Another Great Weekend!

Once again, we woke up Sunday morning and determined to go to New Glasgow for church.

They don't have a huge congregation, but they surely are welcoming and great to be around. 

We had a nice hotel. 

These guys kept an eye on us in the evening and sunrise. 

Sunday afternoon we took a great drive. 

This is Melmerby Beach on the Northumberland Strait.

I found this beautiful shell and was so excited! 

I picked it up and found that the occupant was still occupying......

We discovered this cute library

 on the edge of the church parking lot. 

I am fascinated with all of the beautiful churches in Nova Scotia. 

The early settlers had their hearts turned to God. 

A Weekend Adventure!!

Sunday April 17, we woke up and decided to go to Annapolis for church. 

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We arrived to a delightful welcome!

What a fun visit we had there!

Not only do they have a beautiful building, 

the people there are even more beautiful!

We had made no arrangements for food or lodging. 

I planned to take care of that when we got there, and had internet access. 

Before we had a chance to get on the internet and make reservations, 
Bob & Adele Thompson invited us to stay at their B&B. 

Talk about a bit of heaven!

We had an absolutely lovely room! 

It is the room in front on the second story with the balcony. 

Adele fed us as though we were royalty. 

She even sent us home with a yummy pie!

Monday we took a drive to Mavillette Beach. 

What a beautiful drive we had. 

Much of it was along the Evangeline Trail.

We made a quick stop here at Gilbert's Cove Lighthouse. 

Along the Evangeline Trail there are many beautiful churches. 

Mavillette Beach is a beautiful sandy beach. 

The flat beach seems to go on forever!

Following our trip down the coast, Bob & Adele took us to 
Port-Royal National Historic Site.
Port-Royal was established in 1605 by the French, was France's first successful settlement
 in North America, and became the capital of Acadia.
It was destroyed in 1613 by British forces. 
Then France relocated  the capital 5 miles upstream to where
Annapolis-Royal stands today. 

After our fun visit down the coast we returned to dinner at 

The Crow's Nest in Hillsburn was so, so delicious!

We all had potato skins for an appetizer (far left), Laurence & I had scallops that were the best ever! (middle) and Bea & Sister Hunter had the seafood chowder. Oh my! Talk about yummy!!!

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Middle Picture, left to right: Bob & Adele Thompson, Sister Hunter, Bea & Mike Yaciuk, Elder Hunter & Sidney.
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Laurence was cameraman. 
Elder & Sister Hunter are member-support missionaries in Annapolis. 

On the way back home Bea and Michael took us to this site. 

You can never get too much of Tranquil Times at Sandy Bottom Lake. 

We adored it there. 

It was so peaceful. 

We saw beavers, ducks, geese etc. 
Most of all we felt the love from the Thompson's, Hunter's and Yaciuk's! 

Hawaii for the Evening!

~The Dartmouth Ward Celebrates the Birthday of Relief Society~

On Tuesday April 5th

Come fly with us on a trip to Hawaii via

Extraordinary Airlines. 

We will be celebrating

The Anniversary of Relief Society

and the opportunities for service in this wonderful organization. 

Boarding begins at 6:20 pm at the chapel and take off is at 6:30.pm 
We'll begin with snacks and a program. Dinner will be at 7:00 pm.
Don't miss your flight!

A fun evening was had by all!!

Left to Right: Trudy, Sister Pitt, Sister Linford, Sister Lamoreaux, Sister Pratt

Trudy is our friend here in the building, Sister Linford, Sister Lamoreaux and I serve in the temple together, 

Sister Pratt and her husband serve in Sydney, NS and lucky for us, they happened to be in town. 

Notice that Sister Lamoreaux is wearing the dress she got while serving a mission with her hubby in Samoa. 

The ladies went to a lot of work to decorate and make everything festive. 

The flight was super. We had several in flight movies. 

I didn't show it, but dinner was Hawaiian Haystacks. 

One of my favorites!

We were entertained by our very own ukulele group.  

Part of their Relief Society Enrichment meetings had been ukulele lessons for those interested. 

They culminated with a great performance. 

A good ukulele group just begs for hula dancers. 

We were fortunate to have these sisters spontaneously join in. 

We had such a fun time that evening. 

Dartmouth is not the ward we live in, 

but one of the perks of being a missionary is that you get invited to all kinds of fun things!!

Thanks to the Dartmouth Relief Society for a really fun evening!!

What is Relief Society??

The Relief Society is the oldest and largest women's organization in the world. 

Relief Society was established in 1842 for women 18 years of age and older. 

It's purpose is to build faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and help those in need. 

Farmer's Market ~ Halifax

General Conference Weekend ~

When Conference Doesn't Begin Until 1pm ~

We went to the Halifax Farmer's Market with the Nelson's. They are a wonderful couple! We love them!!

Little did we know that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had the same idea. 

To say that the crowds were huge is an understatement. 

I felt sorry for the vendors. 

They had no chance to sell their products, there were so many people there to see Trudeau. 

Loved this vendor's fun spin and humor!

We purchased bread, bacon, pork chops, jewelry, apple cider, cheese....... 

The farmer's market is so fun!

I didn't purchase an emu egg, but was fascinated by them. 

Afterward we headed to a really yummy restaurant!

What better place to go with Charlotte & Darrell than 

DARRELL'S

Spudskins was my choice for the day!

Not pictured is an amazing cranberry milk shake. 

The entire meal was so yummy!

Laurence opted to try the Award Winning....

Peanut Butter Burger....

He had fun trying it, but I don't think he'll do it again. 

It came with Darrell fries. They were really good. 

The BIG 50 and Other Adventures!

Today you are you, That is truer than true. 

There is no one alive who is youer than you. 

~Dr. Suess 

Our friend Frances celebrated her big birthday!! 

She had so many creative ways of celebrating. 

Truly the celebration that never ends. 

Her big goal for her birthday was to get a certain amount of family history completed.

Then perform the temple work for all of those family members.

With a lot of work on her part and much help from her friends, she met her goal. 

YOU ROCK FRANCES!!

This party was a culmination of those efforts!

She is so fortunate to have so many friends to help her out 

and an amazing husband

Bill to support her through it all!! 

Not only did Bill help her at the temple, he is also a great cook!!

I Found Another Beach!!

Fisherman's Reserve is a quaint and active fishing village that is 

protected by a huge rock breakwater. 

The breakwater provides shelter from the harsh Atlantic Seas. 

The fishing vessels still need and use it's protection. 

Acadian (descendants of French settlers who came to North America from 1604 onward) fishermen 

have fished from there for many years. 

The fishermen would tend their boats in the summer and live in 

the fishing huts that line the shore. 

Lobster and herring are the main catches here. 

However, Trudy and I caught sight of migrating 

Canadian geese, coming home for the summer. 

When I think of France's goals for her birthday for her family, 

and when I think of Trudy's friendship to me.

I think this quote applies. 

They both serve well!

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