Tuesday October 7

Bonnie: Not too much going on today. Bob helped to fix a water problem and I played with Reni at the park. I did some wash and we went to Walmart. We had pizza for dinner and that was about it.It was a nice, low-key kind of a day. One of the best things was that I heard from one of my grand-daughters that she is now Student Body President. What awesome news!

Bob: As Bonnie said, a low-key day. Almost like a day of fishing, but without a pole!! Did manage a one hour bike ride this morning and avoided the steep hills. Got the oil and filter so I could change it on the truck. Stopped off at a Chevrolet dealer before I changed the oil to ask him about the message on the truck's information system that says "Oil has 53% life remaining". He explained to me that there are many, many sensors on the newer vehicles that contribute information so you will know when to change the oil. He said to keep driving and wait till it says "change the oil". However, he cautioned, that I should check the oil level occasionally. Already did that this morning and it is at the "full" mark. So I don't have to change oil for a while yet. I did change it in Canada, but way too soon as there was over 50% life still remaining.
Another tender mercy came our way today. Sunday I emailed Patsy Jakob, Temiskaming Branch President's wife, and asked her if they had received any snow. She wrote back today and said they had not, but she needed to share something with us. She said that the other night she, Karl, Mason and Summer were sitting in the living room when, Daisy, their pet dog, began to bark. She said that the first thing Summer said was, "it's Bon (not misspelled) and Bonnie". Patsy said the kids still ask why we don't stop anymore. Made both Bonnie and I feel a little sad that we don't see them like we used to.

Monday - October 6

Bonnie:  Today we spent most of the day at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.  There is so much there it would be hard to describe all of it.  How horrific was the Nazi Regime!  In one place there was a huge  pile of shoes of those gassed in the concentration camps. There was the explanation of how Hitler came to power. Unfortunately, it seems the United States did not respond to these atrocities soon enough. There was a boxcar where often as many as 100 men, women, and children were put to be transferred to the concentration camps.  After seeing all the horror, we learned about some of the heroes.  We saw one of the Danish water-crafts that took stow away Jews to Sweden and also about other countries that helped Jews escape.  I like how it ended, in the Hall of Remembrance.  It is circular and little lighted candles are all around the room, with one large candle in the center in remembrance of those who died.
We didn't have time to eat and got home about 7:00.  Thankfully, Misty had dinner waiting for us. After that we had a great Family Home Evening with ice cream for the treat.  A very good way to end the day.

Bob: It is hard to imagine man being that cruel to his fellow man. I felt so depressed after spending all afternoon in the museum. I would hope this kind of cruelty would never again be on this earth.
Below are pictures of some visitors we had while watching conference yesterday.

Part the 30 plus visitors that wandered by for conference!!

Sunday - October 5

Bob: We awoke at 8:00 today. Did my stretching and finally started on my bike ride at 9:20. I have mapped out a new route today and I'm determined not to get lost. After 40 minutes I arrived at the round about I was riding to. It was at this point yesterday that I realized I was on the wrong road. Today I am coming from the opposite direction and it is where I want to be. Took me another 25 minutes to get home. Thankfully I did not have to climb the big hill today. Now it's time for breakfast and pills.

Bonnie: Conference has been wonderful.  How I love our prophet, President Monson.  And the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was great as always.
I don't have much to report today other than that today my six-year old grandson whispered to me that he was growing a mustache, as he showed me the corners of his upper lip.  Sure enough it looked like he might be right.  So, I asked my 11-year old grandson if he was growing a mustache, too, and he said yes as he showed me his upper lip. Sure enough, I could see a faint dark line across his upper lip. I don't know if this is a Christensen trait or an Ellis trait. They both seem to be rather young, don't you think? I've decided to call them the mustache brothers!

Saturday - October 4

Bob: Can't believe it, but we slept in till 9:15 this morning. We did go to bed late--about midnight, and were awakened when the soft water system flushed. What a noise! Sounded like fire hoses were spraying.
I went for a bike ride after getting up. I ended up getting lost and had to back-track a couple of miles. Thankfully there wasn't another big hill to climb. The terrain is mostly rolling without much flat land. You continuously go up and down. Earlier there was one big hill to climb, but thankfully it wasn't a long climb like Ohio route 536 that I did in New Martinsville. I have mapped out another route tomorrow so I won't have to climb that big hill. I get to go down it tomorrow!!
Highlight of the day was General Conference. Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve and  Elder Davies of the Presiding Bishopbric gave excellent talks on caring for the poor and the needy. Also, Elder Cook gave a great talk tonight in Priesthood session on decisions and choices. Hope my grandchildren were listening, especially those planning on missions. He made the point that you just don't show up for your mission. Much work needs to be done to get yourself ready.
In between the morning and afternoon sessions of conference Bonnie and I went to Walmart and Costco to get some donuts and muffins for everyone. After the Priesthood session Dan and I stopped and picked up 3 lbs. of bacon. We'll be having bacon and eggs pretty soon. Dan made an avocado omelet for me this morning after the bike ride. Delicious!!

Friday October 3

Bob: Went for a short walk with Bonnie this morning. Mostly rested today. Helped Misty put up a track in the girl's room to hang curtains from. Bonnie and I baby sat the kids while Dan and Misty went out for the evening. Had a rousing game of Mexican Train with Katie and Ammon.
Pictures of Daphne and Jon during their horseback riding lessons are below.

Daphne

Jon

Bonnie;  Chickens are funny animals!  You should have seen Bob, Sarah and Michael try to get Buster, one of the roosters, into the pen tonight.  The chickens headed to the pen about 6:45 or so, but Buster couldn't seem to find the opening. He got frustrated and took off under some bushes by the garage. Finally, Sarah and Michael surrounded him and Sarah managed to scoop him up and carry him to the pen. I don't know how good I'd be at raising chickens. Misty and Dan care for about 30 of them.  I really admire them for doing it.  I must admit they make good soup!
When we finally got downstairs to our room we found a beautiful looking picture colored by Sarah. She wants us to frame it, so that will happen as soon as we get home.

Thursday - October 2

Bob: Got up and took another long walk this morning. We left Chris and Suzy's just before 11:00 and drove overland to Gettysburg. It was much faster getting to Gettysburg this way instead of going to Chambersburg on the freeway and then to Gettysburg. We decided to do the AUTO tour today. I wanted to get some pictures of some of the monuments our tour guide talked about on Tuesday when we were there. Started the tour just before noon and we didn't get back to the Visitors Center until almost 3:00. When we finished there we headed overland to Misty's and got there about 4:30. Tonight was Serenity's birthday dinner so everyone had a good time telling her what they liked about her and what they wanted for her in the future.

Bonnie:  I think I must be the luckiest person in the world!  Bob and I are free to spend our time how we want and right now we are here with family we love, seeing wonderful historic places.  We love Gettysburg.  There is so much to learn there.  And this next week we will be seeing more historic places in Washington DC and Philadelphia.  More on that later, of course.
Misty has us using Katie's bedroom in the basement, which will be perfect for us  We have our own bathroom and closet.  Even though the room is unfinished it will do very well.
May the Lord's blessings be with you all!

Eternal Flame at Gettysburg

(Combined North and South Monument dedicated in 1938 by Franklin D. Roosevelt)

This is the Virginia Monument. Robert E. Lee is sitting on his horse Traveller.

Union General George Meade at Gettysburg on his horse Old Baldy

(He was the Union head man, who received command 3 days before the Gettysburg battle began)

Wednesday - October 1

Bob: Went for a long walk this morning with Bonnie. Later in the morning we went to Chambersburg and got a new phone. The phone cost 25.99 at Target plus tax. The same phone at the AT&T store cost 55.xx plus tax. Needless to say we got it at Target and had AT&T activate it. Spent the rest of the day with the grand-kids.

Bonnie: We've had a fun day with the grand-kids.  Since tonight was a Daddy-Daughter Date for Daphne and Young Womens for Evie, Bob and I took Jonathan to the playground and then for ice cream.  Jonathan helped us find the Italian Ice place he wanted us to go to. I gave each of the kids "snuggy-bugs" and good-night hugs.  It's hard to say good-bye when I see them so seldom.