Hottest June day since 1976 in UK

Happy Father's Day today

Monday - we prepared for our departures and transfers which are tomorrow.  We found out we need to be out of the office tomorrow so a company can decontaminate our building.  We were having windows replaced in the building a few weeks ago, when they discovered asbestos where they are taking out the old windows.  They shut the work down and quarantined part of our building.  It will probably be a long process now to complete the rest of the building.  I had to fill out a report to hand in with the details of who was where in the building at what time.  We had to move all our papers and supplies that we need for tomorrow over to the church.

Elders - Miner, Lo, Searle, Rane, President Leppard, Lawson
Sisters - Dignos, Price, Belnap, Jones

Sister Belnap, Veater, Jones, Willmore, Price and Dignos

Tuesday - Our departing missionaries started arriving at the church and we had our check out with them there.  We are so sad to see so many amazing young missionaries leaving us.  Testimony meeting was so wonderful and what great young men and women we have to lead our church in the near future.  We hope they will keep in contact with us through the years.


We love these missionaries!

Elder Rane, Lawson, Miner, Lo and Searle

Wednesday - Elder Willmore and I got up at 2;30 a.m. to take Elder Lo to the airport for a 6:10 departure.  At 8:00 am we had 2 families arrive to pick up their missionaries.  Such an emotional thing to watch.  A family also came into the office on Wednesday to see the mission office.  The mother of the family had lived in the mission office when she was 8 years old for 3 years in the 1960s while her father was the mission President - President Cannon.  Her great great grandfather George Q Cannon also served as Mission President.
Zone Conference for Nottingham Zone so the office was quiet today.

Thursday - Zone Conference for Lichfield Zone which was held at the church next to us so we had a few missionaries coming in before and after the meeting.

Friday - Drove to Henley for a dinner with some of the Senior Couples and President and Sister Leppard at the Bull's Head.  It is a building from the 1500's.









Saturday and Sunday have been very hot and muggy.  The hottest we have felt since we arrived - actually they are saying the hottest since 1976.
We were outside most of the day on Saturday - we went to a Boot sale - like a huge garage sale.
Very interesting to see all the many things people are selling. It was very fun to walk through. We drove to Mary Arden's Farm and enjoyed the old farm where Shakespeare's mother grew up.  We also revisiting Ann Hathaway's home - wife of William Shakespeare.  We went there in the fall but wanted to see it in the summer when the flowers are in bloom.  Had ice cream (twice).  Yummy

Yes - the building is very crooked!  It was built in the 1500's

Hollyhocks in the village of Henley

Calm before the Storm

This week has been very calm and slow at the office - just waiting for the busy next two weeks with Departures, Transfers and Arrivals and all the computer work and paper work that comes with them.  This next week is actually one of my favorite weeks because we get to see the missionaries before they return home and hear their testimonies.

Wednesday was Relief Society and we made English scones which are like our biscuits except they are sweeter.  We also made homemade strawberry jam to have on them along with clotted cream and whipped cream.  They were delicious and it was a fun night with the wonderful sisters in the ward.





Elder Willmore took a driving lesson on Friday to prepare for his practical driving test which he is scheduled to take on July 4th.  It is a ways out but there is a long wait list for the test.

Friday we went to dinner with the Assistants to the President.  Elder Searle will be leaving next Wednesday to return home - we will really miss him.  It is amazing to watch these young elders do their many responsibilities.

On Saturday we had a Stake Faith in God Activity for our primary children.  It was held at the Lichfield Chapel.

After the activity we took a ride through Nottingham and the Sherwood Forest - it was a beautiful day and we loved our walk through the forest.

Oak tree that is 1500 years old - the tree not the people!

Elder Willmore at Sherwood Forest

Jeff and Jamie and their family are having a family reunion this week at a resort in Colorado - she sent pictures of them having a great time together.  Make Memories!

Melissa, Caden, Scott

Sunday - June 11th - Caden was ordained a deacon today - We are so proud of him.

















Today I also talked in Sacrament meeting about Charity.  It was a great topic to contemplate and think of ways I need to improve.  It reminded me of the talk Nyla gave at Mom's funeral and the attributes that mom had that exemplified Charity.  She was a wonderful example of a women with Charity.
"Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life."  President Thomas S. Monson

HUMP Day

Tomorrow is HUMP day - We have been out 9 months tomorrow on Monday, June 5th.  We already know who the replacement couple is that will serve in the office and have been in contact with them.  We will overlap by one month so we will have time to train.


What an amazing adventure and special experience this past nine months has been.  Our mission has truly blessed our lives.  We had Elder and Sister Veater and Elder Searle and Elder Smith over for dinner this evening and we talked about our mission experiences.  One of our favorite parts is our relationship with the missionaries.  Oh how we love these missionaries!

A very special day this week for our granddaughter Madison Weidauer.  She graduated from Riverton High School on Thursday, June 1st.  She will be leaving to attend UVU in the fall and off to many more adventures - Here she goes!

Caden 

This week on the 8th of June our grandson Caden will turn 12 and receive the Aaronic Priesthood.  What is happening to our grandchildren.  They are all growing up!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY CADEN - WE LOVE YOU!  Oh how we love the MEMORIES

Helping Grandpa at the cabin

We walked over to the New Hall Mill on our lunch break on Monday after our office meeting.  Such a beautiful walk over, but on our way home we had a downpour of rain - We got soaked!
After all - We are in England. We heard the AP's and President and Sister Leppard were back at the office laughing.




June 1st -Thursday - New windows are starting to be installed in our building - WORK ZONE!

Sister Knudsen

President Leppard

The office was full of missionaries this week and we had a lot of luncheons to prepare - We had Trainers Meeting for the new trainers for our next arrivals, Self Reliance Workshop for the missionaries going home in a few months, and Mission Leadership Council.  On Friday we ended the week by going out to dinner with President and Sister Leppard.

Looking out the window of the house into the garden

Saturday - Pday - June 2nd
PACKWOOD HOUSE
A House to Dream of - A garden to Dream in

What a beautiful garden it was...

Happy Birthday to Brandee on 
June 1st - Enjoy your day - We Love you!

Congratulations to Elder Willmore who passed the theory part to receive his UK Drivers License  He took the test on Wednesday and passed with a score of 49 out of 50.  He has studied hard to learn the rules and laws of the UK.  He now will need to take his practical test.


Wednesday evening we had our "Faith in God" Activity with our primary children.  We made cookies and cards and gave them to the bishopric.  We had a little trouble with the oven cooking the cookies right so I brought them home to finish baking them.

After our activity, we went to the office to check out Elder Fullmer who is returning home.  His visa is expiring before the normal release day so he had to return home a little early. Departure on May 25th.


After work on Friday, we went to the Tamworth Ward for a potluck dinner. We had a small group there but had a great time taking and eating.





Saturday morning we headed to Warwick Castle for a day out.  We loved watching a jousting program and and a bird show.  The castle next to the Avon River is beautiful.

Good Times and Sad Times

Happy Birthday to Jeff and Evelyn both on the 26th of May - We hope  they are wonderful.


May 16th - Tuesday
Congratulations to our grandson Ryan - He is a proud graduate from Thunder Ridge High School on Tuesday.
He is now preparing to leave on his mission to Bolivia on July 4th.  We are so proud of you Ryan!

Sister Leppard, Sister Baker, President Leppard

A new arrival - after waiting a month for her visa, Sister Baker arrived.  We picked her up from the airport on Tuesday morning where she had flown from Reno, Nevada, which was a temporary assignment while waiting for her visa.  




Downtown Birmingham was in shut down mode because they found a bomb from WWII while they were excavating.  They had to cover the bomb with sand and explode it. 

 Elder Willmore heard if go off from the mission office later in the day.




Sad News - On Friday Brandee's mother passed away after being in the hospital since February - our hearts go out to the Reed family.
Mae is a very kind, loving, compassionate lady who loved people.
We will miss her.

 
 

Saturday Morning Breakfast with our AP's - Elder Searle and Elder Smith - Way fun!  Elder Searle only has three weeks until he returns home.





Sunday - On our way to a Stake Single Adult Fireside tonight where we will speak on our mission experiences.  We are speaking with the Veaters.

Time Flies on Wings of Lightning

Time Flies on Wings of Lightning
President Monson said, ""Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important."

Time, literally, is running out — for each of us. We have less remaining today than we had yesterday, and we have no idea how much of it we have left in our mortal sojourn. Let us make the most of our time.

TUESDAY - May 9th
It seems that life is a whirlwind - time is in fast forward mode and I cannot believe how quickly the weeks and months are flying by.  This past week we had arrivals from the Preston MTC on Tuesday - May 9th.  One of the Sisters, Sister Aidoo, had to go to London to have a meeting to get her Visa from the US Embassy.  She is only with us temporarily until she gets her visa to go to Georgia, USA to serve her mission.
I volunteered quickly when President said we needed a couple to take her and her companion to London.  Somebody had to do it - right!

Elder & Sister Willmore near
Parliment & Big Ben

WEDNESDAY, May 10th  A day in London
What breathtaking views we saw in London with our own personal guide - Sister Aidoo who grew up in downtown London and new the places to take us and the way to get us there hopping on and off the "tube" and buses.  What an amazing experience and fun day with our two sweet Sister Missionaries, Sister Aido and Sister Wood

Sister Aidoo, Sister Willmore, Sister Wood
with Big Ben, Westmister Bridge and Parliment in background

In front of Westminster Abbey

Iconic English Phone Booth picture

Looking at Buckingham Palace

Tower Bridge - Absolutely Beautiful

Tower of London

An evening with Keith and Kathy Gilley

SATURDAY - May 13th
Even though we did not see them the same day we were in London our dear friends Keith and Kathy Gilley were also there visiting on a stop of their bus tour to England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.  We met them in Newport on Saturday, which was our Pday.  What a special evening to spend with good friends.  It felt like a piece of HOME.  It was so sweet of them to take the time to spend with us.

St Pierre's Marriott in Chepstow where we spent the night.

St Pierre's Marriott

Elder Willmore enjoying the sunshine and watching the golfers

SUNDAY - we attended church in Newport Ward where Eric served on his mission.  We meet several families that remembered Eric and had such a great visit with them.  We received the "golden  handshake" from Brother Lance (Lancelot) Urling. We talked to the Hayes family who remembered Elder Willmore and later we received a call from Brother Donovan who felt bad he did not see us on Sunday - he wanted us to have Eric contact him.  It was a wonderful experience!
When we got home we talked to our family on Mother's Day.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY  - May 14th

This morning I have been sitting in the sun with a breeze blowing and reading a book by Pat Holland.  I love reading her books because she seems to have so many thoughts and ideas that I share with her.  One I read this morning is this:

"I declare that home is where I long to be.  I wanted to be there fixed and sure, when I am needed in any generation.  I also know that when my family members, young and old, come to me in their struggles, they need to see me at my best.  I want them to touch a hand that is calm, one that is under-girded with confidence, one that conveys strength and compassion and if it ever necessary, forgiveness.  I want them to see charity in my eyes and feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost in my home.  I want them to know that I am their mother, their grandmother, their sister, their daughter.  I want with all my heart to reflect the love and the strength of heaven as I join hands with God in protecting and blessing the souls of the children he has been good enough to send to and through me."

I want each of you to know that, like Sister Holland, this is the longing of my heart.  I love being a mother, grandmother, sister and daughter and I feel so blessed for my relationship with each of you.  You have each blessed my life and I love you each dearly.  I want you to know that I will celebrate Mothers Day tomorrow with a thankful heart that I am blessed to be called "Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister".  I wish each of you a lovely Mothers Day.