Snowshoeing around McIntosh Pond

We had a big winter storm last Saturday Jan 10th. So Ruby and I borrowed the landlords snowshoes and went for a walk around McIntosh Pond. Everything was clean, white and beautiful. We saw many deer tracks in the snow and had a great time till the sun started going down.

This is a picture of the entrance to McIntosh Pond which shows snow all the way up to the fence.

The ice storm, which has bent these small trees to the ground, from a couple week before Christmas did a lot of damage to the trees and many people lost power for several days. We were lucky as we only lost power for 4 days. Nearby in New Hampshire some people were with out power for 3-1/2 weeks. So we felt lucky even though it was not fun being without running water.

As always, Ruby, looks good even in snowshoes and big coat. The sun was out and the weather was very nice. This was taken on Saturday and that night we had another foot of snow which continued through most of Sunday. So church was cancelled. Later, Sunday afternoon our landlord, Stewart, knocked on the door and wanted company snowshoeing. So I headed out with him for another couple of miles. This time we took sleds with us and rode them down the hill which was a lot of fun.

This is an over view of the things we are doing on our mission here in Vermont.

The Lamb's, Sanford's and (us) the Jensen's spend most of our days serving at the Joseph Birthplace Memorial. We are called the FM (Facilities Management) Group and our primary assignment is to assist in the preservation of Church owned facilities within the mission. We have all been called to serve for 18 months. We, as a group, strive to keep the sacred grounds at the Memorial as beautiful as possible. It is our tribute to Joseph Smith as well as giving the many visitors to the grounds (about 30 thousand) a peaceful, lovely place to feel the spirit of our Heavenly Father.
We begin our day at 8 AM with a spiritual thought and prayer around a large table with Tim Packard and Gene Hill who are paid church employees. We talk about what needs to be done for the day.





In early Spring, the Elders are usually working together tree cutting and trimming, clearing around the ponds, taking up the boardwalk (wooden forms which cover the slate around the monument in winter, to protect and help with slippery conditions) and much more. The Sisters are getting the many gardens ready for planting, and raking, raking and more raking. We planted over 4000 flowers, with some help from the Elders, the first of June (after fear of last frost). We wanted to get them in as soon as possible, because many guests had already started to visit the Monument.

All Summer we care for "our baby's" and try to keep them picture perfect by weeding and deadheading nearly everyday. We fertilize and transplant, roll in the dirt, and even break fingernails and get bee stings for our plants. Fall is a busy and hard season for us. We must pull many plants that we have cared for all summer. It is probably the hardest thing we have to do, because most are still looking pretty good. We did leave some that could survive cooler weather, this year. Then it is time for planting the over 600 Chrysanthemums. Last week, all the flowers had to come out except for the mums and perennial plants, which had to be cut down. Right now the mums are looking pretty sad because of the freezing temperatures we have had. We will have to pull most of them next week. It is hard for us to see all our brightly colored flowers gone and just the dirt surrounding the monument and around the grounds.
Winter~ We check everyone of the 100 thousand Christmas lights, to make sure they work before going up on tall trees, bushes, fences and house tops. The Elders work from a cherry-piker lift to hang lights in high places. The Sisters put the lights on the fences, small trees and bushes around the property. About 15 thousand visitors come to see the Christmas lights and live Nativity each year. The Christmas lights start to come down after New Years Day. The Sisters work where they can to help take them down. Then as the Elders bring the wet, cold, strings in, we retest the 100 thousand lights, and package them up for the next year. Winter is long, so we organize and clean the shop, plan gardens for the next spring, paint, etc. The Elders make picnic tables, cut down trees, and work on equipment. But most of all, they do a lot of snow removal. They shovel the walks around the monument everyday, just in case someone comes to visit. They also travel to chapels around the mission to remove snow from the rooftops of chapels. There are always special projects to do around the mission as well. "Road trips" as we call them. Delivering supplies, landscaping, weeding, laying granite around the flower beds at Montpelier and inventory of all the chapels, to name a few. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to be in the service of our Heavenly Father. We are grateful and happy that we can give back to Him who has given us so much. We enjoy being a part of the team who are making the grounds a beautiful spot for visitors to come and partake of the wonderful spirit at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial.

We spent Saturday in Woodstock. It was Wassail Weekend, with a winter parade. It was the most beautiful parade we had ever seen. Down the street came the most magnificent horses decked out in Christmas holly, bells, & ribbons, etc. with riders & carolers in period costume.

We also went to the Home Tour of several historic homes, beautifully decorated with holiday decor. We had a really fun day ending with a good meal at Bentley's.

Due to a bad ice storm, our power was out for two days last weekend. The worse thing was, we could not take a shower or use the toilet, because we have a pump for water. Our apt. got kind of cool and had to go to bed early. We where so glad when it finally came back on! There are still several thousand homes without power in nearby towns.

We had the privilege of helping at new member lesson for a newly baptized couple, the Olado's. The former bishop of the Ward & his wife, the Cass's invited us to a nice dinner, with the lesson after. The Olado's have a wonderful spirit and will be a great addition to the Ward. We are excited for them.

Another fun experience we have had recently, is going to the Fennie's for their annual missionary dinner (Vorwaller's, Mckinnon's, Sanford's & us) . Every year for the last 8 years, or so, they have had a nice dinner for the senior missionaries around the Christmas season. Sister Fennie has had 2 serious surgeries in the past few months, because of a brain aneurysm. She is truly a great inspiration for us all, and has a beautiful singing voice! They have 3 great kids @ 7, 11 & 12.

May the spirit of Christmas stay with us all year round!
We are so grateful for this time of the year. Grateful for the birth of our Savior, and His atonement for each of us. Grateful for loving family and great friends. Thankful the joy of life and living at this time, and in this country. We are truly blessed!

Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial Christmas 2008

Nephi, as the innkeeper in white robe, at the live Nativity. Elder Vorwaller took these 3 photos. Night pictures are very difficult. We all tryed to get one of the actual Nativity wtih baby Jesus, but none turned out.

This is a shot is of the front gate.

Bridge all made out of pipe and lights.

This a a shot of the new Star that Elder Lamb made just as you come up the lane to the Memorial.

Photoof the Memorial with the visitor center on the right and the residence where the director lives on the left. Our landlord and his wife walked up to the memorial and took these pictures of the lights that we were privileged to put up this year. In all there are some 100,000 lights and it took us almost a month to put them all up. We rented a man lift and so at times were 60 feet in the air putting lights in the tops of tree. Not sure how I was able to be that high as heights are not my thing. They really turn out great. Thanks Stewart for the pictures.

Ruby's new friends

It's the day after Thanksgiving and the animals have arrived for the live Nativity. Each year at the Memorial, there is a special lighting ceremony. Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving day, it includes a live Nativity with a donkey and two sheep, inn keeper, towns people, Mary and Joseph, Shepard's, angels, etc. and the three Wise Men. Everything went off perfectly and the lights even came on without throwing a breaker. On the second night I played the Inn Keeper. Ruby greeted and handed out pass-along-cards about the Memorial to the visitors. The first night we had 300 people and the second night about 175. The weather was cold but no wind or snow. I will post pictures of the many lights later. Our camera will not take night photos well.

Ruby is making new friend and enjoyed the two sheep. They were special guests for two days and a big hit with all the visitors.

Ruby was especially fond of Forest the donkey. I think she would have enjoyed many different pets. Forest was really good with the children as he was very friendly and enjoyed all the attention ... especially from the pretty ladies.

Sock and T-shirt sale

This weekend we went to the famous "sock sale" in Northfield with another missionary couple, the Vorwallers'. Also checked out the t-shirt sale and had a beautiful ride in the snow to Roxbury to buy a couple of sweatshirts. Great fun! We have been busy, so haven't had time to update our blog. Two weeks ago, we where pleased to have a visit from our daughter & 2 of our grandkids.
While driving them back to the airport it snowed a little, the kids being from Georgia, wanted to play in the snow...but no time.

We did a little painting. Jared painted an airplane, of course, Melissa painted an abstract for her room and Heather wanted a purple leaf?

Heather, Melissa & Jared came to visit! The weather was cold, but we still managed to see a few of the Vermont sites. Enjoyed a day at the ECHO Lake Champlain Aquarium & Science Center. Even did a little Christmas shopping.