Wedding Bells

On November 3th we had an email that said our phone bill was not being paid because of our credit card. We canceled the card when we thought it was stolen. We were worried and upset thinking all of our utilities were not being paid. The stress was so high. I said to David that the adversary was working hard on us and there was a miracle just waiting to happen. We knelt and prayed to know where we should go. When the prayer was finished we both had the same name come to mind, Pait Henshaw. We went to her apartment and knocked on her door. Pait came to the door in tears with pain in her eyes. I reached for her and asked, "What can we do for you." She told us that her wedding was scheduled for the next day and the judge had changed the time and now no one was able to be at the wedding. We asked if they had the license and when she said yes we told her we could find someone the perform the marriage. We quickly called the bishop who was just going into a movie with his wife and he said he would arrange his work schedule to be available. The next day the wedding went very well. I guess I can count that as helping with 22 wedding now. Pait asked how we knew to come to her home that night and we told her that it was the Lord and that he was aware of her and what she needed.

Elderberries

We exercise every morning. There is a beautiful trail that goes along the St. John's River. On this trail there are huge Elderberry trees. I learned that it is illegal to cut down the trees or pick the fruit because there is an endangered beetle that uses Elderberries for food. I was thinking of my sister Esther when I saw this. She loves to harvest the berries and make syrup.

Richard Radmacher

Five years ago we took a family trip to California and David wanted to visit part of his mission. So, we went to Visalia and found his old apartment and the church. Then we went to the King's Canyon to see the giant sequoia redwood trees. Sunday we came back to Visalia for church and David was hoping find anyone that he had known. At the end of the meetings David found me in the Relief Society room and said, "Do you remember the chocolate cake story?" And I said, "You are kidding." A man came up to David and said he had live in Visalia in1977 and he had just moved back. David asked him if he knew a Dick Radmacher and this man said, I am Richard Radmacher." He was a stake mission when David was on his first mission and Richard had driven the elders to many appointments. As he drove he would tell them stories. Now here is the cake story. Richard in his youth was in a rock-n-roll band and he grew marijuana. He was taking the missionary lessons and he was invited to a ward party. He made a delicious chocolate cake. Yes there was marijuana in the cake. He said it looked so good that he had a piece. That was so good he ate three more pieces. The next thing he remembers was lying on his back in a field and the moon and stars were spinning and he prayed. God, if you will help;me through this I will never touch the stuff again. He was true to his words.

October 2011 Apartment in Visalia

We love the Apartment and all the help we received. It was all put together when we arrived. We had one day when we couldn't get into our driveway because the neighbor was being arrested. He was so embarrassed he apologized the next day.

October 10, 2011 Trip to Visalia

While we were at the airport David heard someone say, "Elder Sheffer." It was an Elder Clayson from David's mission 35 years ago. He was going to Hong Kong that morning. He was surprised to see that David was again a missionary going to Fresno. We told Clayson that we had been trying to find President Harbertson to tell him that we were going back to Fresno and Clayson said,"I sat by him in Conference last week and I have his cell phone number. The President is in St. George at his winter home." Well with cell phone number in hand we stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Sheffer's and they call Uncle Dan and Aunt Kathy to see if we could spend the night at their home in St. George. We rushed home to finish our packing with Sarah's help and we couldn't  find David's wallet. That didn't stop us. We fed Sarah Cafe Rio and headed down the road.

It was wonderful to see Dan and Kathy. We found David's wallet in Gaile's makeup bag that night. To bad we cancelled the debit card. We are still waiting for the replacement. The next morning we called President Harbertson and went to visit him. It was wonderful to see him and he told us that only three elders had his cell phone number, well four now since David has it, what a miracle, or tender mercy.

Here is President Robert Harbertson and David. The President has just turned eighty years old.

We also visited Tom Pillar. He and Bobbie live in an amazing subdivision in Santa Clara, next to St. George. They use to live in our home ward and Bobbie use to work with Robert Ludwig, Gaile's cousin. We called Robert to see if he had their address. He said he was just at their house two nights ago. He was able to give us wonderful directions. When David was the Elder's quorum president he asked Tom to bring his fancy sports car to an activity. It started to rain so David was sure Tom wouldn't come, but, he did. Tom will do anything to help someone.

We made it to Visalia about 10:00 pm and the elders came to our apartment with the keys. They were so excited to see us. I think it was because they helped to set up the apartment and they were hoping to use the washer and drier.

Merrill and Meg to the airport October 10, 2011

We took Merrill and Meg to the airport by 6:00 am.  They had thirteen bags and their two adorable boys. We were so glad we could help them. It was amazing how much they were able to take. We are so grateful that they made it safely to Japan.

Sarah's Temple Day October 8, 2011

This is my Sarah Lynn after the temple. She is going to be an amazing missionary.

Football and temple October 8, 2011

Saturday was an amazing day. Alan had a dream come true. Bert came down so we could all go with Sarah to the temple. In the morning Alan, Nicholas and Bert play football together. The team was the Utah Valley University club team. I loved seeing them play together.

All of the grandchildren came to watch. When the game was over we went to the Mount Timpanogos Temple. With tears of joy we were in the Celestial room with all of our children and their spouses. Grandma Duncan and Aunt Esther were with us also. This is what we call a pay day. What a choice blessing.

Randy and Holly October 7, 2011

At the MTC one of the teachers for the senior missionaries was Jordan Hepworth. This is the son of one of David's best friends growing up. Daivid saw him and leaned over to me and said, "That misionary has to be one of Randy's sons. He looked just like him." Well, he was right. Jordan told us that Randy was coming up to Provo to see his new granddaughter and he would be here on Friday, the day we were getting out of the MTC. We went to see Randy and Holly as soon as we left the MTC. Their children, three of them live at Ymount.

Stravation Campout

This is old news that we didn't publish. So now it goes out. What is a couple of years after all between friends.

We went to Sarvation Lake where we camped and went swimming with Merrill, Meg Kai and Kogi.

We are going to Hawaii On the 1st of July so we need to pactice snorkeling.
Grandpa Sheffer is taking Kai in the kayak. They have matching life jackets.

MTC

Well, we're in the MTC! We have waited a long time for this experience. The first time for both of us to be at the MTC.

They treat senior missionaries WAY different than they do the young elders and sisters.
This picture is me with President Wright. He served with President Harbertson, in the Fresno Mission when I was serving 35 years ago. When I was transfered to the Oakland Mission he was transfered too. He then helped President Curtis. He now works in the MTC. In this photo I am wearing my 35 year old name tag. It was such a surprise to see this familiar face.

There are usually about 50-70 senior missionaries. This week 102 seniors reported with us. Half had to be housed at the Provo Marriot. We were in the half that was sent out. Here is Gaile in our room doing some diligent studying.

This is a classic photo. This is where most of our sons had their picture taken with their mother when they were dropped off at the MTC.

Here we are at the famous MTC map of the World. We are pointing to Fresno California.

On September 25th we had our Farewell. As we were sitting on the stand just before the meeting started we were wondering if anyone would come. When the sacrament was finished the doors opened and the chapel and cultural hall were filled to over flowing. It was so wonderful to see so many friends and family. David had school teaching friend and so did I. When the meeting ended many came over to have a brunch. Megumi and Karen, a friend .worked so hard to keep the serving tables replenished. Thank you for coming and supporting us.

Mission Call

I think we are ready to submit. June 30, 2011

Although we are a little concerned, Gaile submits our papers

David finalizes everything, and we are still smiling.

Preparing to open the call. Thursday September 1, 2011

Response immediately after opening the call.

Thursday the mission call came. We submitted the papers on June 30th. We had to wait two and a half weeks for the stake president to get back into the country for our interview and then the papers were sent to Salt Lake City for the mission call. Then seven and a half more weeks to get the call. We are to report to the Missionary Training Center on October 3rd. There is so much to do and now four weeks seems like a very short time.

David wanted a piece of the action so he asked to be part of the security for the theater. I think he fits in very well.

I have waited 20 years to go to Les Miserables and on Saturday May 28th I made it. David and I were able to go to the Capital Theater in Salt Lake to see the production. The music was wonderful the story timeless but parts of the production were to lewd for my tastes. As David put it,"I can take that off my bucket list.

Burrito

We had a nice visit from Bert and Julie and Merrill and Meg. Taffy loves to drag Grandpa's blanket down the stairs and wrap up in it. Well, Merrill decided to go one step further and wrap the kids up as burritos. In the end Kai was wrapped up with Merrill. It was hilarious. We love to have the visits. This is the last day off for spring break. Time is going by so fast.