Waterless Waterfalls, Welcomes and Goodbyes

Baptism

Today we had a baptism at our little branch.  Following Sacrament we had a Linger-longer pot luck and then afterwards Elder Himle baptized our 80 years old Arneta!  She was nervous and scared of the water, but Wes assured her that he wouldn't let her drown.  It was such a wonderful day.  We all love her and she just became part of a larger family. 

Today the missionaries decided to go to Cowley State Park and see the beautiful waterfall (pictured below).  The park is about 25 miles from where we live  and the day promised to be a perfect 10!  The temperature was near 65 and we actually didn't have much wind which is unusual out here. We packed sandwiches and piled together into cars to witness the beautiful attraction.

Below is a picture of what we actually experienced when we got there!  Not a drop of water.  So we climbed down below what should have been a waterfall and took a picture of the elders and sisters.  Afterwards we explored around and looked at the lake (which had a single boat on it) 

Even without the water on the falls, the air was delicious and on the breeze was the fragrance of fall.  I loved it... all of it!

Dave Runnells, Dave Johnson and Wes Himle.  These three have worked shoulder to shoulder day after day in accomplishing some pretty tough tasks. The three have grown to love and appreciate each other.

To my left are the Parishes from Burley Idaho.  They arrived here on Tuesday, so we did a potluck for them at our place.  On the far end are the Taylors who are also fairly new.  They are from Far West Utah. Elder Parish and Taylor are welders and there is plenty for them to do.  They are fixing and raising up yet another barn that will hopefully last a long, long time!!

The missionaries were assigned to clean the building this week.  We cleaned and then surprised the departing Elder and Sister Massey with a lunch and going away gift.

Elder Himle was brought here (along with an electrician) to build a new house for one of the cowboy families.  However, shortages and high prices kept pushing the project back.  They finally decided to buy a pre-built home from a company called Hinkley.  The home is 28 foot wide and 70 foot long and will come (in one piece) down the highway from a town near Oklahoma City (several hours away).  In preparation, they are cutting trees and preparing the route.  So the first several days this week they spent cutting trees and limbs down and moving them.  It was backbreaking work.  The new home will slide in next to the existing one, so they had to make sure there is clearance.  NOPE!  Those stairs have got to come out.  Elder Himle had to jack hammer and sledge the porch off.  

On Monday night the ranch manger and his wife (Tyson  and Wenda Johnson) hosted a farewell.  I will cherish this gift forever. 

Halloween 

We supported the Halloween Trunk or Tree and games on Wednesday night.  It was a scout activity and It was so cold.  There was a cake walk (most popular), Axe throwing, and other games.  The local scouts grilled hot dogs for all who attended.

Below are our wonderful sister missionaries (Sister Patty and Sister Reyes). They are so warm and wonderful. The Relief Society President (famous barrel racer too). Of course she chose a horse theme!

Throw the footfall through the toilet seats?!??

The Wind

We had a storm come through this week and one day of the days included sustained wind and gusts up to 50 MPH.  It was so noisy and the missionaries in RV's didn't get a lot s sleep.  The wind rocked and rolled them.  When the storm finally passed, we were grateful for calmer winds and quiet nights.  We cancelled going into the library on Thursday due to the slimy roads and high cross winds and worked at home instead.

Family History

Sister Johnson and I are still laboring at the library. completing the indexes for the thousands of obituaries that we are putting together to help others... and will hopefully finish this week.  I taught Krystina McClain (a ward member/cowboy wife) how to  use Family Search and she is loving it.  It is addictive.  The librarians are welcoming and bend over backwards for any request we have.

The other sisters are busy sewing burp clothes and quilts.  Some go and visit the less active or investigators.  We paint, restore, and file (at the office) or look for ways to serve using our various talents.  On Mondays we all work together and clean the office.

 

 

The Landing

After finishing patching the roof of a barn near us (and wondering if they'd get cut or blown off the roof), Elder Himle bricked in a little sidewalk and landing for the RV across from us.  Afterward, the missionaries who own the RV were told that they would be here through May!  So they were super grateful... now to winterize it!  We need heat tape!

New Missionaries

We got a darling pair of missionaries from Far West this past week.  They are the Taylors.  I'm sure that Elder Taylor is feeling sore and tired.  This week in preparation for the new house (40' wide) which is coming in January, the elders cut trees down (for miles) leading to the location where it will be placed on a foundation. 

This picture is our soup and roll surprise luncheon for the Massey's who are leaving on Tuesday and heading back to Alaska.  They will be missed.

Refinishing

Sister Dabbs refinished her cabinets in the missionary house near Pawhuska, giving it a really lovely facelift! (They were black before).

I wasn't involved in that as I was on another assignment, however we did refinish the second desk for my apartment.  It's fun leave things nicer than you found them.

Painting the Letters

On Tuesday we went to Cedar Vale Kansas and painted the letters back in for the memorial for veterans for the Korea, Vietnam, and World War names.  Here, Sister Taylor and Dabbs add black to the lettering for it can be read.

Bill Campbell's (a local, very patriotic WWII vet) sat nearby and watched.  When the red went on the flag, a smile spread across his face.  He told me that he had wanted this done for years and couldn't find anyone to help him with it.  Service felt really rewarding this day!

Quilting

Roelene is working on a quilt here.  She and her husband came in their 20' camping trailer on the mission.  I invited her to use my space (there is plenty room), and after we leave I believe they will move inside and use this place.  They never complain about their really tight space in the trailer--they came to serve!

Below:  Grain Silo with tree growing through the top

Saturday

Being that we only have a couple Saturday's left and haven't really had time to explore the area, we decided to borrow a couple of Kayaks from Bruce Hendron (ward member) and Kayak Bird Creek.  He had us wait for him in a specific location and I was shocked to see a lilac bush in bloom.  I hopped out and took a small bunch to prove to you that Lilacs bloom in late October in Oklahoma!!  I'm sure it was Heavenly Father's way of giving me a hug that day.

We drug our boats down a fairly steep bank and my rudder almost tipped me out.  I saved myself and got back up.  Then it was Wes's turn-- OOOOPs!  In the drink he went.  After tipping the boat over and dumping the water out of his boat-- we were off.  It was around 83 degrees and we enjoyed being together in Nature.

There are wild pigs here that anyone can hunt without a license.  

Below:  Video 

 So much to do in the next two weeks!  Barbara Johnson and I will try and complete the indexes for the Obituaries at the library.  Typing in all of those name in alphabetical order is truly sucking my time.  I hope it will provide information in the future.

Testimonies, Re-finishes, Barns and 4.65" of rain

Dino

The sister missionaries asked us if we would participate in teaching an investigator who lives in Pawhuska.  We excitedly accepted and dropped by to  meet him.  He was so warm and we were not only were we excited,  we felt great joy!!  That giddy excitement stayed with us through conversations. throughout the week as we answered his questions and were reminded of things most precious.

Billy

This is his Billy Goat (named  Billy)!  And yes, his name is Billy! And yes, he is on top of their car!

Plane Windmill

During a gusty storm, our plane took flight and crashed.  Below, Elder Himle is lifting Elder Johnson in the tractor bucket to restore the plane to its rightful place.

Awww.  That's better

After working our  shift at Christ's Cupboard, we just had to stop by the Mercantile and get ourselves one of those light, delicious pastries.  They are the BEST!  Almond chocolate for me.  Strawberry for Sister Johnson!

This is the leg of the desk in our apartment (which obviously survived a flood).    I have looked at that and the other legs for months now and decided it was time to go to work.  I sanded, stained and lacquered.  So much prettier.  The dilemma is that there are two desks.  Do. I have the energy to do the other one?

After Wes finished the front porch, the posts suddenly stood our like a sore thumb.  So I got busy and cleaned it up! 

The Storm

Oh,  did  we get a storm this week!  The likes of which I'll probably never see again!  Tornado warnings,  hail ranging from 2.5 inches to baseball, high winds, and 4.65' inches of rain overnight.  I woke at 1:30a.m. and it sounded like someone was standing outside side my  bedroom window blasting my window with a high powered  nozzle.   As Wes slept peacefully, I looked out the windows, as the sky lit up over and over again like a flashbulb.  Were there tornados out there?  I prayed for protection and our prayers were answered.

Reminder

We have already experienced the first picture more than once.   We hope that we don't experience the second.

The Barn

After the storm, I understood the reason for so many holes in the barn roofs!   Here is the one the Elders are working on now.

That roof is WAY up there!!  Staying away from the metal flapping in the breeze is half the battle!

God placed this gift just for me!

New Missionaries

We  got new missionaries a few days ago!  The Taylors from Far West.  They are wonderful and we are excited as we get to know them and feel like we have known them for a long time.  In a few weeks the Massey's are leaving.

 

Wooloroc, family and blessings

Feeling grateful to feel better.  After 2 rounds of antibiotics, I finally got rid of the kidney infection I was battling.  Hurrah!  Thankful for modern day medicine and blessings.

We drove to Woolaoc over the weekend. with my sister and her friend.  Weather was perfect (followed a crazy rain storm).  The people here survived it, but boy did they have tails to tell.

Below:  Swinging Bridge

Below are the Little's.  They. are assigned to labor in our small branch and drive down every Sunday and as often as are needed during the week.    They are hero's... always showing up for EVERY one and Every thing!

Below:   Teresa, Wes and my sister Jeanine at the. Mountain Man Rendezvous at Wooloroc

 

Keeping with the tradition of making cinnamon rolls for Fall Conference... and sharing with the other missionaries.  We are so blessed by the other angel missionaries that we consider family now.

The pastries at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile REALLY are that GOOD!

Bison on the Tall Grass Prairie.

So many butterflies lately!

WHY IS THE WHOLE HERD STARING AT ME?!

Spiders are busy  preparing for winter and their Webs are like dental floss!  I kid you  not!  Check out my video below this picture.