End of January

January 15-30

Good-Bye Harmans

Since the beginning of a new year, we decided to resume our once-a month senior couples get-together night.  This month the Mooneys were in charge and they hosted a farewell party for the Harmans on January 21.  So the theme of the night was "Everything Harman" --which was mainly:  dairy and potato farmers, Kent's hobbies of golf and woodworking, and Tami's talent as an artist.
The decorations, food, and games were cleverly centered around these things. The potato bar and other food was all delicious.  We had dinner on the main floor of their cabin, then the games eventually took us to all three levels with activities such as miniature golf, pickup sticks, pictionary, whiffle ball toss, and even an FM relay race.  Most activities were similar to "minute to win it" type games.  Everything was very unique and hilarious.  We didn't get home until 11:00 pm.  It was really a fun night and we feel grateful for the wonderful friends we have made here.

Mike dressed the part to explain about the golf challenge activity

We all watched as Kent & Tami came upstairs to the "golf course" room

View of Mooneys' Cabin from Dairy Hill Road

Zoomed In

The "FM Challenge" involved putting on the FM Shirt, taking 3 ibuprofen (cany pills), grabbing the vacuum, putting on the latex gloves, spray & wipe the bowl (i.e.toilet), go to the garbage can & remove the old garbage, get a new plastic sack from the roll, open new sack & tie it inside the basket.  The fastest time got 500 bonus points!

Harmans saying "good-bye" at their last FHE

Staying at the Memorial

Thursday, January 22.  The Osborn’s picked us up at 4:30pm as we were going to drive with them to Manchester so they could get away for a couple of weeks as they had been promised when they were made director.  We went to the Mission Home (our first time to the mission home after 17 months of the mission) where the Stoker’s had prepared a lovely dinner.  Pres. Stoker took us on a tour of the mission home and we had a good visit.  Pres. Stoker gave me a beautiful tie with the Joseph Smith Monument on it.  Sister Stoker give Rhonda a Temple Clothes bag with the Boston Temple embroidered on it.  We didn’t stay too long after dinner and the tour before we decided to head back to the apartment driving Osborn’s car.    It was a great way to spend our “day off”.   The next day when we went to the Memorial, we took clothes and food as we knew we would be staying there until February 9.

Taken through the kitchen window of the residence - quite the view!

Snow is definitely starting to mount up

Residence

Visitors Center

Walkway from Residence

Happy 2015 !!!

My, How Time Flies!

I have been behind on my blog since last summer, but will get some highlights finished before our mission comes to an end.

Different Lights

Sunday - December 28, 2014

[Yes, I am back-tracking a little.  Because I had so many pictures of our (JSM) Christmas Lights in December, I decided to put these pictures here.]

After our Sunday shift, we decided to go to Enfield, NH to see the only other Christmas light display in the area (about 30 miles from here).  It was at a Catholic Church facility called LaCelette.  It was a nice display with lots of Christmas festive lights and sayings all mounted on metal frames and stuck in the ground so much easier to display that in the trees at the JSM.  It was a very nice display however and lots of them.  When we got home, we called Rhett’s house where all our family (all children and grandchildren) had assembled for a Holiday Party.  The gr. kids all sang a couple of songs over the phone which was nice to hear them.  We are happy for them to all be together again, even though only briefly.  It was certainly good to talk/hear their voices.  We have been blessed with a terrific family!

We missed seeing this display last year and many people said 2014 was going to be the last year.

 

Fridgid January

January in Vermont can be summarized in one word:  COLD!  This reading on the car dash board was early in the month.  As time went on, the temperatures and wind chill continued to drop.  We had many days that the weatherman reported 20-40 degrees below zero.  Even when the air temperature didn't show that cold, the wind chill definitely did.  Luckily, we are not outside very much.

Zone Conference

On January 20, a zone conference was held at the South Royalton chapel.  President and Sister Stoker came Monday evening and stayed at the Residence.  We had our exit interview with President Stoker at 8:00 p.m.  We just waited at the office after FHE until they came.
After the morning session of conference, the senior couples went up to the Monument to have a group picture.  But at mid-day we were all looking directly into the sun--which was too bright for comfort.  So we decided the picture would have to be taken inside.  This would be the last good chance to take a picture before the Harmons leave the mission.

Ogdens, Harmans, Osborns, Petersens, Mooneys

A Wonderful Holdiay Season

A talented family that enjoyed singing Christmas songs

December 15-30

Various Visitors

The month of December is such a special time at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial.  The hours are extended from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and the number of guests increase dramatically.  The evening hours are especially interesting because of the diverse groups that come from all around New England.

Yummy! Cookies and Hot Cider

This is a youth group from the Randolph Community Church

They came last year, too.  They loved singing Christmas Carols

Newell Dayley spent some time visiting during the Holidays.






He has written music and is trying to finalize the script for the 1st JSBM Pageant to be performed next July (2015).  It will be called:  "Out of Vermont" so he is interviewing people that have been around a long time and know stories from the history and heritage of this location.

 Happy Birthday! Joseph Smith

 December 23 is a very special date.  Of course, it was on this day in 1805 that Joseph Smith Jr. was born right here--at this sacred place!  It is only natural that a celebration takes place on this 209th anniversary.

We appreciate the Jim and Tasha Parker family from Nashua, New Hampshire for performing for over 350 people at the ‪JSBMemorial‬ to help commemorate this event.  This family of twelve children is absolutely amazing!  Some are serving missions or attending BYU, but there was still plenty of talent to go around.  They all play various instruments and sing, as well.  It was a wonderful evening!

 

Merry Christmas

Christmas morning began at our apartment for breakfast.  We start with a breakfast get-together because December 25 is also Sister Osborn's birthday.  We also have to have a time before the Visitor Center opens because that requires one couple to be on shift.  This year the FM Missionaries (Harmans & Mooneys) took advantage of their time off to go on a little Christmas vacation. That left the three Visitor Center Couples:  Osborns, Ogdens, and Petersens.

Our apartment Christmas Tree!

Our Christmas Stockings!

Christmas Dinner at the Residence with V.C. Missionaries and a few Ward members

Loved all the Christmas Cards !!!