Sunday, May 15, 2011

The work

                                               Yes we do windows-with a smile

     As Welfare Service Missionaries we have lots of work to do.  Our day starts at 7AM, we are assigned to different properties to clean and open for the day.  Marjorie and I go out to the Johnson Farm on Mondays.  Once there we clean the missionary office the Johnson home and the restrooms.  Need to be done before 9AM that's when the visitors start coming.  When the tourist season starts they come by the bus load.  In the home there are lots of rooms with old stuff (antiques).  We have to wear white gloves when handling the antiques.  We have to dust and clean with out breaking anything.  When wearing the backpack vac you look like a scuba diver.  But don't turn to fast or you might knock something down (no pressure).  After 9 we go and do other things, Marjorie has been doing a lot of weeding and getting flower beds ready for when the flowers come then we plant (maybe 1000's) of flowers all over the sites.  There are seven sites that we must take care of.  I will tell you more about the sites in future post.  I help other fm workers with different projects.  Repairing fences, mowing lawns (lots of green grass every where), fixing stuck doors what ever needs attention at the time.  We sleep good at night and have great neighbors.  The weather here is really wild 80 one day 40 the next.  Sun one minuet rain the next.  When it rains it comes down like a fire hose.  It's not just a lot of water but very hard really sounds loud on the RV roof.  Lots of thunder, bring down the tv antena just not asking for trouble kind of thunder.  We had one hit so close the RV rocked.         

Saturday, May 14, 2011

The road trip

We had a great time on the road, we stopped and visited family and friends. First stop was lunch with Alisha and Wyatt (Jaiden was in school).  Sushi is good when you are with with someone who knows what to order, Wyatt knows what to order.  Next stop Bob & Dianne Kendrick for dinner in Auburn, they are doing great looking forward to spending some time with their Daughter Kristen in Florida.
     Then over the mountain to Utah.  Pulled in to Provo for a few days with the Walls (Marjorie's daughter's family).  Took a drive up the canyon for a little time with the granddaughters, the girls are doing great with life and school.  Kimberly graduating BYU, Chelsea graduating high school, planning a trip to Europe with Alisha, how cool two sisters loose, look out world.  Jennifer & Jeramey Brady celebrating their 2nd year of marriage with a super holiday and Cruise out of Florida.  While in Utah we visited with Marjorie's cousin Jan who marjorie had not seen in many a year, had lunch with sister Wirth, she is doing great looking after the health of the missionaries, and dinner with sister Jenkins in Logan, nice little place she lives in surrounded by family and friends.  Of course we had dinner with the Robbins Brent & Suzie and there little guy Ethan.
     On the road again to Denver CO to see Paul (Marjorie's son) and sister Sheryl & Arlyn we had dinner with both you can see a pattern here we are doing a lot of driving and eating.  Back on the road to Omaha NE for some time with the Deckers.  They have a very nice home, we went to watch the boys play some little league ball with dad as coach.  Had a nice Easter Sunday dinner with their Bishop who served a Vietnamese speaking mission in Australia, the church is truly all over the world.
     On the road to Michigan to see the Elder & Sister Poulsen.  They are serving as CES missionaries at Michigan State University.  They have their o
wn apt. in student housing and teach in the Institute building across the parking lot.  Chech out their blog at http://poulsensmission.blogspot.com/.  They are very busy working with the collage youth and teaching classes.  A short stop to see some family in Royal Oaks MI, you guessed it dinner with Marjorie's cousins Fred & Beth, Nancy & Nils.  A little genealogy was exchanged.  Then a run to our new home away from home in Kirtland Ohio.  Last touch was a visit to Tim & Amy Karren who moved here to Ohio after a time in the Bay Area.  Tim served in the Stake Youngmens with me and he and Amy lived with us for a time.  They have a great home here in Ohio and 4 terrific kids.  They Love the Gospel and are truly blessed here in Ohio.
     There is lots more to come as the work never stops.
                                                             Love you all Elder and Sister Cook

Pictures 1 The Walls

        &nbtsp;    2 Brent and Ethan

             3 The rig 





                                           The Walls
                                    
                                           Brent and Ethan     

                                          The Rig