Washington DC Temple

I take a picture of the temple whenever I see it, so I decided to start posting them, at least the ones that are half way decent.

Start of the refurbishing - see the boom

at the spire?

This & That July 2017

July 2017

Sister Missionaries are amazing! Sister Noyes and Sister Webster

A few months ago, (I keep forgetting to write this), the President of the Hill

Cumorah Pageant drove down from Palmyra to pick up a van the mission is giving

him. They were in need, they transport many folks who are coming from all over the

world to participate in the pageant. I wish I could remember his name, but he told us he

is called to be the president of the pageant for five to nine years. He is a very busy man. 

They do five performances. You do not need a ticket, there is no charge, parking is free

and plentiful, and the event can seat 9,000.

On July 14, we went with Elder Jarred and Sister Karren (married),  to see

these folks in concert at the Washington Nationals ballpark in DC. It was wonderful!

Getting back to the apartment on the Metro (train) was an experience!  After the concert

the Metro station was packed solid with people. The escalators were turned off because

lines were so long. That probably happens often, but new to us.  I did not see any

police or security. You could not move, there were so many people. Greg stood

behind me and put both arms tight around my waist and when the doors opened

we were pushed forward onto the train. Lucky for us we were right in front of the doors.

It took us over two hours to get home. But, it was worth it.  We heard and sang along

with a lot of other old folks, some old favorites from our "youth." Behind us though

were a couple of groups of young kids, and we could hear a couple of guys singing

who knew all the words to all the songs. It was comforting.

Happy Birthday, Landon!

Happy 9th birthday,  July 15th, to this smart, funny, and kind boy! He and Grandpma are my favorite couch potatoes! The last great thing Landon said to me, after I had made "some" comment, in total solemnity was,  "Grandma, there are no ugly dogs."  What a heart!

Baby teeth, how sweet!

Big boy teeth, grrr!  ( A little peek at Finn!)

Happy Birthday to me! - Part 2

Mystic, CT

Kay and Laurie took us to Mystic Seaport.  The Museum of America and the Sea in Mystic, Connecticut is the largest maritime museum in the United States. It is notable for its collection of sailing ships and boats, and for the re-creation of the crafts and fabric of an entire 19th-century seafaring village. It consists of more than 60 original historic buildings, most of them rare commercial structures moved to the 19-acre site and meticulously restored. The buildings are trade shops and businesses from the 1800s that were transported to Mystic Seaport from locations around New England. The village is made up of many bustling maritime trades, from ship smiths and coopers to woodcarvers and riggers.

Brand new beautiful whaling museum

Pictures below are of the living history village

General Store, loved the weather vane.

These two pictures are from the rope making building. It was a

huge long, long, room. I tried to get some scale. Pretty cool.

The Charles W. Morgan is an American whaling ship built in 1841 whose active service period was during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Ships of this type were usually used to harvest the blubber of whales for whale oil, which was commonly used in lamps. The ship has served as a museum ship since the 1940s, and is now an exhibit at the Mystic Seaport. She is the world's oldest surviving merchant vessel, and the only surviving wooden whaling ship from the 19th century American merchant fleet.  She was designated a national historic landmark in 1966.

This is a reconstructed long ship, The Draken Harald Harfagre, which sailed across

the Atlantic Ocean in 2016 to explore and relive one of the most mythological sea

voyages: the first transatlantic crossing and the Viking discovery of the New World,

more than 1,000 years ago.  After crossing the Atlantic, the ship sailed throughout

the Great Lakes, down the Erie Canal to New York City, and concluded its voyage

at Mystic Seaport.

Sailing class

And this gem was sitting in the harbor with a for sale sign on it.

So of course, Greg had to take a picture.

Happy Birthday to me! - Part 1

July 4, 2017

We were able to drive to Guilford, CT on Saturday and see Laurie and Kay! They were down from Nova Scotia to see Kay's family. I wish, wish, wish I had taken pictures of Kay's wonderful family, Jan, Joe, Matthew, Richard, and Christine. Kay and Laurie were great tour guides and I fell in love with Kay's CT.  We ate New England clam chowder, baked cod called scrod, orecchiette lobster,

and in a word, excellent! 

Kay and Laurie

This is Kay's childhood front yard. Ahhh.

Guilford is a beautiful town with a village green surrounded by several churches,

town hall, library, and war memorials. Many New England towns have a village green.

My only picture of Stout.  What a sweetheart.

Took a little boat ride with Jan and Joe, two boats. Jan is at the helm.

Ferry ride around the Thimble Islands.  Amazing what folks build on them.

Finally home Elder Chang

Dear President & Sister Johnson and office staff!

I just want to say thank you and want you all to know that I am cheering DC North Mission on!

By the way President, I played ping pong with my dad, and he crushed me (11-4, 11-1, 11-5). I guess I still have a lot of room for improvement!

I love you all and miss you all already! 😭😭😭 We will keep in touch!

Thanks,

Moses Chang

Departures - June 2017

What a evening!  We said good bye to some amazing missionaries last night! Sixteen young men and two couples this time. The elders went to transfers, then to the temple, where they were taught by the temple president, back to the mission home for dinner, then testimony meeting. It was a great night for us to be able to be with them for the evening. Then after all the old folks left we are sure there was a lot of ping pong. Up this morning and at the airport by 7:30. They should be home by now. I took the pictures with my phone, so not so good, and the elders move pretty fast, so it is what it is.

Highlights:  President Johnson sang his mission song, from when in served in the Northwestern States Mission. I know he spent time in Twin Falls, but am not sure of the mission boundaries. He also told the elders that their mothers would want to hold their hands all the way home, and rub her hands all over their faces, and they were not to stop and go to the bathroom when they departed the plane; they were to go directly to their mother and for two days just sit by her and talk to her. Aaahhhh.  He is extremely funny.

Each missionary bore his testimony, and at the request of President Johnson, told at least one experience that meant  a lot to them on their mission.  The most common thing we heard was how amazing it was to see people's lives change so dramatically.

Elder Rowley  - wonderful missionary,

talked about how a good life is a life of sacrifice.

Elder Guymon and Elder Smuin

We were in the same ward with Elder Guymon.

Elder Smuin is deaf, and looks like he had ear implants,

could speak, sign, read lips and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Rutter

One happy, energetic missionary.

I never saw him without a smile.

Elder (Dr.) and Sister Smith, Elder Torgerson, Elder Jenks, Elder Chang

Elder and Sister Smith were the medical missionaries, leaving in July.

He is medical, and she a mental health specialist. Both lost their first spouses,

Been on missions on their own, then together. Dr. Smith has Parkinson's, loved to

tell jokes at staff meetings. Can't say enough how much they will be missed.

The thee elders, AP's.

Elder Jenks and Elder Chang

Our first AP's. They are the best of the best. We loved getting to know them

and work with them in the office when they were there. Elder Jenks is from

Royal City, WA. He is going home to attend BYU-Idaho and when he

graduates wants to be a farmer with his dad on the family farm. Elder Chang is

from Taiwan, came to Orem when he was eleven. He became a US citizen and

is going to go to BYU-Provo to become a dentist or doctor.

Elder Naef from the Tri-Cities. I called him our Richland boy.

Elder Chang and Elder Jenks

Always a picture on the stairs, but could not get them all in one shot.

All the departing with President and Sister Johnson. Also,

Elder and Sister Bauerle were Record Preservation missionaries,

going home in July.  She told us that day,

they digitized 4,000 plus records.

Singing their mission song.