Quick Visit Home to Las Vegas

Lucky me!!! I was able to take a quick weekend trip home to Las Vegas to visit Toni, Trevor and Sophie. We did sooo many things but just being together was the best. We toured some stores for cooking stuff and bought a few things. Toni needed a grain mill and a pressure cooker and a bread board and just so many great things. Toni and Trevor were able to get to the temple for some family sealing work I brought them. We went out to dinner to Cafe Rio and lunch at this really good pizza place and church and, well it ended way too soon. But I will be heading home in June so that will be even greater fun.

 Packed

 Ticket in hand

 Di plane, di plane

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 At the temple - notice the ray of sun shinning down on them. A special family

 Me and my babe

 Sunday after church

Until we meet again

Nimitz Museum and the National Museum of the Pacific War

On Presidents Day the office was closed so I took myself on a road trip to Frederickburg, TX about 4 hours from Houston to see these 2 museums. It was soooo amazing!!! The story of the Nimitz family was fascinating. Having the backround on him put the WWII museum in better perspective. The Nimitz museum is in their old hotel that was built by his grandfather back in the 1850s. The hotle has been restored but it only used as a museum and meeting center. Across the courtyard and down is the Pacific WWII museum. It was so full of information, pictures, displays and everything that had to do with the war in the Pacific. It started with the ancient conflict between the Japanese and the Chinese. Much of this was a catalyst for the war. Japan wanted to expand it's empire but we were supportive of the Chinese whom the Japanese wanted to conquer. From there the history went into Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and all the battles. Inside the museum was a submarine, 2 airplanes, a jeep and many other guns and articles of personal belongings. There was an iron door from the USS Arizona that sunk at Pearl Harbor. They also had a replica of the atomic boom. What I found very interesting was one of the crew of the Enola Gay was named Thomas Ferebee. Since we have Farabee in our family tree I am curious if there is any connection since the name was spelled many different ways. Needless to say by the time I was done the museum was closing at 5:00. I had been there for almost 5 hours. There was just so much to see and learn. One of the highlites of my mission. There was one more museum I wasn't able to go thru because it is by tour only. It was down the street and had more military hardware displays including a PT boat like my Dad served on. I hope I can go back to do that tour. I would like to have a picture of the boat. Long drive back but all was well. On the way back I saw this great metallic sculpture so I had to stop and take a picture. amazing what some people can do.

 Nimitz Hotel

 Admiral Nimitz

 Entrance to National Museum of Pacific War WWII

 My Dad and what he did

 Down on the right is an island my Dad served on Funnafuti

 The Aleutian Island which my Dad spent 6-9 months before the war ended to protect them

 Steer Sculpture

Zone Conference February 13th

I love Zone Conference. There is soooo much to learn. President Mortensen is an amazing teacher. WE must have a Vision, then set Goals and make a Plan for success. He also spoke about teaching baptism but my mind took another turn and I thought of a great way to teach the Atonement to Lena and Gabe. I'm going to try it out on Toni and Trevor. Since we can't take pictures in the chapel I took them at lunch.

The sister on the right sings like crazy!

Sister Bray's unfortunate event

Saturdays I spend at the temple. Sister Bray usually goes out with the other missionaries sight seeing or other stuff. so last Saturday she went on a Gulf of Houston boat tour with the Halls. While on the deck she stepped back and tripped on a deck claw. when she fell she landed on her arm and broke her shoulder. she will be without her right arm for 6 weeks. So no driving, somersaults and other fun and games.

Rudy's Ludy's and Luby's

Yes, it is confusing. These are 3 places to eat BBQ. Ludy's is by far my favorite located in Woodland, CA. In Houston there is Rudy's which seems to be most every ones favorites but I don't think it's as good as Ludy's. But sometimes when referring to Rudy's I say Ludy's and everyone thinks I mean Luby's which is not very popular and is a cafeteria style restaurant. Needless to say they think I have lost my mind and maybe I have... Just sayin.

 Here are 2 pictures of Rudy's, not to get confused with Ludy's , one of Ludy's logo and one of Luby's.

Ludy's BBQ in Woodland, CA

Fire Bugs

To start off the week we had Fire Extinguisher training. Everyone from the building including peanut factory, home storage, Bishop's storehouse, employment and family services gathered at the back of the building. Our instructor instructed us in the use of chemical and dry ice fire extinguishers. We the had the exciting opportunity to put out 2 fires. He poured gas on top of water and then lit it. We then had 2 use the extinguishers to put the fire out. A good diversion for the day.

 The gathering

 The instruction

 The fire!

 Sister Gaughan putting our 1 of her fires

 Stacey from the peanut butter factory putting out her fire

 Elder Gaughan ditto

Matt from family services ditto

Glorious Day Off!

January 19th we were closed for Martin Luther Kings Birthday so I made plans to go see the sights. First on my list was the Holocaust museum in downtown Houston in their museum district. I left early to make sure I wouldn't have any traffic problems and was the first one thru the doors. By the time I left, the museum was packed. It was very sad, disturbing and very moving. I read all the articles and watched part of the survivors film but the stories became to horrible to listen to so I left. I was there over 3 hours and it isn't a very large building. Just so much to learn. It's hard to believe mans inhumanity to man but it continues today. After learning all I did I can see that Hitler was a catalyst to the horrors we see today. He set the bar and monsters are trying to outdo him in our day.
After the museum I went on a long drive up into the rolling hills north of Houston. It was beautiful even in the winter. After I left the big city behind I found myself wandering down tree lined highways passing thru little and very little towns. I wanted to see where my candidates who live in these parts experience life. It made me miss home with the quiet and farm land and animals. Once I passed thru Livingston after stopping at Charlie's Family restaurant, where I had a sneaky suspicion they used Miracle Whip on my BLT, I continued on driving instead of turning around and heading back home. I passed thru more small dots on the map and finally stopped at Carrigan. I visited a small roadside fruit stand and bought raw honey, tomatoes and mawhaw jelly. The proprietor was so nice to talk to. She was telling me it was a great place to live but the cost of living was so high. Why a house cost as much as $40,000. Outrageous she thought. HAHA!!! I know many who would jump at the chance to buy a house for that much, so funny. I promised her I would be back. I then took highway 190 back to Huntsville passing over Trinity Lake. It looks kind of shallow but a nice size lake. Blue water but very light blue which made me think it was shallow. The drive to Huntsville was also very relaxing and all too soon ended. Back down a busy highway 45 to home. I was going to get gas but the traffic was backed up all the way from The Woodlands to my exit due to an awful semi accident. But that's the way the freeway traffic is around Houston, AWFUL!

 This is a cement roof that rises from the ground up. Each square represents a town that was completely destroyed by the Nazis. This is just a partial list. It is huge and you can't even see it all.

 If I had thought sooner I would have taken a picture of the rail car when I was looking at it. It is small so it is very hard to believe the Nazis crammed over 100 people in it.

 On the road again

And again