We had a wild week trying to attend deployment ceremonies and returning ceremonies of the soldiers.  On Monday we went up to the hanger to send off a soldier and we never found him, but we found two others from the Watertown Ward  with their families.  A few minutes later three of the young adults from the Carthage Ward came up to us and asked if they could get a blessing.  We got the two from Watertown to help and found a small room and dad gave them all blessings.  It was a great experience!  Scott and Jen also went with us to one on Friday night.  We went to a ceremony of a returning group on Wed.   and it was so much fun.  The families are on the bleachers in the gym and they march the soldiers in and have a short ceremony and then let them loose.  There were about 300 in the group we saw.  They had been gone 15 months.  More are coming and going for a few weeks.  We loved having Scott and Jen.  It was so much fun to see family and show them around.  We send our love to all.  We loved the pictures of the Halloween party!  Thanks Molly and family! 

Mission News- 10/19/08

Hi Gang, This is a pictures just across the street from where we live on Black River. Those little specks are geese and they are all over the place up here. Every morning they fly off to eat in the recently cut corn fields. When I run in the morning they are in flight going north. In the evening they hang out on the river. More are coming each day soon they will all fly south. They are really noisy, lots of honking. They are fun to watch and hear. It is one of those things we never expected to see and experience. Been another busy week, lots going on more soldiers coming and going all the time. We are trying to get acquainted with the new spouses of the deployed. We finally had a baptism in the Watertown Ward, the Sisters prepared a woman for baptism and one of the Elders preformed it. Mom, as usual did a GREAT job on refreshments (food) for after. It was a special time for all. We are involved in these baptisms in both wards, doing the programs and refreshments. It's uplifting to watch the change that comes over these investigators while they are being taught. You realize each day what a great work this is. Truly the Lord is preparing people to receive the gospel, it's only a matter of finding and teaching them. We had a special Sacrament meeting in Carthage today for the deploying soldiers. Three of the Stake High counsel members, two of which are active Air force, came up to give deployment blessings. Several of the wives asked and received blessing also. It was good just to be a part of it. We love and miss you all. Mom and Dad

Mission News- 10/12/08

Hi gang,  These are some of the activities we have been involved in this past week.  Top left is Mom and Sister Horton, a recent convert, just out side the sacred grove at the Joseph Smith farm.  The coopers shed and farm are in the background. Top right is the YSA monthly dinner at Carthage ward, Mom can still put out a spread.  7 of the group are soldiers.  Bottom left is Elder and Sister Larsen with the Hortons, both soldiers.  Sister Horton is on fire, she has been in the church just 5 months. We came down to the Palmyra temple to do baptisms for the dead.  She brought cards for her grandmother and sister, she was able to be baptized for them.  It was a first for both of the Hortons.  They are planning to be sealed here in the spring before their baby is born. We will be able to teach them the temple prep. lessons. We had 20 visits this week along with several fix-up projects.  Some of the deployed soldiers get back this week and some leave next week.  There are a lot of bitter sweet moments.  Today in church a young Blackhawk pilot blessed his 3 week old son, he leaves Tues. for Iraq, leaving behind a 2 year old and a new baby. We love this work and are beginning to get the hang of things, there are times when the reality of all the sacrifice gets to you.   Love Mom and Dad  

NY Mission News 10/5/08

Hi Gang, This picture is the Sisters we brought back from Fayetteville to Watertown on last Wednesdays transfers. The last three in the picture are now here in Watertown, a threesome they call it.  We drove two of the sisters from Watertown to Fayetteville, which is south east of Syracuse on Tuesday evening, stayed over night and drove three back with all their stuff on Wednesday.  It was a pretty packed car.  Two sisters have a lot of stuff trust me on that. They were thrilled to watch Legacy on the way back. The next trip to zone conference should be interesting with 3 sisters and two elders.  We'll see if the car can handle it.  The spouses of the deployed are really getting excited, some of the husbands start getting back on the 15 of Oct.  The Aviation Brigade is leaving for Iraq on the 22nd of Oct. We are looking forward to attending the homecoming and deployment ceremonies, they should be a real contrast.  We are still finding more do than we have time for. There is always someone to visit, which is good I guess.  The 2nd Brigade leaves for a 28 day training exercise this week to Ft. Polk, La. Things will be in a real state of flux for the rest of this month, with some 12,000 troops moving around The weather is getting cooler and you can feel the chill in the air. Conference was great we saw all the session.  They were broadcast at both wards but poorly attended.    

Mission News 10/5/08

Mission News 9/28/08