THANKSGIVING

View from Hiwassee River, a few blocks from our home.

Elder Bayles drug the Christmas tree down from the attic on P-Day.  It is certainly not the tree I would do but it's a tree and has lots of lights and stuff.  It is atmospheric.
Tuesday was our food bank day.  It is good to do service for others We provided food for 75 families.  After the bank we headed to Franklin so Elder Bayles could give a baptism interview.  He interviewed a fine young man with so much faith.  This is the most inspiring part of missionary work.  We love to absorb the spirit of faith, repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
At six o'clock we went to Hyrum's to give the boys a lesson on the priesthood.  Blade is so anxious to be able to pass the sacrament.  It was so touching to watch Elder Bayles sit in the middle of those two boys and listen to their ideas.  They wanted to share their favorite scriptures with him.

 Blade loves the one in 3 Nephi 17 when Christ blesses the little children one by one.  He said it made him tingle.

me reading with their sister.

We left there to home teach the Kodras.  They said they would be at church today but they weren't.  That is so discouraging.  Their grandson just got his mission call to Slovenia, where Brother Kodra's grandparents are from.  How exciting.
Elder Bayles gave a remarkable training at district meeting.  When it was over we all went to a pizza place for lunch.  While we were eating Kristin and the family came.  They are here for the Thanksgiving weekend.  Yahoo!  I'm sure Kristin will blog all about it.
On the way home we passed this flea market.  Not all flea markets have a casket for sale.

decorations by thee twins

Thanksgiving Day was wonderful.  I cooked a 24 pound turkey.  What was I thinking?  I forgot to take pictures.  Sorry.  We had invited the Murrays to join us but they weren't sure they could come.  We were excited when they did.  They are a couple we have been working with for as long as we've been here.  They have a son on full scholarship at BYU for swimming.  They love everything about the church but we just haven't gotten them to accept baptism.  We're not giving up.  They stayed the entire day.  There was a good feeling everywhere.  They brought flowers for the table.

next door neighbor with her grands and ours

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because of the reminder to be thankful for the many blessings I have.  Without the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and my family I just don't know where I would be.  I am so grateful for this family of ours.  They are trying so hard to live the commandments of our loving Heavenly Father.  It is my prayer that I can live worthy to be with them for ever.  We were able to face talk with all of them.  We had to wait for Erik's but we still got them.
We went to the place where the pyramid is and played since there is nothig to do here when it is cold.

gotta go when ya gotta go

marbles

gingerbread train 
Sunday David sang in church. There is no one who can play the piano so he sang "All Creature of our God and King" acapella. There was such a reverence while he was singing that not a sound could be heard but the beautiful music. It was wonderful. We had 2 less actives and 2 investigators at church. Not as good as last week but still working. After church we had Granny's haystacks and the kids went home.  Boy do I love Granddad.

This interested me in that the wheels, pumpkins and straw are real.

Today Ava turned 5.  She told us she is all growed up now.  The beauty of little children.  She is such a delightful little princess and we love her so much.  She loves her mommy and daddy and adores Nixon.  She tries so very hard to mind her parents.  She brings laughter in a room.

Thurs. Nov. 15th  When we got up this morning we found about 2 in. of snow on the ground. At 10 A.M. we started out again.  We passed thru Yanceyville.  In the afternoon we stoped at a store & bought 10 cents worth of crackers & a can of salmon.  It was quite cold & the roads were mudy.  After traveling until 6:30 P.M. & being refused once we got to stay with a man by the name of J. E. Jordan where we were treated very friendly.