OUR SECOND MISSION BEGINS IN OCTOBER

The day finally came when we were set apart as full-time missionaries once again. This time we have the opportunity to stay at home while serving in our stake as missionaries. Sunday evening, October 16, the stake president came over to our home and set Paul and I apart for this calling. Todd and Kailee and Aria were there to share the moment with us. We were grateful for the blessings pronounced upon our heads.
  

Pointing to Heber City, Utah
where we will be serving.

The following Monday morning, we began our Missionary Training Center (MTC) experience. We were welcomed, taught, encouraged and put into districts. As we all introduced ourselves to the whole group, we recognized Dave and Roberta Osborn from Spokane. They will serve in the Phillipines. The wow for the day was when we were told that the new MTC building is being built to house 8,000 missionaries. The capacity of the present MTC is 2,000. That blew us all away as we got a glimpse into the future of missionary work as the gospel floods the earth.

Dave and Roberta Osborn from Spokane

Tuesday was a day of learning how to be a Preach My Gospel Missionary. The lessons to teach investigators are all outlined in the Preach My Gospel manual but it up to us to follow the spirit as to what and how we are to teach. The tender mercy for this day was finding Kyle Sorenson among the 2,000 missionaries at the MTC. We had picked up a set of Spanish scriptures for him at the bookstore and needed to get it to him. We found out when his meal schedule was and were at the cafeteria before 8 a.m. in hopes of giving it to him at breakfast. No luck so we tried his lunch time as well.  We scoured the cafeteria but could not find him then either. Our last hope was to find him at the devotional that night. The senior couples were allowed to be seated first so we chose a seat that could be easily seen by the choir members, of which we knew Kyle would be a part. We stood up facing the choir and, sure enough, Kyle saw us and came down to give us a hug. We could give him his new scriptures and visit with him for a moment. A tender mercy as I had been silently praying all day that we would make contact with him. The devotional was amazing and the spirit was enhanced by the choir of Elders and Sisters, at least 1000 strong.  They sang "Be Still My Soul" in such a way that it touched all of our hearts.

Parts of Wednesday and Thursday of the MTC experience were spent in the TRC (Teaching Resource Center) where we were put in a room with a mock investigator and had to teach a discussion based on the needs of the investigator. Our nerves were on edge just before entering the room but, each time, the spirit took over as we got to know our investigator. We were then able to assess the needs of the investigator and teach a discussion. It was a pretty powerful experience that helped us know we will be able to call upon the spirit to help us in this calling, whether finding or teaching. By the end of each of these days we were 'dog-tired'.

Thursday night, I experience a little miracle from the Lord. On Wednesday night, I noticed a tightening of a muscle on the right side of my back. I didn't think anything about it but by Thursday night I could hardly move. I got up from the chair and the pain was intense as I attempted to walk into the bedroom.  I could only find relief lying on the bed with a hot water bottle pressed against the muscle. Thinking a bath would be good, I got up and immediately was doubled over in pain again. I was thinking Paul would have to take my to the ER if the pain wouldn't subside. I made it to a chair in the bedroom and there whispered a little prayer saying, "Heavenly Father I need your help right now." Almost immediately the muscle began to loosen and the pain decreased. I was able to take a shower, get ready for bed and even sleep relatively comfortable through the night.  In the morning, I had one twinge of pain, probably to remind me of the answer to my prayer the night before. The rest of the day was pain free and I was able to participate fully in the experiences of the MTC.

Our district in the MTC with one of our teachers

The miracle for Friday was when we were teaching another senior couple who was acting like inactive members. The couple who taught us did a very good job. One of the scriptures the elder used was from D&C 121 where Joseph Smith is in Liberty jail and the Lord tells him that all this hardship was for his benefit. That scripture jumped out at me as one we could use for our inactive's discussion.  I tagged it on my phone and, sure enough, it was perfect to use in a specific part of our discussion. We were so grateful we were able to experience the MTC a second time.  It truly was an incredible week.

One other tender mercy of this week was the selling of our property here in the Crossing.  We had purchased it as part of our deal with the developer as partial payment for some money we had lent her several year prior. We wanted to sell it before the housing market went down and so we wouldn't have to worry about paying taxes and HOA fees on it any longer. We got a 'break even price' so we felt good about the sale.

The Mission Office in Provo

The following Monday, after the MTC, we met with our mission president and his wife, President and Sister Hodgman. They welcomed us into the mission, asked a lots of questions about ourselves, and expressed gratitude for our upcoming service. They have such a big job. We then went to a nearby church for a four hour training from Elder and Sister Brown, the AP's for the senior couples. We learned a lot about our responsibilities. It was one of three training sessions we held with them.




Now for the rest of our month of October....

Our month started out with Kyle Sorenson, his mom and two sisters coming to spend Tuesday night with us before taking Kyle into the MTC to begin his mission. He was supposed to go to the MTC in Mexico but because of visa issues he was sent to Provo instead. We fed them dinner, went to Dairy Keen for an ice cream and watched an appropriate movie before turning in for the night. The next morning it was breakfast and then off to the MTC.  We were grateful we could provide a little taste of home for them.  

Ready and anxious to begin his MTC experience

One of our favorite things about October, of course, is General Conference and this year was no exception. We loved watching all the sessions in the comfort of our home. It was also the weekend the Davies, our neighbors had to be out of their home. They had put their home up for sale thinking they would test the market and it sold even though they were asking over a million dollars for it. We were devastated as we loved them as neighbors. Saturday night of conference weekend, we had them to dinner and then again for dinner Sunday evening.  We were glad they would allow us to help them in some way. Paul did go over with the High Priests and help move some things into a truck on Saturday but, other than that, they did it all by themselves. 

Our new neighbors on both sides of us moved in that first full week of October. Jeff and Joyce Smith moved into the Davies' old home and Jo and Connie Snedden moved into the new home that was just completed on the other side of us. We love having neighbors on both sides of us now. That week we took them both a plate of cookies to welcome into the neighborhood. We had a good visit with both of them. They will be great neighbors.  

We attended three football games before going into the MTC. On the second Saturday, we went to Jaiden's game. This is his first year and so he's a little tentative but he did what his coach asked him to do. He looked so small in those big pads. Jaron played on the Bingham freshman team so we went to one of his last games. He played a few downs and they won handily. Being from Bingham with its great football heritage makes it hard to break in to the lineup with so many talented players. We wish he was in a smaller school district because he had great hands and would be a starter in a smaller, less talented, school. Before going to Jaron's game, we met Jon and Mindi in Highland so they could take us through the home that they dream of purchasing someday. It is on 2 acres, is very private, and has a pool. It would be a perfect home for them if only they could afford it. Maybe someday. After the game, Mindi invited us to come have dinner with them at their home. She served a spaghetti casserole that was wonderful. We love living close enough to children to share in their lives a bit.

Jaron about to catch the ball

The bag filled with goodies for us
 during the game.

The third game we went to was a BYU game. Jon got us tickets for a BYU sponsered dinner before the game so we met Todd and Jake at the stadium and enjoyed a delicious dinner with them. It was catered by LaJolla Groves and the food was wonderful. The game was exciting too, especially because we won in double overtime.  At the end of the game the students stormed the field. being so excited to win a game they were not expected to win.  

The crowds rushing the field at the end of the game

The 'Y' lite with new LED lights












A bitter sweet happening this month was working our last day as ordinance workers in the Provo temple. We have been working there now for over10 plus years minus while we were on our mission to Moscow.  As a full-time missionary now, we had to give that assignment up. We will miss not working there but part of our responsibilities on this mission is to go to the temple once a week so we will still be able to enjoy the peace and joy that comes from being in the temple.

The shake was better
than the hamburger

Toward the end of the month, we made a special trip out to Kamas, one afternoon, to experience, what we were told, was the best hamburger around. We found the little drug store where they also served food. It was a quaint little place and we were excited to taste their wonderful hamburgers and shakes. We ordered hamburgers with tomatoes and Paul's with no onions. When we finally got our order the buns were stale, the hamburgers too well done, there were no tomatoes and both hamburgers had onions. Not a good experience. Don't think we will go there again. 

October always brings Halloween. This year we had a choice to make - to go to our ward's trick or treat or to Todd and Kailee's to hand out candy while them did some trick or treating. We decided to go to Todd and Kailee's and felt it was the right decision. Trick or treaters began coming to their home about 5:30 and Todd and Kailee didn't get back home till about 7 so it was good we were there to hand out candy. It was fun to be involved in Halloween again. Later that night Kailee served barbecue pork sandwiches for a late night dinner. A fun evening. Of course, Todd and Kailee and Aria were darling in their Snow White, Prince Charming, and evil Queen costumes. 

And then there was Jon and Mindi in their Trump and Hillary costumes. So hilarious. They showed up in those costumes to Jon's company Halloween party to which they took all the kids. They were quite the sensation, for sure.

I must close the month out with Aria again.....and the cell phone - she's hooked.

FALL LEAVES AND LOTS OF FUN IN SEPTEMBER

September always brings the beauty of Fall - the leaves turning red, orange and yellow thus the distant mountains becoming ablaze with color. There's a crispness in the air that lets us know summer is over and the snows will soon follow. This September, for us, also brought with it the canning of peaches, our annual trip to St. George, a visit with Dad and Mom, a mission reunion, and much more. A busy but an incredible 
month.

 

Our month started with the canning of peaches. We bought 5 boxes and immediately started canning and freezing them.  We ended up with 24 quarts and 12 pints along with 12 bags of both frozen fruit cocktail and slush. (We had 12 pints and 10 quarts left from last year's canning.) When we finished our boxes of peaches, we joined Todd and Kailee to help them process their 2 boxes. Kailee wanted to know how to make freezer jam so we went down to show her how. We did two batches of jam and froze the rest of their peaches in slices for slushies. Corn harvest followed quickly and that meant freezing about 12 bags of corn.

Also at the first of the month, we attended the premier of our neighbor Mitch's new movie called "Struck. It was about his family's adventure with a dog who eventually saved Mitch's life. When the tent Mitch and some boys and the dog were in was struck by lighting, the lightning went through Mitch and into the dog who was laying at Mitch's side. Because the dog grounded the bolt of lightning, Mitch's life was spared but it killed the dog. The movie was a rough cut and our suggestions were solicited after the movie. Based on the comments, Mitch made the necessary changes before it went into final production. We loved the movie. It was tender and captivating and very heart wrenching in the end with the death of the dog. We hope it will be a good one for Mitch and make him some good money. 

A couple of month ago we ordered recliners for our great room and they arrived at the first of the month. We gave our old chairs to the Davis' children and spent most of one day setting up our new chairs. It entailed moving all the furniture off the area rug so we could move the Turkish rug, centering it with the new arrangement. We love how cozy our room is now that we could bring everything in closer to form a tighter conversation grouping. The ottomans that were in front of the original chairs are now at the foot of our bed in our master suite. We found a new comforter set and a couple of small quilts to lay across the ottomans. We love the new look of both our great room and our bedroom. Another change was made when we took the area rugs from the hallways, exposing more of the wood floors. After 10 years it's nice to have things a little updated.

Watching the game
before while eating before the movie

The next thing happening in September was a neighborhood potluck and movie in the park night. It was well attended despite it being on the same night as the Utah/BYU football game.  To appease the avid fans of both teams, a big screen television was set up so we could all watch the game as we ate. It was fun to rub shoulders with neighbors and meet the new one that have or will be moving in. The movie, Zootopia, was shown on a blow up screen. Since we had seen the movie, and it was getting cold, we decided to go home and watch the finish of the game. BYU lost a heart breaker.

Fun for the children

Lots of yummy food

Finally dark enough for the movie

Back into peaches 

By the second week of September, we were back into peaches when Deon and Gary came up early for our St. George trip to can peaches for themselves. We did 2 dozen quarts for them and 2 dozen pints to take to Dad and Mom. Our canning session brought back so many wonderful memories of several years ago when we canned peaches at our home with Mom and Dad before heading out on a trip to explore southern Utah.

Lunch at a new restaurant in Heber
The Back 40 Grill

Don and Dana joined us on that Wednesday, followed by Ed and Debbie on Saturday. We all had ticket to attend the BYU/UCLA game in Provo. Before the game some of us went to a cousin's reunion held at our Uncle Elliot's home on the avenues in Salt Lake City. Cousins we hadn't seen for 30 years were in attendance and it was so fun to reconnect. The best part was watching Elliot on Skype with Dad. So grateful for modern technology that make the miles between us disappear. Gary and Paul met us afterwards at Zuppas for dinner and then we went to the BYU creamery for some delicious ice cream before the game.  

Elliot with Dad on Skype

Brent's family (upper left) Joel's family (upper right)
Wayne's family (lower left)
Elliot's family (lower right)

At the BYU Creamery before the BYU game

Before the disastrous game

Everyone stayed the night at our home Saturday and on Sunday morning, after a late breakfast, we traveled to Draper to attend Kathy and Kurt Morgan's farewell. They were leaving on a mission to Washington DC and, it just so happened, we were all in Utah to listen to their talks. We really surprised them when we all walked into the chapel before church. Kathy and Kurt gave incredible talks and it was great to be able to visit with them briefly afterwards. It was then time to change clothes and start our journey to St. George. 

 The eight of us were traveling together to St. George and all staying at the World Mark condo for three day. We were there to relax, visit and watch the three plays at the Tuachan theater. (This was a trip we planned last year when Dad was so sick and we were all together.)






We met in St. George at In 'N Out for a quick burger before checking in to our condo and beginning our three days of fun. Monday was spent lounging at the pool most of the day and then watching Tarzan that night at the Tuachan.

Dave and his new wife, Suzette

Enjoying sub sandwiches for lunch

On Tuesday, Dave and Suzette joined us for a picnic lunch at a lake in Hurricane. It was a beach of red sand and, though, a little breezy we had a wonderful time just being all together. Quite a feat to get 5 of the 7 Richards siblings together in one place. That night, we were captivated by the production of Hunchback of Notre Dame. It is amazing what can be done on that outdoor stage with the red rock mountains in the background. 

A stop at Dairy Queen for a treat before going 
home to get ready for the show.

Wednesday, we only left the condo to go to lunch at Red Robin and then went back to just relax. Dave and Suzette joined us for a couple of hours at the condo where we snacked and visited. The production of Peter Pan started out wonderfully but after the first 45 minutes the rains came and, for the second year in a row, the show was canceled. We were sad but stopped at Dairy Queen for a quick bite to soothe our disappointment. It was then to the condo for fresh peach sundaes. The following morning, we all left - Ed and Debbie and Deon and Gary to return to their homes, Don and Dana to spend some time with Whitney and Paul and I to drive to Bakersfield to spend a couple of days with Dad and Mom.

Debbie's notorious back rubs during our third
stop at Dairy Queen in as many days.

Waiting outside Ron's RV to begin experiencing the fair

Our visit with Dad and Mom was wonderful. They are amazing at 99 and almost 96, respectively. We arrived mid afternoon on Thursday and visited for a couple of hours. Since they had already eaten, we called Dennis and Clarene Hayes and met them for dinner at a great Mexican place. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with them. Friday was a fun day as we went with Dad and Mom to the county fair. Sam and Kathy picked them up, along with Cristella, their caretaker. We followed and met them at Ron and Patty's plush motor home. They were staying at the fair to help with the sheep competitions. With both Mom and Dad in wheelchairs, we covered most of the displays in the pavilions and even checked out the cows and sheep. We had lunch there and probably wished we hadn't but it was an experience watching Mom and Dad eat a giant turkey leg. Paul and I each ordered a chicken kebab and should have only ordered one between us as they were also very big. Live and learn. By 3:00, it was time to head back home. Mom and Dad enjoyed getting out of the house and experiencing something different. It was then a night of watching BYU football, eating Subway sandwiches, and visiting. We left the next morning early and arrived back in Heber before dark. A fun week.

That's Dad in the wheelchair under the most appropriate sign for him
'100 YEARS OF FUN'

Another great picture - 'Best of the West for 100 year.'
Love that man!!

The giant turkey leg for lunch

It made for a good picture but not a great lunch

Then there was our kebabs!!!!

President and Sister Borders

We got back home just in time to make some last minute preparations for our Russia Moscow Mission reunion to be held in our home the next Friday night.It meant ordering cakes from Costco and coordinating with the Borders to make sure everything was covered. The Borders came up on Thursday to visit with us and bring the food they had purchased at Costco. We went to lunch at Cafe Galleria in Midway and totally enjoyed our visit with them. They are such dear people and so dedicated to serving the Lord.  

Ice cream for breakfast

Ice cream as Dairy Keen

That afternoon, we drove to Provo to pick up Lily, one of our special young singles from Russia. She was in town for her mission reunion (She served on Temple Square.) as well as for conference. We were so glad she could make time to spend the night with us. We brought her back to Heber where we enjoyed a home cooked meal and then ice cream at Dairy Keen. Lily loves ice cream so much that she had it for breakfast, too. 

The spread of food minus all the sweet treats brought
later by the senior couples

The next morning, Paul and I took two cars to the temple. I dropped off Lily at her friends home then drove to the temple. I left the temple around 2:15 so I would have time to pick up the cakes from Costco and get home before the Borders and a couple of former missionaries came help set out the food. We had crackers and cheese, chips and dips, vegetables and fruit, along with the cakes. Many of the senior couples brought other sweets and I make a lime sherbet frappe to drink. The reunion started at the church with an hour long meeting. We heard from a couple a recently returned missionaries who updated us on the changes in the Russian missions. A law was recently passed which makes it illegal to proselyte outside of a registered church building. The missionaries are now called volunteers and try to find ways to serve in the community. They work closely with the members in strengthening them so they will feel comfortable bringing investigators to the church to share the gospel. It was said by a general authority, who visited that area lately, that this is a time to strengthen the church instead of growing the church in Russia. We all could see the hand of the Lord in this as it brings missionaries and members together more often to do missionary work - a much more effective way to do missionary work. The law will not stop the missionary effort but, in the long run, will actually help it. 

President and Sister Borders both gave talks, songs were sung, and pictures taken before everyone came to our home for visiting and eating. At the church there was probably 115 or so in attendance and at least 100 of them came to our home. Everyone loved being together again, even being a bit squished in our great room area. Everyone seemed to want to stay upstairs even though the downstairs was set up with lots of chairs. It was so wonderful to reunite with all the dear missionaries, both the young ones and the seniors, that we came to love so much as we all served together in Moscow, Russia.  Paul left the reunion before the meeting at the church was over to go the the BYU/Toledo game in Provo. He was sad to miss the visiting but glad he went to the game as it was a barn burner in which BYU won in the last seconds of the game.

Sisters Hunter, Chantry and Taylor

Sister Shepherd

Elders Bass, Braun and Knight

Elder Beals and Sister Hawkins

Sister Peacock and her fiance

Sisters Taylor and Hunter again

Sisters Miller and King
with the Pollards n the middle

The Milestrups and Hansens

Elder Hoffman with his girl friend

Elders Hermansen and Steel

So fun to see so many dear friends

We had some other visitors that last week of the month. Paul's brother Derrill and his wife Irene came up Wednesday to say hello and go to lunch with us. They were up here to enter the MTC, Monday, October 3. They will be serving in New York for 6 months. So glad they decided to go on a mission and experience, first hand, the blessings that come from that type of service and sacrifice. It was great to be with them again.

.....And then there is Aria.  She is crawling now and as cute as ever.