Thoughts from Elder LeBaron

Krystin Ulassin (18) was baptized a member on 1 Dec, 2013.  She had taken the discussions a year ago and has been coming to church ever since.  Her Catholic mother wanted Kristin to wait until she was 18 to join the church.  She has been coming every week just waiting for the day she could be baptized.   She spoke today in church and it was amazing.  Another girl, Zarena, was baptized in Madisonville yesterday.  We had specialized training last Saturday in Huntsville (11 Dec 2013).  We drove the three Spanish speaking Sisters over from Huntsville so they could save on their allotted mileage.  One of the sisters said that having us here was like having parents in Huntsville which made us feel good because she could have said, “Grandparents.”   We bought a Christmas tree stand at Goodwill that we gave to the sisters who needed it for a real tree they purchased.  They were more grateful than we deserved.

Sister LeBaron made rice bags (in orange SHSU colors) for every student, missionary and some of the mission couples.  She cooks virtually every day.  When the timer on the oven goes off, I think that the sound is broadcast on campus.  “If you bake it, they will come.”

In the MTC, we were told that the prophet said that we (the senior mission couples) were the best the church had – and then they added that the prophet also said, “Actually, you’re all we have.”

We sent our Christmas cards this week.  If you didn't get one, send me your address - neillebaron@comcast.net, and I will mail one to you.  We actually have 450 of them.  When Ruth Ann went to have them printed at Walmart, she had some problems and went to the customer service area.  The clerk kept telling her they were just downloading and then he would check his printer and there would be no pictures so he would push print again.  He did that three times before he decided to check the printer in the customer area.  He sheepishly came back with 450 cards and didn't charge her anything . . . of course, she was there for 3 hours  We tend to send a lot of Christmas greetings because we have lived in five stakes and have scattered friends and family in other states and countries, but short of grabbing people by the lapels and begging them to take a card, we do have quite a few left.

The work is challenging and we feel inadequate but, at the same time, richly blessed and we do "have desires to serve God."  Mosiah 2:41  "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual, ..."

Thanks for your updates to blogs, Instagram, facetime calls, etc.  We love you and pray for you all.

Mission Life

Last Wednesday was a highlight for me because we were able to attend our first Zone Mtg.  Zone meetings are usually held on Wednesdays right when I am teaching my Book of Mormon class, so we usually miss out.  Last week was dead week on campus and so we headed to Madisonville, about 45 min. away for zone training.  I loved every minute of it, but had to do a mental evaluation of the myriad ways I can improve as a missionary.  Not a big guilt trip, but a good way to see how I can better consecrate my life -- same struggle we all have.  It was another small miracle of feeding our 5,000
(ok, 26 missionaries)  I made a braided cherry bread tree not realizing we would be such a big group.  I felt like I was cutting up the sweet roll into 2" squares, but everyone who wanted some had one and there was even one left over.

College Station Zone 2

Friday morning we invited the Sister Missionaries to come over to make 2 receiving blankets for a set of twins in a family they are teaching.  Sister Gutierrez also wanted to make rice bags for her family since she is going home on January 1 along with Elder Smith and Elder Schiffman of our district.

Neil and I love being the home away home and parents away from parents for so many of the students and missionaries.  It feels like an important aspect of our mission to nurture others.

I had the opportunity on Saturday to attend a Baptist Women Luncheon.  It was very nice and a great way to meet more women in the community.  Each table had a hostess who decorated and set their table. . . Relief Society Christmas Activity memory?  I love that women are pretty much the same in most settings!

Angie Taylor works with the Student Activities Dept. at SHSU and came to speak at one of our Friday Forums.  I really appreciated her invitation to the luncheon.  We left after the luncheon to go to Houston to pick up Neil's sister, Genie, and her husband, Winston Lee.  Somehow we got confused on our calendar and went to Hobby Airport in South Houston instead of Bush Airport in North Houston.  No wonder we couldn't find them at the arrivals door.  Poor things, they had to wait an extra hour for us to make the journey to the right place!  Good thing they have a sense of humor.  We went straight to the Houston Temple and did sealings.  What a special time.  Almost every time we go, we meet either a long lost relative or someone who has a connection to us or someone we know.  Last night we met a niece of Uncle Lynn and Aunt Lila Zemp (LeBaron side).

I think Genie looks especially pretty in this photo.  For those who knew Neil's mother, Floss, Genie could be her twin!

Let Your Soul Delight in Fatness

Delight in the "Fatness" of our Savior

The title of this post comes from 2 Nephi 9:51.  It usually refers to "Feasting" on the words of Christ, but as I read those words today, it made me think about Christmas.  If asked about the meaning of Christmas, most of us could give a great commentary on all the things Christmas represents.  In the anxiety, excitement and celebration we usually know "about" Christmas, but do we know and feel the joy of this wonderful gift?  Do we "know" Christ?  I feel like I fit in the first category most of the time, but this Christmas I feel I have been given the opportunity to move into the second group -- or at least to stand on the sidelines of those who do know.  This mission experience has been such a growing and nourishing time for me personally.  Being on a mission is a little bit of a cocoon that isn't always realistic for most of us in regular life, but I hope I will permanently be a changed person.  I decided to concentrate my studies this month on the end of Helaman through 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon along with the four gospels in the New Testament.  It has been  edifying and strengthening to me.

We have just finished the semester at the Institute.  Finals were last week and now most of the students have left for home.  We had some great final activities.  Things will be pretty quiet at the Institute until the middle of January, so we will be concentrating on our preparations for next semester.  There is a lot of enthusiasm for our Provident Living/Cooking class, so I am looking forward to that.

Bringing Christmas to the Institute

Greeting Sammy, the Bearkat

Sisters Vann & LeBaron filling rice bags

 Rice and Corn Bags

We had a lot of fun making rice bags for each of the students.  It made it a little more meaningful to have them out of the school colors.  We made about thirty of them and used deer corn to fill most of them, so I hope they don't attract too many deer from the forest.  Sister Vann is always a good sport to help me out with my many hare(or deer) brain ideas.

Neil, the Wise Man w/ Caesar in the Background

 In addition to winding up the semester, we also had the opportunity to participate in an interfaith production of Journey thru Bethlehem that was held at the county fair grounds.  It involves several hundred people and was attended by almost 1,000 visitors.  Attendance was down because of rain and icy winds but it was an awesome(pardon that word, but it is very descriptive of all the amazing things it included)  They had census taking, Caesar Augustus, shepherds, wise men, King Herod's court, a Mormon Bishop aka rabbit, a synogogue, fabric dyers, wool carders and hand spinners, bread shoppes, toy shoppes, spice stall, nativity and more.  Everyone was in a period costume.  Neil and I were census takers.  Originally Neil was going to be a wise man, but apparently you can have too many wise men or in Neil's case, wise guys.   (Neil's take on JTB)  I spent one afternoon helping them moved painted wall panels, props, furniture, costumes, rugs, fake plants, a huge potter’s wheel, etc. (five big flatbed trucks full + a box van full of stuff)  I was a wiseman at first but there were ten wisemen so I was the odd man out, so to speak.  The Huntsville bishop, Scott Bumbaugh (the Jewish Rabbi) said: “I hate to say this Elder LeBaron but you look like you just stepped out of the shower.”  I did feel like an “odd man” so quickly changed out of my velvet dress into the garb of a tax collector.  It was a cold evening but about 400 people braved the weather (33 degrees) that night.  I was at the table with a young ward member who said to an incoming group: “Welcome to Bethlehem, come in and add your name to the senseless form” (Census Form).  I thought it may be a Freudian, political commentary.  (I’d like to challenge that.)   The Bishop played the part of the Jewish Rabbi so convincingly that most of Huntsville thinks that he is Jewish.  Robert Williams who heads the Journey Through Bethlehem committee, coordinated all of the set up, (I spent several hours helping to load sets) costuming, staging, food, takedown, etc.  He is a doctor who works for the prison system.  His wife, Karen, is also a doctor and is the daughter of James Olson, the Heritage Branch president.  Robert asked one little boy what he like the best about Journey Through Bethlehem.  The boy said: “When I found Jesus.”

Bishop Bumbaugh and Bro. Williams

Elder Field and James Taylor ( LDSSA Pres.)

Sets for the Event

 Census Takers

Elder Smith, Sister Gutierrez, Sister Seymour, Sister Hosking and Elder LeB

For His Eye is on the Sparrow and I know He watches me

I am sitting at my desk at the institute checking emails, making plans, taking breaks to tie baby quilts and now catching up on our blog.  In our devotional this morning, we read from Alma 5:14-15.  I feel the beginnings of a mighty change in my heart that sometimes seems just out of reach, but in view.  I begin to see the value of patience and the need to trust in the Lord's time and not just what I think should be happening in my life and efforts.  In short, I'm like everyone else just trying to get it right, without doing too much damage while I am in the process.  So much for me!  This is dad now.  I am more like the agency motto that President Marshall said that they had at their advertising agency; "Seldom right -- never in doubt."

We have been busy with lots of Institute activities and plans.  On November 13th, we planned a service project for one of the family ward members.  The Paynes had a 100-year-old Post Oak tip over in a big rainstorm last month and we wanted to help move the chopped up tree.   We moved a ton of brush and dried leaves. When it got too dark to work and the fire had burned down some, we had a hot dog and marshmallow roast and visited around the fire.  Elder Neil called it "No [Bro.] Payne, no Gain!"

Brother Payne transporting wood

Moving and shaking

First load burning!

Lily Jean

It was while we were at the Payne's that we had exciting news.  Our daughter, Maggie, had a beautiful baby girl, Lily Jean, on Nov. 14th.  I left the next afternoon, after our Friday Forum and lunch, for Decatur to help out for a few days.  It was so wonderful to be with Maggie and Justin and family.  I cooked and played and generally wore myself out.  I am definitely not as spry as I once was, but I loved every minute of it.  Gracie and Gunner are

My first meeting !

in school each day, so Maisy and I hung out. She makes me laugh.  She is my little miracle child and is wiry and crazy.  It always throws me a little because she looks so much like her cousin, Isabel, only Isabel has beautiful dark brown hair - so it is quite a contrast to an almost white blonde.  I need to get a picture of the two of them together.  I always hoped for curly haired children and then I also got some curly haired grandchildren as a grand prize!  Every time I tried to get Maisy to look up at me for a photo, I would get her focused and then, as I would push the button, she would look down again at the ipad.   It was fun watching Maisy play 

Mr. Potato Head on the ipad.  She figured out new things to do with it that I didn't even know existed.  I guess we know who are the ones to rule the new world.  I love the picture below of me holding Lily in my apron.  It is a symbol to me of two of the things I love best--grandchildren and cooking for others.

This is getting longer than I intended it to be, but I just wanted to mention two more things.  It poured rain last Friday for our service project of making baby quilts, so instead of setting up on campus, we ended up setting up quilts at the Institute.  We served Grilled Teryaki Turkey which was something new for most of the group.  Kind, Brother Ballew from the Branch Presidency came to be our outdoor chef on our new donated BBQ grill.  We are also going to use it tonight for hot dogs at FHE.

The amazing Elder LeBaron

Elder LeBaron continues to amaze students with all of his domestic skills.  I think it is a great role model for them to see a man who is so supportive of his wife.  Yes, we are still crazy in love!

The final picture is of somethings I have fallen in love with in Texas!  They have some of the most expressive clouds I have ever seen.  I love to look up each day and see what new picture has been created for my enjoyment.  It can be blue, clear sky in the morning and then look like this an hour later.  So many layers--just like our lives, eh?

Sunset comes to Huntsville

Family History Makes History

From Neil:  The church has 250 teams of microfilmers worldwide.  The church already has billions of images and with those, along with the microfilm crews, the church is transferring 1.1 million names per day and adding them family search database.  The Lord is hastening His work.

Attached is a picture of Scott Trammel, a student, who had the most innovative costumes at the Stake Halloween Dance.  You can always count on the innovative ideas of a college student who wants to get married.

We now have the quilt stands, frames, clamps, tacks, and material to make several baby quilts (on campus) to be donated to rest homes or shelters.  We received approval from the media department of the church to go ahead with billboards in the Houston area.  I am working on that with Pres. Pingree.  I also contacted over a dozen students or potential students this week who are not attending institute.  Sister LeBaron and I put together a package of hot chocolate mix in a cup (to take to YSA's who aren't coming) with a note that says: “It may be chilly outside but you’ll always have a warm feeling at the LDS Institute.  Join us for a Free Lunch Fridays Noon- 1 p.m.”  (Chilly: when the temperature plummets into the low 40’s.)  There is a “legend” about an actual snowstorm that happened in Huntsville.  Sister Vann said that she was so mad at herself for not taking a picture because the snow had all melted in four hours.  Schools cancelled classes just so students could play in the snow because snow is such an unusual event.

Sister Vann said in a devotional this week that she was going to a mini-Vann reunion in Arkansas (meaning that only part of the Vann family could attend.) I could see that  Sister LeBaron was forming a mental picture of a parking lot full of minivans - rather like Sunday dinner at the LeBarons.

Samantha Toney, the primary chorister said that she likes to make sure Primary children know what they are singing about.  She was explaining "Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning":  "And a shining, glorious pillar..." "What's a pillar?"  A small, eager boy (certain he knew the answer) shouted out, "It's what you sleep on!"

My Monday lesson was on Symbolism in the Scriptures.  We talked about colors (purple, black), body parts (shoulders, heart, loins), creatures (serpent, lion, locust), clothing (clothed in righteousness, or shame or sackcloth), food (milk, fruit, etc,), minerals(clay, silver, gold, pearls or precious stones), natural elements (fire, wind, waves of the sea) objects (yolk, keys) places (Zion, Sodom & Gomorrah, Babylon), ordinances (baptism, marriage sealing), actions (laying on of hands, washing feet), numbers:1, 3, 6 (incomplete) & 7 (complete), or elements from nature (Grass, sand, stars, rock.)  666 is the mark of the beast (totally incomplete) and 70 x 7 (totally complete.)  Lots to think about symbolically.  When I was Bishop, I asked a girl in our ward if the water represented a washing away of sins... if she were baptized last and accidentally swallowed a little of the baptismal water, would she be "drinking in" the sins of the other children?  She didn't think that she would and explained the symbolic meaning of the water in washing away sins.  The water also represents dirt - being buried in Christ but quickened (or made alive) in the Spirit. It is simple enough for an eight-year-old to understand but deeper than we can fathom (the doctrine -- not the water.)

Ruth Ann:

My Texas Quilt

I finished the quilt top for my Texas quilt the other day.  It was so much fun putting it together.  There is a woman in the family ward who has a quilting machine, so I am hoping she will let me rent some time from her.  Even with that big Texas map, I am still amazed at how absolutely big Texas is.  I love that everyone I meet has so much Texas pride.  They also have hearts as big as Texas!  

Maggie's baby is coming any day now, so I am hoping it comes on a Friday since I am on my own for Friday lunch this week and next week we have "Quilts on Campus" where we will tie baby quilts on the mall by the student union.  I need to be there, so if Maggie has her baby on Thursday or Friday, I could leave after the lunch and then be back in time for the next week.  She is hoping for an 11-12-13 baby!  It may just be wishful thinking, but you never know.  The due date is on the 21st.  She was teaching Relief Society today and I told her she should tell the story of Tom's birth an hour after I finished teaching my lesson, but I think she was worried they wouldn't be able to concentrate on the lesson for fear of a repeat performance.  Those were the days!

I had to laugh this morning.  I was listening to our daughter, Flori's recitation of their activities yesterday.  Her 11 yr. old daughter told her just before going to bed, "I am so tired!  And to think Nanny does this everyday, I don't know how she does it."  My life isn't quite that busy, but we do seem to get things cranked up.  The Stake President suggested we offer dinner another night of the week to help attendance.  Easy for him to say!  We are going to start serving appetizers on Monday nights at Neil's late afternoon class just before FHE.  We are just firming up the schedule for next semester.  

I taught the Relief Society lesson in the Branch today extemp!  I am also leading the music in both RS and Institute.  Now if a miracle happens and my piano skills improve I will know without a doubt that miracles never cease!  I had the special opportunity of doing the initiatory for 14 sisters on Friday from both the Adams and MacDonald lines.  The two most meaningful for me were his Aunt Eva and his first cousin, Hazel, both of whom I knew in this life.  I hope they have accepted the gospel.  They are really wonderful people.

Happy Halloween from Elder LeBaron

A "Wally World" House all decked out for Halloween on the way to Church!

Happy Halloween: Should I wear this hat to the ward Halloween party tonight?  Is Thanksgiving like Christmas and the turkey is really your father?  The branch president’s wife thought she was ordering sheet caramel for 70 candy apples but actually ordered 700 so we may be serving candy apples for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Spring Break.

We had an LDSSA leadership mtg. yesterday and Sister LeBaron and I filled it with Halloween puns.  The LDSSA Pres., James Taylor, was dying.  It was still a good ghoul setting session. 

I often play the piano for institute classes or lead the music – which I also do in our 

Way too much time on his hands

Sunday meetings for the branch.  It is thrilling to see the new converts, who were baptized earlier this month, teaching a class or blessing the sacrament.  Many institute students come from extremely difficult circumstances, have health problems, travel an hour or more to get to school, and have no support from home, or (worse) have to support their parents or have no parents. 

Sister LeBaron  gave a great Book of Mormon lessonthis morning to two students and me and made German pancakes, plus several loaves of bread with spinach and roasted garlic.  We have approval to buy a 7 cu. ft. chest freezer.  The supervisor said we needed to make a case for it.  I said, “Make a case for the freezer or our need for the freezer?”  Having a small freezer will allow us to store ice, items that come on sale, etc., and keep us from having to make a thirty-minute trip to Sam’s Club in Conroe every week or so.  We will also get a small BBQ grill  for the institute building.

We currently have about thirty students who attend some class or activity during the week.  It is still a bit discouraging to have only one or two students attend a class.  I told our supervisor this story: “An old rancher struggled through the deepening snows of a sudden storm one Sunday morning and finally reached the church.  The preacher saw him come in and confessed, “You are the only one here.  Should I still give my sermon.”  The rancher said, “All I know is that if I went out to feed the cattle and only one cow showed up, I’d still feed her.”  The preacher was delighted, pulled out all the stops, gave a two-hour sermon and quickly approached the rancher to ask how he had enjoyed the service.  The rancher said, “If only one cow showed up, I’d still feed her – but I wouldn’t give her the whole load.”  A couple of years ago, Bob and I showed up in Nauvoo on New Year’s Day.  Those church missionaries at the historical sites were like coiled springs waiting for someone to show up so as the only tourists there, we did get the “whole load” – several times.  (We just wanted rings made out of horseshoe nails!)   Now, the “no nonsense, sturdy” missionary shoes are on the other foot and we just wish we had Justin’s calf roping skills.

Teaching how to make Mary's White Lasagna

We have lots of chances to teach and work with the students.  This student, Megan, wanted to make the Lasagna we had at one of our devotionals.  Ruth Ann is going to teach cooking lessons next semester on Thursday nights and plan Devotional food around those lessons.  It will all be part of a Provident Living Institute Class.

Friday Devotional Lesson

We all learned how to do this from a utube video

Serving in the branch presidency is a quiet succession of callings, sustainings, interviews, settings apart, conducting music, meetings and feeding the branch members.  In Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream, he didn’t mention that the stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands to go forth to fill the whole earth wasn’t always going to be rolling downhill by itself.  We feel more, sometimes, like we are part of a handcart company and there are some long uphill pulls.

One of the challenges for us is that both the branch and Family Ward boundaries are huge and many members travel 20-30 minutes.  It is about 80 miles wide and 80 wide with Huntsville in the middle.

The lake in the upper right hand corner is a reservoir called Lake Livingston and is fed by the Trinity river.  As you can see, there is a lot of green area.  The trees are tall and beautiful but they have shallow roots.

Missionary "Training" at FHE

Tender Mercies

I wanted to start out this post sharing two wonderful experiences I had on Sunday.   I was just getting ready to leave Sunday School to go into the YSA Branch Sacrament meeting.  I was sitting next to Kate Dickenson, one of our students.  I always think of her as sweet Kate.  She was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 18 months ago.  When they did the first operation, they cut the nerves for the left side of her body in order to get at the tumor and so even though she can walk, she doesn't have much strength in her left arm or leg.  She has since been through chemo and radiation.  Before the cancer, Kate had beautiful long hair, but she loved to wear wigs and other funky things.  Lucky for her, she already had a collection when all of her hair fell out.  So, back to the story. . . I was sitting there and this tall, strong older man who was a prize fighter and once fought Cassius Clay, appeared out of nowhere to take Kate's arm and lead her back into the chapel.  He was so gentle and caring as he helped her up.  It really touched my heart and makes me teary just thinking about it.  It was especially sweet because my talk was about developing Christlike love for others and then this kind man was almost an immediate personification of those qualities.

The next tender mercy was in Relief Society in the Branch.  Maddie, who is one of our new members of a month was called to be a RS teacher.  She couldn't get hold of the RS President and asked what she should teach.  Since I didn't know if the Branch had chosen 4th Sunday Conference talks, I told her to just choose one of her favorite talks from conference and go with it.  It was a great lesson!  It was well thought out and well presented and best of all there was such a special spirit about it all.  The gospel changes lives.

1950's Singer Featherweight

I got an early Christmas present this week.
When my sewing machine went on the fritz a few weeks ago,  a sister in the ward let me borrow this little featherweight.  She has three of them, but was wanting to sell this one.  It sews only a straight stitch, but those stitches are beautiful.  She called the other day to see if I was finished with my project because she had a buyer for the machine.  I said, "Oh, that's too bad, I was thinking I might want to buy it" and voila.  I am now the proud owner.  I am happy to get my other machine back just in time for Tiago's baptism this Saturday.  He needed a special baptism towel.  Tiago is the first of 7 baptisms that will take place while we are gone.  Does this mean I can count him as one of my baptisms?  "The greatest work we will ever do is within the walls of our own home."  Pres. David O. McKay


I was asked to speak on Sunday in the family ward.  I was doing just fine anticipating my talk when one of the Sister Missionaries started to give her talk and I realized we had both used Preach My Gospel as the main resource for Christlike qualities.  I found it so ironic that the best and most complete resource I could find on Christlike attributes is in Preach My Gospel.  I guess that is a big criteria for missionaries as we go out to share the gospel.  Good thing I'm quick on my feet so they didn't hear the same talk twice.  Ha, ha!  I was just fine until the rest song before my talk was "Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words" and we came to "Like the sunbeams of morn on the mountains", I started to see the mountains in my mind and then I just started crying.  I told them that even though I miss the mountains terribly, I do like listening to so many birds all around us.  There seem to be many more kinds of birds here than in Utah.  They wake us up most mornings with their lively chatter.  We have also been learning a lot about the different kinds of trees that grow in Texas.  There are 4 or 5 different types of oak trees.  There are River Oak that have leaves like an ash tree, but the bark is like oak trees and they have little bitty acorns.  There is also a live oak, an Heritage Oak and a post oak where the branches grow downward and then run along the ground.  They are great climbing trees.  We went to visit a member and he showed us his post oak.  It is covered with a fern called a resurrection fern.  It looks totally dead and you might think it is a kind of moss, but when it rains, it comes alive within minutes and looks like a regular fern plant that is rich and green.              

Resurrection Fern on a post oak limb.

We have been busy this week doing bulletin boards.  Isn't it great that you can find such fun things on the internet.  I don't think I have created a bulletin board in over 40 years from when I first started teaching.  It was fun putting it together with Neil and cutting out letters, etc.  A big thanks goes to Kimberly Sylvester for the scrapbooking paper.  She gave me two pads of it when we were packing up.  Thanks, Kim!  The blue bulletin board beneath is at the back of the Institute in the common area and is used for announcements, calendars and now the quotes 

we just posted.  The other bulletin board is in the front of the building just across from 

Sister Vann's office.  She is the smart one who

 figured out how to put the quotes in the ovals 

we found at JoAnn's.

She also printed off the quotes from the apostles

and the first Presidency.

Doubt Your Doubts was the all time favorite quote of the students

Fall in Texas

It’s fall in Texas.  I don’t know what that means because the only apparent change is the temperature.  Our leaky pipi reminds me of a joke:  A man took his friend from Texas to Niagara Falls to finally show him that there were big things other than in Texas.  As they stood next to the roaring falls.  The man said to his Texan friend,  “Do they have anything this big in Texas?”  “No,” said the Texan, “But we have plumbers who could fix it.”

Maggie’s visit was a welcome respite from our regular routine.  We watched kid’s DVD’s, drank chocolate milk, went swimming, and went to McDonalds.  I told Maggie that McDonalds never advertises “Unhappy Meals” at McDonalds.  They tout McRibs but never McMisery Meals. (2 Ne. 2:27)

Fune time

We stopped at a city park in Conroe, TC and the kids were transported with a variety of fun options.  There was a fat tree squirrel lying on the cool, wet sand.  I thought at first that it was road kill but he was just enjoying the cooler fall weather. 

I took a picture of this old tractor at the park.  We also got a picture of several new tracters at the District Mtg. in Huntsville after the first transfer. 

Anticipation was high at the snow cone booth

I took a picture of this old tractor at the park.  We also got a picture of several new tracters at the District Mtg. in Huntsville after the first transfer. 

Back row l to r Elder Field, Elder Smith from Huntsville, Elder Perkins,
Elder ?(temp), Elder Schiffman from Madisonville.  Front row
Elder & Sister LeBaron, Sister Seymour, Sister Gutierrez from Huntsville
and Sister & Elder Lane from Crockett

After the park we stopped at TJ Maxx (the Haj equivalent of Mecca.)  A couple of ladies at the entrance said, “What ward are you from.”  Maggie was taken aback.  They continued, “We’re from the Conroe Second Ward.”  After we left the store, Maggie furrowed her brow and queried, “Was my shirt askew and were my garments showing?”  She couldn’t figure out how she has been profiled as being a member.  I said, “You may not have been showing your religion. It was possibly our name tags.”  #oh yeah right.

This week I bought this sign that I found at an Antiques Fair in Huntsville.  It says: Counter Lunch (which makes me think it was made by a dyslexic sign maker.)  Maggie said that dyslexic poets always write “in verse.”  

   

Note the spelling of Theraphy in this picture with Mom.“I’d like to challenge that!”

Last week’s FHE activity was at the game room of the student center: pool, darts, Ping-Pong, air hockey, foosball, etc.  The institute is going to be doing a Primary activity at the ward on Halloween so we’ve been gathering props.  I so wish that we could have all of the extended LeBaron family there in costume.  I have to curb my natural sadistic desire to scare others and have a kinder, gentler, name-tag wearing “spook alley.”  We’ll just jump out and say scary things such as: “Will you stop smoking?” or “Will you be baptized next Saturday?”   Laffy Taffy riddles:  What did the pig do in the kitchen? Bacon  What kind of shorts do clouds wear?  Thunderwear

One of the quotes I liked is,  “In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done or where we have been but much more where we are willing to go.”  …  “In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how.”  -Elder Edward Dube

It may not be on the mountain’s height, or over the stormy sea;
It may not be at the battle’s front my Lord will have need of me;
But if by a still, small voice He calls to paths I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Yours,
I’ll go where You want me to go.

I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be.