9/26/15 Many Thanks, Missionary, Pumpkins, Fall

There are times people do things for us or ours that touch us so deeply it is hard to find words to express - one of those times was after our home burned in August of 2006.  The strongest emotions of that time came not because of the loss of our home, but because of soul stirring gratitude for the  love and support that was poured out upon us and all of our family.  We are still grateful for the many, many who helped.  That flood of gratitude comes again for our own children who have helped each other in extra ways, and for those who have stepped in and done for our children what we would have done had we been home.
                                  ---------------------------------------
The young man in the suit is leaving for his mission to Moscow.  The young lady on his left is our Institute president for this next year, the secretary is next to her.  Next to the missionary is another young man from the Institute -- good friends and great kids.  They are in and out of our home but always in our hearts.  These are the youth that will soon be the leaders for the church in Russia. (We can post this picture because one of the girls posted it on our Facebook page.)

The East European area helps those who are going into the mission field by providing funds to get missionary clothes, so the Elders went with us to get another suit, shoes, belt and coat.  

 Just trying to find shoes that fit .. he was doing a great sad face for the picture, but he was smiling most of the time. 

He had already picked up some of the things he needed when he went to Kiev to the  temple last month.  Even though it was a little wet at times and we probably walked at least five miles as we went to different stores, walked through the "mall" and then walked back across town to see if we could find a coat.  But, it was fun even for Mike who usually resists shopping trips in any form.

 The pumpkins are ready and mixed with some squash in the pictures below.  They are different in shape and color than the ones we are used to - but inside it is still the regular orange pumpkin meat (there must be a sunday school lesson in that statement). They make some pretty cool jack-o-lanterns .. some may remember those from last year.  

While the sidewalks are dry, we decided to make a big grocery run - we weighed the bags when we got home - 32 pounds total for the bags, a little over 40 for the babushka cart.

Signs don't do us much good - we take pictures and catch a missionary as soon as we can.  This simply says that the milk section (which has been out front) has been moved to the bread section.  We did notice the milk was gone, just didn't know where it went to.

Another picture of one of the babushkas taking care of her corner of the world:

Spent Saturday again at the sports stadium to watch the branches compete in their football which we call soccer.  It was a beautiful day, leaves kind of rustling down as they fell, and even a few chestnuts.  We were thinking of  "roasting them on an open fire" but were told that the ones here are not edible, in fact dangerous to eat.   The edible ones will have a definite point on them.  These are smooth, make good jewelry so they say.

 Mike worked with the English study group again - this time under a canopy of trees with a soccer game going on in the background again, families standing around talking and mothers playing with children, much like home.  It was a peaceful time, made us think of the lines in Browning's poem.  How grateful we are that we know of our Father in Heaven:

The year’s at the spring,

And day’s at the morn;

Morning’s at seven;

The hill-side’s dew-pearled;

The lark’s on the wing;

The snail’s on the thorn;

God’s in His heaven—

All’s right with the world!

S

We never cease to be awed with our amazing world.  This "Looking Up" was shot in about five hours by Mike Mezeul from a rooftop in Dallas.  The pictures are approximately 10 minutes apart.

Closing with this scripture - Ether 12:41 - And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever.