THE LAST DAYS

18 months

Our last P-Day in the mission field and we had such a grand time.  The Silkers had invited us to go gem mining with them for some time but it rained every Monday so we decided rain or shine we would go.  It was a beautiful day and perfect weather.  We left home at 8:00 and got back at 6:30. 

 We all found some sapphire but Sister Silker found the biggest of the day, 10.35 carats)  We were so excited for her.

  It was so much  fun getting muddy and playing in the dirty water all day.  

We had a quick lunch and mined 'till we couldn't.
 We got home exhausted, showered and hit the sack.
We had a wonderful dinner with Mickey and her husband.  The Moose's name is Pitiful.

  We took our little family to dinner to say good-by.  It was the last time we would be able to see them.  We went to an all you can eat buffet which the boys loved.  We could not believe how much they ate.  We think they out ate the elders.  It was fun.
The Forth of July the new mission president, President Irion and his wife, came from Knoxville to see the Murphy area.  They stayed several hours and we showed them an apt. they may want to use for missionaries.  We think the switch will be easily done.
At five o'clock we went to the Fradys' for dinner.  We were going to fish but the constant rain prohibited it.  Elder Bayles made some walking sticks for them ad they loved them.  Cori cried.  Elder also gave Jeff a new site for his 17.  H was so surprised.  They are such good people and we love them so much.  They were the very hardest to leave  It was so difficult.  They will for sure make it to the temple.  Oh, for the record for dinner Cori fixed a spinach and fried onion salad and I had seconds.  I hate these crying good-byes but we bawled.
I just put in some pictures to remind me of Murphy when we get home.

Friday we got up and continued packing.  We figured we would be through at 5:00.  As we began loading we decided we would leave as soon as we were through in that President Irion took our keys to the church and to our house.

Tell me there's nothng else.

 We loaded and at 5:30 we drove off.  Our next door neighbor, Jim Morgan, came out of their house (Kay) and handed us $50 for gas.  What a nice man.  We decided we would buy a picture book about North Carolina instead of gas.  We have wanted one ever since we came but all books about NC are of the beaches.  We will find the one we want.
We got to Kristin's at 10:30 dead tired driving through beautiful mountains and rain, rain, rain.  We stopped at Clemson. 

 We fell into Baylie's bed and were asleep in no time.
We tended the kids while David and Kristin went to a funeral.  The kids watched a movie while we fell asleep. 

 When they got home we went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch in that it is fast Sunday tomorrow.
  We came home and fell asleep on the couch, again.

Sorry but there's no way Elder Bayles is unpacking to find grandpa's journal.  Not good planning on my part.