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)

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.