Hi to all! It is Sunday, August 5, 2012 and our 42nd
wedding anniversary! We both find it incredible that this many years
have come and gone. As we look back, it all went by way too fast. We
only had a brief two years before becoming parents and that challenging,
rewarding, amazing experience has been ongoing for the past 40
years!!@#? It has also been fun to think of the many anniversary
weekends we have spent over the years, and how special and unique it is
to celebrate number 42 as a missionary couple! We have spent almost
every waking minute together this past 4 months and it has been FUN! I
have watched “Elder Abbott” handle some pretty dicey situations (ask me
to elaborate sometime)and he has risen to those occasions with wisdom
and strength. The truth is, he is a much better missionary than I – he
is greatly admired in our little Branch. Most of our phone calls are
for him, and he is called on to serve and bless the Branch members on a
regular basis. He is a very good teacher – He has the ability to
explain the gospel very well and has become a more compassionate
person. I am a lucky girl to be his companion, but I do tell others
that I am really the Senior Companion!
So we did what many people in the East do for their anniversary – we
went to the Poconos! The Pocono Mountains (more like hills) are about a
two hour drive and we stayed at a destination wedding hotel called the
Stroudsmoor Inn. Our suite was very nice, and the grounds were
beautiful. We had a delicious dinner at the restaurant there and
relaxed on our balcony overlooking the hemlock forest with the full moon
shining down on us. We hiked to Bushkill Falls (almost renamed
“Abbykill Falls” because of all the stairs I had to climb in 90 degree
humid weather!), and also visited a living history farm way in the back
hills. As we drove around this lovely, wooded countryside, I was
reminded again how much I have loved every part of Pennsylvania.
We were able to teach Lance Litton, our only investigator, last week.
He is coming along. Sister Neff, our best PA buddy and the RS
President, helped us teach and told her conversion story. We are trying
to have a member of the Branch attend each of his lessons, so he can
meet some friendly members and feel comfortable at church. We are
hoping he will come to the baptism of Nate Parker, a very cute 8 year
old, that is getting baptized this coming Friday. We were sad for our
newest convert, Miller Yoder, whose sister passed away from cancer
yesterday. The Yoders have been facing some challenges since being
baptized, but they know that the gospel has given them strength to cope
and they are happy that the church has become a part of their lives at
this time. Barry passed the sacrament for the first time today, and I
was almost as proud as I was when our sons were new deacons!! They have a
firm goal of going to the temple on May 4, 2013. Wish we could be here for that.
We watch lots of the Olympics because they are on later in the evenings
here. It is an inspiration to see these athletes compete. It has been
so much fun over the years to watch the Olympics as a family – I need
someone to get excited about Gymnastics with me, and Papa needs someone
who cares about running and swimming and beach volleyball! In the
absence of our children and grandchildren, we try our best…..
We miss you all and hope you have a wonderful week. Remember we love you. Mom and Dad
No comments:
Post a Comment