February 27th through March 5th

 February 27^th through March 5^th:  Monday, of course, we all went grocery shopping, except the Hurst’s. Dawn went to see chiropractor. After going to the store, I made my radish greens and cauliflower soup and pulled pork for a pot luck dinner we are going to have later to celebrate my birthday that I will not get this year.  There will not be a February 29^th for a few more years.  We were not planning on doing anything for my birthday, but Sister Funes encouraged mom to have a party.  We had 25 people to dinner and birthday cake for desert. I got a lot a well wishes on social media and we did have fun having many of our friends here in Guatemala over for dinner.  

Dinner is served.

L to R Sister and Brother Madrid, Sister and President Funes, Sister Denis, Sister and  President Morris, Elder and Sister Frampton, Sister and Brother Reyna, and Mom.

L to R President and Sister Rosales, Sister and Elder Fillmore, Elder and Sister Hurst, Elder and Sister Price, Elder and Sister Winkfield and Sister and Brother Flohr.

The birthday boy.

Lighting the candles.

I'm still full of hot air.

We made a power point presentation about my father and shared it with our children.  We used it for a Family Home Evening with Charlotte and Ginny’s families.  We will use it for the others in the coming weeks.  It is a great way to teach our children and grandchildren about their grandpa and great-grandpa Norman.  He died when I was young, so they have never had the pleasure of knowing him.   Tuesday, during our walk, we went past the MTC and a family from the Polochic area was saying goodbye to a young man entering the mission field.  

His mom had been crying and was sad he was leaving on his mission.

His mother was crying and obviously having a hard time saying goodbye.  He told us that he was the only member of the church in his family and she didn’t want him to leave.  We assured her that he would be fine and would come home after his mission.  Wednesday we had our paint class and our first portraits are progressing nicely.  

I just have to finish up her blouse.

Mom added the shirt and lightened the background. 

Thursday mom went to a water color class that Jill, our teacher, does once a month for all the sisters living here on assignment and then we had the afternoon shift.  Friday mom stayed home to nurse a bad cold and try and get better for our assignment this weekend.  Saturday we drove to Chiquimula and had lunch and then went to the Priesthood leadership meeting.  

One of the plazas in Chiquimula.

Lunch at a Mexican restaurant.

The view from the restaurant where we ate lunch.  The mountains reminded us of Utah.  They were very dry and not a lot of vegetation. 

One of the churches in Chiquimula.

I was not scheduled to speak, but when we got there in time for me to go to the PLM, it was announced that I would be the 3^rd speaker.  I sent a note to the area seventy, Elder Ocampo, and asked how much time I should take and he said take 20 minutes.  We then had the adult session and mom and I both had the opportunity to speak.  We then went to dinner with President Crapo and his wife.  It turns out he used to be in a firm with Tony Quinn and Mary Wood, two of my first cousins.  The church is such a small world.  

The church in Chiquimula.

Adult session Saturday evening.

Mom is always making friends.

Elder Ocampo and some other old guy.

Sunday we spoke in the general session and then drove home.  We both got in a nap and then we drove all the missionaries to the “break-the-fast dinner”.  It’s fun to see all the other senior couples once a month and enjoy another meal together.  

The choir for conference was few in numbers, but they sounded great.

Sunday general session.

President Salazar, Zacapa stake conference.

I know that it seems like all we do is eat.  I have put back on a few pounds, but I’m still more than 40lbs lighter from where I started.  We had a busy week and we are so enjoying this assignment.  We feel very blessed.