On Sunday 10 August we were up early and attended the Pleasant Hill Ward at 9 am on John Young Parkway in Kissimmee.  Greeting us when we arrived were two young elders, one of whom was Elder Bailey!

Inside the Pleasant Hill Ward chapel

Painting of Jerusalem

Our opening hymn was a favorite of mine, #5 "High on the Mountain Top."

The chapel was pretty full and the curtains to the overflow area were opened.

One of the young ladies who was baptized yesterday was confirmed a member of the Church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost (see the 4th Article of Faith, "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost").

Brother Egg, first counselor in the bishopric, invited three to come up to the pulpit and one of them thanked everyone for the ward activity (along with another ward) yesterday at the Highlands Elementary School in Kissimmee.  It was an enormous cleanup activity and the school folks were so thankful!

Sister Hannah Egg was the youth speaker.  She spoke on marriage and family.  It is important to know what love is.  Love is something that you learn.  She shared thoughts from 4-8 year-olds about love.  We enjoyed her humor.  It was interesting that there was a smattering of applause, which is not normally done.  Maybe it was the nonmembers in attendance.

Sister Amy Fitt introduced her family and how she and her husband met at BYU-Idaho.  He proposed on Valentine's Day.  They have two children, Isabella and Graham, and the first was on its way when they graduated.  They were wed 10 years ago in the temple.  They moved here for her husband to attend grad school.

She spoke of how Satan fights against all of God's plans, especially marriage and family.  She quoted Elder Russell M. Nelson about this topic.  We can't take our marriage and family for granted.  1) Show love and appreciation.  Pay compliments to one another. Moroni 7:47-48. 2) Communication.  Take time to plan together.  Enhanced by prayer.  Pray for the success of your marriage.  3) Contemplate.  The root from which the word "temple" comes from.  Nourish marriage and the kingdom of God.  Matthew 6:33. 4) Nurture your marriage.  Speak to each other with sweet words (from an old song).  Elder Nelson said that your foremost priesthood duty is toward your family.  She quoted Presidents Harold B. Lee and David O. McKay.  D&C 68:28. Never forget the infinite worth of what we have at home.  Elder Douglas Shumway about FHE (family home evening).  He was quoted about all the treats he received from his "secret friend."  Our friend Jesus Christ will help us to have an eternal family.  She bore her testimony of the Scriptures, of modern prophets, and of the covenants we make in the temple.

Elder Russell M. Nelson
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973)

President David O.McKay (1873-1970)

Elder W. Douglas Shumway of the Seventy

We sang just the last verse of #246 "Onward, Christian Soldiers" in order to give Brother Fitt more time as we were almost out of time.

Brother Stephen Fitt spoke about eternal marriage.  He quoted President Hinckley from April 1974 about the temple.  Following the open house at the London Temple he answered a visitor's question about eternal marriage.  See the link www.lds.org/general-conference/1974/04/the-marriage-that-endures?lang=eng to read President Hinckley's talk "The Marriage that Endures."

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008)

Elijah brought back the sealing power in April 1836 at the Kirtland Temple.  Doctrine & Covenants Section 110 about Elijah.  Matthew 16:19.  He quoted about privileges and blessing from President Joseph Fielding Smith.  Fulness of eternity.   Elder LeGrand Richards quoted from October 1974 about a little one who passed at 3 1/2 years of age.  See the link www.lds.org/ensign/1974/11/what-after-death?lang=eng to read Elder Richards' talk "What After Death?"

Moses 1:39.  "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."  Nov 2006 Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin.  Immortality is a gift to everyone.  Eternal life is so much more.  See the link www.lds.org/ensign/2006/11/sunday-will-come?lang=eng to read Elder Wirthlin's talk "Sunday Will Come."  Luke 14:7-24 the parable of the great supper from the Savior.  Bore his testimony of temple blessings.

President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972)

Elder LeGrand Richards (1886-1983)

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008)

Closing hymn #294 "Love at Home" which begins "There is beauty all around when there's love at home."

After the meeting we met the young lady sitting next to us.  She asked where we were from as we said we were visitors and we learned that she is from France!  With a ward this size we told her that Gospel Doctrine was probably in the chapel and it was. The teacher invited visitors to introduce themselves and included were the parents of Brother Fitt from California, ourselves, and the sister from France, and others.

Gospel Doctrine was on lesson 29, “He Took Up … the Mantle of Elijah” using 2 Kings 2; 5–6.  The purpose of the lesson was to help class members understand how the authority (mantle) passes from one prophet to another, to encourage them to obey the words of the prophets, and to assure them that the power of God is greater than any other power.

It is hard to teach the lesson in the chapel. The teacher invited everyone to move forward but even so there were many toward the back as so many were in attendance.  Hopefully the sister teaching has better hearing than mine.

President Gordon B. Hinckley explained how the authority (mantle) was passed when he was ordained and set apart as the prophet and President of the Church following the death of President Howard W. Hunter:

“With President Hunter’s passing, the First Presidency was dissolved. Brother Monson and I, who had served as his counselors, took our places in the Quorum of the Twelve, which became the presiding authority of the Church.

“[A few days later] all of the living ordained Apostles gathered in a spirit of fasting and prayer in the upper room of the temple. Here we sang a sacred hymn and prayed together. We partook of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, renewing in that sacred, symbolic testament our covenants and our relationship with Him who is our divine Redeemer. The Presidency was then reorganized, following a precedent well established through generations of the past [this precedent is explained in the preceding statement by President Joseph Fielding Smith]. There was no campaigning, no contest, no ambition for office. It was quiet, peaceful, simple, and sacred. It was done after the pattern which the Lord Himself had put in place” (in General Conference, April 1995).

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995)

Why is it important that we immediately accept and sustain a newly ordained President of the Church? (D&C 43:2–3, 7)

Soon after Elijah had been taken into heaven, the people wanted to send 50 strong men to look for him. What did Elisha tell the people?  "And he said, Ye shall not send." (2 Kings 2:16). What did Elisha say to the people when the 50 men came back without finding Elijah? "And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?" (2 Kings 2:18)

What can we learn from the experience of the 50 men? (We should follow the counsel of the prophet the first time we hear it.) 

We then watched a portion of a video about the story of Naaman which teaches us about following the counsel of the prophet. (2 Kings 5) 

Elder Rex D. Pinegar asked, “Are we not sometimes like Naaman, looking for big or important things to do and bypassing simple things which could change our lives and heal us of our afflictions?” (in General Conference, October 1994).

Elder Rex D. Pinegar

After recounting the story of Naaman, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said: “The way of the gospel is a simple way. Some of the requirements may appear to you as elementary and unnecessary. Do not spurn them. Humble yourselves and walk in obedience. I promise that the results that follow will be marvelous to behold and satisfying to experience” (in General Conference, October 1976)

Relief Society met in the chapel so Eileen didn't have to move!  Priesthood opening exercises were in the cultural hall (gymnasium).  The ward mission leader exhorted the brethren to seek out missionary opportunities through prayer.

The priesthood lesson today was from the "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith" lesson 15 on "Eternal Marriage."

“The fullness and blessings of the Priesthood and Gospel grow out of Celestial marriage. This is the crowning ordinance of the Gospel and crowning ordinance of the temple.”

"In contrast to the practices of the world, marriage endures forever in the gospel plan."

"Faithfulness to the marriage covenant brings happiness and leads to blessings of eternal glory."

"Every soul whose heart is right will have the opportunity to receive the blessings of eternal marriage, whether in this life or the next."

"Children and youth prepare for eternal marriage as they learn about the marriage covenant, develop abiding faith, and keep themselves clean and pure."

"As a husband and wife faithfully observe all the ordinances and principles of the gospel, their joy in marriage grows sweeter."

D&C 131:1-4

1. In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;

2. And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];

3. And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.

4. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

It was extraordinary at the close of the meeting as we all knelt for the closing prayer!  I had not knelt in prayer at church since our bishopric meetings in Maryland.  I was reminded of the saying about offering prayer "On your knees or on your feet, but never never on your seat."  Some members are unfamiliar with that.

On our way back to the time-share we stopped at Oak Plantation where our time-share that we bought in 1998 is located.  We walked around the building that our unit is in that we bought.  The resort looks about the same as when we were there three years ago.

We enjoyed the po po platter for lunch after Eileen zapped it.

I finished reading "Men of Iron" by Howard Pyle which I began on 13 April.  I have also read "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood" by him.  "He is well known for his illustrations of pirates, and is credited with creating what has become the modern stereotype of pirate dress."  Wikipedia

Howard Pyle (1853-1911)

Later in the afternoon Eileen enjoyed the moo goo gai pan and I enjoyed the spicy kung po chicken.  Eileen took a nap and later on I did, too, which was most unusual.

I began reading "An Irish Country Doctor" by Patrick Taylor to Eileen.

Eileen had fun doing a lot of sudoku puzzles in a book of them that had been Suzie's.  We had more moo goo gai pan and kung po chicken to finish them.  We watched the Washington Nationals - Atlanta Braves baseball game which Atlanta won, 3-1.

On Monday 11 August we went to the Preview Center at 9 am and met Tom Infantilino to have breakfast in Celebration, FL, at the Columbia Restaurant.  Then we returned to the Preview Center to hear the spiel about upgrading our ownership at Vacation Village at Parkway.  Then Ahmed Seffari met with us whom we had dealt with when we first bought our time-share there in October 2011.  We opted to upgrade from the A-B suite to the much larger A-C suite, 540 more square feet.  The RCI points went from 55,500 to 74,500 and then being retired military put it up to 92,500 points.

the Columbia Restaurant entrance 

Inside the Columbia Restaurant

The lake across from the restaurant
in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head and ears

the Preview Center

Celebration Water Tank

We returned to our accommodations and relaxed, watching "Love It or List It" on HGTV and eating pita chips with two kinds of hummus and jalapeño cream cheese.

We drove to the vicinity of Sea World to find the large mural of orcas in the Renaissance hotel across from Sea World.  When Eileen came out of the hotel I brought to her attention the palindrome of 79797 on our odometer.

We then drove to the Orlando Airport and Eileen went inside to find the large manatee mural in Terminal A.

Eileen at the airport

We filled the gas tank at a Race Trac for $3.169!

Near our resort we went to Publix for some fruit, etc., and we enjoyed some while watching the Tampa Bay Rays playing the Texas Rangers.  Tampa Bay won, 7-0.

Eileen at a nearby Cold Stone Creamery

On Tuesday 12 August we checked out about 9:15 am and headed for the Orlando Temple.  At the resort I was able to receive "yes" to my two Book of Mormon questions from a woman that works there.

Orlando Florida Temple

Orlando Florida Temple

Orlando Florida Temple

Orlando Florida Temple Fountain

Orlando Florida Temple

We did sealings of 17 sons and 13 daughters to their parents and 19 husbands and wives to one another.  It is a very beautiful temple!

We noticed 79879 on our odometer and after the service plaza we saw the palindrome 79897.

We stopped at the Okahumpka Service Plaza for a KFC lunch.  We both got four chicken tenders and six hot wings.  We were not impressed although the chicken itself was good.  They were out of some items and had no dipping sauces for the tenders.  Eileen said that the ladies' restroom was not kept up.

Nearby Nature's Table Bistro

When we reached Gainesville, FL, we enjoyed the d'Lites Emporium on NW 16th Blvd. (there are two in Gainesville).  Eileen had the raspberry and chocolate and I had the almond joy and caramel pecan toffee.

d'Lites Emporium 

d'Lites Emporium 

We reached Russ's place in Brooker about 4 pm.

Russ's place

On Wednesday 13 August we headed north at 9:15, had fun with the odometer as it reached the palindrome 79997, then 80000, and the palindrome 80008.

Beautiful blue skies in Brooker quickly changed to intermittent downpours as we drove.  We stopped at the Cracker Barrel in Lake City for breakfast.

Eileen at Lake City Cracker Barrel

Lake City Cracker Barrel

Wall decoration at Lake City Cracker Barrel

In Georgia we saw the palindrome 80108.  The weather in Georgia has been beautiful!  Today is our son William's 35th birthday, which is hard to believe!  He is our youngest.  Eileen has been texting back and forth and learned that his graduation date at Arizona State University is 15 December! 

We saw a couple of cute vehicles along I-75.

We reached Canton and stopped at Hallmark for a birthday card and Dress Barn for a skirt Eileen had ordered in Florida and had sent here for pickup.  Hallmark didn't have any of the Asher's sugar-free chocolate raspberry jellies :(

We had supper at Papa's Pizza in Ellijay.  We hadn't been there in quite some time and it was delightful!  Lots of pizza varieties, a salad bar which Eileen enjoyed, and other items such as chicken tenders (better than KFC), marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, and a couple of pasta dishes.  We also enjoyed "pizza-like" desserts, chocolate, blueberry, and cinnamon & sugar.

We got home about 6:30 pm and all was fine.  I brought in the cooler and then headed for the garden.  I filled two paper bags with zucchini, cucumbers, long yellow peppers, a green pepper, some large red tomatoes, and a bunch of purplish cherry tomatoes.  

We sat down once the car and suitcases were unloaded and watched two episodes of "Who Do You Think You Are?" on The Learning Channel.  We enjoy the shows even though we have never heard of the celebrities on the 8 pm episode.  They were Rachel and Kayleen McAdams.  The 9 pm episode featured Valerie Bertinelli and the 10 pm episode featured Brooke Shields, both of whom we have heard of.

At 10 pm we were on the phone with William and sang "happy birthday" to him (it was 7 pm in California).

On Thursday 14 August we didn't get up until 10:30!!  We considered all that we had to do today.

I called my sister Lib in Wantagh, NY, to see how she was doing with all the horrific rain on Long Island.  She was well even though there were all kinds of records broken.

Eileen prepared the wedding cards with gift cards for Matt and Kali Bollinger née Pierce and Pablo and Celia Ardaya.  Kali is in our LDS branch and we knew Pablo from the Severna Park Ward in Maryland.  She also wrote postcards from Florida for Spencer, Ashton, and Tanner.  We had found a bill from C-Scapes in our mailbox for our lawn service on 7 and 21 July and we sent them a check.  We know they've been here since 21 July!

Eileen called Holly Hughes as we hadn't seen them since May.  So we met Ralph and Holly in the Walmart parking lot and rode with them to Pappadeaux's in Alpharetta for lunch.  We took a picturesque drive south on Route 372.  We had been with them several years ago to Pappadeaux's in Marietta.

Holly, Ralph, and Eileen at Pappadeaux's

Seafood selection

Holly, Ralph, and Eileen at Pappadeaux's

Lobsters alive and kickin'

We said goodbye back at Walmart and did some shopping, including filling the gas tank for $3.199 with the Walmart gift card.  A stop at Ingles for a few more things and we returned home.

We enjoyed peaches and Cool Whip as we watched recorded episodes of "America's Test Kitchen" and "Cook's Country."

Christopher Kimball and Bridget Lancaster

Christopher Kimball and Julia Collin-Davison

We watched the Los Angeles Dodgers - Atlanta Braves baseball game, won by the Dodgers 6-4. 

On Friday 15 August our blood sugars were way up after what we ate yesterday :( 

We attended our first Kids Ferst meeting in a long time at the Head Start building in Ellijay at 10 am.  There were 21 volunteers present.

Eileen at the Head Start building

Emil Harvey (center) and Eileen (right)

Stan Ashworth, Galen Forbes, and Louise Sweat

Louise Sweat and others

Eileen and Eileen Below

Afterwards we stopped at the dry cleaners where owner Marcia Burnett knows my name.  Then on to the Times-Courier for two back editions of the newspaper and R&A Orchards for the current edition and some of their peaches (and a small peach ice cream for each of us).

Peaches and apples at R&A Orchards

The mail carrier dropped off our mail that had been on hold. And we got a box via UPS from David.  He sent Eileen's ring that she couldn't find but he did and other nice items.  The mail contained a number of sympathy cards which were very nice.  So I took the time to look through all the mail and the three editions of the Times-Courier.

Eileen enjoyed episodes of "Diagnosis Murder" and Matlock" on the Hallmark Channel while I worked on my blog trying to finish the week of 27 July.

Part of our supper was salad with lots of items from our garden, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini, among other vegetables.

Afterwards I finished and published the week of 27 July on my blog, which included the events surrounding Suzie's memorial service.  I began the week of 3 August.

I entered all the ordinances done in the Orlando Temple into my PAF database on my laptop.

On Saturday 16 August we stopped at the boiled peanut stand on the corner of Big Creek Rd. and GA 52.  We chatted with them and took pictures.

We discovered the jumbo garlic guy was present at his shed and we bought some for us and for Heather.

Eileen buying jumbo garlics along GA 52

jumbo garlics

In Ellijay we mailed packages to Colleen, Heather, David, and Megan at the post office. Then we made a deposit at the bank next door.

We drove north to McCaysville and visited Quinn's Garden Center where we learned that pansies will be available in a couple of weeks to put in the planters on our front porch. Driving to Quinn's is interesting as we cross into Tennessee and back into Georgia to get there and vice-versa upon returning.  The Tennessee portion is the town of Copper Hill.  Then we enjoyed some lunch at Georgia Boys Pit Cooked Bar-B-Q with many of the passengers from the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.

Eileen at Quinn's

Eileen at Quinn's

Georgia Boys Pit Cooked Bar-B-Q

We drove back to Blue Ridge a different way and shopped at the Taste of Amish store for four different kinds of cheese and sweet & spicy mustard.  As we neared R&A Orchards our odometer reached 80508.

Taste of Amish

Inside Taste of Amish

At home Eileen began shredding the first of our three huge zucchinis which she then freezes.  The one little one was in our salad last night.

We had a quiet afternoon and watched the New York Yankees defeat the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-2.

I e-mailed David Sue's family tree going back to her great-grandparents for Sue's memory book.

We watched the Atlanta Braves defeat the Oakland Athletics, 4-3. They were wearing the 1914 uniforms of the Boston Braves and the Philadelphia Athletics, who met in the World's Series that year.

I recently finished the Church News dated 30 March 2014.  I enjoyed the article entitled "Mormon Tabernacle Choir launches story-driven blog."  The link is: mormontabernaclechoir.org/blog.  

There was an article about the new Church video "Scriptures Legacy" which details sacrifices made by people in history for the holy scriptures.  The link is at www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-04-004-scriptures-legacy.

The last thing in this issue that I thought was noteworthy was the listing of the creation of four new stakes.  The stakes in Texas, Utah, and Ghana might be ho-hum, but the first stake in Albania is remarkable!  I'm sure we'll be reading more about that in the future.