The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

I asked Stan what he would call this week...

thus the title.

It has been a wonderful week...

But my back adjustments triggered my vertigo...

thus the worst of times.

It hasn't been as bad as it was in 1989-

But it has been pretty debilitating.

I am glad we don't have to go into the office every day that would be...

Well probably impossible.

The Lord has blessed me and we are doing well.

Alvarez Family Chiropractic.

 It is a very charming old home.

 Andrew is the receptionist...

He is an amazing guy.

Dustin and Noah...

 They were going door to door asking if we had any work...

We invited them in.

Dustin on the left came in several times for a water...apples and bananas.
(reminds me of someone else...could it be Dylan?)

I helped them print up flyers...

But the ladies at the office wouldn't let them 'solicit'.

They came back pretty dejected.

Stan went to visit with Dustin's dad about cub scouts.

His dad thought that would be great.

Noah is a cousin and he lives about two miles away.

Maybe after Dustin goes to cub scouts he will get Noah to Scouts.

They all meet on Tuesday night.

Elder Haack was on exchange Tuesday and was working with Elder Moultrie.

 They came over to 'plan'...

it is a good thing or Elder Haack would have missed Leadership Training meeting this week.

Elder Moultrie Brother Lewis (ward mission leader) and the Campbell's.

Tuesday night we had a correlation meeting

Elder Squires was with Elder Bingham 

Elder Haack took our picture.

 This is Lake Monroe...

 It is connected by the St John's river to the Ocean

 Port of Sanford is on this Lake.

We cross over St John's river and Lake Monroe on I-4 when we go to the temple.

There was a couple terrible tornado's a few years back.

There are a lot of signs of what it did.

Below is just one field of goats.  They graze them on the growth...

There is a lot of feed for goats.

Elder Fielding is training Elder Waite.

They went to Leadership Training Meeting Wednesday and Thursday.

They stopped by on their way back up to Bunnel...

they hadn't eaten...

We couldn't let them go home hungry...

So we went back to Main Street Grill.

(I think it is Elder Campbell's favorite place to eat).

Amy...He is doing really great!

Pioneer Day...

 Deland 1 & 2 just went on a hand cart trek last week

So they were ready to put on a great celebration...

They had a pancake breakfast with home made butter they churned by shaking cream in jars...

(notice an open fire and grill)

 This sister knew EVERYTHING about plants and uses for them...

Everything from eating medicinal fabric etc.

It was so interesting.

Stick pulling.

 Black Powder Gun...

It made a HUGE sound...

There were two police who drove through the parking lot...

They saw a 'peaceful' gathering and  just kept driving.

 

Brother Loughmiller is cousins to the Loughmillers in Malta.

Home Made Stilts

 This guy couldn't be out done by Stan, but he had to have assistants.

Elder Haack

 Elder Campbell and Bingham

distant cousins...

 Bishop Hunter 1st Ward sees that the start is on an equal basis.

They were about tied in this pull.

Opps...Elder Haack

 We learned how to braid rugs...

If families wanted lunch they were to bring their own...

But I invited the missionaries here (we are almost at the church).

But when they got here they said no one was eating at the church...

it was just to hot. (It still isn't as hot as in Orlando)

We visited our one investigator Tuesday.
She is so amazing.
BUT she hadn't yet told her husband about visiting with the 'Mormon' missionaries.
He knows she has a 'church a month' and doesn't really take her seriously.
Actually she hasn't had that many churches but she is unsettled in her faith and is looking for the truth.
She is having surgery for gall stones Monday so called Saturday morning to request a Priesthood blessing.
We had told her about Priesthood blessings and so the request.
Saturday morning she also told her husband about her studies with the Mormon missionaries.
He was upset that she was afraid to tell him.
Well we met him.  He has Grandpa Moore's eyes.
What isn't to love about this guy.
We ended up visiting about 3 hours.
We shouldn't do that but they were so hungry to visit.
Stan did give her a blessing of peace and comfort.
She had been Christian Science growing up so hasn't had much to do with the medical profession.
She came to church Sunday morning.
She was quite weak from not eating much so went home after Sacrament meeting.
She was so excited about the peace she felt at this point and thanked Elder Campbell for the blessing.
He of course let her know where that blessing came from.
Not him but the Lord.
She said we could have a picture but didn't want me to take it.
She has one she wants to send me so when she does that she said I could post it.

We visited a wonderful family tonight.  She is a member he is not.  She is the Compassionate Service Leader.  He comes to church each week participates and they have scripture study morning and night.  They home school. They are remodeling a big home as they live in it. There are three little girls and a little boy.  The girls 7 and under each have their own business.  Bunnys - Selling Orangade from their orange trees and collecting cans.  Their parents are the employees.  They are teaching them great business skills as they grow their little businesses. Stan and I had little people all over us and it was great. 

My Chiropractor also so asked me a lot of questions about 'my' faith.
He does have a book of Mormon now.
 

A family of Sand Cranes...

they are at the school behind our apartment complex.

These guys are so beautiful and so graceful in their movements.

Florida skies are not as big in Deland.

The trees are older and bigger and we are down the 'hill' in the complex with big trees all around.

 But they are still very amazing to me.

 The Deland church spire.

No this isn't Florida...

It is up Black Pine Mountain Juniper Idaho. 

It has been a difficult week and pictures like the above and others that have come our way have lingered a little longer with me then I should have let them.
I have faith that the Lord IS in control.
I know that He is aware of our needs and desires.
I am so grateful for all we have and especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I was reading the Conference talk by Elder Oaks I had time to ponder his words...

'Desires dictate our priorities,
priorities shape our choices,
and choices determine our actions.

The desires we act on determine...
our changing,
our achieving,
and our becoming.