5/6 & 13 /2018 More Trees, Campus, Talent, Graduation

 We've seen lots of trees, but this one is the first that has been covered not only in green, but lots of little flowers too.  Really beautiful -- have we said before - we live in an amazing world.

 
Our YSA Institute president lives in Sledd Hall, which was built in 1929.  She graduated this week and we went over to take something to her, first time we had been in this quad area.  There is a feeling of history that comes with these beautiful old buildings.

All that to say, they are also beginning to build quite a few new apartment buildings - amazing what they can do with a huge crane.  As we mentioned before, any new buildings or dorms that are built on campus are built to look like they are old. 

 This young lady from our YSA recently decided to try her hand at some sketching in her spare time, which she has very little of - and has discovered a new talent.  Reminds me of Krishelle and also of Darlene Wilson who would do the pencil sketches when she was working on the election board.  I still have one of her pictures, but it is home.  Anyway, you never know what hidden talent you might have .. dare try anything.  These are a couple of her first pictures.

Another of our YSA, Rachel Harvik, did this piece for the churches 11th  International Art Competition.  The pictures do not do it justice, but wanted to post it anyway.  The theme:

"I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings."  - Psalms 77:11-12

The Garden of Eden is at the top, the bottom is Eve giving the apple to Adam.  The gold plates/Book of Mormon are in the middle, the tree of life is at the bottom.  It is pretty amazing.  We hope you will soon see this in the Ensign as one of the winners.

You can see the Book of Mormon better in this one. The apple is in the diamond like box between.

The artist at work.

 Speaking of artwork - this fancy bread was at the Whole Foods Market opening.  Looks pretty real .. we think that is why they cut it so you could see it was bread.  

Early morning fog on our way to the Institute .. this is not common here

Just in case you hadn't heard ...

Our very good friend Jesse Tolley graduated with his PhD in Physical Therapy.   This is a great Florida Gator graduate picture.

Jesse and Samantha doing the Gator Chomp in front of Albert & Alberta Gator.

Another good friend, Kyle Sol also graduated with his master's degree.  This is the family we visited in Key Largo who took us down to Key West.  Kyle already has a job by Washington DC.  

We thought it wasn't a cardinal - but it is - 

We spent a great day with Ben and Darlene (Ramsey) Wilkinson who live in Bostwick Florida and this time went over by the ocean - Beautiful!!

Ben & Darlene  (Ramsey) Wilkinson

For those of you who know Glen Stratton.  Glen's dad, Ramond, and my dad, Lorum Ellis, are brothers.  The shadow box at the bottom was put together by Glen's grandson showing his service in Korea.  Glen's First Air Cav insignia is the same as Mike's from Viet Nam, above. 

President Packer taught:  "For some reason, we think the Atonement of Christ applies only at the end of mortal life to redemption from the Fall, from spiritual death. 

It is much more than that.  It is an ever-present power to call upon in everyday life.  When we are racked or harrowed up or tormented by guilt or burdened with grief, He can heal us. 

While we do not fully understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, we can experience the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding." 

Touch of the Master's Hand - Ensign, May 2001

We are so, so very grateful to be able to serve and are grateful for all of your prayers for the missionaries wherever they are.

            

4/29/2018 Institute Recognition, UF Veterinary College, Fire Hydrants & our Beautiful Flag

The next two pictures are mainly so we have them in our blog for our memories.  We had our Institute recognition last week - these five received completion certificates.  The couple at the left have twins that just turned one yesterday which they bring to institute each week - they have plenty of young ladies who are happy to help.  

This group received certificates of completion.  It is interesting that six months ago we looked up the Gainesville Institute blog and saw many of these same faces, but then they were just faces in a picture.  Now they have become part of our lives and each face brings memories.

After unwittingly crashing the "important people in Gainesville" tour of the facility, we went to the open house of the UF Veterinary College which has been in existence since 1978.  The small animal hospital has the only emergency room in Florida that is certified as a Level 1 Veterinary Emergency and critical care facility.  Last year the Small and Large Animal Hospitals treated a total of 72,843 cases including field visits. Their facility is amazing. They have everything you would find in a state-of-the art hospital.

An iguana - look how long the tail is down her leg.

 On the left is the facility's prize pig, below is the Equestrian Team.  The lady in the middle is my age .. I'm sure I could ride once I got on the horse, just not sure if I could step up in the stirrup and pull myself into the saddle.  But note that her horse is the shortest.

Showing off the talents of a K-9 police dog.

We were hoping for a giraffe or two, but had to settle for this goat. 

We ran into this woman and her young daughters.  She lives in our apartment complex and we often see her when we are walking or in the fitness center here at the apartment.  She is an accomplished cello player, finishing up classes here at UF.  Her husband has been here, but is back in Korea because he finished his schooling last semester.  He will come back and get the family in August. 

They reorganized our YSA Branch Relief Society with Callie Shank as the President and Julia Vasquez and I as the counselors.  It will be a fun assignment.

Mike is the second counselor in the Branch Presidency - below is a Sunday and a Saturday picture.  Brother Brown (l) looks like Jim Owens.

The annual LDS paint-the-fire-hydrant service project was in Williston last week.  That is a small town of about 3000.  The crew included our YSA branch and the ward there.  We broke into teams of two or three and they gave us their list of fire hydrant addresses - some were easy, but some were listed like small town addresses are - "by peanut store" for an example.  Between all I think we got most.  We met back in Gainesville - one of the young women lives in her Grandma's home and it has a pool, so we had "Sonny's Bar-B-Que" and the kids swam.

We started out planning to take good pictures, but our hands got smudged up pretty fast and we didn't dare pick up the phones.

We didn't bring paint clothes so went shopping (Mike's favorite thing to do) at Good Will for clothes and Walmart for the least expensive shoes we could find.  So for under $30 we had some shoes we would not want to have to hike in and surprisingly nice Lee jeans and a cap for Mike, some black scrubs and a bright orange Nike UF tennis warmup for me.  In fact, we liked that enough that I took it off and painted in my white t-shirt .. now a bit red spotted.  It was fun.

These are a couple of Florida T-shirts

We now have a resident Carolina anole outside the window the yellow bird was.  We thought it was a lizard.  They have "adhesive" like pads on their feet so they can climb even smooth surfaces.

I took the sister missionaries over to the Santa Fe campus last week - their flag is HUGE and so beautiful flying in the wind.  We are grateful for this country - and for all of you.

This thought from a talk Elder Bednar gave at the MTC - the promise is for all of us:

"You be a good boy, you be a good girl, you honor your covenants, you keep the commandments, and I promise you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that as you press forward with faith in Christ, your footsteps will be guided."