Beginning our 8th Month.

Today is February 8th, and marks the beginning of the 8th month of our missionary service.

It's hard to be so far away when the family is celebrating important dates like Bailey, Brody, and Kaden's birthdays in February! We love you all!

After the hot weekend, the temperatures moderated enough to realize that we really needed to get the hot water fixed.....Saturday and Sunday were so miserable that we used cold water only showers to cool down. The Landlord finally showed up Tuesday night at 7:40 to address the problem and it didn't take long to fix thankfully.

Monday was typical in the office. Missionaries were in and out on their prep day and I forgot that I had promised to give Elder Lunt a haircut. He has curly red locks and he seemed pleased with the final result.

That night was our monthly senior family home evening next door at the White's. I took a homemade pizza and a veggie plate for the potluck dinner and Sister Salazar prepared the lesson on symbolism in the scriptures, particularly in the Old Testament (her favorite). She skillfully led us through several passages to illustrate her point after sharing notes on the subject from an Education Week Presentation. It was very informative and opened my view, scripturally speaking. Sister Salazar taught seminary for 11 years in Houston, Texas and her knowledge of and love for the scriptures is evident!

Fierce wind gusts woke us in the night Monday and early Tuesday morning. We skipped our walk because of flying tree limbs and debris. The power went out at 7:00 am and didn't come back on until 5:30 am Wednesday morning. No power meant no phones or computers at the office so Sister Carter called it a snow day. Lee washed the van, checked mail etc but I never did go over to the office at all Tuesday, not without my hair dryer and flat iron, No way!

I started to mend an Elder's slacks, but quickly realized no power meant no sewing machine either. I used my iPad to read until it was dead, and warmed the pizza on the gas stove top for dinner. The temperatures started rising again so that by Tues evening, the house was hot and we had no swamp cooler and no ceiling fans. It was a looooooooooong day.

Wednesday things were quickly back to normal. We surely take for granted modern conveniences but I repented after being without them Tuesday! I especially missed the ceiling fans and ability to charge electronic devices. We don't have a tv or radio but the computer and iPad keeps us informed and in touch. We are very thankful to be so blessed in the modern age.

Wednesday night, Sister Salazar and I went to an upcoming ward conference choir practice for an hour. The hymn is familiar but we need more participants to pull it off. We are recruiting in our meetings tomorrow.

Lee is still working with bike vendors negotiating cost, warranty, etc. He deals daily with broken gears, loose handle bars, bent or flat tires, slipping chains, seats, pedals, lights, kick stands, helmets, and the list goes on. Bikes are a major cost in dollars and effort to keep missionaries going where they need to go.

Cars are no different, except the problems are headlights, lost keys, flat tires, oil changes, engine issues etc. One set of sisters was stopped at a traffic light this week, and they were the 3rd or 4th car in the chain of cars hit from behind. Then the driver that started it all took off and left the scene, but our missionaries got the car plate number, color and make/model. The girls called Lee in a dither, and he suggested they call the police. Gratefully the missionaries weren't injured but the car needs repairs.

My dad called Thursday during our lunch break to say they had 5 inches of snow at the Oregon coast with pictures to prove it! Accumulated snow at the beach is unusual but beautiful. When we checked weather in our favorite places this week Portland and Molalla had snow as well. Trade ya!

Lee took the Carter's to the airport early Friday morning for district (stake) conference in Darwin this weekend. It never fails, by 4:00 pm we had 2 medical phone calls in the office. Usually Sister Carter handles medical issues, but since she is out of town, it falls to us. Each situation is evaluated individually, and we have a mission doctor in Sydney to guide us. One issue was easily handled, the other required an hour drive each way to Murray Bridge after a call to Sydney.  Lee and I left the office at 4:40 pm and got back home at 8:10. All's well but it was a bit of unexpected adventure away from the office. We really enjoy our interaction with the missionaries!

We woke up at 7am today and didn't rush out the door to walk until 7:40. It was already 76 degrees on the way to 102. We set a record pace today which was very gratifying (we are using a Nike running app on Lees iPhone that measures pace and distance). Of the past 41 days we have missed 10 days walking. This includes Sundays and we don't go when Lee is up and out early to the airport. We were lazy a couple of days also but have seen RESULTS on the scales with our improved eating and exercise regime. We are pleased and encouraged to continue.

After our walk this morning, and face timing our whole family, Lee went grocery shopping while I cleaned and did laundry. After drying sheets and towels on the outside clothes line, Lee remade the bed and folded laundry while I finished making enchiladas for Sunday dinner tomorrow with the Klemzig Elders. There is a fireside Sunday evening after the regular church meeting block in the morning.

Since Valentines Day is rapidly approaching, this is a good time to express our love and devotion to our wonderful children, fabulous grandchildren, sisters, parents, and friends.
We love you all so please consider this your VALENTINE for this year.

To demonstrate our love and commitment to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we happily serve as missionaries in the Australia Adelaide Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, even though it is difficult at times. We can do hard things, and as always thank you for your love and support!