A grand adventure!

Buon Giorno!  We are busy, busy, busy trying to learn all our new  responsibilities from the soon to  depart couple.  We  have weathered our first arrival of new missionaries and transfers.  29 new missionaries arrived yesterday so we spent all day preparing and changing plans as their plane was late, some luggage did not arrive, and we had to shorten some of the new orientation info for them. We also called their parents to say they had arrived safely and who their new companions would be and which city they would go to.  The calls were so very touching - some cried and we got teary as well.  They entrust their precious children to the Lord and us and we want to take care of them and love them too.  They are amazing young people - full of the spirit, enthusiastic, tired, and struggling to speak Italian.  We had a lovely dinner with them all last night and they were so cute and funny.  One young elder - having tasted his first gelato (Italian ice cream) said that he knew he would already really miss gelato when he left for home in two years.  He was beaming all during dinner and saying "I am really in Italy".  What a blessing this calling is to work with these rare and awesome missionaries.

We are getting used to Italy as well.  Just figuring out the cost in euros is an event.  Finding things in the supermercati is an adventure.  Nothing is coordinated really in the stores - like products are  not necessarily placed by other similar products so it is kind of like a treasure hunt. Milk is all shelf stable and not refrigerated.  Eggs are sold 4 in a carton or 6 or 8 or 10 but never any more.  Most items are in much smaller packages than at home.  But we have fun finding new things in the stores.  We did just find brown sugar (kid of tan brown and bigger granules).  We even  found some tortillas and tortilla chips.  But the bread is so good here who needs them.  You have to take all your own bags for the groceries.  Italy is very recycle focused and they take it very seriously.  Marv takes a walk  every morning early and stops by the local bakery for fresh goodies.  Today he  picked up focaccia with ham and cheese for our lunch - yum!  One morning we had apricot croissants for breakfast and in the hospital I got chocolate croissants.  Travel is ok as we have access to a car.  Marv has already driven but I have no desire to battle with Italian drivers.  

We had a grand experience when I ended up in the hospital for some kidney problems.  The hospital and emergency room were much better than 40 years ago.  Everyone was very kind and efficient.  The Urology dept. head was my doctor and he studied in St. Louis Missouri and spoke English.  He was really great.  I had a private room but in the emergency room you are treated in a waiting room for patients - not the visitor's room.  NOT PRIVATE.  Thank goodness my time there was brief.  But I have survived the experience and am sure my experience may help when another missionary gets sick.  

It is hot and humid but our office and apt. has air conditioning!  Hurray!!! Italy is lush with greenery everywhere, lots of flowers and lots of crops blooming all around Opera.  Just waking up and looking outside is a treat - we are really here in Italy!  

We are so blessed to be here.   We will get to travel to several cities soon to do apartment checks and to go to Torino, Padova, and Verona to see the places I served in on my first mission.  We can hardly wait!   We are having the time of our lives.  We do miss our loved ones but with Skype we can still "see" them regularly.  Happy Birthday to our Lu - already 6 years old!  Already back in first grade - she goes to a year round school.  

Well time to go for now - work to do.

We are in Italia

Wow!  We are really here.  It doesn't seem possible, but it has finally occurred!  Friday we flew from Salt Lake to Chicago, then to London where we found our last flight was cancelled. So we got to wait in London Heathrow for an extra 7 hours. We were rescheduled on a flight to a different Milano airport. And surprise, they did not loose our luggage. 

The Mission President was the to meet us and drive us to Opera - our new home. We went out to eat then got back to the apartment about 10:30 pm Saturday. This was over 32 hours since we got up Friday morning.  We are staying in the AP's apartment for two weeks. The Lynch's will then leave and we will then take over their apartment on a permanent basis. 

here are a few pictures from our present apartment-  

Looking east out from our patio

Looking west out of the bathroom window

Also looking west from the bathroom window. 

It is beautiful and we are very happy to be here.  

The adventure has begun!!!

Well after a five month wait, the big day finally arrived.  We spent our last weekend in the Salt Lake valley. Friday we left our car with Gordon, Marv's brother in Pocatello and drove down with Sam.  We had a very eventful trip.  Just at Tremonton, Utah, we came on a terrible car crash and Sam jumped out of the car and became the EMT/firefighter professional he is and began saving lives.  He was checking one victim when the victim died. Then he hurried to another victim in the rolled over truck and then sped to the third victim (the second victim who was ejected from the vehicle) and opened an airway and kept the kid alive til the ambulance arrived.  He and a fellow firefighter from his team then rode to the hospital with the victim.  It was amazing to see our son doing his job and doing it so well.  We drove to the hospital and picked up Sam and we went on to Park City. 

Sam and Brandon (his teammate) and four other members of Sam's crossfit gym were running a Spartan race in Heber on Saturday.  We spent the night with my sister in Draper and we all attended the race.  It was super hot that day - 100 degrees.  I don't know how the competitors managed to finish.  It took most racers about 4+ hours to finish.

Sam and his group at the start of the grueling 14 mile event.

Sam rolling and sliding down 100 yards of mud under barbed wire

 

Sam near end of run going over muddy slimey wall

 

 

  Sam and parents after the Spartan run

Then on Sunday we rested (just watching the race wore us out) and enjoyed my sister and her husband.  Then bright and early on Monday they drove us to the MTC. 

Bags all packed and ready to load up for our trip to the MTC

What an experience!  Everything is so well coordinated.  Over 100 senior missionaries converged to begin this wonderful adventure.  There are couples going everywhere in the world.  The MTC is huge - over three thousand young single missionaries are here with more coming every week.  Of course, groups leave too.  There are exercise facilities, laundry facilities, a HUGE cafeteria, classrooms, etc.  There is a travel office, post office, medical facilities, a whole city in itself.  Yet all are happy, busy, and kind.  These young missionaries are amazing and inspiring.  They are wonderful.  It makes us old fogies feel tired just watching them run around. 

We get all sorts of "senior perks" around here - from getting cuts in  the cafeteria lines, to lots of time to mingle, rest, and do things.  Our teachers are phenomenal and so kind.  We laugh and learn a lot.  We have a beautiful room on campus at the MTC (Missionary training center) and a "for seniors"only elevator.  When we arrived there were young and enthusiastic missionaries to get us and our luggage to our room and settled in. Then we were whisked off to register and get our schedules and study materials. 

We had a wonderful devotional tonight - they bussed us oldies to the Marriott Center (where BYU plays their basketball games) and had a very inspiring evening.  The main speaker read us some excerpts from his missionary journals - they were pretty funny and inspiring.  He served in the 1980's and shared some tender moments with us.  His lovely wife also spoke and both speakers kept us riveted to our seats.  The missionary choir sang - over 1600 voices strong.  Wow! What fantastic youth we have going out to serve their Heavenly Father.  It is a pleasure to sit with them at meals and they are so fun and bright and caring. 

This week we are studying about sharing the gospel with others.  Things have not changed much in the last forty years in some ways but in other ways everything is new.  Technology is very much different and missionary work is taking advantage of the digital age.  Our niece who is on a mission in the Tennessee mission is now spending some of her time on line with blogs, facebook, and referrals.  Our missionaries will also now give free guided tours of all our local buildings. 

Next week we will learn the office computer systems we will be using in Italy in the mission office.  Teaching me (an old dog) new tricks will not be easy.  But with the help of the Lord and a lot of  our sweat and effort, we will succeed.  Our teachers (newly returned missionaries mostly) are very patient and keep us entertained and loving every minute. 

We keep busy studying, preparing, and practicing in our spare time.  Marv is really doing well in Italian and amazes me at how much he has learned in such a short time.  He is so diligent and determined to master the language while we are in Italy.  He is a great companion and makes me want to be a better person.  Being together all the time has been easier that I thought it would be.  It is true that we can be apart during the day (unlike the young missionaries) but we seem to keep pretty close by most of the time. 

This adventure is truly great.  While we are missing our loved ones a lot, we know that we are in the right place at the right time and doing the right thing.  We wouldn't trade this experience for plain old retirement.  We feel young at heart again and ready to be useful, productive, and active.  I wish everyone could have this opportunity.  It is one of those life-changing events that make earthly life a treat.

Well, time for me to stop rambling.  We are healthy and happy here in Provo.  We miss all of our families and friends.  We are loving life though.  We do wish to thank all of you who have supported us, helped us, driven us, shared with us, played with us, and loved us.  You are all in our prayers daily and we appreciate you all so very much.  Please stay in touch and come and see us!!! 

Cabin Time

Over the years we have really enjoyed spending some time each year at Karen & Rick's cabin in Island Park.  For many years the whole family would gather there for several days and sometimes a week of just playing in the mountains.  hiking, floating down a lazy river, 4 wheeling, kayaking, water skiing, mountain biking, and of course cooking.  The last couple of years we have not been able to make it back to the cabin for some of this family fun.  So we wanted to at least spend a couple of days there before we left on our mission. 

Peg and I left on Friday morning and got up there before noon.  We met the phone guy up there so he could get the phone and Wi-Fi fixe for the summer season.  It was too cold to float down the river but we did go on a 4 wheeler ride up to Sawtell.  This is always a spectacular trip no matter what the weather.

Mt Jefferson from Sawtell

 

 



Peggy - loving the ride

 

 



Marv - Loving the view

 

 

Wild Flowers about half way up the mountain

On Sunday I went on a hike after church and dinner along the river from coffee pot camp ground.  Too early for huckle berries, but I did see, a couple of fly fishermen, a heron, osprey, bunch of pelicans, and a wood pecker. Great walk!

View of Sawtell from the Coffee Pot Trail

 

 

Pelicans resting in the river

 

 

Beautiful wild flower

 

 

Sunday night Karen, Grace & Gus came up for the evening.  We ate diner and played cards.  Very nice.  Monday morning we were off back to Idaho Falls to meet some good friends. The last week before we leave for the MTC was filled with lots of good byes.  We love you all.  Thanks for all that you have done to help us realize this dream.

Long Time between Posts

Well we are certainly poor bloggers.  We are way behind.  Let's see .... well we decided to go see the kids once again so we went to New Mexico and had a great time as usual. 

Twin Rocks on way to Farmington

We tried to go to Tucson but the first weekend, I came down with a sinus infection and we didn't want to share it with Lu.  Then one week after getting to NM, we had to race back to Idaho Falls as Marv's mother's husband Herb passed away.  He had been ill and in nursing facilities for almost a year.  He became very ill and had a heart attack, a mini stroke, and couldn't swallow.  It was a blessing for him.  The funeral was nice, good weather and it was really nice to see old friends and family.  We spent a week in Idaho and then drove straight to Tucson and had a great week there.

Glen Canyon Dam near Page AZ

  Marv and Ted built on a third story to the chicken coop and we got to watch Lu at cheer practice.  She is growing and is very good at gymnastics, writing, and reading.  She just finished kindergarten and will start first grade in July. 

Lu modeling her Kindergarten Graduation Cap & Dress

She goes to a year round school.  K.C. and I got in some sewing - some skirts for Lu.  K.C. is a fast learner and did quite well.  Her parents, Mike and Jackie, came over for Sunday dinner and it was nice to visit with them again. It was not easy to say goodbye for 18 months. 

Then we zipped up to Chinle, Az. for a night and the next day Leigh, Bryce and kids drove over and we went to Canyon de Chelly.  The hike down to the Indian ruins at the bottom of the canyon was quite the hike.

White House Ruins at bottom of canyon

 It is about a mile and a half down (approx. 700 feet drop in elevation)  Not having hiked in almost ten years and after serious knee issues, I reluctantly agreed to hike down and back up.  Down was easy compared to up.  Coming up we walked two minutes and then I had to rest.  I was huffing and puffing like a chimney.  To make matters worse, four year old Jane was doing her hiking dance around me the entire time.  She was whirling, twirling, and kicking up her heels and not even breathing hard,  At one point, two year old Will too my hand and six year old Abigail said - of look, Will is helping grandma up the hill.  Did I feel old or what?  But we made it finally and it was worth the effort. 

Almost back up to the top of the rim

Spider Rock - Awesome view



Then we all drove back to Farmington and collapsed.  Well, I collapsed.  Then two days later, we drove up to Durango Colorado and hiked a not so vertical hike up a small canyon by a rushing creek.

A dandy lion ring that Abigail made for grandpa

 

We let the kids play in the water and throw rocks.  Will is a two fisted rock thrower and likes to throw big rocks. 

Playing in the water makes the hike worthwhile.

Then on Saturday, everyone else went back up to Durango and went on a bike ride.  I stayed at the house and sewed for the grandkids.  Abigail is shooting up so fast she is outgrowing her clothes.  She has finished kindergarten and has started first grade.  Leigh is homeschooling and Jane is doing preschool.  Will just plays and colors.  We played games after the grandkids are in bed - Cataan, Dominion, and Ticket to Ride.  What fun.  Then after a week, we said our goodbyes - very difficult - an headed north through Colorado.

We drove up through Durango, Silverton, and Ouray and on to Grand Junction.  It is a gorgeous drive and amazing.

On top of Molas Divide  - about 11,000 feet

 

Old mine with ore tram to concentrator just north of Silverton

 



Waterfalls coming down into Ouray

We continued on north, through Utah, Idaho and into Montana.  We stayed in St. Regis, MT and the next morning Marv biked about 20 miles of a gorgeous trail and I picked him up in Enaville - a tiny burg off the beaten track. 

River along the trail running through the Silver Valley

 

Trail of the Couer d'alenes

 

Then on to  Spokane Valley and our dear, dear friends the McComas'.  Arlene and I were roommates back in 1968 when I was a freshman and she was a junior at BYU.  She met Rick the next summer and they got married in Dec. of 1969.  We have kept connected all these years and we had a wonderful visit.  Rick has to have open heart surgery next week - please keep him and Arlene in your prayers.  They have four wonderful kids and 16 grandkids.  We love them all and all of Arlene's family.  Her family took me in and gave me a wonderful second home and were a marvelous example for both Marv and I.  We are so blessed to know them.

Then we headed south to Idaho Falls.  We got here on Saturday and are tried of being on the road.  We have fourteen days left before going to Provo to the MTC.  We are ready.  Marv is doing so well with his Italian studies.  He works very hard at it.  He has been skyping with his tutors and study buddies on the road.  One study buddy lives in Italy.  She got up at three in the morning just to help Marv with his Italian.  She is a jewel.  We are excited because we are going to get to meet her and her family in Italy.  He has had another study buddy from Italy - she now lives in the US - but we hope to visit with her family in Italy as well.  These study buddies are volunteers and so helpful.  We appreciate their time and efforts so much. We got an email from the current office couple and they gave us great info.  Marv will be the financial secretary for the  mission and I will get the rest of the stuff including working with the government getting permits for the missionaries, etc.  I will also be the translator for the mission office.  I have begun to study too.  We will live in a apt. above the mission office building in a nice neighborhood on the outskirts of Milano.  It is in a town called Opera.  We will have internet and English television in our apt.  We will have access to a car as well.  They said to bring some casual clothing as we will have time to sightsee and do things in our spare time.  We are getting so excited to get there.

The new mission president and his wife will be in the MTC the week before us and we are anxious to meet them.  We are ready to work hard and serve our Heavenly Father in any way we can.  This mission is a dream come true and we want to be useful and ready for anything.   While it is hard to leave family and friends - we know that great blessings will come from our service. 

Well, I best go.  I have laid out all my clothes and stuff for Italy all over the bedroom here at Ruth's.  I need to clear off the bed so we can go to sleep.  Lots of stuff to do tomorrow - a few more clothes and things to get, Italian to study, a little sewing to finish, etc.  Our great adventure is coming fast and we intend to enjoy every moment.  Remember that we love company and will have at least a floor to sleep on and food for all who come.  So pack your sleeping bag and come on over to Italy.  It is a truly beautiful land full of wonderful people.

We think of all of you often - we met some fellow Minnesotans in Colorado on the top of the highest pass (approx. 12 thousand feet up).  We love all of our families, friends, and loved ones. 

Open House

Wow! We just got back from a great trip to Utah.  We went down and spent Tues. night with my sister and her husband Eric.  They are so fun and caring.  Erin has completed my new knitted shawl - she is so talented.  Then on Wed. we picked up my former companion Bonna B. and drove down to  Ephraim to a wonderful open house for all of us former Italy North missionaries.  My mission president and his lovely wife, Dan and Elaine Jorgensen, hosted the affair and the food and company were great.  We all are 40 years older but that didn't matter.  We laughed, cried, told funny, inspirational, and life-changing stories.  My mission in Italy changed my life forever.  President and Sister Jorgensen inspired me then and continue to inspire me today.  They had the awesome experience of watching over some five hundred young missionaries for three years when they were in their early thirties.  They had small children yet gave of their time and love so freely.  President Jorgensen had a very successful career in banking - living in Italy before they were called to be mission president and then after both overseas and in the U.S.  Sister Jorgensen is teaching full time at Snow College.  She has a doctorate in Music from Julliard.  They have five children and lots of grandchildren.

It was so fun to share family news, what we were doing, etc. with such dear old friends.  It was amazing how many connections we shared that we didn't even know about.  People, places, and family connect all of us  in some way.  We are all so excited about the new temple being built in Rome and so many of us want to be there for the dedication, we are thinking about chartering a plane and renting some villas in Italy and going together as a group.  It will be so much fun! We seemed to make the intervening years seem like just moments since we last saw each other.  The spouses joined right in and we became instant good friends.  I don't know how other missionary reunions are but ours was like pure heaven.  My face hurt from smiling so much.  Each memory shared brought forth another memory and it was amazing how much we were able to recall and share.  It was wonderful to hear about people we all knew in Italy and how they are today.  Many of us have been back to Italy through the years and kept up with one member or another for news.  Several of the former missionaries are in Italy right now.  President Jorgensen is already planning more reunions.  The only bad thing of the whole reunion is I forgot to take any pictures.  We were so busy talking that I didn't even take my camera out of my handbag!  rats!!

This opportunity for Marv and I to return to Italy and serve the people is a dream come true.  As events have occurred we  have seen the hand of the Lord helping us as we prepare to serve.  The other couple going to Italy on a mission have seen the same blessings and help as well.  They will be serving in the Rome mission and will be working with the young single adults throughout Italy.  They are a great couple and both served in Italy before.

We are so grateful to be going to Italy.  Marv is still learning Italian at a great pace.  Monday he will start skyping with the MTC (mission training center) and has a teacher assigned.  He will also get a "coach" to practice with and one of the sisters (she was my district leader on my mission), Janice Hileman, may get to be that coach.  What fun.  He is doing so well.  We both are rereading the Book of Mormon and loving it.  It is a truly remarkable book and teaches us many precious and sacred principles.  It is also great to read for the history as well.  We are ready and anxious to leave.  Only 51 days left.  But who's counting?

We are off next week to New Mexico and Arizona again to see the grandkids one last time.  This mission would be much harder if we didn't have skype available.  Monday and Tuesday, we will be helping Ruth (Marv's mom) get new carpet upstairs.  Marv's best childhood friend is laying it but we are the movers.  Marv's sister, Maryln, is coming up from Utah to help.

We are busy all the time.  Tonight we are going to play games with our old friends and their friends.  We are having a pot luck dinner and then playing games all evening.  Tomorrow night we will take Ruth out to her favorite restaurant for Mother's Day and then will have a family dinner on Sunday.  Then carpet for two days and then off to New Mexico.  Our 16 year niece is coming with us for a visit with Leigh and her family.  She just finished high school and will be off to college in the fall.  She is a dear girl and we love to be with her.  She dances with the Idaho Falls Ballet school and last Sat. we watched her perform at the Civic Auditorum as they performed selections from the ballet The Secret Garden and then some different dance pieces.  It was fun.  She is very tall and very graceful.  Being able to see our nieces and nephews is a great blessing.  Living  home here means we get to see family almost daily.  We cherish these opportunities. Families are truly eternal and are the only meaningful achievement of this earthly life.  Love your families and let them know it every day.  Time passes so quickly that many moments can be lost so easily.  Ciao cari amici.

Side Trips

May 6, 2013

While we have been here in Idaho, we have taken the opportunity for a number of different side trips.

Peggy mentioned in her last entry that we spent one day with my Uncle Kent in Terreton.  He is a large animal veterinarian and I went with him on all of his appointments for that day.  It was wonderful  But not for the queasy.  We drove out past Howe to sample 27 bulls for Trich.  This is a venereal disease that could cause large number of deaths in the new born calves.  The Bulls were run into a chute one by one and Kent sampled their semen.  My job was to log the tag numbers and sample envelope IDs.   They were kicking, snorting, howling and making a real ruckus.  We had Bull shit and Bull snot flung all over.  It was great!  Next we went to Blackfoot to castrate two young colts.  They were quite feisty.  I'm not sure if they knew what was about to happen to them, but it was quite an experience.  I didn't get any pictures of my assistant vet experience, but here is a shot of the mountains just west of Kent and Brenda's home.  I love the mountains

The following Thursday I got to ride along with my bother Douglas who was making a drop off of some tables and chairs at a restaurant in Jackson Hole.  It was great to spend this time with him and catch up on old times.  We drove past Palisades Reservoir on the way up and over Jackson pass on the way back.  Nice trip

Last week Peggy and I drove up to Yellowstone to see the Baby Buffalos.  Peggy got her lifetime pass (one of the benefits of old age).  It had been 8 years or so since we had visited the park and I was very surprised at the trees that have grown since the big fire.  We saw lots of Buffalos, most of them bulls, we only saw baby buffs up at the north entrance around Mammoth hot springs.

Baby Buffs staying close to mom

 

 

Mammoth Hot Springs

 

 

Dropping down into Mammoth you must drive through a narrow canyon and one spot is called the golden gate.  Check out the road way.  Back in the 1800 they build this road out of timbers. Imagine driving across that!

 



 

 

We saw Old Faithful and lots of Elk.  This one jumped out in the road in front of us.  It is a good thing the speed limit is 45 mph.  I had to rush to grab the camera and get a picture before he wandered down to the river.

 

 

 

On our way to Old Faithful we came across 5 buffalo that were walking down the road.  They seemed to know where they were going and did not stop to eat.  The leader was come right down the middle of the road!

 

 

 

On the way back to west Yellowstone 3-4 hours later we came upon the same group of buffalo that were about 6 miles down the road.  They were still plodding along at the same pace. We figured they were on their way to the Friday night dance and were looking for some Buffalo Gals.





 

We spent the night in West Yellowstone.  This is the best time of year to go through the park.  No crowds and lots to see.  However, the food selection was very limited.  It seemed like the only option was hamburgers.

On our way home on Friday we stopped by the upper Mesa Falls.  This is spot that few people stop at because it off the main drag on the old highway.  Very neat place.  My dad used to take me here to fish.  Peggy and I went on our first camping trip together here.

 

We drove the long way home through Driggs and stopped the drug store to get a Huckleberry Milkshake.  Yum.  The Tetons are always marvelous to look at.  Did say I love the mountains?