Simeon Comes Home in Time to Be Taisley's B-day Present

It was a very, very full weekend when Simeon returned to St. George on Thursday, March 10 after two years as a full-time missionary in the Georgia Atlanta Mission. Serving as both a District Leader and a Zone Leader under two mission presidents, Elder Lovell calls his time in Atlanta “life-changing,” “testimony building” and “transforming” in numerous ways.  “I thought I knew how to love my brothers and sisters before but through my missionary service, the Lord has shown me a better way.” 

GAM President David Foote wrote, in a letter to Sister Sappington, "It has been a great privilege for Sister Foote and me to serve with Elder Lovell here in the Georgia Atlanta Mission.  He has done hard things during his time in Georgia and you should be proud of the manner in which he just kept putting one foot in front of the other with great faith, humble prayer, dedication and love on days when it was just plain hard.  The good news is those days were quickly forgotten and Elder Lovell was only strengthened because of all the great miracles he witnessed and helped to facilitate.  His mission will be the foundation of the Christ-like attributes of Charity and Obedience as he has learned to follow the Spirit and lose himself in finding the Lord.

"Elder Lovell has not just served a mission but he has faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ and become more like Him.  Thank you for sharing Elder Lovell with us.  We love him now and will always love him."

What’s next for Brother Lovell now that he has taken off his black name tag?  “I need to get my GED so I can go on to school and I have a couple of good prospects for fulltime employment,” states the convert who joined the church in Guyana, South America with his identical twin at age 13. “Of course, I’m also counting down the days until my brother comes home, too." (Selwin is currently serving in the Mississippi Jackson Mission and due to be released on April 13).  

The Georgia Atlanta Mission is one of three missions in the “Peach" state – Atlanta, Atlanta North and Macon – where 82,857 members live and serve in 151 wards and branches.  The Atlanta Temple became the first temple built in the Southern states when it was dedicated in 1983. 

“Well done, thy good and faithful” Elder Lovell.

On this same weekend, Taisley Welch turned 14!  Wow, where did those years go? Rick and Stacy's beautiful daughter wanted only to have Simeon home, a basketball hoop for the yard, family and friends to help her celebrate ... and a cookie skillet (instead of a cake). Some of the party goers spent time on the driveway putting the basketball stanchion together only to finish with one odd piece ... so they had to take it all apart and put it all back together, this time with all parts and pieces accounted for!  The evening featured a delicious dinner ... and for dessert, a cookie skillet with ice cream, whipped cream and a cherry on top.  We sure love this girl!

Tripping in Death Valley

We’ve always talked about visiting Death Valley National Park for two reasons.  First, because Death Valley is not too far from St. George (about 3 hours) and second, because it’s the 100-year anniversary of the National Park Service and we’ve been encouraged to “Find Your Park.” 

About 45 minutes from home, traffic on the I-15 freeway came to a complete standstill.  After waiting more than an hour, traffic finally began to move.  The delay was for two accidents – one was a small pick-up truck which rear-ended a car hauler and the second was a motorcyclist who bit the dust.  No word of any fatalities, but at last 3 passengers were life-flighted into Las Vegas.

Death Valley officially became a national park in 1994, although it was designated such in 1933. It is spectacular but nothing like our Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Arches or Canyonlands National Parks.  Death Valley is desolate in a “Moses and the House of Israel” kind of way without a speck of green to be seen anywhere.  Death Valley holds the record for being both the hottest place in the world (138 degrees) and the lowest point below sea level (258 feet), but it is unique and strangely beautiful.

We spent the night in Pahrump (pop. 36,000+) which Ed kept insisting he had been to before … “I’ve attended WMA conferences here a couple of times” but when I asked him how far we were from the I-15 freeway and he responded “only about a mile” I knew he was confused.  Turns out he thought he was in Primm, instead of Pahrump, which explains why he kept commenting how much it had changed in the past few years.

We were also lucky enough to hit the right weekend for the Pahrump Balloon Festival.  We hadn't planned on it ... didn't even know it was happening, but it was so fun to wake up to several dozen hot air balloons in the clear blue sky on a cool Saturday morning.

Another check off on our Bucket List.

Eight is Enough at the Nelsons

Who says babies don't smile before three months?

On our way home from Kris' we spent the night with Charlene who had cooked a delicious pot roast dinner which we took over to Tiffany and Bob's house to meet the twins - Ashton and Sawyer - Abby's full brothers, born prematurely at 28-weeks.  They are now two months old, but medically only 5 days old.  On the blackboard in the kitchen someone (probably Bob) had written "eight is enough ... for me."  Tiffany revels in her motherhood - a wonderful trait - but at 45-years-old, it might be that having 4 children under 3 is even her max!

Hike to Point Reyes

On almost our last day in Sonoma, we decided to take one more trip, this one to visit Point Reyes.  We walked a couple of miles to (the gate of) the lighthouse because, as has been our luck, it was closed (always on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in case you want to visit, too).  The point is well reputed for having whale, porpoise and sea lion sightings.  We didn't see any of those specimens, but it was a clear beautiful day so we enjoyed it anyway.

Sonoma Train Museum

Ed found the Sonoma Train Museum ... it was a beautiful collection of early California life and the coming of the locomotive.  Tylre said she's never been there so I hope she'll take Memo to see it.

A Visit in Muir Woods National Monument

On another cold and rainy day in Sonoma, we talked about driving to the Redwoods National Partk, but because it was 5 hours away from Kris' we decided instead to visit the smaller version of the redwoods - Muir Woods National Monument - only about 50 miles away.  Although the day was grey and cloudy the experience was beautiful and serene and provided the opportunity for a long walk along the stream.

Winchester Mansion a Fun Saturday Mystery Trip

Another rainy Saturday in Sonoma and neither of us wanted to hang around Kris' apartment for 12-15 hours so we decided to drive 90 miles to visit the Winchester Mystery Mansion in San Jose.  We signed up for the guided tour and spent the next 1.5 hours in 110 of the mansion's 160 rooms, 24 of which are restored with Victorian era furniture (not Sarah Winchester's but furniture from that period).  Bizarre features in the home included doors and window opening onto blank walls, a staircase from the floor to the ceiling, a door opening outward to an 8-foot drop and amazingly beautiful stained glass windows.  No one knows why this childless widow did some of the things she did with the incredible amount of money she had from the sale of Winchester rifles or why she kept carpenters busy 24 hours a day for 38 years, but for those reasons the house is interestingly quirky!!!

The emotionally troubled 4'6" woman, who suffered from grief, depression and rheumatoid arthritis for most of her life, is said to have spent millions of dollars continually building the house which would eventually cover six acres of her estate ... and which, was seriously damaged in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.  After her death, the house was deemed "valueless" but eventually sold at auction to the only bidder - a California real estate mogul - for just $138,000.

Seems the laugh is on all those who never imagined it would become a popular tourist attraction in downtown San Jose where tickets sell for $32 - $44 each.

It was a nice way to spend a rainy Saturday.

Snoopy, China Camp ... and a Little Flooding in the Kitchen

It was another wet and rainy day, so after the carpet cleaner finished at Kris' we hopped in the car and drove back to Santa Rosa to see the Charles M. Schulz Museum and with a couple of hours to spare before we had to be to Erin's volleyball game, we drove to China Camp State Park.  Only one resident  left where there used to be 500 people living and shrimp fishing here on the California coast.  Not much still there, but interesting just the same.

The Schulz museum is also interesting ... and fun!  Who hasn't, in their lifetime, enjoyed "Peanuts" art and humor? Seems Sparky never really liked the name given to his comic strip ... the "little red-headed girl" is believed to be the girl Sparky dated in college, but who married someone else ... and, Michael says one of Sparky's daughters - a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lives in Park City, served a mission, has 9 children ... and recently went back to BYU to complete her bachelor's degree.

But the fun didn't end there! Tylre, Jaeson and Memo came for dinner.  After they left, I put the dishes in the sink to soak overnight.  Not sure which of us left the water running, but we woke this morning at about 5 a.m. with ankle deep water in the kitchen ... and about that same amount in the apartment below us.  Not the best way to make an impression on the neighbors!

Children's Museum with Memo

Tylre and Jaeson had the day off and it was pouring down rain so we decided to take Memo to the Children's Museum in Santa Rosa where we could play indoors.  We missed having Grandma Kris with us, but we had a fun time watching our little 3-year-old "great" explore this fun new Sonoma County destination.

Oakland Temple: Closed for Maintenance

Another long day in Sonoma where it has been pouring down rain for more than two weeks - 14 days in a row!  Today we decided to drive the 50 miles to Oakland to attend the temple. After more than an hour trying to maneuver the traffic and find the temple when we had never been there before, we pulled into the parking lot ... and there were no cars!  Seems the temple was closed for maintenance until February 1.  I hope we at least get points for trying.