A Turtle??

Dear Friends and Family,

First and foremost, thanks to all who sent Birthday wishes my way.  It is so wonderful to know you are thought of and remembered.  And thank you to my wonderful Kids and Grandchildren who surprised me by pulling up to the side of our car while we were driving down Bluff Street, honking their horn and leaning out the windows yelling Nema & Papa.  At first I thought Bruce had cut someone off, but when I saw those sweet faces, my heart leaped for joy.  My arms ache to hug all my grand kids, but having those three visit was pure joy.  They visited all the historical sites and wanted to know everything we are doing.  But best of all, they crawled in bed with us in the morning and snuggled.  (now that's a birthday present)  Thanks, Becky and Ryan.  And thanks to Kati for giving us the week off from blogging.  (Its really hard, this really isn't me but the kids insist)

Our other wonderful event this weekend was a visit from our friends, Karen and Steve Reeder. We had a fun filled 2 days.  We had tickets to Tuacahn and watched Wizard of Oz.  (So cute) They visited all the sites and heard all the stories about Brigham and Jacob and how the saints were able to build the Temple and Tabernacle.  We got up early Sunday morning and drove to Pine Valley to attend church at that beautiful and historical building.  It is the oldest working chapel in the church.  After church we drove up to Mountain Meadow to visit the monument.  It is a sobering experience, but the church has done a beautiful job of the memorial and the grounds.  Thanks to Karen and Steve for visiting, you made our weekend.

Two weeks ago on our P-day, we drove up scenic highway 12.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Southern UT, this is the road that goes east from Bryce Canyon over to Escalante, Cannonville, Tropic, then across a road called "The Hog Back" to Boulder.  (Hog Back road, 1000 ft cliffs on both sides of the road with no guard rails on either side.)  This drive is one of 5 in the US that is highly recommended to be one of the most spectacular in the country, and the last highway improved and paved in the Southwest. We can now testify that it is truly one awesome road..  We continued on through Boulder to Torrey, then drove back to Escanlante to spend the night at a bed and breakfast. It was wonderful to experience this part of the State, it is incredibly beautiful, we hope to go back and take a couple of the hikes and roads that go to some spectacular slot canyons and water falls.

The work in the historical sites continues to amaze me.  On the Saturday of Labor Day we had more than 475 visitors at BY's home, 259 at Jacob Hamblin's home and well over 1500 at the Visitor Center.  Some of these visitors are members but a good number are not.  It is our privilege to introduce these people to the church and its doctrine, give them a Book of Mormon and invite them to read it, We then give them a post card that they can fill out with their email address or home address and then drop it in the mail.  This generates the teaching online that the missionaries do all over the world.  Bruce, met his German buddy, who knew exactly where his Great Great Grandfather had come from and how to pronounce "Borchert".  We practiced and practiced, but our German friend just laughed at us.  He had been given a B of M before and was bringing his son on a tour of the US.  He loved the VC and wanted his son to experience it.  His son took a B of M and he did give Bruce his email address.  Success, we can establish contact with him and continue our fellowship and invitation to read the Book of Mormon and have the missionary discussions.  (Who Knows)

Well, I am sort of excited that my server has been down for the past two days.  I typed this message on Sunday but couldn't send it.  However, yesterday and today we had terrific rain.  I am attaching a picture I took tonight that is about 1 1/2 miles up the road from where we live.  The stream filled so quickly that it jumped the road (Dixie Rd, for those who are familiar with St. George) and took out a huge storm drain that ran under the road.  They have heavy equipment there now trying to shore up the banks so hopefully they can save the road.  Pretty exciting.  Also, there is a State Park up by Snow Canyon which preserves Deseret Tortoise's and Gila Monsters.  We have been there numerous times to see the tortoise's or a Gila Monster, with no success.  But we saw one tonight.  Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Well, its time to clean our Condo so we can play tomorrow.  "Its P-Day"!  We send love to all and pray all is good in your lives.  If you are close to St. George, let us know.  We love visitors.

Health and Happiness,

Bruce and Dawna

Elder & Sister

Old Friends and Beautiful Places

Hi to All! 

Yes, its that time of the week that I need to look back and evaluate if we accomplished anything worthwhile.  Well, Bruce was on fire and gave several Books of Mormon and had discussions with a few people who were really interested in the Church.  His salesman personality was in full bloom and he had a very successful week.  Me, I took the phone call at the Visitor Center with the woman who wanted to know all about food storage and where she could get it.  After 20 minutes of trying to explain she could call the cannery or go on-line and check out the commercial companies, she told me she wasn't a member of the church but only trusted the "Mormons" and their supplies. She then wanted to know what else we were encouraged to store or other measures we were to take to ready for emergencies. Oh Yes I did, I told her about 72hr kits (why can't I learn to stop talking) and after 30 minutes (no lie) I finally convinced her to talk with one of her Mormon neighbors and ask them about Relief Society.  Maybe they will have more success than I did.  My week not so successful.

But this week was all about "old friends" and "beautiful places"

First our old neighbors, The Edwards, caught up with us at the Visitor Center and we were able to go out to dinner with them.  It was so fun catching up after 9 years.  We spent 3 1/2 hours remembering and talking, talking and remembering.  Then Friday night we received a text from our friends, Shanna and Kerry Tobin.  What a treat.  These are friends from our first days in Cache Valley UT.  We had our first babies together and Bruce and Kerry carpooled to work for several years.  They have great stories about driving Bruce's 1951 Truck.  (Not very reliable transportation)  It is true, "Make new friends but keep the old.  One is silver and the other is gold."  We have been so blessed with wonderful friends in every place we've lived.

Now for "P"-Day.  We got up early and drove through Cedar Breaks to Bryce Canyon.  We have lived in Arizona for 24 years and grew up in Utah and never took the time to stop at this magnificent National Park.  I remember when I was very little, my family taking a vacation to Bryce and Zion, and the entire drive to Bryce, there were signs advertising Ruby's Inn, and my sisters and me begging mom and dad if we could stay the night at the Inn.  We arrived and there were small cabins where we spent the night with all the mice and other critters.  I don't remember the canyon, just my mother and dad being so upset with the accommodations.  And now Ruby's Inn is a beautiful Best Western.  Don't know if it still comes with mice, but we will find out and let you know.  We decided we are going back to hike to the bottom of the canyon.  It was so beautiful. The beauty of Southern Utah and Northern AZ never grow old.

Well, that's my epistle for the week.  We pray all is well with all of you and miss you like the dickens, but are so enjoying our mission.  We are a little more comfortable with all the history and facts, but still working very hard to make sure we aren't telling lies or urban legends.  Be safe and happy.

Love, Bruce and Dawna