A NEW YEAR 2013

What a great way to bring in the new year-----missionaries and the Jennings all at the same time.  We loved it.  We did absolutely nothing to celebrate.

swinging bridge

 We did go to the Nantahala Gorge, which is absolutely beautiful no matter when you go.  If you go on Tiffy's blog again it will show pictures.  I didn't take many since she has a "big girl camera".  The kids played by the water and Dave taught them how to skip rocks.

big girl camera

gotcha

train tracks

 They had a great time.
We went to Cherokee to see the Indians.  The kids had never sen one before and were very nervous until an Indian dancer started talking to them.

 We also went to the Smoky Mountains National Park to see the elk.  They weren't there so we headed back to Cherokee where we saw a whole herd. We got home late, watched football and drug into bed.

guess which one

New Year's Day we vegged in front of the TV watching football.  We had a training meeting but President Craven said because we had family here we were to skip the meeting.  What a good president.
We went to see a members pot bellied pigs but he wasn't home.  He had 25 of them.  The kids still loved looking at them.  I was kinda glad because they are so dirty.  We then went to a member's home to see how they were doing. While  we were there the city workers came to turn off their utilities.  It is below freezing so Elder Bayles took him to Social Services to get some money to pay the bill.  I don't know what they would have done had we not gone to see them. Their car has already been repossed  and they have no transportation.  They are not depressed and are firm in the Gospel.
 We can do missionary service even while having company.  The kids were able to pet and feed a horse while we were there so the kids were happy.

 We went to a little place "The Best Little Corner in Town" to eat.  It had been a long time since breakfast.  It is a fun antique place.  We then went to Murray's where they could pet more horses, dogs and a cat.  It was fun to have Tiffani and the kids do missionary work with us.
Tiffani dyed my hair and cut Elder Bayles' hair her last day here.  The kids played with the cat, Storm, the entire morning. At the last minute Clara reminded us that we hadn't gone to the pyramid so off we trod.  It's quite unique and walking distance from the house.

  It was a great visit.

We loved having family with us and felt so empty when they left.  The quiet was not a good feeling.  Tiffani said she had to pull over to compose herself a little way down the street.  When she looked back Cameron was sobbing.  Granddad said he was missing the cat, not us.  Probably true.  Having family visit puts a zing in our step and we recommit to working harder.
The next day was Zone meetings in Waynesville. We take the Blairsville elders to save them miles.  We love that.  It was a great meeting.  They did splits so we'll take them back to Waynesville tomorrow.
When we got home we had a phone call and the family has their car back and so positive.  They're trying so hard.  We also learned that Kristin and David made the flight to Rome, business first.  Yeah!
Today we went to Blairsville to get the missionaries for the exchange and took them to Wayneville and got the other one and went back to Blairsville.  6 hours.

Zaugg, Casper, Fullmer, Gosselin, Cook

  Love helping the missionaries.

Have I mentioned how much we love fast Sundays?  This fast Sunday was to help the mission in finding people to teach the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We want all to have the blessings we do and the knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We also fasted for Kristin and David in Italy and Tiffani with the kids in South Caroina.  We continue to fast for Lily to have her eye strengthened.  We always have all of our children and grandchildren in every prayer we offer.  They are a sacred gift to us from our Father and so very special.  In our meeting today we were surprised when our little one left my side and just went up to the microphone without me or her parents knowing and bore the sweetest testimony.  Her family has been active for just two months and she led the way.  It was beautiful.  "And a little child shall lead them."  The Spirit is always strong when it involves little ones.
We continue to love one another even in small quarters.

Sept. 26th 1904 I was appointed to labor in the NC Conference.  I got my outfit ready & Sept. 27th got about 3 o'clock P.M.  I started for Atlanta, Ga. arriving there about 8:00 P.M.  I continued from there to Wilmington N.C. arriving there Sept. 28th about noon.  Head Quarters broken up I could not find any Elders there.  We kept inquiring around until we run across a family of Saints by the name of Johnson, who were very kind to us, and insisted on us staying over the night with them.  From there we learned that the Pres. of the Conference was at Hampstead so we decided the next day (Sept. 29th) to go there and on our way to the train we met the Pres. who told us what to do.  We went to Hampstead & met Elder DePriest.  We stayed there the rest of the day with a family of Saints by the name of Sanders.