We're hoping that Elder Holland is right when he says there's a special place in the Celestial Kingdom for early morning seminary teachers! The journey has been a little rough, especially in October with a trip to the ER for Sister P with thrombophlebitis...thankfully superficial. And a few other dizzy health issues for both of us. But we've gotten into a manageable routine. And there is really only one way to
to go...forward!
And of course, yielding to the enticings of the Spirit and putting off the natural man that really wants to stay in that warm bed! Especially on those cold, dark winter mornings! But we manage to somehow peel the bed off our backs.
We're getting the hang of team teaching. Different styles, sometimes different tunes but we're mostly on the same sheet of music!
Isn't he the cutest!
And our darling YSA's are of course...pure joy!
The beautiful fall came and went way too quickly! Colors...magnificent.
Here's a cool idea. Rake up all those leaves and pile them up in the street. No need to bag them because there is seldom any wind. So front loaders will come scoop them into dump trucks or even better, big trucks with vacuum hoses will suck them up. And Voila!!...gone before the snow flies!
Amazing!
We learned something new about evergreens. Larch (or Tamarack) are deciduous! So I guess they aren't evergreens, huh? I thought all these trees had been attacked by a bug! Their needles turn yellow and drop off. They'll grow back green in the spring! Who knew?
Another interesting phenomenon. They drain a huge amount of water out of Lake Pend O'Reille in the fall, opening up the Albeni dam down river, to prevent flooding in the spring. So the lake where we swam with our kids this summer is now 10 feet lower.
Look, we could wade right out to that floating pier where we jumped in over our heads before!
And now...it's a mud pit!
Another interesting site. Remember the forest they took down in a week? The stumps and roots and branches were left in piles. And now they just set them all on fire...clearing the land for some new business. What a process!
I love eagles. Our Coordinator, Brother King, invited us to his home in Coeur d'Alene for Thanksgiving. That morning we drove down to a little bay of Lake Coeur d'Alene to see the eagles. The salmon lay their eggs and die and the eagles have their feast every year. They were perched in the trees and at any time they would fly down to the lake and snatch up the surfacing salmon in their talons. It was a joy to behold. It was very cold that morning but we got some photos of the eagles in the trees. There were, some locals said, about 150 eagles!
About a week ago, I was sitting on my couch and heard someone at our door. It sounded like they were trying to get into the house. I got up and went to the door. There on the porch sat this fat squirrel smiling at me. He must have just knocked or hit my door somehow. I smiled at him and immediately he scurried down the stairs, over and up the tree right behind our back door. It is about twenty feet from the house. He perched on a little bird house attached to the tree and smiled back at me. During the summer when our grandkids were here they saw him sitting on that birdhouse and named him Squeeks. After his knock at my door, I went to our pantry, got some pretzels and tossed them out on the lawn. Here is the picture of him eating my pretzels. I guess you could say he is my ministering squirrel (or I am his) in search of pretzels. I have a new friend! (Glad to hear that, Elder P!)
In keeping with the spirit of the season, we ventured into Hungie Jungie land in our trailer park and cut down our own little tree for Christmas!
Charlie Brown would have loved it! It's just right for us!
We'll probably never have a fresher one!
Our mission, though it's been extremely challenging in so many ways, has been an exercise in faith and trust and increased love of our dear Savior, Jesus Christ. How blessed we've been to study His life and teachings daily and strengthen our own testimonies in such a profound way.
Our sweet children are giving us such a generous gift this year. They are flying us home for Christmas! We have permission to leave our mission and spend a week with our family. No surprise could have brought us more joy!
Merry Christmas to all! May it be joyous for each of you! Thank you for your love and support and prayers. That means so much to us! We Love You!!
And it is still well with our souls!
Elder and Sister P
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