Had a special Sunday treat!

Brother Steve and Sister LuAnn Peterson, Elder Craig and Sister Jackie Poll,
(I was holding Lian’s granddaughter)  Lian and Jonathan Warwick

Sunday evening I was invited to dinner with two other senior couples from the Pacific Area Office.  It was special to me because it was at the home of some of my “New Zealand family.”   Tracy, my Kiwi daughter-in-law who is married to my eldest son Rex, is my connection.  Tracy is a sister of Paula Ardern who is married to Elder Ian Ardern of the Seventies who is the Pacific Area President.   I was invited to dinner at their daughter’s home, Lian and Jonathan Warwick.  Jonathan works at the Pacific Area Office with the two senior couples also invited to dinner.  Now that was a convoluted description wasn’t it!!

Lian is a gourmet cook!  The dinner was spectacular and it was fun to renew acquaintances.  It was a most delightful evening with great food, a lot of laughter, and good friends.

I’ve been to the dentist twice this week with missionaries.  The dentists that we work with here do not take our insurance so I go to pay for the treatments and then I get reimbursed.  

On Wednesday I had 3 appointments with doctors/dentist, so I spent the whole day going from one appointment to another.  I did manage to track down some sisters for lunch.  They lived close to one of the appointments I attended.

Sisters Narokea, Nathan, Sione

My daughter Katie posted some pictures of the colorful leaves in the mountains near my home.  Made me miss those mountains and hikes through the leaves.

However, I am enjoying the spring flowers here.  My walk to and from the beach and to the mission office allows me blossoms galore in many hues.

I don’t think that I would like to wade through this kind of grass

Wisteria on a wall viewed on Tuesday

Same vine on Monday.  Look at how many more blossoms have appeared

We have had high tide this week but the beach is always inviting.

The water caught me when I couldn’t get out of the way fast enough so I decided
that since my shoes and pants were already wet, I might as well enjoy myself!!

Friends

This week my Book of Mormon studies have focused on 3 Nephi with the Savior’s birth, death, resurrection, and visit to the people in the Americas.   My faith in and love for my Savior grows each time I study the scriptures and read about him.  I was touched this week by the thought that when He visited the people in Bountiful, he invited each of the 2500 people to come one by one and feel the wound in His side and the nail wounds in His hands and feet.  

He looked each one of them in the eye and had personal contact with them.  I can’t look Him in the eye but I know without a doubt that He lives.  He cares for and loves each of us just as he cared for the people in Bountiful when He came after His resurrection.

I want to do everything in my power to grow closer to Him by studying the scriptures, being obedient to the commandments and following the prophet who speaks for Him on earth today. 

My cousin, Steve Bailey, wrote a poem that he sent to me this week.  He gave me permission to share it.

“Come Follow Me”

For I am the way the truth and the light

that brings forth knowledge of all things.

Come Walk With Me

And I will guide you on the path

that is straight and true.

Come Sit Beside Me

And I will teach you of the small things 

which are great in the eyes of God

and explain His Great Plan of Happiness.

Take My Hand

That I might bare you up and give 

you strength to overcome your weakness 

and the challenging trials of life.

Choose To Be Humble

Pray and nourish the mind that your 

testimony will grow and strengthen.

Sing The Songs Of Joy

For they will bring you comfort, 

solace and forgiveness to your heart.

Let Your Light So Shine 

And I will flood you with light 

to bring you from the darkness that

you might see the heavens open.

Share Unto Others

That they too may be lifted up

with the knowledge of light and truth.

Come Lean Upon My Rock

That you may stay strong as the world 

storms around you.

Steve Bailey
(C) 2020

How blessed I am to be alive when the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth!  

I love my Savior.  I love you my family and friends.