Week #4, January 1 - 7, 2017

New Year's Day!  A special holiday to begin a new year in our lives.  We didn't think we would be starting it here.  We have been assigned to the Washington, IA, Branch and left at 7:30 a.m. to make the 9 a.m. meetings.  We went with Elder and Sister McBride.  The branch is very friendly and welcoming.  We were asked, along with Elder and Sister McBride to say a few words during sacrament meeting.  I was then asked to play the piano for primary.  That was a fun experience and sister Mitchell, the chorister, was fun to get to know.  She and her husband have served two missions and we both have new grand babies.  She is the Branch President's mother-in-law.  She is also related to Bob through Alice Ann Gheen, wife of Heber C. Kimball.

We celebrated the day with going out to take sunset pictures of the temple.  The sunsets are beautiful here and we wanted to capture some. 

Bob and I went out to take evening pictures of the temple and such.  We drove around and became a little more familiar with the lay of the land.  

You can see what time we were out.

This was our first full week working in the temple on our regular schedule.  There are sessions every hour on Saturdays so we were there longer than our weekly shifts.  I was passed off on the register in the clothing area and am now certified, so they say.

When we got back to the apartment and got out of the car we decided to take a walk.  We got about a block down the road when our faces started freezing and hurting.  We turned around and went right back home.  Kind of crazy.

Dad wanted another sweatshirt since he wears them so much.  He got into the swing of things with the perfect one.  He discovered the TV and turned it on for the first time on Monday and had a heyday watching one football game after another.

We woke up to snow one morning and Bob went out early to get the car uncovered and started.

When he came around front he got the shovel and started shoveling snow.  I guess it just goes to show you are never too old to learn new tricks!  This was a first for him.

As you can tell, I was snug and warm inside the apartment!  Hee Hee!

Bob has been in pain with a kidney stone since we got here.  We were to Dr. Mark Knudson in Burlington, IA, for treatment.  We were impressed with him and he took care of Bob.  Here we are waiting, which really wasn't very long. Still no relief yet.

People are grabbing the wrong coat at the temple and two brothers have had their coats taken.  It stinks to go home in the cold without a coat.  Bob's coat looks a lot like everyone else's so we devised a plan for his not to be taken.  We hang my coat over his.  I guess there is an advantage to having an outdated, moth eaten coat!!