Happy Valentine's Day

Jena doesn't like us to miss any of these holidays so she was glad to see the Valentine's balloon flying in our living room when she woke up on February 14. 

I was actually pretty pleased with my gift for Gary--a book about scenic train rides throughout the world.  I suggested we pick one out of the US and add it to our travel plans some year.  He said why don't we go on one once a year!  There are some amazing sites along these scenic train rides.

There are a number within the US and many of them are tourist train rides of just a day, so some of those we will certainly do in the mix of traveling.

Jena was happy with her navy blue Valentine shirt--she is not a big fan of pink or red.

Hadn't gotten her hair brush yet that morning

Gary got me a small ottoman to use with my desk chair or sitting at the couch.  I like having my feet propped up when possible.

The weather has been mild and actually moving into the warm category.  On Valentine's day I took a pleasant walk in the mid-50's--last week, it was 79 degrees when I went walking.  Flowers are blooming everywhere.  It is suppose to be in the 80s today through Tuesday and then drop 40 degrees or so as a cold front moves in on Tuesday.  This is Arkansas weather--and we are loving it!

Someone planted or threw some daffodils into a field and now there are bunches of flowers popping up through the weeds and leaves. 

This type of tree has hung on to many of its leaves through the winter so far.  Interested to see when the leaves will finally fall for the new grow to start.

The stream down the road has flowing water again with the winter rains.

Valentine's Day Sunset!!  We will miss this view when we return home.

 

Stake Conference Weekend

 Last night when we entered into the Stake Center for the Adult Session of Stake Conference, we were greeted by this display.....about Senior Missions.  One of my favorite topics....everyone who can should do one or two.

There are over 30 types of senior missions.

In my humble opinion, every senior should serve at the Headquarters mission for a year or two.  It is unique to be surrounded by 800+ senior missionaries serving the Lord from home or on full-time missions.  Whether you work in the Family Search Library, the Church History Library, or the Church Office Building, it is a great time to learn about the workings of the Church.  The devotionals and firesides are amazing!!  

But THEN...you need to go out into the field and serve with the young missionaries and the people of the Church in wards and branches around the world--or in mission offices, in temples, in canneries, in employment offices...you get the idea!

The Hulls have an area assignment to help seniors apply for missions and to prepare.  They gave a fun talk about the joys of serving and all of the alternatives.  We loved it.

The young adults had been asked to sing a special number, "I Will Go Where You Want Me To Go."  However, only two of our YSA were there.  So Logan rallied the missionaries to join us (and even Gary sang with us) and it was awesome.  Fortunately, Sally, Logan, and Sister Carter can really sing as well as some of the missionaries.  With no practice, we sang together and it set a great mood for the meeting. Singing that hymn as a full-time missionary is a priceless experience.  Put it on your bucket list!

The rest of the meeting last night and again today was perfect.  They had Primary children give the opening and closing prayer today and it was so sweet--simple and to the point, but touching as well.  It was a great day!

(And my team lost the Super Bowl again!!) 

Happy Valentine's Day/Happy Chinese New Year

After trying for about three weeks, we finally managed to sync our schedules and our health to join the Ellises in Fayetteville for lunch and to watch The Boys In The Boat. Both Sister Ellis and I had read the book and wanted to see the movie (the book is MUCH better as usual) but it still was a good movie and I loved watching the rowing over the water.  They picked a restaurant they like near the University of Arkansas but didn't realize that it would be decked out for Valentines. Then we watched the movie at their house on Amazon Prime.

Didn't realize it was plaid day for the Halls!

Ruth and Tom Ellis from Orem Utah

Pretty amazing balloon displays....

The food is good at the "Feed and Folly"

We had to make a right turn out of the parking lot and then go around some city blocks to go the direction we needed to go, but it was worth it....

You are beautiful......

Another city mural....

And the front side of the restaurant as we completed our circle.

A fun day with fun people and a pretty Arkansas town!

YSA Bonfire

I don't think I have ever gone to a Bonfire in February, but on Friday we attend one out in Alma with a small group of the YSA.  It was perfect weather, although a bit cloudy so we couldn't see any stars.

There is something perfect about sitting on a stump of a log and watching a fire burn.

We left a bit early and headed back to our apartment to catch the Departing Missionaries Devotional.  Four missionaries who have served with us left this transfer--Elder Miller, Sister Fleming, Elder Heiner and Elder Campbell.  We were able to watch Elder Miller's talk this afternoon over Zoom from his ward in Woodland Hills, Utah.  Well done, sweet elder!

After the devotional is over, they all crowd around the camera
and say goodbye to each other.  It is a tender and holy moment!

 

Be Real

A request on our zone chat which means post what you are doing at that time.  We are usually not in missionary clothes when that happens, but this time we were heading to Clarksville on Thursday so we took this photo. Being a misisonary is wonderful.

 

Ft. Smith Zone P-Day

P-day is designed for the missionaries to take care of things like housecleaning, shopping, and laundry and also to relax and refresh from their labors of the other six days.  Although occasionally they may join together and go bowling or to the batting cages, the most common activity for the Ft. Smith missionaries is to spend time at the stake center, playing basketball or volleyball, using the computers to write their weekly letter to the mission president and their families, phone calls with their families, and sometimes just taking a nap on the couches in the lobby.

This past P-day was a bit different.  

First, we all were up by 6:30 am to be a part of the TRANSFER call where the missionaries learn if they are staying here in Ft. Smith or moving somewhere else in the mission.  They also learn who their new companion will be if they are being changed as well as if they are receiving any leadership assignments.  The night before some missionaries put a "guess list" of who was staying and going--one way to manage the nerves of the changes!  We always just stay here, although it is possible for senior missionaries to move, it is very unusual. Seven of our nine companionships changed and Sister Madden and Elder Bigelow were off for their first move within the mission.  Elder Smythe who has served as our zone leader for six months was also transferred.  We will miss all of them so much.

And while they get up that early every day, it is a bit early for me!

Typically, missionaries also have to stay within their own areas on P-days.  However, due to MLC review and the need to do splits (where the missionaries spend the day with another set of elders--either the zone leaders or their district leaders), missionaries arranged to be in Ft. Smith for P-day since it was Elder Miller's last one and it was on a transfer week.

So, we decided another celebration was in order and we arranged a Chinese New Year meal for lunch for our zone.  It was fun to share food and conversation with them.

And they brought treats, too...

Elder Moon made these yummy cookies.

Elder Baggiore made these caramel rolls which I heard were amazing!

And the Mena Elders--Elder Whetton and Elder McKee--brought their box of Christmas and Valentine treats that they have been getting from family (and girl friends) and ward members.  They haven't been eating sweets this transfer so they had quite a collection to share.

Let the eating begin...some even used the chopsticks.

Our red table clothes came in handy once again.

Other P-day activities---

the haircuts outside by Elder Thacker.  His mom is a hair stylist and she taught him how to cut hair for the missionaries before he came out so he has done it every place he has served.

(permission was given to take this picture)

Since it was transfer week and Elder Miller's last week, some of the missionaries brought things for others to sign--books and a flag.  I wish we had done something like that!

9 Square took center stage for awhile.

Elder Simmons isn't a fan of sports, but he is an amazing artist and allowed me to take a few pictures.

With Elder Miller's permission, here is a look at his "teaching" Book of Mormon. It has been well-used and well-loved by Elder Miller during his service here in the Arkansas Bentonville Mission.  He had started a tradition where he had the other missionaries sign his Book of Mormon (in the blank pages at the back) wherever he has served.  So, this book represents many aspects of his missionary service.

Jena joined in the 9-Square....oh, how she loves the missionaries and they love her.

Next came pickleball and these missionaries taught Jena a bit on how to play.

Jena with Sister Madden

And Jena with Elder Miller...we will miss them both and all that left this transfer!

There was also some basketball playing, conversations, phone calls, email writing, and some napping...sweet times with sweet servants of God.

And that is a wrap on P-day in Ft. Smith...they are back to work at 6:00 pm. And we are home to work on Institute for Thursday night  (no Chinese food for them...after two meals and then leftovers, we were ready for some pizza.)
 

Happy Celebrations--Institute style

Because Chinese New Year was yesterday, we decided to celebrate in Institute on Tuesday night with the Ft. Smith class.  We mostly ordered from Panda Express and added some rice, oranges, and dessert.  It turned out to be harder than I expected to find some simple Chinese New Year decorations in the area.  We finally found a limited supply at an Asian market in north Ft. Smith.  It added a bit of Chinese flair, but I was missing my Chinese lanterns and other things I have packed away at home.  Chinese food was a hit!

Waiting for Gary to pick up the Panda Express.....

Mandarin oranges

Not really a Chinese food-but connected closely
to Hong Kong.  These are two treats my kids liked
when we lived there and since getting back to the states, 
I often bought them for Chinese New Year.

It was fortunate that the food part wasn't too complicated, because the lessons for last week were challenging to prepare especially the lesson on Symbolism in the Gospel.  The difficulty is having a class with returned missionaries and two new converts--widely different experiences to engage on this topic. Yet important for both groups to be able to discuss.  I struggled with options for several days before deciding a way to split up the groups and try to make it meaningful for both. I think it worked out okay.  It might be a format that we use again to divide them up for these more challenging topics.