Weather Can Change in a Heartbeat

We are still amazed at the extreme weather of the Mid-west! This is a photo taken from our balcony. Looks pretty angry, huh. Just an hour or so before the sky had normal wispy clouds.

These black clouds brought a heavy rain just a few minutes after I took this picture and then it cleared up and was a normal evening. Go figure!

A Summer Stroll at Cantigny

Last Friday, we along with President and Sister Roach took in the manicured gardens at Cantigny.

Cantigny is the grand estate of the late Robert McCormick. He made his millions in the Chicago newspaper business. He was an officer in World War I and considered Winston Churchill one of his dear friends along with Eva and Juan Peron of Argentina.

The estate includes two 18-hole golf courses, a military museum and the mansion house where he lived. The gardens are absolutely beautiful. Each section is finely manicured--from the rose garden to the cabana that has over 30 hanging baskets. Each section has something unique whether its the small fountains made from pottery, water lily adorned pond or shooting fountains.

This was the Roaches first visit to Cantigny but I'm sure it won't be the last. We were only able to go on an abbreviated tour of the mansion and see four of the twenty-seven rooms. Doc and I had seen the mansion last December.

After Cantigny, we dined at one of the funnest seafood restaurants. It's called Key Wester. Doc and I both had tilapia that was cooked to perfection. A slice of key lime pie split four ways topped the meal and great times with the Roaches in Chicagoland.

Say Cheeeeeese

What's more Wisconsin than cheeeeeeese!

Take a look at the cheese chalet complete with a humongous cow! Wisconsin is a beautiful state with lots of forested areas. We have driven past Wisconsin Dells several times now. It is a complete resort town with probably five water slide parks.

This photo was taken during our last outing just outside of Madison, WI.

O Canada, O Canada

This 4th of July has got to be one we remember for a long time because we started out in Canada!

President and Sister Morgan invited Elder Mendenhall to teach at their combined zone conference in Winnipeg. We have been looking forward to meeting with the Morgans for some time. What terrific people! Our stay with them was wonderful. They even gave us a gift basket full of Canadian mementos.

Just after crossing the border into Canada, we saw acres and acres of bright yellow fields. I thought it might be safron but Sister Morgan said the fields are canola. One field had dome shaped houses scattered among the crop. They looked similar to the small huts used for calves in Utah. President Morgan said those are bees used to pollinate the crops. What a site!

A small towns just before Winnipeg had Canadian flags decorating their main street on lamp posts. I couldn't help but contrast what most of cities in Utah looked like around the 4th of July with American flags waving along our main streets.

The mission home in Winnipeg is just gorgeous. Doc's favorite flower peonies were in full bloom next to the front door.

Staying at the mission home were two other senior couples from Utah County, Elder and Sister Thomsen from Benjamin and Elder and Sister Tranmer from Woodland Hills. Both couples live about two hours away and travel in to attend zone conferences. The Morgans are such gracious hosts. Our meals were scrumptious but the great conversations were even better. They say laughter is good medicine. We had a healthy dose of laughter along with being spiritually fed too.

They Just Don't Come Any Finer

Perhaps the best part of our mission has been getting to know and love the mission presidents and their wives. What wonderful, dedicated, terrific people!

President and Sister Cannon at the South Dakota Rapid City Mission invited us to stay at their home and teach at a zone conference. How we adore the Cannons! Sister Cannon has a quick wit and is full of energy. She has included me in a few of her projects and I love working with her.

While we were there in June, they took us to Mt. Rushmore in the evening. The site is spectacular lighted up at night. I also enjoyed the rows of flags of the 50 states that leads up to the viewpoint.

Even though our mission will be complete in two months, the friendships we have made will continue on for a lifetime and beyond.

Just Sheep Herding

At Easter time, two sheep caught my eye at the Target store close by. I thought how cute it would be to give them to the mission presidents and their wives. Doc agreed. We were off on a hunt to find 21 sheep. I called most of the Target stores in the area and put them on hold until we could round them up.

One Saturday morning, we headed out to gather the "lost sheep". Two and half hours later the back of the Pathfinder was loaded with stuffed sheep.

The next dilemma--where do you store 21 sheep in a small apartment? Ah, ha--the extra bathtub. Last summer the bathtub served as a storage place for our bicycles but now it was the perfect place for sheep. They stacked nicely.

Shortly after Easter, I lined them all up to be tagged and we started delivering the sheep. Most have found new homes with the mission presidents and their wives. Four are still waiting to be delivered westward.

It's been so much fun delivering them and thanking the mission presidents and their wives for always "feeding the sheep". The back of the tag reads John 21:15-17 then "What dear shepherds you are! You spiritually feed and edify the missionaries, members and all who listen to the Spirit's promptings through your words and example. Unlike the hireling who flees when trouble encroaches, you stay the course. With love, authority of the priesthood, inspiration and devotion, you magnify your calling. Thank you for being a "Good Shepherd". Love, Elder and Sister Mendenhall. How we love and admire those who care for the missionaries. All have welcomed their new woolly arrivals with smiles and laughter. We know they have gone to good homes.