'COLOUR AND CUTS BY RICHARD!!'

Today is Sunday, May 17, 2020.

Happy 15th Anniversary to Michael and Kaylee on Thursday, May 21st!!

With my last blog just submitted on Thursday, this will be a quick little report!!

Our ruffly red tulips have burst and look so pretty in our sweeping front flower beds!! Spurge is ready to show off its cheery yellow blooms, and the pink dianthus is in full bloom too! Lime green tree buds and leaves have our park looking magnifique!! Spring colours and smells are in full swing!!  

Aren’t we so tired of COVID 19?! It seems like every week we mention how we are being affected by this crazy pandemic. From self isolation to mandatory mask wearing in grocery stores, to neighbours ratting out neighbours who have visitors, to our entire missionary force using phones to find friends to teach, to using Facebook for finding, to curbside pick up for everything from fast food to Michael’s craft supplies, to 

“Colour and Cuts by Richard,”

one might recoin the old movie title “It’s a MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD World!!!  

Yes, you read that accurately!! Thursday afternoon, our master bathroom became ‘Richard’s Salon,’ and I became his first customer!! This was a sure sign of trust, devotion and love!!  JJ Choo from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is my usual stylist, but we haven't been to Nova Scotia since March 5th,(because of COVID 19), and my root touch up that I did April 21st, in preparation for Mom’s funeral,  had almost all washed away…so with apron on, and old towels enshrouding the counter, the floor, and me, and, a new box of Clairol root touch up #5, I perched myself on a chair, and Richard began the process of painting my roots! A year of regular watercoloring gave us both confidence that he had really prepared himself for this new painting adventure. I must admit that I was grateful he didn’t have to experiment to find the right medium brown colour…Miss Clairol’s simple directions were to just mix the two concoctions, and carefully brush dye focusing on my part, as well as around my hair line, which he did!! Half done!! After shampooing and conditioning, with big red ‘Scotch’ Christmas wrapping scissors in hand he began cutting…just a trim mind you!! I took care of the front and sides, and he snipped happily across the back, making a gentle curve.  A fine new do!! I will be ok for a few more weeks, and if we don’t get back to NS., I’ll have to find someone around here!! 

As far as his hair goes…Elder Boyle gave him a great haircut about a month ago, and I trimmed his sideburns, and shaved his neck last week…but if we could find some real scissors, I’d give him another cut…hopefully this week!!

Trip to Ottawa on Friday was great fun with Elder Wang (who’s 20th birthday it was), and Elder Fife; our assistants.  Talking and laughing the two hours there and back was great!! Delivered the zone order, and chocolate chip cookies to the 8 companionships there, and enjoyed a lovely drive oooing, and aawwing over the magnificent tulip beds, especially around Dow’s Lake. If it hadn’t been pouring rain, the tulips might have been more showy, and we would have hopped out for more photos! Still we had such a delightful visit with these two great missionaries!!

Friday night we loved our Mission wide special fireside with Elder Robert Gay, Elder Allan Haynie, and Elder Michel Carter.  Here are a few of the notes I jotted down: 

“When new converts get to the Temple soon after their baptism, the rate of retention is 90%!!" 
We were encouraged to get our new members to the Temple, and to get them their regularly. 
Remembering the two great commandments is essential in missionary work. 
We need to remember the urgency about our work. 
The Book of Mormon is the tool.  The Book of Mormon is all about the scattering and gathering of Israel. 

Nurture our faith, and our friends faith. 
Extend invitations to ‘Feast upon the Word.. to Hear Him.’

People will take hope in our Consecration.  
Story of President Hinckley after Marjorie had passed, and he was feeling so lonely and discouraged. Was in England….got up really early, and took a cab to the flat where he had been when his Dad sent him the “Forget yourself, and get to work” letter. He asked the owner of the home if he could go in to the room from 70 plus years ago. He knelt and prayed, and the prayer he offered changed everything…just as it had so many years before. He covenanted that he would continue consecrating his life. Amazing story!!

He will lead us. 
Spiritually consecrate ourselves. Missionary work is a Revelatory work. We will never be forsaken. 
Elder Gay even reminded us to ‘Keep Smiling!’

Such a great evening!

We are excited to announce that yesterday, Judy Ip was Baptized in a members swimming pool in Ottawa - our first baptism since March!! 

Pday for us yesterday included reading, running, writing, (the 3 r's!!) watercolouring, and sketching, grocery shopping, garden shopping, and planting the few perennials and annuals we bought…such a wonderfully relaxing day!!

So happy to announce that 5 new missionaries arrive Tuesday!! We will greet them at the airport, but no welcome parties are allowed so they will be whisked away to their new areas of service. I'm going to make bag lunches!!  And Friday we bid farewell to 13 of our finest, wonderful, consecrated elders and sisters….it is getting harder and harder saying  good bye. 

Today it is one month since my Mom, Patricia Maude McCormack Hamilton passed. I love to envision how happy she is to be with her sweetheart, our Dad,  Robert Anderson Hamilton. I know they are walking hand in hand serving just like we are…being missionaries!! That sure knowledge gives me PEACE, HOPE and so much JOY!! We are so grateful for the Plan of Happiness that we know IS the Plan.  Let us share that glorious message.

With much love and gratitude, 

Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Richard and Gayle  XOXOXOXOX

‘Keep Smiling’ and ‘Look at the View’