Mission: Getting Closer...

The past week has been very very busy.

We continued traveling west, driving another 24 hours.  (Decided that we are too old for 12-hour driving days and hope to cut back to only 3- or 4-hour days when we drive home in a year and a half....)

We attended Church in a very friendly town (Blue Springs, Missouri).  So many people spoke with us and made us feel welcome, inviting us to move to Blue Springs and being part of their family!

We arrived at our daughter's house to spend a week there with her and her son.

We helped her with many projects which were very satisfying to accomplish, the latest being installing a shelf in a closet which badly needed shelving.

We went to Insta Care.  Twice.  (On our second day out from home I discovered a nasty rash behind my left knee. I emailed a photograph to my doctor's office and was told I should contact medical care right away.  On Tuesday the doctor thought it was cellulitis and prescribed an antibiotic.  On Thursday the rash was taking over, not stopped one bit by that medicine.  On Thursday a different doctor (who had served in Brattleboro, Vermont twenty years ago),  was not sure it was cellulitis but prescribed a different antibiotic plus a topical steroid ointment.  Now, on Saturday,  the rash has stopped moving forward and may possibly be improving.  Thank you, Father.

We ordered a new suit for Dear One, along with a second pair of matching pants, shoes, missionary-like socks, and a belt.  We picked them up on Thursday.

On Friday two big fat boxes of gorgeous missionary clothes arrived for me from my sister in North Carolina.  They are just plain fabulous.  I tried them all on.  They all fit.  I have already chosen the outfit to wear to enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC)!  My sister teaches me again what generosity and thoughtfulness, and clear thinking, too, are all about.  She even sent a rain shell!  Not something I would have thought of.  She has read up on Portland, Oregon and weather conditions there.  Such a great example to me always.

We  (grandson and I) went to the library to replenish his library book supply, including the second Harry Potter book.

We went to a farmers' market.

We also went to a hole-in-the-wall place which opened Saturday with the first sweet corn of the year. Our supper tonight was freshly-picked sweet corn and new red rosemary potatoes.  (Recipe to follow!)

We finished our scripture study assignments that we were to read before entering the MTC.

We answered some questions about various "leftovers" back at home and sent some to the attic and some to share with others.

We enjoyed some Pepperidge Farms Thrift Store treats!  Too many of them, actually.

We recognized the blessings of air conditioning!

It has been a good week.  We hope your week has been as good.

Mission: The Adventure Begins

On Thursday we finished rushing around: packing, taking boxes to the post office, packing, then taking more boxes to the post office, and finally putting ourselves in the car, stopping a moment for prayer, then headed to the stake center where we had a final interview with the Stake President and were then set apart, making up official full time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We then hit the road...

That night we stayed in Berlin, Connecticut at a nice clean motel.  We were completely shot.  We fell asleep instantly. Friday morning there was a very nice breakfast BUT no vegan, oil-free, salt-free, and sugar-free food.  Disappointing not to stick to my planned diet on the very first day.

Friday we left around 8 AM and drove through until we arrived in Charleston, West Virginia.  There was a pool in the motel but we were too tired to take advantage of it.  Across the access road was a Hardees/Red Burrito franchise.  I got us each a bean and rice burrito, some salad, and a chocolate milk shake for Dear One who was thrilled with that!  We were almost instantly asleep that night also.

Saturday morning there were even fewer options for acceptable food  so I went across to Hardees and got several salads and sides of beans to go on top.  The manager was very kind to prepare them for me as it was breakfast time and they don't have that food ready at that time of day.  Again we left around 8 AM and drove and drove and drove...750 miles or so.  At one point the thermometer in the car registered the outside temperature as 102 degrees.  We arrived in Blue Springs, Missouri at 7:45 PM at 97 degrees!

We scouted a little for the LDS meetinghouse, did not find it quickly so Dear One humored me in going back to the motel to check in.  Now we are about ready for bed.  Well, I am, anyway.

Tomorrow we will drive to the Denver area which should only be 8.5 hours which is good as we will get a late start after church.

This country we live in is glorious!  So many beautiful sights.  My favorite was a doe with two spotted fawns eating beside the interstate highway up on the bank.  West Virginia had me humming to myself that great John Denver song about the state.  The corn was already tasseled out.  Further south and west there were huge fields of corn and soybeans.  Impressive.  Kentucky had some very beautiful horse farms visible from the highway.   We saw big rivers:  Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri and lots of little ones.  The road signs were so interesting.  Salt Lick! Santa Claus!  Ferdinand!  Jackson County.

So far Dear One has done all the driving.  The car is pretty closely packed.   I think to avoid embarrassment I will NOT post a picture.  It just struck me tonight that we won't be able to take any of the grandchildren for rides, once we get there, because there is no room.  We may have to figure something out.