Some days are like that, even in Australia

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

We are hoping for the best with the Insurance Company, but you never know. I hope the little thugs who stole our cute truck get what's coming to them. And I mean that in the most loving way possible ;)

A big shout out to our wonderful kids for handling all this for us! We couldn't do it without them!!

Tall, Taller, Tallest: Totem Pole Elders

We love the Elders here. They are Spiritual and Fun! Best of all, they will pose for pictures when I ask them to!

From Top to Bottom: Elder Hannan(Idaho Falls)Elder Gemmell (San Diego)Elder Summers(Roosevelt)

Just when you think things are gonna go smoothly....

I have never been one to think my life will be one smooth ride. Hoped for, yes, expected, no. What a week this has been back home. First, Eric calls me in a panic, fearing bedbugs have somehow hitchhiked into our house on a mattress and set up summer camp in his bedroom. My skin itches just writing this from 800+ miles away. Second, We got a phone call from Ben this morning telling us that Larry's truck was stolen out of his garage sometime last night and found on its side in the mud in North Salt Lake, and we have to pay to get it out of impound. Third, Aimee sends me a text saying there is moisture and mold in my storage room under the front porch, and what should she do. If Shellee calls, I'm not answering the phone.

Dressed in White - Baptism Day 4-18-2009

Today Elder Wilson was privileged to perform the Baptism of an investigator he has been helping teach for the last 2 months. Elder Wilson has been driving 45 minutes each way to pick D. up and bring him to our ward for his church meetings, where he feels welcome. He lives in Issaquah, high up in the hills, in a beautiful little place with his parents. Larry has been able to answer a lot of his questions about the church on the drives to and from church each Sunday, and sometimes during the week. It has been a great experience, and we continue to help the Elders with their investigators any way we can. Today, I was able to take a sweet sister who is investigating the church to Relief Society, and on the ride home, talk about the Word of Wisdom with her. She has a lot of questions and has been told many terrible untrue stories about the Mormon church. I've heard about that kind of thing before, but it is interesting to experience it for myself, and to be able to answer her queries. I tell her to ask all the questions she wants, we have nothing to hide. She was totally amazed that God and Jesus are two separate people with bodies. She was also relieved to hear that she can still have her diet cola, and does not have to wear a dress every day. It never ceases to amaze me how people from all walks of life (and we have great diversity here) are looking for the missing piece(or peace) in their life, and find it inside the walls of the church, or in the pages of the scriptures. All that's missing, is knowing where to look. That's where we (you, me, us) come in. We have to open our mouths and speak. Who knows who will be ready to listen?

Oh, Gary

It has come to our attention that Gary is most probably Garrie Ann. Our favorite squirrel who was sporting a little belly, now appears to be a mommy. That would explain her mysterious 2-day absence last week--the first time she's missed out on lunchtime peanuts since we've become acquainted. We wish her and her brood the best, and hope that the birds and other critters will leave them alone so they too can join us on the patio for lunchtime peanuts when they're big enough to safely leave the nest.

*Quarter Mark*

Larry pointed out that we just passed our quarter mark. We've been gone 3 months. Except for missing our family and friends, it's gone by quickly.
Last night we went to a local pet store so I could hold a puppy. I miss the animals too. The store manager looked at me a little weird, but then most people do, so it was no big deal. Then we went to the Ace hardware store so Larry could hold a drill to make it equal.

Come on over

We got a tiny barbeque for our 6x6 patio. It's an exciting moment for us, because now we can grill our salmon. One of us will have to hold an umbrella over the grill while the other one cooks, of course, but it's going to be great!

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

I discovered I DO have a limit as to how long I can go without sunshine. I turn into a cranky pants after about 10 days without significant "sun-breaks" (a local term for 'partly cloudy')

and continual rain. I am used to the rain pretty much. I am used to the clouds pretty much. But what I am NOT used to is rain and clouds. every. single. day. So today we celebrated the sunshine by driving to a little park in Medina on the shore of Lake Washington. A small strip of public beach park that was just sublime. We decided to make it a regular destination. Oh, and don't miss the Medina General Store.

Gary makes himself at home

Bellevue Zone Army of Helaman

Back row: Italasano, Broomfield, Nelson, Li, Hannan, Mills,Torres,Summers,Skinner,Gatenby,Waite, Russell, Sharp.

Front: Gemmell, Min,VanSweden

Happy Birthday to Ben

Yes, April 1st is Ben's birthday. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. I had gone to my baby shower at Connie's, but didn't feel well. Got home, puked, felt even worse. Called Larry, who was helping Dave with some drywall, and said please come home. Quick. Like RIGHT NOW. I feel terrible and my back hurts. Call the OB and he says, come up to the hospital and get a antibiotic shot, worried that I had a kidney infection. Baby not due for 3 more weeks. Get up to the hospital, Dr. Rasmussen tells us "You're having a baby tonight!". At 4:09am Ben makes his entry into the world and into my arms. The most beautiful baby boy I had ever seen. 10 fingers, ten toes. Euphoria and exhaustion. Call parents, tell them the news. Call siblings who hang up on us thinking we were playing "April Fools". Thrilled to have our Ben then, thrilled to have him now. Thanks for 33 great years, Benner.