A Generous Birthday!

I had such a great birthday I need to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who called, skyped, wrote letters or emails, sang Happy Birthday, wrote on my facebook wall, and the person who put the sign on the back door of the mission office telling everyone to come and tell me Happy Birthday, for the birthday cakes and ice cream and and post it notes! I not only got a happy birthday from the FedEx guy, but today when he delivered more boxes he asked how my day went on Monday! A BIG THANKS to my wonderful children and grandchildren for the letters and cards and pictures and loves and hugs (through skype) and the generosity of all of you!!! I felt an out-pouring of love. Turning 54 in Texas was worth it!

Zone Conference - A Spiritual Feast

What a wonderful, exhausting week we had last week at Zone Conference. It was so filled with the spirit and beautiful teachings from President and Sister Hansen, the Chappells, (he was just called to be in the Mission Presidency), Elder Walker and even Elder Stringfellow and I got to say a few words. About cars, phones and apartments, but we did get to bear our testimonies of this great work and what a priviledge it's been to be here in the Texas Houston Mission serving with all of this wonderful people, young and old alike. We just finished FHE with the Walkers and Sister Nance and Sister Young. It's really going to be hard saying good-bye, to the Walkers in 2 weeks and then we leave about 3 weeks after that! I've spent the last 2 Saturdays in the office trying to catch up, but I don't think it's going to happen, maybe when Sister & Elder Howe come on July 11th and we're both working on things, We're trying to get a bunch of odd's and ends done before President Hansen leaves and the Pingree's arrive. Definitely sweet and sour. Transfers are happening again next week, a week early so it's not on the same week that the new president and his family come. Wow, I can't believe a year has gone by so quickly. The Lord has been with us every step of the way! You know what? I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and IT IS TRUE, IT'S REAL and WE ARE SO LUCKY TO BE A PART OF IT!!! Enjoy the pictures of Zone Conference. Maybe at a later date I will come back and put in names but I really need to go to bed, I'm still trying to catch up from last weeks whirlwind!

I Finally Saw an Armadillo

Just this morning we were wondering who was eating our flowers, there are a herd of deer that live in a thickett just across the mission office, I know they eat lots of plants around your house. BUT now I think it might have been this little fellow! I was so excited to finally see an armadillo. I was afraid I was going to have to take a picture of the dead one that we saw on the road right across from the church near the mission office.

The armadillo was so cool because he was trying to bury himself near the sprinkler but he only buried his nose and ears and then flattened his body some and was very still. Animals are so cool. I miss my dog Dutch!

Oh, by the way, after reaching 103 by noon today we had a little front come through and it sprinkled on us and the temperature dropped to 85! Yeah!

God Does Watch Over His Missionaries

I don't have any pictures for this week! But I still wanted to post something to remind me of how much God watches over his missionaries. Friday morning right after our staff meeting a total stranger called Sister Hansen to say that she was at the scene of an accident where two missionaries car had just been hit and ambulances were on there way at that moment (we could hear them in the distance). Elder Struthers and Elder Morgan were going 50 on a highway when a car pulled out in front of them. They totally t-boned it. The airbags didn't go off, which you wonder if that was a blessing or a bad thing. Elder Struthers head hit the steering wheel and he got a bad gash on his forehead and he spent several hours waiting to have a cat-scan before they could stitch it up and Elder Morgan's chest hurt but X-rays didn't show anything. They were both blessed that they weren't hurt worse. When Scott saw the car (he had to track it down to get all of their stuff out of it) it just made him sick because the whole front end of the car was pracitically gone, there was blood and glass all over it. Tender mercies and miracles every day!

It's going to be a busy week with Zone Conference Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I've been scurrying to get the newsletter done so we can print it tomorow to give out at the conference, there's always so much to do...and that's a good thing.

My health is doing great, another tender mercy. Especially considering the weather this past month. The greater Houston area is in it's worst drought and heat spell in 75 years. For the past 2 weeks it's been in the upper 90's and reached 100 a couple of times. I just heard that at the airport for June 5 there was a new record. 105 degrees!!! And I have been feeling pretty good, the numbness in my legs is pretty much gone, occasionally I feel it, but nothing like Aug -March! So THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER.

My dad is still struggling with being in a care center and my heart not only goes out to him but to his wife Lu as well, I really think this has been harder on her than him and I acknowledge how disappointing and difficult it has been for my dad! Life is so complicated most of the time, no matter how old or young you are.

Next week I'll have lots of fun zone conference pictures on the blog!