RyRy and Kristy are here!

Well, they came and they went and we are sitting here drying our eyes and blowing our noses. We have had a wonderful visit, though, as many of you have seen from the pics Ryan posted each day. We covered a lot of ground, going from the coasts of Normandy, across the Channel and up to London. Niel and I kind of hobbled around with them, but were able to keep up. Though, I hope we didn’t hold them back too much. Kristy told me this morning that the highlight of their trip was the WHOLE day they spent in the temple with us on Saturday. We were able to help them through many of the things they participated in and they had a real spiritual experience doing sealings with the British patrons. The weather totally cooperated, too. Here are some of the pics that we took in France:

Our Ferry leaving Portsmouth (pronounced portsmuth)

 We loved our seats on the Ferry. They were front and center, and the seats reclined enough for us to fall asleep, where upon Carolee snored so loud she drowned out Niel.

 The following pictures are of Omaha Beach...Heart wrenching

Part of Omaha Beach...a tretcherous climb

Overlooking Omaha Beach from the Cemetary

American Troop grave markers. Of the several thousand buried here it only amounts to 40% of those who died. The families had the others shipped home for burial.

Part of the British Cemetary in Bayeux

Lower Omaha Beach looking toward Utah Beach

Utah Beach where the climb was steeper

Lots of German defenses

Bomb craters

Bunker built by Germans

The Germans had months to prepare

It took lots of bullets to finally take this bunker

Inside a bunker

Anglican Church used to care for the wounded soldiers--near Utah Beach

Blood stained pew from American wounded

Trees leading through the cemetery. The Americans do the upkeep.

Troops fought in this terrain after securing Utah Beach

Our first night was at this 200 year old guest house that Kristy found...Loved!

The view from our bathroom window

Stained glass depicting American Airborne troops

Going to see the tapestry of Bayeux. It was tremendous!

Niel at the Confessional

Chapel used as an aid station

Church tile damaged by mortar that didn't explode

Damaged ceiling where mortar fell through

Inside the cathedral, a salute to Allied Forces

Cathedral almost next door. When we entered the organ was playing. 

It changed the whole atmosphere

A river runs through this town

French shopping cart (trolley)

I’ll put our days in England on the next blog. Just as soon as I can get them off the camera.

Oh, and by the way, Niel passed his driving examine! WooHoo! That was about the most stressful thing he has done so far on this mission. Besides having to absorb a tremendous amount of knowledge about his car, how to drive it, the road signs etc., and first-aid as well. It was costly in terms of cash as well. But it is over and he has his official UK driver’s license. 

Bewl Water fishing after passing the driving exam!!

We will be working all the way through Saturday, finishing about 2:30 pm and then we will be able to watch the Saturday morning session of General Conference live!  We will be watching conference sessions seven hours behind you, into the night. Maybe, we will wake up to watch. Conference is something that we look forward to with great anticipation. Niel will be at the computer, doing a little tax work and I will be listening whilst doing some hand work.  Hope you all will enjoy it as much as we will. 

General Conference April 2014

Happy Birthday to Beckie. We couldn’t reach her in person. Hope it was a good one. Love and best wishes to you, girl.

Love and best wishes to all. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts, we need them.

Cheerio, Niel (Grumpa) and Carolee (Granny)