WHERE IS SPRING?

The Blue Mountains

Another wonderful week.  We learned the man we home teach who has all the pigs has been put in jail for wearing a Kevlar vest, carrying an assault weapon and firing it at someone.  We took Tiffani and the kids there to see the pigs and we knew then that he had a problem.  He wasn't even there thank goodness but the place showed he wasn't his usual self.  The things we learn.  We also learned there are 4 encampments of militant militia right here in Murphy and the areas around,  Home sweet home.  They are hiding in the mountains.

the cane maker  on P Day

After district meeting we took a copy of the Book of Mormon to a man who had requested it.  When we drove up the country road we were worried.  We were not comforted when we got there  He yelled for us to come in and when I entered the room there he was with no clothes on, sitting in a chair with only a sheet covering his private area but I could see all sides.  We are certain he weighed over 600 pounds.  I wouldn't be surprised if it was over 700.  He cannot walk and his brother takes care of him.  He invited us to sit down and he never stopped talking.  I couldn't even get a word in edgewise if you can imagine.  I was so glad wen we left and I could get a breath of fresh air.  Oh my.
We went to our little family again and while I did 2 loads of laundry, Elder Bayles cleared off the table of stuff that had been there for over a month and took a cleanser to it and scrubbed away at the table and chairs. It took two hours! Their little girl helped him the whole time.

house with Happy Holidays still on the balcony

Tiffani gave us an Easter cloth for our family wall table

 We found another get-on for the Appalachian Trail on our way to Robbinsville

looking at the Appalachian Trail 

Notice the horseshoe turn to the trail  It is narrow all the way from Georgia to Maine

trail sign

you don't walk together

We headed to Lake Fontana and dinner with our stake president and his wife.  We never did get to the lake but ran into a falls on the road called Rainbow Falls.  It was beautiful.

  Our dinner and time with them was so fun and yummy.  They are great people.  We got home at !0:00.  They have to travel over an hour just to get to church.

After working at the food bank we went to Granny Squirrel to take laundry and get more.  I get so upset because I have done over 40 loads now and they haven't put any of it away.  They expect us to do everything.  The boys and little girl have put all of there's away and kept their rooms spotless.  I wish the parents would follow their example.  We got there at 2:00 and she was still in bed.  We will not give up for the children's sake.  They're wonderful.

Lake Hiwassee from the dam

Power House at Hiwassee dam

Saturday was a fun day.  We have 2 members to home teach at Hiwassee Dam.  We have tried to find them but no luck.  We sent a picture of one of the homes last blog.  He wasn't home today either so we went to find the other one.  His address was in a gated community on the lake.  We drove up to the gate house only to fine the security man was the one we never find home.  He doesn't want anything to do with the church but doesn't want his name removed.  Go figure.  We drove all around trying to fine the other man but no address.  The security man knew nothing of him.  We drove over the dam and enjoyed the view.
We then headed to Peachtree where the church is and another address to home teach.  She is never there.  We can never call people because we always get a busy signal which means it has been disconnected.  The gal was finally there.  She is a jewel.  She said she wants to get back in the church and will come and sit with us tomorrow.  We are so excited.  She is 28 and a surgeon's assistant.  She is going to college and is so cute and sweet.  She will really be a help in our little branch.

                                                    old homes along the way

We left there to take laundry to our little family.  They still haven't put anything away.  The boys' and girl's room are all done and clean.  I moved all the dirty laundry I an NOT going to do, into a place in the bathroom so the boys wouldn't have to have it in their way.  They are trying so hard to keep their room tidy. Elder Bayles took 4 more loads to the car and I told them that was the last one I would do.  That makes 42-44 loads.  I will not do any more.

a pair of bibs I washed  

  I will make sure the boys continue to do good.  They are going to do their own laundry ahd then they will always have clean clothes.  I washed, starched and ironed their Sunday white shirts and can't wait to see them tomorrow.  They will be so handsome.
It rains most every day here but we love it.  It sounds so good on the roof and knowing we are dry is a good thing.

Sunday Cameron turned 10.  You can go on Tiff's blog to see any details.  He had a great day.  We are so glad he is part of our eternal family.  We cannot imagine eternity without any of our children, their companions or grandchildren. (Little Bits)  We are an eternal team.  We love that covenant.  Cameron is such a blessing to our family.  He loves his sisters even though he teases them.  He would do anything for them and I feel sorry for anyone who tries to hurt them.  He gets up in the mornings and without being told practices his music.  He loves it.  He loves to learn and remembers so much.  He will be such a good missionary in ten years.  He is on the Lord's team.  We love you Cameron.

Well our family came to church but way too late so the boy didn't get to pass the sacrament but the mother was sustained as primary chorister.  We'll stick with them.  Our branch conference was very good and uplifting.  We had a potato bar dinner after church.  It was tasty.  We left in a hurry to pick up the elders to go to Franklin for interviews with President Craven.  He always picks up our spirits and gives us the confidence to go forward with vigor.  He always leaves us with such inspiration.  He's a great man and has such a wonderful wife.  We love them.
We headed home to return the elders to their car.  We had no sooner left them and headed down the road when we heard a loud crash.  We turned around because we knew the elders were behind us.  We were devastated when we found they were the cause of the accident.   They were so emotional.  They are wonderful elders and so obedient.  The girl in the other car was life flighted to Chattanoga,  TN in pretty bad shape.   President Craven told us to have the elders taken to the hospital and then to our home for the night.
They were pretty shook up.  We found the girl is holding her own and much better than expected.  We'll know more in the next post.  The elders are fine.

I love Elder George Bayles.

Oct 15th  1904 We stayed at Bro. Enriss' all day reading & writing.  We got our reports ready & sent them off.  I also wrote a letter to my father.  In the afternoon we went down and took a wash in the creek.  After talking until nine o'clock we retired.
Tues. Oct. 17th We rose in good time this morning and after eating breakfast helped pick cotton until dinner and after dinner we picked a little & went over to a family of Saints by the name of Reary, and at night we held another meeting & had a nice time.  We stayed with Bro. Reary over the night, retiring at ten o'clock.

THE BAYLES LAUNDROMAT

fence line we like (split rail- Abe Lincoln style)

Lake Santeetlah near Robbinsville where grandpa served

Robbinsville is known for it's quilt bloocks on barns.  Scott's going to do one on my shed after we get home.  Here are a few:

my favorite

These barns dot the landscape from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico.  They have become  an icon.  There were originally 900 of them, and there are only 100 left.  They are hand painted, using a 4" brush and no stencils.  The farmers might be given $3.00 for allowing their barn to be painted.

ran into a little road work

We had a downpour Monday but got the laundry done before it happened.  Brother Frady gave Elder Bayles a great stick with vines wrapped around it  It is beautiful.

love this old home  so many like this one

check out the dishes

we love this barn one of many

We were going to find a less active member, Bro. Head.  Grandpa stayed at a Bro. Head's and Elder Bayles was hoping there was some connection.  He doesn's live here any more or is hiding.  The home had a different name on it.  He was here once obviously.

Molly turned 10 this week.
 Dianne sent a picture of the "Little House" dress she made for her.  It is absolutely beautiful and looks just like one from that time.  We loved it.  Molly is a special girl.  She likes to make others happy with her sweet Spirit and cheerful attitude.  She brings sunshine into a room when she enters.  She's a good student and loves her family very much.  She makes us think that Dianne must have looked just like her when she was 10.  What a great lady to look and be like.  We love the way Molly plays with Lily and is such a good big sister to her and Jonny.

less active member's home

We went visiting less active people this week and found that 2 of the homes were empty and the others were not at home.  We can't call and make appointments because no one has phones that work.  We found that Mary had a seizure on the way to her doctor's apt. in Asheville and ended up in a hospital.  We are so worried about her.  She is a wonderful lady.
We had a great Relief Society birthday party.  It was an auction where we used clothes pins instead of money.  Everyone brought something slightly used to auction.  It was a blast.

We buy honey, jugs and produce here

We went two more times this week to our family.  They are trying hard but just don't get how to get things done.  We are determined to get their laundry caught up.  They started with 75 loads.  That's impossible.  I have now done 26 of those loads and they have done some but we figure there are still more than 22 loads left.  I don't know where they are going to put all these clean clothes because they haven't put any away yet even though they are all folded.  We are tryig so hard to teach them how to budget, clean and use time wisely. The are trying so hard and are improving daily.  We're very proud of them.  We love the children.
We went to another family and decided to help them clean but stepped in the door and changed our mind.  Only a bulldozer would work. We love those children too.
Our last visit was to our family in Georgia.  They are so awesome.  They have so little materially but make the most of it and keep it clean.  We just love to be with them.  She had to mend her porch by herself and duct taped her new/used car together but never complains or asks for anything.  The Spirit is strong in their home.

Weber, Sellers, Bryce, Van Wagoner (Provo) Miller, Hargis,

Zone meeting was Friday.  It is always good.

Sisk (close friend of Finlayson's, Baldwin, Sirrine, Arnold,Leno,Ashby,?, Henderson, Gosselin

 We learn so much from our zone leaders.  We are constantly getting new sisters.  This next transfer we are getting 20 new missionaries and 16 of them are sisters.  YaHoo. (Sister Bayles will have someone to hug!)
Saturday we took flowers to a sweet lady we home/visit teach. (We have 22 families)  She was so delighted and shocked that we would do that.  It made her day and ours.  We went out to the family again to get some more laundry.  There is still so much to do.  I spent 'till 11:30 PM doing it.
Sunday is my favorite.  We have learned so much more about repentance and forgiveness.  We love it.  Our Savior and brother loves us so very much.  He did everything in His power for us and all we must do is try to live like Him.  It's so hard at times but so worth it.  I think about how much I love my own brothers and cannot imagine how much my Redeemer loves me.  We are so grateful for the restored gospel that teaches us the doctrine of Christ and the way to happiness.  We are so blessed especially in having an eternal family. We pray daily that we can be worthy of this great blessing.
After church we took dinner with a wonderful family up on a mountain near Lake Chatugue.  We love spending time with them.  We left home at 8:15 and got back at 6:30.  What a blessed day.  Tired but happy.  We love that. I love Sister Bayles, she is wonderful!

Fri. Oct 13th  We got up in good time and after eating breakfast, we went & got on the morning train & rode forty-two miles to Statesville (where Elder Bayles and I take the missionaries for transfers) & from there we walked fifteen miles to a family of Saints by the name of Enriss arriving there at six o'clock.  After eating supper & sitting by the fire util nine o'clock we retired.

EMPTY

We love  the beautiful hounds around here. (These actually tried to "tree" our car)

Empty is how we feel when family leaves.  We're certain that's how we will feel if even one of us doesn't make it back to our Father.  We think that would be hell.  We love ya'all so much that we want us all to be a forever family for time and all eternity.  All we have to do is live the doctrine of Christ.  It is true.
After the kids left Tuesday we hurried and made some chili for the soup kitchen because a member was unable to be there with her soup.  We headed to Pastor Tim's church and spent the next few hours serving those who were hungry. Sister Bayles served soup and Elder Bayles did the dishes. We love doing that.  They are so grateful and leave with a full, warm tummy.  Thought we'd just put in some of the great shopping  sites here.

hams

smoked hog jowls

smoked pig tongue, brains and heart

We then went to the hospital to spend the afternoon with Mary.  She does so much for others and is so in pain in all parts of her body due to spousal abuse.  She loves to give things to children in that her husbands would never give her a penny for her own.  Since she has joined the church 7 years ago she has seen what goodness awaits her if she but endures to the end.  She was rushed to the hospital a few days ago with pneumonia.  When we walked in she gave us such a warm smile.  We left so lifted up. She is a chosen daughter of God.  A storm had come on which didn't even dampen our  spirits.

poor Lucy, no garage

The next day we woke up to snow.  Ugh.  Nothing like Utah, only 3 inches but school was cancelled.  Crazy.  We had to cancel district meeting because of the snow and because Elder Silker was ill.

  We spent the day studying and planning.  It's nice to feel a little caught up. We called the family that moved on Granny Squirrel Mountain.  They moved a month ago but still have not set up any beds or done any laundry.  They have not even unpacked.  I just don't get it.  They have got to be out of clothes.  We did all those loads for them but that was over two weeks ago.  We will go see them Saturday.  The roads should be dry by then.
We were invited to speak at the nursing home at the hospital today and we feel it went well.  They are so old and many slept but the Spirit was there and that is what's important.  They are sweet people. We taught them the Plan of Happiness.
District meeting was held on Friday.  It is always good to be with other missionaries.

I'll bet you didn't know cars could have ADHD  on our way to dist meeting

notice on car window with pealed roof

 We were supposed to go visit our friend in Georgia but she wasn't home. We had called so we wouldn't go out there for nothing. She later called to ask why we didn't stop by.  I don't know why she didn't get our message.   Our other investigators were ill with the flu and the others had to work overtime.  Bummer.
A weird thing happened; I dreamed that someone stole my wallet and I tried all night to find it and who had done such a thing.  After lunch with the missionaries, I picked up my purse to leave and my wallet was missing.  I thought; maybe I had been warned to keep a better eye on my purse.  I really felt funny and sick to my stomach.  I have my temple recommend in it and several bank cards.  I was so upset.  Well, I went to the manager and he had found it on a table and put it in his safe.  He went through it and found my Sam's Club card and called Sam's Club and asked for the phone number on the account.  They called Bethany but by then I had talked to the manager and all was fine.  Whew!
Saturday we spent the day putting our little families' house in order.  They have not unpacked and moved in and they've had the home for a month.  We just took over, got them out of bed at 11:00 and started cleaning.  They didn't have a choice, we just had them move things so we could set up beds and put in dressers and clean rooms.  We only got one done but we'll go back.  They just need help.  We don't think they know how to organize and get things done.  We could have done more but they hadn't decided where to put things.  I worried about dad but he did very well and tried not to lift too much.  We brought 4 loads of laundry home and did them.  It took us 5 hours.  We love this little family and want so much for them to learn to work on their home even if they are tired or hurt.  They are good people and want it to be better for their children.
Yard art seems to be a big thing here.

We love fast Sunday.  Due to our stake conference last week, fast Sunday was today.  We love hearing people testify of the Prophet Joseph and our Savior and Father.  They are so full of the Spirit when they do this.  We know the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is upon the earth today and is lead by a prophet called of God.  Indeed we are so blessed and must rush forth to share this message of truth to the world.  I love the testimony of my wonderful husband and the way he lives it.

Tue. Oct. 10th 1904 On account of my foot being lame we stayed at Bro. Wise's all day.  About noon it commenced raining & rained the rest of the day & about half the night.  After dinner he made some apple cider which we help drink.  We retired at 9 P.M.
Oct. 11th We arose in good time & after eating breakfast my foot being some better we started on again walking six miles to Bridgewater & from there we walked eleven miles to Morgantown arriving there at five P.M. & at six P.M. We got on the train and rode eleven miles to Connely Spr. & went to Br. Berry's  where we stayed over night, retiring at nine P.M.  (These towns are in our mission)