This is the middle of March so I think I'll get current and write something about this month. We had a lot of rain yesterday, but luckily we mowed the lawn and trimmed it, and washed the car before the rain could do a "half-way" job again. I had 6 hours of church meetings today since I was able to go to my own ward before visiting the ward conference at Edgewood ward and the Spanish group. I love being a part of stake Relief Society, and when I think of the time and service our stake presidency puts in I am in awe! They are the best...and give so many wonderful, inspiring messages to bless the lives of the members here. This year we have been to all our conferences during this first three months of the year, and I have loved hearing them speak over and over again each week. The goal for our stake this year is all about "Becoming a Zion People by being unified, more holy, and giving service to the poor and needy." (From the conference talk by Elder Christofferson, Nov. 2008.) We are also receiving training on being better teachers, which is important as we can really make a difference in another's life( and our own!) through effective teaching.
I think one of the funnest things I did this week was to create a special birthday pie for one of my visiting teaching sisters. I adaated the recipe to use what I had on hand, and it was great. Here's what I did, and I just thought of it and made it and didn't go to the store: Melted together l C. evap. milk, I cup chocolate chips, 1/4 tsp. salt on stove, and cooked until thickened. Remove from heat and add l c. miniature marshmellows. Stir until melted and smooth. Cool. Pour one half into graham cracker crust. Cool in fridge. Make a package of vanilla instant pudding and pour over chocolate layer. Pour the rest of the chocolate mixture over the pudding and cool in fridge. When set top with cool whip, sliced almonds, and marachino cherries. Delicious and very pretty!
What are you doing that is green for St. Patrick's Day? Hope i can think of something... it is fun to celebrate all holidays.

What did I do in February?? Just looking at my calendar and here's what happened: Zone conference lunch for missionaries, RS New leader training, Youth conference helper, two ward/branch conferences and stake conference, visits to seminary, supporting play group so I can meet and make friends with the young mothers and their kids, church mtgs. about community service day, walking with Shirley, visiting teaching, temple trip, gifts for showers ready, shower for Dane and Laura, trip to St. Louis to visit Grandma Witbeck and family, numerous phone calls to make, cooking and shopping and library visits...I wonder what I have accomplished, and it is a lot of busy work, but remember, we are out here in the mission field and there is a lot to do! I'm grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

January visit

At the end of January I had a wonderful visit to Ft. Smith Arkansas to see my sister, Bonnie Cook. We have mutual friends, Doug and Linda George that rent a home here in Columbus. They occasionally drive back and forth between here and Ft. Smith to see about their house, so this time I took the opportunity to grab a ride with them and was able to get in a short visit. Bonnie invited our other sister Sue Thompson, and her husband John to come that same week-end, so we had a fine little mini reunion. When we arrived the first thing we did was start gathering pecans that were still on the driveway and grass around Bonnie's house. They had a late crop this year, and there were still a lot available, so Bonnie let us get all we wanted, as well as a full box she had already prepared to mail to me. Bonnie is always busy with family and church work. We were able to enjoy her grandkids Olivia and Hunter (Chris and Alison's kids) and Abby who is just five and belongs to Bobbie and Anne). The kids were out of school for the day, so I set up a treasure hunt for them, and we also went skating and hiking and had a lot of fun just being together. John and Sue and I helped Bonnie by undecorating her Christmas tree one night, and we enjoyed being able to go to church with her. While Bonnie made food for a funeral on Sunday night, we played Dominoes. That was fun, especially with John continually helping us know the rules and playing along with us. I loved spending time with Bonnie, Sue and their families, and hope we can get them back here to see us sometime soon.