Happy Halloween!
We really couldn't ask for a more beautiful fall! I'm still trying to take pictures from a moving car but they aren't turning out too good. I just can't get over how beautiful everything is. Even the leaves on the ground are pretty and when the breeze is blowing is just all so, so, fall! Ken played golf again yesterday. And tomorrow (Halloween) is supposed to be 67 degrees--in spite of rain. When I hear about 11 degree temps in Utah I wonder why I was worried about Vermont😁.
We have stayed really busy this past week. We had another baptism on Saturday (and I forgot to take pictures) and I took chicken tortilla soup and pumpkin muffins.
The branch is starting to get organized. We now have a second counselor (Zak Worthington) and we have an Elders Quorum president (Ian Blackwelder). We also have a new RS presidency. (Sandra, Mary, Annie and Kyrsten) Both Sandra and Annie will be going back to Utah in January to school. Oh the joys of YSA. The branch president has asked me to sit in as an "advisor" to the RS presidency. Mostly to be the stability factor as these young singles are so mobile. Ken will be doing the same for the Elders Quorum. It will make Sundays a bit longer as they meet after the block. Also, they are talking about having a linger -longer with food on every Sunday and not just fast Sunday. Part of the reason for that is the distance that so many of them have to travel to be with us. That is going to keep me busy. On Sunday we had about 28 YSA's there. There is such a sweet spirit in the branch. Two fairly new members gave short talks/testimonies about their conversion. It really is amazing to see. I can visibly see the change in these young ladies. It's remarkable. Desmond was so beautiful on Sunday and I can't describe what was different about her.
Yesterday I spent the day at the hospital with a sister in the branch who struggles with anxiety and depression. She really is a remarkable person. She has autism and because of her parents vigilance she is really high functioning, even graduating from college. But she is also OCD--which leads to a lot of anxiety. She moved out here to Vermont to help her grandmother take care of her grandfather who is bedridden after a stroke. She has never lived away from her family. So this has been a very big move for her and I guess she crashed on Monday evening. Anyway, it was a sweet and special time to spend with her. She is home now and doing better.
We had a fun experience last week. We got a knock at the door and our neighbor was there just about in tears. Her name is Jillian and she is 26. She has a roommate who has a mild disability that she picks up from the bus every day but Jillian had locked herself out of her house somehow without her car keys. She had also stabbed herself in the hand and needed to go to Instacare. Anyway, it was a fun way to meet the neighbor. I drove her to pick up her roommate, who had a key to her apartment. The next day Jillian came to the house and asked if she could make us dinner. So on Friday she made dinner and brought it to our house along with her boyfriend and we had dinner. They are so delightful! We talked a bit about Joseph Smith and explained to them about the memorial. We invited them to go with us at Christmastime to see the lights there and take a tour. I loved that the reason she picked my door was because she has known the last two sets of missionaries that have lived here and she knew that we were friendly and willing to help--approachable! I guess some of our neighbors aren't?
We have tried to meet all of the neighbors, but some of them just won't answer their doors--ever. There are two families here that have two children each. One family has Lucas and Mason, and the other family has Elaina and McKenzie. They are about 4-6 years old. And everytime we come out of the apartment to go somewhere they are like flies to honey. So we've made really good friends with the "little" neighbors.
I spent the day today making caramel apples so we could make another effort at meeting the neighbors. We have now met #1, #2, #3, #4 #6 #8. We can't get any response from #5 and #7. We also made up some little halloween treat bags for the kids that we took to them tonight because we won't be around tomorrow due to institute.
Oh and last Friday we took Halloween gifts to the Elders and Sisters at our district meeting. Our District Leader has completed his mission and is on his way home tomorrow. Transfers were today and we are getting a brand new sister and a new District Leader. I'm glad that most the district will remain unchanged.
I still am spending a lot of time trying to complete a master list of potential YSA's in this stake. So far I've done 5 areas and have 4 more to go. But those are the 4 largest so I'm probably not half way done yet.
From Ken...When I called Jay at the scrap yard today he said it was 11 degrees! You can see from my photo above that it hasn't got quite that cold here (63 degrees). These are two of my golf buddies, John Poratti and Robyn Burnette. We try to play every Tuesday (or Wednesday) and because they are both members at the club we play at it doesn't cost me anything! John has promised to read the Book of Mormon on his winter retreat to Florida this winter. They are both wonderful friends! So far we love Vermont but we haven't seen winter yet!
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| This seriously is the colors. It was slightly cloudy but the sun peaked under the clouds from the west illuminating the fall colors in that warm sunlight. It was magnificent. (blurry but magnificent) |
The branch is starting to get organized. We now have a second counselor (Zak Worthington) and we have an Elders Quorum president (Ian Blackwelder). We also have a new RS presidency. (Sandra, Mary, Annie and Kyrsten) Both Sandra and Annie will be going back to Utah in January to school. Oh the joys of YSA. The branch president has asked me to sit in as an "advisor" to the RS presidency. Mostly to be the stability factor as these young singles are so mobile. Ken will be doing the same for the Elders Quorum. It will make Sundays a bit longer as they meet after the block. Also, they are talking about having a linger -longer with food on every Sunday and not just fast Sunday. Part of the reason for that is the distance that so many of them have to travel to be with us. That is going to keep me busy. On Sunday we had about 28 YSA's there. There is such a sweet spirit in the branch. Two fairly new members gave short talks/testimonies about their conversion. It really is amazing to see. I can visibly see the change in these young ladies. It's remarkable. Desmond was so beautiful on Sunday and I can't describe what was different about her.
Yesterday I spent the day at the hospital with a sister in the branch who struggles with anxiety and depression. She really is a remarkable person. She has autism and because of her parents vigilance she is really high functioning, even graduating from college. But she is also OCD--which leads to a lot of anxiety. She moved out here to Vermont to help her grandmother take care of her grandfather who is bedridden after a stroke. She has never lived away from her family. So this has been a very big move for her and I guess she crashed on Monday evening. Anyway, it was a sweet and special time to spend with her. She is home now and doing better.
We had a fun experience last week. We got a knock at the door and our neighbor was there just about in tears. Her name is Jillian and she is 26. She has a roommate who has a mild disability that she picks up from the bus every day but Jillian had locked herself out of her house somehow without her car keys. She had also stabbed herself in the hand and needed to go to Instacare. Anyway, it was a fun way to meet the neighbor. I drove her to pick up her roommate, who had a key to her apartment. The next day Jillian came to the house and asked if she could make us dinner. So on Friday she made dinner and brought it to our house along with her boyfriend and we had dinner. They are so delightful! We talked a bit about Joseph Smith and explained to them about the memorial. We invited them to go with us at Christmastime to see the lights there and take a tour. I loved that the reason she picked my door was because she has known the last two sets of missionaries that have lived here and she knew that we were friendly and willing to help--approachable! I guess some of our neighbors aren't?
We have tried to meet all of the neighbors, but some of them just won't answer their doors--ever. There are two families here that have two children each. One family has Lucas and Mason, and the other family has Elaina and McKenzie. They are about 4-6 years old. And everytime we come out of the apartment to go somewhere they are like flies to honey. So we've made really good friends with the "little" neighbors.
I spent the day today making caramel apples so we could make another effort at meeting the neighbors. We have now met #1, #2, #3, #4 #6 #8. We can't get any response from #5 and #7. We also made up some little halloween treat bags for the kids that we took to them tonight because we won't be around tomorrow due to institute.
I still am spending a lot of time trying to complete a master list of potential YSA's in this stake. So far I've done 5 areas and have 4 more to go. But those are the 4 largest so I'm probably not half way done yet.
I just love these updates!! I don't always comment, but I sure love reading them. I love that you guys are staying busy and are still able to do the things you love to do!
ReplyDeleteLooks like things are going great!!! The fall leaves are unbelievable. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy niece finally made it out to the mission field.... she is in Lowell, MA. Hopefully you will run into each other soon. Watch for Sister Spencer;)