Fun week!!

Monday started off early with a beautiful morning river walk.  There was a sliver of a moon and a bright star/planet.  I Googled to find out what planet could be seen in the morning sky at this time of the year.  Turns out it is Venus.  

Toward the end of the walk, Sister Barker spotted a blue heron near the side walk.  I didn’t notice that she was trying to get a picture of him so I kept walking causing him to run down the embankment into the pond.  He was hiding and doing a pretty good job of it.

In the next pond we saw a white heron.

Every quarter, the missionaries go to the temple.  Tuesday I helped get a group of missionaries from a zone in Eugene to the temple in Portland.  I drove a mini van with 4 sisters and 2 elders.  It takes just over 2 hours to get there.  It was a clear and beautiful day.  The session was full and I and the missionaries enjoyed our excursion.

Elder and Sister Barker drove a larger van with 12 missionaries.  Their daughter, Alicia, lives in Vancouver WA so she met us there.  

The sisters and Sister Barker

Sister Barker and her daughter, Alicia

The elders

Wednesday I went with President and Sister Cornelius to Roseburg to interviews with the missionaries in that zone.  I can’t express how grateful I am to be able to interact and visit with the missionaries and to get to know them better.  Truly delightful.

Thursday was interviews with one of the Eugene zones.  Later that day my friend, Kate Lucas, came in from Arizona.  She was the area mental health advisor in the Pacific Area when I was serving my mission in New Zealand.  

We went to dinner with these beautiful sisters.  This picture was taken at the temple trip but dinner with them was enjoyable.  

Sisters Cannon, Linares, Duncan, and Tripp

After dinner we took a sunset walk along the river.

Sister Lucas

Friday was interviews in Klamath Falls, about 3 ½ hours away.  I enjoyed the day with the missionaries and ended it with dinner at a Thai restaurant with these lovely ladies.

Sisters Zollinger, Jeffords, Davis, and West

Saturday morning, Kate and I headed west toward the coast.  It took us just over 4 hours through winding tree lined highways to reach Bandon.  We could hardly wait to get to the beach.  When we lived in Auckland, we walked the beach every morning, so it was good to be on the sand and to watch and listen to the surf again.  

This big hawk or some kind of bird was eating dinner at the beach

 I scared him away

All of these logs washed upon the beach reminded me of a bone yard

Sunday morning, we planned to attend church in Coos Bay just 40 minutes north.  Since Sacrament Meeting didn’t start until 11:30 we decided to walk along a path on the bluff above the beach.  

There is a wildlife refuge area there with sign that teach about the birds and coast line.

Cosmo the Tufted Puffin constructed of debris washed ashore

Cosmo debris close up

I love this beautiful flax plant

We attended church with the sister missionaries in the area and then went to their apartment for lunch before heading back to Eugene. 

Sisters Mead, Richins, Sutherland

A bubble farewell

We tried to get away with Sister Mead but she got free…..LOL

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be with the missionaries. 

It is also a great blessing to attend the temple.  As I was reading through some conference talks recently from October 2021, I came across a talk by President Russell M Nelson

Here is an excerpt:

As you know, we are performing major renovations on the historic Salt Lake Temple.  

 We are sparing no effort to give this venerable temple, which had become increasingly vulnerable, a foundation that will withstand the forces of nature into the Millennium. In like manner, it is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures—perhaps measures we have never taken before—to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.

My dear brothers and sisters, these are the latter days. If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

So I ask each of you, how firm is your foundation? And what reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed?

The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. …

If you don’t yet love to attend the temple, go more often—not less. Let the Lord, through His Spirit, teach and inspire you there. …

Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear. As you are true to your covenants made in the temple, you will be strengthened by His power. Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable.

Last time I was down by Temple Square I marveled at how much scaffolding and support surrounded the temple.  I want my foundation to be as strong as I can make it.  That is my goal!  

Have a beautiful week.

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends.