APRIL FOOLS

Blue Ridge Mountains

I guess in all the visits and excitement of visitors coming and zone meetings and etc. etc. I forgot to post Tiffani's birthday.  Really there is no excuse for that but I certainly can make up a few. The doctor said she was for sure a boy but she came on April first.  April Fools!  I'll never forget when we brought her home and grandma and grandpa were going to come from South America for her blessing.  At the last moment they called to say they couldn't come.  Of course I cried and they came.  We got to the airport and got them through customs, went shopping for several hours for grandpa new white shirts (as the hotel maids had scrubbed them on stones on the roof) and then to dinner or lunch. (can't remember which)  It was a rainy day in Southern California so I had wrapped her in a blanket and put her in a basket the folks had sent from El Salvador. ( I think I still have it) After we had ordered, Grandma just bustled over to the basket and said "I don't believe there is a baby in here.  All this time and she hasn't made a peep." She then opened  the basket and uncovered our long (23 in. at birth) "Tiffy".  That's just how she was.  She was the happiest little baby.  Granny decided she was just finally happy to be on this earth and in a family that loved her.  She just knew how to please everyone especially her dad, with chocolate chip cookies.  Her future was destined when she cut Lizzy's hair off very short when they were just 5.  She also cut her bangs to the scalp. She collected shirts full of rocks and loved everything and everyone.  I don't think she has changed at all.  She is fun, easy going and willing to help anyone.  We are especially impressed now that we have seen the sisters in action and know how hard missionary work is. She never complained but now we know how difficult and yet rewarding it is to serve our Father i Heaven.  She set a good example for us, as well as her siblings.   We love you Tiffani.

We are always cleaning and doing things around the house on P-Day so this time we decided to go with Elder and Sister Silker to the Smokey Mountain National Park.   It has been closed all winter because of a huge land slide and is now open.  The Blue Ridge Parkway has also been closed in parts because of slides. They opened the week after Erik's family left.  Go figure.  It is a beautiful park and we hiked 'til we dropped.  Here are some wonderful pictures we took:

We climbed and climbed a mile and a half to this ramp that we climbed to the observation deck.  Well worth the hike.

Elder Silker and Elder Bayles

Sister Silker on the hike.  Check out those rocks,

Right along the path by the observation deck was part of the Appalachian Trail.  It starts in Georgia and ends in Maine.  It takes 5-6 months to hike it.  We were too tired but the ones we saw had been going for three weeks.  We told them we would think about them as we were showering and getting into a soft bed when we got home.  These are some pictures of the trail.  It is all over the mountains here.  You can catch on in many places.   The total length is approximately 2,200 miles . The trail passes through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. 

Dad

Dad and Elder Silker

On the way back down the mountain we saw many beautiful, tiny falls.  We stopped and took pictures of the beauty.

everything has moss

15 months of Southern eattin'

check out these mushrooms

After the hiking we went to the visitor center farm.  It had some fun and interesting things in it.  Sometimes there is a herd of elk.  Not this day.  

farm house

notice quilt storage in living room

hay stack frame pole

smoke house

fence to keep animals out of corn field

We call this Kolton's tree.  He'd love it,

river on farm

Home sweet home

The Silkers had decided to return home after the walk but we decided to go to the grist mill.  It was a good decision.

check out the rocks holdin up this 3 story building

grinding stone

love the old door (and the old man!)

To get back to Murphy we had to go through the Nantahala Gorge.  We love this place.  They were having the kayak  timed trials for a big event in a few weeks.

We had a great day and were able to make it home in time to finish our chores.
We love going to the family with the goats.  He continues to ask such well-thought questions.  We know one day he will receive a testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel.  We love him and his wife.  We always get a real down home cooked meal:  homemade possum pot pie, (He really got us on that one until he said his wife watched for cars while he scraped it up) those expensive mushrooms, wild turkey, venison tenderloin, (to die for) and this time biscuits and "saousage" (that's how he says it)  He is a real great man from the hills.  We could listen to him tawlk for hours.  We have grown to love him and his wife as family.  He gets 20 cardinals at a time on his tree.  He's the one with the baby goat.

standin' by his tree

We love district meeting.  It helps us stay on task and try harder.  Elder Gosselin is doing a great job as our leader and his new companion, Elder Gomm is a hard worker.  We always take them out to eat after the meeting.  We are now walking every morning to try to shake some pounds.  We go several miles.  No loss yet.

man with terrorist hunter permit  gotta love the South

  We have been so excited with the news of Erik's Masters.  He did extremely good on his thesis and really impressed them with his orals.  We knew he could talk hi way through anything.  He never forgets anything he learns.  He's amazing.  We tried to watch his commencement on the computer but it never worked for us. Kristin kept calling but no luck for her either.

  We love you Erik, and are so proud of your good work and ambition.  Thank goodness you have such a sweet wife and wonderful boys to give you so much support.
We love the scenery as we travel from appointment to appointment.

only vehicle we saw

Crack and pollen on side window Don't know how the crack got there.   Here they duck tape such tings.  We did clear tape.  Not quite a Redneck yet.

love the old houses

Today is Kristin's birthday.  What wonderful memories flow through my heart.  She was an answer to my many years of playing mother and praying that some day it would happen.  She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen right from the get-go.  Everyone would stop us to comment on how beautiful she was wherever we went.  She immediately became the ward baby even though 2 others were born within days.  I wouldn't let anyone hold her because I didn't want to lose one minute of time with her.  She was an easy baby and a fun little girl.  We took her everywhere with us and enjoyed her fun sayings.  I remember the time when I turned to check Clark at a ball game and John Hattabaugh was shooting when  suddenly he called a time out.  Dad couldn't figure it out and then John pointed to the very top of the gym.  There was my precious little 17 month old at the very top of the gym, on a ladder.  Needless to say, dad was upset with me and I was petrified.   I don't even remember who got her down.  She amazes us with her cheerful attitude when things don't turn out the way she thinks they should.  She is filled with faith in her Savior.  I learn a lot from her example.  We are so glad you are ours and that you chose such a wonderful man to spend eternity with.  Those two little ones have been and are yours for eternity.  How blessed you and we are.  We love you.

She always knew she would serve  Latin mission.

Perfect ending

It has rained all day today.  It has rained at least 3 days a week since before Thanksgiving.  I guess that's why there is moss on everything.  We love it; better than snow.  The people here never water their gardens. They just plant them and watch them grow.  Nice.
We went to Hiwasee Dam to do some home teaching.  His wife still hates Mormons so we visit by the dam.  
Church was not very well attended, only about 30 people there.  The rain and thunder was beastly all day yesterday and all night and today has really been a non stop deluge.  Maybe that's why so many were not there.  We did have one investigator and one less active so that was good.

Mon. Dec 11th We walked seventeen miles to Wilmington, (by the ocean) arriving there at noon.  After eating a bit of dinner we went and saw Bro. Ray who was sick with typhoid fever and after administering to him we went down town & walked around & got what few things we wanted.  We ate supper at Bro. Cassey's and the went to Bro. Ray's ad sat up with him nearly all night.