Fun at Magnolia Orange Grove

This week was busy, but fun!  We dashed out to Magnolia Orange Grove after work on Friday and got there just before the sun set to mark all the bed orange trees w/ neon spray paint so they can chop them down and replace them with good ones.  We finished just before it was completely dark and as we left the moon came up so gorgeous and full we had to take a picture.  It was very romantic! This is an old lookout tower on the ranch. 
When we arrived home Cami Raymond called and invited us over to cook our hotdogs on their campfire in their front yard because they had set up a tent for the kids to sleep in for the night.  We had such a great time with their wonderful family visiting, telling stories, reminicsing and singing songs with the family.  It was great fun and eased the ache we feel constantly to hug and hold our grandchildren and children.

Sat, we went with the Wiggins our great Baptist neighbors to a pioneer/cowboy celebration in Fort Christmas. We met lots of the Florida Ranchers and heard some good cowboy stories, ate swamp cabbage for the first time, it comes from the cabbage palm and is the heart boiled with salt.  It tasted like artichoke hearts to Rich and I.  We liked it, but probably wouldn't go to that much work to chop down a palm tree to make it.  Around here though there are lots of plam trees to spare! They also like collards boiled w/ salt.  Good ole Southern greens!  Reminds me of my Dad!

It was great to see the museum and see the historical homes and learn so much about the history of the land we are serving in.  Florida has a Rich history as colorful as the Wild West and they are quick to point out that they had "cow hunters" (cowboys- They're called cow hunters because they literally had to hunt them down through forests and swamps before fences were built) and gun fights before we did out west.  They also noted that of the 20 largest ranches in the US, seven of them are in Florida.  They also mentioned that Deseret was the largest of all.  Rich and I and the Wiggins were the only ones from the Deseret Ranch, so Rich stood up and shared a bit about why we are here and his ranching history and shared a couple of good ole Bert Randall Ranching stories.  It was such a nice morning and we so enjoyed getting to know Linda and Tom Wiggins better.  They are such fine people and have lived here working in various positions on teh Ranch for over 25 years.  Boy, do they have the stories to tell!

Tom has lent me a couple of Florida history books, which I am reading and learning a lot of history and understanding more of the Florida lingo, such as a Florida Cracker- a term used to refer to those early hardworking, skilled cowboy originated from the sound of their whips as they cracked  over the heads of the cattle on the cattle drives. Then later was a term used to mean a native Floridian. There are "cracker horses", "cracker- style" houses all refering to the original cowboys.

Saturday we went with all the missionaries to the Adult session of Stake Conference at the Stake Center in Cocoa, The Stake President has a different style where he roamed the congregation and stimulated discussion with thought provoking comments quotes and asking "inspired questions"and encourageing usto do the same.  I took a lot of notes and wrote lots of Spiritual insight that came to me during that time.  One very profound and powerful  inspiration had to do with the fact that we are here as a direct miracle worked for our behalf by a loving Father in Heaven and the impression that Richard's dad had a big part to play in gettin us here by pulling strings on the other side came very clear to my mind.  We have felt very close to him since we've been here in his type of country.  Also the influence of my own parents and their example of perserverance during Dad's health challenges.  Their wise counsel and encouragement during this past year of our own refining trials has helped us make correct choices and be obedient and faithful so that we were eligible for this great experience in our lives.  We don't know what things will be like when we get home- if we will find work.  But, we will not worry, because we know from firsthand experience that the Lord will go before us and on either side of us and direct our paths if we dedicate our lives to his service right now as He has granted us this opportunity.

   Then Sunday we went to our own building for Stake Conference broadcast from Salt Lake.  WE heard Perry and Eyring.  It was very uplifting and thought provoking. And the scripture in  D&;C 84: 88

 "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. "

was quoted three times by three different speakers.  It certainly rang clear in our hearts. 

WE pray every day for those who are helping to finance our mission that the Lord will bless them with his choicest blessings. 

And we are happy to report that Chelsey is grown up now and doing so well in Snowflake.  She has blossomed in the influence of her two beautiful Sisters and great Brother-in-laws. She has shouldered her extra responsibilities like a trooper and is doing so much good with so many opportunities to serve at home, in the neighborhood and community.  She is also being very responsible with her own health and care, which shows her growth in maturity.