Sometimes you just have to ask, "Why?"

All it took was a couple of people saying "You should take Wards Ferry (road) in the Spring.  The flowers are really beautiful.  It just comes alive."  That's what Fred heard.  I heard all the other people  who said, "Are you kidding?  I would never go Wards Ferry.  Single lane, curves, steep drop offs... No way."  Well, it stirred his 'adventurer's blood' enough that he found a soon found a friend willing to make the trip - our branch president!!

I told them I took this picture so the EMT's would know who they were looking for.  Then I sent them off.  A couple of hours later they arrived back in Groveland, happy as two clams (I don't know, how happy is that?)  Here are a couple of shots Fred took, although photos never do justice in a landscape shot.

Now at this point, after reading this descriptive sign, wouldn't most people consider taking the advice posted?  Just saying...

Here is one of President Whitmer's observations about this path:  "Oh it's not so bad.  You hardly ever meet someone coming the other way.  I only hit somebody once - a Highway Patrol.  They tried to say I should have honked before coming around the curve so it was my fault.   But they paid for the repairs to my truck."

The view out Fred's car window ....











Now let see, where were those amazing fields of flowers? Oh yeah, here you go...  yeah...

Here's another adventurer who would have gladly made the trip.  Jim's made a lifetime full of them because he's been a fire fighter and paramedic his whole life, most recently up here.  He's also the owner of the garage I told about last week.   A while back, I asked President Whitmer what we do up here for a doctor.  He said, "We just count on Jim to be able to patch most people up."  And he's right - Jim is pretty knowledgeable about  all things medical as well as being a very worthy holder of the priesthood.  It's a good thing, too, because medical care up here on the mountain is actually making England's look good!  Well, that's all I'm saying about that...



We began our volunteer work at the Little House this week!  Here are a couple of pictures of the main building.  Pretty sweet, isn't it!

 I'm standing in the kitchen area to take this.









 And here's the other view.  When summer comes, Denise says they have all sorts of evening gatherings out on the patio.  Such a wonderful idea for the people in this area.  We love it.

 So Denise said to us the other day, "You'll have to forgive me.  I'm all scattered mentally because I'm trying to give up coffee."  We said, "Boy, have you got the right volunteers to support you in that!"

Right now, Fred is helping with their volunteer database.   I'm doing data entry for them.  So far we work with Denise, Linda and Paula.  Wednesday we met about eight other really nice people that serve on their leadership committee.  And Paula held an 'iphone training' with everyone!  It was great!
("Okay, does everyone know how to send and pick up a text?")

 We can even do work for the Little House on our home computer at 'nerve central' while I'm preparing for visits!

 The view on the way into Modesto for zone meetings:
priceless!  Actually, by the time you look at this, the blossoms will all be gone and it will be green.  People keep telling us the hills will soon be brown, but it's hard to believe right now.   

 Now I wish I had a load of pictures to tell you about our zone meeting last week.  But I don't.  I just want to say, it was so spiritual and such a great learning experience!  Our zone leaders began by letting each of us (22) tell something that really struck us from General Conference.  They asked several how we were going to apply that new knowledge to improve ourselves as missionaries.

Toward the end of the 2 1/2 hour training, after they had shown the 'Prince of Peace' video, they again went around the zone, this time asking what new insight each had made about Christ after listening to Conference.  I wrote down just a few of their thoughts: 

"I just think about how much He gives me and how much love I can give to others."
"He never gives up on us and He never gives up on our investigators."
"Our relationship with the Savior depends on us.  He always has his arms outstretched."
" I realized I love Him as much as He loves me."

President Palmer slipped in to our meeting part way through.  He is such a great teacher.  He only commented a couple of times and just let the meeting proceed.  And he said at the end, "I hope you Elders and Sisters are aware of the great learning that has been taking place here.  That is the Holy Ghost you're feeling.   I hope you realize that."

And so we all went back to our cars...or bikes.  Ready to begin again.  And that...as I've said once before a few years back...is the long and short of it this week.  Our love to you all!