IT'S BEEN A GOOD YEAR

 

As I (Russell) look back on 2023, I find so much to be grateful for.  The year started with the birth of our 16^th grandchild.  I have found true joy in my grandchildren.  Our two oldest grandchildren, granddaughters, were sealed to their eternal companions, in the Provo and Provo City Center temples.  Our oldest grandson began serving a full-time mission, just yesterday we learned that he has been transferred to a Spanish speaking area in Wisconsin.  Another granddaughter received a mission call to serve in Chile.  Last spring, Eileen and I were able to conclude our 18-month Church-service mission in the Temple Department and conclude our most recent period of serving as ordinance workers in the Bountiful Temple.  Prior to our beginning our current full-time mission last August, we were able to take our children and grandchildren on a Church History tour, visit our children in Oregon and Idaho, and take a couple of trips on our own and with Eileen’s sisters.  But the two biggest blessings were quite unexpected, things neither Eileen nor I would have even dreamed of happening one year ago.  On the Saturday before we entered the MTC, we were able to go with Shefali and other family members to the Bountiful temple and be with her as she received her temple blessings.  And our youngest son Jon is house-sitting for us.  He has, quite literally, come home.  

 

Looking at my current calling, I find much to be grateful for.  We have wonderful mission leaders and senior missionaries to serve with.  I am so grateful for their support, particularly with the zone conference vehicle inspection process and with transfers when I need to drive the truck and trailer.  Generally, the young missionaries are a joy and inspiration to be around.  It is just that intersection where teenagers and cars meet that makes things dicey at times. 

 

Question: When does 86 mph equal 90 mph (90 mph being the speed at which the Orbcomm device notifies SLC, and SLC notifies me and the mission president that the driver’s driving privileges are permanently revoked)?  Answer: When done on a dirt road and the consequences are left to the discretion of the vehicle coordinator. 

We have not had the opportunity to see much in our community since we have been here. This past week we went to see President Truman's house, which is only a few blocks from our office, and also the Truman Presidential Library which is about a mile from our office. Both were very interesting and informative.  Harry Truman lived in Independence, both before and after he was President.

President Harry S. Truman, 33rd president of the U.S.  He became president with the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt.  He ran for president in 1948 and the Chicago Tribune mistakenly printed a newspaper saying Dewey had won.

Truman's presidential limousine

Replica of the oval office during his tenure

The buck stops here.  This plaque was on his desk. He also liked to say "if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen."

Our selection of white elephant gifts, all were items left by previous missionaries, carefully wrapped by Sister Christiansen and Sister Perry.

Pavlova made by Sister Bradford

                          Elder Dunham, Sister Hunsaker, Sister Skousen and Sister Hardy

Sister and Elder Bradford, Elder Gordon

My (Eileen's) sister Chris and her friend Yvis came to visit for Christmas. It was very very cold at Adam Ondi Ahman. It made us reflect on how it must have been for the early saints.

He should've given up on wearing those new cowboy boots he got off of Amazon. Required surgery.

 

 What is one of the worst things that can happen to a sister with long hair. LICE!  Her companion spent 4.5 hours picking them out of her hair.  Fortunately they are best friends and could laugh about it. But notice, I have my hair up!  I took closeup pictures that I could blowup and then show the sisters what they were looking for.