Happy End of a Wonderful Weekend, Everybody!
It really has been a good last couple of days....even if everybody was either in Idaho or Utah except for us! We thought about missing out on the traditions of this weekend, but even though much is about tradition, more is about meaning. Our first Sunday here in Ithaca was a Conference weekend as well and it's interesting how much has changed in our lives since then. Number 1, we know everybody we're sharing the two days with; number 2 we know how to make the computer work when we can't just turn on the TV to access Conference; number 3 we know how many days until summer comes....well, maybe. We woke up this morning to another 5 inches of snow....our dozen little pink and purple flowers are covered.
We so appreciate Conference and watching it with the missionaries because for the first time in their lives they're appreciating it too! On Saturday they came to our house where we ate taco soup at least 3 times in the 4 plus hour period and a giant bag of Easter candy. On Sunday we migrated over to President and Sister Kruger's house with the same group plus a few YSA who didn't leave for the spring break holiday....for both sessions and Easter dinner in between. They live in a home on a couple of acres of woods and the giant snowflakes out their BIG living room windows were beautiful. We're anxious for the transcripts of Conference to be released so we can start all over again! But here's a Conference Moment: After the Saturday afternoon session sustainings, we were a little subdued even though the talks were wonderful. But then it came time for the rest hymn, and you would not have believed the six missionaries in our living room. We all stood and in the "voice" of a much bigger choir than 6 (including two tone-deaf Elders :-)) we sang "We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet" along with all the rest of you. It was powerful! How eternally grateful we are to have the restored Gospel that brings us doctrines and principles through the prophetic leadership of apostles and prophets. We truly are grateful!
What a great time out for the Happy Easter skype! What would we do without technology!! But it's the over 6 foot boys that amaze us. How can you grow that much in such a short time. We envy most of you being in Idaho this week. Our week of "vacation" is over and for the next 4 weeks we'll be back to Cooking Every Second besides the other things we'll be doing. We have 4 more weeks of Friday Forum and then a summer break which will be welcome. We'll be trying this week after the break to learn how to count our blessings:-)! I never know how to make this smiley face work.....sorry if it's upside down or backwards.
Well.....there was another time-out because it's now Monday night and we just didn't get finished last night. But just add a great 3rd day to the weekend and count Monday. We're sluffing FHE tonightbecause we just got home from a wonderful CES visit for Institute teachers in our mission in Palmyra that lasted all day. It was led by our most amazing Matt Baker who's our direct supervisor and two other outstanding supervisors from Pennsylvania, Brothers Done and McBride. So get this.....Today on April 6th, the 185th anniversary of the organization of the Church, we were standing in the Peter Whitmer cabin in Fayette, New York being taught by the experts on this oh so important event. What an absolutely (just ran out of adjectives) experience this was. After spending time there, we went on to Palmyra and spent the rest of the time in the Grandin Blg. talking about the Book of Mormon and the publishing and anything else we wanted to talk about and then we finished up at the Sacred Grove. It was such a great experience that we didn't even get to the Hill Cumorah or Alvin Smith's grave or the Martin Harris farm or anywhere else they were planning to take us. Our next trip will be in a month or so with the same group (6 of us senior missionaries who are CES) down to Harmony, Pennsylvania to the almost completed Priesthood Restoration site.....and these 3 men who taught us today have the keys to the kingdom down there. It's not open yet and probably won't be dedicated until after we come home so it will be doubly great to be able to go.
Time to go catch up on our today tonight so that we can get what needs to be done the rest of the week without loosing our minds....we're back in panic mode for the next 4 weeks. We love you all! As we listened to the wonderful counsel on the importance of the family in Conference we counted our blessings and named them over and over and over and over.....and you all have names! Have a good rest of the week and remember that the deer come out at 7:00!! Whether in Idaho or Utah!!
XOXOXOXOXO Dad and Mom and Gpa and Gma and E and E-ette Jolley
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