One Great Member Missionary!

We have begged everyone in our two branches to introduce us to their friends and family who are not members of the Church.  It’s been so interesting and frankly sad to us that not only have they not introduced us to anyone, active members have asked us and other missionaries that we not visit with their nonmember or less active family members.  The ONE AND ONLY exception to this is Brother Oilar – he has given us names and directions (he doesn’t do addresses “over the hill, past that one field, I think the house is white”) for MANY people to visit.  We have met some lovely people through him – only one has agreed to be taught lessons, but we have made friends and he has done his part.  He is a GREAT example of “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  Who should you be introducing to the missionaries?

I sneaked a picture of his open briefcase! ❤

We took a P-day (well, half of one) and went to Burney Falls – 90 minutes away.  We weren’t able to hike as much as we had planned, but we were so glad we went.  It is GORGEOUS.

100 million gallons of water go over this per day - it's 129 feet high!

When we went to our Zone Conference this week, we took our good friend, Ron, to the Temple, as the Temple shares a parking lot with the chapel where we meet.  There wasn’t anyone around to take a picture of the three of us, but at least we got a better one than the silly selfie we had before!

My One and Only Epiphany

Craig is a deep thinker – he comes up with clarifications and perspectives that are quite profound.  I am not.  I have a very simple brain, and that’s ok.  But this week I had an epiphany while I was bemoaning the low turnout of our Patriotic Program (which had some definite nice moments, small audience notwithstanding.)

We’ve all heard that we don’t pay tithing just because Heavenly Father needs our money – if the Lord simply wanted the Church to have huge sums of money he would tell the Prophet where a goldmine is and how to purchase it, etc.  We pay tithing for US – to show Heavenly Father that we have faith, and to enable us to have the opportunity to help build the Kingdom.

The thought came to me that the same is true about missionary work.  Heavenly Father, through the Holy Ghost, could steer “those who are ready” to Church buildings all around the world as each Ward/Branch is gathering for Sacrament Meeting.  But that wouldn’t do US any good.  (Except to build up Wards/Branches that are in desperate need, like ours are!)  Instead, as WE participate in Missionary Work, OUR testimonies grow.  As we invite our friends to join with us we are showing Heavenly Father obedience, faith, and a willingness to put ourselves in potentially awkward situations as we do our part to build the kingdom.  Small sacrifices, but needed ones that help US grow and builds OUR testimonies.  So as Elder Bednar said, “Stop praying for the missionaries to find those who are ready – that’s YOUR job.  Start praying that you’ll know who to invite.”  (I love Elder Bednar)

We tried to make the Chapel look festive!
PSA - Handbook update - it's ok to take pics in 
the Chapel as long as it's not during Sacrament Mtg.

We have been anxiously watching for the new fawns🤍 - when we saw 
them coming down the street we opened our gate, but they walked on by!

Love, Share, INVITE!!!! (At least that's what we hope happens Sunday night!!!)

This week has been spent rehearsing with people…. Or TRYING to get together to rehearse, and spreading the word about our concert tomorrow night.  We have passed out 276 invitations, and posted a dozen fliers.  Besides putting an article in the paper, there was a lovely man in the Branch who insisted on paying for a newspaper ad.  If people don’t come it’s not because they didn’t know about it!!! 

They received a much better photo than this article shows!!!  :(

Different little towns around here have their Independence Day celebrations on different days.  Alturas held theirs on July 2.  I am used to small, rural parades (Cokeville!!) but have never seen Farm equipment entered before!

 There were some traditional entries as well...

There were a lot of people watching farther down the route!

Parade and rehearsals aside, Saturday, July 2, was a sobering day for me.  It was 50 years since my father passed.  We are just so grateful for the knowledge that we have that we will see our loved ones again – that is why we leave the comforts of home and our families – so we can share with others the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel with others, and help them handle the sadnesses and separations that are part of life.

We Got To Attend A New-To-Us Temple

When we first arrived in Alturas, we met with the Klamath Falls Stake President, and were asked by him to do what we could to facilitate getting a newly-activated member to the Temple.  I will spare the details, but there have been MANY struggles to get there, as there always are when people are making steps along the Covenant Path.  IT FINALLY HAPPENED THIS WEEK!!!  Since they live in Nevada, the Reno Temple is closer so that is where they went.  It’s out of our mission, but because of our involvement we got permission from the Area Authority to leave our mission boundaries and attend with them.  The Temple is beautiful, and located on a hill with an amazing view.  We were asked to be the Witness Couple, making the whole experience even more meaningful.  It was a nice break from our routine, and as always, so nice to be in the Temple!  We’ve missed having that as a weekly option!

 

(I was the photographer - nobody around for me to impose on, darn it!)

All missionaries in our mission were asked to watch with their ward/branch Missionary Committee a Broadcast for Leaders that the Church just released. We watched on Saturday evening.  I don’t know what videos each Area showed, but I would STRONGLY suggest watching it and checking out the videos shared in the “North America West” Area.  (When you hit on the video, you can choose on the left side which Area you're in.  If you do watch the North America West option, my fav presentation was at minute 20.)  No matter the Area, the video starts out and ends the same; in the middle you get a message from your Area Authority. TRULY worth the time!  Very motivating!!! 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/share/2022-leadership-broadcast/area/north-america-west?lang=eng

Haven't done a sunset picture for a while!

Happy Father's Day! (Since I didn't mention it below!)

Most of the missionaries in our zone live in Klamath Falls, which is two hours away.  But there is one set of Elders just over the border in Oregon the other direction, who are only an hour away.  They live almost as close to Betsy as we do, so they have been able to help her a lot.  She loves them, and so when THEY asked her to commit to a baptismal date, she agreed to July 2!  There are a few things that must be done first, but we hope she can make that!  Since she adores them so much she’s going to have one of them baptize her, per our suggestion!  We're so excited for her!

Since they are SUCH hard workers and SO capable and willing, we asked if there was any way these Elders could come with us to a member’s house that is an hour from Alturas, opposite their direction.  Missionaries have limited miles each month, so we drove them out.  This sister in her seventies has been widowed for a couple of years and has 60 acres in the middle of nowhere.  This Spring three men from the Branch went to help her dig out her irrigation ditch, and I visited her a couple weeks ago.  She said the men and I were the first visitors from the Church since her husband passed.  These branches that are so spread out have such struggles.

The missionaries dug post holes, Craig did weed eating and I 
cleaned inside her house.

I have been GROVELLING all over town for more singers for our choir.  There is a large church in town that has a lot of talented musicians, but we have been told from several different people that their preacher speaks weekly in his “sermons” of the evils of our Church, and NONE of them will participate or attend ANYTHING in our Church.  Our Branch had an Emergency Preparedness Fair a few years ago, and EMTs and people who work for the electric company who attend that Church wouldn’t participate.  So sad.  I loved the story I read this week of the Saints in Edmonton, Canada who held their services early on a Sunday to accommodate a Sikh Parade that passed their Chapel, so that the parade goers could use the Church's parking lot and restrooms. (https://news-ca.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/what-a-sikh-parade-in-edmonton-taught-latter-day-saints-about-religious-freedom)   Now THAT is Christianity!!!

I don’t care how long we live here, I can’t imagine that we will ever tire of seeing the lovely deer in our yard.  

These two were actually in the yard at the same time, but so far apart
the picture of the two together didn't work out well.

Nothing Like Visitors to Make it a Great Week!!!

Two of my AMAZING sisters and their ever-supportive husbands made the drive from Utah County to come visit us this week.  While I know seeing us was the main draw, they really wanted to see some deer (which they did!) and they timed their 28-hour stay so they could attend the Alturas Country Jam.  I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but a group of phenomenal musicians (mostly over 80!) get together weekly at a Congregational Church and take turns singing.  They invited me to join them several weeks ago and we go when we can.  My sister Patti was the hit of the year singing her "Crazy," and my brother-in-law, Lynn, sang a sweet old Gospel song.  Then last minute we three decided to sing “America The Beautiful.”  Talk about a highlight for me, as being Patriotic was so important in our home!

We stupidly never got a picture of the six of us!!!

In typical generous fashion, they brought donuts for the whole group to celebrate my birthday.  As it turned out, there was another participant there whose birthday was also this week, so they sang to both of us.  I thought I was being funny when I asked her which of us she thought was older.  In all seriousness she told me she was 78, then waited for me to state my age so we would know who was older.  I guess I am not real self aware!  Or funny!

I wish I would have gotten a picture of Patti presenting
these Dunford Donuts to us!
(Notice Margaret in the background!)

On Sunday night we had the first practice for our Inter-Faith Patriotic Program.  Five showed.  Two were members.  But we were THRILLED that one was our dear Seventh-Day Adventist friend who was so ill we weren’t sure he would live through the Easter musical program.  He is still hanging in and blessing everyone around him with his amazing faith and attitude!  We are praying (and groveling) for more participants this week!

We are still struggling to find people to teach, but we did have a baptism this week…. Of a cute 8-year-old boy in the Branch.  I was touched that he sidled up to me a few weeks ago and asked if I would play for it.

As I’ve mentioned, 4H is big here.  The other day as we were walking to the Church we passed these two! (Turn your volume up!) 

While we have nothing specific to say about it, Craig suggested I mention how much we are LOVING our deep dive into the Old Testament.  We hope everyone is taking advantage of the great resources that coincide with the inspired “Come, Follow Me” Program.

Ministers, Medford and Miracles

We have a particularly dedicated High Councilman assigned to our branches.  We have appreciated how he and his wife have gone above and beyond, even coming from Klamath Falls to attend our Easter Musical Program!  Last Friday they made visits with us, the men going to visit men, and we women visited some of the women in the Branch.  As we’ve finished each mission it’s always been hard leaving some of the people we’ve worked with, not sure who will check on them when we are gone.  It’s nice knowing these good folks will check on a few of our friends when we leave here! And it’s always nice to see people so dedicated to their callings!

I do not use the word “Miracle” quite as freely as most missionaries, but I do feel we had a small one this week.  Craig was showing the above-mentioned High Councilor something in our backyard and he told Craig we had serious plumbing issues that could result in the house being condemned.  When we got back from Medford, Craig called the plumbers and they spent the better part of Thursday in the backyard.  (Right before the picture below, all five men were having a tug-of-war with an auger that got stuck – so frustrated I missed THAT shot!)  On Friday they spent the better part of the day in the front, trying to find the problem and get their auger unstuck.  As quitting time approached they informed Craig that if they didn’t find the problem by 4:30, they would have to wait until Monday, as the landlord wouldn’t pay for overtime, and that we would be without water for the weekend.  Because we have company planned for Sunday and Monday, and needed to do Saturday cleaning, etc, I was panicked.  At 4:25 they solved the problem!

We went to Medford this week for Zone Conference.  Here are a few of the lovely sights on the way.  We always see Mt. Shasta, but since I was driving I opted to veer off the road to see “Lake of the Woods,” for which we've only ever seen the sign.  So pretty!  And really, is there anything more lovely than a Harry and David store? 😉  You can buy just the DARK CHOCOLATE part of their Moose Munch!!!

When I walked Betsy out the door on Friday, these cute deer were deciding if they should come in our yard or not.  I’m not usually fast enough to get their jumping!!! (I hope this video works!!!)

Happy Memorial Day!

I know some of you may have seen this Memorial Day Post on Facebook, but for those who didn’t I’m going to share here.  Craig’s father (on the right) was a Master Sergeant in WWII.  My Dad was a career officer and served during three wars.  And I have a son in Australia and son-in-law in Germany serving in the Air Force.  I realized after posting on FB that I should have included Craig’s grandson who is in the AF Academy! Dang!  A few years ago while looking for ancestor tombstones with two of my sisters in Vermont, I found a Lyman ancestor (Amasa’s grandfather) whose tombstone said he had fought in the Revolutionary War!  No good person wants war, but as my sister always quotes, “Blood is the price we pay for freedom.”  How grateful we are to all who have fought and died to keep us free.  We hope this Memorial Day you will pause and consider what that means for you personally. 

Besides being grateful for our freedoms, we are grateful to have a repaired car!  One of the rocks on the many gravel roads we travel made a hole in the condenser and we have been without AC in our car for a month.  We’ve had only a few days in the 80s, but since we have no garage our car is toasty when we get in it, and would never cool off.  We had to wait for the dealership in Klamath Falls to get the part, and since we were there waiting for five hours we walked the two miles for a doctor appt for me.  We both remember the days before a car had AC, and realize we have just been spoiled by the conveniences we enjoy every day.  But it has been nice these last few days to arrive at appointments without being dusty, windblown and sweaty!

Because we are in the car so much we listen to podcasts or books as we travel.  We just finished listening to In the Hands of the Lord, the Life of Dallin H. Oaks.  What an amazing man.  After listening to all he’s accomplished in his life, and his constant dedication, we stand in even more awe and appreciation of him.  We highly recommend the book.  We are blessed to have such remarkable men lead us!

The sun sets farther north and our view isn't as good, but the sunsets are still amazing.

Tithing, Yard Work and Our Wildlife Reserve!

Last Sunday we attended Church in Cedarville, which we do every other week.  A High Councilor from Klamath Falls was the speaker.  He bore his testimony of tithing and shared that because of his chosen profession he had always been paid minimum wage, but has always been diligent in paying his tithing.  In addition to raising seven children on that minimum income he has been blessed in some obvious ways – one is that his truck has lasted him over a million miles.  Literally!  It has 1,158,000 miles!  He feels like that is a direct blessing from paying his tithing!  We both have strong testimonies of the blessings that come from paying tithing too, so we loved his example!

The young Missionaries who lived here before didn’t do anything in the yard for two years (our neighbors have frustratingly verified!)  So this week we spent a lot of time planting grass in front, which was just dirt and sticks, and cut the grass in the back, which had grass over 2 feet high!  The only equipment here is a weed eater, and it was not up to the job so we used a kitchen knife to cut the really long areas!  We’ve asked the mission office to see the rental agreement so we can know just what we’re responsible for, but they’re not super responsive.  I think it's easy for people to forget we’re here, so far away from everyone else.  And civilization as we know it!!!  But in the meantime we don’t want neighbors frustrated with Missionaries! 

Once a week we exercise on a road that surrounds a Wildlife Reserve, 5 miles away.  While we don’t get the most strenuous exercise (because we stop every few feet to watch a bird or some ducks) we enjoy the beauty and the break!  Here’s some of what we get to see!

Canadian Geese, Glossy-Eyed Ibis, Pond Turtle, Whooping Crane  

Some of the High School girls who come to lunch were in a play.  We went and took them flowers, but I look horrible in the picture so I'm not including it.  We try to support and be involved wherever we can!

For With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible

As we mentioned a couple weeks ago, we were able to FINALLY start an Addiction Recovery Program here in Alturas.  It was so uplifting studying and preparing for it.  Alcoholics Anonymous has done such a great job with their 12-step program, and have helped so many people.  The Church got permission from AA to use that 12-step program and add to it the amazing blessing of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to help overcome addictions. As with any challenge in life, not only is overcoming addiction easier with Christ, but relying wholly on Him is the only way to have real Peace.  We enjoyed our first meeting, though it was small, and look forward to learning with those brave souls who come! 

Our Branch is going to have a Family History Fair next month.  I was asked to help, and one thing I did was prepare my display early so people could see it and get ideas of what NOT to do!  😉  If you’re looking at this on a phone, sorry everything is so small!

(This is a tri-fold board - looks funny flat like this!  And the edges aren't raggedy in person!)

A few random pictures:

Helping our friend Ron learn how to make bread!

We thought all our deer were female - Apparently not!

This was posted on Cedarville's website asking for owner!
(Have we mentioned we're rural???) 

Please pray that we can find people to teach!  We really are trying...

Happy Mother's Day (since we didn't mention it below!)

One of the ongoing blessings from our Interfaith Easter Choir is the close friendships we made with fellow Christians from other Churches.  This week we were asked by two members from other congregations to pray for them and their VERY serious health issues.  We are blessed by their faith, and have not only prayed for them but have put their names on the prayer roll in the Temple, and have had the opportunity to explain to them that blessing.  Such dear people!

As we continue to beat the bushes for people to teach, we also do what we can to serve while endeavoring to help the relations between some members of the community and our Church.  A few examples: On Monday we helped clean the local museum.  It has amazing historical items – I should have taken the picture when Craig was dusting off old phonograph machines or the iron lung!  On Saturday I accepted the invitation to go with my next-door neighbor to her Church for a painting class that she teaches.

They were sure grateful for such a tall volunteer!!!

Don't judge the hair - I had just sat through 2 hours of wind and
hail in 37 degree weather as Craig umpired Little League!

I had to make the map below of the area we are responsible for covering and decided to share it with you, since we always talk about these different places.  The white boxes show the mileage one way from our house.  (Betsy lives north between Davis Creek and Fairport, and is moving south by McArthur.  The other fellow we teach at least once a week lives in Eagleville.)  These are little 2-lane highways, a lot of them mountainous and some dirt roads.  The drives can be tedious, but they are so worth it when we can testify of Jesus Christ and help people come closer to Him.

I should have marked Alturas better!  It's in the middle between the "41" mile signs.
Not pictured - Klamath Falls, where we are required to go every few weeks
is NW, 90 miles.  And Lakeview, where we have been visiting a member twice
a week, is 53 miles.  Sad note - the lakes shown are TOTALLY dry. 

We have SO many nature pictures to choose from this week, but this one wins.  We were driving home from Betsy’s and I saw this view in a canyon off to the left so I and whipped around and went into the canyon and got this!

Let the Lord Prevail!

As I’m sure you all know, like most of the West we live in an area of extreme drought.  Our Stakes have fasted and prayed for precipitation, and we have gotten it!  It SNOWED a lot this week!  Our drive to Zone Conference in Medford was so green and beautiful.  (Since I was the driver, we have no pictures, unfortunately!)  This area still needs a lot more (hopefully RAIN at this point) to water crops and limit fire hazards.

We were FINALLY able to go to the Temple, which shares a parking
lot with the Stake Center where we have Zone Conferences.

And from the front, in the evening!
SO WONDERFUL to go again!

Speaking of weather, we are so grateful that my daughter, Sara, and her family were safe during the tornado that ripped through their small city of Andover, KS this week.  Blessings Blessings.

Taken from Sara's window as she got kids to their shelter.

We finally got permission to do an Addiction Recovery program here!  We will start week after next.  We have a few friends who need it and have committed to coming – in the past they were supposed to go to Klamath Falls, or do meetings over zoom.  We’re excited to be part of this solution and help others understand how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can change their lives.

Our cute Betsy is totally planning to get baptized, but wants to finish her move first.  When you have 100 animals and no truck (her 1975 Ford has been pronounced dead) and need to move 45 miles away, it’s a slow process.  We are trying to convince her it’s not good to wait for circumstances to be perfect before following Christ, or we may miss the opportunity to do what is right!  We were so grateful to be able to participate via zoom in Hyrum's baptism, since we haven't had one here!  So proud of him!

(Poor quality, so has to be small!)

In addition to umpiring (which Craig did again today) and singing at other Churches (which I do every week) we support all local events and fund raisers that we can.  Tonight we had AMAZING Indian Tacos (Modoc is an Indian name, so I guess they don't do "Navajo" Tacos here!) for a 4H fundraiser.  Such nice, humble, hard-working folks with good kids!

The storms create such amazing sunsets!

Opening Day, Opening Mission Call, and Easter Recap

To our delight, Alturas is a town that loves and plays baseball!  Opening Day was today, and there were six fields with games constantly going from 10 – 6!  In a town of 2500!  There was one particularly adorable (if not now-very-sore) umpire!

The game was 2.5 hours long! It's not like it's been 50 years since he's done this!!!! 💓
What we won't do to serve and meet new people and interact with them!!!

This week we joined a zoom call for Craig’s grandson to open his mission call to Lubbock, TX.  Craig is 6/6 for grandchildren going on missions!  So blessed.

So taking a photo of the screen wasn't the best idea...
Two missionaries out - 2 with calls - 2 RMs not pictured!

In an attempt to create new ways to serve and maybe even have teaching opportunities I invited a High School girl who had sung in our Interfaith Choir to bring some friends for lunch.  We live 3 doors from the school, so why not?  The girls were just adorable and gracious.  And definitely loved the monkey bread!  I will do that again soon!

I should never try to do selfies!  Thank heaven for the ability to crop!

I love participating with other religions in their worship services – I am so sad that every Church in Alturas has their Sunday meetings the same time ours meets. But the Baptist Church had a 6:00 Easter morning sunrise service around a fire pit, so I went and loved it!

Notice the moon above the trees?  Pretty morning, but 25 degrees!

In addition to our dear Betsy, we invited a lovely lady from the Branch to join our Easter dinner.  Unfortunately, none of the food was really great, but the company was delightful!

When will I learn not to do selfies?  

HAPPY EASTER!

As with General Conference weekend, there’s really nothing we can say to add to this very special day.  And we certainly don’t want to detract from it.  We have spent the week visiting with, and TRYING to visit with, the less active people in our Branches. Those who have let us in, we have shown the Church’s 2020 Because of Him Easter video, and born our testimonies of Christ’s Resurrection, and what that means to us.  I loved the thought from the First Presidency Christmas devotional of a few years ago:  I don’t remember who said it, but he talked about how Christmas would mean nothing if the Atonement and Resurrection hadn’t happened.  We have shared that thought.  Two of Craig’s favorite people in the world, Bruce and Marie Hafen, were the guests this week on the Follow Him podcast that we listen to weekly as part of our Come Follow Me study.  Elder Hafen said, “BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR EXPERIENCES WITHOUT BEING CONDEMNED BY THEM.”  What an amazing way to look at the Atonement.  We are both so grateful for the role the Atonement of Jesus Christ has played in our lives, and are grateful we are in a position to share our testimonies of it on a daily basis.

No need for us to color eggs!
Betsy gives us eggs from her chickens, pre-colored!

A little update on the mission front:  We are still teaching Betsy, and she has a testimony of nearly every principle and commandment we have taught her.  She is in the process of rebuilding a torn-up mobile home to move into, and just does not have the time to buckle down and commit to baptism.  But we’re working towards that!  We also teach a fellow named Craig who lives 50 miles away.  He attends the Cedarville Branch (and was the only person from there to come to our Easter Program.)  He is a well-read student of religions, and we had a great discussion this week about his need to pray to know if Joseph Smith was indeed a Prophet and translated the Book of Mormon.  He’s a great guy – we pray diligently that both of these good people will take that first important step on the covenant path.  And we constantly pray to find more people to teach!!!  We know we have a message that could benefit everybody, but finding those willing to hear it has been a challenge.

But at least we can nourish the deer with a selenium-infused salt lick in our yard!

Remember when we came in January and it was balmy? 
NOW we're having winter - this week was freezing and snowy!

Embarrassing Confession and Program Report

Through the years I have remembered vividly a Stake Conference in Montpelier, ID that my late husband, David, and I attended in the 1980s.  In a talk (I’m almost positive given by President Rasmussen) we were promised that if we would make the sacrifices needed to attend the Logan Temple regularly, one day Montpelier would have its own Temple.  I specifically remember looking down and feeling awkward and thinking what a brazen, unrealistic promise that was.  At the time there were 37 Temples, more than double the number I had grown up with, but no small Temples yet.  It just seemed impossible.  Yet last Sunday our dear President Nelson announced a Temple in Montpelier, ID!  I am humble enough to admit my doubting as a young 20-something dummy, and now my overwhelming joy for those Saints.  I hope I have more faith now than I did then.  But this is truly miraculous to me!

So – the Interfaith Easter Program!  I have been so impressed and touched at the unabashed enthusiasm and openness regarding the love for the Savior the people of other Faiths who were in the choir have.  THEY brought their friends, so we had about 50 in the audience.  We have a new High Councilor out of Klamath Falls, and he and his wife went above and beyond and came the 95 icky miles to attend, as did one of the men we’re teaching, who lives 50 miles away in another direction.  And dear Betsy, who is progressing nicely in her studies of the Gospel, came her 30 miles and brought a friend!  So OUR friends came!  (Sadly, our Alturas Branch Members didn’t catch the vision, and no one from the Cedarville Branch came.)  There have been many many kind things said, and I think everyone who was there felt an increased love for our Savior.  I will miss our new friends and our Sunday night rehearsals!  But we have plans to do a program for Independence Day, and a request to meet weekly after Easter to “Sing together songs of the Savior.”  

Not a great week for pictures – We’ll try to do better next week!  But here are a few.  Apparently deer don’t like Daffodils so these happy flowers greeted participants and audience last Sunday evening at our Church!

Definitely rough week for pics! ;)

I’ve mentioned our house is 110 years old.  That’s nothing compared to others around here… Here is a Cedarville Branch Member showing us the ORIGINAL stove from her home built in 1880s, which they still use for heating their home, and sometimes cooking!!!!

I hope you can tell - she's lifting a stove burner to insert wood!!!

As I was just writing the first draft of this on Saturday afternoon, Craig had me come look out our window!

This is out our kitchen window - she's a foot from our back wall and kept staring at us!
There were 5 more deer, but they were in a place with bad lighting.