Oh, Yeah: A "White" St. Patricks Day!

March 9-15

SUNDAY    Daylight saving time robbed me of a little sleep before Church.  We even had to go a little early as they had ask Rhonda to play prelude and the opening song just in case the regular lady didn’t make it with the time change.  There was a young Marine from NH to Church with his Korean girlfriend (non-member) and they came to the memorial for our only guests.

Family Home Evening Group 3-9-2014

MONDAY  -  We spent some time practicing over several  music pieces  to play for FHE tonight.  Rhonda on the accordion and me on the melodica. We also tried to do a little practicing while we were on shift but we were interrupted several times with visitors which was OK with us.  Rhonda was the basic program for FHE.  She played several songs on the accordion and did a great job.  I tried to accompany her for a couple songs on the melodica and made several mistakes along the way but I think they got the jest of what it was supposed to sound like. I spent the rest of the evening just doing some odds and ends until the BYU game came on TV at 11:30pm.  I was only going to watch a few minutes but it ended up being a close game and so I had to stay to the end (which was 1:29am).  BYU ended up winning by 2 points in overtime so I guess it was worth it.



TUESDAY -  Beside our weekly training meeting with all JSBM Missionaries, we had visitors come to the Memorial. As usual, they seemed to all come at the same time.  We were even late getting home but no problem as we cancelled institute due to spring break at the university along with Relief Society parties, etc.   After we had something to eat, I went for a walk but had to come home after dark and the puddles on the sidewalk were getting iced over so was glad to get back in one piece.  Watched BYU in the WCCD championship game but I think they were out of gas from the OT win the night before so they lost.  I at least went to bed on my schedule for a change.

WEDNESDAY     We were scheduled to do the all day shift today.  Well, it was snowing in the morning when we got up and snowed all day.  Shortly after 1:00pm the Osborn’s sent us home as there was nothing going on but snow.  The FM supervisors sent the other missionaries home saying that Vermont was going to start closing highways due to the extreme storm.  We met three snowplows on the way back to the apartment.  The roads were very slick and it snowed all the rest of the day. 

 

 

 

 

THURSDAY   We learned this morning that this is the 12^th largest snow storm since they started keeping records.  It took me 45 minutes to get the car cleaned enough to get to work at the Memorial.  Elder Osborn said he measured 16 inches of new snow and the wind probably blew additional away.  We had the afternoon shift as we had earlier chosen to work today and take our day off on Friday this week.  We were anticipating Randy's family coming for a few days during Halen's Spring Break.  However, the storm closed the Burlington airport and caused all kinds of havic so they didn't make it.  It was cold and blowing snow all day long and of course, no visitors came to the Memorial.  
FRIDAY   We went shopping to W. Lebanon in the morning and then in the afternoon we joined with the Harman’s and Mooney’s for a trip to the Boston Temple.  They were staying overnight and so  Ryan was sweet and generous to give us some of his Marriott points so we could join them.    We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Waltham, MA--quite close to the Temple. 

After checking in we drove downtown Waltham and finally ended up eating at a Mexican place called Marquarita’s.  Same chain as we went to in NH with Osborn’s.  We then stopped at Costco where I renewed my membership for another year.  I think I can save enough on gas to pay my membership.  While we were at Costco, Elder Harman got a text back from President Stoker saying that it was good to go to the Temple but we were supposed to be back in the mission boundaries to spend the night but since we already had hotel reservations, he would let us go this time.   Maybe easier to get forgiveness than permission but we really didn’t understand the policy good enough to do different.  

SATURDAY   We enjoyed a nice session at the Temple.  We saw a “new” film that we hadn’t seen before.  This one seemed to be a little more personal and yet a little more gentle than the last new one we saw in Boston. 


 
After the Temple session we drove into downtown Boston.  Things are really crazy there and driving is pretty intense. Things are also quite expensive.  Weekend parking was a little better, we found a lot for $9.00.  We walked down to Boston Harbor and looked around and found a place for lunch/dinner called Legal Seafood.  Food also seemed expensive, $16.95 for fish and chips.  After eating, we walked around downtown for a little while then headed back up the interstate for home.  We made a stop in Manchester NH for the ladies to shop at Michael’s.  We arrived home about 8:15pm and were glad to be here.  We were both to bed earlier that we had been in quite a while.

Shots taken around Boston Harbor