8/26/2018 Pure Joy, Paynes Prairie, Elder Christofferson

 Pure Joy - Taylor McKenna in Alaska and Stephen & Ehrin having fun in the basement.

We went to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park last Saturday - about 20 minutes from our home.  The whole park covers 21,000 acres.  It is hard to even describe it is so beautiful.

When you climb up into the observation tower, you can see for many miles - that combined with Florida's clouds is breathtaking.  (almost as beautiful as the Nevada desert 😊)

   

 An observation deck with a rocking bench ..

These are the kinds of vines Tarzan swings from.

 

 We stopped at the observation deck that is just off the highway coming back.  This is all marsh land, apparently full of critters that we aren't really excited about running into anyway.  Fortunately the walk is a boardwalk that is safely above it all.

This is a huge marsh/lake covered with water lilies.   
        Our weekly schedule is a little different this semester because we have added a lecture series on Thursday evenings.  So Mike teaches T-TH 12:50 to 1:40 - Teachings of President Nelson and Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30 is Old Testament.  The lecture series is on Thursday evenings at 7:00, but he has that all set up so now it is just a matter of being there.  We serve a light dinner at 6:30 for both of the evening classes and then treats after the Thursday class.  Mike is still serving in the Branch Presidency, I was released from the Relief Society when they changed presidencies - we were pretty much a temporary summer presidency.   Home seems a long ways away at times, but we wouldn't be anywhere else for now - it has been an amazing experience to be here.  Our Father has been good to us. 

Closing with this thought from Elder Christofferson:    The word of God, as Alma said, is like a seed planted in our hearts that produces faith as it begins to grow within us (see Alma 32:27-43 and Romans 10:13-17).  Faith will not come from the study of ancient texts as purely academic pursuit.  It will not come from archaeological digs and discoveries.  It iwll not come from scientific experiments.  It will not even come from witnessing miracles.  These things may serve to confirm faith, or at times to challenge it, but they do not create faith.  Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God.  And faith matures as we continue to feast upon the word.
   We are reminded of the scripture that is the MIA theme this year -- D&C 19:23 - Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."       Our love to ya'all  !!