksgiving break, we were given permission to go to Fort Eustis to spend Thanksgiving with him.

After Mike taught his Tuesday day class, we drove to Manning,  South Carolina.  It was dark when we got there, but the next morning when we stepped out, there was a beautiful cotton field that had  been harvested with only two bales left, wrapped in pink.  We saw many cotton fields, large and small as we traveled through the Carolinas ..the round bales are wrapped in a pink plastic type material, the rectangular bales in more of a cloth whitish material. 

 This motel was advertised as a recently remodeled "hidden treasure,"  and it was great!

Even a fun reading couch

 Wednesday we drove the rest of the way to Newport News, Virginia, where Fort Eustis is located and picked up Michael at the base Thursday morning.  He had an overnight pass so we were able to take him with us. Before you can go on base, you have to stop at a check point and open every car door, the trunk and the hood and they go through it.  Registration, insurance and driver's licenses are required.  We had been forewarned, so all suitcases, etc. were at the hotel.  

Michael has to have a "battle buddy" anytime he checked out or in, and his grandad was more than happy to fill that role.

 Their company name is the Alpha Gators, which was fun because of our University of Florida Gators.  The company slogan is incorporated into a heavy throw rug and is where you walk in.  The unwritten rule is that you don't step on it.  The soldiers step over the corners automatically so it is hardly noticeable.  Aaron reminded me of the rule several times .. and that should tell my rug story --

 
A Thanksgiving movie was next on the list -- the new Grinch movie, which was fun, maybe more for kids, and not a repeat go-to like the first Grinch.

 We asked Michael where he wanted to go for Thanksgiving dinner -- his first choice - Blaze Pizza but when we got there it was closed.  Cracker Barrel and Golden Corral were open, but they were crazy crowded.  We ended up at IHOP which is another favorite of Michaels so it was good.

 Our server was retired army who chatted with us and complimented Michael for serving.

Next to Belk to get Michael a pair of jeans which we found at a good sale price in less than 30 minutes.  The store was full of sales, but Mike and Michael couldn't have been less interested.  So our next adventure was the famous annual Newport News two-mile light show.  The photos are live, but the movement doesn't pick up on the blog.  Here are a few to give you an idea of the work that is put into those two miles. Some were on water, some in the air, Very impressive.

 

 

 

Friday morning we went back to the base because Michael had formation at 9:00 a.m.  Going through the gate was much easier because all he had to do was show his ID. 

Formation-a new experience for me, and very enjoyable to watch - also stirs those patriotic feelings.  Mike knew what it was because he has been there, done that.

Friday we visited the Historic Triangle - Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg.

Yorktown, where Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington, has a beautiful monument that is 84 feet tall plus the 14 feet added by the Liberty Statue.  There is a lot of detailed sculpting on it.  Then we drove the two miles to "Surrender Valley" along the path the southern soldiers marched to turn in their weapons. Two miles is a long march for a defeated soldier. Many didn't just lay down their weapons but threw them on the pile hoping to damage them so the Union couldn't use them. 

 After a short drive through  Jamestown (the first permanent English settlement in the Americas).  Then we finally made it to Blaze pizza. 

We finished the day in Williamsburg, founded in 1632,  the capital of the colony of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, and the political center of Virginia leading up to the Revolution.
         William & Mary College, established in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the US.  Three of our first ten presidents graduated from there: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler.  Interesting side note - this year, 2018, they hired their first woman president.  She is the twenty-eighth president.
 
The Capitol building:  Our guide told us this was the 5th Capitol building, the first two and this one on the same spot.  All five, except this one have been destroyed by fire.  This was reconstructed after the manner of the first one, but no fireplaces. So not in this building but on this same spot Patrick Henry gave his - Give me liberty or give me death - speech.  He was the first governor, Thomas Jefferson the third.  There is certainly a spirit of patriotism there.  We are grateful for all the sacrifices made at that time to make this a free county.

The one 300 year old furniture piece that survived the fires is the speakers chair.

The Governor's Palace was our last stop - we are using a stock picture because it was too dusky to get a good picture.  Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson lived in it.  It is very ornate and used a contained kind of wood stove for heating - probably because of the fate of all the state houses.  The entry way is filled with dueling swords, swords, knives and guns, which was very interesting - especially to Michael

We visited the jail which has been restored to its former state, the walls are thick and the bars and lock are made of thick heavy metal.  In the reconstruction they also added a a mock-up of the "facilities."  Kind of interesting to say the least. 

 
 Always nice to know that no matter where we go, someone is trying to save our souls.

On the way back the visitors center we walked under some of the old brick bridges and past the windmill which was used for grinding corn.  

Our last glimpse as Michael walked back to the barracks - it was more than wonderful and a very tender mercy for us to be able to spend time with him and together visit the the historical places. 

Just for interest - you can't go there because they are on a private farm now. Amazing just to know about them - 20 foot busts of 43 presidents, sculpted by Houston artist David Adickes, who said his inspiration came  after driving past Mount Rushmore.  They were once located in what they called President's Park in Williamsburg.

When a company bought the park in 2010 and they had to be moved.  Howard Hankins who had helped design the park didn't want them destroyed, so he had them taken to his private farm.  They weigh about 22,000 lbs apiece so it was quite an undertaking.  There is a funding campaign going on for a place to relocate them so everyone can enjoy them. We hope to visit them another time..

 
 Not a surprise that some were damaged in the moving.

We are grateful for so many things - our 2011 Highlander for one - that took the 1638 mile trip without a complaint, for places to stay and food to eat and family and friends who we love to send pictures and texts to, for the ward in Sumpter South Carolina where we stopped for church - pretty much the same wherever you go.  We also met a sister missionary from St. George who knew Evan and Darlene Wilson, and was related to Justin Teerlink's wife Kylie.

Every city has a tall water tank personalized to that city .. 

 

And there are occasional confederate flags that are cool to see.  That is a part of history and we wish some wouldn't be so anxious to be rid of it.

This scripture strengthens you,  touches your heart and brings to mind the great love our Father in Heaven has for us, as he is rightfully called "the faithful God who keepeth covenant."  We know that he will do as he promised, if we keep our side of the covenant.

The Lord has a special respect for the covenants he has made to the fathers. Moses told the children of Israel as they were about to enter Canaan:

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people …“But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, that the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.  “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”  (Deut.7:7-0-9)