Sunday, 17 March, 2013

Where did this last week go---- seems like it began and was over in a flash. President and Sister Robinson, temple president and matron, went with President Leavitt (mission president) and some senior couples to the Newfoundland District Conference. We went last year and had such a wonderful time. Bad news, an incoming storm has prevented the ferry crossing that they all need to cross back to Nova Scotia, so they are all stranded for another day at least. I know that the members will take good care of them.

We had a wonderful week at the temple. Craig got some of the temple work completed that he needed for some of his family, and we got to be there, it was very humbling to bring others the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the needed gospel ordinances.
Saturday night the Dartmouth Ward, and the Cole Harbor wards gathered for a "talent show". Watching Brother Fielden play his plunger violin was awesome, Shauna Edwards Simonson, you have never played a violin like that!! I read a couple of my poems.
Today, Sunday, Craig and Bro. Wilhelm sang their duet of "How Great Thou Art" in our sacrament meeting. All were visibly moved by the beautiful job they did. We hope to get it recorded and posted on line. Craig played the organ today, and I was the chorister. Craig also led the Darthmouth Ward Choir today in their sacrament meeting. So we attended 2 sacrament meetings and one sunday school! It was a busy day.
Then we got invited to dinner at Vince Vincent and Dianne McMahon's they had the elders over and needed some other Melchizedek Priesthood there. So we had tacos for dinner and had a great time. So it's been a busy week-- the best kind!
Take care family and friends- Hope you had a great St. Patrick's day, and that you are always close to God through prayer, reading you scriptures and choosing to stand up for whatever is "beautiful, lovely, praiseworthy and of good report"

Wednesday, March 13th- my letter to President Leavitt this week-

It's looking like a great week. Will miss the trip to Newfoundland this week, but please know that all who go will certainly be in our thoughts and prayers.  We hope to see more members from Newfoundland in the temple as they can come. The temple continues to be such a wonderful place to be 4 days a week. We learn from the patrons, the workers, the Temple Presidency and Matrons. We pray always that our inactive children will return and be with us in the temple some day. Just to let you know, I do my scripture study each night- Since mid-December I have started the Book of Mormon, read the Doctrine and Covenants and am back on the Book of Mormon. I have also re-read October's conference talks in preparation for this upcoming conference.  At the present time I am searching for scriptures referring to "heart" and have a notebook where I log each scripture and how it refers to "heart"--it is teaching me so very much.
I have been using empty water bottles and milk jugs with water in them as weights which I work on every day. I'm now running/jogging (post-stroke speed-slowish) the hallways of the apartment each evening. I'm up to 14 laps and flights of stairs. We pray always for opportunities to share the Gospel and we keep working on opening our mouths to talk to people.  We have been going through some mix-up with what we have been paying for rent and changes that were made to that without being informed. Craig has been speaking to Elder Weibe, and to people at the Missionary Dept.  We feel bad that extra money was being withdrawn from our home Ward without our knowledge since September.
This Gospel is true, Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer- I gladly stand as a witness of that each and every day of my life.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Day is starting out great. I have 2 crock pots cooking some pork rib roasts with sauerkraut for dinner at our Family Home Evening group. The apartment smells glorious.
We have some errands to run and scheduling for the temple to do still. I have gotten a start on my scheduling though, half-way done! 
Last night we had dinner at Therese Kirchner's with the Elders and Bro. Frank. The pork tostados were so so good. We all had a great evening and the Elders committed us to continue to pray, look, speak and invite people to learn about our Savior Jesus Christ.
Church was wonderful on Sunday, we got to attend our Cole Harbor Ward and then we also attended the Dartmouth Ward as Craig was directing their ward choir again. Sister Karen Morrison their director is returning this week from their  winter sojourn to Florida, etc. It will be great to have them back as temple workers also, we have dearly missed them. 

Winter is still in Atlantic- hope that spring comes soon.

It's still winter in Atlantic Canada- I don't remember their being much if any snow when we came up here a year ago, but as I look back at those pictures there was some snow- just not near as much.

Sis. Smith in the shadow of my camera, showing off one of their 4 horses.

Sister Phyllis Smith, wife of Dr. David Smith- wonderful lady,  and a lovely home that is filled such a wonderful spirit.

closer up shot of the horse

The wonderful  David Smith, DDS- Thanks so very much for all you have done for us.

This is showing the office ladies at Dr. Smith's office in Caribou, Maine.

a picture showing that winter still has a hold on Maine also.

L to R: Elder Hunt, and Elder Clark in Houlton, Maine- we ate lunch with them.

Elder Hunt with us! He served in the Dartmouth area for several months and we got "attached" to him. He's a wonderful missionary.

Where we ate lunch with the Elders.

That's not just snow, that's a frozen inlet from the ocean.

Lovely frosted fir trees in New Brunswick, on the way back to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

More frosted trees!

I have been trying to get a shot of this Nova Scotia landmark when we cross the border for a year. It is found as you cross from New Brunswick into Nova Scotia. I finally got in in the camera shot, but you can hardly see it. There are close-up shots that are posted from last year. Feels good to be back in Nova Scotia.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

It's hard to believe that it's almost been a year since we arrive here in Atlantic Canada. We have so fallen in love with the place and the people, and of course with the temple here. Our testimonies have grown as we have served with and for the wonderful people here.

On March 4th Craig and I headed for quick trip to Maine. It was great to be back in the states if just for a few days. It was also great to return back here in Nova Scotia.

The agenda called to mail some packages for ourselves and for Elder and Sister Dela Cruz back to our homes, which was accomplished.  The other item of business required some dental work for Craig and myself.  Thanks to Dr. David Smith in Caribou, Maine and his wonderful staff that also was accomplished.  Craig got a needed tooth repaired, and I got a much-needed cleaning, and two teeth repaired.
On Monday we drove to Saint Stephens, NB and spent the night with Elder and Sister Tibbits. It was so great to see them again. We are excited that they are being transferred to Prince Edward Island- and know that they will love that sweet island and its awesome people, just as they have fallen in love with the people in Saint Stephens and the surrounding areas on both sides of the border.

Tuesday, March 5th we crossed the border into Maine and drove to Caribou. In the afternoon Dr. Smith worked on our teeth. They invited us to spend the night with them and they fed us a wonderful dinner. It was a Boston-cut pork shoulder that was so very tender and delicious.

Wednesday, we missed the Wednesday crew at the temple, as we drove back home. Thanks so much for Sister Vince Vincent who served in the office of the temple for us.  We arrived back at our apartment around 7 pm- it was a long but wonderful day. So grateful for the tender mercies that Heavenly Father showers us with. The weather co-operated which made the trip much easier and since the temperature was warming up just a tad we didn't have problems with our car starting at all.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were glad to be back in the Halifax Temple with the great workers and patrons.

So thankful that President and Sister Robinson are over their illnesses and that Elder Dela Cruz is now beginning to improve from his herniated disc in his back. God does hear and answer prayers, this I know for sure.

Have been doing some genealogy work on my Native American Indians lately- have made small baby steps of progress. So grateful for all who help as I find them.

I'll add pictures next in a separate post.

Monday, March 4th, 2013

A road trip, a road trip, we're going on a road trip. Leaving in a little bit. Thanks Vince Vincent for covering for me at the temple.
The Latter-day Saints are such wonderful people. Thanks to the dentist who is seeing us on short notice, and even putting us up for the night. Life is good and we are so very blessed. I hope and pray that all of my facebook friends feel God's love in your life.

Ooh, a road trip means new pictures maybe. . . . Time will tell! Will miss you all at the temple, FHE group and friends. See you in 2-3 days.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

It's been a busy week. My thoughts are with those around me who are sick and suffering from back injuries etc.  You are in our thoughts and prayers. Have been doing alot of genealogy lately working on my mother's father's line. Where would we be today with our ancestors? I'm so grateful for the sacrifices they made during their lives that enabled me to be born where I was.
We are probably heading for a quick trip to Maine this week to see a dentist. Need to pack up some things to send home while we are stateside. Always alot to do. God does hear our prayers, we need to always remember to ask for His will to be done, no matted what the situation is.
Got to teach the Young Women's class today, while the ward was in a special combined meeting. Wonderful girls, amazingly quiet, but you can feel of their wonderful spirits! To be asked to teach them about our Savior's Atoning Sacrifice was very humbling.
I so liked my husband's comment to them: Christ atoned for our sins- we are talking about a verb, something that happened many, many years ago. While the Atonement is a noun, it goes on each and every day as we live in this mortal life, and are in need of repentance and forgiveness"  So grateful to be learning each and every day from the experiences that I am blessed with by my Heavenly Father.
Looking forward to Good Friday on March 29th. We will have a long day at the temple and look forward to the patrons that will come then- hope to see you there!!!