AVA, NIXON AND PARENTS IN THE SMOKIES

Can you find the buzzard?

Another good week with lots to do.  We had dinner with a less active family and had a really good time.  He is a radiologist in three states and very busy.

Baylie's snow picture

Ava's robot out of a pizza box

Overnight it rained an inch.  I wish the moisture could even out across the states.  We've had 10 inches since January.  We visited with another less active family.  I just don't get it.  Both families could do so much for our little branch.
After district meeting Wednesday we went to Mineral Bluff to visit with our little family in Georgia.

Elder Gosselin and Leno

Silkers, Elder Leno, Elder Gosselin and us

Her daughter was asking a lot of questions about death and heaven.  Elder Bayles was doing such a good job of answering her.  All of a sudden she got very quiet and finally asked, "Are there visiting hours in heaven?"  How cute is that?  We just love them.  The mother bought a car at a lot and on the way home could not  make it up a hill.  It's a very classy looking car and she just loved it. She took it back and the dealer would not help her at all.  The next day she took her mother and father with her.  The owner/dealer got out his brass knuckles and threatened them.  The buyer got out her camera and started filming.  The owner's wife slapped her and jerked the camera away from the lady and deleted the movie.  She said she would have said words or hit back but Elder Bayles was sitting on her shoulder saying "Now Robyn, calm down" so she just kept her mouth shut and obeyed the word. Both parties called the police and the owner's call was there immediately.  They took the mother and father to the police station and threatened if they called an attorney they would put them in jail.  Do you believe it?  That's the South in its finest.  She is stuck with a car that needs expensive repair. Georgia does not have  a lemon law.
We finally found the pig man at home  He is living there with no power and someone has stolen or killed all but 6 of his pigs.
We met with President Caron before our missionary branch training meeting and he gave gave us some more to home/visit teach.  We now have 22 families on our list.  It certainly would be nice if we could get even half of them to church.

Who packed this suitcase?

The kids were supposed to be here around midnight but due to  flight delays they didn't get in until after one.  Ava and Nixon were as happy as could be and so much fun.  We had such a great visit.

Gene Autry's Champion at Best  Corner in Town

The next day we spent the whole time showing them our area.  They couldn't believe the water and the beauty.  We went up a mountain to visit the Murray's.  They live the gospel but just don't want to be baptized right now.  The kids were able to pet her horses and loved it.  Ava even gave one a kiss on the nose.

No more crib

Can someone really sleep in the space between the mattress and couch?

Saturday we spent the whole day at the Biltmore in Asheville.  We had to go through the Nantahala Gorge to get there but it was just too cold to stop and do anything.  They loved this home with 250 rooms.  Bethany just wanted to go in each one.  We had rented a mini van so we could all go that distance together.

the gift  shop

even a candy store

ready for church

Sunday we went to Stake Conference at our branch because they pipe it in.  It is too far to Asheville.  2 1/2 hours.

The Jenning's Storm

 The kids were so tired from dragging them every day that we decided to spend the day at home.  It was also way cold.
 That evening we did decide to go to an investigator's home to see their goats.  Ava loved them and let them crowd around her.  She would have gone there every day.

icic
les across the road

Monday was their last day so we went to Highlands to see the falls.  It was the only day we could have due to the cold and icy roads there.  It was 52 degrees so we felt it would be fine.  There were icicles every where.  

 The falls were beautiful even though it was cold.  I think it made them even prettier.

dry Falls

by the side of Dry Falls

  I surely do wish we had known about them when Tiff was here.  No one told us about them when we asked what we could do when our families came.

  It was a beautiful day.

We walked up ad down the street

more candy and blue ice cream

on the way home

 After the kids went to bed we played the great game of Chicken Foot.  I won't tell who won.
The kids left the next morning and I had a very hard time with it.  It is so rejuvenating when family comes but so hard to see them go.
We love our family so darn much.  You have no idea.  I think it took our mission to realize how exceptional each one of you is.  Thank you so much for teaching our grands how to pray and rely on faith to do everything.  They are the chosen the scriptures tell us will be valiant warriors for the Savior.  We love them so much and are so pleased with the positive attitudes we see in their rearing.  Thank you so much.  I love your dad and granddad.

Mon. Oct. 11th We got up in good time this morning & after eating breakfast we went to the P.O. but were disappointed  again, so we got ready & left Bro. Keith's at ten o'clock.  Sister Keith fixed us up a lunch which we took with us, and after walking until about one o'cock we ate it.  We then went on six miles farther to Black Mountain, arriving there at 4 o'clock & thinking we had plenty of time to get us a ticket, we sat down awhile and before we knew it the train was coming,  My companion got him a ticket but I didn't get one so I had to get on the train without any and to our great surprise the Conductor let me have it for just the same price as I could get it at the station.  After riding thirty-five miles we got of the train at Bridgewater & some negroes directed us to Bro. Wises's where we arrived at about nine P.M. having walked twenty-two miles.  My foot also got a little lame. At ten o'clock we retired.