4/22/2018 Our Wonderful World, Missionary Dinner, Crossfit and St. Augustine Beach

More proof that the fall here also comes in the spring.  The live oak drops its leaves when the new ones start coming on in the spring.

 Two stages of this budding plant in our last blog - four  this time - nature is more than amazing.  The other interesting thing is that all four of these are in the same area, just at different stages.  This is just as you go out the gate to leave our apartment complex.

 Mike finally got a picture of the bird that keeps coming to the window in our office.  We have quite a few pictures of just the window, but finally got the bird - a yellow-breasted chat.

Where but Florida would you have plants on the restaurant roof - 

 Often on the side streets you will see these old southern mansions.  Always a curiosity as to the history and lives of those who lived there one day and what happened to them. 

The Friday before the transfer call, we feed the missionaries we work with at the YSA:  two sets of elders, one set of sisters, the Zone Leader and his companion and the Sister Training Leader and her companion.  It is crowded but fun and the group changes every six weeks.  The only near disaster was right after we got here and I did the chicken and rice our family likes - easy recipe and always turns out.  What I didn't know and didn't figure out until a few weeks later is that the dial for the temperature on our oven is a little different and I was cooking at about 335 instead of 350.  Needless to say, the rice wasn't done - cooking it a little longer finally worked, but still wasn't as good as usual.   Elder Jheng, on the left, has been our District leader for two transfers (12 weeks.)   He returns to Taiwan after this next transfer.  He knew very little English before he came on his mission and does very well but struggles sometimes when he is trying to write it on the board.  The other missionaries really like him.  He is fun and hard-working elder.   

They reorganized the YSA Relief Society yesterday - I will be serving with Callie Shank (in the middle) and Julia Vasquez.  Mike is the second counselor in the YSA Branch, they changed the first counselor yesterday, will put a picture in next week.

 Next is for all of our Cross-fit family and friends.  We have an investigator competed in the annual Cross-fit Swamp Challenge last Saturday.  It is held in the UF Stadium (the Swamp) and was very well organized and fun to watch.  They had over 100 teams of two competing.

Those of you who do cross-fit will recognize the events.  They first run from the field up the steps to the top of the stadium, then across an area that slopes down and up, then out another opening and finally back  down another set of stadium stairs.  The kettle bell follows, then they do a pull kind of something with the rings.  This cycle is repeated three times.  Apparently this is the most difficult round.   Jeff is in the red shirt.  They have a couple hours rest, then do other exercises, another couple hours and the last set.  We watched the first two.

 This is a better picture of the institute building.  We are on the top floor, parking underneath.

 Another picture of he UF Auditorium from the back.  This is one of the very old buildings, but even when they build new ones, they do old style architecture.  

We attended a concert Saturday evening presented by the Gainesville Civic Chorus Master Chorale including a full orchestra .  The group is international and multi-cultural and we both enjoyed it very much. The title was A Prelude to Glory and was written by an LDS man who graduated from UF some years ago and studied under Will Kessling (below) who is known throughout the world.   It brought thoughts and gratefulness for those who gave their lives in the early years of this wonderful country of ours. 

 

 When we went to St. Augustine last week on our P-day, we had to go over a draw bridge - pretty interesting to see it come up and have the ship go through, then they put it back down.  You can barely see the mast of the ship that went through.    

 

There are four couples that meet once a month for FHE:  Us, the Schroeders (another Senior missionary couple) the Haddocks (the counselor in the mission presidency) and the Lewis' who are the stake missionaries for the addiction program.  The Haddocks rent a condo on the St. Augustine beach for their vacation and invited us all down for the day.  The restaurant we went to had fresh salmon - although Mike still opted for the hamburger.

Sorry Carol, no sea glass - but we picked up sea shells and watched the sand pipers.

 

Reading the other day in Helaman 6:37 - And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.

It is interesting to note that the band of robbers was "utterly" destroyed, because they were taught and their hearts were changed.  This is like President Packer's quote - "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior.  The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.  That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel."

We love and miss ya'all, but we always enjoy being together and are very grateful to be able to serve.  Our testimonies have been strengthened.

4/15/2018 Aaron Michael's Birthday, Art Festival, Donor Cats

Happy Birthday to our path blazing firstborn - Aaron Michael - born on a Sunday morning 45 years ago.  He is unconditionally devoted to the family he was born into and the family that is his, the protector of each and all, and an example of one who loves his Father in Heaven and his neighbor as himself.  He has been ministering all his life.

(Sharing a bonding moment with his namesake, Craig and Krishelle's baby, Ehrin Michelle.)   

From Nevada - our much loved Aunt Claudia's annual Easter egg hunt.  

We got in right at the end of the Sante Fe College Art Festival - it was a rainy afternoon, which in Florida means within an hour it can drizzle, pour, mist and the sun will shine.  They tell us that Floridians really don't bother with umbrellas because they know the weather will change soon.  However, most stores have racks as you walk in the door that have plastic umbrella bags so they aren't draining all over the floor.

       This is held downtown where Gainesville began and the homes are old and southern.  They have individual zip tents for those who are selling food or have art or merchandise to sell.  

 This Methodist church opens its doors for this festival - building is from the late 1800's.  The stained glass windows are on both sides of the building and are beautiful.  It is interesting that so many of these old building are products of hours of loving and tedious work back when they were built.  The band was playing You Lift Me Up when we came in - pretty impressive.

 

They always have a lot of vendors with jewelry, but also this time there were quite a few artists.  Most pretty good, but these by Gerard Erley have a reverent feel.  This first one looks like someone trudging faithfully through life, following the path that leads to the light.  We were tempted until we saw the price tag.  He was kind enough to let us take pictures. 

This is all done in embroidery from another vendor.  It was so delicate and beautiful.  She said she used silk thread and then even split it in half.  We do love our beautiful world with all the variety and color and everything else that makes it "please the eye and gladden the heart."  I had a roommate once who said she knew our Father loved us because he didn't make the world black and white.

Spring is coming to Florida - and with the climate thee plants grow fast.  We don't know what it is but it is fun to watch the growth and the change.

This is a loquat - guess you can eat them but we waited too long and the low ones are all gone.

          One of our YSA is planning on being a veterinarian.  UF has a prestigious program.  So, we went to the open house for both the large and small animal hospitals.   We didn't realize we were a week early nor that we were late, but when we came in they good care of us and quickly got us with a tour group, the last one for the day apparently.  It was a few minutes in that we realized that the real open house with all the demonstrations and events is next week.  This was the general tour for community leaders, etc. and we just got the tail end.  We were dressed up with missionary tags.  Guess they thought we belonged.

       But the interesting fact gleaned from all this - they actually have donor cats that live at the small animal hospital for 2-3 years and give blood every two or three weeks for cat blood transfusions.  After those two years, someone adopts them.  Their animal hospitals are equipped just like a people hospital, surgery rooms, everything.  A huge tortoise had a tree fall on it during one of the storms and break its shell.  They brought it in - did an MRI on this huge machine to make sure there were no more injuries and then fine-wired the shell back together.

Sometimes we have those "homesick for family" pangs, but we know we are where we need to be and are so grateful to be here together, so we tuck those feelings back and move ahead.  We're eternally grateful we have a family that we love and can miss.  Some don't have that.  We have met some of those wonderful people our Father has all over the world.  Our love for our Savior, for this amazing gospel, for each other and for our family has grown in this Florida climate. 

"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?  Go forward and not backward.  Courage and on, on to the victory.  Let your hears rejoice and be exceedingly glad." D&C 128:32