tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83533136852351863612024-03-04T10:53:50.943-08:00Savoring Fruit from the Family TreeThere's no recipe for a perfect family because there are no perfect families. If we argue and make up, laugh and cry, work and play—asking God to show us the way forward—we will stumble across rare and perfect family moments of joy and harmony. We will savor delectable fruit from our family tree.
Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-901270600603055532023-11-26T16:32:00.000-08:002023-12-02T16:32:54.331-08:00The Miscellany of MD / DC<p> This post is a catch-all for random fond memories. The distinctive red, white, black and yellow Maryland flag is EVERYWHERE--on license plates, on fast food place, even at the DMV. When Norm learned of its significance-- that it served as a symbol of unity for Union and Confederate Md. citizens after the Civil War-- we bought socks and ties for our grandsons with this design. We bought jewelry from the Natural History Museum for our granddaughters (which we think they will like better!) <span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">We loved the diversity of people in MD / DC, and we miss it now that we are home: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Sept 9, 2022-- I returned a can of hairspray to Walmart and these are the names of women working in customer service (I was in line awhile): Nazma, Puja, Sanju, Josefina, Shamshad. Mostly immigrants from India or Pakistan.</span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDThvuEYStbc9N64uVPKhM0IKDFdjFAg4EzM5AQHXcKarvNL8m9Cg89Hkz4R4-dRdn5HJ8xl4suKDn1CBCFbdeMIIEdcFUyv0QAHG1ZfGGLaXszXsGGv93w07fXRsA8lRLne9FT5eMJDQgeYq4u7GYtEgJooBJFIirAk20CBXEksUFqDNK1edfplfOqcBT/s4032/IMG_7560.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDThvuEYStbc9N64uVPKhM0IKDFdjFAg4EzM5AQHXcKarvNL8m9Cg89Hkz4R4-dRdn5HJ8xl4suKDn1CBCFbdeMIIEdcFUyv0QAHG1ZfGGLaXszXsGGv93w07fXRsA8lRLne9FT5eMJDQgeYq4u7GYtEgJooBJFIirAk20CBXEksUFqDNK1edfplfOqcBT/s320/IMG_7560.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCZRiYi2TCp1lF4uwgrDZUW_iv0LQjG4iYhENv0lvMuPzxCyIFyL0xXA0TNREJFBzSgAjWQtGYJM5iFkmOwfrfDLvIVUCzVqr8VmKoTpGGOYUfHhLjMg8_SIFYtXeCzND4Ua1YJW2bVzqHHWeUPc9hSVLoW5t4ovQhA9nOi3bpYJ1SrucP-jyNxu1IEMR/s4032/IMG_3399.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCZRiYi2TCp1lF4uwgrDZUW_iv0LQjG4iYhENv0lvMuPzxCyIFyL0xXA0TNREJFBzSgAjWQtGYJM5iFkmOwfrfDLvIVUCzVqr8VmKoTpGGOYUfHhLjMg8_SIFYtXeCzND4Ua1YJW2bVzqHHWeUPc9hSVLoW5t4ovQhA9nOi3bpYJ1SrucP-jyNxu1IEMR/s320/IMG_3399.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day at our apartment.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWim7EtP6NTzPKwUPF4iNP43NnV6XzO5eOMd8jOtSt2nQmXxT7NKM5qFNT1vbfSR7rKFTZmIHXjuUWw0c8YrFau5ZUMuMIbWds7LWsgb9X3ByVI8T9kYhw1rG2Yl7Yrpu0ppNUl8lP3Mh5PAbRnN9TPQZ3HdQfDG9Uqzm58_utLwk7trmA-ZQYqb1k08Tz/s4032/IMG_9619.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWim7EtP6NTzPKwUPF4iNP43NnV6XzO5eOMd8jOtSt2nQmXxT7NKM5qFNT1vbfSR7rKFTZmIHXjuUWw0c8YrFau5ZUMuMIbWds7LWsgb9X3ByVI8T9kYhw1rG2Yl7Yrpu0ppNUl8lP3Mh5PAbRnN9TPQZ3HdQfDG9Uqzm58_utLwk7trmA-ZQYqb1k08Tz/s320/IMG_9619.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Elder and Sister Simmons helped us pack up when we said goodbye to Maryland / DC! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNtozBoFDKOXFUeua4lc9222aVV22isCrznuEPkCfisodGoZ2eD2K-FTYLxHgv7aaPfhX_eiFAuaqpNGVzNX6NNk9G4ZTMaNVdrMUAjb35vQiTjYHS4XHmZ-7JCcgZkAaYnpstc3vpysLpi72jNlCo8XdO4AGG7VCSBNlFVe6XdhsSgfTy-gngL14A3Zd/s640/IMG_9171.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNtozBoFDKOXFUeua4lc9222aVV22isCrznuEPkCfisodGoZ2eD2K-FTYLxHgv7aaPfhX_eiFAuaqpNGVzNX6NNk9G4ZTMaNVdrMUAjb35vQiTjYHS4XHmZ-7JCcgZkAaYnpstc3vpysLpi72jNlCo8XdO4AGG7VCSBNlFVe6XdhsSgfTy-gngL14A3Zd/s320/IMG_9171.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We visited Norm's cousin Rachel Esplin O'Dell in the DC 3rd Ward in February. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamJD4h_R9yoODazQERaOT1oNuUEOqQYWra53tvG1ovrTgLNF3JAMy3-IHdELaSWExPuB5Tf_CRrdP1MBFswKYbe6BXPL1-Wg_ckAU7g3hyphenhyphenkEkQ2UpIcww88j7hug3OjxXWOW_Vq_Waf85kK9221GfNLPhxmBQ9JsfWmWlhpT3HBYW_lmzLLOKFZEVbSjm/s4032/IMG_6205.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamJD4h_R9yoODazQERaOT1oNuUEOqQYWra53tvG1ovrTgLNF3JAMy3-IHdELaSWExPuB5Tf_CRrdP1MBFswKYbe6BXPL1-Wg_ckAU7g3hyphenhyphenkEkQ2UpIcww88j7hug3OjxXWOW_Vq_Waf85kK9221GfNLPhxmBQ9JsfWmWlhpT3HBYW_lmzLLOKFZEVbSjm/s320/IMG_6205.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first temple visit after the dedication in August. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsDM_kswwR7FgQFd26e0LACsn5nVRDk-pjWUZhyJMY0tWAzxES8KNpGjctlXG2rHxEGwlK4rI9Kg-qVxtNHxg4wNpW9V13FbbRNEmSJK8-ryrSK3oISVgnSwtrouFNvkk-bp50GknthJK3tYrGwu0xwkLuR4VMmewcAFXZweOEqlwJAKRZoIgxzmVYpkf/s4032/IMG_8292.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsDM_kswwR7FgQFd26e0LACsn5nVRDk-pjWUZhyJMY0tWAzxES8KNpGjctlXG2rHxEGwlK4rI9Kg-qVxtNHxg4wNpW9V13FbbRNEmSJK8-ryrSK3oISVgnSwtrouFNvkk-bp50GknthJK3tYrGwu0xwkLuR4VMmewcAFXZweOEqlwJAKRZoIgxzmVYpkf/s320/IMG_8292.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three days after his baptism, we gave Alpha Eragy a ride to church. Awesome guy who works with Matic Industries.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc0fwJ19GE6dlyBaq0qs3HNg1YKfWo1mNafFhMDxRZVTdxhpq6T6ZY4k6LTdAKwPQ4A1VHYm7Fasf8na78Mej0999UAvJkv2F_lcFJTLbvBYosqaEb-TPSnl5-dnj5S4uOcdp0sbkXUtuIBCxHkeHW8kS0vze1P7m9YZc9SrT9Vjr4CmzzpqpWSKmVosf/s4032/IMG_5467.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc0fwJ19GE6dlyBaq0qs3HNg1YKfWo1mNafFhMDxRZVTdxhpq6T6ZY4k6LTdAKwPQ4A1VHYm7Fasf8na78Mej0999UAvJkv2F_lcFJTLbvBYosqaEb-TPSnl5-dnj5S4uOcdp0sbkXUtuIBCxHkeHW8kS0vze1P7m9YZc9SrT9Vjr4CmzzpqpWSKmVosf/s320/IMG_5467.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One day we gave a ride home to sweet Anneliese Schulte of the singles ward. She's from Missouri and her dad is an artist. She lived in this historic building in Poolesville. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2L8ZWbrgCKuZL5OTnkvbQIZyHibi6g86aMRUVMU0ZEVSC0KxXtI3uhj2v7gvSxhoitXGax8sVEeDgpPctYo1_9Uf0f1VJi6aidd6TXHPHiNCdh_Cf6EM52jWCZ90WimQRFPQmZ14C5BQ3SfvQnyKadc1im_fh2K_rVvO7LjptAO-HzDR9F2NSZBqtGSv/s4032/IMG_3959.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2L8ZWbrgCKuZL5OTnkvbQIZyHibi6g86aMRUVMU0ZEVSC0KxXtI3uhj2v7gvSxhoitXGax8sVEeDgpPctYo1_9Uf0f1VJi6aidd6TXHPHiNCdh_Cf6EM52jWCZ90WimQRFPQmZ14C5BQ3SfvQnyKadc1im_fh2K_rVvO7LjptAO-HzDR9F2NSZBqtGSv/s320/IMG_3959.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seniors' sailing trip on the Pawtuxent River. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0nOrUtbu4492V9LD_ps7wyLGDUHTbWK9nDHhKShTv0KACrl556rjRcKC6RtqBx1lmuxZgzTmGba9CqOTvc_xK6BTLXWbjWrnifsTToozifPt6Dm955jwNVR-M4ED_ttqcNU29m9GiDwN1PmDjIFUNenq59zQvRmLgJ6fB2Ls8XJuGDvOPFYWgIlnEjQV/s320/IMG_3265.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0nOrUtbu4492V9LD_ps7wyLGDUHTbWK9nDHhKShTv0KACrl556rjRcKC6RtqBx1lmuxZgzTmGba9CqOTvc_xK6BTLXWbjWrnifsTToozifPt6Dm955jwNVR-M4ED_ttqcNU29m9GiDwN1PmDjIFUNenq59zQvRmLgJ6fB2Ls8XJuGDvOPFYWgIlnEjQV/s1600/IMG_3265.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Visitors Center.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">ODD STREET NAMES!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Dead Run and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Turkey Run</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> in Virginia</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Glen Echo Road, Turkey Foot Road, Off Beat Place, Norman Street, Nelson Street, Crooked Creek Lane, Mommas Place, Meem Avenue, Choke Cherry Road, Piccard Drive i</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">n Maryland</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuPupyXxGm875EeEqFg7oE1ASonF294b6ryNLcUSZdSaFCYrqMfrJuFXQGGvioBkB1u0ZAazvd1N0XCA26SH122ELIvhRVPEzcquYptiZaB3QOyZ7swIbpIZCSIROLowNAiP7IhX1aHF4vJdSP0bAMfMaL6sqqo0s1mn1S3S_v7ioNQrCWTCfR-cnbuq9/s640/IMG_2484.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuPupyXxGm875EeEqFg7oE1ASonF294b6ryNLcUSZdSaFCYrqMfrJuFXQGGvioBkB1u0ZAazvd1N0XCA26SH122ELIvhRVPEzcquYptiZaB3QOyZ7swIbpIZCSIROLowNAiP7IhX1aHF4vJdSP0bAMfMaL6sqqo0s1mn1S3S_v7ioNQrCWTCfR-cnbuq9/s320/IMG_2484.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Brookside Gardens, April </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PG1U8OXnoix_e9ZOVnM70w_uR5z1xCvdJbAZTii2TZXk-ZaL22i7P6TGae7QHD7FoeESdBEproFNxegZtVXjLbmAPVn6v-YOuOHEUEMATTbhk42epcIMWz2StdO8BGwtONku45ylkAqG7DG2CNq00fwS8lvygUxqdc31esT-9jHRMLPIaUoB2cbYf1W4/s1024/imagejpeg_0%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PG1U8OXnoix_e9ZOVnM70w_uR5z1xCvdJbAZTii2TZXk-ZaL22i7P6TGae7QHD7FoeESdBEproFNxegZtVXjLbmAPVn6v-YOuOHEUEMATTbhk42epcIMWz2StdO8BGwtONku45ylkAqG7DG2CNq00fwS8lvygUxqdc31esT-9jHRMLPIaUoB2cbYf1W4/s320/imagejpeg_0%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In our office!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwt4pUGu_nNDoJTVoboI14DhsBQehyRwfnuNBGS4rpM09549qHEB1JoCCks2q8IvGwsb9jNu_Y4O95HnyTADLa0EECXEQpyTDvqwvL9E-Dm3daF4s5GkQLZaN8sILHl-x-m4H649gHExMvVp6AZidXDhLnI1JrdtIJ5YrS3EhrptjxKDBDJIMCSIS_oll/s640/IMG_0094.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwt4pUGu_nNDoJTVoboI14DhsBQehyRwfnuNBGS4rpM09549qHEB1JoCCks2q8IvGwsb9jNu_Y4O95HnyTADLa0EECXEQpyTDvqwvL9E-Dm3daF4s5GkQLZaN8sILHl-x-m4H649gHExMvVp6AZidXDhLnI1JrdtIJ5YrS3EhrptjxKDBDJIMCSIS_oll/s320/IMG_0094.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a morning walk. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz50t-rMpYV_4cHHcZq76DlD3WJOKEPLga_WOl-iRUut5l9sYHbPZXgkAbL6HA0XOY3xPdm-AHjC4p5Lda-aobbBk9Mi4_bx3p4wTQLRBYVyH_62UEhjnKzLkNDJ3YDcbjkq7ScMxmHTzKXY_ym3laIYaruyEaImyn7rGiCNZzBM0HO08ef911Qgu1UYw/s640/IMG_0185.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz50t-rMpYV_4cHHcZq76DlD3WJOKEPLga_WOl-iRUut5l9sYHbPZXgkAbL6HA0XOY3xPdm-AHjC4p5Lda-aobbBk9Mi4_bx3p4wTQLRBYVyH_62UEhjnKzLkNDJ3YDcbjkq7ScMxmHTzKXY_ym3laIYaruyEaImyn7rGiCNZzBM0HO08ef911Qgu1UYw/s320/IMG_0185.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our pond in the snow. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsskhK9hCBexudVea0byfEVsPku7yN1SU3AIPTeDb8cE-BXJxR5-xH8z-uOKqsEU8y5zWM4ADl5jwi8r8DAI3BJuyxex7U1WiUMHvr8gWYQEvCvfShA8F1ZSQ061cAnOAYMY571Z2sE1wkTF51naY7y2tW1xX4ItDR6pWJCKZogNHgOx8g4Xkq-ZARULFI/s640/IMG_2629.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsskhK9hCBexudVea0byfEVsPku7yN1SU3AIPTeDb8cE-BXJxR5-xH8z-uOKqsEU8y5zWM4ADl5jwi8r8DAI3BJuyxex7U1WiUMHvr8gWYQEvCvfShA8F1ZSQ061cAnOAYMY571Z2sE1wkTF51naY7y2tW1xX4ItDR6pWJCKZogNHgOx8g4Xkq-ZARULFI/s320/IMG_2629.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This vulture visited our dumpster at the office. At home, we watched a mamma vulture teach two large chicks to fly--they nested in a barn near us. Sadly, the city refurbished the barn and the vultures left. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-64150713433554568422023-11-26T16:06:00.000-08:002023-11-29T08:43:12.542-08:00"Into the Woods" at the Kennedy Center!!<p> Our kids gave a us a wonderful birthday / finishing the mish gift by buying us tickets to "Into the Woods" at the Kennedy Center. We had a nice lunch there, toured the museum (learning a lot about the legacy of the Kennedys) and then enjoyed the hit Broadway musical. What a wonderful way to spend a cold February Saturday, as we drove to DC through only the second snow of our time in the East!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QAtLMmqhN5G7ajmjZf4Ev26vIn5x_sOH1WbIdSphfjl5rm4WnQhSfkVD_9-YDsmDaiOVe2kWK3Wb8ZSkfrsPqexyRubElJfoZpiwUiD1dC9N4V-bdaJmCqzqQU_4NBUyNCOJJsepLUv2-oROMKCzTa7crrWJNVB2CoFDSWGXkfKExQMpi7SpGcWKKpkt/s1178/IMG_0352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1178" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QAtLMmqhN5G7ajmjZf4Ev26vIn5x_sOH1WbIdSphfjl5rm4WnQhSfkVD_9-YDsmDaiOVe2kWK3Wb8ZSkfrsPqexyRubElJfoZpiwUiD1dC9N4V-bdaJmCqzqQU_4NBUyNCOJJsepLUv2-oROMKCzTa7crrWJNVB2CoFDSWGXkfKExQMpi7SpGcWKKpkt/s320/IMG_0352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HNr87NLt7n1F7U47tcn6pkjTdCN-49aNEbOV-1t_wh4LF7f3RPumedkAmSJHdy6lDDMJvLB2spphzpo3KYat-xWHPpbo6XdCt8s9Kd_HvSpSiKFAi0Bj2pMveW04ISMteMr3x6fWIZApRHJbCk2DM2Zz65VRNw9KTisX6S3Z_99T40ftgxNnRUxTNqF-/s4032/IMG_0343.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PB9kciccY5XuePIcfP8UbjR6SPB0yFZiBtuAKdzzI3ujX0F0U3B0OmQzobX2Fxxbb0qxJE82LmK0IVVgjt_wCVo1rCFK5D8789qCrrYvL9Pp2ZBA4e6Umpdxx2-2Fa_RyVbkT6ajNyyNn8bUg1wq91NiyOz3WRx9t1U0xz37xyDHpej6rRzEgvP5q-MD/s4032/IMG_9395.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PB9kciccY5XuePIcfP8UbjR6SPB0yFZiBtuAKdzzI3ujX0F0U3B0OmQzobX2Fxxbb0qxJE82LmK0IVVgjt_wCVo1rCFK5D8789qCrrYvL9Pp2ZBA4e6Umpdxx2-2Fa_RyVbkT6ajNyyNn8bUg1wq91NiyOz3WRx9t1U0xz37xyDHpej6rRzEgvP5q-MD/s320/IMG_9395.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-16737269137181055502023-11-26T15:43:00.000-08:002023-11-29T19:04:52.471-08:00Lincoln's Summer Home and Halloween Naval Academy Concert <p> In August we visited Lincoln's Summer Home / Cottage with our friends, Ed and Cindy Cole. This home, next to the DC soldiers' hospital, was a little cooler and more mosquito-free than the White House, and Lincoln loved it there in the summer. He rode his horse three miles from the home to the White House every day. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation in this home, and a constant stream of visitors and suppliants came to him here. When he looked across the grounds, he could see the unfinished Capitol Building Dome, and before his term ended, he made sure it was completed as a national symbol of unity. His sons played with soldiers recuperating on the grounds. We felt very close to Lincoln there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtc0k1x5Eeuy-CyO_aZYb0pc7qQbTdqpFxNVWoRDsNWmMxBMIjsGEl0iFVTrnMvc-g0YWGo6kYaCngWAYLo1AEVSeUas3BWvldhWD_yH6zoWoDGyAf7sNgDYrMHx3moHayjidY4VqDpGYwcvsBl5b4zyQpuzkOZUMuvWPm_8-jVlfFXVF22T1nrjhdakH/s1024/imagejpeg_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtc0k1x5Eeuy-CyO_aZYb0pc7qQbTdqpFxNVWoRDsNWmMxBMIjsGEl0iFVTrnMvc-g0YWGo6kYaCngWAYLo1AEVSeUas3BWvldhWD_yH6zoWoDGyAf7sNgDYrMHx3moHayjidY4VqDpGYwcvsBl5b4zyQpuzkOZUMuvWPm_8-jVlfFXVF22T1nrjhdakH/s320/imagejpeg_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sDu_RQF2JopkCbHFRSaGI_UkKKS5eacP9iQ3oQMwaWoLSbozRcA7LR1OT2DvJHXjGecon2rzmga2IEGF1h1966mHuitPQx1b94Ko3MQwtzXjk-giu02gLXl6c5ufLU4m4ZxRs5FmhtPwODo4iZ2afNHsCH6kMLxacZfkwsQHunNebo6qm42rWdc9LUjP/s4032/IMG_5553.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sDu_RQF2JopkCbHFRSaGI_UkKKS5eacP9iQ3oQMwaWoLSbozRcA7LR1OT2DvJHXjGecon2rzmga2IEGF1h1966mHuitPQx1b94Ko3MQwtzXjk-giu02gLXl6c5ufLU4m4ZxRs5FmhtPwODo4iZ2afNHsCH6kMLxacZfkwsQHunNebo6qm42rWdc9LUjP/s320/IMG_5553.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi4pEnzUHMjicp0z45gxfp9rLqC7govcF1OvorUyXf7rtWM2ZmllbOOR8W4MCgR4n7BY_WdynUqwklAZhaoBNsPim84CF5cV8E3gwnt6FBat8gCBuFK6Jv9mA4tmBoja6anDptzySu4aWk_0O6RnLPSsrMVTBeg2XC98OiodaYTz0RINwexINpQKgTTuz/s4032/IMG_5584.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi4pEnzUHMjicp0z45gxfp9rLqC7govcF1OvorUyXf7rtWM2ZmllbOOR8W4MCgR4n7BY_WdynUqwklAZhaoBNsPim84CF5cV8E3gwnt6FBat8gCBuFK6Jv9mA4tmBoja6anDptzySu4aWk_0O6RnLPSsrMVTBeg2XC98OiodaYTz0RINwexINpQKgTTuz/s320/IMG_5584.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p> In October we drove to Annapolis with Ed and Cindy Cole, ate delicious crab cake, saw some crazy Halloween decor in the port town, and went to the US Naval Academy Halloween concert in the historic USNA chapel. As we stood in line, midshipmen in costume- including some who made very lifelike statues--entertained us. The concert was masterful. A talented organist played "The Phantom of the Opera" and other songs on the organ; midshipmen portrayed a wide variety of music from the macabre to Disney in the midst of dazzling light shows, and it concluded with the national anthem as our flag was unfurled from the topmost balcony. On our way outside, angels (midshipmen in costume) reminded us that good overcomes evil. </p><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSkjnf1PO5cKpMZCXXIWNyMbiE6UbWZQ18Ur8FBH1bf_iUi1oaItNh3jeM8AX6nCL801zFqErz3IUJLBRlKMs2v8ZTLKePBm9gcGlPaXMe0rJXGQ1ECWzCrHVfsVY_on9ax3VjNpGwFIZSHXhZA6XI3OG5kw6NtGf0v__IVoDFxmTylHlQsGx60TfNRq0/s4032/IMG_7063.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSkjnf1PO5cKpMZCXXIWNyMbiE6UbWZQ18Ur8FBH1bf_iUi1oaItNh3jeM8AX6nCL801zFqErz3IUJLBRlKMs2v8ZTLKePBm9gcGlPaXMe0rJXGQ1ECWzCrHVfsVY_on9ax3VjNpGwFIZSHXhZA6XI3OG5kw6NtGf0v__IVoDFxmTylHlQsGx60TfNRq0/s320/IMG_7063.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5A-tJvFanPjhWw-Y0uWrfaVZBENMTKiQyDl1DPR6W3gWXnWgz8R5NCp_JzinAWvXyaQabFZddigvUWDrGkuGD8wBe6HKM8Q7SeYcoj9UVbYzKoR8_V-zKE-eK690nte_kxPKMULhqsXTnz5ZU900dEzv6T4oqmfPyXSKA2uHrHKtNtvOh62LyKyAqKCE/s4032/IMG_7061.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOu_lmRT3jdQ74DzEHVwR2FyNptPFFWFJs_VN0FFdoXQgGGP3PbNRaG4gN9GQmpul77GmQaAKm2aS7DUUNkXyQ17xxY0bnh-Jk6a3fK1IrJy7w586w1QmKEFD5pUQdBVTEuP0WtgTEeTNKyCEVsNhtNwg01H77OwaAmPg5HP0P-zCzQATvHiXpkXTyPi8z/s320/IMG_7028.jpeg" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkfh_7ynLGKgDeqGZW5zWZK3EWJRMM_hrhWGjDDqw_3y_Ipaqik2Qm7UNKy6654z1HH1WtXr7A_7oyN5lysMraAVxf-rtLzIdJpH2AvHlUhD4XYdMEwxi0PTULLXPkkgPi_MprX5g2i773WIY-uJkEDMhunuxtn5-Lgg8mKipyIyJDGLcfZ_7Tn2AZT-E/s3024/IMG_7058.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="1714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkfh_7ynLGKgDeqGZW5zWZK3EWJRMM_hrhWGjDDqw_3y_Ipaqik2Qm7UNKy6654z1HH1WtXr7A_7oyN5lysMraAVxf-rtLzIdJpH2AvHlUhD4XYdMEwxi0PTULLXPkkgPi_MprX5g2i773WIY-uJkEDMhunuxtn5-Lgg8mKipyIyJDGLcfZ_7Tn2AZT-E/s320/IMG_7058.jpeg" width="181" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeS1lZwa4RjG8JvLVC7baytAOeDPWE6Ujr-wAWLqaWHpymfB-Q_2lY7tALZPxUXIOiluVItVLqwOt-YhiQbKBSrX-eSw5eJH56oJ0HUA_7-YS9-EL44fk0C60eNKPSBLkFR_qSsJgyke6_BhcO_nttHHUAxQzw00760EPMpBj0OZhh6HYms0K7ASJQqd7/s4032/IMG_7013.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeS1lZwa4RjG8JvLVC7baytAOeDPWE6Ujr-wAWLqaWHpymfB-Q_2lY7tALZPxUXIOiluVItVLqwOt-YhiQbKBSrX-eSw5eJH56oJ0HUA_7-YS9-EL44fk0C60eNKPSBLkFR_qSsJgyke6_BhcO_nttHHUAxQzw00760EPMpBj0OZhh6HYms0K7ASJQqd7/s320/IMG_7013.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge Halloween decor in downtown!</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-51475133020120970972023-11-26T14:38:00.000-08:002023-11-26T14:38:00.263-08:00Museum of Art, Museum of the Bible, National Museum of Health and Medicine, and Georgetown<p> One Saturday in February, we visited two very different museums: the Museum of Art, and the museum of the Bible. Beth Clark met us at the art museum. She has visited Europe and seen a lot of art, and we enjoyed her. As we exited through the sculpture garden, a young man struck up a conversation with us to get her phone number. (Fortunately, the ensuing phone calls and texts did not result in a romance!) </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOvltEf2AtM_P0-dy_n6ihXK-pdEsC8WBQFKFX6B1PbfBuR3b59VexYmHaM5R57bZYiKkmk6Fph7-G-B_dgqWRuE3ix6TYk70JuMItvu-9llsBvYJhVPX8ZcZRjBnIw2WySg7bwRggjrjVkYlnRXOu83R4lnJT7CGvOTpqih12ob5m2XwrnWMD-2c4fUA/s4032/IMG_9029.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOvltEf2AtM_P0-dy_n6ihXK-pdEsC8WBQFKFX6B1PbfBuR3b59VexYmHaM5R57bZYiKkmk6Fph7-G-B_dgqWRuE3ix6TYk70JuMItvu-9llsBvYJhVPX8ZcZRjBnIw2WySg7bwRggjrjVkYlnRXOu83R4lnJT7CGvOTpqih12ob5m2XwrnWMD-2c4fUA/s320/IMG_9029.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPpa7X3o1cLXVZIRjKpmRMwNV16wUkA0qRwa-wkBzeq7LssAruwDVF6fLHQ_csPiX1U06LVXuNfja9iR0xO61k7J_6NBxzkLfcF3KElQlJBz6ti_ZGMS2VKZ687FOFrqJyg0GtuIka9YoRgAfTfqWKswVYVD4P4FZWe8xnf_fjZHwkYf1gEfTXlvGFTIP/s4032/IMG_5838.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPpa7X3o1cLXVZIRjKpmRMwNV16wUkA0qRwa-wkBzeq7LssAruwDVF6fLHQ_csPiX1U06LVXuNfja9iR0xO61k7J_6NBxzkLfcF3KElQlJBz6ti_ZGMS2VKZ687FOFrqJyg0GtuIka9YoRgAfTfqWKswVYVD4P4FZWe8xnf_fjZHwkYf1gEfTXlvGFTIP/s320/IMG_5838.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIj1N-3ZIeRldYIXAtkKrNcMJ7pQM9SYgEm7hHPfwz56nDs7BF_CttphEY25tQsvvQxzTvSKDkB15oMk_xkqXYNFTaiqXnW0VpdXD08MmQFjV3mKTufuQ7c4NMDNSePn4b5AUdPBeQAmUsO757K1458-sBE6B7AjYq3UioQ3p5DAVObS9CwpS2S0HQPf7/s4032/IMG_5840.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIj1N-3ZIeRldYIXAtkKrNcMJ7pQM9SYgEm7hHPfwz56nDs7BF_CttphEY25tQsvvQxzTvSKDkB15oMk_xkqXYNFTaiqXnW0VpdXD08MmQFjV3mKTufuQ7c4NMDNSePn4b5AUdPBeQAmUsO757K1458-sBE6B7AjYq3UioQ3p5DAVObS9CwpS2S0HQPf7/s320/IMG_5840.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXiZ4hUI2UTHPxENFZfJO9q7y7xVIHq6RLtbfQ5aDWtZmZNrPLJ2CyzMnFfdRCsnDk5Rk1tO-pobMhEcl6talQ7xOxMW9sBLBaeOyeqsTn-y92mlQh0ydOXeVZmlYBNGzurWDWqZrzxfhV2ivVbi9GYWRxPpD_3mZO-2aAzKNE139StILTqhd1Dh-Weoq/s4032/IMG_8964.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXiZ4hUI2UTHPxENFZfJO9q7y7xVIHq6RLtbfQ5aDWtZmZNrPLJ2CyzMnFfdRCsnDk5Rk1tO-pobMhEcl6talQ7xOxMW9sBLBaeOyeqsTn-y92mlQh0ydOXeVZmlYBNGzurWDWqZrzxfhV2ivVbi9GYWRxPpD_3mZO-2aAzKNE139StILTqhd1Dh-Weoq/s320/IMG_8964.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJZ4LJkQG0Pu-2D5uMZ9qeNrUDzcwHFxNutdDGqAsdRL4eYMOU20qBBhXKt_uSoF0qXy4cDfc7lX5Fr_13VDdxX3FFTDmGTjzUZBoZQCNaIwhptiTwrCSEyDYHMgCEzG6_E2m65Rdb5nWn8Vx7rD3zOAEb5j8e73TBL5RZYC6QwpQBHcg1Y3rSuq-p8Lv/s4032/IMG_0261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJZ4LJkQG0Pu-2D5uMZ9qeNrUDzcwHFxNutdDGqAsdRL4eYMOU20qBBhXKt_uSoF0qXy4cDfc7lX5Fr_13VDdxX3FFTDmGTjzUZBoZQCNaIwhptiTwrCSEyDYHMgCEzG6_E2m65Rdb5nWn8Vx7rD3zOAEb5j8e73TBL5RZYC6QwpQBHcg1Y3rSuq-p8Lv/s320/IMG_0261.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We met our friends, Elder Gilbert and Sister Deanna Pond from Meridian at the Museum of the Bible and saw the wide range of displays about religious freedom, the history of and art of the Bible, Jesus Christ, and so on. We took a virtual tour of the Holy Land with headsets. A favorite display was a village that resembled Nazareth at the time of Christ, complete with a rabbi who talked about how he and his townspeople pushed Jesus out when He declared His doctrine.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tdc89d1spK_M7MUe8-NnN9MSWjg1aArL4TZwBQjOxkc4vhueo47lSJjGQx5LqmnFS3CDZetGwsZXnj90ZW9FSZsC_7nV3L9DR9_MNAkN8s6gQg30ybQrrfunScG9MIVIHb0J9B2QpUXVphLp90JEmKLgHCYNxh5wGB0YRl7oDgpWuS-eibZF6mGgS_v3/s4032/IMG_0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tdc89d1spK_M7MUe8-NnN9MSWjg1aArL4TZwBQjOxkc4vhueo47lSJjGQx5LqmnFS3CDZetGwsZXnj90ZW9FSZsC_7nV3L9DR9_MNAkN8s6gQg30ybQrrfunScG9MIVIHb0J9B2QpUXVphLp90JEmKLgHCYNxh5wGB0YRl7oDgpWuS-eibZF6mGgS_v3/s320/IMG_0275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNOCPFoWA0KYs2VTXC5pBSIZeO6xevBKWt_FTGphj_W-j91c_YD7jCsll46vw2ltbqSnIkLelg8t1POfBVsamxxQ38xG6K6EFlLLuqty4O-0BOXc7yJ5G8TC-1SxT9YsBkdDxQ8mGhcQ5RhnMvKqLNAZ9U9-bBSsk9V5DXsWD4odLkNWo4l34Vb3YuyE-/s4032/IMG_9138.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNOCPFoWA0KYs2VTXC5pBSIZeO6xevBKWt_FTGphj_W-j91c_YD7jCsll46vw2ltbqSnIkLelg8t1POfBVsamxxQ38xG6K6EFlLLuqty4O-0BOXc7yJ5G8TC-1SxT9YsBkdDxQ8mGhcQ5RhnMvKqLNAZ9U9-bBSsk9V5DXsWD4odLkNWo4l34Vb3YuyE-/s320/IMG_9138.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2L5qbfR5ziNygKYl-a4lHrvbrr3QYCfJpDQLFeAlg1spH-DnWGD_0KalOEXip_Efmg9GensyZbYO0AYmxKNv9vr84SP5mkYgkOFdF4ZI2lQr70hA1AdOjwnYp_JbhvhcvUS8xI27nN2CtoosBSuuvUxFDXbUXCZ4NpOwbjvzMl79a51mjUWochKHRSLU/s640/IMG_0277.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2L5qbfR5ziNygKYl-a4lHrvbrr3QYCfJpDQLFeAlg1spH-DnWGD_0KalOEXip_Efmg9GensyZbYO0AYmxKNv9vr84SP5mkYgkOFdF4ZI2lQr70hA1AdOjwnYp_JbhvhcvUS8xI27nN2CtoosBSuuvUxFDXbUXCZ4NpOwbjvzMl79a51mjUWochKHRSLU/s320/IMG_0277.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Pr-mRPic86LeRf9G46Z8_FXhDkNHjYcecZoa2ObutvctnngwuR_0liH2XwTJX-0xSM3PHpTP0WOr0Pc0m-mIbKzckYYmRmajd9S20iZE60Dwqp_dZmdJ9GhDdnz9mBywKkqiP1lRzFyB7MEsAqfyyNrOY-247iRLmj8bezSSCrM5y535xCaTGmRkgjYB/s640/IMG_0272.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Pr-mRPic86LeRf9G46Z8_FXhDkNHjYcecZoa2ObutvctnngwuR_0liH2XwTJX-0xSM3PHpTP0WOr0Pc0m-mIbKzckYYmRmajd9S20iZE60Dwqp_dZmdJ9GhDdnz9mBywKkqiP1lRzFyB7MEsAqfyyNrOY-247iRLmj8bezSSCrM5y535xCaTGmRkgjYB/s320/IMG_0272.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>One Saturday in July when we had visited the temple area, we stopped at the nearby National Museum of Health and Medicine, founded during the Civil War. It displays preserved amputated limbs, examples of early surgical instruments, etc. There is a tiny piece of Lincoln's skull from his autopsy. (No photo for this museum, thankfully.) </p><p>When we visited the Barlow Center with our senior missionary friends, in July, they took us to the top of their high-rise and we viewed Georgetown. We could see the Watergate Hotel. We walked through Georgetown and ate at an upscale Italian Restaurant.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwofJmmQsxcOHJt8GEL_30p3iXPF4ZpX37i3vvCc9BiUe77HZlqPmWWoiprPwov4adyBlzry2vm0x7c2VU1VWB5ybRfJ8gsiv-UxtSi8iutYo-pPBu6KwW6pB72zkrQCbZfIveb5vVZgR9VM9eNQ-CCIrX_7-x9rfXnKmDOsJtvqeJXfBsiX_YurjpZEiy/s4032/IMG_5355.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwofJmmQsxcOHJt8GEL_30p3iXPF4ZpX37i3vvCc9BiUe77HZlqPmWWoiprPwov4adyBlzry2vm0x7c2VU1VWB5ybRfJ8gsiv-UxtSi8iutYo-pPBu6KwW6pB72zkrQCbZfIveb5vVZgR9VM9eNQ-CCIrX_7-x9rfXnKmDOsJtvqeJXfBsiX_YurjpZEiy/s320/IMG_5355.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHpYDGZhFpc6KE_r0dHiMNak1nlwWdMM84eQfut7iCkZTjZuVfNR_QmAuQYvMpbJcUN8oOPrS0h3IsaJHpLez8oRoTG38t3anGCp9JMHB_XA0NUdBS2yAhcRkhykj51-e_AKuCrz4p-ZO0R_hwsll00SehXkbW45ev8BaXaWBxdU_Pcyl3Jry0eDXqLAM/s4032/IMG_5358.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHpYDGZhFpc6KE_r0dHiMNak1nlwWdMM84eQfut7iCkZTjZuVfNR_QmAuQYvMpbJcUN8oOPrS0h3IsaJHpLez8oRoTG38t3anGCp9JMHB_XA0NUdBS2yAhcRkhykj51-e_AKuCrz4p-ZO0R_hwsll00SehXkbW45ev8BaXaWBxdU_Pcyl3Jry0eDXqLAM/s320/IMG_5358.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCF6MKLlIuuUd4_KiEEtq82Gf08Tb-YKyhhu6kaUxj5Hxp5c5bfn8_7h3TDJbsUGqh6AOHl-LRPLVYIbhepQ6mv96KCGN13hgAcBBWuBUoQ6bVeDxWopIDPKHm2fFBCqc1PeH52naKjFEhyphenhyphenugrjy7wxSzLIga1ZBuk3YBs7899H6Fa8yXhtx_ePjHCCPG/s4032/IMG_5368.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCF6MKLlIuuUd4_KiEEtq82Gf08Tb-YKyhhu6kaUxj5Hxp5c5bfn8_7h3TDJbsUGqh6AOHl-LRPLVYIbhepQ6mv96KCGN13hgAcBBWuBUoQ6bVeDxWopIDPKHm2fFBCqc1PeH52naKjFEhyphenhyphenugrjy7wxSzLIga1ZBuk3YBs7899H6Fa8yXhtx_ePjHCCPG/s320/IMG_5368.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-21678964912173887552023-11-26T13:48:00.000-08:002023-12-02T15:37:42.016-08:00Our Underground Railroad Adventure September 2022<p> <span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">Dear family, </span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">Grandpa likes to make FB posts, so I’m sending you this one as his letter to you. "</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">On Labor Day, we took a 4-mile hike along the “The Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park.” The park commemorates the involvement of Montgomery County Maryland residents in the Underground Railroad and celebrates the Quaker heritage and traditions of Sandy Springs.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">We were moved by the chance to think about what it would have felt like to try to run away from an enslaved life toward freedom—with no guarantees of a good life except that —you’d be free. </span><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">(Italics are Debbie's additions.) </span></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1PEDHidG4dlREDlp1KGzOwZFO4TxwwwiXgxQiHtK0Kd9L12bDIfGaUXlfnAY86v_Wwdx95teuFX4kMziMciBrNbk6hNJMVhf4zPcGb7xh8FnOWAypNO9NpWuUvtyFqFnSLCxV0lbi-018Y_9WQ59epMXTShAF7U3j9-rT621zOCefaI6sLrB1onPV9Ks/s1024/imagejpeg_0.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1PEDHidG4dlREDlp1KGzOwZFO4TxwwwiXgxQiHtK0Kd9L12bDIfGaUXlfnAY86v_Wwdx95teuFX4kMziMciBrNbk6hNJMVhf4zPcGb7xh8FnOWAypNO9NpWuUvtyFqFnSLCxV0lbi-018Y_9WQ59epMXTShAF7U3j9-rT621zOCefaI6sLrB1onPV9Ks/s320/imagejpeg_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When we went to the Martin Luther King Memorial on August 27, it was very moving to us. These people were so friendly about our badges and told us (and their T shirts said) they were members of the church from Boston 3rd Ward!! We told them about the Visitors' Center and they decided to take their bus there. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;"></span></i></div><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihyphenhyphenTlnsJagjsY9I7Bg3Yc0ZJmCusNFwkxlcpc_bnNiI4xiNrutr8u6TmoEQ-Hm0LaBzzhy9gtlmo5c84B4N2JCQHkzJ4tZwCuENFuETablfk5VcRwFD6NTENXYM7SgobzpHwktttVSS8oHBEK2r-33Q3pnkNo3gHF4GrwS0TY3pbbACESvFatRYlY0nUt/s4032/IMG_5963.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihyphenhyphenTlnsJagjsY9I7Bg3Yc0ZJmCusNFwkxlcpc_bnNiI4xiNrutr8u6TmoEQ-Hm0LaBzzhy9gtlmo5c84B4N2JCQHkzJ4tZwCuENFuETablfk5VcRwFD6NTENXYM7SgobzpHwktttVSS8oHBEK2r-33Q3pnkNo3gHF4GrwS0TY3pbbACESvFatRYlY0nUt/s320/IMG_5963.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">The </span></i><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">barn was built in 1832 by a Quaker farmer. ): </span></i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif; text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">The term “Underground Railroad” refers to a 19th-century loose secret network of people and places who helped enslaved persons seek freedom in northern free states. The network was never literally underground or an actual railroad. There was no single route or trail used. The route and safe houses depended upon the freedom seeker’s personal circumstances, starting location, and destination. <i>(Thus, this trail is not “exactly" where people ran away, but it is in an area where they would have found help from the Quakers and which was only a day and half’s walk to freedom in Pennsylvania. Also</i></span><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">—</span></i><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;"> most slaves couldn’t swim, so streams were formidable.)</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIlQQ96hfSM9PTmeHnj1Y2TTRwUSRsZEYqAVTkRoNqkhqLfV3iCYgqhNN6aFIYuhwo1zhTRBrAsLoSrisMuJnGoLHqGtFXtApL8c5x1IzOnSay6XywLg7Te8KeaCXKly2sbToFymQxrNj0MnDZ1UCsQlAm420qzFYqEo5lkJD9SCiRbjbU8EWLG0_3JJI/s4032/IMG_5978.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIlQQ96hfSM9PTmeHnj1Y2TTRwUSRsZEYqAVTkRoNqkhqLfV3iCYgqhNN6aFIYuhwo1zhTRBrAsLoSrisMuJnGoLHqGtFXtApL8c5x1IzOnSay6XywLg7Te8KeaCXKly2sbToFymQxrNj0MnDZ1UCsQlAm420qzFYqEo5lkJD9SCiRbjbU8EWLG0_3JJI/s320/IMG_5978.jpeg" width="240" /></a></i></div><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPFVJqG7BEQ1z2onBEG4mGpf_lVuN3wm-ps5T0XL3YsHBkQnhSxFW5zWlcZ1jS0eQ5vMwVzHuEEc0tze16q73P9LLNFR8yyn1CqVmt9aYhFyqR7IcRmLBskJQi2wigcDNEfyg2TerwOG2LJYpfejBJhejwfGUP-Eziqs1-YXWG6UgFuYWe3f8b_nw8KT7/s4032/IMG_5979.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPFVJqG7BEQ1z2onBEG4mGpf_lVuN3wm-ps5T0XL3YsHBkQnhSxFW5zWlcZ1jS0eQ5vMwVzHuEEc0tze16q73P9LLNFR8yyn1CqVmt9aYhFyqR7IcRmLBskJQi2wigcDNEfyg2TerwOG2LJYpfejBJhejwfGUP-Eziqs1-YXWG6UgFuYWe3f8b_nw8KT7/s320/IMG_5979.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">Slaves seeking freedom stayed away from open spaces and heavily traveled roads. They headed toward forested areas where they would be less visible from a long distance. A good place to hide while resting along the journey would have been large bramble patches. Finding the way along the path to freedom was tough. They would find markers and secret signs such as bent tree limbs or stones piled in a certain way. Hollow trees were often used as hiding places. If fields were grown tall with corn or tobacco it provided cover and travelers could cross through the middle without fear. Places such as Sandy Spring could provide fresh water. Springs provided a natural meeting place and trail markers. The 300-year-old giant White Ash near Sandy Spring could have witnessed the journey of many people seeking freedom through the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">In the 1850s Quakers helped make Sandy Spring a prosperous farming and commercial center. The Friends Meeting House (c.1817) was at the center of religious and community life. In the area, some Quakers and free blacks were quietly aiding the “Underground Railroad.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">After our hike, we drove to the Friends Meeting House in Sandy Spring, where a very kind man visited with us, and gave us a tour of the church and cemetery. He told us about the modern-day Quaker <span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5);">religion, and also</span> much of what is shared in this post. </span><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">(This man was the “groundskeeper” and caretaker for the cemetery. He taught us about the history of the building, which was built in 1817 and is still in use. For many years a heavy curtain (where you see the beam in the photo) divided the room and men and women sat on separate sides. He said, “It’s because we distract each other.” They changed that rule. In the 1960s, when they realized they needed more space, they decided to add balconies. They pulled out the original plans and studied the walls and realized balconies had been planned in the beginning of construction . TheQuaker Cemetery now only accepts cremated remains--probably due to space limitations. </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMv1RrafF_T_heO8uUlktg3IZnSRZ0mv7x1dHuDPpo8awCbcq1YLu8Rqvr_WrFoRUAW5iVSgBYcvdB1kLf0FjEm77eGmXkqiyIv5TDiHqrcf-tAoJqt2LHuzVlITvv5EZM-5iwOGUiDeBr7GbsNvx5144Rwt6KzA9CbfbTFjiXbPRcOVPl44em4qQs-pd/s4032/IMG_6008.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMv1RrafF_T_heO8uUlktg3IZnSRZ0mv7x1dHuDPpo8awCbcq1YLu8Rqvr_WrFoRUAW5iVSgBYcvdB1kLf0FjEm77eGmXkqiyIv5TDiHqrcf-tAoJqt2LHuzVlITvv5EZM-5iwOGUiDeBr7GbsNvx5144Rwt6KzA9CbfbTFjiXbPRcOVPl44em4qQs-pd/s320/IMG_6008.jpeg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kkLGalluhUUry3zBjUnLiBaHsh-OcyYZXwO5CE23wvqKYIQnMsCuS4Zo9osJ6b1kw73x_0wVmbTuHCVTHHx0nuHH6O1eL7P6bgdZF6VAk3BoW8WIeqXRWlZUv37R6BvlHX7LAHYDtF-ufKNmwLWcBkhJGRrqdOou0XGb6uuMy2WdolWYonZT82Bx2M9s/s4032/IMG_6001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kkLGalluhUUry3zBjUnLiBaHsh-OcyYZXwO5CE23wvqKYIQnMsCuS4Zo9osJ6b1kw73x_0wVmbTuHCVTHHx0nuHH6O1eL7P6bgdZF6VAk3BoW8WIeqXRWlZUv37R6BvlHX7LAHYDtF-ufKNmwLWcBkhJGRrqdOou0XGb6uuMy2WdolWYonZT82Bx2M9s/s320/IMG_6001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-28278860523957292592023-11-25T14:15:00.000-08:002023-11-29T19:07:01.318-08:00Going UP in the Washington Monument! and... Air and Space Museum (in DC)<p> In October, we managed to get tickets to go up in the Washington Monument--but on a weekday! We left the office in the hands of Workmans (it was one of their first days in the mission!) and with Coles and Connells, we rode the Metro to DC to go up in the Monument. It was a gorgeous fall day and we could see for miles-- we could even see the Washington DC Temple!! We learned a lot of amazing history behind the Monument and how it was built, the forces of nature it has withstood, and the icon that it is. Three helicopters landed at the White House, and the guide told us when there are three, you know the President is in one of them. (That's as close as we came to seeing Pres. Biden in person!) </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBky9o_F3z0iwghByriv5qHTa1bSdvN34BWoYdj7berZkjlP-cEzlxCosc1rx2h25EIwCWbwqC630kHbHIL6dhOzChJFLMRt3Hy2wogMc5Z9lzCdTslKpU0i1MjRjFhddByCyyHLe6cJamH6BseCcuiLlhZMt66_eT1zLNbD5yzQlmNhpInA6rYvwIkrz/s4032/IMG_6759.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBky9o_F3z0iwghByriv5qHTa1bSdvN34BWoYdj7berZkjlP-cEzlxCosc1rx2h25EIwCWbwqC630kHbHIL6dhOzChJFLMRt3Hy2wogMc5Z9lzCdTslKpU0i1MjRjFhddByCyyHLe6cJamH6BseCcuiLlhZMt66_eT1zLNbD5yzQlmNhpInA6rYvwIkrz/s320/IMG_6759.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMcmB7EftozjhjBp93sarRZ4B-vC4DzwyKPT4kN8H7SQHB2WsmgoF4DiFKzC3DUbA5eJjfLM-C3eNZa4G_XJSXejkUrkpd6szQsUnItpvmrAqRrkFZeVLwojvQfMQGdsy1rKDPxrM4bA-7WvqNHAEL5DrG-VUX2yACIKWeaJ-dXu7xlLj8VnUTpLhWO-u/s4032/IMG_6775.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMcmB7EftozjhjBp93sarRZ4B-vC4DzwyKPT4kN8H7SQHB2WsmgoF4DiFKzC3DUbA5eJjfLM-C3eNZa4G_XJSXejkUrkpd6szQsUnItpvmrAqRrkFZeVLwojvQfMQGdsy1rKDPxrM4bA-7WvqNHAEL5DrG-VUX2yACIKWeaJ-dXu7xlLj8VnUTpLhWO-u/s320/IMG_6775.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgAi3phj_OZfQH4ATW3p0Ezr3BSKzkNOEryVpMTWkYD16H-bNqlGzupT8EoD_93bmhgHit7xYQ9taQc70quD3xmUdcjKFlgaJc-KqtAfilHf6_oYpq-EBHB53nxPpwAmaH6onBAZB9kXUrqJNraini-aXMLnIFjIrIWT0uOhf5sKAZU8hiuFoi8OTTHkP/s4032/IMG_6828.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgAi3phj_OZfQH4ATW3p0Ezr3BSKzkNOEryVpMTWkYD16H-bNqlGzupT8EoD_93bmhgHit7xYQ9taQc70quD3xmUdcjKFlgaJc-KqtAfilHf6_oYpq-EBHB53nxPpwAmaH6onBAZB9kXUrqJNraini-aXMLnIFjIrIWT0uOhf5sKAZU8hiuFoi8OTTHkP/s320/IMG_6828.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K09Ufxy11rvtbJagD6p2T3ShRp6GE3ikSDQLiQpx7No-oXxFMzzFBMlW9nbZG3wKbXtoVvB7OCAgXISfkNpgg0U6-t7MQW_tJcvvsUBmuGtIOWO5nCns6_nphzxagETvQpdcxp_oWYr0vjn5jSiDIPhgsh1atAh5qgzQdG_FelCCMsXIw3QJOhuRGXX9/s4032/IMG_6816.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K09Ufxy11rvtbJagD6p2T3ShRp6GE3ikSDQLiQpx7No-oXxFMzzFBMlW9nbZG3wKbXtoVvB7OCAgXISfkNpgg0U6-t7MQW_tJcvvsUBmuGtIOWO5nCns6_nphzxagETvQpdcxp_oWYr0vjn5jSiDIPhgsh1atAh5qgzQdG_FelCCMsXIw3QJOhuRGXX9/s320/IMG_6816.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>In the winter, we went to the Air and Space Museum in DC--one of Norm's favorites of our whole mission! That day we also went to the National Archives, and we saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other important documents. They do not allow photos. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJwbHGaEtrQd3ZW8seIH7IFzw-WWS-galWXdX-FGqBpa1BW-0ZYqXQCA6wET1Rty9HNi7-qMp1lcq-C66xe5T8yB1NwESEXGDqgsw10vMPKcGXSuNVy9WoEx2-ygVFl6z53bw6K80Rg7O1Qc0vvn2FmPLaZQOUR0aae61bMli1jZgfW6JyXBp1YFbLdTo/s4032/IMG_8380.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJwbHGaEtrQd3ZW8seIH7IFzw-WWS-galWXdX-FGqBpa1BW-0ZYqXQCA6wET1Rty9HNi7-qMp1lcq-C66xe5T8yB1NwESEXGDqgsw10vMPKcGXSuNVy9WoEx2-ygVFl6z53bw6K80Rg7O1Qc0vvn2FmPLaZQOUR0aae61bMli1jZgfW6JyXBp1YFbLdTo/s320/IMG_8380.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeWgWtYY5Ap-lV3cA77XOiDTYRdoq4btlJXLLPApmBYH5mTfmbloAXtQ59iBZ6wAe9KkpsUtVTnWnh7lJHbCOFlInBJGAFfPuw1_-OJ13gYE3OZ66rL9SY4sJk_sxZ7xNDgbntp9aHAtDf9wAAZBirkTdOQpag12Pta9dqGLOxD_dqFSF3Pu4m0V95aVP/s640/IMG_8411.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeWgWtYY5Ap-lV3cA77XOiDTYRdoq4btlJXLLPApmBYH5mTfmbloAXtQ59iBZ6wAe9KkpsUtVTnWnh7lJHbCOFlInBJGAFfPuw1_-OJ13gYE3OZ66rL9SY4sJk_sxZ7xNDgbntp9aHAtDf9wAAZBirkTdOQpag12Pta9dqGLOxD_dqFSF3Pu4m0V95aVP/s320/IMG_8411.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIng2925OuGNlsuBzUDjarWXvvsupbWJ23fhGgvph12jcAJNNdQusomHBEJMKXNmcboHfcHMpGxwuyieNrPBYNI6v_F3CIAbqXBTvQB9LlPRjwLtgAC2kUgo8yd1C7RAChm6akLFYvopM8AWCdwsfA9qcFd0ku6t_EOO7PL9QeJfYswn4DCWjGxcikx2HH/s640/IMG_0059.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIng2925OuGNlsuBzUDjarWXvvsupbWJ23fhGgvph12jcAJNNdQusomHBEJMKXNmcboHfcHMpGxwuyieNrPBYNI6v_F3CIAbqXBTvQB9LlPRjwLtgAC2kUgo8yd1C7RAChm6akLFYvopM8AWCdwsfA9qcFd0ku6t_EOO7PL9QeJfYswn4DCWjGxcikx2HH/s320/IMG_0059.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-25491038039788415572023-11-25T13:12:00.000-08:002023-11-29T19:16:13.507-08:00National Museum of African American History and Culture, Natural History Museum and Jefferson Memorial<p> When Emily, Anna and Holly visited, we hit several important places!! To wit:</p><p>The National Museum of African American History and Culture: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuFW7v4-Jt1F6kTS7L30EpM_cT5S4Xd20Z3z9sXtvY98ZYrxR5-G74Y4sVlki4GzpdnJsFVagORklj9ttA39WJTwhHMTRp8KFIzBje9inJ8Cy3LFRcjuEJ1WfdIBKaHRfundVHjQdqarVnEjufJf4l7-ymGUlYi4-8Tr4cRTU-V_0CQSbnOxnnn0ECEiO/s4032/IMG_4778.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuFW7v4-Jt1F6kTS7L30EpM_cT5S4Xd20Z3z9sXtvY98ZYrxR5-G74Y4sVlki4GzpdnJsFVagORklj9ttA39WJTwhHMTRp8KFIzBje9inJ8Cy3LFRcjuEJ1WfdIBKaHRfundVHjQdqarVnEjufJf4l7-ymGUlYi4-8Tr4cRTU-V_0CQSbnOxnnn0ECEiO/s320/IMG_4778.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozgMM329V25Vlsn_eCVcaUqJH63UbcX56z4r-q0pmUYM4E6qwfY64IOO2H3605zidf8wt0-aqX0nf8BdxYAfl9R4kvD8a-dBKZVWUCUh4Ugm79V6Ev4tHZIAzEcdWku8mpoA87d6f8WeUK6CXS9Q1B9fMijauEtN7K2QHbG9KxIWF7zdDIur3sZF33y7Z/s640/IMG_3038.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="473" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozgMM329V25Vlsn_eCVcaUqJH63UbcX56z4r-q0pmUYM4E6qwfY64IOO2H3605zidf8wt0-aqX0nf8BdxYAfl9R4kvD8a-dBKZVWUCUh4Ugm79V6Ev4tHZIAzEcdWku8mpoA87d6f8WeUK6CXS9Q1B9fMijauEtN7K2QHbG9KxIWF7zdDIur3sZF33y7Z/s320/IMG_3038.jpeg" width="237" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZjWQQuWfL4aILts9WmZeM7yM4oqquh7G56jMRIUwQjWZfsNI3QtuAo7cadyzPxYPXORxja0n_C456TAJBycTKop-8pmZPtlOJ7Co1Q2acVtEwK-J4fXZ1gGjpilexy9G8mJKRCEQpb_7xTOtJtpgHdsnRcGq20IIUUPsCsKmbxJsQwdqFmIvsejjkEvf/s640/IMG_3036.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZjWQQuWfL4aILts9WmZeM7yM4oqquh7G56jMRIUwQjWZfsNI3QtuAo7cadyzPxYPXORxja0n_C456TAJBycTKop-8pmZPtlOJ7Co1Q2acVtEwK-J4fXZ1gGjpilexy9G8mJKRCEQpb_7xTOtJtpgHdsnRcGq20IIUUPsCsKmbxJsQwdqFmIvsejjkEvf/s320/IMG_3036.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Natural History Museum: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt9yfAusWlDhUDCZI33UvzyzN1SSrrKT7-E0hiQz90DqNbgs2kapFRsW084RWOXHEdWClAUQ3AlyA-I7CY-GCYw4o77om4YLQ23Y4V9R3kIhpsI5adbjF9vP2WN0ASd3SbON0LUiP72fqP5aRvWXMAwXt6lrwrEl3-bGI7RCRhQOO7vbsUEeuVTtVkjtc/s4032/IMG_4661.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt9yfAusWlDhUDCZI33UvzyzN1SSrrKT7-E0hiQz90DqNbgs2kapFRsW084RWOXHEdWClAUQ3AlyA-I7CY-GCYw4o77om4YLQ23Y4V9R3kIhpsI5adbjF9vP2WN0ASd3SbON0LUiP72fqP5aRvWXMAwXt6lrwrEl3-bGI7RCRhQOO7vbsUEeuVTtVkjtc/s320/IMG_4661.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2QlPqyu5PIhA8vC54yE4D6hRG3uvpO3qwXu_P9e8Ym-BwIhRIRgbY9Y79YW1HdRXNTiAMpx74HZNGFbJa-e6JbkSMWRpW_bvsDFVHuZGVkPBYgc-o78zz8Qj9DvmSEE0notgncgaI2bRoXly9PsW5NyWlqPVfdg6TApQisO2lw76pVXeBlgifSHE_2lC/s4032/IMG_9352.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2QlPqyu5PIhA8vC54yE4D6hRG3uvpO3qwXu_P9e8Ym-BwIhRIRgbY9Y79YW1HdRXNTiAMpx74HZNGFbJa-e6JbkSMWRpW_bvsDFVHuZGVkPBYgc-o78zz8Qj9DvmSEE0notgncgaI2bRoXly9PsW5NyWlqPVfdg6TApQisO2lw76pVXeBlgifSHE_2lC/s320/IMG_9352.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZFGIw5RqVQPqJVtdQKIytWCdThxtm4SUWsHmbfP7vgbHbhTcJVQg5SvnLrSk0ve7JVFiatUaejEqyzhGYxlcuWsv1Av9ykWNWueMZPR6XIuShPXolWwt9sZHni-XKx0vlKIIxVtEXV6uXQyY20iIJjSGFbcdPaoqgpqR3AUkfLdX4txPl8xv6yIRyQPg/s4032/IMG_9348.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZFGIw5RqVQPqJVtdQKIytWCdThxtm4SUWsHmbfP7vgbHbhTcJVQg5SvnLrSk0ve7JVFiatUaejEqyzhGYxlcuWsv1Av9ykWNWueMZPR6XIuShPXolWwt9sZHni-XKx0vlKIIxVtEXV6uXQyY20iIJjSGFbcdPaoqgpqR3AUkfLdX4txPl8xv6yIRyQPg/s320/IMG_9348.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The Jefferson Memorial</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4YdFihWmPU9yZ4Ycj1SoNE8Yo5Ng35Xke63xBdcTunFm3YGE54HUN0uTk_bPzC0LXBLkthu7JATRcA7ie0_14_I5EX96BUjs0I586cFOE4rUEC8_hS1zIH0P8cs9ln9WpGar-Z_5QmZddBDjJJNgNleDCGVeP6UmndUHZA7PCqj2HG8egVrBirFSSzLh/s4032/IMG_4698.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4YdFihWmPU9yZ4Ycj1SoNE8Yo5Ng35Xke63xBdcTunFm3YGE54HUN0uTk_bPzC0LXBLkthu7JATRcA7ie0_14_I5EX96BUjs0I586cFOE4rUEC8_hS1zIH0P8cs9ln9WpGar-Z_5QmZddBDjJJNgNleDCGVeP6UmndUHZA7PCqj2HG8egVrBirFSSzLh/s320/IMG_4698.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gTxnhlpQmocLwnWxLrDtEuoj009woD2yaEBuOE8J95Vk9e1LsxjoCkyayhuTnR0k-isOxRxZJMPaiep3UTM13wnj6ua6Rz8iHFJf3L3GfjfrEY1VvGa96Pd28EK_ViviLHF6YRO0DCPJY9fmlYfRrU7ITtQsoS9sFryKw4JUfqyxr2N23ckfmJ-da1Zs/s4032/IMG_4688.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gTxnhlpQmocLwnWxLrDtEuoj009woD2yaEBuOE8J95Vk9e1LsxjoCkyayhuTnR0k-isOxRxZJMPaiep3UTM13wnj6ua6Rz8iHFJf3L3GfjfrEY1VvGa96Pd28EK_ViviLHF6YRO0DCPJY9fmlYfRrU7ITtQsoS9sFryKw4JUfqyxr2N23ckfmJ-da1Zs/s320/IMG_4688.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEFlT2Bvhm8zjJzycPkqC0pqhStdlbcB2wWqlrBdIaRwXGt3DdvPcV_fsnWcVYhfWonHwk7eGq3p6MqflsXuxk2oiHDNwrlZwbt4qTKS-D7sA7f9MQB4PfZCvRlJSXzD57fapXKKc5ZjusJXZrtsT_2RdW_ZhTC_Xe_XU9mSVjMGqEctOjlJI92faDPw0/s4032/IMG_4584.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEFlT2Bvhm8zjJzycPkqC0pqhStdlbcB2wWqlrBdIaRwXGt3DdvPcV_fsnWcVYhfWonHwk7eGq3p6MqflsXuxk2oiHDNwrlZwbt4qTKS-D7sA7f9MQB4PfZCvRlJSXzD57fapXKKc5ZjusJXZrtsT_2RdW_ZhTC_Xe_XU9mSVjMGqEctOjlJI92faDPw0/s320/IMG_4584.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table>We also went to the Washington DC Temple Open House. :) <span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on an August day with Eddingtons (Barlow Center Directors) and Coles. That day, we had lunch at the art museum cafeteria with them, Groths and other seniors, some of whom, like Norm, were celebrating birthdays. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf6y78LfzpASW2AZkzLQ9b-MuOD3KNCf4oGyKEoAYrCctBKaq9Xxwd_SPPIDZRL7Y69GrUrqyIQnKnt4Fv8leSErxkJfsFNtZea-8Sqc1-vbQbCR5FgXExoZP7nivPx4bKctCQv4DCChK3YtBBc16_3xLJCKP42n8BgQ7SbhZIT8yS5WxqFu-lpJ__x92/s4032/IMG_5833.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf6y78LfzpASW2AZkzLQ9b-MuOD3KNCf4oGyKEoAYrCctBKaq9Xxwd_SPPIDZRL7Y69GrUrqyIQnKnt4Fv8leSErxkJfsFNtZea-8Sqc1-vbQbCR5FgXExoZP7nivPx4bKctCQv4DCChK3YtBBc16_3xLJCKP42n8BgQ7SbhZIT8yS5WxqFu-lpJ__x92/s320/IMG_5833.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-dDSZIbWqQMmtehXxtcwldskt2xvmV9OxRHJBjTwIRj3YMjQic0XYRB2ZXV32EAVKG9OrHxXRBK0kxCLcALgNK7RbvGwCgIMsOgJhtBykV_s5lSjY4j9beATn0KSzRWmFwoTY6eYMrsQrln5QkkdFEPUoiekO_tVctpXm5YgR4cM3UVk9611txZ4Qjk2/s4032/IMG_5818.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-dDSZIbWqQMmtehXxtcwldskt2xvmV9OxRHJBjTwIRj3YMjQic0XYRB2ZXV32EAVKG9OrHxXRBK0kxCLcALgNK7RbvGwCgIMsOgJhtBykV_s5lSjY4j9beATn0KSzRWmFwoTY6eYMrsQrln5QkkdFEPUoiekO_tVctpXm5YgR4cM3UVk9611txZ4Qjk2/s320/IMG_5818.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-68926724049489814482023-11-24T20:10:00.000-08:002023-11-29T19:10:28.705-08:00Big trips to Frederick and the National Zoo<p> We left our mission boundaries just a few times; two of those were to pick up new cars. In early May, we drove to Frederick. Norm drove the new car and Debbie drove the other mission car back home. We took time to see the museum at the Civil War Monocacy Battlefield. Later in the summer, we took Coles to Ellicott City, had a lovely lunch, and they, and Norm, each drove a new car and Debbie drove the mission car back to the office. For Debbie, this drive through the green Maryland countryside (not taking the freeway) was one of the loveliest memories of the mission. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviEJrALqcLmqkoUCMFgOBdrbVXtT4kJlD0VUfKaaOl-Oe7BltpQ4IF_4gAuYdZSLJ7FDdQDcrHWAnzJdWy8NWHt2jUtgBQ8nmEu9n-LFIUJXJK0ZuvUv5Js5XGRvpzinSHr2hAv7PGasVq1kxP_ghkh9KRI8-HhEyeE7ucfdiSbsD1HQD-dOh24gL0fJ_/s4032/IMG_4350.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviEJrALqcLmqkoUCMFgOBdrbVXtT4kJlD0VUfKaaOl-Oe7BltpQ4IF_4gAuYdZSLJ7FDdQDcrHWAnzJdWy8NWHt2jUtgBQ8nmEu9n-LFIUJXJK0ZuvUv5Js5XGRvpzinSHr2hAv7PGasVq1kxP_ghkh9KRI8-HhEyeE7ucfdiSbsD1HQD-dOh24gL0fJ_/s320/IMG_4350.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqR2GlD3GUSBGCwd2liagUWKrpKJTOzMTZlfaP5QOR1alkB9AN54fEskynU51MUaJHsxRNcoPizfQu1zkSbkxqzN4Sp_zF4MVxJ8Musoq52x_cfheT-155lsp-5SQq5ERpf0P9bM-i6L5fqP6w115qCNVDkP27rCHu2Rs7t83xsn4NRQ2kbQQCHN0GNwZ/s4032/IMG_4345.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqR2GlD3GUSBGCwd2liagUWKrpKJTOzMTZlfaP5QOR1alkB9AN54fEskynU51MUaJHsxRNcoPizfQu1zkSbkxqzN4Sp_zF4MVxJ8Musoq52x_cfheT-155lsp-5SQq5ERpf0P9bM-i6L5fqP6w115qCNVDkP27rCHu2Rs7t83xsn4NRQ2kbQQCHN0GNwZ/s320/IMG_4345.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monocacy Battlefield</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We visited the National Zoo with Coles in May, and again with Emily, Anna, Holly and Rachel Zobell and children in June. The pandas had to go back to China in late 2023.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCqouFk68XQRBbac47NEGaxoF6JpXiOHbGE0qwHot2AeM2UxcUKMcm73mT7YruIGCAY2rx61d1GMzdejc_3tSruvuhgU3j4pT4y8_TeNIScGCVVI96LwaHYIiwmmn7y9pdBr29u6mlEWoyT3VfxqUnBLdhmfTRCbR7YOr-4Fn4ztXHH9FVYvhrWdKjt5R/s4032/IMG_4221.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCqouFk68XQRBbac47NEGaxoF6JpXiOHbGE0qwHot2AeM2UxcUKMcm73mT7YruIGCAY2rx61d1GMzdejc_3tSruvuhgU3j4pT4y8_TeNIScGCVVI96LwaHYIiwmmn7y9pdBr29u6mlEWoyT3VfxqUnBLdhmfTRCbR7YOr-4Fn4ztXHH9FVYvhrWdKjt5R/s320/IMG_4221.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJw9mu-J4mNT9V7ImFn7fpH06aD44vqqqGs_nywxX6LphAA6V7y39H7Q6EvEl7MFXdUDkPXWoorpfK1k7AFK-C8xBtL5h-hBCf-Hr7CmLBtKKCMMTSONX2g76K9dqxyifeTyfZWY5y-EVfKfx9eRGjJhi0-Yy7tM4mfHjqomn_TouUjLBOjy_HCe9BhQMo/s640/IMG_4252.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJw9mu-J4mNT9V7ImFn7fpH06aD44vqqqGs_nywxX6LphAA6V7y39H7Q6EvEl7MFXdUDkPXWoorpfK1k7AFK-C8xBtL5h-hBCf-Hr7CmLBtKKCMMTSONX2g76K9dqxyifeTyfZWY5y-EVfKfx9eRGjJhi0-Yy7tM4mfHjqomn_TouUjLBOjy_HCe9BhQMo/s320/IMG_4252.JPG" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUGZmahMJexwN-iI90uq1bjBcgNaOv0wuYzvhOS9NGscPP16YDLN_oMvuIho7WiseOcHq1Mrlc30dJqFVTcWTFi50UqCa22uJBO1XKws_6tk6S0gozBn4G14PFNl3G9f3wuvrrLIbhR6oB1RSz8fmYF60IKwul8357BzWMpg66ZkABbXwrv4QW30XxKov/s4032/IMG_4215.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUGZmahMJexwN-iI90uq1bjBcgNaOv0wuYzvhOS9NGscPP16YDLN_oMvuIho7WiseOcHq1Mrlc30dJqFVTcWTFi50UqCa22uJBO1XKws_6tk6S0gozBn4G14PFNl3G9f3wuvrrLIbhR6oB1RSz8fmYF60IKwul8357BzWMpg66ZkABbXwrv4QW30XxKov/s320/IMG_4215.jpeg" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOTV2Pbhqjfz604egeQds5yTkdBdLNcMYsXHg2jbKhMgOeqKsE9a6mmkLACt7ZjnRIQReEEQd9iNRVrcJZ_JxfMzBYwaOkRop4q7W2SYAJk-mGUiC6ji3o9SEyqi52GtX-blsTeZqT82r41JaQlVnBRTqA8rfQR3NuQoyb2eV7GU9nipTllYjQ7mzYmPH/s320/IMG_4548.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOTV2Pbhqjfz604egeQds5yTkdBdLNcMYsXHg2jbKhMgOeqKsE9a6mmkLACt7ZjnRIQReEEQd9iNRVrcJZ_JxfMzBYwaOkRop4q7W2SYAJk-mGUiC6ji3o9SEyqi52GtX-blsTeZqT82r41JaQlVnBRTqA8rfQR3NuQoyb2eV7GU9nipTllYjQ7mzYmPH/s1600/IMG_4548.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-76411442475791535352023-11-24T19:37:00.000-08:002023-11-29T19:11:56.057-08:00Missionary Birthdays, our Anniversary at the Holocaust Museum, and Valentines Day!<p> On August 26, 2022, Norm celebrated his 71st birthday with our missionary friends at the mission office, both young and old. The Sister Leaders decorated our office door. In the evening, we went to dinner at Ted's Montana Grill in Rockville and had buffalo ribs. There was a picture of the Teton Peaks in the restaurant, and we told the waiter that our home was near there. He said, "If I lived there, I'd never move here!" So we were happy to tell him our purpose in coming to Maryland. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyTP9tfVZaTM3LVuk_A6jEkQyZ0ZgjPpgrgAuxEkEbeSL0a4SmA09gF9SXoHvF5crz-9wICi0rY5Xa4f3raCf9T7qlT2Pfu4bELiHa5AKC4RQaT3t3gqcYrzggeWKswPQBfcsUN4YlVdkTqlBUoYhBNYfkGevcGorkx1YDlrknZlESv89qdeoGQ70am-n/s4032/IMG_5753.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyTP9tfVZaTM3LVuk_A6jEkQyZ0ZgjPpgrgAuxEkEbeSL0a4SmA09gF9SXoHvF5crz-9wICi0rY5Xa4f3raCf9T7qlT2Pfu4bELiHa5AKC4RQaT3t3gqcYrzggeWKswPQBfcsUN4YlVdkTqlBUoYhBNYfkGevcGorkx1YDlrknZlESv89qdeoGQ70am-n/s320/IMG_5753.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OzDvN6RUUlSy2abTtPS5Q0epf-nCEcodz8XB4E4uEoHjnWFp7SQmOVgBKFkPivGcxlpfeJV49BwwEVH0ACRIQ68yXKwgrbWlT98iKJH4JE2wtIgRrmxfZPEsVWPvkYOYZpEptahqiXg1-ntV4lc6w9wpxu19ztmZYQsDTm3aRAwDIF-ye_tz4_bAF9dK/s4032/IMG_5742.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OzDvN6RUUlSy2abTtPS5Q0epf-nCEcodz8XB4E4uEoHjnWFp7SQmOVgBKFkPivGcxlpfeJV49BwwEVH0ACRIQ68yXKwgrbWlT98iKJH4JE2wtIgRrmxfZPEsVWPvkYOYZpEptahqiXg1-ntV4lc6w9wpxu19ztmZYQsDTm3aRAwDIF-ye_tz4_bAF9dK/s320/IMG_5742.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xbcYrwL1ocXEXSoqgIAHoumYicDiZdyjMPIjHk7Psf2F1MBNhnJevY8CA4wKeVf8ebeTwOagc1MUU3DnyQbP1SaC9SnjrakAGQ2c7HdX3HslCbc8H7Urv_QNvR0rMhhUkWh58eDcYO8SfkskkECKaZ73t93gwUECYg_DY4KOSDoTUaDM5wIP_o6HwE2S/s4032/IMG_5776.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xbcYrwL1ocXEXSoqgIAHoumYicDiZdyjMPIjHk7Psf2F1MBNhnJevY8CA4wKeVf8ebeTwOagc1MUU3DnyQbP1SaC9SnjrakAGQ2c7HdX3HslCbc8H7Urv_QNvR0rMhhUkWh58eDcYO8SfkskkECKaZ73t93gwUECYg_DY4KOSDoTUaDM5wIP_o6HwE2S/s320/IMG_5776.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>On February 7, 2023, Debbie celebrated her 68th birthday. Sister Susan Workman and Elder Rod Workman hosted a delicious dinner for President Todd Clarke (Feb. 5) and Debbie at their apartment. It was fun. We also had festivities in the office. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n_pwLoghrQLTX38-LfRqSBOpcMf8pEkouvfqXl-DdvoKGL0xEzoTUSTaLmihfGUdCsuxKRVq7mGZm1AZWwo1C2E7lS8E5ak4CC7FePF53Ptly5XusSl2d8VF9jz_4KmDMSrzXEl52ynRBAYyUqdSKsoFDnQFK5flGJX1gnQa8hirUOrNhHHwuJh8el9-/s4032/IMG_8567.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n_pwLoghrQLTX38-LfRqSBOpcMf8pEkouvfqXl-DdvoKGL0xEzoTUSTaLmihfGUdCsuxKRVq7mGZm1AZWwo1C2E7lS8E5ak4CC7FePF53Ptly5XusSl2d8VF9jz_4KmDMSrzXEl52ynRBAYyUqdSKsoFDnQFK5flGJX1gnQa8hirUOrNhHHwuJh8el9-/s320/IMG_8567.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazs-vE_pDH6irJ0s5Bjmg6O6SxG1RjLjBA0I_wG9fyXwAXTdD-ZkfS5Vxrs92yQWU5LGnAnSHrfbS9pkv6m9ah3jLhK6dyeeBHXGA2hUfyCdRbSc8v2HVlc8_Aia3L63Clhn4cuk5Pave4n_-9tMlKTGAhAQ-etd7Isru1qIT5skrIM517UGdKbaSGaLp/s640/IMG_0230.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazs-vE_pDH6irJ0s5Bjmg6O6SxG1RjLjBA0I_wG9fyXwAXTdD-ZkfS5Vxrs92yQWU5LGnAnSHrfbS9pkv6m9ah3jLhK6dyeeBHXGA2hUfyCdRbSc8v2HVlc8_Aia3L63Clhn4cuk5Pave4n_-9tMlKTGAhAQ-etd7Isru1qIT5skrIM517UGdKbaSGaLp/s320/IMG_0230.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13mv0TEawWyyrMHWKzpMJEzBtkdshgEL0wjTqApmN8AFcLN0lzuT8FBwdIoc7Dlgq1Qdc8WiMbE1PWzPR2zYcYI7KMO0FDi8VuWti4O3I2oDszIwv_57tMMEk0pPOWq2c-Vw6YNWSYGzGRxD3kqaVu0RUCdG25Ak2OoWngLi-3AI4gdYVLxWOV2WHdTtB/s2192/IMG_0236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2192" data-original-width="1672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13mv0TEawWyyrMHWKzpMJEzBtkdshgEL0wjTqApmN8AFcLN0lzuT8FBwdIoc7Dlgq1Qdc8WiMbE1PWzPR2zYcYI7KMO0FDi8VuWti4O3I2oDszIwv_57tMMEk0pPOWq2c-Vw6YNWSYGzGRxD3kqaVu0RUCdG25Ak2OoWngLi-3AI4gdYVLxWOV2WHdTtB/s320/IMG_0236.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p> On Nov. 26, 2022, we celebrated our 46th anniversary by going to the Holocaust Museum with Connells and Workmans. We had fun with our friends but it is a most solemn place-- photos of victims going up in a huge hall, and room after room explaining and illustrating the tragedies of the Holocaust.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS7pvG5HUsiosDeCgWBs_xUWo19ge7S8CsXVf6Ciily009Uq1kZW8584nsur7M76ijmJBuy_QofRLdQwNftW6voC8qSXv4bPqsoKlhkkKtT6o1qJYk93VN_PkutrWRCOHwz6FJekSUoVTs1M62FMHb1jVgaETcmpKcCDiYOLiFdZVnUhGrSKEi-NFbxXR/s4032/IMG_4471.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS7pvG5HUsiosDeCgWBs_xUWo19ge7S8CsXVf6Ciily009Uq1kZW8584nsur7M76ijmJBuy_QofRLdQwNftW6voC8qSXv4bPqsoKlhkkKtT6o1qJYk93VN_PkutrWRCOHwz6FJekSUoVTs1M62FMHb1jVgaETcmpKcCDiYOLiFdZVnUhGrSKEi-NFbxXR/s320/IMG_4471.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJ7TGmHwjj_tP8wI7ya-BoiaCIGQLMjs6jplRL-j4_iTWC99DWGI67EHxdL2NKY3dVikJcGvnuFAVbBrpwMgIzRAt4roOkaQHeCwIULqieEK-wfR9CgLepPELqP-FKG6mfvX_Bb2vQZlKQG1AoSYayyyeG4VasvocKYZNMn49adNGxAoxEXHfVt_FGTO2/s4032/IMG_4484.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJ7TGmHwjj_tP8wI7ya-BoiaCIGQLMjs6jplRL-j4_iTWC99DWGI67EHxdL2NKY3dVikJcGvnuFAVbBrpwMgIzRAt4roOkaQHeCwIULqieEK-wfR9CgLepPELqP-FKG6mfvX_Bb2vQZlKQG1AoSYayyyeG4VasvocKYZNMn49adNGxAoxEXHfVt_FGTO2/s320/IMG_4484.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM0R2u3K8bHLBDzVXtZafKLywdpJ5XyE_1eoMi4-SjebIW4s1IkKUh4xacul0VlvEEU7YGYsAtKQTJ9ICdog9K5WxyqZfH2NogsemxUYgYrGK-bJh-FfuyyXlzgwmg7De3k1lPGQ7d4tx4UHQkQmOv19AqdqLnCHbulhVI3sAnTLgGBWCewTlOZ3Rn-R8/s3547/IMG_7385.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2660" data-original-width="3547" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM0R2u3K8bHLBDzVXtZafKLywdpJ5XyE_1eoMi4-SjebIW4s1IkKUh4xacul0VlvEEU7YGYsAtKQTJ9ICdog9K5WxyqZfH2NogsemxUYgYrGK-bJh-FfuyyXlzgwmg7De3k1lPGQ7d4tx4UHQkQmOv19AqdqLnCHbulhVI3sAnTLgGBWCewTlOZ3Rn-R8/s320/IMG_7385.jpeg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHV3rnyrEErypXBHDDlNKRyrIfJQjInkVfK8xZju3x1FtwIe8ZGUZ5x2QUxN6eaf-7iUwkeDXg2azDKX7Haelbj6lNg-KHJqbg7gYY0Ruz0ClHQZz2GUKR8cqIXemsGr9xzswnZRFz4nLtYs6Kropgnb-bEIHGfRuQOJln4Yibrh5DdpoLHOqzT1LDJXY/s2478/IMG_7562.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2478" data-original-width="2413" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHV3rnyrEErypXBHDDlNKRyrIfJQjInkVfK8xZju3x1FtwIe8ZGUZ5x2QUxN6eaf-7iUwkeDXg2azDKX7Haelbj6lNg-KHJqbg7gYY0Ruz0ClHQZz2GUKR8cqIXemsGr9xzswnZRFz4nLtYs6Kropgnb-bEIHGfRuQOJln4Yibrh5DdpoLHOqzT1LDJXY/s320/IMG_7562.jpeg" width="312" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;">Norm and I had a romantic French dinner at la Madeleine, just blocks from our apartment. In the office, these two (Elder Awit on the right) showed the spirit of Valentines Day. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluas2lqL74rM-vK07qLS6KsCXe8QHeYCs4NMZLV1bAk-t0iyn245VCHc3U_8x4QdqY671QM17vRng6u7AkCNqeMfm-0aRCI7OV24hCP4WaSgfaIPcjgzGIICwm8MPDMY1lQHHOF_uEBVEdMQQ1o9wsv2ebKuGVBB6JvBVr3_r_iMcSezPeOBKm_d6iaog/s3088/IMG_9183.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluas2lqL74rM-vK07qLS6KsCXe8QHeYCs4NMZLV1bAk-t0iyn245VCHc3U_8x4QdqY671QM17vRng6u7AkCNqeMfm-0aRCI7OV24hCP4WaSgfaIPcjgzGIICwm8MPDMY1lQHHOF_uEBVEdMQQ1o9wsv2ebKuGVBB6JvBVr3_r_iMcSezPeOBKm_d6iaog/s320/IMG_9183.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4e1lTps29dKdYWRQQq24OsasaNlF1oY1h2LET0ez6EbJ3Q5Tb1PCpaPwTnlteVKqMQGbCm-0eO_COz51ZkTpR2pXEOcBZQNJSPoeEyOEpr9KUx-hhOozrZ0x0dX70UZtdDsklSQo4aRJj8AeY5QPqAfh8L1oi0gceWx6hV13vN9HrvUexWlPboj_nmYsc/s4032/IMG_9161.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4e1lTps29dKdYWRQQq24OsasaNlF1oY1h2LET0ez6EbJ3Q5Tb1PCpaPwTnlteVKqMQGbCm-0eO_COz51ZkTpR2pXEOcBZQNJSPoeEyOEpr9KUx-hhOozrZ0x0dX70UZtdDsklSQo4aRJj8AeY5QPqAfh8L1oi0gceWx6hV13vN9HrvUexWlPboj_nmYsc/s320/IMG_9161.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-91683681107235612582023-11-24T19:09:00.000-08:002023-11-26T16:06:50.362-08:00Holms on the Great Falls of the Potomac and at the National Cathedral<p> Our mission office was on Falls Road, and on Memorial Day (by ourselves) and July 4 (with Connells,) we drove to the end of the road and saw the Potomac cascading over these beautiful waterfalls. We saw a tiny new fawn hiding in bushes. Here, canal boats sit in locks of the old Ohio and Chesapeake Canal, and people do yoga on the pavement. On July 4 we also had a picnic with Coles, Connells and Lambs, our senior missionary friends and neighbors. (Actually, we learned-- when a masseuse gave us a demo on a sidewalk-- that people do this in quite a few places in Md.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDb3wQ8_N0MKqadklBNXBD_7v1p-AFNNG3qHPR4kE2xB5_BKTx-nf0STb8FvAgRk8EuPYYGpZCEQjrxo5kYec4qAAYvRM6Wvw2_Y_q6m2cMoQgvbtZoayMnbbqykU2Jbc3JgT53jm4ZW-zKP0yI_4HG6Yo-nbQDRzPf6tUoX5oGh1a7TYqn2n7BUiA4kl/s320/IMG_3351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDb3wQ8_N0MKqadklBNXBD_7v1p-AFNNG3qHPR4kE2xB5_BKTx-nf0STb8FvAgRk8EuPYYGpZCEQjrxo5kYec4qAAYvRM6Wvw2_Y_q6m2cMoQgvbtZoayMnbbqykU2Jbc3JgT53jm4ZW-zKP0yI_4HG6Yo-nbQDRzPf6tUoX5oGh1a7TYqn2n7BUiA4kl/s1600/IMG_3351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFoECDLaPUHns-CIEaAAbUkL3JZmBTkKIH1dm6DVaVsO0osr7eWxsfm2OPNL-OqvTn6zr9DhOy5uBvKo0dd6lIVld1qQvyawaGRW4F645psbAvtpS9VCx6y6QSV_FHArBw73JsI75wL74fhITqfXlHqeMeTyTsrH13OgS183NplNztsJruWWuCTgVjeet/s4032/IMG_4369.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFoECDLaPUHns-CIEaAAbUkL3JZmBTkKIH1dm6DVaVsO0osr7eWxsfm2OPNL-OqvTn6zr9DhOy5uBvKo0dd6lIVld1qQvyawaGRW4F645psbAvtpS9VCx6y6QSV_FHArBw73JsI75wL74fhITqfXlHqeMeTyTsrH13OgS183NplNztsJruWWuCTgVjeet/s320/IMG_4369.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczF7pSGP_pbKl6R9d8kRduVkXhqLpx2f0OPYdxM-SbnbjCkkNivJGeKtqfVVk2dy4h1xkhn_Uuz6yBdOk9lVDUCXSIriwm4QAmrAPVnef7rHY-APVv8JLh6Hi3zq_3BTpoCGRcWUx0Bx6ShZNG0TM08COcJEwoF37tNWr61uy6-hkB_eAtWtYiCgvdxCD/s4032/IMG_4377.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczF7pSGP_pbKl6R9d8kRduVkXhqLpx2f0OPYdxM-SbnbjCkkNivJGeKtqfVVk2dy4h1xkhn_Uuz6yBdOk9lVDUCXSIriwm4QAmrAPVnef7rHY-APVv8JLh6Hi3zq_3BTpoCGRcWUx0Bx6ShZNG0TM08COcJEwoF37tNWr61uy6-hkB_eAtWtYiCgvdxCD/s320/IMG_4377.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_81o2Lz5oIq0gMY4xFEuD_hyphenhyphenXNXkZhnrDqOW-ymqvoJtDSM0bAINv8x9wwes0pnkbmwm6lw3zz4QApcq4PGR-KPw2wHqU-aWQnLYnG5Q0ZqkQDQMNx3UIQTNyyyEtQgZ3dTSW4WxnlAg0f2v8ZeTblkem6oxvtsV2MyadpY9KPXc0GilfFYKwc6G3Htx/s4032/IMG_4395.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_81o2Lz5oIq0gMY4xFEuD_hyphenhyphenXNXkZhnrDqOW-ymqvoJtDSM0bAINv8x9wwes0pnkbmwm6lw3zz4QApcq4PGR-KPw2wHqU-aWQnLYnG5Q0ZqkQDQMNx3UIQTNyyyEtQgZ3dTSW4WxnlAg0f2v8ZeTblkem6oxvtsV2MyadpY9KPXc0GilfFYKwc6G3Htx/s320/IMG_4395.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6E2_SupKOtIcAH1TJp_XYp8frKAmlJBreHU0sOkh8WGYapp9DvjlMso6PMT5OBU3fhJwq9T0cWQm9MN3DhXKKu3NT2yeA2AD2wfxbXnbifu2XngRWzNulIn3vMy7pPkpjyJRCM4Z0IMBW6MMOuigGVrXg5SiGJ096F5sYXK8v1O3HaI1UmQAZ2FZIwok/s4032/IMG_5081.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6E2_SupKOtIcAH1TJp_XYp8frKAmlJBreHU0sOkh8WGYapp9DvjlMso6PMT5OBU3fhJwq9T0cWQm9MN3DhXKKu3NT2yeA2AD2wfxbXnbifu2XngRWzNulIn3vMy7pPkpjyJRCM4Z0IMBW6MMOuigGVrXg5SiGJ096F5sYXK8v1O3HaI1UmQAZ2FZIwok/s320/IMG_5081.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAKrWQVlI429VGkwCmdEdLADk2jcjnrpeuByQWimJjarxSfy1d9uIPZ5QwgUZUIxvElDys3VqTaeASc6_NHCID4XcFzrYWbzNkQzF0DDD-GYJh6zhfzbvsCQSErTtps09WISLWA5LDFGy_xoze-rGqhbP8IQ6NRejouilTuC6ZvC0wLF1MRBbfOKMwwBU/s4032/IMG_5083.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAKrWQVlI429VGkwCmdEdLADk2jcjnrpeuByQWimJjarxSfy1d9uIPZ5QwgUZUIxvElDys3VqTaeASc6_NHCID4XcFzrYWbzNkQzF0DDD-GYJh6zhfzbvsCQSErTtps09WISLWA5LDFGy_xoze-rGqhbP8IQ6NRejouilTuC6ZvC0wLF1MRBbfOKMwwBU/s320/IMG_5083.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1mtxKyDxATFNvbhXQvb-XEhFwqFzZtwG9wsxQpEpePfpCuixdMTGk7JMfOigr4vp9hYr4JkuY0E5BY1GpPSmmdmzJNHa0I9rGUfBrSCNu2Cq4aE1Fl0LaTto05mncEQtI8BjNnjI5WE79XdCOGBZmeij-8OF3POQaUbGfYpH2tmCDbskkWZUUZYxusCT/s640/IMG_2498.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1mtxKyDxATFNvbhXQvb-XEhFwqFzZtwG9wsxQpEpePfpCuixdMTGk7JMfOigr4vp9hYr4JkuY0E5BY1GpPSmmdmzJNHa0I9rGUfBrSCNu2Cq4aE1Fl0LaTto05mncEQtI8BjNnjI5WE79XdCOGBZmeij-8OF3POQaUbGfYpH2tmCDbskkWZUUZYxusCT/s320/IMG_2498.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26p5JBo5X8eJU1TuCATbBOJoDvAj5mSy5YdVdaOMDqaHO1KCxvM7pa5eb8GlYzzmFZuVJcfAyeNSo2fCuXiBf9BgcbpmgI8HN9nErTG3q3CQLGqfwrnHRZwpqgjbwKZvOmSCvtLGYFryqPo6MhmbnduVIt7X0C-5S1-sq-ecVBrf3HZMeJJ7Iel1oGpjJ/s4032/IMG_5080.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26p5JBo5X8eJU1TuCATbBOJoDvAj5mSy5YdVdaOMDqaHO1KCxvM7pa5eb8GlYzzmFZuVJcfAyeNSo2fCuXiBf9BgcbpmgI8HN9nErTG3q3CQLGqfwrnHRZwpqgjbwKZvOmSCvtLGYFryqPo6MhmbnduVIt7X0C-5S1-sq-ecVBrf3HZMeJJ7Iel1oGpjJ/s320/IMG_5080.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>While Anna and Holly visited their Aunt Rachel Zobell, Emily went to church with us and to the National Cathedral. It is a gorgeous place. When we went outside, a man saw Debbie's missionary name tag and asked, "Sister, what time is the choir concert this afternoon?"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CHwzsB66WQV-H9K5YSm4Y9Oo6uHlSEIfAT6wMGBAQc_rjBHAxJpGVp7lg6GtToT4Wgg5BfD6aXAkSGMtQKzCZSWJ2uqOFkwg4gJC2mkq7DnF3SnKBATaI0q3Lzace8cPC36QbMMvdWTVXDln_LXuEn5dW6e81M1K7BZMeU4zVr3CUmQPT334r7XAJ0JH/s4032/IMG_4741.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CHwzsB66WQV-H9K5YSm4Y9Oo6uHlSEIfAT6wMGBAQc_rjBHAxJpGVp7lg6GtToT4Wgg5BfD6aXAkSGMtQKzCZSWJ2uqOFkwg4gJC2mkq7DnF3SnKBATaI0q3Lzace8cPC36QbMMvdWTVXDln_LXuEn5dW6e81M1K7BZMeU4zVr3CUmQPT334r7XAJ0JH/s320/IMG_4741.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk6QANcbk_EPl5hiL4OgTRge1SYxqZWGJPbiFrpKjbjd4_c9IQk_uTmynhBbsNFe1VkY8O5ZpzCfEU3NgivewZqS9LovVAx_MuSZTVMEHrxRZ6Qu9HXsGy75IDfyRfHgelgWVlHHChv0MkjapM-JWJ1jql3pjSDdOlskpV7Yq8BuerKn36De3sY9isPCo/s9340/IMG_4726.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3714" data-original-width="9340" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk6QANcbk_EPl5hiL4OgTRge1SYxqZWGJPbiFrpKjbjd4_c9IQk_uTmynhBbsNFe1VkY8O5ZpzCfEU3NgivewZqS9LovVAx_MuSZTVMEHrxRZ6Qu9HXsGy75IDfyRfHgelgWVlHHChv0MkjapM-JWJ1jql3pjSDdOlskpV7Yq8BuerKn36De3sY9isPCo/s320/IMG_4726.jpeg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneWCXMJjK9b86RLWm05pHBtJLnkzm7O9UfXPRlc0w8G15974oUeBDbpK9aOUM1bpqLPZdu9OKoCw5dsfgbJEUE3zR0g6K0H2MmdZ5UcLky0_VPnWiuLz1crihyphenhyphen4YGUkTU0oTaWD9PNQxW42-XnRV16Vhjcf6nhOl2yISQd1sJCbRPGqyYrVIdoPOlLlBf/s3644/IMG_4715.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3644" data-original-width="2943" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneWCXMJjK9b86RLWm05pHBtJLnkzm7O9UfXPRlc0w8G15974oUeBDbpK9aOUM1bpqLPZdu9OKoCw5dsfgbJEUE3zR0g6K0H2MmdZ5UcLky0_VPnWiuLz1crihyphenhyphen4YGUkTU0oTaWD9PNQxW42-XnRV16Vhjcf6nhOl2yISQd1sJCbRPGqyYrVIdoPOlLlBf/s320/IMG_4715.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c9vD4dOW__0AWvNI340Gt0KUwQRAT6D8mRpqndmwo4iTZW-FYjDC3-rTeDfNqWA5S0fiojcxWLHgEtEFdDOQM8bGVS8KtWiNJ24bNwyKrI_Dwb3DUyeqORXb0PQX1gfW8jvZBjqTsZig-2YS43igSuwfxC-pidn3CDWdORRg-RKQIaCbBONwrZJs-MZo/s640/IMG_3158.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c9vD4dOW__0AWvNI340Gt0KUwQRAT6D8mRpqndmwo4iTZW-FYjDC3-rTeDfNqWA5S0fiojcxWLHgEtEFdDOQM8bGVS8KtWiNJ24bNwyKrI_Dwb3DUyeqORXb0PQX1gfW8jvZBjqTsZig-2YS43igSuwfxC-pidn3CDWdORRg-RKQIaCbBONwrZJs-MZo/s320/IMG_3158.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-51538841168505422552023-11-20T18:07:00.000-08:002023-12-02T19:05:04.778-08:00Potomac Potpourri, Scenes of MD / DC <p>In the mission blog posts, we shared our experiences and testimonies for friends and family both in and out of the church. We didn't share all the places we went, or things we did, not wanting the blog to come across as a tourist trip. So the remaining blog posts show some of those other activities; our apartment at 9700 Skyhill Way, #4, Rockville MD 20850. <span style="text-align: center;">Our living room changed after we got lovely recliners and other furniture made by the Amish man. For the first ten months of our mission, we had a scratchy long red couch. </span><span style="text-align: center;">We watched TV on our computer.</span></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzMiZIuDA1Fnct4ZdE2ZA9IDg8fSyhyphenhyphendtmJfs2bw-QWVDMv8WgB9dq2QSDxJgZH_n-abyqu6IliFFYpWPdilmIGZdLpbMGvVXSJ0y6do86QKVqlIdyAWaKYpqwjaPxhHlnlvS3J4ip61DQTkURiA4vCntdX18aF3QhnnfYuCpWb8X_RhXE_jdS1yu2LY_/s4032/IMG_4502.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzMiZIuDA1Fnct4ZdE2ZA9IDg8fSyhyphenhyphendtmJfs2bw-QWVDMv8WgB9dq2QSDxJgZH_n-abyqu6IliFFYpWPdilmIGZdLpbMGvVXSJ0y6do86QKVqlIdyAWaKYpqwjaPxhHlnlvS3J4ip61DQTkURiA4vCntdX18aF3QhnnfYuCpWb8X_RhXE_jdS1yu2LY_/s320/IMG_4502.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gina lavished gifts on us, like this fruit arrangement.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5RKFpyJNM2C6SGMP9DrxLaK6FnTpC5gu0aMr1Hi1oP99dFyy9w9bXByyACLte5njEUqBARwMP9i3ZhOeUvMjOXh7BdVaOyKGwu_odBnAq4QhgbkYgwE2ITsMKBPP1P7gIH3O2Ho3ueozbI02YV3DEXPDJPxFzd76UMim22LAsTmyB95JhAxWW5El2eIh/s4032/IMG_4438.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5RKFpyJNM2C6SGMP9DrxLaK6FnTpC5gu0aMr1Hi1oP99dFyy9w9bXByyACLte5njEUqBARwMP9i3ZhOeUvMjOXh7BdVaOyKGwu_odBnAq4QhgbkYgwE2ITsMKBPP1P7gIH3O2Ho3ueozbI02YV3DEXPDJPxFzd76UMim22LAsTmyB95JhAxWW5El2eIh/s320/IMG_4438.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder William Avila, son of James Murdock's cousin.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><span style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYU-IvG4z811OWEYKctptvV9aZBgxyx2deHMP3iFJOmkePQCCnX-X7d6hHJFASQ2aCIROnZRC7lUuorn3gxlemTvnFv-uBOKqVATvPuH49iI_Xda6tP-CoG1lHxiyNEc_NP757XG1JviNquJAoVb54kTdFYJB0dnlDYhzRaI2jcEYyX_rwaX0hXCa98rD/s4032/IMG_9261.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYU-IvG4z811OWEYKctptvV9aZBgxyx2deHMP3iFJOmkePQCCnX-X7d6hHJFASQ2aCIROnZRC7lUuorn3gxlemTvnFv-uBOKqVATvPuH49iI_Xda6tP-CoG1lHxiyNEc_NP757XG1JviNquJAoVb54kTdFYJB0dnlDYhzRaI2jcEYyX_rwaX0hXCa98rD/s320/IMG_9261.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5lfyojVpa4BwRpl8-qETajNc8BZWI1DmizJ69lwzVGtt8qFEDAj1nNRnCwnHBj81yNUZPdU5pwdIlhZKmr1GZCgAfkdvMdLHDjkW2oJZMt5kbzxwvORqSt1khqYJULhJMGiGkLakhQkPtwiyMFigzXGO1VdgwkasOW6Pu2IXtIjM5rHhCDS2EcwbcNKT/s4032/IMG_9259.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5lfyojVpa4BwRpl8-qETajNc8BZWI1DmizJ69lwzVGtt8qFEDAj1nNRnCwnHBj81yNUZPdU5pwdIlhZKmr1GZCgAfkdvMdLHDjkW2oJZMt5kbzxwvORqSt1khqYJULhJMGiGkLakhQkPtwiyMFigzXGO1VdgwkasOW6Pu2IXtIjM5rHhCDS2EcwbcNKT/s320/IMG_9259.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></span><br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPl76W1EFn6-Pmn9n7AAL-EUHCUYeK8DZaZKGiYdkiNfvz3LzSLwnulxIzK5RvOqxsGS1sOM3eiYLcLrwoUshnlexyK49YRegX6EXBUOCKujBFjFZsbvYB-FUXqNZRtSJw3UAuqtPHnv7FVYXLXeUkY24ezdh0D7-lpkN3aW2kAn0URSV2ku5_2_BM7Y3/s4032/IMG_9565.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPl76W1EFn6-Pmn9n7AAL-EUHCUYeK8DZaZKGiYdkiNfvz3LzSLwnulxIzK5RvOqxsGS1sOM3eiYLcLrwoUshnlexyK49YRegX6EXBUOCKujBFjFZsbvYB-FUXqNZRtSJw3UAuqtPHnv7FVYXLXeUkY24ezdh0D7-lpkN3aW2kAn0URSV2ku5_2_BM7Y3/s320/IMG_9565.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Bringhurst on the left was a special friend. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dZeRjCT-GRwxa7tU5-L3BKX5df_tXzYAY7A9lptqOzVztWEY7uTD4i9hch7Zla0Lzzi4a7wnBYk_u8N8jaN61ktFgZFFHVqSBQeJoqPHUiB9MxhUCa2EEBxRFH_pA0aVkTKVFPQg-SJPTxmhxIU2iDqzNy0Aggt_MHO50l9oHNme2XvSSyE1RKRsW1Mg/s4032/IMG_9588.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dZeRjCT-GRwxa7tU5-L3BKX5df_tXzYAY7A9lptqOzVztWEY7uTD4i9hch7Zla0Lzzi4a7wnBYk_u8N8jaN61ktFgZFFHVqSBQeJoqPHUiB9MxhUCa2EEBxRFH_pA0aVkTKVFPQg-SJPTxmhxIU2iDqzNy0Aggt_MHO50l9oHNme2XvSSyE1RKRsW1Mg/s320/IMG_9588.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Anderson was so sweet to us.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08httdR-IZbcwin9YkX_gphDFslXaM9dml9Pdr8oYNiSSU2b5biGHli9cHf4AzX52TuNAAYSvv86fU1n-46s7UOfI_z3uipUcu9Hb6vToX8wb2oLKFXHnI_0uiFoacjcHb5t3ez_64o74SW9fP6R4KuSvn_KdW_4kF8-YDqd2gE4loA-kTk-oPrWSC0eg/s4032/IMG_9598.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08httdR-IZbcwin9YkX_gphDFslXaM9dml9Pdr8oYNiSSU2b5biGHli9cHf4AzX52TuNAAYSvv86fU1n-46s7UOfI_z3uipUcu9Hb6vToX8wb2oLKFXHnI_0uiFoacjcHb5t3ez_64o74SW9fP6R4KuSvn_KdW_4kF8-YDqd2gE4loA-kTk-oPrWSC0eg/s320/IMG_9598.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last senior zone conference-- with Pat Dorman and Pat Kinckerbocker and Cluffs behind us. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSXSK315aIEoGQccDJoHpFm66UZFjXYvsPlVEMuwdIR1BOOwtxZqaY5aD5auKGyV3EiiHK5dlhtwZ2xUA80lnLk9IizmFJgHekRYL8Qqf8BP-3QOuraO_Neou3y2PDWg6sxyKr3Qov6dmD3CVzbu-4AAW3LwW8PrnIHuxKL3DIuqMQw_124x7a2JcriFv/s4032/IMG_9660.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSXSK315aIEoGQccDJoHpFm66UZFjXYvsPlVEMuwdIR1BOOwtxZqaY5aD5auKGyV3EiiHK5dlhtwZ2xUA80lnLk9IizmFJgHekRYL8Qqf8BP-3QOuraO_Neou3y2PDWg6sxyKr3Qov6dmD3CVzbu-4AAW3LwW8PrnIHuxKL3DIuqMQw_124x7a2JcriFv/s320/IMG_9660.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last goodbye to these good friends. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></div>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-63734893440333147892023-09-10T21:53:00.000-07:002023-12-02T15:16:44.522-08:00Six months of blessings + mental health days <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrlHfNvtmgbstWbKxo-PHht0xF_kAUZT26Nm7qbq2nb-gwcrYl4QZbRJLX3SFcbSMcWkgIHho2qI4lxqGwJ3vxywTWDWX0FKPZUoW4Ys_p4FIomqJm5RcKQU8Uu_v1sBMKRipFNH2wyXMVrYUa-l4IdTxcHoVEprG3vqTEQpSc6ZMxoHptNDGAiZmbgBa/s4032/IMG_0321.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrlHfNvtmgbstWbKxo-PHht0xF_kAUZT26Nm7qbq2nb-gwcrYl4QZbRJLX3SFcbSMcWkgIHho2qI4lxqGwJ3vxywTWDWX0FKPZUoW4Ys_p4FIomqJm5RcKQU8Uu_v1sBMKRipFNH2wyXMVrYUa-l4IdTxcHoVEprG3vqTEQpSc6ZMxoHptNDGAiZmbgBa/s320/IMG_0321.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif" style="font-size: small;">Surrounded by our darling family after 12 months! On March 17, we arrived home at 5 p.m. and by 6, we celebrated </span><span face="-webkit-standard, serif" style="font-size: small;">St. Patrick's Day -- with Mexican food, of course.<br /><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">September 7 marked six months since 1.) our mission ended, and 2.) my last blog post. I’ve taken 186 mental health days away from blogging. (It’s working, thanks, I feel great!—the upside to writer’s block. :)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">On and off, I’ve had a hard time realizing that our wonderful, unforgettable, difficult, trying, and consecrated twelve-month mission is over. When we left missionaries who were like family, I felt the same homesickness I’d felt about my loved ones during our mission. Mama used to say: “As a rule, man’s a fool—when it’s hot, he wants it cool. When it’s cool, he wants it hot—always wanting what is not.” That’s me. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Yet—there truly IS no place like home! During these precious mental health days, we took two amazing trips and kicked back at reunions with our kids, grandkids, family and my classmates (50 years!) Best of all, we have met 18 humble people, and their families, who have sought special blessings from God. This is because Norm was called as patriarch of the Nampa East Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the tradition of Biblical Jacob, he has been set apart to give blessings to people seeking them. (See Genesis 48-49.) Stay tuned--I will write a blog post about this calling, which has been wonderful for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Oh, it IS good to be home! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Brace yourselves for topics beyond “what’s going on with Holms” because there is so much to savor in life, so much joy and fruit on our family trees. My writer’s block is officially over. (For now.) <o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="text-align: start;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcQJQQ1cH9VGndot_antpvoeyKRqre1eUQxwgiVB33AlA0agfnTWAmXntybJqjqh4qIbhZKwswhiOjJP-8Uty2GpTIoPYD02Y3bNRplZO0vk9UWTlb_lOWhohZC74sQLcAHbpqutNatUtQzEBRkTDLMYWZBw_m_YlX4kj6AX7Alj-0kUcN4pAFbHaQ5c6/s4032/IMG_0604.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcQJQQ1cH9VGndot_antpvoeyKRqre1eUQxwgiVB33AlA0agfnTWAmXntybJqjqh4qIbhZKwswhiOjJP-8Uty2GpTIoPYD02Y3bNRplZO0vk9UWTlb_lOWhohZC74sQLcAHbpqutNatUtQzEBRkTDLMYWZBw_m_YlX4kj6AX7Alj-0kUcN4pAFbHaQ5c6/s320/IMG_0604.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In April, Norm was called as patriarch of the Nampa East Stake, and Ella, Steele, Norm, Debbie, Lara and Beau, Axel, and Marco Roetto joined together for the special setting apart. </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-qr2tpjmnU20lg6WIi-oQDQ8A1QDZIY0WCoSoBXaXXx9w2Y9Cezpr4sw16_VCbI09qPW7QeYnVFdf5NP5x28KjhY6uRl5Cpy6SvhQjPZOHZB5AxQ1_HaVdvighmSEwAkb6kSMK-axCqG-oPOyJeRic1B4HlSvLK7H_YvpIcFgmbfJJcgkfJ3cahFLMla/s4032/IMG_7335.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-qr2tpjmnU20lg6WIi-oQDQ8A1QDZIY0WCoSoBXaXXx9w2Y9Cezpr4sw16_VCbI09qPW7QeYnVFdf5NP5x28KjhY6uRl5Cpy6SvhQjPZOHZB5AxQ1_HaVdvighmSEwAkb6kSMK-axCqG-oPOyJeRic1B4HlSvLK7H_YvpIcFgmbfJJcgkfJ3cahFLMla/s320/IMG_7335.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriel (in the middle between us, his mom and his friends) is one of 17 people who have received patriarchal blessings in our home since April. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="3631" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcrIkSeuiEiA5PYlEF9pjVCG3WztPB7zSyOwQnSAWsIDgxlKBE9RTiuiCfJvEYIPjOte83eN4VrdapnN048zW3YUnbQ2C2VL68_oeCSZU4r2qBIYeNFviek7MpUf83qAhdMKF5zTq-Gnp2Ogsl5w2WC9ZZzA9UvqlNkyvi0WpYF7fnT-BzuLXibaukyQ0/s320/IMG_0736.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyla Aldous turned two in April and Ella, Steele, Axel and Beau helped her celebrate. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM_YqfgcERvLR72mKwaIkkU2qtj79SHolS48u3IUguL3o0o6k2rHCHN_TuM2RXI6UC-ZH-9j9LSz5bWsz4TDrymYRkLkjhU0RJHq72UIyz_pLccR4dPzoSSe-t0PDuJo6FBvA2yv3mt_0UFknuiX_9tmmyH1p0nBmTL0mgg72m23FFEmfjStfW2H3IRpj/s4032/IMG_1188.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM_YqfgcERvLR72mKwaIkkU2qtj79SHolS48u3IUguL3o0o6k2rHCHN_TuM2RXI6UC-ZH-9j9LSz5bWsz4TDrymYRkLkjhU0RJHq72UIyz_pLccR4dPzoSSe-t0PDuJo6FBvA2yv3mt_0UFknuiX_9tmmyH1p0nBmTL0mgg72m23FFEmfjStfW2H3IRpj/s320/IMG_1188.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In May we took a fun trip to the Sweetwater River, Thermopolis, and Cody Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park with my brother Bruce Nelson, sister Jeanne Jeppesen and her husband Alan. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_X7nJP4xdVyWvDiXDgM2RS3VKTrCg-F5NPwqxEGG8uir3yheaDha5g1lKIHERFyAYrHpwWmo3ELbIKhi5rN2tHD6CtKnG_JKFDhXZiYPGHz2gc6wPVbCn1UPFwBT6MlMz_bPqZtjR7D2lLQ03PGGQ8x9nI7rRDX3X6VFytntju82MyIpedWDI77aE7Irt/s4032/IMG_1542.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_X7nJP4xdVyWvDiXDgM2RS3VKTrCg-F5NPwqxEGG8uir3yheaDha5g1lKIHERFyAYrHpwWmo3ELbIKhi5rN2tHD6CtKnG_JKFDhXZiYPGHz2gc6wPVbCn1UPFwBT6MlMz_bPqZtjR7D2lLQ03PGGQ8x9nI7rRDX3X6VFytntju82MyIpedWDI77aE7Irt/s320/IMG_1542.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In June we CRUISED to Alaska on the Carnival ship Luminosa. <br />Tracy Arm Fjord made us happy!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7faFWccCVsX_8LmOxEInL2Uk2wGcMorPr3t9MIwPzZPiVkPWs5R0dEFl4ntHFHfWlNWOliKYqIwC5zUA9B7yVExl_ohPsfNwPpVUjFP5X62eeKOi-JWgkdW73-D_vnKQDhnuI_0wd869Fezb5k6rV70g3ByTaAgev2zpuqsagvcl9LD278YWlMjxDWktD/s4032/IMG_1830.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7faFWccCVsX_8LmOxEInL2Uk2wGcMorPr3t9MIwPzZPiVkPWs5R0dEFl4ntHFHfWlNWOliKYqIwC5zUA9B7yVExl_ohPsfNwPpVUjFP5X62eeKOi-JWgkdW73-D_vnKQDhnuI_0wd869Fezb5k6rV70g3ByTaAgev2zpuqsagvcl9LD278YWlMjxDWktD/s320/IMG_1830.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debbie's favorite photo--iceberg.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CbOp5oeMExiqoHmfYCFIzzvhmubX9ygOWv3nJe22P-B5WigYcgq2M7VVb6m2vjBY2Oj_oJv4YBciwtVMlBwYzNVez5R6Fu8fHD56hXsVUWPNFiYyXh2Qybo5uOB3EcNZ7YnwWj1AvNW64rY8lqhUrThExn120RSS1FXhnI8Md3tYPX8vJZ_zGgCdHpaN/s4032/IMG_1502.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CbOp5oeMExiqoHmfYCFIzzvhmubX9ygOWv3nJe22P-B5WigYcgq2M7VVb6m2vjBY2Oj_oJv4YBciwtVMlBwYzNVez5R6Fu8fHD56hXsVUWPNFiYyXh2Qybo5uOB3EcNZ7YnwWj1AvNW64rY8lqhUrThExn120RSS1FXhnI8Md3tYPX8vJZ_zGgCdHpaN/s320/IMG_1502.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Our cruisemates: Will, Emily, Jack and James Murdock. Jack graduated from high school in May, and this cruise was his choice of a celebration. Smart kid, huh?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtqwTj0paTmLbmgfoW24Qxi25iVxDnlzjDOWAAimKmW2YHpK52bzLr5QObkAR0oy6WswojgjuIplka0IjdF-QsXrrXQ6_DVeMcN1r6_lCMvwc7W1BMORT6oo5EhbzNFCwTsNCIssa07uYspVgvQoAOl8fxYqg7Nol--FY48HSkqz9nFT3FEuWDd1GofOW/s4032/IMG_2793.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtqwTj0paTmLbmgfoW24Qxi25iVxDnlzjDOWAAimKmW2YHpK52bzLr5QObkAR0oy6WswojgjuIplka0IjdF-QsXrrXQ6_DVeMcN1r6_lCMvwc7W1BMORT6oo5EhbzNFCwTsNCIssa07uYspVgvQoAOl8fxYqg7Nol--FY48HSkqz9nFT3FEuWDd1GofOW/s320/IMG_2793.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holm Reunion, July 2023: This is most of our handsome and precocious crew--just missing our Mari and Lynn, and missionaries Jacob and Harris. HOW I LOVE THESE PEOPLE who scream down waterslides and float down the Lazy River! </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcrIkSeuiEiA5PYlEF9pjVCG3WztPB7zSyOwQnSAWsIDgxlKBE9RTiuiCfJvEYIPjOte83eN4VrdapnN048zW3YUnbQ2C2VL68_oeCSZU4r2qBIYeNFviek7MpUf83qAhdMKF5zTq-Gnp2Ogsl5w2WC9ZZzA9UvqlNkyvi0WpYF7fnT-BzuLXibaukyQ0/s3631/IMG_0736.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7L_XkZDEnsEmfsPvVmsq3Ws1FedUlgYlukmDmujiZQkjue4PWzZF1bg14vYQz5NSPnmYF742TXvPRR9VetUBQpL8sZX3zW_8fB5m0n3_gErR7kMHC-nPBRrTzdcUIUC5rjeFZ0I0ZmVx8jB8up8y8qMj03Lu82le0gbJ73O2Ba94EJCS6E9ES-9AhLk_/s4032/IMG_2751.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7L_XkZDEnsEmfsPvVmsq3Ws1FedUlgYlukmDmujiZQkjue4PWzZF1bg14vYQz5NSPnmYF742TXvPRR9VetUBQpL8sZX3zW_8fB5m0n3_gErR7kMHC-nPBRrTzdcUIUC5rjeFZ0I0ZmVx8jB8up8y8qMj03Lu82le0gbJ73O2Ba94EJCS6E9ES-9AhLk_/s320/IMG_2751.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sweet family listened to family home evening-- maybe it was because they played hard in the water and hot sun all day, and ate themselves into a stupor. Worked great! Our backyard, our family, our weirdness and noise. Pretty close to heaven. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27478h0p9i1_4fvLe9RdZvnPh4avFEGAvSSGYTOKWiaj0cmigLteH6RiPT0DcTVyjgRchBcsfIvIk1BqW0E67-yS2sxkx5cMPujnYIsDT55qV-kkjMg2C6N4VIb-wOV4F5-6awBBcisc--9yCBwCVIsrv_8ciFrNO1Lnw1KdGXIqezquZNtEhDmxsRVSf/s4032/IMG_2725.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27478h0p9i1_4fvLe9RdZvnPh4avFEGAvSSGYTOKWiaj0cmigLteH6RiPT0DcTVyjgRchBcsfIvIk1BqW0E67-yS2sxkx5cMPujnYIsDT55qV-kkjMg2C6N4VIb-wOV4F5-6awBBcisc--9yCBwCVIsrv_8ciFrNO1Lnw1KdGXIqezquZNtEhDmxsRVSf/s320/IMG_2725.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of our hearty sailors in Lake Lowell, Idaho.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88aOVPodJRBACliHWC4wvMVRTjYwPsM8pf5gEQSWyxdE0LDIom4xssCH07a8qDw7zDfFT6c4yFRTNkUZFiivZMmI7C8PA6FJ7_o10G5bGJkZ-udc62owUTjIiuhpe7kGhK-rIOdYOCQGICX1AW_cdH3vNaE2FgCe-Y1JJJfmCML-IMJGoIJb3ZdKv9cCb/s3441/IMG_2844.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3441" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88aOVPodJRBACliHWC4wvMVRTjYwPsM8pf5gEQSWyxdE0LDIom4xssCH07a8qDw7zDfFT6c4yFRTNkUZFiivZMmI7C8PA6FJ7_o10G5bGJkZ-udc62owUTjIiuhpe7kGhK-rIOdYOCQGICX1AW_cdH3vNaE2FgCe-Y1JJJfmCML-IMJGoIJb3ZdKv9cCb/s320/IMG_2844.jpeg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelson Reunion, 2023: The day after our Holm Reunion, the Nelsons met 90 strong at The Farm, where Debbie and her siblings grew up. I loved having three of our five kids and their families there, with grandkids playing cards among the aspen.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJnnl9hXjQYNAqYtMFblCBUKe9Mb3CZOoBY10KS0boxNNq-_QedUPcpK_eoSEguhmGjko9I05Xo1EWVMpSbg9T5JkEYwI5M8SkpWzPWxzc0oZpLfMBS3NHN1bUkiJq2G1OJZOqF5xmYU9l1JDQeizpKdfIB8k_ErPHUuDbl8dDtvWyha3JnF-vM4mcJe9/s4032/IMG_6252.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJnnl9hXjQYNAqYtMFblCBUKe9Mb3CZOoBY10KS0boxNNq-_QedUPcpK_eoSEguhmGjko9I05Xo1EWVMpSbg9T5JkEYwI5M8SkpWzPWxzc0oZpLfMBS3NHN1bUkiJq2G1OJZOqF5xmYU9l1JDQeizpKdfIB8k_ErPHUuDbl8dDtvWyha3JnF-vM4mcJe9/s320/IMG_6252.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ella, Grace, and Lyla are in front of Uncle Hugh's abandoned car. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAE9PgBsP0hqdEzpMyU8MP8Lpm0POlGmLhTWi95InMdR-SIGvAx17bm-moyBFaCObHd2M90L7UKq-RRjphCmlB3KAmSGsBR8-FELCzO5R51N8U-NYaERbmagLpgbJMyn7s3F1AhDAu4IbmB883j9Uz4lKmnRm5CT2BlAZA-y37ZZx8iOY6b6aOojRD_-k/s4032/IMG_2931.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAE9PgBsP0hqdEzpMyU8MP8Lpm0POlGmLhTWi95InMdR-SIGvAx17bm-moyBFaCObHd2M90L7UKq-RRjphCmlB3KAmSGsBR8-FELCzO5R51N8U-NYaERbmagLpgbJMyn7s3F1AhDAu4IbmB883j9Uz4lKmnRm5CT2BlAZA-y37ZZx8iOY6b6aOojRD_-k/s320/IMG_2931.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Farm's skyline outlines and defines my childhood definition of security and beauty.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiwV2q1ZorCu_rjXY0FEF28ykyB6GrDMfdP4vV049rDy4GcXFYhIyY4GO5YgDRVLudpdHoMPg9jD97jNhOMK6__ZfNmNPsF_mUOWszfIecrxN-5_tVI_UgGhb6goXJ8eTyX5Nkbhso_Mii-7aaGCScYshG3j7dXX-RAH8XPL1hBuaot8omYhlOERVFkTu/s4032/IMG_2859.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiwV2q1ZorCu_rjXY0FEF28ykyB6GrDMfdP4vV049rDy4GcXFYhIyY4GO5YgDRVLudpdHoMPg9jD97jNhOMK6__ZfNmNPsF_mUOWszfIecrxN-5_tVI_UgGhb6goXJ8eTyX5Nkbhso_Mii-7aaGCScYshG3j7dXX-RAH8XPL1hBuaot8omYhlOERVFkTu/s320/IMG_2859.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My people- my siblings and me- in front of Dad's old camper bus: Judy, Bruce, Ellen, Jeanne, Rex, Debbie, Andrea, Shanan.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_AXOIxvYa6FEamuLRgNCUsQjmD4Audn0hNYye0fBz7b-DTM9FHmF5F1cOiq5VR7TaWulCWDBU2sy1LgauJWspBq-ibUL03ytTIwLhfui66VPCt1zQZbVG4MTPB3nuHiS25q0YUFIL8wkoYeu2qK1ffHpsrM1qxR6P_AXipvjuWGO0Z1qeUN-CVaSxJda/s4032/IMG_3552.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoYO_TPR_ptH3rwB1MmLLBZ9dQaTn3oSYxgjHbF4ugdQjB-ORjq6y7cMe5mXXBRz1H_-meO5cGcZ3rlYyPQNu6h5tbQaZOMoGlxQ9lJg-71GY-rNeZcAZWjdDN-xEoPqNVcfclAmohxhMwZLUyONFl9h2ZFFTSKAFOY2BX_7-nkUl6pFsuCu4BMn9pvlA/s4032/IMG_3433.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoYO_TPR_ptH3rwB1MmLLBZ9dQaTn3oSYxgjHbF4ugdQjB-ORjq6y7cMe5mXXBRz1H_-meO5cGcZ3rlYyPQNu6h5tbQaZOMoGlxQ9lJg-71GY-rNeZcAZWjdDN-xEoPqNVcfclAmohxhMwZLUyONFl9h2ZFFTSKAFOY2BX_7-nkUl6pFsuCu4BMn9pvlA/s320/IMG_3433.jpeg" width="240" /></a><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_AXOIxvYa6FEamuLRgNCUsQjmD4Audn0hNYye0fBz7b-DTM9FHmF5F1cOiq5VR7TaWulCWDBU2sy1LgauJWspBq-ibUL03ytTIwLhfui66VPCt1zQZbVG4MTPB3nuHiS25q0YUFIL8wkoYeu2qK1ffHpsrM1qxR6P_AXipvjuWGO0Z1qeUN-CVaSxJda/s320/IMG_3552.jpeg" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">We celebrated the 72 great years of Norm's life on August 26. Happy Birthday! And...hanging with grandchildren is the best cure for writer's block. This week, two-year-old Lyla helped me get bottles ready for canning, but she was even better at stirring ice into the water (she calls it "woggin") to chill the peaches. :) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-6485093537040722402023-03-16T19:33:00.001-07:002023-12-02T15:20:06.385-08:00Gratitude, Goodbyes, and “The Place to Go Is Idaho!” - Week 52: Holms leaving the Potomac<br /><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISO2qMxecMDn-oVLlWf6S-FVuuJvrbkal_YYafjzXtmSeSyNiI8KqZT0u5HwPM2_6Qo7XihsWKE8lR758mrWXTCn5zXQuGn_yUGXsDLVv_JHQw7VXtXk8aFb3vMM25eFMltZgdi4OOkkEj91TdSUMTRraYTt4WCCbjO9Bkh0k5KElr9D1iKRv_hSzFw/s2048/IMG_1066.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="2048" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISO2qMxecMDn-oVLlWf6S-FVuuJvrbkal_YYafjzXtmSeSyNiI8KqZT0u5HwPM2_6Qo7XihsWKE8lR758mrWXTCn5zXQuGn_yUGXsDLVv_JHQw7VXtXk8aFb3vMM25eFMltZgdi4OOkkEj91TdSUMTRraYTt4WCCbjO9Bkh0k5KElr9D1iKRv_hSzFw/w564-h284/IMG_1066.jpeg" width="564" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><i>These 26 people are a big part of our WHY!!</i></span></b><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">“Homeward bound—I wish I was homeward bound!” </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Simon and Garfunkel<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">“</span><b style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">East, West, Home is best—welcome stranger!” </b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">William Saroyan</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">“Be it ever so humble—there’s no place like home!” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Home Sweet Home,</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> by John Howard Payne, 1823<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">“Country road, take me home. . .” </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">John Denver<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">“The Place to go is Idaho!”</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">WHY did we come on a mission?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Because 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ blessed the poor, healed the brokenhearted and liberated the captives. He suffered for our sins and sealed His mission with His blood—thus continuing to bless, heal, and liberate us. He died and rose again, giving all mankind the promise of resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">Because 200 years ago, young Joseph Smith prayed to ask which church to join, and God the Father and Jesus Christ promised to restore Jesus’s gospel in its fulness.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Because we want our children and grandchildren (those masked marauders in the photo) to know of our joy in helping to share these truths with the world. </span><span face=""Segoe UI", sans-serif" style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Because we—two mild-mannered, boring people—actually love adventures. <o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwefrpHCF-R6IxNeFhMfVtg6pEKWyX1LwrqYXUpC4Wn4x4-YERFMpxy6EV_PbElauKgUlvbqQGV-nwJQzvoyonc_9P_bWGsJxlhZ8FtAQj9inRuicjnvFUjraRAXR3f9m2eHyGV4orx9N2M_nTEDLhvk4tIHcoWOQgqkQseTDDdscpM32ubdyqHiPAkw/s4032/IMG_9929.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwefrpHCF-R6IxNeFhMfVtg6pEKWyX1LwrqYXUpC4Wn4x4-YERFMpxy6EV_PbElauKgUlvbqQGV-nwJQzvoyonc_9P_bWGsJxlhZ8FtAQj9inRuicjnvFUjraRAXR3f9m2eHyGV4orx9N2M_nTEDLhvk4tIHcoWOQgqkQseTDDdscpM32ubdyqHiPAkw/s320/IMG_9929.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We visited the Kirtland Temple after we left the mission March 7. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Was it easy? No. I was dogged by homesickness. The MD / DC 495 Freeway freaked Norm out, and it paralyzed me. It is one of the eleven busiest roads in the United States. We scrambled to learn the names of 206 missionaries and struggled to learn new skills. Sometimes we felt tired and old. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">We were blessed with good friends who guided us, and inspiration from heaven. Our mission work was life-changing and 97 percent FUN. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">On Saturday prep days we loved historic places that reminded us that “. . .It is for us the living [to] highly resolve . . .that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” (from the </span><i style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Gettysburg Address</i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> by Abraham Lincoln.) </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">We leave behind dear friends and a beautiful region, where cherry blossoms are popping out and the weather is warm. We travel West, where snow clouds pour out all the winter we missed!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Two great truths exist: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">1. We were richly blessed with our friends and our mission in Maryland. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">2. We LOVE our family!! Last May, Debbie’s sister Andrea, her husband Ross and their son Joe and family visited us at the Washington DC Temple Open House. When we stopped in Ohio last week, Ross was dangerously ill with an infection. What a tender mercy it was for us to say goodbye to one we have loved for forty years! We spent Thursday there; Ross passed away Sunday. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">We were also blessed with a four and a half day visit with our son Spencer, his wife Rachel and their children, Sylvie and Freddie, in Lincoln, Nebraska. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Tomorrow, we drive the last nine hours to Nampa where we will hug and kiss two daughters and their families. Sunday we will embrace other dear ones when we report our mission at 10:30 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time in the Nampa Second Ward, 2212 Amity Rd., Nampa. Truly, for this moment in our lives: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">“The Place to Go Is Idaho!”</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> and<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">“There’s no place like home!” </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Dorothy of Oz<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeU9naMXlQI0BxoW3il1PzvnlZ24nr-tMmS1bU1BM068SCML33Xi9IjGTj3ekyWd8uJjpTaixFO9rGUUKHXlwUYsxpiblGBA7hi_ic8JjlHD_fuMozP2yCmXJBJZIhQPvyXLq5dUKmge0dJKHQUIFH5QPd1kmoxT3fS48V069Cg_9-GzKYLaGcfg33A/s4032/IMG_9660.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeU9naMXlQI0BxoW3il1PzvnlZ24nr-tMmS1bU1BM068SCML33Xi9IjGTj3ekyWd8uJjpTaixFO9rGUUKHXlwUYsxpiblGBA7hi_ic8JjlHD_fuMozP2yCmXJBJZIhQPvyXLq5dUKmge0dJKHQUIFH5QPd1kmoxT3fS48V069Cg_9-GzKYLaGcfg33A/s320/IMG_9660.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We worked with these elders and sisters for many months: Rodney and Susan Workman and Evan and Janette Connell.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP05MK7M10hol21SqGnJf2aABCgR9t66OkOG6sGqO8HqnC8z62Dx6hafGiveQZcZrImdhn_NvjbXeVCfh7LNW3BjkmrVLqQ98798SduxNeHqo4mYaDtDWql6A6JlDqFN7qtDnnvEK5A9QB3h5_IIb23G9S7YuwMSo43FyxfYYc72BI9r5IGSpjWC_nzQ/s4032/IMG_9668.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP05MK7M10hol21SqGnJf2aABCgR9t66OkOG6sGqO8HqnC8z62Dx6hafGiveQZcZrImdhn_NvjbXeVCfh7LNW3BjkmrVLqQ98798SduxNeHqo4mYaDtDWql6A6JlDqFN7qtDnnvEK5A9QB3h5_IIb23G9S7YuwMSo43FyxfYYc72BI9r5IGSpjWC_nzQ/s320/IMG_9668.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our new friends and replacements, Elder Nyall and Sister Candy London.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma_Hw5tmBzQvuPfuQa_uqZDpHyjfgrn1fj7yLInSYMWDkBV0czpJpMIcfLL07t65k6VUsZU5BXwytiFl5Wj8R_VJWtjG4L5tv1KLPm7oqU1wWgQxKM4_MtYWgm7NScmFrdN6Bpf-MUYLulFx8mY9oI2SlIbAyawzfPYpQIj4whQniQjqdnmjLmb5c0g/s4032/CD15FA60-CC69-4479-890B-9EDA138B92EC.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma_Hw5tmBzQvuPfuQa_uqZDpHyjfgrn1fj7yLInSYMWDkBV0czpJpMIcfLL07t65k6VUsZU5BXwytiFl5Wj8R_VJWtjG4L5tv1KLPm7oqU1wWgQxKM4_MtYWgm7NScmFrdN6Bpf-MUYLulFx8mY9oI2SlIbAyawzfPYpQIj4whQniQjqdnmjLmb5c0g/s320/CD15FA60-CC69-4479-890B-9EDA138B92EC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We love President Todd P. and Sister Heather Clarke, our mission leaders. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXxGT9ZprpFCAwQsZOSlg_LY26WSuMpmqCQ4VjrLdT1Y3gD50zkSo7YhkUgYsO5vBOGjSFDZlLRPDAh5HLkY4YWXboJanAuoNFek2Lp--Rv3MXV3dFuvMJ0ScvstrkbsV4n78FkUnS6D-8EeKDmHWyGSTex93Bpch2Lw2Jad6h_kIpKi0jgj8bfJdEQ/s4032/IMG_9715.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXxGT9ZprpFCAwQsZOSlg_LY26WSuMpmqCQ4VjrLdT1Y3gD50zkSo7YhkUgYsO5vBOGjSFDZlLRPDAh5HLkY4YWXboJanAuoNFek2Lp--Rv3MXV3dFuvMJ0ScvstrkbsV4n78FkUnS6D-8EeKDmHWyGSTex93Bpch2Lw2Jad6h_kIpKi0jgj8bfJdEQ/s320/IMG_9715.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After we left the mission March 7, we sat down with a dear friend at Gettysburg.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkU9LzhOJa4BmFNY5wOyHjj4P6aDLgUEWpWr1TGXltyipDiheNaknS7ivkQQ1wPFnf9IZ4J75s0lC7aQXR4r1nD_vwImM_Ey3koB-HT4QNqjrv77UNo8WRym91bHfwUvhQJ7aY6cCGD2haMV76Sd7xHXKGozKvZD1scZMhMWVy-k-X-rWby3aME6YW_w/s4022/IMG_0264.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1857" data-original-width="4022" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkU9LzhOJa4BmFNY5wOyHjj4P6aDLgUEWpWr1TGXltyipDiheNaknS7ivkQQ1wPFnf9IZ4J75s0lC7aQXR4r1nD_vwImM_Ey3koB-HT4QNqjrv77UNo8WRym91bHfwUvhQJ7aY6cCGD2haMV76Sd7xHXKGozKvZD1scZMhMWVy-k-X-rWby3aME6YW_w/s320/IMG_0264.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Near Rawlins, WY. on March 16.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13d1TKOdgvukeXsJe1UmiK5F8iAVuOwXhsdqPzflHBZD6WH0oL-_-r2XeFOd_JvKyVMkhUnSGt4y-10W7xMCIi1-El1TPGYASt3oXoJlE5QbohcPBa1pL-1bRiOr_3DJjDUo57CbwqJaJLgvJmxE91HUt_gHBcQizxg8Zk0Sp5bloCDTunvi1Qm2vmg/s4032/IMG_4429.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13d1TKOdgvukeXsJe1UmiK5F8iAVuOwXhsdqPzflHBZD6WH0oL-_-r2XeFOd_JvKyVMkhUnSGt4y-10W7xMCIi1-El1TPGYASt3oXoJlE5QbohcPBa1pL-1bRiOr_3DJjDUo57CbwqJaJLgvJmxE91HUt_gHBcQizxg8Zk0Sp5bloCDTunvi1Qm2vmg/s320/IMG_4429.jpeg" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Andrea and Ross came to the Temple Open House on May 31. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyFpT1NPJwPTcxOMQ_j5x_34Kj12r1noNaEtWS_QkbyuKSna1pDvv_W87I8NgU3czWOBlXn5xEuuc6U95G_gHMXYg9VRSJ4x5geb5H9JBwnr9AhPf4Tn0ZIc1iVOFqX8F_onnOv_x082CzqZ5Zetc-3xHASidcJcHEILzToEHstlKKVmm9hPt5vy43g/s4032/IMG_0078.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyFpT1NPJwPTcxOMQ_j5x_34Kj12r1noNaEtWS_QkbyuKSna1pDvv_W87I8NgU3czWOBlXn5xEuuc6U95G_gHMXYg9VRSJ4x5geb5H9JBwnr9AhPf4Tn0ZIc1iVOFqX8F_onnOv_x082CzqZ5Zetc-3xHASidcJcHEILzToEHstlKKVmm9hPt5vy43g/s320/IMG_0078.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Treat at the Winter Quarters Visitor Center: we saw Elder Gary and Sister Vicky Jenks from Nampa.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-92109621979740179282023-02-26T19:41:00.001-08:002023-12-02T19:08:14.236-08:00Will We Leave Maryland. . .At All? Week 51: Holms on the Potomac<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLQQCRyenlrLfFP3z2G8JbxdMmOxN9T_um8V6Pyopossrs3TSHwG1AA0_yhCcwkW3Voshy1ufZUnlZulYneH4T2gFSGjzehpHZhcDJPVpjzB8mOJ6CLj6QCUb0NYcOz15Rx-hX5ZDJ5rANqAgBRRCtRqaGVK-QWqY581zuRQjSeN0eiRBkTXNUE7aEA/s4032/IMG_4466.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLQQCRyenlrLfFP3z2G8JbxdMmOxN9T_um8V6Pyopossrs3TSHwG1AA0_yhCcwkW3Voshy1ufZUnlZulYneH4T2gFSGjzehpHZhcDJPVpjzB8mOJ6CLj6QCUb0NYcOz15Rx-hX5ZDJ5rANqAgBRRCtRqaGVK-QWqY581zuRQjSeN0eiRBkTXNUE7aEA/s320/IMG_4466.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Gina Brutus at the DC Temple Open House in June 2022.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLPjeU-N1NIBfd7u5pvIUYdKp2z9fyCI24z4KSFWDS7Ek6XLLWQhv94UwIXenFvXgSOQdvuR7iaahOuWYH8kiFK-PNyKkcvsEMyvVNe0WpZ6PnpU0IXow2uliZDCNslMtav7q2xoORIvONBuMXbuCcsiyXBllsnpqcLF4m8yXwPFlY6AEuyXT8fcddQ/s4032/IMG_4888.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLPjeU-N1NIBfd7u5pvIUYdKp2z9fyCI24z4KSFWDS7Ek6XLLWQhv94UwIXenFvXgSOQdvuR7iaahOuWYH8kiFK-PNyKkcvsEMyvVNe0WpZ6PnpU0IXow2uliZDCNslMtav7q2xoORIvONBuMXbuCcsiyXBllsnpqcLF4m8yXwPFlY6AEuyXT8fcddQ/s320/IMG_4888.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our sweet daughter Emily and granddaughters Holly and Anna at the US Capital, June 2022.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><i> <span style="color: #111111;">If ever I would leave you. . . .</span><span style="color: #111111;">It wouldn't be in summer. </span></i></span><div><i style="color: #111111; font-family: arial;">Seeing you in summer I never would go. . .</i><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>But if I'd ever leave you,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>It couldn't be in autumn. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: arial;">How I'd leave in autumn I never will know. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: arial;">I've seen how you sparkle </i><i style="color: #111111; font-family: arial;">When fall nips the air.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>I know you in autumn. </i></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">And I must be there.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>And could I leave you </i></span></span><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>running merrily through the snow? </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><i style="color: #111111; font-family: arial;">Or on a wintry evening </i><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>when you catch the fire's glow? </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><i style="color: #111111; font-family: arial;">If ever I would leave you, </i><i style="color: #111111; font-family: arial;">How could it be in spring-time?</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: arial;">Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so? </i><i style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #111111;">Oh, no! not in spring-time!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #202124;">Summer, winter or fall!</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; font-family: arial;">No, never could I leave you at all!</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjue3Sh78jGpljHYnTN5OTTjQLRZcN7DbgAQCNoJpgEMXDi2y0RKyev4m_yXJFYdoB-6zGRZ9FCOdOMM0SNcuMy1UCy_1XJSAZceIKnzJfjriMKzVtEEJ_TxhkL_nPx2oXSL8LxUeDpwyoqJ6OZ8pJCyU8XqHvJiI1EQBf-UTH-py10kdh3st5AKTtgfQ/s4032/IMG_7073.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjue3Sh78jGpljHYnTN5OTTjQLRZcN7DbgAQCNoJpgEMXDi2y0RKyev4m_yXJFYdoB-6zGRZ9FCOdOMM0SNcuMy1UCy_1XJSAZceIKnzJfjriMKzVtEEJ_TxhkL_nPx2oXSL8LxUeDpwyoqJ6OZ8pJCyU8XqHvJiI1EQBf-UTH-py10kdh3st5AKTtgfQ/s320/IMG_7073.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Great Seneca Park in October, 2022.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8OdXx9Aeq7JV3UEeIqyI6qxoHUnUydqjOLkwhko68AA_FvYW63tCUufnu_ba-9LL076lXuMdK3w7FamcrWMcfMx4RIIO5jIIJSAnMLZLUQquygADAasQ9iOMLV6Ir2oYwTHxtFTokBIqnpbiVPWnOhxa3s0dVZK_OyJdN5dGvHGdAP_Yiq4H9FUOhw/s4032/IMG_6996.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8OdXx9Aeq7JV3UEeIqyI6qxoHUnUydqjOLkwhko68AA_FvYW63tCUufnu_ba-9LL076lXuMdK3w7FamcrWMcfMx4RIIO5jIIJSAnMLZLUQquygADAasQ9iOMLV6Ir2oYwTHxtFTokBIqnpbiVPWnOhxa3s0dVZK_OyJdN5dGvHGdAP_Yiq4H9FUOhw/s320/IMG_6996.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">DC Zone Cleaning Project, October, 2022.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ6oigW_4PCmNOMopXRI6GxAtLkgfKGGtxVEpLBuK9YB93Ll4n2Ect_sub8GzGUSBAVuJYyJCqKvu6xEGEfGcgBR_pGoan4NkGp_BsHXdkKS13Hf5nd2i9x4mZPtvcpTkMjCSXSL6jCmlS4sLlONE_20YWjTlMzIIBMYWrueHTbGh5rZuytwYj9Lhbw/s4032/IMG_4059.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ6oigW_4PCmNOMopXRI6GxAtLkgfKGGtxVEpLBuK9YB93Ll4n2Ect_sub8GzGUSBAVuJYyJCqKvu6xEGEfGcgBR_pGoan4NkGp_BsHXdkKS13Hf5nd2i9x4mZPtvcpTkMjCSXSL6jCmlS4sLlONE_20YWjTlMzIIBMYWrueHTbGh5rZuytwYj9Lhbw/s320/IMG_4059.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Sela Kata--one of our MTC buddies--and Sister Dawn Craig. </td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ6oigW_4PCmNOMopXRI6GxAtLkgfKGGtxVEpLBuK9YB93Ll4n2Ect_sub8GzGUSBAVuJYyJCqKvu6xEGEfGcgBR_pGoan4NkGp_BsHXdkKS13Hf5nd2i9x4mZPtvcpTkMjCSXSL6jCmlS4sLlONE_20YWjTlMzIIBMYWrueHTbGh5rZuytwYj9Lhbw/s4032/IMG_4059.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y9E6qqjrsgqLJB1qrzltRcgFAgJCESn0C5OLbQfpr2x2Rn87FtEF5QTRyCmmH5m079KaUNdw-Wzuj7CQW_PyPKNDdEZpXU_8MrTeDjXsVa2cb7_N-u50poGXCwtlWOQQOldpEF10Tq44MPYPv9rTWySP47H0kCdD-XZLz90sjab5EpCmz9rDuWaaDg/s4032/IMG_0309.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y9E6qqjrsgqLJB1qrzltRcgFAgJCESn0C5OLbQfpr2x2Rn87FtEF5QTRyCmmH5m079KaUNdw-Wzuj7CQW_PyPKNDdEZpXU_8MrTeDjXsVa2cb7_N-u50poGXCwtlWOQQOldpEF10Tq44MPYPv9rTWySP47H0kCdD-XZLz90sjab5EpCmz9rDuWaaDg/s320/IMG_0309.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Elder Evan Connell, Shazia Aziz, Sister Janette Connell, Holms, Mohammed and Shamir Aziz; Fatima Aziz is taking the photo. February 2023 Pakistani dinner party at the <br />Aziz apartment. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="color: #111111;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVRZFMmtolyHC-NglK4NzGoiqqgfOSQVmLZ37r_kgMWycsDpiUwvDg3Dh3zF-CusKWp06gC5cgBsReHDX3e8L76aV3kxdTZ7VGl5onMwPU_z3e_8YEEZBVw2Z7XPrl_Wvg0cdV51II98QPQIU_e34JnIxOSj4JzDFc6MGjJlu2S-GRpJbcJqRkIyALA/s4032/IMG_8642.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVRZFMmtolyHC-NglK4NzGoiqqgfOSQVmLZ37r_kgMWycsDpiUwvDg3Dh3zF-CusKWp06gC5cgBsReHDX3e8L76aV3kxdTZ7VGl5onMwPU_z3e_8YEEZBVw2Z7XPrl_Wvg0cdV51II98QPQIU_e34JnIxOSj4JzDFc6MGjJlu2S-GRpJbcJqRkIyALA/s320/IMG_8642.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighborhood, early morning.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4k9cR3y26aYKjXBnFY-HS0Qcf7p0Oe9xXmgnEICsVpWRWV4UoyElh3L8XFCVVBbUQgm-4TG_fHtygm1yVGg47giOYWGSIkdsI8wFYzvkVfZ4M9-oEZMV7smw3Jsasdj4eIWDA91WmFahs7Ei2PDjiWBAk-9mg_MzEeyuGPoRVjcUZC7hdC44JTh7bA/s320/IMG_4989.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elders Riser, Butler, Schrieiner, McKay and Chandler--missionaries eating MISSION BBQ!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4k9cR3y26aYKjXBnFY-HS0Qcf7p0Oe9xXmgnEICsVpWRWV4UoyElh3L8XFCVVBbUQgm-4TG_fHtygm1yVGg47giOYWGSIkdsI8wFYzvkVfZ4M9-oEZMV7smw3Jsasdj4eIWDA91WmFahs7Ei2PDjiWBAk-9mg_MzEeyuGPoRVjcUZC7hdC44JTh7bA/s4032/IMG_4989.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUuuyr02rvg_P_r9SJ8h7ZKGLoHqadJQcDs64PdHaB8W9m3PcK3W5P9O0Q4BXJbL5MjdQ1sF2Z5kvX8c9PdnEWGcCOmA3EK-MVHuG2mSdfkmmpxvfyTbU9obclL6S77u8IIT_r0GnW0_vBY2p364ztj9kKKkTcHMcweqyAut6ORnpj4jpMVuUX_t2ag/s4032/IMG_3909.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUuuyr02rvg_P_r9SJ8h7ZKGLoHqadJQcDs64PdHaB8W9m3PcK3W5P9O0Q4BXJbL5MjdQ1sF2Z5kvX8c9PdnEWGcCOmA3EK-MVHuG2mSdfkmmpxvfyTbU9obclL6S77u8IIT_r0GnW0_vBY2p364ztj9kKKkTcHMcweqyAut6ORnpj4jpMVuUX_t2ag/s320/IMG_3909.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Holms with sister missionaries at DC Temple. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="551" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2u1iRj7ngXaJj6JD34iAG1DeVDUM-iV9woTHAdv2kB6oKmgYXneynBd_bZg_4FNvd8m-uIktnWjVxwzfatvWYialpPIoE9Hz9S3fGa6X7fwoHpQHvueV2dqxAofbimt1qL6hLgBYwGiBQxWlSRxke21vjKIdyJVWxP2uqAVcp9XEO4a00XfAwb5m7g/s320/IMG_3873.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="276" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dogwood!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2u1iRj7ngXaJj6JD34iAG1DeVDUM-iV9woTHAdv2kB6oKmgYXneynBd_bZg_4FNvd8m-uIktnWjVxwzfatvWYialpPIoE9Hz9S3fGa6X7fwoHpQHvueV2dqxAofbimt1qL6hLgBYwGiBQxWlSRxke21vjKIdyJVWxP2uqAVcp9XEO4a00XfAwb5m7g/s640/IMG_3873.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66-cIRSZ7oYLE9T4C-W4JybDDO38o5vQqSqyuBSbyjhAHZMboMYuswcTJPKlP2KMD4ZZALYiP2rEDq6LuTCsMoVSIkLt8MkM1IafCM9XrMRen4Rfo_0Mx3AXxO_jtJFJuVuZiJD4JVaaLEcD8AHOR6JpIfcv6whtCe06q8QnQhV93Q6aA2cMpQobP0w/s4032/IMG_7144.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66-cIRSZ7oYLE9T4C-W4JybDDO38o5vQqSqyuBSbyjhAHZMboMYuswcTJPKlP2KMD4ZZALYiP2rEDq6LuTCsMoVSIkLt8MkM1IafCM9XrMRen4Rfo_0Mx3AXxO_jtJFJuVuZiJD4JVaaLEcD8AHOR6JpIfcv6whtCe06q8QnQhV93Q6aA2cMpQobP0w/s320/IMG_7144.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Our" pond in autumn.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8H59jYTHdot766rgxbJrEW-69BbUnqnbmzGvJ1b9SHauZAf2Tv89M-YipeXB0IhwjvL7VsNHTTVqg1onnw51t3Sw4MC5xWI63N5HnpJWa0e4rja-bXfOvcvuc7OFUPZPwpzFDmET3WdQERLenUkLLC0xkduSNo1jGepqfc9rCyZc4OYfwTGmMMmqb0Q/s320/IMG_9481.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A<i> dinner party at Pres. Don and Young Irvine's home -- Feb. 26, 2023 -- for seniors </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><i> who are headed home in the next two months. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8H59jYTHdot766rgxbJrEW-69BbUnqnbmzGvJ1b9SHauZAf2Tv89M-YipeXB0IhwjvL7VsNHTTVqg1onnw51t3Sw4MC5xWI63N5HnpJWa0e4rja-bXfOvcvuc7OFUPZPwpzFDmET3WdQERLenUkLLC0xkduSNo1jGepqfc9rCyZc4OYfwTGmMMmqb0Q/s4032/IMG_9481.jpeg"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Listen to Robert Goulet belt out these lyrics and they will earworm in your head for weeks—like they have in mine for months. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">(Lerner and Loewe, <i>If Ever I Would Leave You</i> – from the musical <i>Camelot)</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We’ve loved Maryland and DC in every season, beyond what we imagined. Our daily walks and weekend excursions have shown us their wonders; lately we’ve seen foxes in the trees where “semi-wild” wildlife roam, and we’ve loved learning how God has nurtured and protected our nation ’s capital for His purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Most important, we love some Marylanders—precious friends Gina Brutus and the Aziz family-- given to us by God. Sadly, phone calls and texts will not fully take the place of their smiles and hugs. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We hold dear 163 young missionaries. When I answer their phone calls and ask how they are, it’s always, “We are so, so good! And how can we help YOU, Sister Holm?” They love Jesus Christ and testify of him despite discouragement and homesickness, and they support each other and friends they make in their communities. We’ve watched them grow from nervous “greenies” to mature, accomplished, powerful adults, who proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ fearlessly and then go home to face life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We’ve made eternal friendships with 43 senior missionaries, including our fellow workers in the office: Evan and Janette Connell from St. Louis, MO; Rodney and Susan Workman from Sheridan, WY; Ed and Cindy Cole from Grantsville, UT, and Gary and Camille Simmons from Farmington, UT. Our replacements, Nyall and Candy London from Riverton, UT, just arrived, and we love them, too. We will always have tender spots in our hearts for President Todd Clarke and his wife Heather, and for our former mission leaders, Reid and Shelly Neilson. We've loved our friends in the Strathmore Single Adult Ward. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We’re supposed to leave March 7, but cherry blossoms are bursting and we finally know all the missionaries’ names. Listening to Goulet, we think “never can we leave Maryland—at all!” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Serving this mission in Maryland has changed us for the better. We're deeply thankful for the blessings it has brought to our marriage and our testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Through our tears, we love all these people and places, yet we yearn for our wonderful children and their spouses, for 16 fantastic grandchildren, and for family and friends. (Tune in next week to see the next phase of our Wonderful Washington DC North Mission Adventure!)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in;"></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wYJhbwlpsCAY84m0-ICF2FqUDJkPCLq9CmlDSFOGzkRv2FMJVPGoTqkKvjVqz8odzPj8FqJDDl5dIPwhDKHNCpgxZG0hmB1Q9ZQOfwNvcb8-yTH-Qu3uCjST7G2832_Qa6W_lU1LOWvhnDdaP0TtY67PYHI72mMW5YoDrpKU8_Q5RlSj2IPqnhVuzA/s320/IMG_9486.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nurse Sister Susan Workman and Housing Coordinator Elder Rodney Workman at the party</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wYJhbwlpsCAY84m0-ICF2FqUDJkPCLq9CmlDSFOGzkRv2FMJVPGoTqkKvjVqz8odzPj8FqJDDl5dIPwhDKHNCpgxZG0hmB1Q9ZQOfwNvcb8-yTH-Qu3uCjST7G2832_Qa6W_lU1LOWvhnDdaP0TtY67PYHI72mMW5YoDrpKU8_Q5RlSj2IPqnhVuzA/s4032/IMG_9486.jpeg"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiLaf9sb3ywLve0VLY56pokPhvAzdCFX7ePHZHkVRzUJc174jLCTpNVjUVrtU0-zahc7mc7jHWJkz9fTgEA8ARZQu0VXUpwPJJwthVGif8Cb-b2uO4nDse1jEHTulUSH9IL9y0qQXiyK6ckLYkPLpuHkpe8obH3j62N6y5ustvWbpoKokcZoeUR6gtA/s4032/IMG_9493.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiLaf9sb3ywLve0VLY56pokPhvAzdCFX7ePHZHkVRzUJc174jLCTpNVjUVrtU0-zahc7mc7jHWJkz9fTgEA8ARZQu0VXUpwPJJwthVGif8Cb-b2uO4nDse1jEHTulUSH9IL9y0qQXiyK6ckLYkPLpuHkpe8obH3j62N6y5ustvWbpoKokcZoeUR6gtA/s320/IMG_9493.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With Sister Young Irvine at the party.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG6PQEm2B34cCEThYHMQcHeXzBVABMQsz87-UX6GITxbHneTSTeSykKX60aZYPl63fx4z9DD66JRtqUxM9XTz8qGToEWKTlRunw-76urwgoQiuuvp0WP4_QH99yR1qWE9JLQszzQnMlJPXuFtQrgsf0JVu050WWp8mpI6Iqlc8eC5WQt_rCYL9XJAgQ/s4032/IMG_9475.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG6PQEm2B34cCEThYHMQcHeXzBVABMQsz87-UX6GITxbHneTSTeSykKX60aZYPl63fx4z9DD66JRtqUxM9XTz8qGToEWKTlRunw-76urwgoQiuuvp0WP4_QH99yR1qWE9JLQszzQnMlJPXuFtQrgsf0JVu050WWp8mpI6Iqlc8eC5WQt_rCYL9XJAgQ/s320/IMG_9475.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p></div>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-62226937785343576112023-02-20T03:29:00.003-08:002023-12-02T15:07:46.983-08:00What does a vehicle coordinator do? - Week 50: Holms on the Potomac<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG_HCVdMb7uzOmVjvQIgUbCTZdNnIdxa546IObR70Sty-wsbKLr7WiJGjGzuM1gKB45sl8X7Teka7WsXRKWpxtl4C1ttd_UgSMAnZzB9Ib08BE8DScnuZKEW2Axj07qBi6D0GzjWOXquKV7hx0jpt_19NpjvOvgguP57wyiRbVtGdHwQ_TabOwERrHQ/s320/IMG_8328-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG_HCVdMb7uzOmVjvQIgUbCTZdNnIdxa546IObR70Sty-wsbKLr7WiJGjGzuM1gKB45sl8X7Teka7WsXRKWpxtl4C1ttd_UgSMAnZzB9Ib08BE8DScnuZKEW2Axj07qBi6D0GzjWOXquKV7hx0jpt_19NpjvOvgguP57wyiRbVtGdHwQ_TabOwERrHQ/s1600/IMG_8328-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Elder Holm at his desk.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Our young elders and sisters, and many senior missionaries, work hard to share the good news that Jesus Christ’s New Testament church has been restored to God’s children on earth. We do this also, but our mission is to support these valiant souls in other ways, as well.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So—what does a vehicle coordinator do? Elder Holm—vehicle coordinator for the Washington DC North Mission—manages the 74 cars that missionaries drive, the 12-passenger transit van used for picking up missionaries at the airport, and a truck and trailer for heavy work. He uses the Church Automotive Reporting System (CARS) program to manage vehicles and drivers in tasks such as: licensing and registration; reminding drivers get regular oil changes; informing them of citations; and making sure they are certified to drive mission cars. He oversees regular maintenance checks on all vehicles and manages repairs after accidents. He supervises the Driver Accountability Program for the 170 missionaries. This satellite system, which they log into with a “TIWI card”, warns them if they are speeding, etc., and has saved many lives. He supervises the retirement of mission vehicles and the pick-up of new vehicles. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg-hDfPaqcpE1FxWCwbfXckj54SGQoiQzT7HwgsDcuogwtF4xZd8fhvva6Iq1wRuSMdLW9KxJK3EM6ekW-XZ9DPptV0ku7DCXxBp2jFct6ISZF2AxWbGL-SiQK5wTDRcRqZsCf7lnCRPJTUXyVCj0DPyEf46c0UytfMnwA7mHlHaT5rwNcB0mx-Ghig/s4032/IMG_8555.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg-hDfPaqcpE1FxWCwbfXckj54SGQoiQzT7HwgsDcuogwtF4xZd8fhvva6Iq1wRuSMdLW9KxJK3EM6ekW-XZ9DPptV0ku7DCXxBp2jFct6ISZF2AxWbGL-SiQK5wTDRcRqZsCf7lnCRPJTUXyVCj0DPyEf46c0UytfMnwA7mHlHaT5rwNcB0mx-Ghig/s320/IMG_8555.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Elder Holm supervising vehicle inspections with Elder Pond from Meridian, Idaho, and Elder Gardner from Peachtree, Ga. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJGRsLsh1NLE1ZDtl7YAcVutSYIoS0hfYgadoOH5NqmmWeYN0VlCZSe1zqOtBLqQEmvwFvs-SMXE1k-4rRr-e56svKihdvEtyE9d8qq3Nc-u1WQvNjMl-Sjcrwm38kXkJ6mDQDRoCTvYPPKp4afFph4pR7w5FpE7nXRgVVQGbPKxqIf1xT9MD1eFsew/s4032/IMG_8526.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJGRsLsh1NLE1ZDtl7YAcVutSYIoS0hfYgadoOH5NqmmWeYN0VlCZSe1zqOtBLqQEmvwFvs-SMXE1k-4rRr-e56svKihdvEtyE9d8qq3Nc-u1WQvNjMl-Sjcrwm38kXkJ6mDQDRoCTvYPPKp4afFph4pR7w5FpE7nXRgVVQGbPKxqIf1xT9MD1eFsew/s320/IMG_8526.HEIC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Hammond from Utah and Elder Milham from Ammon, Idaho, doing a vehicle inspection in Annapolis. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />He reaches out to missionaries with love when they have too many Tiwi violations for poor driving and when they get citations and excessive toll charges. He is available 24/7 for their phone calls about accidents and problems with their vehicles. When a month ends, he reminds and cajoles them to send their monthly mileage and credit card receipts. To do this, they spread out their mileage log, nametags, and all receipts for gas, air, carwashes, etc., take a photo, and send it to him. All receipts from these 74 photos must be reconciled against the financial records of the church, an arduous process in which the VC’s wife is also involved. [YAWN!]<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnCXS0KQ-xaxwTD3KbZ-1dx75FTxOzS4VO3Js3BaOULVRT2-iM4FD2ioQejM3L065-NkfoqsqWSa4fV6NCVybd9pfDo6zxKuT0AtMky2401bq_yzXjj-mYNbuNCg84b0HyYHhNpHTZPBsVjBXECQ18E9BxpNHBKs2p3XW5zDdh9S2G0r-Jve6sVpD0w/s1024/imagejpeg_0.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnCXS0KQ-xaxwTD3KbZ-1dx75FTxOzS4VO3Js3BaOULVRT2-iM4FD2ioQejM3L065-NkfoqsqWSa4fV6NCVybd9pfDo6zxKuT0AtMky2401bq_yzXjj-mYNbuNCg84b0HyYHhNpHTZPBsVjBXECQ18E9BxpNHBKs2p3XW5zDdh9S2G0r-Jve6sVpD0w/s320/imagejpeg_0.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />One of my duties is keeping a bowl of candy full for our young missionaries (this bowl is special--our normal bowl is much smaller!) And I am proud of myself that for most of the mission I fasted from mini-Snickers bars!</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">What does an office secretary do? We have two full-time and two part-time senior sister secretaries, and there’s plenty of work to go around. I manage driver records—each new missionary must provide four vital documents, receive training, and have the mission president’s signature before they are issued the TIWI card—their official permission to drive a mission vehicle. I pull the files of missionaries who have finished their service and gone home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I answer the phone, answer emails, help sort mail and packages for missionaries, order office supplies for our office and cleaning supplies for missionary apartments, and prepare new missionary packets for both young and senior arriving missionaries. I help plan and carry out meals for arriving missionaries and for zone conferences, compile the annual history, and write a seniors newsletter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: center;">There's lots of work in a mission office! Elder Connell is the finance coordinator for the mission's funds and disburses monthly allotments to young elders and sisters. Sister Connell is the referral secretary, takes care of decorations for 15-ish tables at zone conferences, orders and shelves Bibles, Books of Mormon and other missionary supplies, manages missionary travel, and more; Sister Workman is our mission nurse and helps her husband with missionary housing issues.</span><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: center;" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">That’s what we’ve been doing for the past year, and what we will be doing for the next two weeks as we train Elder Nyall and Sister Candy London, our replacements. Then this “busyness in the service of Lord and His children” will end, and we will turn our RAV toward Idaho on March 7: a bittersweet time, for sure. <span style="text-align: center;">! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWsAtAM5Qz1mQap5qHEpa-6-HJUZaYQokgHHhuJq9MRpHkSzbqqXouXtLAq25Yh6Gofi2h3y6uUW6oUz0tesWASvINsuCr5ZKgAemzmmUUFnmoJzVa4mC9LqQmKYLVOOMfnhscv0X1mgliwf7r0SmhpSlt6-dvQu298IGPvWLb6rgS6IyfV3SnHVnbw/s320/IMG_8330.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWsAtAM5Qz1mQap5qHEpa-6-HJUZaYQokgHHhuJq9MRpHkSzbqqXouXtLAq25Yh6Gofi2h3y6uUW6oUz0tesWASvINsuCr5ZKgAemzmmUUFnmoJzVa4mC9LqQmKYLVOOMfnhscv0X1mgliwf7r0SmhpSlt6-dvQu298IGPvWLb6rgS6IyfV3SnHVnbw/s1600/IMG_8330.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Evan Connell at work</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CG3vtAWLn0oTh_72oUXwW40K4jmDPEjMRPOQvU_unX6xA5XmuTTvCzmU5LIjx7kZSTL_qCgS0IFOJZatyPcVmlBUYq7qZ6Bkw0p33BSmpXvNW2r-C_1On2T_m1b1-QAsUSlLaqrgF1a5VBMNLVxylbaHe02bav-e1ruTBdU4KBX_CP8-wmtp5UY7DQ/s320/IMG_8329.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CG3vtAWLn0oTh_72oUXwW40K4jmDPEjMRPOQvU_unX6xA5XmuTTvCzmU5LIjx7kZSTL_qCgS0IFOJZatyPcVmlBUYq7qZ6Bkw0p33BSmpXvNW2r-C_1On2T_m1b1-QAsUSlLaqrgF1a5VBMNLVxylbaHe02bav-e1ruTBdU4KBX_CP8-wmtp5UY7DQ/s1600/IMG_8329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Connell organizing z.c. decor.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIgiWvec0uDSiJGXuFmHXWicuFA2aBaOCt3T9w0Ag0t4M3pE3Nl_4vA6oKfmFQKMH3YqG6FSyrFKGKfGJ_Y2k4p2w7SwGZDAATk8JOhCq5vtaHyMRqji0Uzp_T1i19XOPFWPoCy1Iz08GMHD9CPFMmyitlZk80dRXkHlRucZfp_3J4lFI94KagKMq-A/s4032/IMG_7141.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIgiWvec0uDSiJGXuFmHXWicuFA2aBaOCt3T9w0Ag0t4M3pE3Nl_4vA6oKfmFQKMH3YqG6FSyrFKGKfGJ_Y2k4p2w7SwGZDAATk8JOhCq5vtaHyMRqji0Uzp_T1i19XOPFWPoCy1Iz08GMHD9CPFMmyitlZk80dRXkHlRucZfp_3J4lFI94KagKMq-A/s320/IMG_7141.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Cole before she went home in November--Debbie inherited this desk / front office job from her. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-8kZXOWWRCg1tgRSRUZl_8wKEOPHdRDQI950lVySXb28oaaxVCckeYUHn2QOIu1XPqK84-Qa67HuQYO_AbAnENzppsqIoa-Em9bXjd8cj6D1aeKX4qmyzq3bTZM0f42FOvYNY-y8TRrKh5wLq1k1jtBvj-arN8iEv_BU0vB0LkjEJzPBZi2YkKU_0Q/s4032/IMG_7170.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-8kZXOWWRCg1tgRSRUZl_8wKEOPHdRDQI950lVySXb28oaaxVCckeYUHn2QOIu1XPqK84-Qa67HuQYO_AbAnENzppsqIoa-Em9bXjd8cj6D1aeKX4qmyzq3bTZM0f42FOvYNY-y8TRrKh5wLq1k1jtBvj-arN8iEv_BU0vB0LkjEJzPBZi2YkKU_0Q/s320/IMG_7170.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Elder Holm is with Elders Cole and Workm who have managed apartments for 200 + missionaries..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK4fWpxnGTi-9yEdzOQqDNLrXCYlGnmdhePhm1wwJ2JQXV8I79GmlN-PqXiDP0RdsfiCBUazHkGekhZGYKSE3VbaQ5Ui5jPZeROkqbwMxkfVanQIgjkmekHzo1KunV-_e2uQVy57SkjEr2Mr5j4c5hzIf1A8-DEnbv7SWO4yaKLnBJcTbLe_Tb80drQ/s320/IMG_7203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK4fWpxnGTi-9yEdzOQqDNLrXCYlGnmdhePhm1wwJ2JQXV8I79GmlN-PqXiDP0RdsfiCBUazHkGekhZGYKSE3VbaQ5Ui5jPZeROkqbwMxkfVanQIgjkmekHzo1KunV-_e2uQVy57SkjEr2Mr5j4c5hzIf1A8-DEnbv7SWO4yaKLnBJcTbLe_Tb80drQ/s1600/IMG_7203.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Elder Edlefson, Elder Connell, Elder Holm, Elder Farnsworth and Elder Frame moved these hulking files full of vehicle folders down a long hall-- kudos to them! </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-37790886415770080042023-02-12T16:49:00.005-08:002023-12-02T15:01:59.681-08:00What do Mission Presidents Do? Week 49: Holms on the Potomac<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXaTFCIzJW_WJw7JPZCf7MHgVjeVXWDbV9Z0sgy5_D0vhJ5le-v65thCcvtO7Xh3m9sT1SNiVeliDa8o5u_cByVBTDk4RtIRIjRJ_io2gIcU28xCEVrBUFNz__eT7bQJJLYhc8VCLUv55p0-zqLHWods8n4dWq0TwSYv0HWMBdGyS_gYw7QJ6BzJZIg/s2071/FullSizeRender.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="2071" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXaTFCIzJW_WJw7JPZCf7MHgVjeVXWDbV9Z0sgy5_D0vhJ5le-v65thCcvtO7Xh3m9sT1SNiVeliDa8o5u_cByVBTDk4RtIRIjRJ_io2gIcU28xCEVrBUFNz__eT7bQJJLYhc8VCLUv55p0-zqLHWods8n4dWq0TwSYv0HWMBdGyS_gYw7QJ6BzJZIg/s320/FullSizeRender.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo was taken in June, just before President and Sister Neilson's mission ended. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">What do a mission president and his wife do?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Mission leaders are called of God, by a prophet, for three years. They lay aside their profession or their retirement (depending on their ages) and dedicate themselves to God’s work in the mission: advising and guiding young missionaries, overseeing senior missionaries, coordinating missionary work with local church leaders, and doing other tasks too numerous to mention. (I don’t want to know all the work they do. The list would exhaust me.) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Our two mission presidents and their wives have served our 170 young and 45 senior missionaries with energy, spiritual strength and love. Surely angels hover near them, for mere mortals would crack under the pressures they face. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIoSBcx8PMGd9U8KHv704q_9UOPAzAosTLjBRHa_DwnXC7a-7NMfU4uA6-3LKtpOsv9U4ixzdGDJe3N02jTqbQTXUXzZwYmFpSyjJqKyzCm8wni3NmrHKG8PIrdaaxNX4bzyhQHDlomzhuCVULqMpRgsNvcb_-fxa0lPgghyphenhyphenNs8IZLaSCvDUHAMYfnpqG/s4032/CD15FA60-CC69-4479-890B-9EDA138B92EC.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIoSBcx8PMGd9U8KHv704q_9UOPAzAosTLjBRHa_DwnXC7a-7NMfU4uA6-3LKtpOsv9U4ixzdGDJe3N02jTqbQTXUXzZwYmFpSyjJqKyzCm8wni3NmrHKG8PIrdaaxNX4bzyhQHDlomzhuCVULqMpRgsNvcb_-fxa0lPgghyphenhyphenNs8IZLaSCvDUHAMYfnpqG/s320/CD15FA60-CC69-4479-890B-9EDA138B92EC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Todd and Sister Heather Clarke on March 6, our last day in the mission. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">President Todd Clarke and his wife, Heather, have led our mission since July 1. Love for missionaries rolls off them in waves. Recently, we spent an evening with them after he had interviewed forty missionaries over six hours’ time while she visited patiently with their companions. (Our mission president interviews EVERY missionary once EVERY six weeks, besides conducting other interviews for various reasons, and his wife is always nearby.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Someone asked me who my favorite missionary was, and I said Missionary A. He’s a cut-up and not the most obedient guy, but he tries. President Clarke said, “Oh, hug him! He has no support from home. I love him!” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">The name of Missionary B. came up. A victim of abuse, she has a disability and is often aloof from her two companions. “Include her in conversations and communicate with her. She has such a good heart. I love her,” he said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Our talk turned to Missionary C.—perhaps the oddest duck in our ranks, whose social awkwardness annoys many people. I commented that he has changed for the good after six months in the field. (I’d wondered if he’d make it to three months.) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Sister Clarke—with her delightful laugh that is the spoonful of sugar that makes all our medicine go down—said that at the end of six hours of interviews, she was exhausted, “But good old Missionary C. said, ‘What? Time to go home? It feels like we just got here!’” [I feel refreshed like that every time I talk to Sister Clarke!] President Clarke said, “He’s one of my favorites – he's fighting an uphill battle. I love that guy.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Clarkes’ children are raised, and without Zoom and Facetime, they’d miss a lot of the milestones of their darling grandchildren, ages six on down. As it is, they miss many precious face-to-face interactions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Last March, Elder Holm and I met President Reid Neilson and his wife, Shelly. They finished their leadership June 30, 2022. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">They were called while raising </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Johnny, 15; Kate, 12; Ally, 9; Whitney, 5; and James, 3. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">After their first eight months here, the mission went from 150 missionaries to about 250 when countries closed their borders due to Covid 19. Called missionaries came here to wait, requiring companions, apartments, beds and vehicles. Missionaries stayed in their apartments and did their own cooking—and like the rest of us, experienced mental and emotional issues. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Nielsons encouraged the missionaries to be welcoming, like the people of Jershon in the Book of Mormon (Alma 35:6,14.) In hundreds of ways, from interviews to Zoom pep talks, from special sack lunches to crafts taught on Facebook, they connected, loved and encouraged their Covid-weary ranks. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">See the pattern? Mission leaders LOVE each elder and sister. Sometimes it’s tough love, but they pick up every lost sheep without taking their eyes off the ninety and nine. They sacrifice time and love, prayer and fasting. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">What a humbling blessing it is to serve under their direction!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-84115733846253565572023-02-05T18:25:00.003-08:002023-12-02T15:01:34.931-08:00Snow! and other blessings. . . . Week 48: Holms on the Potomac<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCfHk9nFD3cOwCjbth_I31E5KQrkre2OHAa5VwIBpjvSZHNIcnURjXy9Ja_nhRrrNDOzkeVU3i6vNjlZHqkCiSjfPrkXTq6nohfn0igAGXD6EgV4lhbSjITmMdckhnHYZ4mTIXf6sdoALKeBnv2uikTocKVKGghgr4R0Fu7G8Yhr5hepwQyywY7NwQg/s4032/IMG_8812.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCfHk9nFD3cOwCjbth_I31E5KQrkre2OHAa5VwIBpjvSZHNIcnURjXy9Ja_nhRrrNDOzkeVU3i6vNjlZHqkCiSjfPrkXTq6nohfn0igAGXD6EgV4lhbSjITmMdckhnHYZ4mTIXf6sdoALKeBnv2uikTocKVKGghgr4R0Fu7G8Yhr5hepwQyywY7NwQg/s320/IMG_8812.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only snow we've seen during this mission fell all over this area, and at our mission office where Elder Connell and Elder Holm paused for a second. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFAzj89KXOaqRpqKd5Z2a8ePHHPijOoqNUGpkLQY6MCf8T2Kb0bhbocsUvcJlu5VNafUqWb7UyluQN652p0K-3uXLpQYpN5vdBgxOSSs842B9AJUwSHslhEW7oq6_dvbv2kAAvbFhgRx7GZ3w55-Sp-CGiwZQLuf-w_-2hzh_XGVzRJZP-dqSxPJxAw/s4032/IMG_8805.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFAzj89KXOaqRpqKd5Z2a8ePHHPijOoqNUGpkLQY6MCf8T2Kb0bhbocsUvcJlu5VNafUqWb7UyluQN652p0K-3uXLpQYpN5vdBgxOSSs842B9AJUwSHslhEW7oq6_dvbv2kAAvbFhgRx7GZ3w55-Sp-CGiwZQLuf-w_-2hzh_XGVzRJZP-dqSxPJxAw/s320/IMG_8805.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forsythia blooming in the snow. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL805LWHSZpc4bvm464fKDxQxMkImHAr7buLUMsOfLFcwLXRQ_5LbnpnqnUkFw0hqYHJMdlsNs1rSAHJPKCZVQve4spTeySG8H7CK_vqX4xsDivAFbuJBWdvkQXz5u2Nadw-0MPItHCc7-jkCqersd0vFbgpND9i7CoUprjx1zmRxBOHOx0kF5k0Mgw/s4032/IMG_8800.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL805LWHSZpc4bvm464fKDxQxMkImHAr7buLUMsOfLFcwLXRQ_5LbnpnqnUkFw0hqYHJMdlsNs1rSAHJPKCZVQve4spTeySG8H7CK_vqX4xsDivAFbuJBWdvkQXz5u2Nadw-0MPItHCc7-jkCqersd0vFbgpND9i7CoUprjx1zmRxBOHOx0kF5k0Mgw/s320/IMG_8800.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful Heron Pond dressed in white.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYlra_6ECw5TFNBUSLHazWzF1svqGztcVuq1-YZ84L5Ep1XJuSp_A7hWW07fbcl6loXyoXI82f59ecLi2ZQ_5m8qkmQCpTxVTGiBOetRs8OtiAYNiS3uZ3JUJ6nlS6vYx369bZuWWugfszR3TVdTGlSYwXyPK0TOME-h3chc3XxLrj9wcAz9m_-cd7A/s4032/IMG_8819.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYlra_6ECw5TFNBUSLHazWzF1svqGztcVuq1-YZ84L5Ep1XJuSp_A7hWW07fbcl6loXyoXI82f59ecLi2ZQ_5m8qkmQCpTxVTGiBOetRs8OtiAYNiS3uZ3JUJ6nlS6vYx369bZuWWugfszR3TVdTGlSYwXyPK0TOME-h3chc3XxLrj9wcAz9m_-cd7A/s320/IMG_8819.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rod and Norm are on the level.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFZ8W5PWEHWsSrscZkSF5XlZo1KkOYp3ciiS8DXGOG5nNiWYaXFMhsnb6z2lsbeTfHCvFQBjk5sb7ERt9Z45OE7ynGEWR2hXD0_whb9KrpYP3Q-e5He0PszCWb1EkdCqp3ovr5xL64DvJDeEY4meGla5xbMmAqlAIRi6Ky_c0ikGEldLkIxusQbremA/s4032/IMG_8794.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFZ8W5PWEHWsSrscZkSF5XlZo1KkOYp3ciiS8DXGOG5nNiWYaXFMhsnb6z2lsbeTfHCvFQBjk5sb7ERt9Z45OE7ynGEWR2hXD0_whb9KrpYP3Q-e5He0PszCWb1EkdCqp3ovr5xL64DvJDeEY4meGla5xbMmAqlAIRi6Ky_c0ikGEldLkIxusQbremA/s320/IMG_8794.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our front yard in the snow. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA_Gwjt8VZ0jIZvvGik_CIMaUXsDjuupq-rG9PCy-Fw2550crUaw8HfOC4obUKFJSfcG3ttNhFCDUb2lpYpBw3jhwAS4MW8KiyqlNf0aSh4WL9j7fpHEfzV-LglHCZ-3uNjWPRru7YpaoJpelgUlQmp9yzmyMlwzFgQ6d80iKk6JNJuSHPJyNLGB3cw/s4032/IMG_8825.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA_Gwjt8VZ0jIZvvGik_CIMaUXsDjuupq-rG9PCy-Fw2550crUaw8HfOC4obUKFJSfcG3ttNhFCDUb2lpYpBw3jhwAS4MW8KiyqlNf0aSh4WL9j7fpHEfzV-LglHCZ-3uNjWPRru7YpaoJpelgUlQmp9yzmyMlwzFgQ6d80iKk6JNJuSHPJyNLGB3cw/s320/IMG_8825.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two perfectionists.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyqsmvtZ32rvP5_SxlauUOVIt26miI6TpZRarhr--i-V0vKwJcg7Rzyb-va2pogOZ2eyt0Wfl7-MxbNJYN-iyu9cR2uzqau48zARhFiJR8MfRFsDrMajI82aqSgjM2EHtGXnNTyqvDEn0kSfMJ9y76cHTs7M7jC35bRH52AwOC4gR30HT8TaxWT-YKQ/s4032/IMG_8820.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyqsmvtZ32rvP5_SxlauUOVIt26miI6TpZRarhr--i-V0vKwJcg7Rzyb-va2pogOZ2eyt0Wfl7-MxbNJYN-iyu9cR2uzqau48zARhFiJR8MfRFsDrMajI82aqSgjM2EHtGXnNTyqvDEn0kSfMJ9y76cHTs7M7jC35bRH52AwOC4gR30HT8TaxWT-YKQ/s320/IMG_8820.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We re-hung 15 photos of Washington DC North missionaries from 1989 through the years, including the one on this end --2022--which includes us. Elder Holm is helped by Sister Connell and Elder Workman. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu-sqiQZMudq3pzk0cyvuTbZhbj5aM9qFnXQ-K0e5hOcvsQ0vtD_o_iQRyDH-ZUVigTL22PPmua4tk7NEUrhCuZ5CnKbRO4obSTAvph-J5EVg6Xo07pip2uykeBnpaylITKZZ_9eqCskyU4s_Dk1pCCPdIC3nRTUEYrM87lwqmJKALIQiTyMvXNWxPg/s4032/IMG_8828.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu-sqiQZMudq3pzk0cyvuTbZhbj5aM9qFnXQ-K0e5hOcvsQ0vtD_o_iQRyDH-ZUVigTL22PPmua4tk7NEUrhCuZ5CnKbRO4obSTAvph-J5EVg6Xo07pip2uykeBnpaylITKZZ_9eqCskyU4s_Dk1pCCPdIC3nRTUEYrM87lwqmJKALIQiTyMvXNWxPg/s320/IMG_8828.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of our missionaries play a wild game of volleyball with members of our YSA Ward. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpysKpnnombxMlKqFCWLpFMMLmA8iPQ2HigoGmRwaGHWXdaZSPQh1yZeHeOQOqjySR-El2aF_Pk65HgAvNmanVM28cP5B90qTRH81sUmE62xPhLVjhSs4pClqI1K9uhv1MPisgc6GE38PdDDl29DjBtG1a6-JKWVgdVfdz-EK2NGjBs1Vrxgit7BO5aQ/s4032/IMG_8652.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpysKpnnombxMlKqFCWLpFMMLmA8iPQ2HigoGmRwaGHWXdaZSPQh1yZeHeOQOqjySR-El2aF_Pk65HgAvNmanVM28cP5B90qTRH81sUmE62xPhLVjhSs4pClqI1K9uhv1MPisgc6GE38PdDDl29DjBtG1a6-JKWVgdVfdz-EK2NGjBs1Vrxgit7BO5aQ/s320/IMG_8652.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Workman prepped and painted the hallway wall in one afternoon.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbdijKqewWL9B6OGeol_SMdpwe87YIP9S7DQl01nVSdUygNMRhoMYH58mw5eqESt_AXaZjamxa514nicZYxgf6V3u8nzwvUki1LmIUW1Fo2OBblejg7vCF3n-nsebAjr9iXAuFIt50Cln6_Ut0oGIRLlh6mB8WxFWuRU6lql1n0WZFStLrzFnx5W4jA/s4032/IMG_8783.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbdijKqewWL9B6OGeol_SMdpwe87YIP9S7DQl01nVSdUygNMRhoMYH58mw5eqESt_AXaZjamxa514nicZYxgf6V3u8nzwvUki1LmIUW1Fo2OBblejg7vCF3n-nsebAjr9iXAuFIt50Cln6_Ut0oGIRLlh6mB8WxFWuRU6lql1n0WZFStLrzFnx5W4jA/s320/IMG_8783.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young missionaries are our favorite visitors at the mission office-- this is Sister Wakefield from Provo, Utah, and Sister Kiara Hansen from our own Nampa East Stake. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-14427861253990828012023-01-29T19:34:00.000-08:002023-12-02T14:59:38.216-08:00Called to Serve. . . Return with Honor - Week 47: Holms on the Potomac<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q4eRjKLmJPNP5bWdC5WyRoytv56gZ_eUUdDZwuEFX6d3Udu61DENSHTnJAYD3gRg9G1buz-Nh1OVpfYTjXZUFEYA3XjGhLrY4wTdHiNCrEiAJyJ0enSgZo9NqizO7BS-7AFGQT2zmI5HXwq5Wl7t7SBKhnib_AuKNX_xDsixYO8ItZ4liDzB9Lv9WGD8/s4032/IMG_8689.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q4eRjKLmJPNP5bWdC5WyRoytv56gZ_eUUdDZwuEFX6d3Udu61DENSHTnJAYD3gRg9G1buz-Nh1OVpfYTjXZUFEYA3XjGhLrY4wTdHiNCrEiAJyJ0enSgZo9NqizO7BS-7AFGQT2zmI5HXwq5Wl7t7SBKhnib_AuKNX_xDsixYO8ItZ4liDzB9Lv9WGD8/s320/IMG_8689.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Morrison explains the tour to Workmans. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabhJpx5OQC8oCv3z89c3sNqaew4M-p5jtryUgJFvCiMvDLnCMXOMagqJ4rQLKsyk_8ih3CEVWNKvXVHsYYwyHvzKGZABK_Z9b7kRQzBkZat1dDqaVGAKkUpflteNJ0UetFMmTBwsyRAuMoxcSWKgBfyIssmlhHknKrz8Q6rxOU4OnKYvjXQcCe5ohwF9a/s1024/IMG_8291.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabhJpx5OQC8oCv3z89c3sNqaew4M-p5jtryUgJFvCiMvDLnCMXOMagqJ4rQLKsyk_8ih3CEVWNKvXVHsYYwyHvzKGZABK_Z9b7kRQzBkZat1dDqaVGAKkUpflteNJ0UetFMmTBwsyRAuMoxcSWKgBfyIssmlhHknKrz8Q6rxOU4OnKYvjXQcCe5ohwF9a/s320/IMG_8291.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simmonses, Sister Gardner, Workmans and Holms</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflYPhWVu6r4eHmwLw7wy0V4wFVU5n2p9Hj7S5ukplktt2UNG5R42dA-rlVj4nylVYuAD2mmpx4-GIdn76phvlzMazDnOvchwLpPVOdc4w3ZWr-islnWI9OPcMsQSyhkgx2Ky_xks4xMlYDQh-ZM4cFvG5qbONox2Q784p2wpO7UoxqIiNp42FB_c42w/s4032/IMG_8676.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflYPhWVu6r4eHmwLw7wy0V4wFVU5n2p9Hj7S5ukplktt2UNG5R42dA-rlVj4nylVYuAD2mmpx4-GIdn76phvlzMazDnOvchwLpPVOdc4w3ZWr-islnWI9OPcMsQSyhkgx2Ky_xks4xMlYDQh-ZM4cFvG5qbONox2Q784p2wpO7UoxqIiNp42FB_c42w/s320/IMG_8676.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The movie we saw there. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />When you hear “Called to Serve,” what do you think of? When you hear “Return with Honor,” what do you think of? <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we sing: “Called to serve Him, heavenly king of glory, Chosen e’er to witness for his name, Far and wide we tell the Father’s story, Far and wide his love proclaim. . .” It’s a missionary hymn for messengers who go into the world to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with God’s children.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">We say, “Return with honor,” to remind ourselves and our children to live with integrity—to be true to ourselves, to other people and to God. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5);">Elder</span> Holm and I went to Annapolis yesterday with three other couples for a tour of the United States Naval Academy from Elder Morrison. He and his wife, Mary, are senior missionaries who provide love and support to </span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">Academy</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;"> midshipmen who are church members and their friends. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">Our first stop was a movie: “Called to Serve,” where we saw midshipmen (and women) arrive at the beginning of “Plebe Summer” to undergo weeks of rigorous coaching designed to prepare them for four years of physical and academic training that prepares them to become naval officers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">It <span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5);">reminded</span> me of what our grandson, now Elder Jacob Roetto, experienced in Army boot camp: </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">tough, demanding and not for quitters. The part that made me teary-eyed was watching them take the oath. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;"></span></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">The midshipmen we saw were all sharp-looking and polite. One took a photo of our group. Refreshing young people! The ornate <o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif;">casket. . . is the crypt of John Paul Jones, "Father of the American Navy." </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: Cambria, serif; text-align: center;">The Chapel is the loveliest building on campus, and was the first building built after the Academy started in 1845. Many Biblical stained-glass windows feature stories about water. One, however, shows Jesus Christ watching over a midshipman. (The term "midshipman" comes from old times, when a sailor stood midway down a ship's deck to relay shouted orders from the captain.) Finally, as one leaves the Academy, he is reminded to "Return with Honor."</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd8Yfrm_iw979BJacxbLQvyYAzGJVFmLy2rO-eiPtU5JiP3FgvPyrYDEUg4KiyYfg3H5muZak3yvNSF6V57eiao438vqYr9hvrkCxMGi4VrvJ-wczZb_kLrJWX2LU3Jz7jbzltwOL4ECeTLbgwvL9hPKpAYFzT7x8zm6Omwf2rCOY-BEuVIr2FHJq0w/s2904/IMG_8721.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1987" data-original-width="2904" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd8Yfrm_iw979BJacxbLQvyYAzGJVFmLy2rO-eiPtU5JiP3FgvPyrYDEUg4KiyYfg3H5muZak3yvNSF6V57eiao438vqYr9hvrkCxMGi4VrvJ-wczZb_kLrJWX2LU3Jz7jbzltwOL4ECeTLbgwvL9hPKpAYFzT7x8zm6Omwf2rCOY-BEuVIr2FHJq0w/s320/IMG_8721.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These young people swear this oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States agains all enemies foreign and domestic. . . so help me God." </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEBFW8gu-Bu5P0LUwboJbPDzdHxXTKt93WHUZUi62sF_2xd4824dnkAXiUSDqyNoucNUVSiw7Jx9Yz8p7CmweN2haG9BfEnMZZLilQTTnDTC4_0kXTOdsYcriBgWCASGy7uioelO966xxOcXtP7iE7az0j33OQYvMsnoxTKKB3HDJO3jHYZtGWo7Afg/s2782/IMG_8753.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2782" data-original-width="1327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEBFW8gu-Bu5P0LUwboJbPDzdHxXTKt93WHUZUi62sF_2xd4824dnkAXiUSDqyNoucNUVSiw7Jx9Yz8p7CmweN2haG9BfEnMZZLilQTTnDTC4_0kXTOdsYcriBgWCASGy7uioelO966xxOcXtP7iE7az0j33OQYvMsnoxTKKB3HDJO3jHYZtGWo7Afg/s320/IMG_8753.jpeg" width="153" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw Naval Academy wedding!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0lnooYarP_h_RgYddSEdDOBGISijK7wNhdpVd3gb0qCIh5m5y0ODxAqUAf7GKlEq4hx9wQkfmKPVD68LeJ-G2Yk-oUAGEuAWrzzbrPtBxHG45lc20na0EoZ9cwfkqdLFadrbvzUy4Gp09AIgeO71PO42ayaA9Tu6ygi1XR0FcWISsrPs1Y4SrrRIAg/s4032/IMG_8709.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0lnooYarP_h_RgYddSEdDOBGISijK7wNhdpVd3gb0qCIh5m5y0ODxAqUAf7GKlEq4hx9wQkfmKPVD68LeJ-G2Yk-oUAGEuAWrzzbrPtBxHG45lc20na0EoZ9cwfkqdLFadrbvzUy4Gp09AIgeO71PO42ayaA9Tu6ygi1XR0FcWISsrPs1Y4SrrRIAg/s320/IMG_8709.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midshipmen</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkq0Gais-33wug-mypoVVRZzhDnebWzmS5Pb2lgcYKeOqkjz-MuHwNcSZVbhvk3sYJgH6rbsvL8-euUzgDmOOfY4WGoMEHHxqJ3PFiRhONpMFgpF8hFHRwK7pH7MSSd22DzOcRC9z7J1EXICFxSfvYpEuNL8G0OiJMd2zafTmGiLbt_wovzNWNuYoiQ/s4032/IMG_8758.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkq0Gais-33wug-mypoVVRZzhDnebWzmS5Pb2lgcYKeOqkjz-MuHwNcSZVbhvk3sYJgH6rbsvL8-euUzgDmOOfY4WGoMEHHxqJ3PFiRhONpMFgpF8hFHRwK7pH7MSSd22DzOcRC9z7J1EXICFxSfvYpEuNL8G0OiJMd2zafTmGiLbt_wovzNWNuYoiQ/s320/IMG_8758.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stained glass window in chapel.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38xzTBVfqQ1DXxVoi_krs6jO_hlI6hMAbbdfk4VbOSkCSanoPypeAmmgL0B0F8WsuCXiyAzZaHAJ5THeStEq6f8YWlttzWhHo-0OI-XBP3nFRn_rkybJixCLXwrGQzjuHpvmaOZw8uktJBWJosPadN3XSVuLxfoV1TxE6Z2eWMCTRnnw5vOyHz_kyDw/s4032/IMG_0164.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38xzTBVfqQ1DXxVoi_krs6jO_hlI6hMAbbdfk4VbOSkCSanoPypeAmmgL0B0F8WsuCXiyAzZaHAJ5THeStEq6f8YWlttzWhHo-0OI-XBP3nFRn_rkybJixCLXwrGQzjuHpvmaOZw8uktJBWJosPadN3XSVuLxfoV1TxE6Z2eWMCTRnnw5vOyHz_kyDw/s320/IMG_0164.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Paul Jones's crypt</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-51762610891224097032023-01-22T18:39:00.003-08:002023-12-02T14:54:04.372-08:00What is Zone Conference? What does the fox say? Week 46<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0r-fFbnBeWXqnBB5zscaHgSsbqBpvztvyBzVBXWd0-oBwH3R6DbfvPbCvJ_ORAH6AfZuDL6j9XP7YVCKtcPFzCfPA3xpdq-AkTCgOlnZYJibL8JH2CLVYgQO3nvA0p9-TgeN-Fep_AtsTqYj9vNY3Q5emRpZZi20v_fj1RcD_WNsGrSgB3olPcQDaZg/s4032/IMG_8573.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0r-fFbnBeWXqnBB5zscaHgSsbqBpvztvyBzVBXWd0-oBwH3R6DbfvPbCvJ_ORAH6AfZuDL6j9XP7YVCKtcPFzCfPA3xpdq-AkTCgOlnZYJibL8JH2CLVYgQO3nvA0p9-TgeN-Fep_AtsTqYj9vNY3Q5emRpZZi20v_fj1RcD_WNsGrSgB3olPcQDaZg/w284-h213/IMG_8573.jpeg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It takes an army of senior missionaries to feed an army of young appetites! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> What is a Zone Conference? It's a chance for missionaries to plug into the energy and love of God and re-charge their spiritual batteries. Two weeks after transfers, when missionaries possibly got a new companion, they sit at the feet of their mission president and other leaders and learn how to work with other missionaries in their zone. They also enjoy a good meal and connecting with former companions and other friends. Missionaries face lots of rejection and work hard to be obedient: you might say that zone conference is where the Army of Israel gets its marching orders. I didn't take pictures because their meetings are spiritual and it wouldn't have been reverent. Also, I was busy elsewhere.<p></p><p>Senior missionaries play big roles in the background: at the Washington DC North Mission conferences this past week, senior elders inspected cars to ensure the safety of young missionaries and to help them learn how to care for vehicles, and senior sisters made a delicious meal celebrating a "Chinese New Year" theme. We also had a senior zone conference where we heard inspiring messages, with an excellent potluck meal afterward. </p><p>Sister Young Irvine has been cooking missionary meals for four and a half years as a service missionary. For this zone conference, Sister Irvine made chicken teriyaki, sushi, curry, fried and sticky rice, and other Oriental dishes for three days' worth of meals, feeding 155 people. She has gotten up between 1 and 3 a.m. on zone conference days, all these years, to make sure the food is fresh and delicious. The missionaries gave her a well-deserved standing ovation! </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5pAFL2ezmRQagMZmtcnoJWIPEH1Nu5F81A9LbJAw42v06Ld29Fheljc6LX3s4xUeBN2K5aZi3yG5TqfXy59I1vHZSZFnkqltplQIv9Obk31ubFwswNRakB1FW0gNCemNS8nC8eTCrIZeYBtv5iWmw_rMJazStF7OiYYv6nuizi0NcL1bNILJibZPew/s4032/IMG_8527.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5pAFL2ezmRQagMZmtcnoJWIPEH1Nu5F81A9LbJAw42v06Ld29Fheljc6LX3s4xUeBN2K5aZi3yG5TqfXy59I1vHZSZFnkqltplQIv9Obk31ubFwswNRakB1FW0gNCemNS8nC8eTCrIZeYBtv5iWmw_rMJazStF7OiYYv6nuizi0NcL1bNILJibZPew/s320/IMG_8527.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0U-hKDWAlAdGcSpNEtsGoiEFWlAXekBvJeFBbRarDwUiCnXxXNGTdBC0tnN-XJUkIu8Otp1dBhd-szWfZgCb-pX0WHqzrsertY4-6wxfKK0zPGDX9Wgzghl6_4RfgP5Q_On4fnRFojwJxqu6Zunx6luAgmQXG_XRYEIf1231zHZKD1spI3NHwmiFdw/s4032/IMG_8524.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0U-hKDWAlAdGcSpNEtsGoiEFWlAXekBvJeFBbRarDwUiCnXxXNGTdBC0tnN-XJUkIu8Otp1dBhd-szWfZgCb-pX0WHqzrsertY4-6wxfKK0zPGDX9Wgzghl6_4RfgP5Q_On4fnRFojwJxqu6Zunx6luAgmQXG_XRYEIf1231zHZKD1spI3NHwmiFdw/s320/IMG_8524.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94_6bcUmaRO64IcRAae-5j_r_3c_7GuERdFqJbS4gE3ONXUh_0WBwDn31aTiUAMxum1CcJbCfwiN_WlXgAARhz2SYBrQsKxt-K0GNbbBLqwqTSRrg4yEKd3Prm_VUGjIOrG8kRnEuJEs8zUKIdgJERWLHyRXIEpFDEIwi0KXrGVQTE_FTIlVSaBqTtA/s4032/IMG_8557.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94_6bcUmaRO64IcRAae-5j_r_3c_7GuERdFqJbS4gE3ONXUh_0WBwDn31aTiUAMxum1CcJbCfwiN_WlXgAARhz2SYBrQsKxt-K0GNbbBLqwqTSRrg4yEKd3Prm_VUGjIOrG8kRnEuJEs8zUKIdgJERWLHyRXIEpFDEIwi0KXrGVQTE_FTIlVSaBqTtA/s320/IMG_8557.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj567ar2wEkv-JVJg3Gj-Gd3pvcfm59st9Qx7GIvPWku_h14SidVFJGXRncWUsXzashlWewlUChXfxfguMxqRYzMDtCZPH-CqbuRWxu2eTLi5R40pfqrt8_O4C8bx8HYP7T_Xp2N0kr2T1PBHBUTiu4w_adasE9Cv9kldagLhqFHT5Khzb4geALz9boXg/s4032/IMG_8525.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj567ar2wEkv-JVJg3Gj-Gd3pvcfm59st9Qx7GIvPWku_h14SidVFJGXRncWUsXzashlWewlUChXfxfguMxqRYzMDtCZPH-CqbuRWxu2eTLi5R40pfqrt8_O4C8bx8HYP7T_Xp2N0kr2T1PBHBUTiu4w_adasE9Cv9kldagLhqFHT5Khzb4geALz9boXg/s320/IMG_8525.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic senior elders, from a team of 12, who did 80 car inspections over three days.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnXKaCXbviyGikNJluejSfKr2A3K1dxTiQDK9pbveqCzmYb71Zle7gdIrxSHcJUP2_5_FggO4b42a5jdiex1oDY3m5r12873khLV3YW2BwHGiTW9RyMBmklLd-HXG9P37bia6HikJvlRhgp4fzQooAAw8wFe3PpufQjbD6M6ix0qnF_cmi2EzuYNfRQ/s4032/IMG_8559.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnXKaCXbviyGikNJluejSfKr2A3K1dxTiQDK9pbveqCzmYb71Zle7gdIrxSHcJUP2_5_FggO4b42a5jdiex1oDY3m5r12873khLV3YW2BwHGiTW9RyMBmklLd-HXG9P37bia6HikJvlRhgp4fzQooAAw8wFe3PpufQjbD6M6ix0qnF_cmi2EzuYNfRQ/s320/IMG_8559.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Clarke hugs Sister Irvine, our meal-making service missionary.</td></tr></tbody></table><i> </i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqF90xv-IiqRwRYLSxqs8H7PrGa4eTB2LgM7VTbObfWWPlKHREAYQA8PZynoLn5PhZYt1ByeH7ZzqVSYWHnfHow4SniumgXVsVQ8syPIx7nzUmkoP6sNFz8TPCbi9tsF41Y0yVwIOwIGepiTzwhOjLmnDqRfZxiIlb04nHam6bqJFVVcwgjhUN_r8-w/s4032/IMG_8568.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqF90xv-IiqRwRYLSxqs8H7PrGa4eTB2LgM7VTbObfWWPlKHREAYQA8PZynoLn5PhZYt1ByeH7ZzqVSYWHnfHow4SniumgXVsVQ8syPIx7nzUmkoP6sNFz8TPCbi9tsF41Y0yVwIOwIGepiTzwhOjLmnDqRfZxiIlb04nHam6bqJFVVcwgjhUN_r8-w/s320/IMG_8568.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen is the funnest place for young and senior missionaries. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbLoLgXyF92wulUQ7YIzAUpy3uZgMn8of5vEso6NRxEKfSyk-S0m2seX5QBpZaFstKf0kqnJzmiC0YETQ2vNpNSAQkSdy27pg2goGmlD-V5kFNT9QuF_pKVD8Whkmd4bm9cpv6YmPwwPtjWCtdw-B3G5eZMdHAcnnc2NjoyYAKezwybRoymPnRUBQwA/s3857/IMG_0090.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2833" data-original-width="3857" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbLoLgXyF92wulUQ7YIzAUpy3uZgMn8of5vEso6NRxEKfSyk-S0m2seX5QBpZaFstKf0kqnJzmiC0YETQ2vNpNSAQkSdy27pg2goGmlD-V5kFNT9QuF_pKVD8Whkmd4bm9cpv6YmPwwPtjWCtdw-B3G5eZMdHAcnnc2NjoyYAKezwybRoymPnRUBQwA/s320/IMG_0090.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhnLXR64pdMBf46ucJhX56327WZxwhp3xoiR1JNnDEyTsd1d-myPMOu9smE70QBq0oLZfZFEr6dsP2fBlswA4gKHbX83PjzAdnGTh8TtsQSMnSIe1C4NJgQ9OHJ2FgJoYwiG0_sBMnkOv22Z6HiPAUbsdv8m1iraGAaETEK8J618ZG83OZ7xRMsju5w/s3986/IMG_8586.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3986" data-original-width="2418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhnLXR64pdMBf46ucJhX56327WZxwhp3xoiR1JNnDEyTsd1d-myPMOu9smE70QBq0oLZfZFEr6dsP2fBlswA4gKHbX83PjzAdnGTh8TtsQSMnSIe1C4NJgQ9OHJ2FgJoYwiG0_sBMnkOv22Z6HiPAUbsdv8m1iraGAaETEK8J618ZG83OZ7xRMsju5w/s320/IMG_8586.jpeg" width="194" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debbie and two office sidekicks, Sisters Workman and Connell. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbK-ay1d4yJihg1sn26sTDVi5l_fSvA3MQElZWnDhj-ohTcXeGOs0YucGUGrDlZ6-ebaIUvWYp9qI5Iet5TLu0NwCRJekr7qylvxJRIDka4CcVF7u_J0k6sWmgj4aVnf0JDyfzbQ90QKZ589GwRtEnVfasgEch8F7ykUU1_1bek41ylTlgm9rw8lpmw/s4032/IMG_8533.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbK-ay1d4yJihg1sn26sTDVi5l_fSvA3MQElZWnDhj-ohTcXeGOs0YucGUGrDlZ6-ebaIUvWYp9qI5Iet5TLu0NwCRJekr7qylvxJRIDka4CcVF7u_J0k6sWmgj4aVnf0JDyfzbQ90QKZ589GwRtEnVfasgEch8F7ykUU1_1bek41ylTlgm9rw8lpmw/s320/IMG_8533.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senior potluck at Annapolis. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilmdbokrwnpr9abZNVT29vPKi8CgJ9jphedkv9C-UJYC3o4z1oIOb2pYmj7_4l5J4ExUAb3te_KCAnRRKwKepeayo-7p7oDQyx_cYjIUngtLiR7m6RUQagomgQFtpQWtWYKqrgwY-QoVnI6IfPtdDL_msyj_xBfMTYUaSL_onE_bSMLWQUkIHUPuluA/s4032/IMG_8548.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilmdbokrwnpr9abZNVT29vPKi8CgJ9jphedkv9C-UJYC3o4z1oIOb2pYmj7_4l5J4ExUAb3te_KCAnRRKwKepeayo-7p7oDQyx_cYjIUngtLiR7m6RUQagomgQFtpQWtWYKqrgwY-QoVnI6IfPtdDL_msyj_xBfMTYUaSL_onE_bSMLWQUkIHUPuluA/s320/IMG_8548.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way home, the Washington DC Temple shines above the 495 Beltway, a reminder that our goal is to eventually "go home to God."</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; text-align: left;">In other news. . . . something strange is going on. . . </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">It’s not difficult to take our trash out—we walk to a large trash compacting shed, use our Super Strength to open the door, toss the bag in, push it down a conveyor belt with a plastic pole, hold our noses, and push a button. But when—in the midst of this work—you hear barking, womanish shrieks in nearby trees, lasting thirty seconds, it’s unsettling. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">I was pretty sure it was a fox—we’ve seen lone foxes several times. Another of our blog posts shows a video of deer in the belt of trees by our parking lot, and we’d seen a herd of six just the day before. I assumed that hungry foxes were chasing deer, but it turns out that January is fox mating season. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Garbage duty won’t be as fun when we go home to Nampa in March.</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-15872141563521970442023-01-12T17:32:00.023-08:002023-12-02T19:52:42.163-08:00Lots of blessings! - Weeks 44-45: : Holms on the Potomac<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BcGLaSWg544N7Vl7UI0vLUf6wYnCW7WQOftgceueU9qVVFZ8I5PDDPOq3bpT_3EoXrKvFSQMUlib5h4t5E_60z_d_vZ0mfin53r4Pi3tgak9KrkLSBYb6VS46m0gxickTM-CAQvS9wGq_LbUVrG04YZaPhsJ7-XQg-6w2HAYULDeLrjt3yovyVSr3g/s4032/IMG_8450.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BcGLaSWg544N7Vl7UI0vLUf6wYnCW7WQOftgceueU9qVVFZ8I5PDDPOq3bpT_3EoXrKvFSQMUlib5h4t5E_60z_d_vZ0mfin53r4Pi3tgak9KrkLSBYb6VS46m0gxickTM-CAQvS9wGq_LbUVrG04YZaPhsJ7-XQg-6w2HAYULDeLrjt3yovyVSr3g/s320/IMG_8450.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />We loved riding the Metro!<br /><br /></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTDWBp8BOJ2yTnXb_lVXgEFj0YOP2Y1tfCM8mN_9NkawKqD_FxMh0rKcyFyw1u7VIvttbpZDtxqZ8GhB2VsQBwAYvVGgPpbKWKdNO0fbd1RO6tx2LLLQMfpItas-Q6gDx2B_MuqMLUkJq_apDZyfNwzNGTnNf0LcfKFd_jLszOcU_Q4KtB5kZGsE0zQ/s4032/IMG_8342%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTDWBp8BOJ2yTnXb_lVXgEFj0YOP2Y1tfCM8mN_9NkawKqD_FxMh0rKcyFyw1u7VIvttbpZDtxqZ8GhB2VsQBwAYvVGgPpbKWKdNO0fbd1RO6tx2LLLQMfpItas-Q6gDx2B_MuqMLUkJq_apDZyfNwzNGTnNf0LcfKFd_jLszOcU_Q4KtB5kZGsE0zQ/s320/IMG_8342%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We rode the Metro to DC with our new friends, Elder and Sister Simmons. She is a great help in the office, and he is the new Area Medical Advisor over six missions, including ours. They are also in our neighborhood!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: italic;"> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDI55ePKU5DcckZ6b_fdOUw4waiDVBjqSuUJUjvD4TK8ylvqh6-kmgmixPFqdsfoxqLZ-UEZa94F2E9-gfWYL3jm9_rZTSJ20_7apMlj5bE55aNINzgtPyw6GnYnMw4imvtDAlxM3c0Kpz8LOmosOvyTbxfp9rR2Ws6Fs05LfkWP2psRxP0VpDGMQGQ/s3752/IMG_8385.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3752" data-original-width="2487" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDI55ePKU5DcckZ6b_fdOUw4waiDVBjqSuUJUjvD4TK8ylvqh6-kmgmixPFqdsfoxqLZ-UEZa94F2E9-gfWYL3jm9_rZTSJ20_7apMlj5bE55aNINzgtPyw6GnYnMw4imvtDAlxM3c0Kpz8LOmosOvyTbxfp9rR2Ws6Fs05LfkWP2psRxP0VpDGMQGQ/s320/IMG_8385.jpeg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We visited the National Air and Space Museum and gained a new respect for Wilbur and Orville Wright --they were far more than hobbyists who just happened to figure out how to fly. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GsR2B28Orcj7cKUWHrSLNN9rvD5SZIbjbD9_KdYV__y85Z98IlHT_uReLZQMmNEHJgGP6pLgJqcVIdZX98VF1W6NdCk_K2Cl3j7XPTT9w4hhXpCpAf5QTD_irg_0SsTxx3O0xnY75atFuoE8U3mrdJOC3kBgpvgsLP5Epa0Jne8qX4UDRXRh60RZMA/s4032/IMG_8411.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GsR2B28Orcj7cKUWHrSLNN9rvD5SZIbjbD9_KdYV__y85Z98IlHT_uReLZQMmNEHJgGP6pLgJqcVIdZX98VF1W6NdCk_K2Cl3j7XPTT9w4hhXpCpAf5QTD_irg_0SsTxx3O0xnY75atFuoE8U3mrdJOC3kBgpvgsLP5Epa0Jne8qX4UDRXRh60RZMA/s320/IMG_8411.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">The airplane flown by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903, preserved in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 17.6px; font-style: italic;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Wright brothers created the world's first power-driven, heavier than air machine in which man made free, controlled, and sustained flight." Wilbur said, "<span style="background-color: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, .SFNSText-Regular, sans-serif" style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isn’t it astonishing that all these secrets have been preserved for so many years just so we could discover them!" We</span></span></span> believe they discovered them through God's inspiration (they were Christians), for planes have been used for so much good--including sending missionaries throughout the world to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. <span style="background-color: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, .SFNSText-Regular, sans-serif" style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The rest of the museum</span></span> shows the amazing domino effect of that first experiment: space flights, satellites, commercial airlines that criss-cross the world, and more.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;">We went to the National Archives. Photographs are not allowed inside. </span><b style="text-align: center;">But we saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!! </b><span style="text-align: center;"> Did you hear me? </span><b style="text-align: center;">We saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!! </b><span style="text-align: center;">They are carefully preserved in a room with dim light to protect the ink, which has faded somewhat over 246 years. What will never fade: the truths they contain and the rights they assert and preserve. We've seen many people from other countries here in the MD / DC area--those documents are "why" they want to come here. And they are WHY we love this "land the free and home of the brave." </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpR-wU3bvVg_PrOoJLew1z1m9gKuzjJqntNPn_8uD-GkESgsdoZxtMXI2bvVCLnAy8px3AP8-moNrYfUVXqm2D5gjeNPGihjqv12XFKHQQZTK6ER7Qx-_KUIAg4ZtVAOZPTe__4vk0gWyneOk2s-teNR61UChbyfUrO1cmbVR4MMmVeGC9YWa04_gKA/s4032/IMG_8449.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpR-wU3bvVg_PrOoJLew1z1m9gKuzjJqntNPn_8uD-GkESgsdoZxtMXI2bvVCLnAy8px3AP8-moNrYfUVXqm2D5gjeNPGihjqv12XFKHQQZTK6ER7Qx-_KUIAg4ZtVAOZPTe__4vk0gWyneOk2s-teNR61UChbyfUrO1cmbVR4MMmVeGC9YWa04_gKA/s320/IMG_8449.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to the National Archives and saw the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFG0UfZYFEy61I6BQAOpqKsDJvFjBsYdTtfblhXAniG8iUtHyxLr3UY0LSm3pooSC-zVsd3d6KjqZpItBiRed9d-tnbt1uEDekxLuWoByemSGZ94NvOpf3MB4EAeqvDIE96p-PfTxwGYacei4cgNXL-oYD1-6mCA47ZMLmoE-ukmh8WZh5Me-DAVfVg/s4032/IMG_8480.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFG0UfZYFEy61I6BQAOpqKsDJvFjBsYdTtfblhXAniG8iUtHyxLr3UY0LSm3pooSC-zVsd3d6KjqZpItBiRed9d-tnbt1uEDekxLuWoByemSGZ94NvOpf3MB4EAeqvDIE96p-PfTxwGYacei4cgNXL-oYD1-6mCA47ZMLmoE-ukmh8WZh5Me-DAVfVg/s320/IMG_8480.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today we got to hang out with these sisters at lunch at the D.C. Temple Visitors Center. Yup, we ARE blessed!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6E0sU6_mvBSuLU8wlqx1bWKdmPQZHBMKgDgYBfmEsY75zir4Be9iglLfzBcq7ZjFc6sWXtmGKk-1aCP2Xmz8Eio3xw8vYnw-1bnvMVmKJpLN0AaUliPiv_5j_VP2CCZgL-14IUegI1UKIfkyArWHTXUY3ZW9e7LiZS0zxskOW3n77JhdgYu87uzc1pA/s4032/IMG_8476.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6E0sU6_mvBSuLU8wlqx1bWKdmPQZHBMKgDgYBfmEsY75zir4Be9iglLfzBcq7ZjFc6sWXtmGKk-1aCP2Xmz8Eio3xw8vYnw-1bnvMVmKJpLN0AaUliPiv_5j_VP2CCZgL-14IUegI1UKIfkyArWHTXUY3ZW9e7LiZS0zxskOW3n77JhdgYu87uzc1pA/s320/IMG_8476.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />These missionaries are beautiful from the front AND back-- don't you love their fancy, different-colors- curly-locks hair? Maybe it's a special way to braid it. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It's one of those months when there's little time for reflection and processing. Since I like reflection and processing. . . I'm gonna take some time to spill it out on paper (not really paper--on the computer screen--but you get my drift.) Photos give a visual of what we do and how we feel about it. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2L366qfGsOYxAjc3O-u7mcVBb0pEiv1ztDzkli4UvbVgUq-To-nKau_R6GGHgm2kfqkAM1GaBU2loz4x9vziICeIzi7g7ukMzPcUaOp_IK7K7hNyFe4HUFq3ifee4qJt_lDjGKWRCE2caPi00KdYp2m-W36kXsGw0AfvFfXxUqnMTKYCs8EMOFO0NQ/s3266/IMG_8470.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2434" data-original-width="3266" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2L366qfGsOYxAjc3O-u7mcVBb0pEiv1ztDzkli4UvbVgUq-To-nKau_R6GGHgm2kfqkAM1GaBU2loz4x9vziICeIzi7g7ukMzPcUaOp_IK7K7hNyFe4HUFq3ifee4qJt_lDjGKWRCE2caPi00KdYp2m-W36kXsGw0AfvFfXxUqnMTKYCs8EMOFO0NQ/s320/IMG_8470.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This nifty desk calendar will keep me organized at the office!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUp6yzbhmo0IStccCXNqVaZDWaD00Ula8HDXRCU53ArFi2lCHv6Zsh9wvlU9cZ5WwbQYfwR8z9fcEV-fLniM-Sasp8a44nHNOvne5ZzPjTgTUwFC7VXFfHSoZnLYmxCJcG1euawm6-JbLvmlguMa8JeQEm5krUl_-ptV5Ee3M3Cs9ycwhlkaAnY6GoA/s4032/IMG_8474.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUp6yzbhmo0IStccCXNqVaZDWaD00Ula8HDXRCU53ArFi2lCHv6Zsh9wvlU9cZ5WwbQYfwR8z9fcEV-fLniM-Sasp8a44nHNOvne5ZzPjTgTUwFC7VXFfHSoZnLYmxCJcG1euawm6-JbLvmlguMa8JeQEm5krUl_-ptV5Ee3M3Cs9ycwhlkaAnY6GoA/s320/IMG_8474.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Imagine my chagrin when I looked down and saw, "Make sure there's no food in your teeth" written cryptically on one date of my new calendar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7j_dKaKCqzc_O3-NPSpETGLx94mikKcy9Bn0XkhaKL9XihuSAQqa0bnuF8MrFU0ob4sjEZvpsrKCGZVeqzqELn7YtHbjzTlhbAM9xJtUXkqGVKAmjZ2MILknkcKRaabaz1Ue5ekcVMV7CMwQA1_I3oLHxxPSDuUfQ-EY4QHFUZBMj-4q7zXxd6EPiw/s4032/IMG_8473.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7j_dKaKCqzc_O3-NPSpETGLx94mikKcy9Bn0XkhaKL9XihuSAQqa0bnuF8MrFU0ob4sjEZvpsrKCGZVeqzqELn7YtHbjzTlhbAM9xJtUXkqGVKAmjZ2MILknkcKRaabaz1Ue5ekcVMV7CMwQA1_I3oLHxxPSDuUfQ-EY4QHFUZBMj-4q7zXxd6EPiw/s320/IMG_8473.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is a young missionary reminding me that I've had 31 bad hair days in a row? </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvZAcF7cljzui4Hd5fgHAKrwNMiP6WVH2SkS4HwnPedfAMfJpeBfVJLcNJazbWTLNm1A4wmCDW4S_MaEMUh26gBK5YesKcn845NDSuyWy0AzjHkGVIrSpEmPHJDCn9YJdF6G65HgaWS_MsyIoouVmcikjDbkd5cTjcXKV_1z6olU3udKcU0xkqCHZXA/s4032/IMG_8472.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvZAcF7cljzui4Hd5fgHAKrwNMiP6WVH2SkS4HwnPedfAMfJpeBfVJLcNJazbWTLNm1A4wmCDW4S_MaEMUh26gBK5YesKcn845NDSuyWy0AzjHkGVIrSpEmPHJDCn9YJdF6G65HgaWS_MsyIoouVmcikjDbkd5cTjcXKV_1z6olU3udKcU0xkqCHZXA/s320/IMG_8472.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Don't pick your nose today." (I was so sure no one was looking!) </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOfGw5f_ExXdUczK2Mm8cconW8aS34_8IwesYh3nJRJesQgj---GiZtnPYgpk5acZKkQfzDJ6Y6iaUA5dK9j1-wWDkn_BpQyP7LDsn5tEsE5PufPjpmom6u7c3gg8quQkfxx4LEkmmh3G0yxdfgj3LEJPU_wIsrMHxZ7YSQhNJ17HidrE7046V7898w/s4032/IMG_8471.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOfGw5f_ExXdUczK2Mm8cconW8aS34_8IwesYh3nJRJesQgj---GiZtnPYgpk5acZKkQfzDJ6Y6iaUA5dK9j1-wWDkn_BpQyP7LDsn5tEsE5PufPjpmom6u7c3gg8quQkfxx4LEkmmh3G0yxdfgj3LEJPU_wIsrMHxZ7YSQhNJ17HidrE7046V7898w/s320/IMG_8471.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The culprit? That mission nurse who says laughter is the best medicine! I love her, because when life is busy, I tend to feel burdened, lose my sense of humor, not comb my hair, and forget to wear a bra!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3s5aBzIcs6X7sCxSraDhXQy1J6VQIw0RGihCmQGQ582I_vwR-BlnuXXUXE_RWUGsuT8lI75d6LBXGafSPl1wO4SmPZB_2PcxWyikWzLOvoeMPck4jmQexPrzm47Cc1h-pBfG1-siOanR3oEwMlr0dg6hTZoADCfsSi-YaVP1G-KMimLc0YXnEFxI4Q/s4032/IMG_8333.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3s5aBzIcs6X7sCxSraDhXQy1J6VQIw0RGihCmQGQ582I_vwR-BlnuXXUXE_RWUGsuT8lI75d6LBXGafSPl1wO4SmPZB_2PcxWyikWzLOvoeMPck4jmQexPrzm47Cc1h-pBfG1-siOanR3oEwMlr0dg6hTZoADCfsSi-YaVP1G-KMimLc0YXnEFxI4Q/s320/IMG_8333.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our wonderful mission nurse, Sister Susan Workman, in the office she shares with her husband, Elder Rodney Workman, who is over housing for our mission. Elder Holm and I used this office for seven months, and it was a dark, dingy hidey hole in the back of our complex. Susan came; she saw; she painted; she added this Amish-built furniture; she conquered. And she won't let us move back there. :( <br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-68105039881985535432022-12-30T23:54:00.005-08:002023-12-02T14:30:19.150-08:00 An joyous and emotional Christmas - Week 40-43: : Holms on the Potomac<p><br /></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywBLOvx89DmjSyxdJpadlTT6BLPpQgtyiK1XgGfKaYqTaTyhDeHAzw0l7e1USXjOBnTNrGxwTiOyP9redd0zaEleC8YuHhqv7jNJR2iCC2-qai1mtddBXdInCjKMgVRoUKe9uI6y53vll5GBSPS0GbDisqqJ8WUJuPjQhkI_jq7JSWwOa89P_zGYfJJaV/s4032/IMG_7964.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywBLOvx89DmjSyxdJpadlTT6BLPpQgtyiK1XgGfKaYqTaTyhDeHAzw0l7e1USXjOBnTNrGxwTiOyP9redd0zaEleC8YuHhqv7jNJR2iCC2-qai1mtddBXdInCjKMgVRoUKe9uI6y53vll5GBSPS0GbDisqqJ8WUJuPjQhkI_jq7JSWwOa89P_zGYfJJaV/s320/IMG_7964.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Cluff, Norm, and Sister Workman making fancy parfaits for<span style="text-align: left;"> the Christmas devotional / zone conference meal.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUYOdRlwNSaEVKZW10MioNP3eJCwRZskSFS7TXfxTA3H54pHPoi4VSQA_5FuLjqdMAfut3gVn1wbiEsJMxkMhE30o1QytD9pYyu9VexM0jUlkhEr6f3U00c9TpnMMsG3BxdH2MvM5Gxuyn-3bKfQZhQS17uKgla0QwApsLlij8ld53Ed3j_3ZG_J0DAxd/s4032/IMG_7947.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUYOdRlwNSaEVKZW10MioNP3eJCwRZskSFS7TXfxTA3H54pHPoi4VSQA_5FuLjqdMAfut3gVn1wbiEsJMxkMhE30o1QytD9pYyu9VexM0jUlkhEr6f3U00c9TpnMMsG3BxdH2MvM5Gxuyn-3bKfQZhQS17uKgla0QwApsLlij8ld53Ed3j_3ZG_J0DAxd/s320/IMG_7947.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The office gets slammed with packages for missionaries at Christmas, and office missionaries also make sure that all missionaries get gifts. Young missionaries deliver mail from the mission office to companionships. Sisters Obray, Morris, Bice, Connell and Shaw.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFVjXxYyEmd4yc0KQ3nf-newzJgOOI01h18aeoMTXA10zi7D9NQaNFJdasW27LZB-D45FhX--WVqap0oFLTd2A7lC52-t0wGiflEY_weqnoRtwl9Ze9Eudtv3GDYrEdYauacsnzzIy13tE8in76RSNKkqDp8HbP2Nr6xAVSgmMJvn-CaUvV5-PI_apw/s2532/IMG_4707.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFVjXxYyEmd4yc0KQ3nf-newzJgOOI01h18aeoMTXA10zi7D9NQaNFJdasW27LZB-D45FhX--WVqap0oFLTd2A7lC52-t0wGiflEY_weqnoRtwl9Ze9Eudtv3GDYrEdYauacsnzzIy13tE8in76RSNKkqDp8HbP2Nr6xAVSgmMJvn-CaUvV5-PI_apw/s320/IMG_4707.jpeg" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;">We love the technology that brought us the Christmas gift of seeing our children and grandchildren—especially our two missionaries, one in Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay (Elder Roetto, blue hat) and one in Sacramento, California (Elder Murdock, red tie.) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNDtJM53S8_wvX1H1JLDxMQXkAr94nN7M8W3-Xb6-YGFtK7Gdg1hd5XqD-mXDQ4YrgO5QvzQvNtNp6U6j2Am6pH2qGa6YmRmDsO9mRzTC25CgUid4srT2bXcSCKqVxEyfLMbbi-xqdcxKncpxHw0AK1HxzEhzI0g3Nq-ldXeQdA3B72NU4j1Iv_M2bQ/s4032/IMG_8174.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNDtJM53S8_wvX1H1JLDxMQXkAr94nN7M8W3-Xb6-YGFtK7Gdg1hd5XqD-mXDQ4YrgO5QvzQvNtNp6U6j2Am6pH2qGa6YmRmDsO9mRzTC25CgUid4srT2bXcSCKqVxEyfLMbbi-xqdcxKncpxHw0AK1HxzEhzI0g3Nq-ldXeQdA3B72NU4j1Iv_M2bQ/s320/IMG_8174.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">WE’RE TWELVE! This is us with our neighbor Gina, who reminds us often that she’s twelve. Guess what? We are too! We loved seeing the Festival of Lights with her. At home, our frozen pond made us kids again. When Norman threw heavy rocks and branches onto the ice, it didn't break.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Christmas is a time to remember our loving Savior Jesus Christ, and to give thanks for his humble birth, His loving miracles and His sacrificial life. We celebrated by attending the <i>Festival of Lights</i> at the Visitors Center of the Washington D.C. Temple. Thousands of lights strung on hundreds of trees reminded us that He is the Light of the World; the <i>Giving Machine</i> and its attendants reminded us to share with our fellow citizens; and <i>Crèches </i>from 55 countries reminded us that we all kneel by the manger, awed by a “wondrous little stranger.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Serving at the Visitors Center during December, I saw thousands of people (they had 5,000 the day and evening I was there) enjoy the spiritual side of Christmas. A little girl told me her favorite part was “When God was born.” That was mine, too. (I did some service at the VC while Norm recuperated from Covid 19.) </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZM7IgXLE4N8Kwzi3NxB90dsmVEVYoecB38DwZAA6UmEdWB39mpar8AXb1nkdy6Xzr7rfShrABnPtNkjX5RNhmDKR9Qj9iz3_j9demjla3nIPf9LAq51FJAUi04WeZganADmY1KOoGOdoTA7IqDlO9WwK91WR9O4L0SYTVkz2sqt_LLe0kDBoJwCvmZA/s2048/image000001.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZM7IgXLE4N8Kwzi3NxB90dsmVEVYoecB38DwZAA6UmEdWB39mpar8AXb1nkdy6Xzr7rfShrABnPtNkjX5RNhmDKR9Qj9iz3_j9demjla3nIPf9LAq51FJAUi04WeZganADmY1KOoGOdoTA7IqDlO9WwK91WR9O4L0SYTVkz2sqt_LLe0kDBoJwCvmZA/s320/image000001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">We had a Christmas Eve party (on the eve of Christmas Eve) at our apartment. Soup, bread, the Nativity story and games...just like at home... only with two young sister missionaries and four senior couples. Sister Liberty Vincent holds the camera, and Elder and Sister Gardner, Sister Annie Ray, Sister and Elder Workman, Sister and Elder Connell, and us.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Early in December, Norm came down with his first-ever case of Covid. Thanks to the new anti-viral drug Paxlovid, he weathered it well and only lost a day of office work, though he took it easy afterward.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">“Fear Not!” the angel told the shepherds, and it rings in my ears. This year I’ve realized like never before that the Christmas season is a big trigger for my anxiety. I’ve learned it is possible to feel a plethora of emotions simultaneously: that I’m overwhelmed; that I’m inadequate for most of the tasks I need to do; that I’m spiritually barren; that I’m worshipful and filled with His light; that I’m deeply happy yet chaotically homesick. I coordinated two Christmas Devotional meals for 100+ missionaries and drove the 495 Freeway at night without functioning GPS, and later, during rush hour. I’m not bragging: these tasks terrified me. The Lord, Elder Holm and 40 senior missionaries made the meals successful, and the Lord at my side calmed me and helped me drive safely. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So, fear not, Sister Holm, for “Unto you is born a Savior. . .which is Christ the Lord.” He was born into a messy world, with all its conflicting emotions, and He managed to save it. He will save you, too. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We wish you a Happy New Year! 2023 promises many “good things to come.” </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W3ywQHpDfYajJ4HwU5j9Q6DmkoiDVZ27tmiJL4gUes9_NHH1dDc4GLA37ZPYDg2Ycz-eJoG6Lwqtl9XHpRGzlw4ZMrhrsBIbt87ZM5XnyR9Z15W9V0QmWGhLW5K2cYEQoSxhc9Qq5tvQ99R3DHrXgZphXdLfWY3bJ7kX_09LmNdHQfQvqSF4F_Lbd-vn/s4032/IMG_8099.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W3ywQHpDfYajJ4HwU5j9Q6DmkoiDVZ27tmiJL4gUes9_NHH1dDc4GLA37ZPYDg2Ycz-eJoG6Lwqtl9XHpRGzlw4ZMrhrsBIbt87ZM5XnyR9Z15W9V0QmWGhLW5K2cYEQoSxhc9Qq5tvQ99R3DHrXgZphXdLfWY3bJ7kX_09LmNdHQfQvqSF4F_Lbd-vn/s320/IMG_8099.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Elder Prince Tua'kalau is in the center of these Tongan dancers who performed at the Visitors Center, which hosted concerts and performances every day during the holidays. It is a marvelous, free venue and a great gathering place. We were only able to attend two, but we were glad to do so!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvdjTxoC08zI3JuIhdvn2epm9--mMkqrNKHjP3Hq8tKb2HvJkIJ7GfHyEpOX8y4AKUtObK0_M083cIy34xrxQzQ1BYCiPowwKDF300GrO0Gu31Tw1NE3K6nMk8L-kxeh3zsAezB3F6lwvyxDl5UWFHb5eKlc7hoxISuLb1MxRSlgM8YRmbdFrgXkpdQ/s4032/IMG_7883.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvdjTxoC08zI3JuIhdvn2epm9--mMkqrNKHjP3Hq8tKb2HvJkIJ7GfHyEpOX8y4AKUtObK0_M083cIy34xrxQzQ1BYCiPowwKDF300GrO0Gu31Tw1NE3K6nMk8L-kxeh3zsAezB3F6lwvyxDl5UWFHb5eKlc7hoxISuLb1MxRSlgM8YRmbdFrgXkpdQ/s320/IMG_7883.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QTTg0k05Ih2B_-94nRKcdMYDwFfoQ3oKmjKlDCkoYfQhOLa8fLyqluIBUB5g_f-oHBSJapWDwJqIYKpSplQAu-4ks63nP1hXIENmpSKvqk2lv04Jo5rhu922AFgmh4C0nG278dDECwPaafpbgClOO3WYepHsHWIrtPBpZ1dUcD63cgsuKmwJfQj6Ug/s4032/IMG_7906.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QTTg0k05Ih2B_-94nRKcdMYDwFfoQ3oKmjKlDCkoYfQhOLa8fLyqluIBUB5g_f-oHBSJapWDwJqIYKpSplQAu-4ks63nP1hXIENmpSKvqk2lv04Jo5rhu922AFgmh4C0nG278dDECwPaafpbgClOO3WYepHsHWIrtPBpZ1dUcD63cgsuKmwJfQj6Ug/s320/IMG_7906.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm77Q5GvZ_amUzi-aYk5nxNLKSeuNDdvBK_ggx2J-0eGS5Ch18mlxfWhdxzhCXyVh5AGGx8ZraFhFM9I21Ja2konHKSgew2gc5meWd8lV82yCZCejzISsN-0YBQ_EnSkDR7QDE7oDXxQdXJcLO8fjpAtmp5ezysYb7nJSAYuJloaS8pRuHEU0X14vkFg/s4032/IMG_8237.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm77Q5GvZ_amUzi-aYk5nxNLKSeuNDdvBK_ggx2J-0eGS5Ch18mlxfWhdxzhCXyVh5AGGx8ZraFhFM9I21Ja2konHKSgew2gc5meWd8lV82yCZCejzISsN-0YBQ_EnSkDR7QDE7oDXxQdXJcLO8fjpAtmp5ezysYb7nJSAYuJloaS8pRuHEU0X14vkFg/s320/IMG_8237.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-68933417634174301912022-12-04T17:55:00.047-08:002023-12-02T14:24:25.124-08:00Light the World by Sharing Joy - Week 39: Holms on the Potomac<p> <span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">CHRISTMAS is three weeks from today!! As usual I feel there’s too much to do and too little time. For instance, I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas cards—I love getting them, and I love thinking of dear ones as I write them—I just hate getting started.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><p class="verse" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">When I indulge these Scrooge-y thoughts, something inevitably reminds me of a helpless baby, born in a stable because there was no room for Him in the inn. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">As a man, He invited, <i>“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden.”</i> Matthew 11:28 He was deeply concerned with the plight of poor, ill, depressed and displaced people. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; font-family: Cambria, serif; padding: 0in;">When Jesus shared the Beatitudes, first on the list was: <i> “</i></span></span><i><span class="verse-number" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; font-family: Cambria, serif; padding: 0in;">Blessed</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span class="clarity-word" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; font-family: Palatino; padding: 0in;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; line-height: inherit;">are</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Palatino;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span>the<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> poor in spirit. . ." </span></span></span></i><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> KJV Matthew 5:3 Aren't we all poor in spirit--no matter how much is in our bank accounts? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">A woman with “an issue of blood” was poor, having spent her money on doctors; she was likely anemic and weak, and probably smelled bad, because of the constant flow of blood in a warm climate. Yet she had faith that Jesus’s priesthood power would heal her, so she pushed through the crowd and touched the hem of his robe. Her blood ceased flowing—physically, she was whole—and she tried to disappear into the crowd. Sensing that His power had been tapped, and knowing that her heart needed more, He asked for her. When she came, he said, <i>“Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” </i>Luke 8: 43-48 Her heart was now healed, for she knew she was loved by her Creator as well as healed by Him. Don’t we all need to hear those words as we work through our problems and weaknesses? I do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="verse" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">As Elder Holm and I help missionaries invite people to come unto Him, His nouns echo: <i>“the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the blind, them that are bruised.” </i>We’re surrounded by thousands of people who fit in these categories. Many are from foreign lands, looking for community, spiritual strength, and a better life in the United States. We missionaries are constantly amazed at the kindness, generosity and humility of these children of God. It’s a blessing to make room in our “spiritual inns” for them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="verse" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Whether or not my Christmas cards get written, may I focus on “Lighting the World” with the light of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. We hope all our friends have a wonderful Christmas!!</span></p><p class="verse" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn6fp_hKtrn9wx6tFMrHiBBxjmBzy2q_fQTtefeHDpy0DXbEcAvjCz7eT6raTYdRZMTsKXM-t2qXepzAHZ3-a0Fsv2Jb0Epyo2C1uwmXPn-RuF63BtG_8n5mE6CjSRjFtHt3pJcqFG-VAup8OUd9ivgKb9uGmtZncye24MQV1-w_Lf7Op4IXhRNE_ag/s1973/IMG_7762.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1973" data-original-width="1480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn6fp_hKtrn9wx6tFMrHiBBxjmBzy2q_fQTtefeHDpy0DXbEcAvjCz7eT6raTYdRZMTsKXM-t2qXepzAHZ3-a0Fsv2Jb0Epyo2C1uwmXPn-RuF63BtG_8n5mE6CjSRjFtHt3pJcqFG-VAup8OUd9ivgKb9uGmtZncye24MQV1-w_Lf7Op4IXhRNE_ag/s320/IMG_7762.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have simple ornaments, all left behind by previous senior missionaries except for the small, beautiful olive wood Nativity purchased in Jerusalem and given to us by Alissa and Brad. </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MTGG5DLaVH2NrviMmZdfoszGKoL2P3dIiE-JfbZNU2c_8vhl-mFD90tJwqXG1AfOA7G-0YoqulF_Ynk4vcMwGEHrP9zl-6c5j93tgRtU6v1VoAjPWFWT5l7BtP7pd_LBQYr_mQbzjp7NCQYqJp6Z-wJuKRVNTyvj822nZmi8LAig8mc9X2EEpXFvcQ/s4032/IMG_7766.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MTGG5DLaVH2NrviMmZdfoszGKoL2P3dIiE-JfbZNU2c_8vhl-mFD90tJwqXG1AfOA7G-0YoqulF_Ynk4vcMwGEHrP9zl-6c5j93tgRtU6v1VoAjPWFWT5l7BtP7pd_LBQYr_mQbzjp7NCQYqJp6Z-wJuKRVNTyvj822nZmi8LAig8mc9X2EEpXFvcQ/s320/IMG_7766.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 18 inch tree took five minutes to put up! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUoTFbHWuKC72u7kVbzxX3j68qe0NskGhu7j5XzX6wdmQfx_ZT8P_reqEIPPR2zxP09i0xXepch4Vlvv45Er3wu7byZ7XlpPdGePKCNDP6I--jNX9qfiK8QGIi_ap5F8SNjp83I8n_xkGSw28mxumeBQ-LtOGvh4o7ctCtsIBqQTc-Xpl2794kuyxvg/s4032/IMG_4412.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUoTFbHWuKC72u7kVbzxX3j68qe0NskGhu7j5XzX6wdmQfx_ZT8P_reqEIPPR2zxP09i0xXepch4Vlvv45Er3wu7byZ7XlpPdGePKCNDP6I--jNX9qfiK8QGIi_ap5F8SNjp83I8n_xkGSw28mxumeBQ-LtOGvh4o7ctCtsIBqQTc-Xpl2794kuyxvg/s320/IMG_4412.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the theater box where President Lincoln was sitting when he was shot. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsqIBftt0OkjnkHMeaCOOmnnLk-O9nPpJXLVymdqSfcyeF4QOoW0tbun3qUnm8aWsfJw031mmJPKQMjhqIjDFgVlhufVVMu4UdUUVynkWtqJPGII5GJAs1Y32j5ZURcC4cQwqD8V7mIKMUdhQN1WKFhwIjzy_TKoFR3psa5wqqpm6joqExqd3TpfP4g/s4032/IMG_7502.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsqIBftt0OkjnkHMeaCOOmnnLk-O9nPpJXLVymdqSfcyeF4QOoW0tbun3qUnm8aWsfJw031mmJPKQMjhqIjDFgVlhufVVMu4UdUUVynkWtqJPGII5GJAs1Y32j5ZURcC4cQwqD8V7mIKMUdhQN1WKFhwIjzy_TKoFR3psa5wqqpm6joqExqd3TpfP4g/s320/IMG_7502.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We watch "A Christmas Carol" every year. This year we saw it at Ford's Theater, along with our friends, the Connells! President Lincoln loved the theater and it's a fitting tribute to him that people still enjoy uplifting entertainment here--proof that good triumphs over evil. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-70782464094009740672022-11-30T18:26:00.004-08:002023-12-02T19:21:34.957-08:00Thanksgiving in Maryland - Week 38: Holms on the Potomac<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We invited our friend Gina Brutus, and Elders Wines and Anderson, to eat with us on Thanksgiving. I made baked chicken thighs, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, sweet potatoes, relish plate, rolls and a pumpkin pie. Gina brought green beans, potato salad, mac and cheese and cider. It was a feast at our little apartment table. </span>Then we visited. Gina had the missionaries laughing. Gina said –and it is true—how great it is that we all love Jesus Christ and feel united and can have a good time together even though we belong to different churches. </p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Elder Workman and his son brought us a queen bed from Brookside Apartments, which the church has sold, where temple missionaries like Sister Lynette Barnhill used to live. [We have since received a dresser, area rug, loveseat and two recliners from those apartments.] This is Amish-made furniture. Workmans (and a crew of missionaries) had a crazy week getting it into storage. Now they are distributing it to senior missionaries. I’m excited—our bed has been the one big thorn in my side on this mission. It isn’t just for us, it is also for future missionaries who will use our apartment. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The story of the Amish furniture: We are near Lancaster County, Pa. Years ago, an Amish family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The man made furniture, and was shunned by his congregation when he joined. He was going bankrupt when the Church decided they needed new furniture for the apartments and contracted with him. It gave him enough money to go to Canada and make a new start. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9er13gqjfEXtkn4YQy90dur2E4yFuS1ev2ZgLHONi6xsnw30g_mekAwPByWex9EI18bba-y0ZxnAU7I1uv3W0LsNMUJCmPzhSjSRxc2TVzWN3CivPPxpdXMN0h_OUk8u_nBalGbAlnQ1CKlTOgJlDOhQZxCu5wCJiqIWHSH2IZ9bvD4CgpwiVFOkhfw/s4032/IMG_4436.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9er13gqjfEXtkn4YQy90dur2E4yFuS1ev2ZgLHONi6xsnw30g_mekAwPByWex9EI18bba-y0ZxnAU7I1uv3W0LsNMUJCmPzhSjSRxc2TVzWN3CivPPxpdXMN0h_OUk8u_nBalGbAlnQ1CKlTOgJlDOhQZxCu5wCJiqIWHSH2IZ9bvD4CgpwiVFOkhfw/s320/IMG_4436.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Holm with Gina, and Elders Anderson and Wines</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EzbmfKnM_E6vD6829VSSOb_AF0502XGxWiLWdzkw_l-DKRqgeUyaK3hau2U0TMX2IeCvrYVm8OYMn5-28ZO3k0Rxu3qjqiLwYtYqITFc08rnvn7JlW4Q1ZDT7A8zGfp_GyeUcvo4u_-xjsBjSOVns9ULU-zQjwsvuwbMzPuZtsbtrhE-P2X0sqtxxA/s2927/IMG_4437.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2195" data-original-width="2927" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EzbmfKnM_E6vD6829VSSOb_AF0502XGxWiLWdzkw_l-DKRqgeUyaK3hau2U0TMX2IeCvrYVm8OYMn5-28ZO3k0Rxu3qjqiLwYtYqITFc08rnvn7JlW4Q1ZDT7A8zGfp_GyeUcvo4u_-xjsBjSOVns9ULU-zQjwsvuwbMzPuZtsbtrhE-P2X0sqtxxA/s320/IMG_4437.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now with Norm!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPa_FfZFHPLNN4R6lKzxZ2oQq0y4DqzsCW9NLXriBtszLC3xC_RPyBvjpFszg01TWcrqOrB-Zypzi4NjCELxrevKi97-NoS2J8jEzo11sVvo3NkOS69q1-6rx9aY1Xctaf-TBR7Vv0pzJluh7L7nr1KQceNf9PBE_HEnKcdp_XZ5TaZkYXT8JHTlb9g/s4032/IMG_7545.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPa_FfZFHPLNN4R6lKzxZ2oQq0y4DqzsCW9NLXriBtszLC3xC_RPyBvjpFszg01TWcrqOrB-Zypzi4NjCELxrevKi97-NoS2J8jEzo11sVvo3NkOS69q1-6rx9aY1Xctaf-TBR7Vv0pzJluh7L7nr1KQceNf9PBE_HEnKcdp_XZ5TaZkYXT8JHTlb9g/s320/IMG_7545.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Clarke chatting with elders who went home.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;">We had had a busy week with transfers— gaining 22 new missionaries and flying 23 home on Thanksgiving Day</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOrDDYIofpLQO6MceC6tWD-A0AXHdgXQZZFPcAQK55S7Spvlsg5j9aBeCTU0rqtnt_zM0kx2BvpZKX4bn2npRj4ek_SEnjTM6u44ZxYyOqdJx9K1-ZpHuEqznRil-Jhe4ic-L3puMX3szWthTU6IdtsDrtYLXhrZdS4ix-r-P4ahhiW6LpG8_e_OS3A/s4032/IMG_7546.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOrDDYIofpLQO6MceC6tWD-A0AXHdgXQZZFPcAQK55S7Spvlsg5j9aBeCTU0rqtnt_zM0kx2BvpZKX4bn2npRj4ek_SEnjTM6u44ZxYyOqdJx9K1-ZpHuEqznRil-Jhe4ic-L3puMX3szWthTU6IdtsDrtYLXhrZdS4ix-r-P4ahhiW6LpG8_e_OS3A/s320/IMG_7546.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our precious sisters. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiGjhLORm47xdGZkvSM9NaYW6cQzeb9zPsOcPTEdV633T2-PisCN14KVcHL8NDW9cmDS3KVwBLqFSMuZ03LrAUC0feKyUpjSMmtErLDKgr8sjm9TPKt0kqjsTQTM62JBDTh-xMPfd_hJoUjEhJXA4PtScZjInhqRidYbHAsXkMsnwR-J8NOKLHF-Wxbqd/s4032/IMG_9267.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiGjhLORm47xdGZkvSM9NaYW6cQzeb9zPsOcPTEdV633T2-PisCN14KVcHL8NDW9cmDS3KVwBLqFSMuZ03LrAUC0feKyUpjSMmtErLDKgr8sjm9TPKt0kqjsTQTM62JBDTh-xMPfd_hJoUjEhJXA4PtScZjInhqRidYbHAsXkMsnwR-J8NOKLHF-Wxbqd/s320/IMG_9267.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new bed! Our apartment got a lot of new Amish-built furniture during our mission. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T-DICoZT3uyn-5fmPUuKJLh3dlfcVe18LWKjyw_J9uR_vhnl6sPQiUJa2pXIsAWkQnSY6mSxtau17Ue8wyWS0PRp_wQ_4WHLcsvULVw9FVhGnD3vzbOAcL2sO_-b-2jZnmiaKsgC8bMLkw5Vw0y8jCS9LFafOGVv7E5DHQpSrWL5P1r-nSJoguw_rQ/s1371/What%20Does%20George%20Washington%20Have%20To%20Do%20With%20Thanksgiving.jpeg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T-DICoZT3uyn-5fmPUuKJLh3dlfcVe18LWKjyw_J9uR_vhnl6sPQiUJa2pXIsAWkQnSY6mSxtau17Ue8wyWS0PRp_wQ_4WHLcsvULVw9FVhGnD3vzbOAcL2sO_-b-2jZnmiaKsgC8bMLkw5Vw0y8jCS9LFafOGVv7E5DHQpSrWL5P1r-nSJoguw_rQ/s320/What%20Does%20George%20Washington%20Have%20To%20Do%20With%20Thanksgiving.jpeg" width="193" /></a></span><p></p>Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-8182619402055394362022-11-21T03:50:00.005-08:002023-12-02T14:18:19.020-08:00Random Blessings, Unified -- Week 37: Holms on the Potomac<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Uzq9ETC7dSlH2R7MFKZtxutxx2XmZe8Qpn4Ka4W8668GCPQTPTMefaI0RkXi5fGE-KbrLtircASm5eSKzGqtnH7PZe1G0nqx3b-pJBmjMkWo4SwO7ZRIc9kslbKhsLDPf1nAyJ6eJxlOuqZjFJ8km2Scvt-dZLkl3Un8xeft6KhVM1HLRJfpq4xqA/s1134/JACOB%20IN%20RIVER.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Uzq9ETC7dSlH2R7MFKZtxutxx2XmZe8Qpn4Ka4W8668GCPQTPTMefaI0RkXi5fGE-KbrLtircASm5eSKzGqtnH7PZe1G0nqx3b-pJBmjMkWo4SwO7ZRIc9kslbKhsLDPf1nAyJ6eJxlOuqZjFJ8km2Scvt-dZLkl3Un8xeft6KhVM1HLRJfpq4xqA/s320/JACOB%20IN%20RIVER.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Roetto wearing his missionary name tag in a flooding South American road near his house!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMKTyJZe-KDF4hXwAzX-0gR3d2D6twDDqJHtfViCavCLq510Epq2x89j1imwQXR0CTnVJBg_vaVsSjrtyQNYm2c9YonoirngKs7L5M_vl9qMgSl7hhGAgsgaOJOzHEU8cVG-paBHI_tj3xmV8oMtHHxYiHtJdNn-cUBz9U_ww2jNJWh6ftT_48yHuOw/s4032/IMG_4376.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMKTyJZe-KDF4hXwAzX-0gR3d2D6twDDqJHtfViCavCLq510Epq2x89j1imwQXR0CTnVJBg_vaVsSjrtyQNYm2c9YonoirngKs7L5M_vl9qMgSl7hhGAgsgaOJOzHEU8cVG-paBHI_tj3xmV8oMtHHxYiHtJdNn-cUBz9U_ww2jNJWh6ftT_48yHuOw/s320/IMG_4376.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Holm, Elder Murdock and Sister Holm wearing missionary name tags in Texas. </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Thousands of * random thoughts * go through our missionary minds every day, related to moments that have molded our hearts into happier shapes that will keep us smiling for years. Here are a few of my recent ones:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">*Wayne Nelson, my Dad, died on Nov. 18 thirty-three years ago. I miss his tight hugs and rumbling bass telling funny stories from long ago. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">* This Thanksgiving, we’re thousands of miles from family, and we’re proud to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the same time as our two oldest grandsons, Jacob Roetto and Harris Murdock. Jacob began his service in April, serving in the Paraguay Asunción North Mission. Harris begins his service on November 21, called to the Sacramento California Mission. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">We received permission from the Area President to take a quick trip to Little Elm, Texas last weekend. We embraced the Murdock family, relaxed with them, attended “Little Shop of Horrors”, and heard Harris share his love of Jesus Christ. Here’s part of what he said: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">“In middle school, I suffered from Osgood-Schlatter Disease, which causes pain in t</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">he knees. As a chubby boy in football where running was hard enough, this</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">made me often feel hopeless that I would never be able to run without discomfort. While this pain lasted until the middle of high school, I stayed in sports knowing that<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I would be able to fight through those trials– that eventually the pain would go away and that there was a path laid out for me. Enduring this pain prepared me for high school wrestling. Wrestling is a mentally challenging sport. . . The worst feeling I have ever had was anxiety while waiting for my match. As the heavyweight, I would often have to wait the longest, giving me more time to sweat and fret. A healthy mixture of prayer and heavy metal would lessen this anxiety and help me get in the right mindset for my matches. These moments strengthened my testimony as I felt a blanket of calm after I prayed. It might seem like a little thing, but these moments solidified my knowledge of a God who hears and answers our prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">“Choosing to go on a mission requires a lot of faith: faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ which I am going to share, faith that I will be able to be successful missionary, and faith that these two years will be a good use of my time.”</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">*We believe that family ties can be eternally binding when a man and a woman join hands across a sacred altar in a temple and are married for this life and eternity. This ordinance performed by priesthood authority is a “temple sealing,” and children born into such marriages are sealed to their families forever; children not born into these unions can be added later. As we perform sealings vicariously for family members who have died, they can, in the world of spirits, accept or reject the work done in their behalf. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Thursday evening Elder Holm and I went to the Washington D.C. Temple to perform sealings. We witnessed as a sweet older sister stood in for her sister who died a year ago and was joined to their parents’ marriage. Our new friend excitedly said, “She’s with Mama and Daddy! She’s so happy!” I understand her feelings because I was also sealed to my parents at a temple altar. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">On this blog, I gushed about the temple during its open house—but the beauty of the building pales in comparison to the joy we experience when cherished relationships become eternal. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">*During Thanksgiving week, we’re thankful for the Lord’s goodness to us in many areas, such as: we celebrate 46 years of marriage. On November 26, 1976, we were married in the Idaho Falls Temple. (How George Washington knew that we would get married that day and require a celebration of gratitude, I cannot figure out!-- see photo.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"> We’ve completed eight and a half months of our mission and we yearn to embrace our other children and grandchildren and make pies with them. But this year, we have a different purpose that ties my random thoughts into a wonderful bundle:<b> On our missions, we share our faith and knowledge that families can be forever because Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross and rose again the third day. His gospel is restored in our day with power to bind relationships eternally. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! </b><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwKNUWWQiOdwlwHtt7kXVkcLfeJwhVyvfi50Cv0upYIK4aSkV8WQiahzM7EvFrhewsSZhG4IPNjRvnd4G54etVHZIxh4OtfLy-QrdUAcp1hP1hk213bZHvA0RDMUUk1IWxRZg75dQMQ5msdmBnUtKsH7oUX3X-m1JcKf12TttkH0P-9IchW61d7LHdw/s4032/IMG_7220.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwKNUWWQiOdwlwHtt7kXVkcLfeJwhVyvfi50Cv0upYIK4aSkV8WQiahzM7EvFrhewsSZhG4IPNjRvnd4G54etVHZIxh4OtfLy-QrdUAcp1hP1hk213bZHvA0RDMUUk1IWxRZg75dQMQ5msdmBnUtKsH7oUX3X-m1JcKf12TttkH0P-9IchW61d7LHdw/s320/IMG_7220.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Murdock will use his new "Preach My Gospel" handbook!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFO_d2SaZaHpU4mf1REAHtqKwgZP8T2t5RQH1bmfmSBG2veycozDMbEl2lAZTd_lkj4Dbp9J3tGZKN3BHYFdoIohnwHvKiEIonuJcGPwLGAkztG05bvW_g_UUw7bv_GoW8bIoOdsIcY9SUeQwQtHD3q9umVzycPIWzDMKk8VQz7SuVa3-N6vOZ3YDNw/s4032/IMG_7224.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFO_d2SaZaHpU4mf1REAHtqKwgZP8T2t5RQH1bmfmSBG2veycozDMbEl2lAZTd_lkj4Dbp9J3tGZKN3BHYFdoIohnwHvKiEIonuJcGPwLGAkztG05bvW_g_UUw7bv_GoW8bIoOdsIcY9SUeQwQtHD3q9umVzycPIWzDMKk8VQz7SuVa3-N6vOZ3YDNw/s320/IMG_7224.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sushi with Emily, James and Harris. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpdq0tngmTLZjmyCbI4NdG3vNywmKmsq3zI6z-DwUWWYWHNH9eu0Mdq5bcBMBGT1jXp0KYMlkB2NDLFt48q6-6B4N6zNqNiq42F-BCtv-B8ehpfjZM67q0_d8XugDgbGLqk61mF9kiKOaBxlQmDGST6CBMMUFVlgZ36fT2DlQTF7is9rsR0uCTjmAmg/s4032/IMG_7256.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpdq0tngmTLZjmyCbI4NdG3vNywmKmsq3zI6z-DwUWWYWHNH9eu0Mdq5bcBMBGT1jXp0KYMlkB2NDLFt48q6-6B4N6zNqNiq42F-BCtv-B8ehpfjZM67q0_d8XugDgbGLqk61mF9kiKOaBxlQmDGST6CBMMUFVlgZ36fT2DlQTF7is9rsR0uCTjmAmg/s320/IMG_7256.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWQ-SE69Z48AXkDDKV2mzX8kjUEt-tMti5rgLU0np9zSQIJkEzZHhktbzT5TgsU335RCCRDNs9y9T8LY1ULNPlsyMf-PNOogEMiEeBKsT3Q-Zpl3qw3ZwiTui9OmqQcFl117fF4P-abTYY19YmkDyyO2n5OByPxtVjotm5qL1maobhVjy_e6Vkr0Vlw/s4032/IMG_7260.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWQ-SE69Z48AXkDDKV2mzX8kjUEt-tMti5rgLU0np9zSQIJkEzZHhktbzT5TgsU335RCCRDNs9y9T8LY1ULNPlsyMf-PNOogEMiEeBKsT3Q-Zpl3qw3ZwiTui9OmqQcFl117fF4P-abTYY19YmkDyyO2n5OByPxtVjotm5qL1maobhVjy_e6Vkr0Vlw/s320/IMG_7260.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly is becoming quite a cook!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClJ5jk3PVkIU2u4xlN7vu5leJHbSWf3P_I0g1z9dGhJrhKpVEDY6rlxG5k9g3GJmxaO7xZTAuVjs1GspDaEa0VbZswnXb2iyqwb0fFQ_vv6ss78wj4LLNIxqYnWEU-iUZaZHOVZ_662a4dp7VCr-037BlUCTpAMsLW6ygDaeSdmZyhFCI3aVAm9FRtg/s4032/IMG_7266.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClJ5jk3PVkIU2u4xlN7vu5leJHbSWf3P_I0g1z9dGhJrhKpVEDY6rlxG5k9g3GJmxaO7xZTAuVjs1GspDaEa0VbZswnXb2iyqwb0fFQ_vv6ss78wj4LLNIxqYnWEU-iUZaZHOVZ_662a4dp7VCr-037BlUCTpAMsLW6ygDaeSdmZyhFCI3aVAm9FRtg/s320/IMG_7266.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack was the "lights technician" for <i>Little Shop of Horrors</i> at Lone Star High School. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VxWJr_K71IJWcojuTaea3Zqwp7SDa7ypK02mCXYR6lQl-ZjQa3_EZnn2b1UF5NIkIuFHaElDpOERStzQuUcO5xlAsfSMhwsERKPGaImoKtOqsgl26dEcI6s1P75j5pTRLzl4bAqdjmlnYSFAeeFaYhoYHf4dCMpQcjBFJpFDh21YRXpHhfUB1GcLlA/s4032/IMG_7276.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VxWJr_K71IJWcojuTaea3Zqwp7SDa7ypK02mCXYR6lQl-ZjQa3_EZnn2b1UF5NIkIuFHaElDpOERStzQuUcO5xlAsfSMhwsERKPGaImoKtOqsgl26dEcI6s1P75j5pTRLzl4bAqdjmlnYSFAeeFaYhoYHf4dCMpQcjBFJpFDh21YRXpHhfUB1GcLlA/s320/IMG_7276.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holms and Murdocks after church. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353313685235186361.post-28774087833519835682022-11-16T18:10:00.004-08:002023-12-02T14:17:30.699-08:00Falling for Fall in the East - Weeks 35 and 36: Holms on the Potomac<p>We first noticed a yellow leaf here and there in August. Those leaves whispered to the grasses and by mid-September they were blushing lavender. All summer, the thick woodlands had blended into greens that made us call this place "The Emerald City," but over the weeks the tones and textures took on wildly different personalities and colors. On Nov. 7 it was 77 degrees F. Fall was in full swing. Each photo is worth a thousand words, so I'll let them do the talking. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS3gIfqXqc1RxNzEPdGazCDC_E9THnTLoqgeGYleYlb_IGljr3LwTU8M3w75-Ir1gIe79IJS8m_FH6EH8g1VDt6HdEMVvDVkStOzWgUNLdaie2bM0FTyBbATC8qcn0-FfVd7zag5-rSuijqG93FyaWJWm7pqVyNhCqZFNgeTRt1wAeTcW88KYdA6O-A/s4032/IMG_7158.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS3gIfqXqc1RxNzEPdGazCDC_E9THnTLoqgeGYleYlb_IGljr3LwTU8M3w75-Ir1gIe79IJS8m_FH6EH8g1VDt6HdEMVvDVkStOzWgUNLdaie2bM0FTyBbATC8qcn0-FfVd7zag5-rSuijqG93FyaWJWm7pqVyNhCqZFNgeTRt1wAeTcW88KYdA6O-A/s320/IMG_7158.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pond near our apartment on November 4. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd20HmDgoukKWBY4bkH7hFh-TIYPrDFcLG_EUcx-_e_aSIhzVgk9fgs_jtpCPq1xqety7gC0T8btFq2QwXdIsViqGK6fNSyQGOTKTjoD0S-yrYx27VS0Zpg7b7yiyEUT4rkB7CbDYpxwV0E_2UKwEusTU2uBM5kC2dl9JpKkYI9X2cCb2Q7Q66wd9sQ/s1952/IMG_6918.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1952" data-original-width="1693" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd20HmDgoukKWBY4bkH7hFh-TIYPrDFcLG_EUcx-_e_aSIhzVgk9fgs_jtpCPq1xqety7gC0T8btFq2QwXdIsViqGK6fNSyQGOTKTjoD0S-yrYx27VS0Zpg7b7yiyEUT4rkB7CbDYpxwV0E_2UKwEusTU2uBM5kC2dl9JpKkYI9X2cCb2Q7Q66wd9sQ/s320/IMG_6918.jpeg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One day, this tree (in the parking lot of our church, no less) took half of its finery off! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-7imBA3JOcUbGKtm9gmbnKPE8mKUzM0dE6id9yRzmGkEhYJs8de9oKT76nTFHfbm-qM-peBiRpsga8XYPurKbzATe-byD3dBH8DwJeClNm0V2JALTE_vOhDmwikCBYqXRAkom3vFzcYOdQD-AXYFDeR6WG9JbX8BLReF4cuK_MwJrTIPkp1RzDK2AA/s4032/IMG_6709.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-7imBA3JOcUbGKtm9gmbnKPE8mKUzM0dE6id9yRzmGkEhYJs8de9oKT76nTFHfbm-qM-peBiRpsga8XYPurKbzATe-byD3dBH8DwJeClNm0V2JALTE_vOhDmwikCBYqXRAkom3vFzcYOdQD-AXYFDeR6WG9JbX8BLReF4cuK_MwJrTIPkp1RzDK2AA/s320/IMG_6709.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many trees just can't make up their minds. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8ybwMRz4fas3DocDvsSO0k8mnsfBfB2_LLlIKrfM-jwwxY9hYTgsr0XPyyeckyzFuqIrpXgfhX6NNO_uYbLQOtI5RqFDhR8pZeESRWUlh049KF97-_jIAGEJMeJhPK-HJ1Ok-CsZVi7MgqqHdLn9lAAnwk8nPGuvIJGaYcuvV_fFfrFI894SLJhyHw/s4032/IMG_6653.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8ybwMRz4fas3DocDvsSO0k8mnsfBfB2_LLlIKrfM-jwwxY9hYTgsr0XPyyeckyzFuqIrpXgfhX6NNO_uYbLQOtI5RqFDhR8pZeESRWUlh049KF97-_jIAGEJMeJhPK-HJ1Ok-CsZVi7MgqqHdLn9lAAnwk8nPGuvIJGaYcuvV_fFfrFI894SLJhyHw/s320/IMG_6653.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Seneca Park. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7A9YnAZaMeX7fqYi7kiAElopl7DWOeOjyHFuA0GlAQkpXYw1YRWs7lNv_d1KzWwtvh0OL9Vac9fWYDzi8XJZ0iGE5gZuAA0vmC4PL6R9mL6GqIDu9xTlVSF3tasW7YsPoTVic_GbtO-NSbEocR2j-KKuqw-uYjz0LPSdNAiFPhCoQS3i6FOY0rky2g/s4032/IMG_7307.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7A9YnAZaMeX7fqYi7kiAElopl7DWOeOjyHFuA0GlAQkpXYw1YRWs7lNv_d1KzWwtvh0OL9Vac9fWYDzi8XJZ0iGE5gZuAA0vmC4PL6R9mL6GqIDu9xTlVSF3tasW7YsPoTVic_GbtO-NSbEocR2j-KKuqw-uYjz0LPSdNAiFPhCoQS3i6FOY0rky2g/s320/IMG_7307.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees are bare, but at sunrise, late fall is</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"> memorable-- Nov. 17!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Debrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02499622484031294522noreply@blogger.com0