What a beautiful world! What a blessed week!

On Friday, last week, Elder Walker decided that on Saturday we were going to take a little break and visit the Hurricane Ridge. We had heard much about how beautiful it is. So we prepared for bed that night talking about what we would do--and then the phone rang. It was the Bishop's wife, asking if I could help her out. She had been asked to sing at the Visiting Teaching Conference the next day and had no time to prepare--until now, if I would help her. Could I please meet her at the Church the next morning to prepare the song before the meeting? I looked at Bruce, he nodded, and I said I would be happy to! So I went at 8 am to learn the song I had printed from the web and she came at 9 am. We practiced until it sounded really good and we felt quite secure. The meeting started at 10 and she sang at the end of the meeting. Then we enjoyed a nice luncheon. I asked her if I could get a ride home with her because my husband had dropped me off at the Church. She said she would be happy to, except that she also had been dropped off for the meeting! I called Elder Walker and he gave us a ride home. Since I had just eaten, he ate a little and then we quickly changed clothes and left for Hurricane Ridge.

 This is just a few miles above Port Angeles and Sequim. It is interesting to stand on the mountain and look out toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca, seeing the San Juan Islands on the left and Mount Baker on the mainland to the right.

Elder Walker and I are both taking pictures, it seems!

 This will let you see why the moss and ferns are so thick as we go from Sequim (the farmlands to the northeast) to the west toward Forks, We have not been to the real rainforest but we will go this summer.

Our first glimpse of what we think is our destination.

We passed through several tunnels on our way to Hurricane Ridge. Very pretty!

And here it is! We don't know why it is called Hurricane Ridge but it is surely windy! These mountains stretch as far as we could see both ways!

 We tried to take a picture for a young couple with two little children but their children wouldn't stop crying, so they just took a picture of us!

 We decided this is where these Peninsula Washtonians go to play in the snow!

I was quick enough to catch the snowball in the air, but not to move my thumb off the lens!

 There is heavy tree growth on these mountains!

On the way home we stopped at the harbor in Port Angeles.

The town of Port Angeles is the other side of this rise.

  That is a HUGE oil rig on the right! And I mean, HUGE! It looks so small in the picture!

 When we got back to Sequim we discovered an alfalfa field! It was fun to see and smell!
Notice how the round bales are wrapped in plastic as they come off the baler! We've never seen that before! We took a FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH pamphlet to Molly! (She will be baptized Saturday!)

Sunday was another long day starting with choir practice for the Dungeness Ward at 8 am. (The director is a convert, having joined at age 19. She just received a mission call to Colorado.) After singing in that meeting we participated in Happy Valley Ward's choir and sang in their Sacrament meeting. Molly and Sara came to Church. Sara didn't stay after Sacrament Mtg, but Molly stayed for all three hours and loved it! For the first time, I attended their Relief Society! I must have been inspired because their pianist didn't come, so I was asked to play for the meeting and for a special musical number. After the Happy Valley block Molly had her baptismal interview. She came out glowing! We are so proud of her! We took her home from Church, then came back so I could play for Primary in Sequim Bay Ward. With a half hour break, we had been in Church for 8 hours and 15 minutes--same as the week before!

The Elders came over Monday morning for a couple of hours before their big Zone Party at "the Bunkers." (Some bunkers built to protect the harbor during WWII!) We had gone to the Post Office when we got a call asking if they could stop at our house on the way home? I thought they wanted to finish a chess game or something, but no, they just needed a little medical help! Elder Wilson had taken a dive playing Capture the Flag!

Monday evening we drove to Gig Harbor for FHE with the Senior couples of the mission--including Pres. and Sister Blatter! It was fun to have new people come in that we could comfort and reassure, instead of being the newest ones there!

Tuesday morning we booked our flight to Utah for Abby's wedding and our family reunion! What fun to anticipate! Then in the evening we celebrated Molly's 18th birthday with a dinner for she and her mother and the RS Pres. who introduced us to them. We gave her our movie, The Other Side of Heaven, and bought she and her mother some flowers. I'm glad we got to watch that movie again before we gave it away! ;)

Wednesday was our lunch with Pres. and Sister Shaw before our District Meeting. It is always fun to go there because he likes to teach the missionaries doctrine. It is interesting to see the hunger in some and the pride in others who don't want to seem like they don't already  know, but will not answer the questions he asks. Pride is such an easy thing to have and so hard to see in oneself or at least to admit! I repent of it over and over again!

After our meeting we drove to Forks to check the apartment of the Elders there. It was a pretty day for a drive.

We had never seen the water so blue!

We love this little waterfall! We pass it every time we travel to Forks and always want a picture, but it is usually raining and there is no where to park for a quarter of a mile, but this day was sunny so we parked the car and walked!

Doesn't it look like some petrified gila monster climbing up the side of the falls?!

A mallard duck and his wife came up to the car begging for food. The only thing we had was a little licorice stick we had purchased at the service station! We broke off a tiny piece and fed it to him. He loved it and wanted more! He did not share with his more timid and refined spouse!

Thursday was a wonderful day! We checked missionary apartments from 8:30 - 10:30 am, after which we ran home to quickly mix a batch of homemade bread to take to Chris and Erin. When I got it in the loaf pans we left for their house and cooked it in her oven while we taught them. We praised them for the commitments they are keeping, quickly reviewed the commandments we had taught them and again promised them the associated blessings. Then we taught them about the temple and sealing power.

I had printed pictures of the different rooms of the temple and the purpose of each room. In the picture of the sealing room we pointed out where each of them would kneel at the alter and where their little girls would be to put their hands on their parents hands and be sealed by the Holy Priesthood for eternity. We told them that we felt one of the reasons the Lord sent us to this mission was to meet them and to help them prepare to be sealed in the temple with their beautiful little girls. We explained that our mission would end the last of June 2016, and that it takes a year as a faithful member to prepare for that temple experience. That meant that Erin  would have to be baptized in June of this year for us to be able to go with them. We asked if she would pray sincerely this week and tell us when we came next week if she was ready to let us help her prepare for baptism in June. Her eyes were softer than usual and she gave a tiny nod of her head. It will be a huge step for her!

When we got home, Elder Walker, whose heart was also soft, helped me with the dishes!

That evening we met with Molly for her last lesson before baptism. We went over all the laws of the Gospel listed in the lesson, which she accepted with shining eyes. We also showed her a little about Family Search. She remembered her great grandmother's last name and that she was born and died in Hawaii. We put in that much and clicked Search. Her grandmother was the first person that popped up! Molly was very excited! Then I was going to show her the Gospel App so she could put on her iPhone. She already had it! I asked her how she happened to have it on her phone and she said she saw it in the App Store before she ever met us and it looked good to her! Was she prepared or what!?!

Later that evening we met the Sisters at the Church and found clothing the right size for Molly and Elder Walker. A day well spent!

Friday we had apartment checks to do in Port Townsend and Port Ludlow, so we went to the Temple afterward. It was a much needed spiritual boost and a great learning experience! We rode the Kingston Ferry over to the mainland and then against good advice, also rode it home. The good advice was correct. There is so much traffic on Friday evening that tho we were there in time that we could have ridden for the 5:30 crossing, we didn't get to board until 7 pm! But it was still relaxing to sit and listen to the classical music station and just rest rather than fight traffic. (I want to learn how to travel in lots of traffic without fighting it!)

Saturday was Molly's baptism! It was a beautiful experience! The Primary room was almost full of people who came to show love and support for her and for her mother, Sara.

Elder Wilson (District Leader), Elder Walker, Molly, Sister Walker, Elder Sommercorn

You would love Molly!

I got to play for the Baptism and sing, "I like to look for rainbows....," Elder Sommercorn spoke on the Restoration, Elder Walker baptized her, and Elder Wilson sang, I Know That My Savior Loves Me." The Ward Mission Leader spoke on Baptism and the Relief Society President spoke on the Holy Ghost. 

These next pictures are of carvings on the grounds of one of the apartment complexes where we have missionaries. Cute huh!

We seldom see a sunset here, and it was almost gone by the time I got my phone out, but it was beautiful as we crossed the Hood Canal Floating Bridge.

This is the new to us, used Yamaha Clavinova piano we bought "for a song" so we could have music in our home. It feels so good to have a piano again!

Love you all!

A Glimpse of Our Typical Weekly Activities

This is a park where we went walking this morning. When I saw the way 

these trees were reflecting in the pond it made me think about how the

sweetest experiences of this life are a reflection of the life we had in 

Heaven--and will have again, if we are faithful!

 Elder Walker says:

I thought you might like to see a sample of one week in the life of Elder & Sister Walker.

Each day I write a short journal entry to keep track of where we’ve been, who we’ve visited, meetings, performances, assignments, etc. These are the entries from this past week:

Mon. April 6

The 4 Elders came at 10 a.m. One worked on the computer writing music while the others played chess. Fed them all lunch, then met the PA Elders at Costco at 1:30 to help them buy groceries. Caught up the house cleaning in the afternoon, then had FHE together—just the two of us!

Tues. April 7

Studied, then went walking, caught up the books, spent time working on the lesson we’ll give to Chris and Erin tomorrow. (Linda made paper windows with shutters, each shutter with a commandment written on it. When you open the shutter, you see and read the promised blessings for living that commandment. We included: Prayer, Tithing, Sabbath Day, Word of Wisdom, Family Home Evening, etc.) At 6 p.m. we visited Sister Peashka, a 93 year-old shut-in. She very much enjoyed having someone with whom she could share her life’s experiences.          

Wed. April 8

Went to Costco and purchased the food needed to feed our Zone. Hurried home and prepared beef stroganoff and spinach/strawberry salad for eighteen missionaries. At 11 a.m. we successfully satisfied the appetites of 18 hungry missionaries, hurried and cleaned up, then attended Zone Mtg. from 2 until 4. President and Sister Blatter were there and also our Stake President, President Basden, It was a great meeting! We hurried from there to Chris & Erin’s home in PA where we taught the lesson on commandments. It went very well. Came home and ate leftovers, then attended the 3-ward choir rehearsal. Once again, Linda did a super job!

Thurs. April 9

More of the park where we have been walking. It is manmade with all reclaimed water. Beautiful! There is a stream full of watercress! Too bad it is growing in reclaimed water!

Studied and went walking, then picked up the Happy Valley Elders at 10:30 and drove then to President Shaw’s for the District lunch. We then drove the Elders to visit a new investigator named Zola. We read the B. of M. together and the Elders taught her about Moroni 10:4-5. Dropped the Elders off at the Church, then came home and fixed dinner for Sara and Molly. After a scrumptious dinner, we taught them about the Atonement and reviewed the complete Plan of Salvation. Molly accepted the invitation to be baptized, but her mother, Sara, is still hesitant.

Frid. April 10

No appointments today. Spent time studying and working on computer problems. We can’t get the email to work.

Finally gave up on the computer and went for a relaxing drive to the ocean. Rained all day.

Sat. April 11

Ate breakfast then attended the 3-ward choir rehearsal from 9 to 11. Went to Ivana’s baseball game, which ended just as we arrived. They were happy to see us and appreciated that we cared enough to come. We helped celebrate her 5th birthday.

Visited a less-active member, Charlee Sandell. What a story. She, her husband, and three young children moved from Connecticut to Sequim when she was in her late 20’s, then her husband passed away 2 days after they arrived. She is now 64 and has successfully raised her 3 children who are all now married. She knows the Lord loves her, but sees no reason to attend church. We talked about the importance of partaking of the sacrament, then had prayer with her.

Took a card and bouquet of flowers to Bev Heder, organist for the 3-ward choir, then at her invitation, stayed to eat a yummy bowl of soup with she and her husband. At 7:30 we attended the concert of the Peninsula Singers and Orchestra in which a member of our ward was singing. Very enjoyable.

Sun. April 12

Attended Dungeness Ward Sacrament Mtg., rehearsed the double quartet for tonight, then sang in the H.V. Ward choir in their Sacrament Mtg., hurried home for a sandwich, then attended all of SB Ward’s mtgs. Arrived home at 4:30 and got ready for tonight’s 3-ward choir Easter Devotional. At 6 p.m. we rehearsed some of the songs—the program began at 7 p.m. There was a good sized audience with several non-members in attendance. The 45 voice choir did very well and was well received. Bishop Cain’s talk was a masterpiece! Linda and I were asked to bear our testimonies. Linda did a masterful job of conducting, sang her solo beautifully, and was showered with complements during the reception.

Well, that will give you an idea of some of our mission life. We are working hard and having some great experiences! We love you all! Elder Walker

Can you see this old barn we often pass. I tried to close up with my camera (iPhone) and almost missed it completely, but it is so picturesque. I wanted to get closer but there are No Trespassing signs everywhere on this side and even more on the driveway to the house, so I couldn't even ask permission!

We finally drove on a road where we could see fields being worked up for planting! 

That is Sequim in the background.

We took a drive on a rainy day out to Port Williams (about 5 miles from us). There is nothing there but a little tiny picnic area and the Sound. We were sitting in our car, resting for a few minutes, and I looked up to see an eagle swoop down and pick up a large fish for its afternoon snack! By the time I got my phone out of my purse to take the picture it was getting away, but you can still see the fish hanging from its talons!

I loved having that adventure!

Bruce is always very observant of what we are passing as he is driving--that is why 

I watch the road so carefully! ;) We passed this farm and saw a strange tower in the field! 

He stopped so that I could take a picture of it!

What do you suppose it is?

This is last Monday at our house. Elder Somercorn is composing at the computer, Sara and Molly are at the table, Elder Walker is watching Elders Lovell and Wilson play chess while Elder Leavitt cheers. He had just finished emailing his parents. Last evening we had another discussion with Molly and taught her the commandments. She was willing to keep them all and eager to be baptized! She set the date for 

Saturday the 25th! We are excited for her!  

I had planned to make scones for the missionaries, but Sara brought some store-bought scones to feed them, so I quickly put my bread dough in the refrigerator! This is what it looked like by the time they left--after I gathered it off the shelves of the fridge! Just like home, eh!

My companion is so nice! I caught him with the camera as he was talking to me. 
Good thing I "follow" from in front!

This beautiful mallard was sitting at the edge of the pond, just relaxing with his head tucked under his wing. I raised my camera to capture the beautiful dark green of his head and the purple on his back, but startled him! He flew to safety on the pond. I thought of all the people we are meeting, who are startled to learn that they are children of Heavenly Father and are responsible to Him for how they live their lives! They appreciate agency, but without responsibility! We are hearing so many "philosophies of men"--atheism, big bang theory and evolution! These people love us, but flee from commitments.

We love all of you! We miss you and pray for you! We are excited to be finding some of the reasons why the Lord assigned us to the Washington Tacoma Mission!

O, It is Wonderful!

Dear Family,

Please do not be discouraged by my mistakes when you read our blog! It was so late when I wrote the last one that I did not read it over again and I found several mistakes the next morning! Please, when you get the email, just click on the page somewhere and go to the web version where I have corrected the errors I have found. They will not correct on the emailed version but do on the web page.

I love the Lord! I love the Church! I love the prophets and servants of the Lord! I have listened to two Conference talks today! They are already available on line and will soon be ready to download into our Gospel Library App on smart phone or iPad! That is amazing! Each Conference the technology improves and things get to us faster!

One of the talks I listened to was Elder Causse's talk about how there is always something to learn in the scriptures.

As I was praying aloud before my study the other day I heard myself saying things I had not thought of before. I was asking for things my heart desired greatly! I opened the New Testament to read about the last week of the Savior's life. My eyes fell first upon these words in Matt. 21:22:

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

To me, it was a confirmation from a loving Heavenly Father, that my prayer had been heard and the blessings I desired granted to me.

Later I found this verse in D&C 20:14-15

"And those who receive it in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life; 

But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation."

The Bible Dictionary says: 

The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of blessings.

I have the assurance that I will see those blessings that are now mine as I develop "eyes to see, and a heart to understand." I will grow into those blessings! Now I must move forward in confidence and as the 2nd scripture says, "work righteousness." 

The blessings are mine in the same way a lovely dress may be given to a young girl that is a trifle too big right now but will fit her perfectly soon. She will look forward to the promised day and keep herself pure and beautiful so that she may wear it as soon as she grows just a little. She knows she will look as beautiful as she imagines. That is the desire of the person who purchased or designed the dress for her. They knew that in a few more months she will have reached the perfect age and stature to wear it well.

 But what if the beautiful dress is purchased that is perfect for the certain lovely occasion of the future, and the girl is too cross and impatient to wait for her growth and decides instead in her anxiousness to wear it, to change the style of the dress, or to use the dress only for a Halloween costume! That would be like rejecting the blessing and turning it to our condemnation. (Perhaps you can think of a better comparison!)

I remember another time in my life that I was given a great blessing--and I understood that I must grow into that blessing to be able to keep it! Perhaps that is also how it is with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we have to learn how to invite and use the gift that is given to us and  "work righteousness" to have access to it!

I know that Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth in its fulness.

I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

I know that they love us and that every promised blessing is ours!

As we pray, study and serve, we will grow into those blessings without even being aware of it until we look back sometime and realize that the lack in us is gone, and the blessings we desired and prayed for are in us and all around us!

Did You Love Conference As Much As We Did?

My, it is hard to keep up! I surely admire those missionary grandchildren, friends and brothers and sisters who write brilliant letters so faithfully!

Lets see...On the 26th we visited a couple in Sequim Bay Ward who were both converts to the Church, but he had received his endowment 8 years ago and she had not! (The Stake President had asked if we could visit those in our stake who have received their endowment but have let their temple recommends lapse. This couple was on that lengthy list.) They were very nice and we enjoyed our visit. They moved here last year from Seattle and have a lovely home, beautifully decorated and filled with antiques from her family. She was so pleased to show us! One of the things she wanted us to see was her Lego storage. (I thought our grandsons would be interested!)  She explained that each drawer had a different part in it--one was all windows, one just doors, one dinosaurs, one horses, etc. Her grandsons were now in high school but still loved to build with them when they come to visit. I'm sure!

We did get to talk about temples and shared our feelings with them and were able to make some suggestions to the Bishop about something that might encourage them. It was amazing to me how we were guided to find a way to discuss what we needed to. It is very obvious that this is the Lord's work!

That evening we had a third discussion with S... Because she suffers with dyslexia she does not want to read and has trouble sometimes grasping concepts. We explain things several different ways, but finally that night she said, "You said it right! I got it! That made sense to me!" I was testifying again that the Lord sent prophets to His children out of love for them, and that prophets hold the keys of the Priesthood power on the earth. Something clicked. This past Wednesday she and M... came to our house for dinner and a lesson. This time we showed them The Testaments to help them see the connection between Bible and Book of Mormon. They liked it and agreed to start meeting twice a week! The Elders are dying to add them to their teaching pool, but so far she feels more comfortable with us.

One of the days we were out checking apartments we passed a tiny museum with this old threshing machine outside! Bruce says it is like the one his Dad and Grandpa had when he was a boy in Eagle!

 Saturday we took a walk to a little park a couple of blocks away. This is one of the first hand-hewn log cabins here. The size of the logs was quite impressive! This park was originally the old settlers cemetery. When they decided it would be a good place for a park, the city contacted all the families that were still in Sequim and told them they could come and exhume their ancestors bodies if they wanted to! President Shaw, the former Stake President that feeds the missionaries every week, was telling us about how his Dad and older brother went in the night to get the body of their grandpa and move it to the new cemetery!

This plaque celebrates irrigation coming to Sequim! We were told that "some Utah boys taught them how to irrigate" and it is the reason Sequim became a farming community! There is an "Irrigation Festival in the summertime.

It is interesting that most of the grass around looks like this--full of wildflowers. Lovely, maintained lawns are few. In the next picture Elder Walker is showing how big that tree is!

Women's Conference was wonderful! I missed you all! It was to be broadcast to our Church Building and I kept thinking about our Bishop's wife, so I asked if I could go with her. She seemed delighted for the company. We got to the Church just a few minutes before it was to start, but found the building dark and locked up! Someone had forgotten to have a "return and report" meeting with the man who was to set everything up! Sister Cain called her husband, and found who was responsible, called him, and after a bit he came to help us. Some of the women had given up and gone home, so he just set up a tv in the RS room. After the meeting, we brought the Sister missionaries home with us and watched the first part we had missed on line.

The Sisters stayed so that Sister Naupoto could practice missionary discussions with us. Sister Naupoto is a very quiet, shy, Tongan sister from Salt Lake City. She is also very humble and is trying hard to overcome her homesickness and shyness so that she will be an effective servant. She cries very easily, and so was in tears a couple of times, but Elder Walker was so good and encouraging to her that she went home feeling much more successful. (It was good to observe the strength of my companion and to look forward with confidence and appreciation to serving together! Forever!)

 Sunday was Fast day! We started our meetings with the Dungeness Ward Sacrament Meeting at 9 am. after which we planned to go to Gospel Essentials class, but the Choir director of the Happy Valley Ward, asked if I could play for her choir practice. She had just found out her accompanist wasn't coming! I had to sight-read Sally Deford's song, Anthem of Praise.  Next was Happy Valley Sacrament meeting. We were expecting S...and M... to come, but they didn't make it.

After  attending that meeting, we came home for just a few minutes so that I could finish preparing to teach the combined Young Women of the Happy Valley Ward about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ helped me in my trials. That was a wonderful experience! I did not share the nature of my trials, but explained to them how devastating they were to me, and testified that the Savior had wrapped me in love as though He were wrapping a big soft quilt around me, or bandaged my wounds so that I was protected until the time  I was sufficiently healed that I could stand on my own. Remembering was refreshing and healing to my spirit. I came home renewed! I told them that though I wouldn't want to live through those experiences again, I would not trade what I learned about the Savior for anything!

At 1:00 pm we attended Sequim Bay's Sacrament Meeting, after which I played for Primary. We came home for an hour and a half to end our fast, then went back to direct the choir rehearsal for the combined three-ward Easter Fireside that will be held April 12th, then rehearsed a song with the missionaries for 30 minutes, and then we came home. It was  long day!

Monday we met with H... and Ju... for lunch again and they surprised us by inviting a man they had often told us about who loves to visit them and who fancies himself a gourmet chef and likes to cook for them. You will remember that J... has a daughter who belongs to the Church. Well, this man also has a daughter and her husband who joined the Church in Austin, Texas! He was interested to meet some Mormons!

Tuesday was Transfer Day! Elder Straddling was being transferred so we took he and Elder Leavitt to Tacoma and brought Elders Lovell and Leavitt back with us. The Transfer meeting was great! President and Sister Blatter spoke and all the departing missionaries bore their testimonies. There were several musical numbers from groups of missionaries! Toward the end of their meeting they always sing a version of Amazing Grace! We were not sure what to think about it when we first heard it, but they did it very well! Evidently, under the last mission president, they had really practiced together and had very good musical firesides and this was one of the songs they liked to sing. They don't get time to practice together under this mission president, but there are enough left over missionaries that it still sounds pretty good. Elder Walker decided that it would be more exciting if we added organ, so he wrote an organ part for the last key change of the song. This transfer I played it for the first time. Everyone loved it! President and Sister Blatter both really appreciated it and noted that the missionaries sang with so much more spirit when the organ was added. Elder Walker felt good about it!

I didn't take a picture until after the meeting so many are leaving. All the couples in the mission office went home this transfer. We will miss them! Especially the Harwoods from Idaho Falls. He is the one who calls me "Sis!" (They say I look like his sister.)

Each day we visit and try to bless, teach and testify of the Savior, of the Book of Mormon and that the Lord shows his love for His children by sending prophets. Each day is busy and fulfilling. We are sure that we are meeting people for which we have had a special love before this life. Relationships build so quickly as missionaries!

Each day we think of and pray for all of you! Our hearts expand to fill the hundreds of miles to reach you. Each day we know you too are doing all you can to love and bless and serve and it make us feel close to you. We felt especially close as we all united in watching General Conference! What a wonderful conference it was! How we love our faithful leaders! How we love the Lord! May we check our notes for what the Spirit was saying to us and then be sure to watch or read a talk each day as part of our scripture study. That way the counsel we received will come to be part of our being!

 This is the sky on our way home from Transfer meeting. The sky looks like this very often in the afternoon of a sunny day.

Nope! This isn't black and white! This is just later the same afternoon when it started raining. A "gray day" on the Peninsula is really gray!

We walked to the Bishops house the other day. This is the view from a covered patio area up the side of their hill. We are looking SE. South is toward the mountains, North, toward the sea!

They are remodeling this home to sell it. They did that in Chicago before they came here and did really well. They are very careful to pick a home with a good setting! He does amazing work!

 These flowers are all over Sequim on the hedges!

One of the very nice couples we visited this past Friday had this sign in their office above her desk.  They are Family History consultants and there wasn't a clear surface that I could see anywhere! The plaque struck me funny, mostly because I have lost so many things by putting them away instead of leaving them in the pile I recognize!