HIGH ON A MOUNTAIN TOP

I made my second basket.  I was the last one in class to finish.  I was so frustrated but then sadly realized that I just can't do what I used ter.  My hands were sore for several days.  Our instructor was so patient with me and helped me to the bitter end.

We had personal interviews with President Thomas.  He is a wonderful president and I just love his wife. I love any time we can be with other missionaries.  It really gives you a lift.  We had to go to Danville, Virginia first to get the elders and an investigator.  He weighed over 300 pounds and filled our back seat.  The elders were a little scrimped.  He was baptized Saturday.  I guess it was quite the thing,  The first time the two elders in the font with him could not get him pushed under.  When they finally got him back up (which they weren't certain they could do) they hadn't gotten him all the way under.  When the witnesses said that Elder Wilcok put him back under.  They had to do it a third time because he didn't say the prayer again.  The third time he said the words wrong but the fourth time was for sure.  Thank goodness John has a great sense of humor.  They are still chuckling about it.  He will be a great member and is a very nice young man.  He's golden.  After the interviews, which were in Greensboro, we took them all home.  We stopped at O'Kellys for a sandwich.

We headed home for a lesson with Warren.  I love him.  He is slowly coming along.We visited with Gail and Sister Aldridge on Wednesday.  I love them.  Sister Aldridge is always looking for someone for us to teach.  She's a great missionary helper.  We went to mutual after and there were 10 non members there.  These youth and the entire ward are so good at being kind and helpful to others.  Parents won't let us teach the kids and the adults help with Scouting but you never know what will happen down the road.

We decided to stop our service at the museum because it was taking too much teaching time and we only saw 1 person in all the time we had served.  No one goes to the museum.  We decided to head on down to see Susan.  On the was we saw some girls who are friends, in their yard.

 We stopped to visit and the older 2 invited us to go to the livestock show where they were going to show their lambs.  It was on Friday, in Virginia, but still in our mission. The girls both got blue ribbons. We met with both sets of grandparents and the school librarian.  You can imagine how dad felt to be around animals.  He loved the pigs.  We got lost twice on the way home and even went the wrong way in a parking lot.  How can you do that? When we got to Susan's her husband informed us that they had 35 cats and 16 dogs.  I believe it.  I love them.  They are great to visit with and I call him bishop.  Who knows? From there we went to the Fowlers'.  His daughter is moving in next week.  She wants to go on a  mission so we hope she can get them to come to church.  They're wonderful people.

Kristin turned 44 on the 27th.  How can that be?  I'm only 35.  We are so thankful our Father sent her to us. She was such a beautiful baby and fun little girl.  I played with her constantly.  She never wanted any one to touch her curls.  She has become such a wonderful mother herself and such an unselfish and caring person.  We love her so much.  She lives by faith and does so many little things for us.

Another investigator invited us to a spring fling in Providence.  We got up early so we would get there and not miss the parade.  Well, the parade was maybe a block long and had no floats.  It was just cars, trucks, fire engines and Smoky the Bear.  One man had his old truck which he had painted white with a spray can or two.  Very different.  It was so cold and windy.  Our investigators did not show up but some members from the ward did.  We were excited to see the tractor pulls but they were really lawn mower pulls.  They did have pro wrestling. We laughed our heads off.  The members who were with us, 7 of them, were having as much fun as we were.  Everyone was jolly. The best part was that I ran into the fireman who is in charge of the Bossy Bingo fund raiser. They didn't have it this year because they made more money on the 4-wheeler drawing. You make 100 squares on the ground.  People pay $50 a square and you can buy a many as you want. They start selling the inside squares first because Bossy usually dumps early. They sometimes do it in a circle formation. When all 100 squares are sold they have $5000.  The winner gets $1000.  If Bossy dumps on more than 1 square the people have to share the money.  They let her out when the last square is sold or at a certain preappointed time. Tiffani says she is going to suggest it at their next ward activity. Of course you can decide on the money factor and how many squares.

Sunday after church and our missionary meeting we headed to Ashville for meetings with 2 other couple missionaries.  It was later than we had expected so we just checked into our hotel and went to dinner.  The other couples weren't there.  When we got back the man at the desk stopped us and asked if this bag was ours.  It was the bag with both our computers, all the cords and my finance book with all our financial information. We were shocked.  We had not even known it was missing.  He said someone had brought it in from the parking lot.  The people in North Carolina are the best.  We said a prayer thanking the Lord for such wonderful, honest people.  We never did find out who they were.

Silkers, Burns, us

The time with the other couples was so beneficial.  We shared ideas with each other and learned so much.  We also did a great deal of laughing and just having a good time.  We spent most of the day at the Biltmore. It is the largest house in the US.  It has 250 rooms with 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms.  It was strange because we never felt High Cotton.  It was a very comfortable place, huge but comfy.  George Vanderbilt opened it in 1895.  Three years later he brought his bride,Edith to the Biltmore and their only child, Cornelia was born there in 1900.  He  died in 1914 and Edith and Cornelia continued to call it home.

Their daughter called it home and lived there even after she was married.  As a young girl she spent much time playing with the servants' children.  Her mother spent as much time as possible with her.  In 1930 they opened it to the public because of the Depression and to bring money in to preserve the estate.  The family still owns and operates the business with 1,800 employees.  It has a winter garden inside the entrance, a billiard room, banquet hall with an organ loft, breakfast room, salon, music room, tapestry gallery, library (contains half of his 23,000 volume collection) bedrooms, sitting rooms, Halloween room, bowling alley, dressing rooms, swimming pool, gymnasium, kitchens, servants rooms, laundry and drying rooms, smoking room and gun room.  Guests would stay for several days.  The servants had their own quarters and had a formal dining room and were treated very well.   The gardens were absolutely amazing.  I have never seen prettier. It was a very enjoyable day.  We ate way too much and gained way too much.

Your dad still has it.

The next day we shared more ideas and headed home.  We went through the Blue Ridge Parkway to Boone.  It is a beautiful range.  The trees are so thick and the hills go forever.

We went to Mt. Mitchell, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi, elevation 6,578 ft.  It was a beautiful view but I think our mountain is about 9 or 10,000 ft.  It wasn't tall but the beauty was indescribable.

We climbed the falls at Linville Falls.  It was an easy walk but not in Sunday shoes.  It was so worth the walk.

goose and goslings

We stopped at Flat Top Manor, home of Moses H. Cone, who invented Levi denim fabric.We got home at 9:30 and fell in bed.

View from the front porch.

The next morning we arose early to go to district meeting.  I love being with the missionaries.  Our lessson was on teaching with the Spirit.

I am trying to get caught up with birthdays but may never make it.  I am on Dave Jennings.  We love him.  Tiffani did a great job in landing him.  What a catch.  We love how no matter what his calling, he does it to the best of his ability and goes way beyond that.  He is a great provider for his family and such a good husband.  I love that he takes the kids so Tiffani can have a break.

Friday we made vegetable beds for Christine and our gardens.  Elder Bayles dug the ground and then we made four 2X10  boxes to put the dirt and plants in.  We waited till evening so it wouldn't be so hot.  It doesn't cool off in NC.  It was fun to be together.  We put 48 screws in the beds with 3 at each corner. We loved being outside and working.

Saturday we had one of the families we have been working with have their son baptized.  He will be 9 in 10 days so they wanted to get it done.  Brother Ward baptized his son. It took 3 times but he got it done.  It was a wonderful time.  I love it when children choose the right.

After the baptism we had a baby shower for one of the gals in our ward.  They really go" high cotton" here when they do things.  "High cotton" here means the same as "livin' high" or ritzy. If you want to hear Alabama sing it go HERE. The words are so good.  Listen carefully.

Going visiting after church Sunday we came across some animals.

How cows cool off in Caswell County

Find the turtle

Trying to see what's on the other side 

At Sister Apple's home.

I love Elder Bayles.

Tuesday May 23rd  We got up in good time this morning and after eating breakfast helped chop cotton all day again today.  I also wrote a letter to Estella.  After eating supper we went over to Joseph Beasley's and stayed over the night.

BOSSY BINGO

New Caswell Family Game     BOSSY BINGO
This is sometines used as a fundraiser.  You pay for your square.

1. Find a milk cow

2.  Divide lawn into 12 squares (18in.X18in.)

3.  Number squares 1-12

4.  Buy a number (If you are not doing this for a fund raiser, you just pick a number)  You may buy as        many numbers as permitted.

5.  Lead Bossy the Cow out on the squares.

6.  The square where Bossy leaves her deposit is the winning square.

7.  Have fun.  If Bossy doesn’t perform take her back to the barn and feed her some green thistles and water.

my favorite tree  the talking tree

I gave an assignment to a young girl, Kayln, in our ward.  I invited her to call a gir of another faithl, whose mother and father we are trying to friendship.  Her mother told me later that Kayln was scared to death to make the call.  Her brother is on a mission in Peru and I told her he would be so proud.  She made the call and Sammy came to mutual.  Sunday Kayln told me Sammy is now chatting with her on facebook.  She will continue to invite her to things.  Way to go youth.
We go to Virginia for gas.  It is $3.89 in Yanceyville and $3.59 in Virginia.  $3.56 if we get a card.

what a barn

We really had a great week with finding less active and part member families.  It's so fun when you can put a face to the name you havee been hunting.
We did our time at the museum this week but are going to take our name off the list because we have yet to have anyone visit the museum.  We need to spend our time with people we can introduce to the Gospel.
Caswell Ward had a Mexican Fiesta Saturday.  Boy can those women cook.  It was a great time and there were 5 investigators there thanks to the members of this ward.
We love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The three month we have been here have been much harder that we had expected but we just need to work harder.  We need to give the truth to the world.  It is so true and brings so much happiness to all.  We cherish our children and are so pleased with how they are teaching our grandchildren.  We love the things they are doing and how important our Savior is in their lives.  We can ask for no more than what we have with our family.  Thanks so much kids and grands.  I love your granddad.

home along a country road

May 15,1905
We rose in good time and after eating breakfast and waiting until the other Elders came we sent back up to Bro. Easton's.  After eating dinner Elders Montgomery, Pierce, Andrews' and myself went and took a bath in the creek.  After we got back we made a ball out of a handkerchief and had a game of ball.  After eating supper we held another meeting after which we retired about ten o.clock.  I also wrote a letter to Caroline.(grandma)  

BAPTISM

We are working hard.  We are visiting with a gal who is taking care of her mother.  Her mother was in a car accident over a year ago and is still in leg casts and in bed.  Karen quit her consulting job in DC last month and came home to care for her.  They are both incredible women.

This is the way many country homes heat their water.
The water heater is in a shed and piped into the house. 

Gail and Thomas have had illness and death in their family but said they still want the lessons so hopefully we can see them this week.
The ticks are in full-force now and people will pull 2-7 off a day and think nothing of it.  Elder Bayles got one and when he pulled it off the head stayed in.  It has been a week now and no redness so we are hoping it wasn't infected.
We are still teaching Craig Miles the after baptism lessons.  We love doing that.  We have to go 30 miles to their home but they are great.
We also went to a part-member home.  Susan had back surgery and we wanted to see how she was doing.  Ed is not interested in the lessons but we still go and call him Bishop.  He's fun.

Jesse and Margaret are loyal friends to the missionaries and feed us every week.

District Meeting was on Friday because of transfers.  Our new leader is Elder Oaks.  I taught him in third grade and Elder Bayles was his principal.  He just could not believe it.  He has changed a great deal since third grade and is a great leader. He is Elder Oaks' grandson.  I don't know where this underlining came from.  I can't get it off.We took the Elder Oaks and Elder Wilcok to Caswell to interview Carolyn and she passed with flying colors. (In NC you would say she was high cotton)  Of course we fed them.  They couldn't get over the beauty of the country here.

We needed to take the elders in Eden some copies of the Book of Mormon.  They were doing a service project at a member's home.  Turns out their favorite elder was a boy I had in third grade and Elder Bayles had him at TV and his dad taught drafting at TV.  What a tiny world the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us.  We just need to include so many more people.
Saturday we saw members who haven't been seen for a long time.  We won't give up.  On the way home we stopped to see Sister Aldridge.  That is where we teach Gail and Thomas. 

 Her grandson was there camping in the woods with his children over spring break.  They are a great family.  They took us on a 4-wheeler trip they had just cut in the woods.  We looked in the book and nothing said we could not go wheeling.
THE SABBATH WAS GREAT.  CAROLYN WAS BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED.  She was wonderful and so nervous.  We love her. 

Carolyn and her son Mike

 In the mission field the ward stays to support new members.  It was a meeting filled with the Spirit. 
I had put a pot roast on the crock pot for dinner but some members insisted we eat with them, the parents of the 4-wheelers. Dena, Kevin, Leona

 After that we headed to Jesse's for dinner.  I am so fat.  These southerners know how to cook. We ended up eating with 9 non members so it was a great meal.  Hopefully we made a good impression and it will lead to some lessons.  Among the people was a family from the ward.  I found out he was from Dayton, Ohio and went to the same high school I did only years later.  Another small world experience. We got home at 8:30 that evening.  I guess the pot roast will do for a later meal.

Kolton turned 9 while on their spring break vacation.  He is always happy and kind to those around him.  He loves to do creative things and anything sports.  We're  so glad he is in our family.  Happy Birthday Kolton!




                                 I love Elder Bayles!

May 12, 1905
We rose in good time this morning and after eating breakfast we spend the forenoon washing our clothes.  Eld. Pettey done the scrubbing while I carried the water and made a fire to boil them.  After dinner I was taking a bath and a storm came up which the people quite had, it was quite severe, blowing over fences and trees and also raining very hard and as a result of the storm we had to stay over at West's another night returning at about nine o'clock.

Any one need any sporting goods?

THE KILLING

Well, Elder Bayles never seems to amaze me.  All of our lessons are where the church is, a twenty minute drive.  Thanks goodness we have a key because there are no stores, gas stations, or rest areas for miles.  I often have to stop between lessons (shocker) to visit my favorite room.  Well, coming out of the rest room Elder Bayles whispers, "Stop".  I did and he whopped a mouse with a broom.  What a protector he is.  My knight in shining armor.

We love the countryside here.  This spring has been a burst of green everywhere.  The hills are full of color.  I have grown to love the dogwood tree but don't have a picture.  I waited too long.  There are white ones and pink ones.  They're tiny and full of blooms.  I'll get a picture next year.  The azalias are vibrant in red, white and pink.  This place is alive with color.

Tuesday we had breakfast with a great couple in the ward.(The Terrels)  She fixed ham, bacon, sausage, grits, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, biscuits and gravy, tomatoes, pound cake, apple sauce a big glass of milk and a big glass of orange juice.  We rolled home.  Boy was it good.

Elder Wilcok, Carilli, Clawson, Cutler

Wednesday was district meetun again.  Boy do we love these elders.  They are so dedicated to the work.  There is going to be a transfer Wednesday and I'm sure it will be Elder Cutler.  We always take the elders out for lunch of the day before transfers.  They're wonderful.  We eat at O'Rileys.  Best lunch ever.
Great news.  Carolyn is going to be baptized Sunday.  Yahoo!
We have a new couple we are teaching.  He's the one who was bitten by 2 copperheads.  They are reading the Book of Mormon and like the concepts we teach.  We need your prayers in their behalf.
We had a miracle this week.  Warren, who never is without a cigarette, finishes one and lights another.  He has smoked all his life. He is probably 64.  His wife is a member and they have reared their grandchildren.  He told us last week that he wants to join the church.  Every missionary since forever has tried to teach him.  He wants us to give him the lessons and we start tomorrow.  He will need lots of help to quit smoking.  We need your prayers again.
The 6th was Granny and Granddad's wedding anniversary.  I still miss them.  What great examples of how to live the Gospel.

We had 45 minutes between lessons so we went for a ride.  We ended up at Farmers' Lake.   We didn't even know it was there.  It is so beautiful.  It may become a refuse for us.

I did laundry.  I didn't realize that a burgandy wash rag was left in the washer from the last wash.  I now have pink garments and dad has pink shirts.  He says they're not that pink.  We'll see.  I soaked them in bleach but they're still pink.  Hopefully time will make the pink whiter.
I spoke in church Easter Sunday.  There wasn't an empty chair.  I was very nervous but it went well.  Kristin, Tiff and Clark Skyped us over the Easter weekend.  Even though we miss them we are so happy here.

Wed. May 3rd. 1905  We rose in good time this morning and after eating breakfast sat and talked awhile  after which we started in the direction of Raleigh.  After we had traveled about three miles we sat down under the trees and had a rest.  I also wrote a letter to Eva.  At eleven o'clock we started on again and began asking for dinner but did not get any.  It rained on us nearly all forenoon and part of the afternoon.  We went into a man's house and stayed until the rain stopped, then went on again.  On acc't of it being so stormy we commenced asking for entertainment quite early and after being refused twelve times had to get into a barn where we stayed the remainder of the night.

      Home on Prospect Hill

We have been on our mission for 3 months.

Okay, I just looked at my last blog and saw Tiffy.  I realized I omitted other birthdays. (in-laws and grands) How could I do that?  I love our WHOLE family.  I'm going to do better and make it up one month at a time.

Jalen's birthday was on a blog 'cause we were there on our way here, January 19th.

    Dianne's birthday was on January 20th and I gave her her present before we left so I just had it done in my mind.  I am so glad she is part of our family.  She has made our son, Clark so happy.  I couldn't find a picture of her without Clark; just as it should be.  We love you Di.    

Well, right after that is Ashley's, February 1st.  She was our first and life took on a whole new meaning when she came to us.  She lights up a room wherever she goes.  We love you too.

More birthdays net blog.  This is just during our mission.

THE TRIPLE THREAT

Dad has discovered a three-way use for the missionary name tag.  #1  name tag  #2  tie bar  #3 spill on tie stopper or spill cover-upper.  What a brilliant man.  He never ceases to amaze me. 

Dad's triple threat.

Yesterday was a very special day.  40 years ago Tiffani was born.  What a happy spirit she brought into our home.  Her Granny and Grandma could not believe how seldom she cried.  Granny always said that she was just so happy to finally be on earth.  She was such a fun little girl and always smiling.  She was my sunshine.  She is such a good example for me of a woman of God.  Her faith never wavers.  We are so blessed to have her in our family.  She loves being a wife and mother.  We love you Tiffy.


We stopped to see Tim (the one we took Kristin to see his homes)  He gave us two flats of pansies.  We hurried home and planted them in 6 pots our landlady gave us.  It was so good to work in the soil. (sol as they say in NC)

Tim is amazing with the things he has in his home.  He lives among all these antiques. Holding invitations to Pres. Lincoln's funeral. I even held a ribbon that the people who were invited wore.

This was a good week.  Carolyn said she wants to be baptized.  We will set the date Tuesday with her son.  He will be doing the baptizing. A dear sister in the ward has asked her nurse to hear the Gospel and she want to but is waiting for her husband to hear it too.  He wants to but got bit by a copperhead and had to heal so we will meet with them this week. They are already reading the Book of Mormon.

This is a home used for summer cooking and storage behind an inactive member's trailer.  I fell in love with it. They used to have chickens on the porch but twice snakes got them.

Lucy got sick and her engine light would not go off so we took her to Virginia to be worked on.  I hate those kind of expenses but she feels better now and carries us everywhere.  (In Caswell you don't take things, you carry them)  We taught the Gospel in the waiting room.

At mutual that evening we found a man who is not a member but is reading the Book of Mormon.  We will keep in touch with him.

Our little friend who stays at our home. 

We love the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all our hearts.  It is so true.  We are so blessed to have a forever family and thank our Father in Heaven every prayer for that gift.  We love you.  I think my companion's kinda cute.  I think I love him.

Great members who took us out to dinner.

Mon. May 1st. was a nice day.  We rose early this morning and after eating breakfast started on again toward Millbrook.  After traveling until noon we asked for dinner which we got after being refused nine times and it was getting late we decided to try Uncle Sam again.  We made a fire in the road and tried to sleep but the wind was blowing and it was so cold we couldn't sleep much, so we started another fire among the trees to brake the wind.  I got about an hours sleep during the night.

Got lost (shocker) and found this church.

A wild plant that takes over found also in Japan and China called
Kudzu.  It completely covers things including homes etc.  In the spring wisteria grows in it and is beautiful but the people  hate it because it overgrows everything and chokes plants out.