Lots of Celebrating

My Birthday Balloons.  My favorite is the smiling one - almost looks like he's laughing

Monday turned out to be a better day that anticipated.  It would have been Michelle’s 37th birthday.  I was really missing her on Sunday, but  Monday turned Ok.  I seemed to be able to focus on the positive things.  I did put out a tribute to her on FaceBook and really appreciated all of you that put some memories about her in response.  She is a pretty amazing woman.  We feel honored to be her parents.

We’ve been having trouble with our tire in the rear being super loud.  We finally decided to have someone look at it on Monday.  It was a bad wheel baring.  So we got that fixed on Tuesday morning.  We worked on lessons, visited Renee in the hospital, and got things ready for the week.  It seems to go by so fast.

Tuesday, was the car repair, another visit with Renee and a lesson afterwards.  Our lesson was on the Plan of Salvation (our favorite).  I even printed out some nice visuals for the lesson.  For those of you who don’t know what the plan of Salvation is - it discusses where we come from, why we are here on earth and what happens when this life is finished.  All of it centering on Jesus Christ and His atonement.  It doesn’t get any more basic than that. 

One of the people we teach are anxious to get Christmas decorations up (tree in the background) but of course can't skip Halloween

Wednesday was my birthday!!  Anyone that knows me well, knows how crazy I am about my birthday.  I will blame it all on my mom.  She always made our birthdays a very special day and I always felt so loved on my birthday.  Walt learned that quickly and really does a great job making it a big deal for me.   I did learn years ago that it really wasn’t up to everyone else to make it special, I could be the one to initiate the fun and excitement.  This year I didn’t have to do anything - well, except my usual about stating my birthday was coming up.  I just get so excited that when any date brought up in conversation that is anywhere near my birthday, it spews out - “That’s right near my birthday.”

Our plans were to teach seminary, and then head to Billings for our Zone Conference on the 24th.  We stayed with the Solomons and were going out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse that evening.  At seminary, I had quite the surprise.  I had already told our students that I was bringing in muffins since it was my birthday.  We also have started having hot chocolate available as well.  They love it.  About 10 minutes into the lesson, in walk Becky Checketts, Sis Knight and Kristy Knight (her daughter).  They had balloons, gifts, and breakfast burritos!!  I was totally caught off guard.  It about made me cry.  That was so sweet of them; especially since it was so early in the morning.  The students were totally good with extra breakfast.  I did tell them since it was my birthday, they had to be really good at giving answers and interaction for the lesson.  They came through just fine.

My birthday goodies the ladies brought

Our car after putting all the birthday and seminary stuff in

I also got snow for my birthday.  I think that is a first for me.  I’m pretty sure it’s just winter now.  Fall was over in only 2 weeks.  Some other things I received for gifts were: a very plush blanket from Sue.  It is so warm.  We really enjoyed it on our way home from Billings on Saturday (another snowy day).  Everything seems to get warm in our car except our laps.  Problem solved.  Walt bought me a Warmmie.  It’s a stuffed animal with lavender and other herbs in the body.  You can then put it in the microwave and it’s nice and toasty and smells amazing.  I’m never too old for something like that.  It took a while to pick which one I wanted.  I had it narrowed down to the wolf and a cow.  I asked Walt which one and he says - “Duh - the cow!”  Ace is going to be so jealous.    My mom sent me some really cute socks - two pair have Minnie Mouse and some money to buy something I want.  I’ll have to think on it.  Beth made a pretty cool video on FaceBook with pictures of me and all those I love - over the years.  I loved it.  Kate and Drake called on their way to class and wished me a Happy Birthday.  They seem quite happy - those newly weds!!

My new super soft and warm blanket and my "warmie" cow

My presents from the ladies - candle, prayer box, picture album and picture frame and cards

Us on the way home from Billings, keeping our laps warm with my birthday blanket

Our drive to Billings went very well.  We got there just in time to visit a few minutes at the Mission Office and get some children’s Book of Mormons.  Everyone was wishing me a happy birthday.  Dinner was so yummy at Texas Roadhouse.  I have Beth to thank for introducing us to that place.  We always supported the businesses where our daughters worked.  The Solomons gave me a nice card and some Huckleberry Truffles.  Huckleberry is “the” berry of Montana.  I think it only grows in Montana.  I went for the dark chocolate one - sooo yummy!!  Then we played a game called “Quiddler”. It’s a really fun game with cards that are letters and you see how many words you can make with what you have.  That’s the jist of it.  The first game, they started without me because I needed to talk with Dad and then Kristy on the phone.  I pulled in a decent last place and then slammed them on the second game.  Everyone agreed it was just to be nice to me on my birthday.  

The next day was Zone Conference.  The way it works is this - missionaries serve over one or more wards.  Our young elders serve over 3 wards.  Then we have 4 sets of missionaries in Gillette and us - that makes a district.  Two districts side by side make a Zone.  There are 13 zones in our mission.  We have about 200 missionaries in our mission.  It varies how many zones will meet together for a Zone Conference.  Most of the ones we have attended only have 2 or 3 zones meet together.  Our mission is quite spread out.  So this Zone Conference we had 4 zones all together - about 110 missionaries!!   Since we have been here a while, it was great to see some old faces that we haven’t seen in a while.  Elder Glover was one of them.  He is the Elder that started in Newcastle one week before we got there.  We say we all “grew up” together. 

Zone Conference is divided up into sections/classes per se.  The mission president speaks to us once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  We hear from most of the Zone leaders.  There is always lunch provided by one of the wards that attend in that particular building.  This conference all the young missionaries get their flu shot.  That’s a lot of shots. They don’t have nurses giving them, just some other missionaries.  Makes me glad we got ours done already.

The conference gives us all motivation and a spiritual boost.  It also builds camaraderie.  Serving a mission is tough stuff.  Anyone that has ever served one will tell you.  We didn’t think it would be as tough for us since we don’t have to knock doors, have the same companion the whole time and don’t have to transfer to other places.  But it’s tough missing our family, lack of sleep and just the constant going and going.  But we’ve been through way harder things before.  We are being tremendously blessed and are grateful we chose to come and serve.

The conference was over about 3:30, and we had just enough time to get to the temple for an endowment session at 4 pm.  We did two sessions back to back and some other ordinances as well.  We love - love going to the temple.  It’s so peaceful and we know the work is important.  It helps us be reminded of the covenants we have made there and how being true to those covenants blesses our lives and helps us to focus on the Savior.

The Solomons work the Thursday evening shift at the temple, so it worked great for us to be there until they were home.  We were all pretty exhausted by then and no one stayed up past 9:30.  They were at the Zone Conference also.  Friday morning, they were off to the mission office and we went back to the temple for another endowment session.  It’s silly not to take advantage of being right there.   

Then we were off to see Red Lodge.  It’s only an hour from Billings and a place we had not seen yet.  We’ve really only seen the parts of Montana that are along the route to Billings.  Elder Glover is serving in Red Lodge and we figured we could have lunch with him and his companion.  He is training a brand new missionary - has been for the last 5 weeks actually.  Red Lodge is smaller than Newcastle, but is near a ski resort, so is fancier.  We ate at a Mexican place.  Their apartment is actually right above it.  They hear a lot of Mexican music.  It was great to catch up.  We shared what has been going on in Newcastle, and they shared what the work is like there in Red Lodge.  After lunch, we drove up in the mountain area.  Much cooler and lots of snow.  It was so beautiful though.  We never get enough of that type of scenery.  It was then back to Billings (the other way back towards Newcastle was through a pass and it is closed for the winter.). We were able to make a quick Costco run.  We had arranged at the last minute to stay in Sheridan with the Bailey’s since it was getting late.  It can be sketchy driving at night between Sheridan and Newcastle.  There are lots of wildlife that will run across the road.  We’ve seen plenty of hits as we driven back and forth.  

Having lunch with Elder Birth (trainee) and Elder Glover (trainer)

Our trip into the mountains at Red Lodge

Road up the mountain at Red Lodge

It has started feeling like having another home when we stay at the Baileys.  The kids all run and give us hugs.  Benson (the 2 yr old) loves Walt.  He knew we were coming and was waiting at the door (glass one).  He was trying hard to get it open and was so excited we were there.  It was a short but welcome visit with them.  We set up some appointments with Dr. Bailey for teeth cleanings the same week-end we are working at the temple in November.  More TV while we get our teeth cleaned.  We left the next morning trying to beat the approaching snow.  Again!!  We have decided that winter is just here to stay.  Grin and bear it.

We were only driving in snow for a little while and by the time we got home, it was blue skies and much warmer - in the 40’s.  It was really windy, but we welcomed the sunshine.  I think both of us were so done with driving.  We love seeing places and visiting, but everything is so spread out that it takes forever to get any where.  Also nice to sleep in our own bed.   All my birthday balloons are still going strong and my birthday display is still up.  It just reminds me of the love and kindness this ward and our family has shown me.

Our blue skies near Newcastle

Sunday was church and a very cold day.  It was only about 25 degrees for the high.  Gary went, so the Elders met me there and we rode on to church.  We were having a special “Linger Longer”  afterwards.  We have a gentleman in the ward who has lived here most of his life.  His is a widower and wants to live closer to his children and grandchildren in Utah.  He finally sold his house and we were having this in honor of him.  So I thought.  Everyone pitched in and got all the food out and tables set up.  Then the Bishop says Becky wanted a few words before we prayed and ate.  I was expecting a speech about Ron.  Nope - she starts off saying how it was my birthday this past week and they wanted to celebrate it AND Brother Moody !!   What!!!  Everyone started to sing and I was so touched.  I had no idea.  I found out Walt had known since last week.  Later the Bishop came over and asked did I know before hand.  I told him - not at all.  He was shocked knowing our ward and how poorly they keep a secret.  What a sweet thing to do!

My birthday "Linger Longer".  The Bishop is the one in the suit at the serving table and beside him is Richard Smith.  The boy on the crutches is one of our seminary students.  

Gary and I at the Linger Longer.  Becky is at the table behind ours.  Brown Hair

Pretty good crowd.  Everyone loves to stay for food!

We left once it was over to take Gary home in Upton.  It was flurrying when we left.  By the time we got to Upton, the roads were covered and it was snowing quite a bit.  Crazy weather!!  It was kind of weird - I noticed on the way back, that there seemed to almost be a line between clear roads and snow covered roads.  We’re grateful Newcastle was on the clear side.  The rest of the day and evening were pretty quiet.  We took a little nap and then worked on seminary.  Today was Jeopardy!!  The kids seem to like it and it gives us an idea of what they are really learning.  

Driving to Gary's after church

It was a very cold start - 10 degrees.  It’s going to get colder for the next few days.  We have a tire that has been leaking and we have a compressor we keep in the back of the car.  I guess tires will leak faster in colder weather.  We didn’t realize until we were driving home from seminary that our tire was flat.  We pulled off the road to pump it up, but it was too flat.  Changing a tire in 15 degree weather is not fun.  Everything was going fine until the old tire would NOT come off.  So I flagged down a man to get him to help us.  It worked!!

Just a screen shot of our weather forecast for the week.

We had already scheduled an appointment while we are in Gillette today for a missionary meeting to get new tires.  Perfect timing.  That is what we are doing right now; waiting for it to be finished.  We’re hanging out at the Subway in Walmart.  The door to the Auto Center is broke and open.  It’s 23 degrees outside.  So Subways it is.  I wished they served hot chocolate.

Sorry this has gone a bit longer than usual.  Thank you grandchildren for sending us cards.  Our replies are in the mail.  We will really miss being with our grandchildren for Halloween.  It’s one of my favorite times with the kids.  We were so happy when we lived close enough to Trick or Treat with them.  We are counting on lots of pictures in costumes.  In Newcastle, there is Trick or Treating on Main St from 4:30 to 6:30 with all the business and some people just set up a little table to hand out candy.  We will probably go to that.  The high will be all the way up to 39 degrees that day!!  Balmy!!!

These two pictures are some signs I noticed outside of Red Lodge.  Not really sure who they are directed at.