Journey Joys

This has been another great month. I can't believe that its time to send in another update for the newsletter.  So off we go again telling about some of our joys.

• We began the paperwork to be volunteers at the hospital.  While we were reading a binder and doing an open book test, two different volunteers came up to us and said, "We love the Mormons.  We welcome you and want you to know that we admire and love working with the Mormons."  That puts a little pressure on us to be sure we don't mess anything up or offend anyone.
• Still working with Blue.  He has had some wonderful, spiritual experiences.  I have come to realize how hard it is to put lives back together.  I have also come to realize how our Heavenly Father is totally interested in the details of our every day life.  Craig is so patient with Blue and his theories. 
• We have been teaching a class for military members and others who face similar deployment challenges.  Its title is "Becoming a Self-Reliant and Resilient Family."  We have four couples attending.  Three of the soldiers leave in October for Afghanistan.  The fourth soldier leaves in March to go to Alabama.  He is a lawyer and will be involved in a major case.  He is estimating he will be gone three months or longer.  It has been a good class and has given us the opportunity to get to know some members better.  
• We are in the process of planning a Home Evening gathering for all LDS military members.  We have secured the place and we now need to begin the advertising and planning.  We are excited to see all the LDS military families gathered together.
• We were able to read all about President Gilbert's inauguration at BYUI.  I remember well Elder Bednar and Elder Clark's inauguration.  I am so grateful for the years I served at BYU-Idaho.  I love telling everyone all about the university and its mission.  

We thank you all for watching over our home, especially Kelsie Walker who keeps a very close eye on it.  It is such a good feeling to know that neighbors and friends are close by if we need anything.  Every week we comment on how wonderful FaceTime is because we can literally see our grandkids growing up.  We pray that you will all be involved in missionary work in some way.  We really do understand how hard that is in Rexburg but we hope you will all search your families and hearts for people the missionaries can teach.