What a week!

At the entrance of the Biltmore, we went there on the 24th and 25th of July. It was a beautiful home owned by George Vanderbilt, originally built in the 1895 and is considered to be America's largest home. It has 252 rooms. I can't imagine what it would take to keep it up. It is amazing that we have a castle right here in the South.

The gardens were spectacular. Everything was in bloom and we wandered through the conservatory and the grounds. There was also a farm, winery and riding stables on the grounds. It took us over 4 hours to just go through the home and not the gardens. It took about 3 hours to drive there from Elberton. But it was beautiful. The day was terrific, only in the mid 80's which was cool for Ashville NC. The drive there was through trees, trees and forests lots of them. What a beautiful area this is. In the evening we attended a concert which was held out on the lawn of the estate, it was Abba, the tribute band. The highlight was that they had the original bass guitar player and the saxaphone player perform with them. The group was from Europe, and they sounded just like them. It was fun clapping and singing with the music. It was a great weekend.

Today being Sunday is the hardest day for me. I taught the Gospel Doctrine lesson it is Paul's turn next week and then we came home. We have lunch and then we use the computer, read or play cards. It is a long day. Oh well it is all good. When I went to RS today there was no President, lesson or teacher so we met with the Priesthood. Very small attendance today. It makes me sad. The missionaries work so hard as does all of the members.

Abba, the group fun, fun, fun. And good music.

The Biltmore the picture does it a huge injustice.

We are imaging books now and it is so confusing, I hope by the end of the week we get it together. We have 48 to do and we are hoping we will get them all done by the end of August, which will be here before we know it. Life is good! and as long as we keep busy the time flys by quickly.
We met the Carrigans and the Hamiltons in Athens on the Saturday before and toured the botanical gardens there at the University. After we went to a very interesting Mexican place, It actually was a little scarrey, but it had 5 stars out of 65 restaurants for places to eat in Athens. It was great, the cuban sandwiches and the burritos were to die for! We may go back. I actually need a picture the tables, were wood and falling apart, it was outside that you ate, but it was great, we like to call it a experience!! Well all goes well with us, another week begins and more blessings to come. The Lord watches over us daily and we love serving.

July 5th

Wow, here it is the Sunday the 5th of July. We are on the downhill swing of the mission. Yesterday was the 4th and I think it is the first time I have not been to Cherry Days for the day. We had a very quiet day here. We were off on the 3rd and I did laundry, went for a swim at the Judges home and sewed. Paul played a round of golf and about baked himself. It was in the HIGH 90+ so I passed on the golf. But he said he enjoyed however he came home TIRED!. That evening they had fireworks at the lake but we were both too tired to go. So we stayed home and watched a movie from Red Box.

On the actual 4th we drove to a small town called Washington which is 29 miles south of Elberton. We toured the museum and the Robert Toombs home. They were old plantation syle homes. He was a General in the Civil War and was very strong for the South. As a matter of fact he never did come back into the union after the war. I guess you could say he was a Rebel until he died. It is so interesting how the some of the people still think the South should have won the war.

We came back home and had a cute family from Sandy Springs drive up here to visit. We went to the park and had a picnic with them and visited until about 8:00.

This family is here from Ghuana. He has been for about a year and she came up in October with the two children. They are a great family. He works for ING in Atlanta. They have both been members of the church for most of their lives. They are a great family and we reallly admire them for all the sacrifices that they make to be here. We hope one day they can come visit us in Utah. Edwin is 3 and Emma is 5. We were so happy when they came up. We had lunch at the park in Elberton, the kids were able to run around and play for awhile. It was a great afternoon.

They then drove back home.

The neighbor next door lit fireworks and we watched out the window. All in all a quiet evening. Today we went to church, we have a calling now we are teaching the Gospel Doctrine class. So Paul taught today and I wrote on the board. However, I was asked to teach Relief Society the next two weeks so I guess Paul will be the teacher. He does a great job.

Our lives go on as usual, we have finished the Estates now and are working on misc. type documents, jury elections, etc and all different types of court records. There are about 42 boxes but they are small and going quite fast, so we may have them done by mid july. Then we will start with the VERY LARGE LARGE Books. And they will take up the rest of our time. We have planned to go to the Biltmore House in Ashville NC over the 24th weekend. We are going to a Abba concert outdoors and spending the night. The Biltmore house belonged to the Vanderbilts, very large and supposed to be very beautiful, we are looking forward to that. So until then we will keep busy with our work and church callings.

I have been reading a interesting book and I just wanted to quote a paragraph in it. Paul and I have been talking about getting old lately, he wakes up in the morning and says "who is that bald fat man in the mirror, I know it is not me!" And we laugh. This paragraph summed up how we will probably feel in a few years. It just hit me so I wanted to save it.

This old 92 year old man is sitting in a nursing home, he is pretty sharp still but he is feeling bad and he looks at his hands and says" I reach for the napkin, and as I do I catch sight of my hands. They are knobby and crooked, thin-skinned, and -like my ruined face--covered with liver spots.... My face. I push the porridge aside and open my vanity mirror. I should know better by now, but somehow I still expect to see myself. Instead, I find an Applachian apple doll, withered and spotty, with dewlaps and bags and long floppy ears. A few strands of white hair spring absurdly from its spotted skull. I try to brush the hairs flat with my hand and freeze at the sight of my old hand on my old head. I lean close and open my eyes very wide, trying to see beyond the sagging flesh. It's no good. Even when I look straight into the milky blue eyes, I can't find myself anymore. When did I stop being me?" For some reason that verse just hit me, and I remember my mother saying how her hands were not hers anymore. Not sure why I am thinking of these type of things, but DANG I guess we are getting a little older. But just the same life is very good to us. I am so blessed each day, with my life, the beautiful world and I just am so thankful for all that I have.

Today it is rainy and cloudy, after church we have a pretty quiet day ahead of us. Michelle called yesterday and said that they were having a good time at Bear Lake with the family. Sherman and Daina called and told us they had been camping with friends and were going to a cook out last night. Everyone is always keeping busy. I have said it before and I will say it again. LIFE IS GOOD!!!

This is a picture that a friend took at our Luau we went to on Friday night the 19th. It was held at Bishop Carlsons home in Sandy Springs. We went back for the night and worked in the temple on Saturday. The Luau was great. It was held at his home all 10+acres of it. There is a huge meadow that we parked and we had the Luau up closer to the house. He had a huge pit where he could fit 3 pigs. There were about 300-400 people there so it gives you an idea of how big it is. We spent the night in the apartments and went to work in the temple on Saturday from 9:00 to 3:00. It was great. I love it. And it did not take me long to remember the ordanances. We will be going for the last time next Saturday. It will be closed after that beginning on the 27th. Our friend Don Hartley go some awesome pictures of it. They will be posted at a later date. I am still trying to figure out how to organize all of the pictures into albums etc within the computer. Maybe I will get it sooner or later.
The month of June is flying past. The past week has been HHHOOOOTTT. It was 100 yesterday. It feels pretty hot. But more humidity than anything I have been exposed to in my life in Utah. I'm not sure which is worse the 100 or the humidity. But we will survive. Had a new experience last Wednesday, we went to a revival at the Methodist church. The judge Susan, her husband is a Methodist preacher. She invited us to go. They actually had invited an Evangelist preacher to come, they sang songs and he preached a sermon. Complete with the Amens and the singing by the congregation. It was an experience. After we went to Susan's home and visited with them. It made me realize how much I love the church that I belong to. I am thankful we have a Prophet who guides the church in these times and we don't have to rely on a group of peopel changing things at their whim. Sheri Dew has a saying that I really like, it is "Jesus Christ is not our last chance, He is our only chance. He will show us the way because He is the way". That is pretty profound to me. How hard can that be.?? Following Christ!!
Today is Fathers day. We had to speak in church so hopefully that will be the only time we will need to do that. But who knows. There were only 3 of us and the teacher in Relief Society today. It was still a good lesson. Just some of the people have a little different attitude than I have been around. But it is life so it is good! Sunday's are usually quiet at our house. Dad is still and avid golf watcher today it is the open. It is nuts, I think I'm beginning to like to watch it also. Maybe not for 3 hours but for a few. Well a new week, another week to work at our task, we are getting the Estates all done, so that was the most important. We will be working misc. files for the last part of our mission. It should keep us busy until the last. Well best I close for now. If anyone out there has any thoughts let us hear. Love Life and All

Ashlyn's Birthday Party!!

Okay....a little late, but wanted to share anyways! It was Ashlyn's birthday in May - I can't beleive she's already 6 years old. We had a fun Luau party for her in our backyard and she invited her neighbor and school friends. We had fun decorating and playing luau games - complete with a pinanta!

What party is complete without the limbo...

...and fun luau decorations...

Katelyn and Brock getting the cool luau music ready....

Kevin getting into the spirit of things...

Paul and Paulette sent Ashlyn her very own artist easel....which has been a big hit with our kids and neighborhood - here are some fun photos of her with her new present...and of course Ahslyn being silly as always!

Oour friend took this picture during the morning on Monday. It is a beautiful shot of the temple in Atlanta. Well we are moved. I am looking out the window of our new apartment. We have lots of trees and lots of squirrels. I didn't realize there were so many squirrels in the world. (just kidding) They are everywhere, I hope they do not rebel we would be in trouble.
The weather has finally finally turned to hot. It is 95 today, but it is just hot I have not noticed the humidity. May I am climitazing to this area who knows. We are doing great. We went to an Atlanta Brave baseball game on Saturday. never been to a game before so it was good. We sat the 3rd row from the top, but right behind home plate, so it was a great spot, it was even in the shade. There were about 12 of us all together. It was good.
We are keeping busy working each day from 8:30 to 4:30 so when we get home it is time for dinner and we crash. We get to speak in church on Sunday. Our little branch with about 30 people. Interesting!!!!!!!
If we get bored in the evening sometimes we take a drive to Athens GA it is much larger and will have dinner or just hit a movie or something. It is good It is only about 32 miles away and takes about 45 Minutes. So we just keep busy. Life is good.

May 22,
We are home today packing. It has been a little overcast but still warm. We are getting ready to move this week. Our new ADDRESS IS 254 HIGHLAND AVE, ELBERTON GA 30635. We will be within 2 blocks of our work so plan on doing more walking and less sitting. I am sad and happy at the same time. We will miss everyone here at the apartments but know they will all be gone by the 1st of July and we still have plans to come back off and on. The drive was okay but it will not be missed by me anyway. So we will be up for a new adventure. Love this work.!
And today Ashlyn is going to be 6 WOW! Happy Birthday Ashes!!!!!

Tomatoes in Soda Springs

Jason got done building a green house. Abi loves watching the plants grow and even helped dad to plant them. We are hoping to be one of the few with tomatoes by the 4th of July.