Valentine's Day and the first month of mission already gone

On Valentine's Day, we took a break from our mission activities (our "P" day, preparation day) and walked past the replica of the log house on the Joseph Smith Farm. It is where Joseph Smith and his family lived.

From the house, there is a path leading into the sacred grove, where we took a long hike, enjoying the wintery beauty and peace. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I gave one of the ancient trees a hug.

In the Spring of 1820, Joseph Smith entered this remnant of an ancient forest to kneel in prayer.  The vision he beheld of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ initiated the restoration to the earth of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For our Valentine's date, we went to the Palmyra Temple where we participated in  sealing ordinances for some of our ancestors, joining husbands and wives together for all eternity.

Then it was back to work, making the rounds of missionary apartments. After installing some blinds in this apartment, Elder Ellis fixed Elder Frost's blender.

Saturday was a very long day.  At 8:00 a. m. , we drove to Brant, a two hour drive along Lake Erie, to clear out the apartment of a senior couple who had finished their mission. Heading out, the roads were slick with unplowed snow, and we nearly ended up in a ditch. Thank goodness, the snow stopped, and the roads were good the rest the way.

Two of the elders clearing out the shed in  back of the apartment

Mission accomplished-- thanks again to the help of the Elders! Elder Anderson was one of the 4 great young men who were helping.  After feeding the missionaries a picnic lunch we had packed, we headed back, unpacked everything in the mission storage shed in Rochester, and got home at 6:30 and had supper.  As we were getting ready to relax and read scriptures, we got a call (at 8:00) from some elders, who had left the key in their apartment and were locked out.  So the Texas Rangers came to the rescue. They were warned that if it happened again, we would dig a deep hole in the sand and bury them up to their necks. Got back at 10:30. End of a long day.

Meanwhile... back home in Texas, some very loving acts of service were done by family members for family members. Uncle Walter and Great Aunt Sharon both took a turn in staying overnight with little Dahlia, so Dahlia's parents, Emily and Brian, could attend Brian's sister's wedding and wedding reception. Dahlis is recovering very well from her heart transplant and they are talking about releasing her very soon, in a week or two from the hospital. (she just has a feeding tube to help her with feeds til she is able to do 100% with a bottle -- she's almost there.)

Dahlia is giving her Great Auntie Sharon sweet smiles (photo sent to me from Sharon's I Phone)