Thanksgiving Week #30

The Smart's surely do hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. 🦃🦃  Ours was pretty good considering we didn't have any family around.  Guess it makes us appreciate ou family a whole lot more.  

Our Thanksgiving day started out with our sleeping in.  Sister Smart was the first one up.  She was busy fixing our contribution to the dinner with the missionaries and Pres and Sis Pace's family.  We watched a couple of Hallmark Christmas movies and then, about 2:00 pm we all gathered for the feast.  

Sitting Down for Dinner - Empty Plates

Loading Plates 

Plates Loaded - Go For It

We should probably mention the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday.  The mission was asked if we could help the Casper Salvation Army serve a Thanksgiving meal to the less fortunate of Casper.  Six couples went, including us. It was a great way to serve and we managed to get some shopping done, a deposit for the mission, and a doctors appointment for Sister Smart.

Cleaning the Hall Prior to Dinner

Getting Ready to Serve It Up

Dinner in Full Force

This week also brought about our thinking a little about Christmas.  Although we're missing family and friends again, we are still trying to get in the mood.  The homestead has Christmas all over.  We found an extra tree and put it up in our apartment.

Putting Up Tree

We still are faced with dealing with little creatures around here.  We've probably caught around six mice in our apartment.  Maybe we're learning how to do it better.😁

Two at One Time

Every once in a while, we still take a little outing.  This was the case on Friday evening.  Our excursion was to Whiskey Gap.  We got off to a good start, but never actually got there.  We decided to get out of the truck and do a little exploring.  When we got out, the driver accidently locked the keys in the truck.  He hiked to the top of a nearby ridge and was able to reach someone at the homestead who brought a second set of keys.  We later learned that we were still some distance from Whiskey Gap.😆😆

Excursion to Whiskey Gap

While Sister Smart is devoted to Hallmark Christmas movies, Elder Smart looks forward to his BYU games.  Yes, football was a disappointment, but there is still hope for basketball.  Elder Smart tries hard to watch all the games.  Thanks to Kathie and Matt he even got to watch the BYU - Hawaii game via the internet and sling box.

BYU Game on Computer

Saturday, Sister Smart took off to Casper with Sister Crist. They both got their hair cuts and spent time shopping without their husbands looking bored and wondering how much longer they had to wait.  They spent most of the day going from one store to another.  Great girl's day out!

This is about enough excitement for the week.  Guess we better end this before we wear out our welcome.

We still love the missionary work.  We have also enjoyed helping some of our fellow missionaries with their family history.  We know this is the Lord's work and are excited to be part of it.  Until next time please accept our love and heartfelt gratitude for your support.

Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Annie & Paul, Sister & Elder Smart

The Wind Blows On. #29

Hello to family and friends.

  

After a day in the office, we were in charge of family home evening.  Everyone is anxious for help with their family history and asked us to share some basics at FHE.

Elder Smart has spent hours researching everyone's line.  Sister Smart prepared a power point to share at FHE.  We now plan on meeting one on one with each couple to help them.  Elder Smart is his usual self and spends lots of time to be prepared for everyone so that we can be of most help to them.  He has his winter work cut out for him.

Missionaries Waiting For FHE

First screen of the Powerpoint

On Tuesday we worked in the Visitors' Center in the afternoon and in the morning we painted a wall in the center. After work Sister Smart was determined to find the mouse smell in our house and she pulled out the frig and found a dead mouse that had to be pryed out of a small spot between engine parts.  What unique experiences we have here!

On Thursday we were on work crew and we were assigned to refinish and upholster 4 chairs.  We are learning to do lots and could get a  job upholstering  when we go home with so much experience.

Sister Smart the Upholsterer Assistant

Elder Smart the Upholsterer

 On Friday  evening we had a fun time playing ping pong.  Pres Pace won the tournament.  Elder Smart was the only one that could give him a challenge.

Ping Pong Hottie!

Saturday evening we went to the chapel to set up the CD player for Sunday.  It is sad that we do not have a piano player staying the Winter here.

We are so very happy to be serving here.  Love you and miss you.

Grandpa and Grandma, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie, Elder and Sister Smart

Mostly the Same Kind of Week, #28

One more week has come and gone and it seems that we do pretty much the same old things -- two or three days in the office, two or three days in the visitors' center, a couple of half days doing work items, and a day in Casper running errands, getting hair cuts, annd buying groceries.

Elder Smart has an additional assignment of putting together a newsletter for the missionaries.  He tries hard to find something of interest.  He had a call one day near dusk about the sighting of a racoon at the homestead.  Sure enough, there were two of the little critters in one of our trees.

Racoon

Racoon in Spotlight

Weird Caterpiller (Wonder What This Turns Into?)

One of our former missionaries sent some fresh halibut.  The missionaries cooked it up and it became the source of a Friday get-together, not to mention a great dinner.  Elder Smart was greatful for a plentiful supply of tarter sauce.

Elder & Sister Prepring Dinner

Halibut

This week presented the opportunity to watch two BYU basketball games and one BYU football game.  Occasionally there is a good western movie.  Sister Smart really enjoys the westerns.

Our family home evenings are often fun and entertaining.  We often play games and the Sisters seem like they always beat the Elders -- well almost always.  One time the Elders beat the Sisters in a scripture word game.

We spent some time this last preparation day at a crafts fair in Casper.  They had three floors with crafts and Christmas goodies.  It was fun noting how many of the items had a western theme.

Sister Smart at Craft Fair

This will have to do for this week.  Our mission is still special.  We have recently been asked to help the Elder and Sisters here with their family history. We think this will be fun.

We want to congratulate Sarah on learning to ride her bike this past week.😍  We also want to congratulate Austyn (AJ) on turning 16 and on surviving the extraction of two of her wisdom teeth.  Great way to celebrate a birthday!😕

Until next week,

Grandma & Grandpa, Mom & Dad, Sister & Elder Smart, Annie & Paul

It Is Cold and Windy! #27

Most of the week has been very cold with high winds, ranging from 30 miles an hour to 90 miles per hour.

We have been busy but not overwhelmed.  We worked in the office doing assignment schedules, Sacrament programs, mission history, finances and the monthly newsletter.  We had our turn on Ra Ra (cleaning toilets) this week and spent time in the visitors' center.  The number of visitors has slowed down a lot, but we still get to visit and share with many wonderful people that come to see this sacred spot. 

Friday was our prep day.  We went to Casper and helped a former missionary couple paint the ceilings in their new home.  The Maxfields are the couple that used to live in the apaprtment we now live in.  We worked with the Taylor's and painted ceilings.  We also had lunch at the Pizza Ranch and got our grocery shopping done.

Grandpa the painter

Painting the kitchen ceiling

Saturday was reenactment day.  November 4th is when the Martin Company crossed the Sweetwater River to get to the cove for some protection.  It was 6 degrees below zero that day.  We had 141 people come to cross through  the Sweetwater River and walk to Martin's Cove.  It was cold and windy, but those that trekked were glad they came.  If you can believe it, many of these trekkers were from Erda, near Tooele.

Trekkers starting on their reenactment trek

We are so blessed to be here.  We love the spirit that is present and we are so grateful to have wonderful missionaries to work with and touch our lives.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to Sara Stagg 5 years old on Monday and Austyn Cherrington, sweet 16 on Thursday.

We love all of you and miss you,

Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Paul and Annie,  Elder and Sister Smart

Grandpa Watching the Spoken Word After Church 

Sharing a Thought at Correlation Meeting