Tuesday, February 24, 2015

    The early morning found me in the kitchen baking cupcakes for the temple workers instead of on the dreaded treadmill downstairs.  By 9:00 a.m. they were ready and Glade took the first two dozen to the cafeteria.  We took another big pan when we went for our shift.  They disappeared like lightening and everyone loved the lemon.  One sister asked Glade if she could have the recipe and I don’t know how she will respond to the fact that they were all made from boxed mixes!  Oh, well J.  They were a hit anyway, and I’m glad we decided to share although we should probably do it again for all those who didn’t get one.

     A sweet sister shared her feelings about Heavenly Father and her prayers as we passed on the landing between flights of stairs.  She was so intent in her feelings and expressions.  I only understood part of what she said, but tried to listen and discern just as intently as was her telling.  We smiled and hugged and then she was on her way. 

Another kind sister spoke to me in broken English while she waited for the bus that would take her back to her stake center and told me to keep trying to speak Spanish and to practice with my husband!! 

A couple stopped at the desk on their way out of the temple tonight and visited a little with both Glade and me.  The man soon turned to me and asked if I spoke Spanish.  I said “No” so he talked in English and asked about my experience in the temple.  At the conversation’s end he said that he could feel my love and that others in the temple could, too; and that that was the most important thing.  These three encounters blessed my day and sent me home with a smiling heart.

It’s late, but I’m going to add just a few more pictures from yesterday’s outing.

Love you all—See you in two weeks and two days J

View from the patio where we ate lunch yesterday.
The pool is just below the white fence in the foreground,
but they guys decided to golf instead of swim.   The water wasn't too clear.

Obviously there wasn't a big lunch crowd.
However, we were just ahead of the convention diners so I'm sure it picked up.

This beautiful creature  kept us company through lunch.
It's shrill cry when you are up close and personal is extremely startling.
 At least it had wandered several yards away from us.

They are so beautiful!

Giant ivy wound it's way tightly up this tree trunk in
the yard where the peacocks played.

We were suddenly treated to a spectacular spontaneous show.
This fan was opened with the bird's back to us. 

And then slowly it turned around!!

Gorgeous!!

I don't know what these cute characters are called,
but they made me think of Louisa's biting chicken;
so these next photos are for her--even though they look nothing like her chickens!