Happy 64th Birthday Richard!! We get to celebrate by travelling to the Annapolis Valley and visit(interview) with five Elders and four Sisters, and to participate in their District Meeting. It seems like every place we travel becomes my favourite, and I will say that about the fertile Annapolis Valley. The Annapolis Valley is not just like the Salt Lake City Valley, or the Old Man River Valley - it extends about 100 km, and is some of the most fertile and picturesque part of Nova Scotia. Apple orchards, vineyards, corn fields, and picture perfect vegetable patches abound. And of course charming old farm homes with big wrap around verandahs surrounded with dreamy creamy, or ultramarine blue, or pink coloured mophead hydrangea and lush daylily beds surround the homesteads. I know we would never arrive on time for any of our meetings if we stopped at every photo corner!! Suffice it to say I am constantly looking at the view!!!!
I loved my first ever District Meeting with Sisters Moyes, Davies, Green, and Clark and Elders Bringhurst, Williams, Gessel, McArthur, and Willoughby in the Phase two Greenwood Chapel. We are so blessed with wonderful missionaries who are obedient and hard-working. Elder and Sister Priest, one of our stalwart local Senior missionary couples who serve in the office live in Greenwood, and shared this faith-promoting story. In the 1990’s, to qualify for having a building built in their tiny commmunity an hour an a half from Halifax; meeting attendance had to be at least 40. Elder Priest told us the beautiful story of when they made their goal! The little group found this lovely parcel of land nestled in the woods, and approached the owner who basically laughed in their face when they offered $15,000 for the 3 acre chunk of land. As a branch they fasted and prayed and about two weeks later the owner approached them and said ‘I feel like I need to sell you the land,’ and countered with $21,000. To secure the purchase the fledgling little branch would have to come up with a downpayment of $4500. How were they to raise that? Elder Priest (then the Branch President) continued…They asked the owner if they cleared the land and sold the lumber, could that $ go towards the downpayment, which he agreed to! Exactly $4500 was raised by the sale of that lumber, and they proceeded with the building.
If only all our sacred buildings were loved and appreciated as is this little Greenwood Chapel It is kept in pristine shape, groomed flower beds, spitspot chapel, lovely bulletin boards, immaculate kitchen, and even help yourself jars of mints on the table in the Relief Society room!!
Tuesday, while Dad spent the day interviewing in our home office, I ventured out on my own in a CHM office loaner car (since ours was getting an oil change), and headed downtown to visit Melanie, at the Hydrosone Spirit Salon. Both Sister Pratt and Sister Leavitt (previous MP wives) recommended the salon. I was very pleased with the stylist, and both the colour and cut are wonderful, but when I paid the $188.00 I thought I’ve got to find somewhere cheaper!!! Mostly I was grateful my phone ‘Siri’ directed me right to the spot across the harbour, and I did not get lost!! And whats more it is one of the neighbourhoods flattened 100 years ago in the ‘Great Halifax Explosion’ and in the tiny green strip across from the salon was a lovely memorial. I’m trying to carve out time to reread the fascinating book ‘The Great Halifax Explosion’ - an account of the true story of the 1917 explosion and a wonderful read.
We gathered at the Temple this morning at 7:30 to attend a special 8am session with our group of 38 who came together for our all day Mission Leadership Council. Assistants, Zone leaders, STLT’s, STL’s, and Tech elders as well as our dedicated office missionaries attended, and we had such an outpouring of the spirit. One of the highlights was our harpist Sister King playing ‘Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.’ Wow!! The Dartmouth Building which is actually in Cole Harbour adjoins the temple which was so handy for our marathon day. The long tables were in a giant U formation which made it perfect for powerpoint presentations, chalkboard discussions, and for enjoying our snack and lunch times. Our other office missionaries, Elder and Sister Boyle, and Sister Arnold are incredible, and plan, purchase, and prepare all the food for these events so I never have to worry about any of the things I used to help plan!! We are inspired by their cheerful, tireless service. Truly they are workhorses, and we are grateful to be yoked with them!! The other day Elder Boyle even detailed our vehicle!
Elder and Sister Schow from Cardston, who serve in St. John’s NFLD, our Sister Training Leader Trainers (STLT), our AP’s and Dad all did a great job presenting and leading discussions. We discussed our Mission Culture, and Standards of Excellence, and felt like we could have been in a stake counsel meeting back home!! Such mature insights and such strong testimonies!!
An incredible day…doesn’t get any better!!!
We were sad to send our friends the Datwilers our senior couple who had been serving in CornerBrook, home to Smithfield, Utah. Elder Datwiler had cancer of the eye five years ago, and last week they discovered some suspicious growths in his liver. They spent the night with us enroute to Boston where they hopped on a plane. Their two sons met them in Boston and drove their vehicle home. We held a mission fast last week and are praying for them.
Last night just after 7:30, our wonderful senior office missionaries came over and surprised Dad with a birthday cake, and while Dad went to a meeting with our Dartmouth Stake President, the five of them along with the Schow’s (who stayed overnight) stayed and laughed and visited and enjoyed the birthday cake that they had brought. His Birthday Rhubarb pie was breakfast this morning! We loved visiting with so many family members yesterday, and today….thank you all for your love!! We miss you….
I’ll send this off with much love from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia!!!
Richard and Gayle, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom XOXOXOXOXO
There is so much that is to be done to plan a birthday party. Like looking for rental spaces for parties, decoration, food, guest list and a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed going through this post. It is lovely and it shows how much care for everybody in your family.
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