Our Trip to Challis

We are having a wonderful time visiting our friends in Challis Idaho.

"Where?" you may ask.

Well, if you look at a map and put your finger right in the middle

you'd have it.

Located right along the Snake river
with plenty of rocks to toss into the water.

Notice the tree behind the Grandkids, evidence of beaver was
everywhere.

SMACK?
Never fear - this merely shows my mad photography skills.
There were no Grandpa's harmed in this production.
(It only looks that way)

This whole area is an old mining town.
There are several old buildings.

5 years ago we were here and took this photo:

Everyone is a little shorter and we are missing 1 and have added 2 more.
I love comparing photos taken years apart but in the same locations.

Little Sister had a great time with the slingshot.

The mining town had a very special welcome committee.

Great old buildings, great cute grandkids.

The boys.

Everybody!

We are having a wonderful adventure!

Deep in the Heart of the Farrm

Campinas Brazil Temple

The missionaries get to visit the Temple each Wednesday morning
while they are in the CTM (MTC).
Why are Temples important?

In a couple weeks he will leave the Centro de Tranamento do Missionário 
(Missionary Training Center) 
and enter the mission field in João Pessoa.
Two years serving the Lord and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Portuguese!
He will meet so many people and look for ways he can serve them like the Savior did.


Here are excerpts from a couple of his letters:



"Hi mom, It never gets cold here. Ever. I don't have time to tell everyone how much I miss them and am happy for them and love them, so expound all of that from my letters! I miss like, the whole ward. You guys make me so happy. At lunch one day, I had a meal a little something like this:
Papaya, tomatoes, butternut squash and potatos, bread dusted with cornmeal, a slab of awesome chicken, a deep fried shiskabob of cheese and ham, and a gravy like applesauce substance with bellpeppers made from fishoil and flour (it wasn't that great...). We eat Brazillian food every meal, with maybe the exception of the one time we had American nachos.I've been working hard, and the language is coming along just great. Our teachers have been great. We have zero free time. They're rather new teachers, native Brazilians who have served missions.  Sister Jardim (garden) calls us her flowers, and we all boldly carry the title. I drew a picture of a daisy with giant muscly arms and a big sword, and and wrote "do not disturb the manly flowers" on it (in Portuguese) and stuck it on our door, because we get so many great Brazilian Irmaos coming in and talking with us while we study. We're getting to understand most of what everyone says. I knoooowwww its the gift of tongues working."

"There are more than 52,483 missionaries serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at any one time. Most are young people under the age of 25, serving in nearly 340 missions throughout the world."

"Missionary work is voluntary. Missionaries fund their own missions—except for their transportation to and from their field of labor—and are not paid for their services. Contacts with family and friends during this time of service are limited to letters and occasional phone calls to family at special times. Missionaries avoid entertainment, parties, or other activities common to this age-group as long as they are on their missions so they can focus entirely on the work of serving and of teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ."

--Statistics            --Basic Facts

I am an enthusiastic Missionary Mom!

Thanks for peeking into my world,

 past the white picket fence and the petunias...

and seeing what is deep in the heart of The Farrm.

Snow and Sun

We have enjoyed springy weather here lately.

The kind you have to jump outside into quick, before it changes.

Farrm girls

Then the next day it is warm and sunny.

Princess seized the opportunity to grab the camera and lie down in the grass

to get this perspective. She has been very interested in taking photos of the chickens, 

LOTS of photos of the chickens.

Blue Andalusian

Rosecomb Leghorn

Americauna

Ahhhhh...blue skies!
Please stay.

Invitation to Blogland

One of the Blogs I follow has an incredible post I would like to actively share.

My blog "friend" (is there a word for that? bloriend?)

from Old Nichols Farm

is a wonderful photographer, a down to earth mom, and has 

a wild and crazy 

streak about her that is quite entertaining.

This particular blog shows the real life application of farming

and is not for the queezy stomached.

But it is really beautiful and awe inspiring when you appreciate nature and all it's glory.

Don't miss reading the comments.  She answered my questions and 

explains the process which is quite incredible!

Photos From CTM

The captions are from his letter to us this week.

He is doing well working hard and learning the language as well as having a great time.

1. In the dallas airport.

2. Elder W and I on the plane to Sao Paulo.

3. Touched down in Sao Paulo, cleared customs, watching our bags.

4. The view from my window on the 4th floor.

5. My companion Elder A.

6. My tools.

7. Picture of me today, with a tie a little boy named Moroni picked out for me! The place his Pais ((parents)) run is called Sonhas. I'm going there today for him to pick me out another tie,The ties are 8 reais. 8. That's like 5 or 6 bucks!

It's great to "see" him and to feel his enthusiasm.

Prom 2012

We interrupt this garden program to bring you a spectacular recent development:

Bear is now a dating machine!

He and his friends asked their dates to '"Mormon Prom"

this weekend and he had a very positive experience on his 

FIRST DATE!

Wrist corsage tradition.

Flower on the lapel tradition.
(Because I don't know how to spell boutonnière)
Does anyone know how to spell boutonnière without spell check??

Can you tell it was raining??
What a beautiful group of young people!

The dates decided they wanted to bake their own pizza
 before going to the dance.

Bear set the table and served his guests like a seasoned host.

They really had a fun time laughing
 and enjoying their friendships.

Martinelli's is another fun tradition.
They had sparkling Mango-Lemonade.
They played the apropos movie 
"Ratatouille" while preparing dinner.

Each of the gentlemen took the opportunity
 to help their date to their seat,
 pour their drink and
serve their slice of homemade pizza.

I will add photos of the dance when I get them.

**UPDATE**
Prom Photo:

"Hollywood" was the theme.

Over 200 kids were greeted by paparazzi, valet parking, the red carpet under a lighted por de coche, movie posters and free concessions, hors de oeuvres, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
They are truly VIP's!

Bear is already planning his next date...

Blame it on the Hens!

It couldn't possibly be MY fault that the greenhouse 
looks like this at the end of winter!

I mean really...

The hens are out here all the time,
can't they do a spot of weeding while they are scratching and pecking??

 The chives
  are doing well after reseeding themselves.

Today I had to weed
what is trying it's best to become succulent spinach
ALL BY MYSELF.

The garlic is garlicking.

So what do you have to say for yourself??

Mrs. Rosecomb Leghorn

Hmmm??

Oh, yeah, you and your friends are busy producing these.
You don't have time to tidy up the garden.

What's your excuse
Mr. Egyptian Fayoumis? (A.K.A Icepick)
(He really thinks he's something,
watch video below.)

Busy chasing the ladies.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring pasture,
they are too busy snoozing next to momma... 

to help with spring cleaning.

And you are NO help at all.
Whenever I see your paw prints in the garden it only means one thing...
I get to clean YOUR toilet!
YUK!

Oh forget it!! I give up looking for help!
I guess I get all the fun to myself.