Boats, trains, sticks and the covenant path!

  

We haven't taken the time to send these pictures from last month.  Our wonderful Seminaries and Institute Coordinator, Brother Seth King invited us for a little boat tour of Couer d'Alene lake and lunch at the Resort Golf Course.  One can't refuse such an offer from one's boss, right?

His lovely wife Jessica took time away from their 7 children on a summer day to be with us.  What a sweetheart! 

The famous "Floating Green."  Seth assured us that all golf enthusiasts wouldl know this famous spot.  Tee off from the land and hope your ball makes it to the green.  They use floating golf balls so they can recover them from the watery grave.

A view of the Couer d'Alene Resort where we later had those amazing ice cream "Gooeys" with our girls and grandkids when they visited.

This hotel is leased by celebrities.  They pay millions and stay a week or two during the year.    Oprah has a "little" suite...half of an entire floor!

Here's Mr. Hagadone's cottage.  Made his fortune in newspapers.  (Remember those?)  He owns most of Couer d'Alene including the resort and golf course.  Apparently he just sold his 45 million dollar yacht.  Too bad.

We felt like we'd been on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous!"  

Too much fancy for these senior missionaries.

  Home, James!

Back to our cozy doublewide.  A few words about trains.  

Did you know they whistle on pitch?  Yep, I did a little study, since we hear those whistles here in Sagle at all hours of the day and night.  Some whistle duets of middle c and e.  Some e and b, some a and g.  The code for approaching a city is 2 longs, 1 short, 1 long.  The most obnoxious blast has no tonal qualities...just strangely resembles the roar of the T-Rex in Jurassic Park!  That one will sit you straight up in bed at 3:30 in the morning!  

This monster crossed my path this morning on my bike ride in the rain.  His blast nearly knocked me off my bike!  I guess that's the purpose, right?  Or at least to keep me on my toes!  I'm awake, I promise!

I love this view when I ride over the Long Bridge

Another digression.  Elder Partridge loves the

logging trucks.  We see them multiple times a day.  He calls out "Sticks!"  

The logging business is fascinating.  We saw a little forest disappear recently across the highway.  Really, in a matter of days, loggers with their "big machine" had taken down the trees, and debranched and debarked them all in one operation.  They better stay away from hungie jungie land! 

...more sticks!

No shortage of trees in the inland Northwest!  Roads are like the parting of the green sea!







Couldn't resist this sign for Elder P.  (Just every once in a while)

And the only thing saving me from "the grumpies" is biking!

A shout out to our dear friends, Elder and Sister Harris.
It's her bike I've borrowed and ride all over Sandpoint every morning.  Thank you!  You've saved my life and my sanity...what little there was left of that!

It occurred to me on one of my beautiful morning rides that I have to stay focused, keep my eyes on the path ahead and not let the beautiful view distract me.

That mirrored water is alluring!  But I don't want to land in the drink, bike and all! 

  

So...I have to keep saying to myself, "stay on the path, stay on the path!"  And that's what we're all trying to do isn't it?  "Stay on the Covenant Path."  So we'll keep pedaling and focusing on what's ahead and not the distractions around us, alluring as they are.  And don't forget to listen for those loud and sometimes annoying warning whistles.  They do keep us safe!

We finished the semester for Institute.  Gearing up now for Seminary and Institute in September.  In between trainings, we spent the last week visiting YSA's and missionaries...from Montana to Washington!  Pictures coming!

Elder and Sister P.

Heavenly Chaos and Family Joy!

Family fun began!  Last week our three brave daughters with their children embarked on a grand adventure to the Northlands of Idaho.  10 kids and 3 adults in 2 vans driving for 12 hours.  Maybe a little crazy??  But what a wonderful surprise for us!

They're happy and rested ready to go!

They arrived bright?? and early...3:30 a.m.
Monday morning.  Our new friends, another senior couple, Elder and Sister Harris had brought over extra sleeping bags, pillows and bedding galore the night before, so when the kids arrived, the sleeping and sleepy were able to crash instantly.

Family slumber parties are such fun!

Grandpa organized the troops into mission companionships and the grandkids were off the next morning for an adventure with Grandma.

...into the deep, dark shadows of Hungie Jungie Land!

Searching for buried fairy treasure!



















Then there was tons of lake fun in Lake Pend Oreille and down in Lake Couer d'Alene.

Even Grandma had to get in on the action!  Yes, Senior missionaries can get in the water.  How could I not?

Such fun in the sun!

While in Couer d'Alene, we had to stop at the resort for a taste?? of ice cream for lunch.  These humungous and decadent  morsels are called "Gooeys."  Aptly named...they were amazing!  A great reason to forget the diet!  We shared 4 of them between 15 of us!  No one complained.

This one we called "Death by Chocolate!"  What a way to go!

Chillin' at the Resort.

Let's see, how many pizzas for 15 people?  Ice cream for lunch...pizza for supper!  What could be better than that?

In between excursions, the front entry looked like this a lot!  I do miss it!

Up to the Schweitzer Ski Resort. 

Great view of Lake Pend Oreille

So happy to be in this lovely place!

Elder and Sister Harris invited us over for a barbeque!
They get to live in their cabin in Sandpoint while they serve as Military Relations Missionaries in the Spokane Mission.  Their permanent home is in Olympia, Washington.  They've become dear friends!

They had a great time in the camp circle, playing "Truth or Dare."

Amazing what they can do together without electronics!

Oh how I love these girls!  And they love each other, too!  Or else how could they spend the week together with 10 kids! :)

                                                       Another comfy slumber on the floor...

Then one last walk to the magical Hungie Jungie Land.  More treasure to be found in the deep dark shadows...

Sweet grandchildren humoring their imagination filled grandmother!

Getting the troops ready to roll out! Long trip ahead.

Group hug!  Their return trip was an unexpected adventure with tire trouble in Deer Lodge, Montana.  But angels in the form of McDonald's workers and other angelic strangers came to their rescue after several hours delay and many more miles to go. 

We called on more angels, our dear friends Don and Bev Hayes in Idaho Falls to let the kids crash there for a few hours.  They arrived about 1 a.m. and had much needed sleep and a 5-star breakfast to boot!  Angels everywhere!  

 How grateful we are for miracles!  Our girls' visit was so wonderful!  Sweet respite from our daily labors and now we get back to missionary work!  

Much more of that to come...

And all is very well with our souls!

Elder and Sister P.