Dear Family and Friends,
Pictures at the top were taken just in the last week or two. I think I figured out how to put the date back on the pics, but we will see. Bottom picture is "Older" Olson with Older Lee Nez, 1st Counselor in 2nd Ward Bishopric and a great friend.
The top two are pictures taken at Loretta's. She is extending her garden and her family is very involved in making that happen.
If you saw the Title, I hope it sparked your interest, not sure anyone is reading our Blog anymore.
Our latest missionary couple has had one trial after another since arriving. At the first of the week someone thought they would help the freezing water line problem, by wrapping the hose in insulation, then putting the wire around that and then adding another layer of insulation, sealing it all with duct tape, well I guess you might say that was a BIG NO NO, because it caught fire and burned through and melted the PC pipe and some of the bale of straw it went through. Someone had to be watching because the trailer did not catch fire. You can see the burned and scorched straw and the melted PC pipe. It also burned the hose, I am going to assume the water in the hose dampened things enough to keep everything from going up in flames. That was pretty scary.
They have not been able to use their kitchen sink since they came, because it would not drain. Several people tried to help to no avail, then another person discovered that the trailer had a third holding tank where the sink water was going and the value was closed so it was completely full. As soon as they turned the value the water quickly drained out.
The following night Sister M called and asked if I had felt the earthquake and I paused and said, "No" then she said they had and soon realized that it was not an earthquake, but one of two very large bulls who were eating the bales they have placed around their 5th wheel.
They must have got wind that I was the mother of the "Barbaric sister-in-law" (Ask Uncle Derek and Aunt Shelaine about that story ;o}) in any case people seem to think that I know all the answers about what to do in an emergency so they call me. I go out to see two very large bulls munching away, so I pick up a stick and try to prod them, but because it was dark and there were no lights and the ground is very uneven, I decided to call the police dept.
They were very friendly and cooperative and we soon had two police cars with a Bro. Campaign who quickly prodded them on their way back across the cattle guard. They decided they liked the buffet arrangement and returned later. The bulls, not the police :o}
The next morning "Older Olson" woke me up to go see the lunar eclipse which he was sure I would miss if I got dressed, so out I went in my pajamas and coat. I could have showered and dressed and not missed it, but instead I pretended to be OK even though I was freezing my toes off.
After the moon was completely covered I glanced over and who should be quietly chewing their cud and watching me freeze, the two roaming bulls. I was not going to call the police again, so I got my stick and proceeded to prod them from their beds and head them to the gates. They really weren't to happy, so they dropped a few presents on their way to the gate. ;o}
The older and bigger bull timidly placed his left front hoof on the guard about 4 times and each time as his hoof began to sink, he would pull it back. Then he placed it on the 5 inch wide panel, realized it was solid put his other hoof on the far side of the guard, then jumped neatly over. The younger bull appeared to be watching carefully and did exactly what the older one did without trying the middle first, It was actually very interesting to watch. We now have to lock the gates with a bolt and wire because they know exactly where the food supply is located. It is a big nusiance, trust me.
Yesterday I decided to make bread. It was kind of fun and actually turned out pretty well. It was raising nicely on the back of the stove and I decided to boil some eggs. I carefully turned on the burner making sure the rising bread was well to the back. Well I smelled something odd, but I figured something had spilled on the burner, then I glanced up to see smoke coming from the kitchen. I did carefully turn on the burner, but it was the one next to the bread and so the towel was making a good try to catch on fire, fortunately it was only trying and had not caught on fire, so I quickly put the towel in the sink, opened all the windows and the door and cleared out the smoke. Only a small part of the rising bread was affected.
The loaves didn't rise as much as they might have because the apt cooled off so much, but it was good and I will try again tomorrow. I won't be cooking any eggs however or anything else if I put it on the stove to rise. :o} I usually learn from my mistakes. Your prayers of protection are being answered, thank you.
The last event is really quite sad. The couple who have had something happen every day since they have arrived went to church at 9 just like we did. Well after sacrament he came home and someone had taken their two dogs. We found out too late that dog snatching happens quite frequently. They have searched most of the day without any luck. They were beautiful Schnauzer dogs. They are heart broken as you might imagine. Hopefully someone will find them or question whoever is selling them. They did not have those things you implant, so I don't know how it will all turn out.
Hope there aren't to many mistakes, the edit option doesn't seem to be working.
"Older" Olson continues to work like he is "Younger" Olson. They did not approve his surgery for tomorrow. They said his case needed further review. I wish they could live in his body for just one day before they stamp "Needs further Review" I have to keep believing that Heavenly Father's time line doesn't always look like what we think it should.
He does loves helping people get ready, so our winter work schedule is not much different than our summer schedule.
I have a project going at the Family History Center. I am writing down all the names of the infants and young children who are buried at the local cemetery without markers. I am systematically going through the Arizona death records and checking everyone in Coconino County, if it says Tuba City I write it down. I have found over 100 names of infants and small children who are buried here without grave markers. I am trying to come up with a way to search all those records by the child's name, father's name, or mother's name. Whoever is looking should be able to find all the information when they look under one of the names. It all makes sense to me in my head, now I have to make the program work the way I want it to.
If anyone has a system that they think will work, let me know.
Christmas without family makes me a little homesick, but all our kids survived on their missions, so I suspect we will also.
Relief Society was really amazing today. Two sisters gave lessons. One was on visiting teaching. I wish every sister could have been there. It was wonderful.
We love you and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holdiay season. Sorry about the big spaces between .
Elder and Sister Olson
