Far West, Liberty, Independence

This morning we met in the front lobby and boarded the bus,

we are going on a little church tour.

This is the gorgeous country side, flat, but still American beautiful.

This is the new Kansas City Missouri Temple, currently

being built, virtually out in the middle of nowhere.

This is a new stake center being built next door to the temple.

And this, is the temple presidents brand new home, oh

to have a brand new home to live in.

(still wouldn't make it any easier living away from home)

This temple reminds me of the Brigham City Temple being built 

back in Utah, according to the pictures I've seen on line.

Enjoy the following photos. . . .

I liked this one

This is a painted water tower, advertising the amusement

park across the street.

The Missouri River

This is the temple site, purchased for the building of the

Independence Missouri Temple

The spire of the reorganized church's temple,

there's no comparison if you ask me.

Meet our group of missionary friends and family.

the corner stone for the Independence Temple

"our" visitors center

our dear bus driver, 

they're not usually members, and 

I always wonder what they think or feel when they

hear the tour guide talk about the history of our church.

another river

The burial place of Oliver Cowdery, unless his remains washed down

the road in a flood many years ago. (rumors)

a gnarly tree

We've been here before, but the sites and spirit is amazing

every time.

This was amazing the first time we visited, years ago,

the Historic Liberty Jail is enclosed in a building.

what a terrible ordeal these men went through,

I can't even imagine

we owe so much to our first modern day prophet, Joseph

Kansas City, Missouri

We had our first day of meetings, today.  We broke off

in the afternoon, the President's in one room and the wives in

another.  This is a group of amazing women, some just

starting out, second years like me and those in their final year.

We met together and shared stories, ideas and testimonies.

To be real honest, I still don't know what I'm doing here.

There are still a great many days that I just feel like I'm having

an out of body experience.  Outside my body looking in.

Mission President's Fall Seminar

Sooooo, we are getting out of the country, a chance to get

away, change of scene, not subject, but scene.

But guess what day they are flying us. . . 

That's right, 9/11, couldn't be the day before, or the day after,

nooooo, had to be on the 10 year anniversary of one of the

worst flying days in history.

Needless to say, I was scared to death.

Couldn't pass up the signs, the date was everywhere.

This was a fun little store in the airport in Minneapolis,

cute moose!

The flights were actually very nice, uneventful,

just the way I like them.

Our pilot on the last leg of the flight came on the intercom 

and paid tribute to the fallen and thanked us for not

showing fear by continuing to fly.

Remember. . . .

I remember. . . . .

I'm too young to remember where I was and what I

was doing when President Kennedy was killed, but I

will never forget where I was and what I was doing

when the twin towers came down.

Every day of the week, I get the kids off to school

and then go to the gym downtown, to exercise.  

This Tuesday morning was no different.  I grabbed my yoga

mat and was off to yoga class.

I heard the news of the attacks on the radio, while driving to the gym.

I was stunned,  shocked.  It was very surreal.

I got to class, and yoga went on as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Well, half way through class, I just couldn't take it any more.  I couldn't

stop thinking of what was taking place on the other side of the country and I couldn't

stop the tears, so I packed up my mat, left the gym and headed home.

The entire country was a buzz, the entire world for that matter.

Every television channel was covering it, and all eyes were watching.

I personally couldn't pull myself away, I just sat there, crying and watching

in horror.  It was the worst thing I had ever experienced,

and it was very devastating to our young children.  None of us

knew exactly what to do or how to feel.

Songbird, extraordinaire!

We received a call today around noon and Courtney had

some good news to share with us.

She tried out for Chamber Choir, with Mr. Woods recommendation,

and she made it.

We are so proud of her and so excited.  I said it before,

and I'll say it again, "when the Lord closes a door,

somewhere he opens a window"  

Thank you, for the tender mercies.

This will be such a wonderful opportunity for Courtney,

she will have so much fun and have such great experiences.

Can't wait!

September Zone Conference

We just completed zone conferences, it took us all month, but

we did it.  Yeah!

This zone conference during my interview with the missionaires,

I gave them a trivia quiz about Canadian facts.  I figure, their living

in the country, they should know somethings about it.

So they took the quiz, I graded it and then gave them a taste of Canada.

Above left, ketchup chips, above right, Nanaimo Bars.

l to r-maple leaf cookies, banana marshmallows, neapolitan marshmallows 

Mind over matter, during fish bowl, 

planking!

Edmonton North Zone, they put all the appointments 

on the board and inspirational messages.

Some of the questions:

What is Alberta's provincial flower?

When did Alberta become a province?

When was the loonie and toonie introduced?

Approximately how many lakes are there in Canada?

Orangina, a wonderful drink we've discovered, only in Canada!

And of course my homemade peanut blossoms.

Cleaning out the pantry, I bring it, they take it, randomness. 

"look ma, no hands"

companion ties

the brightest green tie I've ever seen

These were worn as companion ties in a 

zone where everyone else wore purple,

you might say they were being contrary.