Warm and Sunny!

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday was a busy day. First thing in the morning I baked oatmeal cookies to take to Kay and Randy Kari. They share boxes of oatmeal with us so I like to return the favor with a plate of cookies once in awhile.

Kay loves to crochet and is very very good at it. Here she is showing off her ducks inside eggs for Easter. She has taught several of us Relief Society sisters to crochet but I can't even hope to match her level of skill and talent.

While Elder Lindsey did some chores around the motorhome I went into the church and put the last quilt on. After lunch I was able to get it tied and ready for Wanda to bind it.

This is the last baby quilt, all I have left now is to finish the blankets. 

This one is for Annette's daughter Heaven.

In the late afternoon Elder Lindsey and I ran a couple of errands in Mission then went to Subway for an early dinner before heading to Okcreek to watch TJ and Jase Allen play basketball. There were two games the first for the 3rd, through 5th grade boys and the second for the 6th through 8th grade boys. Unfortunately both teams lost their games but they were fun and the boys played hard and the sportsmanship shown by both schools was excellent. 

President and Sister Allen with Jase.

TJ was a scrappy player, always on the move. I thought he did as great job handling the ball.

The school gave parents roses and the boys gave one to Sister Bush and I too.

One thing we'd never seen before was that before the National Anthem was played the Lakota Flag Anthem was played. The reservation itself is a Sovereign Nation inside the boundaries of the United States. In some ways it's a bit like living in another country with traditions that are different than we are used to. It has been a wonderful adventure to be able to immerse ourselves in a different culture and learn different traditions.

This is one example of the Lakota Flag

Wednesday we had last minute cancellations from our regular Addiction Recovery participants so we called the Barker family and Annette and her girls and we all had a fun lunch together at the church.

I spent much of the week working on baby blankets and got the last one pieced on Friday afternoon. Next week I will back them and our humanitarian project will be completed. 

Thursday evening we took soup and rolls to the wake for Annette and Angel's father. The Native tradition for funerals is to have a wake for one or two days before the actual funeral where family and friends gather to pay their respects. In the evening they have short programs and after the services they have a luncheon that often includes buffalo stew, bologna sandwiches and macaroni salad. No funeral potatoes I'm sorry to say. After the service is also when they give away items to close family and friends. Among the things given are beautiful  handmade star quilts.  Because I wasn't feeling well Thursday and Friday we didn't stay for the evening services. 

Friday evening President Gilson and Wyatt spent some time visiting with us while Averie attended Rogan Barker's birthday party in the church. Wyatt was really excited when he saw himself in the closet door mirrors. 

Saturday and Sunday was District Conference in Pierre. Because this is a farming area conferences are not held every six months but instead are held in March before planting and in November after the harvest. We went up in the early afternoon to do some shopping at Walmart and to explore the park next to the Missouri River. We saw some beautiful scenery and some South Dakota history including a restored version of the first schoolhouse in Pierre.

The mighty Missouri.

The railroad bridge across the Missouri connecting Pierre to Fort Pierre.

The first school house in Pierre.

Elder Lindsey taking in the river view.

Averie and Jack...I sure do love these kiddos!

Saturday before the first season of  conference we met the Gilson family for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. We had good food and great company and as you can see from the picture the kids and I had a great time!

 Conference was great. We received good counsel and training from our leaders. Elder Lindsey and I are excited to follow the growth of the Pierre District as it grows into the Pierre Stake. Sunday after conference we drove home enjoying the beautiful weather. We BBQd a steak for dinner and had a relaxing afternoon.

We went from snow on the ground last week to high fire danger this week. It was 80 degrees today but tomorrow is projected to be back down into the 50's  The weather here changes so quickly we can hardly keep up so stay tuned! We count as a tender mercy that this winter has been a fairly mild one with temperatures not falling lower than 10 below zero when 35 below is often common. I remember when our friends at Martin's Cove expressed great concern about us living in our motorhome through the South Dakota winter and I felt great peace knowing Heavenly Father would help us accomplish what he asked us to do.

We love you all,
Elder and Sister Lindsey

Fry Bread/Sloppy Joe's and Meet the Mormons

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday we started another Temple Preparation class for a Sister who plans to take out her endowments in the Bismarck Temple in April. We love Maxine and are so happy for her that she is taking this important step in her progression in the Gospel.

Tuesday the much touted storm arrived. Snow in South Dakota is strange. Big piles 18 inches deep in some areas and hardly anything in others because the wind blows all the snow as it's falling up against something so around the motorhome and the church we step over piles but on the wide expanse of the lawn you have almost nothing. It was REALLY cold though, in the teens with the wind chill making it sub zero.

For the 13 weeks we have been having our ARP classes I have been developing and perfecting my fry bread recipe and I finally have the recipe and process that I'm going to stick with. It got high approval ratings at lunch on Wednesday...actually no ones ever complained about any of the versions but I think this one is the best. I'm now going to share my recipe and my process with you.

When I first started 13 weeks ago I used a very basic recipe that was said to be original to the Natives. Then my Native friends said no we add this and that and we like it much better. That's what I did added a bit of this and that and I have to agree it is better.

Fry Bread
4C all purpose flour
2T baking powder
2ts salt
2T quick acting yeast
1/2C sugar
1/2C powdered milk

Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add 2 cups of hot tap water and mix. Then add up to 1/2 cup additional hot tap water until you have a firm but somewhat sticky dough. Oil your hands and knead the dough in the bowl for a minute or two. Cover with a clean cloth and set aside to raise anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

After the dough has risen oil your hands and take 2 1/2 to 3 oz pieces and roll them into a ball. With a well oiled rolling pin roll the piece out quite thin and use a butter knife to make a 1 inch slit in the center (this helps with even cooking of the centers). Drop the pieces into hot oil. I melt my Crisco on high heat and then turn the burner down to medium high for the remainder of the cooking time. If your oil is too hot the outside will be too dark and the inside will be doughy. You will need to add oil to your hands and rolling pin throughout this process to keep the dough from sticking

Serve warm with butter and honey or jam or use them as the base for your Indian Tacos. This recipe makes about 17 good size pieces.

My version of the perfect piece of fry bread.

The first three ingredients plus the hot water are the only things called for in the original Native recipe I first tried.

Friday was District Meeting and this week all the Missionaries came to Rosebud including the Zone Leaders so Elder Lindsey and I made homemade sloppy joe's and potato salad doing most of the prep work on Thursday. Elder and Sister Olsen came over from Chamberlain and brought ice cream and cookies for dessert. We had 13 of us around the table and Elder Hildreth did a great job of teaching and leading a discussion on helping investigators learn how to receive revelation from the book of Mormon.

Pierre District Meeting.

Friday evening we had a movie night at the church. We had purchased and downloaded a copy of Meet the Mormons to our computer and were able to connect it to a projector and show it. The Elders took flyers out as they tracked this week inviting people to come and we had a good crowd. Most of our active Branch members and 20 to 30 non members. We served popcorn and soda and others brought candy and treats so we had the whole movie experience. We received good feedback after the movie. It felt nice to know that we were able to expose more of the people of this area to positive things about the Church and it's people.

Sunday in Sacrament Meeting the four Aaronic Priesthood holders in the Branch each took a different part of the fourth article of faith to talk about. They all did a good job and then President Gilson tied it all together with some nice closing remarks. In a Branch the size of ours the members get frequent opportunities to talk in Sacrament meeting.

Our friends Annette and Angel lost their father last night and we would ask that you remember their family in your prayers. They were sitting a vigil at the hospital today so we took lunch over to them. Since we were going to the Barker's for dinner I mixed up a batch of rolls and steamed some broccoli. We had a great meal and visit. Savannah and I are going to miss each other a lot! She enjoyed the broccoli but the highlight was the chocolate fudge lava cake and ice cream Laura made for dessert.

We went from winter to spring in the blink of an eye. Tuesday we had snow and by Friday the temperature was in the 50's and today was beautiful. This week is supposed to be lovely and we are more than ready for the warmer days ahead.

Our love and prayers to each of you.
Elder and Sister Lindsey

This and That

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday was supposed to be a fairly quiet day but instead we were reminded of John Cooper and his saying "we can't expect everything to always go smoothly." We were having lunch when we lost all power to the motor home. When the temperature outside is cold that quickly becomes the temperature inside a motor home when you have no power. After firing up the generator Elder Lindsey started checking all the breakers. When he found no problems there he went to the power cord itself and found that it was fried at the connectors...yes fried. We headed into Mission to try to find a new 30 amp plugs but alas no one had what we needed so we headed back home and Elder Lindsey cut off the damaged plugs and spliced the two power cords together. With power back up and running he then ordered two new plugs on line.

Before our unexpected issues we visited our friend Kay and she showed us her latest crocheting projects and donated a king size flannel sheet set to our blanket making projects. She also supplied us with boxes of oatmeal and I promised some cookies on our next visit. When we got home we got the quilt frames out of the shed and Elder Lindsey cut us a new board to replace one that had been damaged. Then while Elder Lindsey did a temporary repair of our electrical problems I set up the quilt for Tuesday's Relief Society activity and cleaned the building.

Ready to be tied.

Tuesday was Relief Society. We got the quilt tied, made shorting candles for our emergency storage (said to burn 100 hours) ate a lot of great food and enjoyed visiting and getting to know each other better.

Patty, Wanda and Lindsey showing off their quilt tying skills.

Angel working on her candle.

Today on Facebook a young man who I worked with at LDS Food Services wrote about "tender mercies." His post caused me to reflect on a sweet tender mercy we have had since coming to Rosebud. The Barker family has opened their home to us to do our laundry every week since we arrived here. The one week Sister Barker was out of town Sister Gilson had us over to their house to do laundry. This has been a financial savings of at least $10 a week but more importantly it has given us (me especially) an opportunity to know these wonderful women and their sweet children on a more personal level. We consider laundry on Tuesday's as our weekly tender mercy.

Wednesday we woke up to very cold temperatures and some snow but it didn't dampen anyones enthusiasm for our ARP class and lunch. Because of the weather school let out early so we had a couple little ones join us. They sat at the lunch table and colored quietly while we held our class then joined us for lunch.

Angel and me with Memphis and Heaven heading out in the snow!

Thursday dawned clear and VERY cold. Laura and Annette picked me up and we went to Maxine's and had our Visiting teaching lesson. Maxine was watching her brand new (three weeks old) grandson so I got some baby holding time which I love. Elder Lindsey and I then took Annette home and went out to lunch at Subway. 

Thursday evening our little group of ladies who are doing a 30 day program to live a more Christ centered life met. I love these ladies and the two hours we spend together talking about our lives and how we can improve by focusing on our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ is the highlight of my week. It doesn't hurt that we have chocolate in some form either!

Friday Patty Bush and I did a Visiting teaching visit to Emily Two Eagle. I love the Visiting teaching message this month. Jesus Christ;living a sinless life. He is the only mortal to have done so and yet because he did we, through repentance on our part and the atonement on his can become sinless. It is wonderfully amazing to me. 

Thursday and Friday afternoon we worked on quilts. On Thursday Elder Lindsey and I tied a quilt and on Friday we put together a twin size quilt for Annette's new foster son and then got it tied. We then treated ourselves to a pizza from the only store in Rosebud. It was really good! Annette brought the kids over for a visit and everyone helped us polish off the pizza. Hayden was excited when we told him the quilt we were working on would be his.

Thursday's quilt.

Saturday the last part arrived in the mail for our electrical system repairs so Elder Lindsey was able to get everything fixed. I was able to finish the new quilt and make rolls to take to the Barkers for dinner.

Hayden's new quilt.

The Barkers invited us along with Wanda (head ER nurse at the hospital) and Doctor Jaatoul who is a family practice physician  from Salt Lake City who comes to Rosebud two weeks out of every month to work at the hospital here. Both ladies are single and have had very interesting careers. We had so much fun. The food as always was delicious but sitting around the table visiting, telling stories and laughing felt great. Savannah had dinner sitting on my lap.

Savannah loves to hang with Sister Lindsey around the table because I feed her things her mother never would! She loved the cake, especially the frosting (a girl after my own heart).

The time is flying by. March 1st already. It was our last Fast Sunday here in Rosebud. Elder Lindsey took the opportunity to bear his testimony to our friends here who as he said "will always be in our hearts and minds."

We got an email from our friends at Martin's Cove today. We have only 34 couples committed to serving this coming season. We need 60. Last year we had 58 and we were busy all the time. Anybody out there feel an urge to get away from home this Spring and Summer? See the Bishop and start the paperwork. We need YOU!

We love you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Pies/Rolls and Meetings

Dear Family and Friends,

Much of what we do every week is the same as the week before and for that reason I don't always talk about everything we do every week because my goal is to not bore you to tears. I also don't want you to think on any given week that we only do what you read about lest you think "wow, that wasn't a very busy week." Some weeks are more crowded than others but every Sunday we look back and think where did the time go and how has another week passed us by already.

This week at our ARP meeting we again had someone new join us. The word is getting out and we have people who have done the 12 Step Program but who like the added benefit of our faith based 12 steps joining us. We served Zuppa Toscana soup and breadsticks for lunch. Elder Lindsey has perfected a good breadstick recipe and one of the men asked for the soup recipe so we felt lunch was a success.

Friday we attended District Meeting in Winner. Elder Hildreth is our new District Leader and he did a great job training and leading the meeting. One of the things we talked about is what the Elders referred to as our motto in Rosebud (one I came up with) which is when working on the Reservation we have no expectations but we have hope. I explained that I came up with this because I realized that when I had expectations of people and the things they do or don't do I will always experience disappointment which makes it harder to love unconditionally.  On the other hand if I have hope for the people we work with and teach I will always be able to love them no matter what their behavior is.

Elders Byron and Hildreth our Rosebud Elders.

On our way home from Winner we stopped in Oak Creek and took a couple of pictures.

This is a pretty little Episcopal Church just off the highway.

This monument from WW1 stands just outside the church in the picture above.

Saturday was a cold and snowy day so we stayed home and passed the time preparing for Sunday. Elder Lindsey baked four pies for potluck after church on Sunday.

2 Lemon Meringue a Cherry and a Peach

He even does his own dishes...who knew!

I made rolls again but this time after letting the dough rise I punched it down and covered it and put it into the refrigerator overnight then on Sunday morning I rolled them out let them rise again and baked them fresh. They turned out great!

Yea...I'm proud!

I spent much of the day Saturday working on quilt blocks for more baby blankets. I finally got all of the flannel my friend Jan sent us cut into blocks. We will now work on putting them together and making more blankets for the hospital to give away. Elder Lindsey created a video we plan on showing next month at a Branch party.

Quilt blocks

Earlier in the week I finished two more quilts and three blankets.

It was High Council Sunday and since our speaker travels almost two hours to get to us we decided to have a potluck. We try to do them once a month. Everyone makes such good food and we have fun visiting and the children have a good time eating at their own table and playing together.

So while the cleanup was happening I was holding a couple babies (better than doing dishes) and all of a sudden I noticed I had my own little following. I felt a little like the Pied Piper!

How many babies can Sister Lindsey hold? 

We continue to have changeable weather. We had a couple days in the 50's but today our high was 12 degrees. As we look out the window though and watch the sun setting on the hills just east of us we feel blessed to be here. The Gospel is true and what a privilege it is for us to serve this  mission. 

We love you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Zone Conference & Changes

Dear Family and Friends,

So we have been in a pattern of changeable weather. Without offending anyone for being politically incorrect I would say that the weather here in South Dakota is bipolar! One day it's 57 degrees and the next day it's 17 degrees and you really just don't know what it will be until you get up in the morning. On the plus side no matter what the temperature is unless it is raining or snowing the sky is a clear beautiful blue and the air is wonderfully clean. Coming from Salt Lake City we really appreciate clean air!

On Monday we drove to Rapid City for Zone Conference. Monday afternoon we met up with the other Senior Couples in the Rapid City and Pierre Zones and went to dinner together at a Chinese restaurant. It was fun to spend time with other Senior Couples again. Rather than stay in a motel this time we stayed with Elder and Sister Forgren who are CES Missionaries assigned to one of the Stakes in Rapid City but who supervise the Seminary programs all over the mission.

After Dinner we went with the Forgren's to FHE with a group of Young Adults. We played the game Seek and enjoyed our time with them. It's a small world in that one of the Sisters had recently returned from a mission in South America and when I told her our granddaughter had recently returned from Ukraine she asked if  Kati knew her good friend who served in Ukraine by the name of Sister Sink. After texting Kati we found out that Sister Sink had been her companion in the MTC.

Elder and Sister Forgren put on a wonderful breakfast spread for all the Senior Missionaries on Tuesday morning. They were wonderful hosts and we really enjoyed our time with them.

After some great training on Tuesday morning focused on how to use Family History to spread the Gospel we headed for home. I had a meeting at 6:30pm with our ladies group that I didn't want to miss. We are doing a 30 day program to come closer to our Heavenly Father. Three of us are members and four are not and we have some wonderful discussions that I am really enjoying.

Wednesdays are always busy with our ARP group and lunch and this week I had to do my laundry since I wasn't in town on Tuesday morning.

 Wednesday night for YM and YW it was movie night. Miss Savannah helped us make popcorn!

Thursday Elder Lindsey and I made bread sticks in preparation for next weeks ARP lunch. It was our first attempt and they turned out great. Friday was clean the church and grocery shopping day.

We decided to celebrate Valentines Day by going to Valentine, Nebraska and attend the annual Bull Bash.

Bulls in pens lined the whole of Main Street.

We first went to the gun and craft show then walked Main Street checking out the bulls, farm equipment and the quilt show. We had to bundle up since the high temperature Saturday was 17 degrees. 

Valentine celebrates with hearts on their sidewalks 365 days a year!

We celebrated the day with lunch at the only Mexican restaurant in town and it was good! We decided we will always remember Valentines Day 2015 because we spent it in Valentine Nebraska!

Sunday I taught Primary, this time the Sunbeam class. We learned about prayer and I told them the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den then we colored pictures. I love these kiddos!

Starting from the left is Jack, Keaton, Dara, Heaven and Mikasia.

Annette with her two "daughters" Unique and Heaven.

Sometimes it feels like our hearts are breaking when we hear of the awful things that happen here on the reservation especially to the children. When drugs and alcohol are the guiding factors in lives the children suffer and it hurts that the only thing we can do is pray. Annette was able to do more. She is Auntie to these two girls and now she has taken them into her home to raise them in a safe and loving environment. I am so proud of her for the good and faithful life she lives. 

Annette is also a talented beader and made me this beautiful watch band for my birthday.

While in Rapid City on Monday we got word that we will be returning to Martin's Cove on March 30th to serve the last six months of our mission. It is  bitter sweet news. The sweet part is that we will once again walk the trails of our ancestors and feel of the spirit that is there and be with the missionaries we love serving with. The bitter part is leaving this little Branch and the people we love so much here in Rosebud. Lucky for us we live in SLC and most of the people here have ties there also which will make sure we see them again!

President Anderson expressed to us that the Church desperately needs more Senior Couples to serve missions. I know that at Martin's Cove right now they only have half the couples they need for this season. This mission has been one of the greatest experiences of our life together. If any of you are wondering if you should go our advice is GO! You won't regret it.

We love you all,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Service

Dear Family and Friends,

On Monday we went back to Valentine, Nebraska so Elder Lindsey could see the doctor for a follow up. I'm happy to report that she was thrilled with how much better he looked and sounded. He has continued to improve during the week and is pretty much back to his old self.

While in Valentine we stopped at a store that was going out of business and scored a killer deal on a storage ottoman and new rug for the living room.

We're loving the new look!

Wednesday's ARP class went well and everyone enjoyed beef stew and fry bread for lunch. After taking people home we stopped in Mission and picked up a few groceries. On Thursday evening the young woman we have visited with on her doorstep about six times in the last two months committed to starting the lessons so Elder Lindsey and I picked her up and brought her to the Church to meet with the Elders. While Elder Lindsey attended the lesson I met with a few Sisters who have committed to working together on a 30 day program to help us come closer to our Heavenly Father. After the missionary lesson was finished they joined us for snacks and visiting.

The weather has been all over the place. One day the high temperature was 22 degrees and by Saturday the high was in the 60's We've had the door open and are loving the warmth and sunshine. We have been working on a service project of making baby quilts and blankets using the material my friend Jan sent. When we aren't teaching this project has and will continue to keep us busy. 

Elder Lindsey cutting out quilt blocks.

I finished three blankets and one quilt this week.

Sunday Elder Lindsey and I spoke in Sacrament meeting. Elder Lindsey talked about the relationship between justice and mercy using a story involving Jesse Allen (a young man in the Branch), himself and President Gilson (Branch President). He kept the attention of the youth which is always a good thing. I spoke on the miracle of forgiveness in our lives sharing the parable of the bicycle as told by Stephen E. Robinson. If you don't know it you can Google it or find it in his book "Believing Christ."

I also taught Primary today so I took a quick picture of our Primary during sharing time.

I sure do love these kiddos!

The weather was perfect again today so we smoked baby back ribs for dinner and invited Dr. Hodnett over to share them. Dr Hodnet is an OB doctor who works at the hospital two weeks out of every month. The other two weeks he lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is a great asset to the Branch on the weeks he is here. He and Elder Lindsey often bless the Sacrament together since we presently have no young men of Priest age.

My ribs turned out great!

We love and pray for you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Blankets and Birthdays

Dear Family and Friends,

Another busy week has flown by with lots of fun things happening. On Monday Sister Busche came over in the afternoon and she and I worked on getting things set up for our Relief Society activity on Tuesday. Since Elder Lindsey was still sick she brought over some chicken noodle soup for his dinner and a skillet dinner that she and I fixed and ate in the church. We just love Sister Busche. She is always thinking of others and reaching out and sharing. She is a true example of someone who gives Christ like service.

Our friend Jan Harris had received a donation of flannel material  and she in turn donated it to us here in Rosebud. Our Relief Society activity Tuesday evening was to make baby blankets and quilts to donate to the hospital here in Rosebud. The activity was a great success. We had a large group of ladies who came, brought their sewing machines and shared their talents. We also had several young women and a sweet primary girl who tried their hand at sewing for the first time and did a wonderful job. Pictures really tell the story though...so here they are.

Jennifer Gilson laying out her blanket.

Asia, Angel and Laura hard at work.

Our youngest seamstress being taught by Wanda (head ER nurse from the hospital and a master seamstress.)

We had sisters working in every corner of the cultural hall!

Just a few of the blankets we sent to the hospital. 

As a complete surprise to me the Sisters had also planned an early birthday party. Since my birthday is on February 1st and that's Fast Sunday they thought they would completely surprise me at Relief Society...and they did!

Sister Busche made me this delicious spice cake with cream cheese frosting. 

Ryan Barker (Laura's husband) made me this wonderful brownie cheesecake. It was better than Cheesecake factory!

There were other treats and some lovely gifts and I felt very loved. These Sisters are in my heart forever. I felt like I've known them for a lifetime and I know the friendships Elder Lindsey and I have made here will last through eternity.

Wednesday after our ARP class and lunch we headed over to Barker's to show the movie "Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration" to several of our investigators. Everyone enjoyed the movie and we shared our testimony of the Prophet and of the restoration which we love to do. 

Thursday we headed to Valentine so Elder Lindsey could see the doctor. After blood work and a chest X-ray we found he had bronchitis. After leaving the clinic we headed to Shopko to pick up four prescriptions. We will go back on Monday for a recheck. Friday we took the doctors advice and Elder Lindsey rested. 

Saturday morning Elder Lindsey made two pies for my birthday dinner at the Barker's on Sunday.

Elder Lindsey is becoming a master baker!

Saturday afternoon we went to the Founders Day Powwow at the college in Mission. Pictures tell the story much better than words ever could so here they are.

The costumes are beautiful and varied but these were three of my favorites.

This is Asia, Annettes niece. She has won many awards at the Powwows. 

This is another of Annette's nieces, Dara. Even the littles ones dance.

This dance was part of the Grand Entry.

Grand Entry

I picked up this hand painted jacket at the Powwow, actually the sisters at church today said I stole it since I paid so little. I had the artist sign it for me. Happy birthday to me. It goes great with my new purse that Jim got me!

The Powwows are fascinating and we love seeing the Native Culture come alive in everyone. The dancing to the beat of the drums is beautiful and everyone from the very young to the very elderly participate. One of our favorites is the honoring of the Veterans. After they talk about their service the Vets dance around a large circle and people come out of the audience to shake their hands and then get in line behind them. It is a wonderful show of respect and gratitude.

Winter returned Saturday afternoon and we woke today to cold...really cold temperatures and several inches of snow. Church was great with strong testimonies born and lots of love shared. In the evening we went to dinner at the Barker's along with the young Elders. Sister Barker was very sweet to fix a nice Sunday dinner for my birthday. We sure love our Branch here in Rosebud. In a short time they have become like family to us.

It was wonderful to hear from kids and many grandkids for my birthday. We even got to Facetime with Hannah and Nathan who shared the exciting news that they are going to be Ordinance Workers in the Washington DC Temple. 

We love you all and you are in our prayers,

Elder and Sister Lindsey