the first and best week of our mission

On the 2nd day of our 3 day drive to New York, we got off the interstate at the tiny town of West, Mississipi where we discovered the graves of Elder Ellis' (Grandpa's) great great grandparents Edwin Ellis and Katherine Cook.  They were plantation owners in this beautiful area of the state.

Edwin Ellis was a civil War veteran and is buried in a small cemetery behind a church that was used as a hospital during the Civil War.

On Thursday evening, we arrived at the mission home in Rochester New York, had dinner with our awesome  mission president, Pres. Jack Christianson, and his wife and slept very peacefully in the bed that President Eyring had slept on the week before (the bedroom we stayed in is called the General Authority suite).

On Friday night, after settling into a temporary apartment at the Joseph Smith Farm site (our permanent apartment in Brockport won't be ready til the end of Feb.), we attended the Palmyra temple, which is walking distance from us.

Saturday, our P-Day (preparation day), we toured some of the historic church sites in Palmyra. Here we are at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center.

Today, we drove through snow and icy roads to attend our ward in Brockport. It's an hour away, but once we are re-located, it'll be just 5 minutes away.  We met some wonderful people, and are at the same time missing all the familiar faces in our Texas ward.

Tonight we had a wonderful dinner with a group of other senior missionaries  in an old home in Mendon that was built by Brigham Young and his father in Mendon.  Next Sat., Elder Ellis and Elder McVea (in photo) are going to put this sign in the ground near the mill stream where Brigham Young was baptized.  Bob and Eileen, who are in this picture are neighbors who have lived in Mendon most of their lives. Eileen grew up in the home built by Brigham Young (where this photo was taken).

Eileen and her husband Bob, who have lived all their lives in Mendon, along with Elder McVea (holding the sign). Eileen and Bob are the sweetest couple! not yet members of the church.


The most amazing and wonderful part of our first week of the mission, was Emily's phone call on Saturday morning, announcing that a heart had been found for baby Dahlia.  What a miracle! By that evening a new heart was beating strongly in her body. How grateful we are to our Heavenly Father, the best medical team, and a wonderful donor family who chose to give the gift of life in the time of their deepest grief.  Our thoughts and prayers go to them as they mourn the loss of their angel baby and hope they will find great peace and comfort in what they have so unselfishly given.

off we go!

The car is packed for our journey to New York.  We're leaving in a few minutes-- but not before I do a very quick post on our wonderful week of training at the MTC (missionary training center).

Before entering the MTC, we spent a very fun weekend with newlyweds Jeremy and Nicole (and Philip) in their cute Wymount apartment.

Our first few minutes at the MTC, we do the typical missionary pose, in front of the map of the world, just like our children did when they were in the MTC.

There were 38 senior missionary couples in our group. How blessed we were to have these wonderful couples in our "district". We have formed lasting friendships, and felt very close to all the couples. The cute young lady on the far right is our awesome morning teacher.

Senior missionaries get a few more perks than the younger missionaries -- such as attending the BYU Wednesday night basketball game with this sweet couple from our district (they will be serving in Calgary, Canada).

The first thing we did when we got back to Houston, after our week in the MTC, was to visit with and to say good-bye for 23 months to our sweet grandbaby Dahlia.  We experienced Heaven in the MTC, and felt that same sweet spirit in her hospital room. How we love her, as well as our other grandchildren (and children), and will sorely miss them, but know they will recieve great blessings while we are serving the Lord.

end of a year and hello 2012

The week after Christmas, Dahlia had a very special visitor, her cousin Breeana. There was an instant bond between these two. They are both survivors, battling against great odds. When Breeana was born prematurely, she fit in the palm of a hand, and wasn't expected to live. What a beautiful young lady she has grown up to be -- the same hopes we have for Dahlia.

Last Sunday was a very special day. We gathered for the blessings of two sweet grandaughters, who are only 10 days apart in age. Lorelei was given a baby blessing by her father at church. Afterwards, Lauren hosted a delicious dinner. We posed for one last picture with most of our grandchildren, before Grandpa and I  head off for Utah, and then New York.

missing our sweet Colby and Saige!

After dinner, we all headed up to the hospital, where Dahlia was given a baby blessing by her father. The Spirit of the Lord was so strong in the room.

The girls were excited to finally get to meet each other. I look forward to the time when I'll be watching these two giggle and play together. Will be missing them (and all the others) so much during these next 23 months!