I think the world is glorious and lovely as can be.

Every day, rain or shine, I can’t believe how beautiful the world is around me. Greens of every color as leaves emerge. Flowers beginning to bloom. Birds singing and squirrels playing in the trees and grass. I could go on forever listing the beauties of our earth.

Looking across this field at a distance, it looked like frost on the grass but up close you see these pretty little daisy-like flowers

A squirrel raiding my neighbor’s bird feeder

This is a nutria or if you prefer, a river rat. We hadn’t seen any nutria along the river since the ice storm and we worried that they had all been frozen to death. As ugly and awful as they are, we were really glad to see them again this week.

Great blue heron

Tuesday was MLC, Mission Leadership Conference (training) beginning with lunch.

Wednesday was Springfield Zone interviews here in Eugene at the office, but on Thursday, we traveled to Roseburg for that zone’s interviews followed by a dinner for missionaries and the leadership of the stake and wards in the area to build better working relationships.

Between interviews and the dinner, I went with Sisters Cornelius and Hopkins (front seat) and Sisters Palmer and Eastman (back seat) to Costco

Friday we drove to North Bend for Coos Bay Zone interviews.

Drive to North Bend along the Umpqua River

Sand dunes along the coast just north of North Bend

Waiting for interviews

Saturday, I had a lot of computer documentation to catch up on as the traveling this week did not allow me to do it daily. I had quite a few calls and spent a lot of time on the phone. I made notes in my phone but then needed to transfer to the Church medical system, Missionary Medical. I also had a report due Saturday night. 

Saturday morning I needed a break so Sister and Elder Crump walked with me at the prairie.

In case you can’t hear it on the video, this great blue heron catches a fish

I had invited Sister and Elder Barker and Sister and Elder Crump to come to dinner at my house, but Sister and Elder Crump sensed that I was feeling overwhelmed with the work I needed to do Saturday, so instead of me fixing dinner for them, they insisted that they take me and the Barkers to dinner. I felt bad but the Crumps demanded that we needed to celebrate my “half birthday” by going to dinner. What great friends and support I have around me! (By the calendar, it wasn’t even my half birthday)

We went to Saigon Café. It was really good. I had a rice plate. It came with pork, rice and fried egg.

I was able to get my work done and my report sent in before 10:30 PM. 

This is a wonderful world full of loving people and glorious and lovely surroundings. Makes me think of my gratitude to my Father in Heaven for all I have been given. I love this Primary song. It says it all:

I think the world is glorious and lovely as can be.
The birds and bees and blossoms bring sweet messages to me.

[Chorus]

I sing, and sing, and sing, and sing
A song of joy and love.
I sing, and sing, and sing, and sing
My thanks to God above.
I think the world is glorious and lovely as can be,
For I have teachers kind and true, and parents who love me. 

[Chorus]

I sing, and sing, and sing, and sing
A song of joy and love.
I sing, and sing, and sing, and sing
My thanks to God above.

I would add a verse to the song that says the world is glorious and lovely for I have friends and family whom I love and they care for and love me.

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends.

Traveling for interviews this week.

 

Nothing like starting the week right!! Lunch with Elders Israelsen and Ashby and Katie at Dairy Queen. I shared chicken and fries with Katie followed by my favorite Reese’s peanut butter cup Blizzard with extra Reese’s candy bar. Now you know my weakness! Elder Israelsen plays the harmonica and gave us an impromptu musical concert. 

Tuesday morning I was sad to say goodbye to Katie as she headed home. The past week with her was really fun. I headed off to Klamath Falls with President and Sister Cornelius to interview the missionaries in that zone. I’m sure you know by now how much I enjoy being with the missionaries. I love visiting with them and learning about their families, what they are doing in the mission, and what their plans are for the future. Always a delight.

Along the road to Klamath with snowy peaks in the distance

Sisters Tippetts, Cornelius, and Lunt

After the interviews we drove to Medford. Wednesday was interviews with the Central Point Zone.

In the afternoon, when the interviews were winding down, Sister Cornelius and I walked around the Medford Temple grounds enjoying the sunshine and the flowers.

Thursday was interviews with the Medford Zone. I have mentioned before the mistletoe in the trees. It is in abundance in the area around Medford. 

We walked outside around the stake center with Sisters Blackham and Bullock to admire the flowers and enjoys the blue skies and sunshine. 

See what happens when you give your phone to someone with a long arm to take a group selfie. LOL

Elder Toone helping to put away some of the chairs we used

Thursday evening we went to Ashland to go to dinner with the Medford Stake president and his wife. We had pizza but didn’t get pictures. Nice evening.

Friday morning we drove to Grants Pass for interviews there after which we drove back to Eugene. The drive through the mountains was beautiful. I love the many shades of spring green on the hill sides and valleys.

Saturday was a fun filled day. I went hiking with Sister and Elder Crump at Wild Iris Ridge. There are always beautiful wild flowers along the paths but the wild irises are starting to come out more now that it is warming up a bit.

Hanging moss in the trees and wasp nests/balls

Sister and Elder Barker picked me up and then picked up Sister and Elder Crump. We had tickets for My Fair Lady at the Hult Center at 2:00. The Hult Center has a huge theater. We arrived early but by show time, the seats were mostly full. Great musical!

Curtain call

We went to dinner afterward at Ubon Thai Restaurant.

I love weeks like this where I can be so directly involved in person with the missionaries. I feel of their spirits and it fills me with joy. At each interview, the missionaries are asked to memorize a scripture and recite it to Sister Cornelius and me. This round of interviews the missionaries have memorized Joseph Smith History 1:17

“I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!”

Some of them deliver it with such emotion that it touches my heart and the tears flow. 

I love my Savior

I love you my family and friends.