Happy Canada Day ! ! !

We hope it isn't too hot to celebrate.  We are supposed to be in the hot country.  We have had thunder storms all week, temperatures in the 80's, and are so grateful for small blessings.   You children out west - be careful with your little ones.  That is scorching weather - even in usually cooler Logan.

Castleton Birthday Time

Alyssa Snarr will be 9 years old July 7th.  She was baptised last year the weekend we went into the MTC.  She is such a wonderful big sister.

Sky Hansen will be 3 July 19th.  I think the little ones have changed the most in the year we have been away.  She was just learning to talk when we left.  Now she jabbers away like her siblings.  Three is such a magical age!

Maximo Capsolas will be 3 on the 24th of July.  This was how he looked when we left!  Now he is a true boy and a bundle of energy.

It occurs to us that we will be home next year for these special days.  My goodness - the days are going fast!  We are starting a new planner tomorrow - just in time to welcome the New Georgia Macon Mission.  We meet the President next Friday morning,  and then say goodbye to five of our Young Elders completing their missions.  One is our District Leader here in Milledgeville; another, a beloved Assistant to the President;  and another one of the Elders who sustained us during our first weeks in the mission.

Changes are invigorating, but still difficult.
We fulfilled our little assignment to speak about Missionary Work during the 5th Sunday Joint session.  It seems like such a small thing once it is over, but it caused many stressful moments in the preparation. It seemed like the perfect time to do some training from the June 23rd broadcast, but we thought that should come from the Ward, not us.

Our young Elders had dinner with us, as their appointment fell through, and then we spent some delightful time with our new ward members, wishing our newest 90 year old friend Happy Birthday.
She is a wonderful upbeat, happy woman.  I wish I had a better picture.  She raised the husband of one of our Diann's in Dublin, so we had an instant connection.

Carrie Belle Pounds (90) -  center, with her daughter Jan Dominey - left
and her childhood friend Erma Quinn - right.