Spring Flowers in Tenessee - Part 2

More Tennessee spring photos. You have my permission to skip if you are tired.

Dogwood

You decide. Ant back from Chernobyl?

Tell next time.

SPRING IN TENESSEE -- Come and Gone!!

 Winter was kind to to us in Tennessee. The only bad thing is even though it came early, it didn't stay long enough. But while it was here, it was spectacular. Words can't express the grandeur of the display, so I will just say it with photos

Magnolia

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Cheekwood arboritium near the mission home has become one of our favorate places to visit.  We liked it so well we bought a years pass. 

Dogwood - Pink and White



Real Flowers of the Mission

This is Sister Ratvukivuki from Fiji and Sister Valentine, some of the best missionaries we have.  I want to give them a hug every time I see them but rules won't let me.

Redbud

                         Dogwood

Dogwood and Redbud are my favorite trees and now I know why.  My only problem wad I couldn't take enough photos.  I kept seeing more trees.

I think tiis blog is full and I have more photos (lots more but I won't bore yoy with all of them.)  Look for Spring Flowers part 2

Winter Is Here--Or Is It?

This is the greatest winter ever.  We had seven snowflakes the other day and the schools called a snow day and everyone stayed home.  If winter does come in ernist, I will call a "snow day".  Here, there are roads and the slippery slope they call the edge of the road--nothing in between. Just smooth road and death, nothing in transitrion.

Maybe their is no winter in Tenessee and it is still fall.  Ok, then, lets see some fall photos of this parft of the country.  Tennessee does fall well.



By our appartment



We are looking forward to spring with the dogwood, redbud, and all the other flowers the south is famous for.  We took a trip up from Georga a few years ago in the spring and really enjoyed the spri;ng display.



Bridge along the Natchez treace parkway



Crape Myrtle found all over

 Makybe I can post spring photos in the spring rather than waitiing for summer.  You can always hope.

Tennessee History Part 1



The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's Home




Jackson's original house (top half.  The original was two-storied)


Tennessee is rich in history and we have been privileged to wander in and near some of it.  Andrew Jackson is prominent here and has left a lasting legacy.  He experienced the revolutionary war at a young age.  His father was killed in the war and I am sure this set his direction for the rest of his life.

"On his journey from a Revolutionary battlefield at age 13 to two terms in the White House as America's seventh president, his unconventional, often controversial-and always fiercely held-principles and vision shook things up politically, culturally, and on the field of battle." from the tour brochure.

Back side of the Hemitage

The Hermitage was a cotton plantation of about 1000 acres.  It employed up to 80 slaves and was very prosperous.  For a lot of years, Jackson and his beloved wife Rachel Donelson, lived in a two story house that was very well decorated.  When they build and moved into the Hermitage, they converted their old house into slave quarters.  They stripped everything to the log walls, removed the 1st story, and converted it to "proper" slave housing. 




Slave quarters




Family grave site.  Some more important slaves also burried here.




Garden flowers



Monument built for Jackson's beloved Rachel.
Jackson buried here later.



Garden flowers

  The home has an extensive garden with all that would be expected to sustain a household that did much intertaining including friends and many visiting important people.  While president, Jackson only returned to the Hermitage three times as it took ten days to travel from Washington.



Near Jackson's grave

 The Hermitage today is fully restored with many original features.  Guided tours are provided with headsets for adults and a special tour for children.  If you are near here it is well worth the time to visit.
From the brochure---"In the perception-altering experience that is The Hermitage, you'll find not only the man, but also the seeds--and spirit--of the nation he helped shape."

                            Ya'all come

QUESTION??

Which inspires and has the most influence?

Mission Miracle

Miracles happen in the mission field.  (For example, I made it here.)  Two of our missionaries survived a horrific accident a couple of weeks ago where their car was totally destroyed and they survived with relatively little injury.  So being the "Car Czar", I am a little sensitive to something happening to "my" cars.  But that accident is not what I want to talk about. I am going to tell you about the Miracle Van.

The Assistants

First let me say a quick word about these wonderful young men.  They are about the most obedient people I know.  They do nothing wrong (except maybe eating too often at Sonic).  If I had a granddaughter of marring age, these three would be on top of the list of my choices.  You may hear more about them in future blogs.

On with the story.  Last Monday, we picked up a new Dodge Caravan for use by the Assistants and the President and his family.  When I got back to the office they were waiting and salivating at the thoughts of driving this wonder car.  (See Jeff.  Some young people appreciate fine cars).  I knew we had something special as it said Miracle on the back of the car.  (It's from Miracle Dodge).  They wanted to take it for their evening appointments, so I let them with my empty threat, "You get a scratch on it you are dead meat". 

The next day they told their tale.  While stopped at a light, an old green car came down the hill directly towards them out of control.  No way was it going to avoid them. All they could think of was "Elder P. is going to kill us".  Just as impact was about to happen, another car came through the intersection on the green light and was t-boned by the out of control car, saving our van. A miracle.  The guy ran off, a hit and run.  The elders stayed and helped the lady who was hit and even got a teaching appointment out of the incident.

Why were our Elders saved?  Pure and simple.  Obedience.  It pays.

The Salt of the Earth

Elder and Sister "C"

In historic times and before, salt was of extreme importance. It is an essential compound to maintain life. Without it food does not taste as well. But most of all we take it for granted. It's always there when we need it. But this has not always been so. At times, wars have been fought for salt and salt was used as a valuable medium of exchange. Like many things in life we don.t know the true value until we don't have it anymore.

Now let me tell you about some "salt of the earth" that we have found here in the Tennessee Nashville Mission. I hope if they read this, now they are no longer with us in the mission office, they will forgive me for the spotlight. Elder and Sister "C" are those rare people most of us meet a few times in our life that we instantly bond with and become fast friends. I hope that now they are home they will not forget us. But in the short time we had together, they taught us much about giving to others, testimony, hard work, and loving the Lord and his children. They were always at the office before us and we couldn't stay long enough to leave before they did. If something needed to be done for the mission or missionaries they did it in spite of any inconvenience to what they had planned. We are finding it hard to fill their shoes but are trying.

We often judge others by their appearance. From the above photo would you believe this man has been a bishop and stake president, raises and trains Belgium draft horses, has owned and flown his own airplane, and been mayor of a central Utah town? Sister C is a mother of six and filled many Church callings along the way. In the mission office she keeps the missionaries supplied with referrals and did all the mission correspondence.  She was always helping in the mission home when mission events took place.

This salt has not lost it's savior and I doubt it ever will.  I hope we will all look at the things of true value in our life and hold on dearly.