Don't Cry Because It's Over......

Smile Because It Happened.

Christmas Day ~ 

We met with President Bryan Zaccardi, our Stake President. 

He released us as full-time missionaries for 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church)

This is our plaque that hung on the wall of the Stake offices in the church in Billings Montana 

for the duration of our mission. 

It is a beautiful plaque. Lisa Dickson took our picture at the Halifax Temple that is on the plaque. 

We currently have it in the shop having the August 2016 changed to December 2016. 

These are our Certificates of Release as Ordinance Workers from the Halifax Nova Scotia Temple,  signed by our temple presidency. 

Presidents Veinot, Drennan and Green. 

We only worked with the Veinot's, Drennan's and Green's regularly for a short time, 

but we surely came to love them.
WHY DON'T I HAVE A PICTURE OF US WITH THEM??
I REMEMBER PLANNING TO DO THAT!! 

Our certificates of release from the Halifax Nova Scotia Temple Mission. 

These were signed by President Roy A. Fox. 

He was our President for 20 of the 21 months of our mission. 

The presidency we served most of our mission with:

Roy and Amy Bush (1st Counselor & Assistant Matron)

Roy and Hilda Fox (President and Matron)

Darrell and Charlotte Nelson (2nd Counselor & Assistant Matron)

The Temple Presidency and the Missionaries we were privileged to serve with. 

Elder & Sister Lamoreaux

Elder & Sister Linford 

President & Sister Bush

President & Sister Fox

President & Sister Nelson

Elder & Sister Pitt

The Ladies

Peggy Lamoreaux, Brenda Linford, Amy Bush, Hilda Fox, Charlotte Nelson, Sidney Pitt

The Gents

Ron Linford, Roy Bush, Roy Fox, Laurence Pitt, Darrell Nelson, Bob Lamoreaux

Those that hung out in the office most often......

Roy Bush, Roy Fox, Darrell Nelson, Laurence Pitt

The Leaders we would follow anywhere.....

cuz we know they would always be following the Lord. 

President Roy Bush, President Roy Fox, President Darrell Nelson

This has truly been an amazing experience for us! 

Our gratitude to Our Father in Heaven is deep. 

We are grateful to have had the opportunity to serve Him in His Holy House. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church on the earth today. 

This last 21 months has made that clearer and clearer to both of us on a daily basis. 

We have been so blessed to be able to serve in the Maritimes. 

The people there are incredible!!

This is my (Sidney) second mission. 

I have been allowed to serve in the best mission in the world each time. 

The people in the Maritimes and the people in the Republic of Ireland 

are the friendliest, kindest people you'll ever meet. 

I almost hesitate to apply for another mission thinking

 I can't continue to get the very best missions each time!! 

What about all the other missionaries who miss out??

However, we'll see what the Lord has in store for us!!

For those curious about our next adventure....

We'll be moving to Nauvoo, Illinois. 

We are excited to make that move. 

We have a lot of work to do on our home there and 

we are excited to become members of the community. 

I Thought Missions were Supposed to Be a Sacrifice.....

REALLY?

We get to spend 21 months in the House of the Lord! 

I don't write much about the work we are doing here. 

We work in the Halifax, Nova Scotia Temple.

The work there is very sacred. 

For that reason it is not talked about much outside the temple.

 Although the temple is a beautiful building; 

the physical beauty doesn't even compare to the spiritual and eternal beauty that lies within.

Temples existed in Old Testament times. 

They existed in New Testament times.

They existed in Book of Mormon times

They exist in our times. 

And why not?

The temple is a place of learning.

I've heard it referred to as the Lord's University. 

The temple gives us a clearer understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

In fact, everything in the temple points toward Christ. 

Inside the temple we learn about the Lord's Plan of Happiness. 

Where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going after this life is over. 

To me, one of the greatest things that happens in the temple is to be married

 for time and all eternity, instead of 'til death do you part. 

The temple is where we make covenants with our Father in Heaven. 

We receive promised blessings according to our faith and obedience.  

This is the Nauvoo Temple.

In this temple grandparents on both my mother's side and my father's side were sealed together for eternity. 

Words cannot describe how grateful we are to serve in the House of the Lord. 

We are so privileged to be able to help others receive those blessings of eternity. 

Our Father in Heaven loves each one of us. 

He knows us by name and carries us in the palm of His hand.

I am so blessed to be able to see His hand in all things in my life. 

I know He lives, as does His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ gave his mortal life to pay the price for us

 to return and live eternally with Him, His Father and our families.  

Sidney

NEW YEAR'S DAY in Bridgewater!

We were invited for New Year's Dinner to the Hunt's home in Bridgewater. 

Since we were driving all 3 couples I was able to persuade everyone to go early so we could hit a few beaches......... 

 First stop..... Queensland Beach

 Elder & Sister Lamoreaux

This is a great beach, right next to the road. 

There were several different cars that came and experienced the "Polar Plunge". 

We had a great time watching. 

Here I found my first ever piece of red sea glass!! WooHoo for me!!

This is what I got on the beach that day. 

The time on the beach was not even close to being the best part of the day!

Dinner at the Hunt's with the Jewers

Hunt's have a beautiful home! It is from the 1800's I believe. 

(I hope Dianne will correct me if I'm wrong)

Dianne and Wayne are amazing hosts. 

From left to right: Dianne Hunt, Elder & Sister Linford, Wayne Jewers and Pat Jewers

Aisling says that Wayne Jewers could be one of Grandpa Zeller's brothers. 

He does look like he could fit. He is also just as kind and funny!

Did I mention that Dianne can cook like non-other?!

From left to right: Laurence, Elder & Sister Lamoreaux, Wayne Hunt

The food was astounding and so was the company!! 

The Jewers are such great people to "hang out" with!! 

We love them all!! 

This is my first try at doing a panoramic picture with my iPhone. 

Brother Hunt showed me how. It's not the best, but I'm improving. 

Left to right: W. Hunt, Elder & Sister Lamoreaux, Elder & Sister Linford, Pat Jewers, Dianne Hunt, Wayne Jewers, Laurence. 

Have I mentioned how wonderful the people are here??? 

Just in case, "THE PEOPLE HERE ARE WONDERFUL!!" 

I am sure that all of the people we have met here sleep well!!

Flower buds are nodding, Swayed by gentle breeze

A Bitter-Sweet Day!

Elder and Sister Wood hit to the skies today!

They'll land in SLC in no time!

They return to their home in Burley, Idaho as well as 6 children along with kids, grandkids etc!

They have bee such warriors in God's Kingdom. This was mission #7. 

He'll be 90 and she'll be 85 next month. 

(Thanks President Nelson for the pic!)

Laurence wanted an ice cream cone. The sign said "Two Scoops - $2.50" 

Who knew that they were going to make sure I got ice cream!! 

We live in a nice apartment complex. 

Although not required to fix things up as a part of our tenancy, 

we always want to leave things better than we found them. 

 This walkway out our front door, onto our patio is nice, but needed a bit of TLC. 

Laurence took up the concrete pavers, put pea gravel under them,

 reseated them and filled in with more pea gravel. It is so much more even now!  

The sisters and us are the only ones with walkways. 

We found out as we were doing this that the earlier ones were done by the church. 

Whether that means the church itself or the missionaries, we don't know, but sure are grateful!! 

This was taken back in May At that time he was trimming back some of the trees etc. 

He has surely made our little part of the world more wonderful!

We are so grateful that the Lord has blessed Laurence with such good health! 

He has been doing things here that he has been unable to do for years! Tender mercies and miracles!!

Last Wednesday we spent the morning at the temple doing paperwork and working on computers. 

When we finished we stopped at a grocery store, got picnic items and headed to this fun park.

This is such a nice park and lake. It's about 10 minutes from our house.

We enjoyed a fun picnic before returning to spend the rest of our wonderful day in the Lord's house! 

I had read about the lupine here in Nova Scotia.

Nothing I had read even remotely prepared me for it!! 

These pictures were taken last night about 10 minutes from our house. 

There are many more everywhere!! 

This is such a cool area! 

Last, but surely not least! Happy Father's Day to my amazing husband and partner on this journey!
Happy Father's day to my dad as well. He passed away in September 2007, but I still miss him daily!
I am so grateful for our Father In Heaven's plan that allows us to be with Him and our families for Eternity!

Rainbow Haven.....

Our plan today was to attend church in Kentville ~

that didn't work out...... we'll do it another time.

Following church we went to Rainbow Haven Beach.

 

 

 



We had a nice afternoon walking, reading and.....

 

 



Rainbow Haven is so beautiful, as was the day....

 

 

 

Can you believe that this is about a 5 minute drive from our apartment?!

Neither can we!!

 

 

There were lots of families out flying kites etc. enjoying the day.

It has been pretty rainy here the past few days.

 

 

I can't get over how much I love, love, love the ocean!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love everything about Nova Scotia!!

 

 

We are so grateful and blessed to be able to serve our Father in Heaven here in Nova Scotia!

We feel blessed beyond measure!!

We see our Father's hand daily and are so grateful!