I love these trees. And there are just perfect rows extending 'forever' in some areas. I think California must provide about ninety percent of the world's almond supply!
Well, some sweet things have been happening here lately. One of the sweetest concerns this young man...who turns out to be a relative of Fred's some eleven generations back! Huh?? Well, this is briefly how that came to be:
As they leafed through the pages, Fred found some names and dates and asked his young friend if he'd like to try to find them on Family Search. The young man didn't recognize any of the pictures. So they retired to the computers.
They found the woman's name right away, along with her pictured husband! And just 'on a lark', Fred decided to hit the button saying 'view your relationship'. And "voila", it showed Fred Meese and the man in the book shared a common eleventh great grandfather!
Both our searchers were delighted at their discovery! Fred has also now connected via email with the son of the lady in the album so they can send it to him. Miracles, miracles.
Here's another sweet occurrence:
You may remember this man. We visit he and his mother quite regularly.
He has some pretty significant balance issues from a stroke two years ago. After our last visit, where he could barely get up from his chair when we left, we talked on the way home: "What Ron needs is a lifting chair! But where in the world would we find one around here!"
Well, the Lord provides. Elder Meese said, "I'll call Bob Smith. He seems to know sources for a lot of things." Bob answered, and said (unbelievably) he was just about to place an ad to sell a lifting chair he had...in perfect condition!
The man at the left (coincidentally) showed up at Bob's just as they were transporting the chair to our car. And the next day, another wonderful less active member of the branch agreed to deliver the chair with Fred. It has been a heaven sent blessing to Ron, and his Mom.
Last week's Youth Center assignment for us was to teach the kids about edible flowers. So we brought a flat of nasturtiums and pansies. We also cut some up in a salad, which was not a big seller. But the treat below went over much better! hahahaha
You may remember this man. We visit he and his mother quite regularly.
He has some pretty significant balance issues from a stroke two years ago. After our last visit, where he could barely get up from his chair when we left, we talked on the way home: "What Ron needs is a lifting chair! But where in the world would we find one around here!"
Well, the Lord provides. Elder Meese said, "I'll call Bob Smith. He seems to know sources for a lot of things." Bob answered, and said (unbelievably) he was just about to place an ad to sell a lifting chair he had...in perfect condition!
Last week's Youth Center assignment for us was to teach the kids about edible flowers. So we brought a flat of nasturtiums and pansies. We also cut some up in a salad, which was not a big seller. But the treat below went over much better! hahahaha
The previous week we made 'sky jello with fluffy clouds'. All month we were honoring mother earth for 'Earth Day'.
Things are going well at the Book Nook on Saturdays. I get the 'sitting job' in the corner, checking publication dates and pricing books. I love working with Pat, who along with her husband, spent their childhood in Salt Lake.
Blaine's actually a member, although he hasn't attended since his teenage years. He has now quit "hiding out" from us as he says and is very enjoyable to visit with in our Core and Balance class.
The Senior Couple up in Murphy's ends their mission at the end of May. I had to put in this 'exit photo' I took with President and Sister Palmer because it made me chuckle... I took it at the Mexican restaurant where we had the Senior dinner last week, hence the unusual backdrop for missionaries! hahahaha They both shared beautiful testimonies with us saying this has been the best year of their lives (even SENIOR missionaries say that!)
Here's the best experience of this past week. We welcomed Elder and Sister Johnson to our home for the weekend! Maybe you remember that they served in Groveland before us, living in this home. About half way through their service, Sister Johnson's cancer returned and they had to return home to the Huntsman Center where she has been in and out of the hospital over 100 days in the past year.
(The photo has Elder and Sister Johnson on the outsides and President Whitmer by Fred)
They said if she could regain her strength, they would love to come back to hug the people they loved...and had to leave so abruptly. Well, Friday they came back. She's weak, 60 lbs. lighter, but ready to go and in remission once again. And they were delightful house guests. How often do you get to talk at length with the missionaries who preceded you in the work?! That calls for a Linger Longer after our meetings - which is exactly what happened.
And so, good-bye for now from all our Spring friends, who have returned on our morning walks! And by the way, there's no jacket needed this week on our daily morning trips. It is gorgeous with a capital G, and we're hoping for these perfect temperatures and morning breezes to last several weeks! (dreaming?)
Anyway, we send our love from beautiful Groveland. The gospel is true and we are happy to minister in this part of the vineyard.
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