Wow!
The last blog I wrote was Jan 1! Where has all the time gone? It is now almost the end of March and so much has happened.
We have a new missionary couple here, James and Sharon Ashby from Tremonton, Utah. We served with them two other times in Florida and we are super happy to be serving with them again. Both are very capable and hard working and fun to be around. Together we spend the days working hard and some evenings eating meals, playing games, watching movies, and most weekends traveling around England.
Where to begin?
We are now mostly renovating houses and taking care of problems like, broken pipes, floods, leaks, boiler problems and the like on the farm. There is always so much to do and it is really rewarding when we finish a job or project. We feel like Ben, our Farm Manager is trusting us more and we are loving our friendship with him.
We also had Sarah, Kaden (Utah), and our newest grandson, Wesley (4 months), and Mark and Karen (Ohio) come to visit us at the same time. We all saw much of England. We went to the Borough and Camden Markets, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, London Bridge, Tower of London, the farm, Ely Cathedral, Bath, the Thermal Spas in Bath, the Roman Baths, Stonehenge, Blenheim Palace, a Manor house and the City Caves in Nottingham, Cambridge Market and museum, Angelsey Abbey, Warwick Castle, the Harry Potter World, St Mary's church, our Church twice, Lincoln Cathedral and castle and used car, train, bus and the subway system. We did that all within a 2 week period with a 4 month old baby (who was amazing!) and Sarah with a sprained ankle! To say that we were all exhausted is an understatement.
We were glad to get back to work so we could rest! (lol!)
Just wondering if you ever feel far away from God? I do from time to time. I have to stop and ask myself what is amiss. It's a time to do some housecleaning and throw out things that have crept in. I also think it may be a way that our Heavenly Father gets our attention to tell us to try harder, maybe put in more effort.
I love Elder Holland's message of, "I will not give to my God that which cost me nothing". This morning, I had the impression to get up a little earlier, study better and more, give to my God that which cost me something (precious sleep).
Another thing that happens is that a person may give up....kinda like "Does God even care about me?" "Does He know I'm here?" "Why has He abandoned me?" I think those are thoughts that can take us down a slippery slope of hopelessness, uselessness and rebellion. I think when THOSE thoughts come in, that's a sign to stop, take inventory and try harder and remember that He does care. I wrote those words through my own personal experience this week.
I decided to fast on Sunday that I might feel closer to God. It was Fast and Testimony Sunday (we fast for 2 meals/24 hrs once a month and donate the money we would have spent to those who are in need. We also have the opportunity to testify-kinda like "open mic" for Church) There was a lull and I decided to bear (bare?) my testimony about my love of Easter and what it means to me especially with the promise of my children who have died to be with us again. Shortly afterwards, Bishop Conway got up and mentioned that when he set us apart as Primary Teachers (kind of a setting apart from the things of the world to focus on being teachers or some other thing) that he had some great impressions that our children who passed on were helping us here on our mission. The whole tone of the meeting changed and we felt the presence of the Holy Ghost. It wasn't until I got home that I realized today is Nathan's birthday. He would have been 36! It is such a tender time for us. For all those things and many others couldn't possibly be a coincedence. Our hearts are full! It is my testimony that our Heavenly Father does love us! He is there! He hears us and answers us. It is US who needs to move closer.
I am reading "The Spare" a book by Prince Henry of Wales and he said in his book as he was going through boot camp, "...the plan was to kill the Self. "Then we'd all be on the same page. Then we'd truly be One Unit. As the primacy of Self fades, they promised, the idea of Service take over." I love that idea as it is also a theme in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Service to God and man is why we serve missions. It's why we are here. As we put work, family, self, comforts, home away from us, we are more free to serve those around us. It is a great blessing to be able to do that and we hope to make a difference in the people that we love at home, on the Farm, the people at Church, our neighbors and the people we meet in England. We love you so much and hope you know that we think of you and pray for your well-being and welfare! May God bless you and keep you till we meet again!
Love Elder and Sister Smith
Here are some pics...
This was a huge job that some people doubted we could accomplish. Joe and I started on the Safefield house which was vacant for a year after being lived in for 25 years without any repair (that we know of). There was a lot to do...
The plaster was falling off the wall at the bottom and some of the top. Joe became the resident expert at replastering with a little help from YouTube!
Upstairs, there are 3 bedrooms. There were many cracks that had to be patched, carpeting that needed to be pulled and paint...lots of paint. Each room took at least 2-4 coats of paint.
After the upstairs was done, we moved downstairs. I almost fell and apparently, my first instinct is to stick my paint hand in my eye! LOL! Fortunately, I didn't fall (ministering angel caught me-like seriously a miracle cause my ladder was on the way down and somehow corrected itself right!)
We put took down doors, got them stripped, cleaned, revarished them and rehung. It was another HUGE project.
The decorator, Tammy and also Ben wanted a beam that looked rustic. Joe and Elder Ashby designed and installed these beams. Unfortunately, the walls, ceiling and false beam under were uneven, misaligned and skewed. Fortunately, Elder Ashby is an engineer and Joe is Superman!
After measuring and making the perfect boxes, they fitted, beat, stained and varnished them and hung it. Looked so amazing.
I think they are related to Michelangelo. Ben and Tammy were impressed.
The tile that we kept on had to be scrubbed, de molded, and painted. Our backs will never be the same. We had the Kitchen and Bathroom floor and all the bathroom wall tiles to paint.
The very last inside job was to grout the tile in the conservatory. The guys did that. We still have the fencing to do, but it's all done inside, ready for new renters!
We also got this home ready to move into (patch, paint, repair, clean) , unfortunately a pipe burst and we had to replace wood flooring and repaint and clean-again!
Gloria Repainting Joe cutting for the new flooring
We have many other projects going on at the same time. ...
Someone stole some "Karo" meaning kerosene (used for heating homes) by charging through the previous fence! The Ashbys and Smiths put up a new fence and Gloria learned a new skill using screw gun!
We went all the way to a town called Goole (pronounced Ghoul) near York to patch, clean and paint and install some large TVs for this newly acquired farm and office. We finished it in one day, which was lot of all of our old bones. We felt it for days to come, but the room turned out beautiful!
Our next huge project is renovating another home. It is a 6 bedroom/3 bath home that is pretty dated. We have to be done by the end of May, which doesn't seem too hard except we keep getting many other projects!
Step one was to make sure the leak was stopped.... This is a broken pipe
The leak apparently WASN'T stopped, so I mopped about an 1" of water in the kitchen!
Joe removing tile above this avocado tub
Ok, the rest of these pics were from travels and with the kids. Probably not in order-at all. Sorry about that. A bit pressed for time. Next time, I won't wait 3 months to post again (hopefully)
We get together with the Senior Birmingham Missionaries about 2 times a month. These have become great friends!
Birmingham canal
We were invited to Katya and Cameron's home for Burns night. A Scottish tradition where we ate interesting food...
Cathedral
Our second Square dance at the Ramsey Ward Barn dance...so fun.
Square dance fun
Come Follow Me with our best friends!
We were invited to Pancake Day! We had delicious homemade crepes with fresh squeezed lemon and sugar sprinkled on top (try it!) Then we had a friendly crepe flipping contest and a throwing contest.
From the Borough Market-Pulled pork, coleslaw, truffle mayo, sprinkled parmesan on flat bread. YUM!
Activity Days with our darling primary kids. We made Mother's Day gifts. Mother's Day is in March!
Camden market with Sarah..and the horse
Ok, who can resist this little face? Wesley at 4 months.
The day after Sarah, Kaden and Wesley came to England, it SNOWED! I think they brought it from Utah!
Seeing Big Ben from the London Eye
View of the Thames (pronounced Temes) River from the London Eye ( a huge faris wheel)
On the Hop on Hop off bus...upstairs
Tower of London where the Royal Jewels are held
In front of Tower of London, changing of the guards.
London at night, London Eye
In front of Buckingham Palace
close up of Buckingham Palace
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln cathedral in background, standing on Lincoln castle
Ready to go into The Harry Potter World
So after thousands of years (3000), the guessing is finally over and now we know how Stonehenge was put together...
Blenheim palace (looks better with PhotoSpear)
Wollaton Hall (Batman's House)
Wollaton House (Bat Perch)
Church where Ashby's ancestors were
Church where Ashby's ancestors were
Daffodils grow wild here! It is amazing! I taught a lesson to the Primary kids about the nature of daffodils and how they live and die and come back to life in Spring...and so did Christ, and so will we.
We love you and hope you enjoyed looking at these pictures!
