Happy Belated Thanksgiving to everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful time with your family and friends!  To all those who went out on Black Friday – I hope you found exactly what you were looking for at exactly the right price, and enjoyed the festive stores and air! 

We were invited to 4-5 different homes, one of which was from our friend, Becky, so knew we needed to support Becky (who has recently come back into the Church)and her brother, George, at their meal.  Everything was wonderful!  We just needed to bring a salad, rolls, and pie!  (Thank goodness for store bakeries for the pies!  There IS a Marie Callenders here; it’s just a little far and expensive for pies for Thanksgiving.)  We had a fun time, and were blessed to be able to attend.

We both were feeling a little under the weather, so we didn’t do much else.  It was a nice, relaxing day – a time to thank Heavenly Father for all of the blessings we receive by His hand.    I had started to cough, so I wore a mask and some gloves to Becky’s.

That night, Dan arrived!  Yup – Daniel, my son, drove all day on Thanksgiving to come visit me for a couple of days!  Isn’t that great!!  What a great privilege for me and how kind, generous, and thoughtful of him!

For Friday's meal at Britta's house because Dan was driving all day Thursday, we had assigned out some of the meal to those who were attending.  We didn’t know, exactly, how many people were coming.  We had a possibility of 8 guests, but ended up having 5 guests, which was just fine.  Britta went to Utah for Thanksgiving to be with her family.

We were trying to be organized and figured we had a few hours to kick around, after the turkey was in the oven, as dinner was at 4 pm.  So we planned (Sister Morris, Dan, and I) to go to a movie.  (Yes!  It IS okay that we go to movies!)  We were sitting there, the actual movie having been playing for maybe 10 minutes, when Sister Morris leaned over and said “I forgot to turn on the oven!”  I said something like “Really???  Are you sure??”  She said, yes – that she remembered placing the turkey in the oven, but did not remember turning the oven on!  I asked shall we all go make sure?

She chose to forgo the movie – told Dan and I to stay there, and she went home and turned the oven on, peeled the potatoes, and a few other tasks, so there wasn’t much to do after she picked us up from the show.  She said she was grateful for the prompting of the Holy Ghost – otherwise, it would have been a strange Thanksgiving feast without the turkey, and gravy!

I was feeling bad about her paying for the movie and not getting to watch it, but when Sister Morris picked us up after the movie, she said she had asked for a refund when she left, and they were okay with giving it to her.  Good for her!

It was a great meal and a great time – we had so much food, that no one felt like they wanted to eat much pie – we had a lot of leftover pie (and turkey, and potatoes, and… okay – that’s about it).  I am surprised I didn’t take any pictures at either of our Thanksgiving feasts!  Silly Grandma! (which is what Camden and Taegen say).

Saturday morning, Dan, Sister Morris and I went to some underground gardens here in Fresno.  There weren’t a lot of “gardens” but many fruit trees and grapes still growing.  The underground gardens were dug by one Baldasare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant, who started digging in 1906 here in Fresno.  It was too hot for him in the summer, so he decided he would live underground.  It is unclear how many chambers and tunnels he had actually completed, as he did not map anything.  He had 80 acres and tunnel going out from where he lived to the 99 highway, which doesn’t mean a lot to anyone in Bountiful, but we saw the map, and it’s pretty incredible!   Most of what he dug has been filled in, as most of the property was sold off after Forestiere died.

Here is the link if you want to see http://forestiere-historicalcenter.com   It was really cool!  Forestiere had grafted up to seven fruits on one tree at one time, but that tree doesn’t have that many fruits on it now: but I remember lemons, oranges, grapefruit and ??? something else.

 

 

This picture sort of shows the summer bedroom on the left, and the winter bedroom on the right.  The summer bedroom was open to the outdoors. 

We also went to downtown Fresno, as we hadn't really been there before.  We went to this lighthouse looking place, and Sister Morris set off the alarm - It was suppose to be open...   We walked the outside mall - Fulton Mall - took a couple of photos at the fountain there - it was a nice, warm day to be out and about.

Dan and I went on a bike ride after some lunch – as there are only 2 bikes – Sister Morris wanted to stay home and work on her black and white quilt (more on that in a bit).  It was a really nice afternoon, and a very nice bike ride.  I’m grateful Dan chose to come for Thanksgiving.  Though it was hard to see him go, it was super nice for him to be here!  I appreciated some tips and helps he gave as well.

See all you seniors and pre-seniors!  There are many advantages for us as older missionaries!  My companion is going to Virginia in less than 2 weeks for her granddaughter’s baptism!  Of course everything is based on mission president approval, but as most of you know – we have our own cell phones and computers, etc.  It isn’t like it is for the younger missionaries, in some aspects.  It would, also, depend on the type of mission you serve.  We are Welfare Missionaries, but have been called and set apart as missionaries for our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ.  So we still talk to people all the time, give ‘pass along’ cards, Books of Mormon, family helps, etc.  You all should try it!  What a learning experience!

Monday (the 19^th) was Sister Morris’ birthday.  It was one she didn’t like having.  I suggested to her to not worry so much about what age she was turning, and to think of it as she was having the 21^st anniversary of her 39^th birthday!  I don’t think she thought that helped much.  We had cake, balloons, posters, etc. up.  It was fun to … I wouldn’t say tease, because I tried to be…. kind?  So I guess I will say, it was fun to get everything ready!  I do have some pictures of that here.  There was, also, a surprise birthday dinner at Applebees that night, which was fun as well!

 

(Notice the question mark by the 40th)  Sister Morris determined that she needed a pity party, and …. requested…. everyone wear black and white last Monday to the office.  (not everyone got the memo, and not everyone was there).  She also decided she wanted a black and white pity blanket which she had asked I make for her, though later decided she needed to make it so she could really feel sorry for herself!  I’ll try to remember to get some photos of it when it is done.  It keeps evolving, as projects so often do.

We have moved the furniture around in the office, again…..  This time I was determined to not move the heavy desks around without the use of those mover disks dealies that when placed under furniture help it glide, and yes – they work wonderfully! – so I went and bought some.  They saved our backs, hands, legs – you name it!  We now have our workshop classroom in the back where my desk and our associate manager’s desk were.  This is the conference room now -

 

The associate manager had previously moved into a different office.  We, partially, took apart those two desks, and moved them out front.  There are now 5 desks in the front office.  The conference table has been moved into that back room   I’ll see if I can take a picture or two and post them later.

Break a leg to the Sterling Singers and their concert at the Tabernacle tomorrow night, and especially Marie and Lyle!  You are the best!

I am heading to InstaCare – I’m pretty sure I have a lovely sinus infection, and feels like it might be heading south to the bronchi.  Time to go to the doctor!  SO – everything is par for the course – nothing new there!

Well – I am back from InstaCare, after 2 shots given where it now hurts to walk, a breathing treatment, 3 prescriptions …..  it’s not just a sinus infection – I also have ear infections and pneumonia.  The last part really surprised and dismayed me.  I really didn’t feel that bad until last night.  I was coughing a bit here and there, but it hit pretty hard in the middle of the night last night which is why I went to the doctor today.  I feel okay, a little tired – which is weird.  I am not contagious, which is great, but I can’t go to work for a couple of days so I will rest.

Not too much more to report here!  Just laying around, having been ordered to bed by 3 or 4 people…  I really do appreciate their concern – it makes one feel loved.  I, also, see Heavenly Father’s hand in this, as I prayed I would be healthy enough to spend time with Daniel, and not get our friend, Becky, sick.  Blessed, and more blessed!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!  Through all of life’s ups and downs, through disappointments, fears, heartache and sinful sorrow – we ALWAYS have our Savior to turn to for his redeeming and saving grace.  I don’t want to think what my life would be like without Him.  I am so very thankful for all that He does for me, and for all of you, too.  Best wishes to all – Love, Sister Ure

Sister Morris and I have had an amazing last couple of days!  It truly takes our breath away.  We normally do not have a lot of opportunity to preach the Gospel, but we have spoken with 3 people in the last 3 days about the Gospel - about the Plan of Salvation, the Gospel, the Restoration of the Gospel - those 3 are amazing, prepared by the Lord's hand, people.  We have been told frequently here that Heavenly Father has prepared many - thousands of - people, in this mission alone, to receive the Gospel.

The first was a younger man who was there to fix and perform regular maintenance on the heating and air conditioning.  Sister Morris kept asking him if he wanted to know about this, or that, and could she have the phone number and address - he just kept saying yes.  He left with 3 pamphlets and a Book of Mormon. 

Next was a woman who knows God.  I have not seen such great faith, no, not among any of the Nephites - just kidding - but she, truly, has such great faith!  I was humbled by her witness of God.  She calls Him "Pops" - which, from her, was not demeaning at all!  She truly loves our Heavenly Father.  She, too, left with 3 pamphlets, a Book of Mormon, a blessing, and a ride home, as she had taken the bus, and it was dark, and the name and number of the Bishop over the area she lives in.

Today, not only did we give this man (Herb) a Book of Mormon and the 3 pamphlets, but Heavenly Father needed this man to KNOW He knew him.  He came in to look for work; he had been told we are not a staffing agency, and was okay with getting as much information as he could receive.  We had been out running a couple of errands, and met the man at the office.  While we were gone, a copy of an email listing a recent job posting about farming/agriculture on Sister Morris' desk - she placed it aside as she tried to help this man.  

He had driven his "adopted" mother from Arizona to Fresno so she could be by family in a retirement community.  He didn't have much money left, and could not get back to Arizona.  He said there weren't any jobs there and thought he could get one in Fresno to earn some money to go home.  Little did he know Fresno has 18% + unemployment!  He was telling us of his work history, farming, sprinkling systems, HVAC at a hospital.  Sister Morris picked up the email job posting and asked if he had done what was listed on the email.  He said he had!  Sister Morris decided to call about the job.  In speaking with the person who had sent the email, he asked Sister Morris if Herb had done sprinkling - Herb asked which of the two kinds, but he had experience in both.  Then the person asked another question, and Sister Morris said, "why don't you just talk with Herb.  He's right here." 

Herb had a phone interview right there on the spot!  He is to send in a resume, and we will help him with that tomorrow.  One of the most amazing things was that this job was sent by someone on the coast to Fresno, for a position in Arizona!  Herb from Arizona in Fresno needing a job to get back to Arizona and has an interview over the phone almost right after he walked in the building for a job in Arizona!  I was/am so very aware of Heavenly Father's hand in Herb's life!  I have been allowed to be a witness of this great blessing and miracle.  It is so humbling - so exciting - so wonderful!  We prayed for Herb tonight, and ALL of those that come into the Employment Center, that they may obtain jobs to help them become self-reliant. 

One other part to each of these situations is that these people had said they were looking for a new church!  There are NO coincidences in this life.  Heavenly Father knows ALL things!  He puts into place those things that are for our best eternal welfare!  Each of these people still have their agency and maybe nothing will happen right now, but a seed, at the least, has been planted!

I am feeling so very blessed - how wonderful is our Father!  How great is His love for each of us!  I bear testimony this is true, in Jesus Christ's name.  Love, Sister Ure

This part was written last week -

It actually looks like Fall here in Fresno!  It's starting to FEEL like Fall too!  When we leave for the office at about 8:00 am - it's only 60 degrees ~  What's up with that?

Chance of rain:  0%     Wind:  WSW at 7 mph        Humidity:  64%    UV Index:  4 - Moderate

Snow: 0 inches

 

Saturday:  Sunshine and some clouds. High 76F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Oh my!  I don't know if I can handle it being only 76 degrees F.  I'll have to wear a long sleeve shirt instead of a short sleeve shirt!  Hey!  I figure - we suffered through the 40 + days of over 100 degree Summer - we can truly enjoy the very beautiful Fall we've had, and it has been nice.  I think we had 1-2 days of rain, but that's okay. 

Here are a couple of tree pictures - sorry for the poles and telephone lines!










It could probably use some more, but around here, they pray to not have rain until the raisins are harvested!  Sister Morris had a couple of pictures on her camera of the grape harvest. 

 

There were an amazing amount of grapes on the vines!  (yes - that's me in my weird hat! This is just a photo opp, as my wrist wouldn't let me do more at the time.)




I rotated and emptied the gathering bowls.

 

 You are suppose to carefully lay the grapes out on the brown paper.  You can see the papers laid out on this row.  This is just a part of the row.  Each row was 1 mile long and I think our ward had 5 rows.  The Spirit was fabulous though! Something to remember!  I might be here for next year's harvest as well - that would be cool!

 

Another couple of pictures that were on Sister Morris' camera were from our Memorial Day trip to the Sequoias.  The first one is a shot of what are called Snow Flowers around here.  During the Spring, if it snows, these flowers pop up!  It had snowed the night before we arrived.  Aren't they beautiful?!? 

 

We always seem to be busy!  We have had some health issues, but seem to be on the mend.  Last week I had the worst headache ever, and it lasted for 2-3 days!  I don't know if it was a virus, or a migraine.  I've not had a migraine before, so how would I know?  It was something I hope to not have again - ever!  Sister Morris has caught a couple of colds, besides having the coughing issue.  She seems to be getting better with all of it.  We are praying for her immune system to kick in gear now.

 

This is a picture of Becky after coming out of the Stake President's office in getting her temple recommend!  She truly was happy!  She is great!

 

 

 

Sister Scoffield gave Sister Morris and I these cute pumpkins that she made!  Very clever and gifted.  Bunny Ursenbach gave the adorable brown pumpkin made from the sleeve of an old sweater, and the jam!  Yum! yum!  Talk about being spoiled!

 

 

 We had a real scare with our friend, Becky.  She was vomiting, and her blood pressure was up to 212/106.  We ended up taking her to the hospital on Wednesday evening.  We were there until .... a time I can't tell you .... , we left her there as they said they were going to admit her to the hospital shortly.  We stopped by before going to the office the next morning, and she had JUST gotten to her room!  We could not believe it!  It took ... a LONG time - many hours ... to get her into her room.  If we'd known it was going to take that much time, we would have stayed with her.  We felt really, really bad.

 

She had a really rough day - as a matter of fact, it was so bad, she doesn't even remember it.  Her blood pressure was still up, and she was having back pain (sciatic nerve pain), and she had a seizure.  We were very worried about her, and asked our District, and ward members here, to pray for her.  She turned the corner midday today, and it's hard to believe she's the same person, but oh so thankful, as she has become our sister.

 

We are grateful for all the people who prayed for her, and know it was because of their faith and their prayers that she is doing as well as she is now.  We hope she can come home on Sunday or Monday.  She was going to go through the temple tomorrow, but it has been postponed until next Saturday.  We are so happy for her, though, to be at this point in her life, that she can go! 

 

11/10/12

 

Becky went home last Sunday!  She is still really weak, not eating enough, but!  We were blessed to be able to go to the temple with her as she received her endowment today!  It was humbling to be there with her and we are grateful to know her.  She knows she has work to do for those in her family who have died.  We pray she will have the strength she needs to complete the task she needs to do.  We've told her we will help her! 

 

This is a post hospital picture - you can tell she still doesn't feel well - it was hard on her to go, but she was SO determined to not postpone it another week.  She now thinks she's 100% Mormon!

 

We went to do an initiatory session on Thursday - we actually have a standing reservation for every Thursday night at the 6:45 pm initiatory session.  We are still taking sisters with us, though we didn't have anyone for this past week.  Friday we had a Senior Missionary Conference all day.  It was really good - we had a couple of musical numbers, and training, and meeting in groups. 

 

 

A couple we have in the mission are Elder and Sister Brimley.  He is a professor at BYU and spoke with us for over an hour about marriage.  It was good, because it can be applied to all of our relationships.  We were fed lunch by Sister Gelwix, and her helpers, but mostly Sister Gelwix, as the helpers are missionaries!  

 

 

It's kindof weird having training meetings with the senior couples, in that we don't do much of what they do, and they don't do what we do.  President said every position in the mission is vitally important.  We have been out looking for people on our ward's membership list that are less active.  Only a couple of them have been found.  We still have some more to look for!

 

Last night, after the conference, we went to a play put on by the Fresno North Stake YW/YM.  It was called "In God We Trust".  It was really good, and the youth did a fantastic job.  It was really crowded, and we arrived 1/2 hour early and sat on the back row!  We saw quite a few people we know, including our associate manager, Brother Addington and his wife, missionaries, people serving in the storehouse - Sister Morris recruited someone to come volunteer to do resumes!  Wow!  that's awesome!

 

Britta signs up to feed the missionaries once a month, and she has her home teachers over too, and we did that tonight.  There was another couple this week, so there were nine of us.  We had stew and Sister Morris made some great French bread!  I had 3 pieces - not a great way to lose weight.

 

I had best sign off -

 

My deepest condolences to Rosie and her family for the passing of her mom.  Death is never easy for those of us left behind.  My thoughts are prayers go to you all ~  Love, Sister Ure