TRIP TO IGHTHAM MOTE AND EMMETT GARDENS

Well—this is what is has come to. 

Niel stays at the flat (in bed) and I go on a really neat van excursion with some of the ladies. Only two of the husbands accompanied us, one because he was the designated driver of the van and the other came—well—just because, I guess. It was a beautiful spring day, not too hot and not too cool. The birds were singing like crazy. Did we ever tell you how beautiful the bird’s singing is here? They start before the sun even begins to make an appearance and can be found still singing and chirping away into dark of night. Some people say it’s because the temple is so well lit and they think it is still day time. Maybe. 

The place we visited is a very old Medieval Manor and has some interesting history. Sister Curley explained to us that it was one of many places in which Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife, had left her special mark during her short reign as the King’s wife. She chose the Pomegranate as her personal symbol. When the king put her aside and she was replaced by Anne Boleyn, all of her personal symbols were removed or destroyed. However, there were maybe three that were missed. The picture of the small stained glass panel is one missed by whoever removed them. It is located at this manor which is called Ightham Mote. 

This is a class A #1 English dog house. Built for the American owner (Robinson's) Great Dane. Robinson restored the building etc.

The mote goes all the way around

Ightham Mote, pronounced "Item Mote." The "Ight" is pronounced like "light" and anytime you see "ham" it is pronounced "hem" or "hm"

Let me switch gears and report an experience that happened to Niel in the temple last week. He was sitting at the front desk, where the recommends are checked and in walked a young man who was wearing a lanyard around his neck, identifying himself, and wanted to leave a missionary message of The Jehovah Witnesses. Whoa! This young man then began a conversation with Niel about the things our churches may have in common.  He also talked about the 144,000 elect people who his church believes will be the only ones to make it to live with God etc.  They talked for a short while and apparently he felt like he had accomplished what he came to the temple to do. But as he prepared to leave he asked if he could put some names on the temple prayer roll. (?)  Niel gave him a slip of paper and he scribbled down some names and left.  Niel couldn’t read any of the names, but put the names in the prayer-roll box anyway.  You never know!  

Then later in the week, he received a call that was transferred from the recorder’s office as he was again sitting at the front desk. Now, just who would be calling him at the temple, at 8 am on a Saturday morning? It was Mary Jane Palfreyman. They were just passing through the nearby airport and wanted to say ‘hi’. You never know!

We are looking forward to sending pictures of the beautiful gardens and paths here on the temple grounds. The pictures are nice, but they are nothing like seeing it in person.  

Rhododendron's blooming

Elder and Sister Strong (Oh how their family misses them!)

Niel with Byron Lovell, SHS buddies...Class of 1964

Elder and Sister Byron and Cynthia Lovell, missionaries together in 1965-1966

Beautiful sister missionaries!

Elder and Sister Strong, wonderful Temple  Missionaries

Hi's and Bye's as of recently:

Abraham, a visitor from Nigeria

Hi to Brother and Sister Cummings from Cedar City, UT. 

They will be serving in the Visitor's Centre

Hi to Brother and Sister Rushforth

Bye to Kenton and Marilyn Anderson from Rexburg, ID

Bye to Brother Alan and Sister Rosland Carter from Croydon, England

Brother Carter gave Niel a fly kit as a "going away gift"

Bye to Roger and Moira Head from Poole, England

Bye to Sister Joyce Morgan from Alpine, UT

 Hi to Elder and sister Brown from Yuma AZ

Hi to Elder and sister Parkinson from Rexburg ID

All our love to all of you.

Niel (Grumpa) and Carolee (Granny)

WALTZING INTO LONDON TO SEE MATILDA

Boy, am I going to miss all the STUFF that goes on in London. There is not only the beauty of the countryside and the London Temple grounds, but the theatres, museums, galleries and over-all history of the place. It is such a blessing to be spiritually fed by serving in the temple during the week and then seeing and experiencing all that this country has to offer on the weekend. 

After we finished our shift at the temple last Saturday (May 3^rd), we quickly hopped on the train for a 40 minutes ride to Victoria Station in downtown London. There, we met with the Turners (Ian, Maggie, Jacob, Emily and Ross) to see a musical called, Matilda. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but, I’ve never read the book (shocking) or seen the movie, so we didn’t know what a treat we were store to see. We took a London taxi to the Cambridge Theatre and you could have walked there by stepping from one car or taxi bonnet to the next, it was so crowded. 

The sidewalks were literally covered with vacationers going from one site to the next. Has the tourist season already started? We found the Turners, who, by the way, had a couple visiting them from Las Vegas. It turns out that this fellow (try as I might, I can’t remember their names, sorry) baptized Ian when he was serving on his mission in England in the mid 1970’s. We thought that it was wonderful for them to reunite here in England and it was great to actually meet them, too.

Maggie and Carolee

The actors where "Stonking" And talented!

Love the way the Brits describe their theater

The musical was a special treat. However, part way through it, I turned to Maggie and expressed that it wished I could understand all of what they were saying. She expressed the exact same thing to me! What can I say? You just can’t put a cast of young kids, screaming the words and singing the lyrics at the top of their lungs and combine that with old people, who can’t hear or understand them. Niel understood nothing. But, we got the jest of what was going on from the adult cast members. We walked into the production with a little trepidation and walked out with smiles on our faces. Personally, I loved it. The music and stage and special effects were brilliant! Love the Turners for inviting us to go with them.

The next day, which was Sunday, and after just a few hours of sleep, attended church and prepared ourselves for a Temple Missionary Fireside. The Pinegars from the Visitor’s Centre had asked us temple missionaries to provide a musical fireside of our own. The young missionaries have been doing it on a regular basis. They are all very talented spiritually, as well as musically. Many of them have written their own music to share the gospel message and their own testimonies. So, we didn’t think we could even begin to compare with their firesides. We did quite well, though. You’ll all be surprised to know that we actually got Niel to sing in the choir. He wasn’t and still isn’t feeling too well (got a bad cold), but he helped us out and we needed his help. You’ll also be surprised to know that I wasn’t at the piano, doing the accompanying, but singing tenor with the choir. Guess I’ve been put out to pasture again to refresh other talents. 

London Temple Choir rehearsal

London Temple Choir Trio

Temple attendance has been slow this week. We had record crowds during Easter week. Apparently, it is a tradition for families to come to the temple on Good Friday. The families picnic and mingle on the grounds if the weather is good and they fill the temple sessions all the day long.  We were not there to help, as we were with Julie and Will in Cornwall. I guess they needed and missed us.

Parker Larsen turns 13!

We want to wish our grandson Parker Larsen and Kim Eberhard (Carolee's brother) happy birthdays. We are still trying to find a good time to get in touch with them. 

Our grandson, Luke was also baptized last Saturday. He is sure a handsome boy. 

(Like all of our grandsons) Way to go Luke! 

Lezlee, Brad and Luke Strong

Love to everyone. Stay strong!!

Niel (Grumpa) and Carolee (Gram)

How You Grow From Doing Temple Work

It is Saturday afternoon:

I am so-o-o tired I can hardly push down the keys on this keyboard. It’s a good thing I’m not having to type on an old-fashioned typewriter. (Any kids reading this better ask their grandparents what they were like.) We got up this morning and couldn’t even see out of the windows because they were being pelted with large drops of rain.  Of course, my first thought was: Well, maybe this won’t be one of those crazy Saturdays at the temple with patrons coming out of the woodwork and our meager amount of temple workers trying to cover all the bases, etc. WRONGO! Listen, around here, when the heavens weep, the saints don’t sleep. (They come to the temple!) As ‘trainers’, Niel and I are the ‘go-to’ temple workers who—oh, how shall I say it?—do everything that needs to be done. What a day! 

But we are still alive and breathing.

Monday morning:

We are starting to recover. Maybe by Tuesday, I’ll be able to walk without limping. Sunday was a remarkable day. We went to the Crawley Ward in a rain storm, but were so thrilled to see that the speakers for our Sacrament Meeting were Elder and Sister Pinegar, who are the directors of the Visitor’s Centre, here on the temple grounds. They are both wonderful people and I knew from the start that we were going to be ‘spiritually fed’. They didn’t disappoint us. Sister Pinegar talked about the purpose of the members of the Godhead. She only had enough time to talk about Christ’s role. She had some very insightful things to say about Jesus and what He was trying to teach us, here on earth. She mentioned the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and praying for 40 days, and how, at the end of that time Satan tried to tempt Him. She said that everything Jesus spoke was and is scripture, so He could have told Satan just what He was thinking in answer to the temptations. But, what did Jesus use? THE SCRIPTURES! What a wonderful example. Therefore, everyone who is reading this, I hope you realize how important is it for you to read, know and study the scriptures. I always think it’s so wonderful when speakers or teachers or anyone can divine important doctrine from what happened during Christ’s visit to the earth. Brother Pinegar also spoke about miracles. He is so tall (and so is she) that when he stood up to the pulpit, they had to almost pull the microphone out of the stand to reach him. He is one of those speakers who you cannot repeat exactly what he said, but, you get this heavenly feeling (the Spirit) so strongly from him. He really is a gentle giant (physically and spiritually). 

Okay, now, back to Monday. We spent an absolutely delightful day browsing for antiques in the little hamlet of Nutley. Most of you know how much I love to look through antiques stores and this was my first real experience on our mission. There was loads to see and ooh and aah over. I found some beautiful little doilies and I even found some tatted ones, but they were in too rough of shape. I brought the doilies home with me, though. I found Niel an old bamboo fishing rod, which he didn’t buy, but he did buy an antique book on fly fishing. I was shocked. He made the excuse that it had some knots in it that he didn’t know how to tie. I hope he can use it. We also stopped to see some gorgeous restored cars. Niel fell in love with a 1995 MGB. He would have bought it on the spot, but it was too pricey at 25,000.00 pounds. Too bad. 

 In the evening, we went out with a group of about 25 fellow temple workers to a farewell dinner for Leighton and Arline Jones. They are such a special couple. We have worked with them the whole time we have been serving in the London Temple. We have visited them in their home in Wales (Merthyr Tydfil). When we get back, I will attempt to speak with a small Welsh accent, so that you’ll know what Sister Jones sounds like. She has been so sweet and loving. (Only she says, lovin’) The Welsh people are great singers and, I think, they sing when they talk too. 

Goodbye Dinner for the Jones

Tuesday: 

We are almost recovered from last Saturday and ready to begin what we came here to do, temple work. I will finish the laundry chores and cook a small dinner/lunch, make our lunches for later this afternoon and off we will go to serve the Lord on the late shift. Doing this temple work is the best thing, ever, for our hearts and souls. We love these people (They are still coming from Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Africa, Germany, Norway etc.) too. Last week there were usually two to three languages spoken in most sessions. What is so wonderful to experience, though, is to interact with people with whom you can’t really communicate, but you both believe in the same religion and, therefore, you feel that common bond and love for each other. It’s great!

I almost forgot to tell why I chose the theme of this particular blog. It has to do with why we are here on earth. The Lord sent us here to refine ourselves by experiencing trials, tests, giving service, gaining knowledge, getting married and having children and, in short, over-coming the world. I, unfortunately, along with several of my offspring, have only been able to learn through trial and error. The ‘refiner’s fire’ works over-time in my life. But, since serving on this mission to the temple, I have been so thrilled to realize and experience that serving, being and participating in the temple on a regular basis is the best kind of ‘refiner’s fire’ there is. I can truly testify that what we do in the temple and, if we do it on a regular basis, refines us more than we realize. It is more of a blessing than you would ever think. 

That is a truth!  

Now, I hope it sinks in and all will avail themselves of the blessings of the temple.

We hope you are praying for us as much as we are praying for you! 

Love to everyone.

Niel (Grumpa) and Carolee (Gram)

"Hi" to Sister Coleen Freeman from Mill Creek, SLC

Our good friend Nick Palmer, Head Temple gardener

Will and Julie's Visit

We are so thrilled to have another set of our kids (they’re grown-ups, really) come to visit. 

The weather has been lovely and mild. We have showed them around the area in which we live. Will has even jogged into Lingfield. Tomorrow, we are heading west to see Stonehenge, Bath and finally Port Isaac. Port Isaac is where “Doc Martin” is filmed and it is on the west coast. It is a quaint little sea port-fishing village and a fun place to visit. 

Yesterday, whilst Julie and Will took the train into London to see the sights and Niel and I worked in the temple, I had a “special” experience with a dear little sister, who was 82 years old. She came into the temple to do just one female family file card. She was so excited and happy to be there and as we sat together before we started, she shared with me why she had come with this particular name. As a little seven-year-old girl, during the bombing in WWII, she, along with hundreds of other London children, were evacuated and farmed out to foster families outside of London. She spent 2 years with a couple, who she grew to love. She said it has taken all these years, since, to realize that this foster mother has been trying to get her to do her temple work. So, there she was, doing work for a lady she had loved as a little girl. It was touching to talk to someone who had actually been through an experience like that and then see it come full circle in the temple. She was delightful. I was so honored to have been there and hear her story.

Oh, and we had another experience when we decided to have breakfast at McDonald’s that morning with Julie and Will. We were standing at the counter discussing what to order, etc. and when I turned to find a seat, I came face to face with a young Brit who beamed at me and said a big, loud and friendly, “Howdy”. I guess he had heard our American accents and decided to greet us in our own language. It was a sweet moment and a good opportunity to say, “Howdy” back to him. It made our morning. 

Much Later--------

We have been a traveling quartet. Our little car just putts and purrs around England. We saw Stonehenge, Bath and Port Isaac. We wavered about going all the way there because Julie said that on the last episode she watched, Doctor Ellingham did or said something that really disappointed her and she almost changed her mind. Luckily, we went anyway. 

Julie and Will at Stonhenge

We participated in a wonderful Easter service at the Bath Cathedral

A gull on it's eggs

Port Isaac

Port Isaac - Doc Martin's Surgery

The weather was fabulous! The scenery, spectacular and we couldn’t have had a better trip. Loved all of it.  Honestly, it couldn’t have been more beautiful. Julie kept saying that there was no way she could take a bad picture, because every landscape was brilliant. 

(She didn’t say ‘brilliant’, I thought I’d just throw that in.)

We took them to the airport yesterday and, happily, they made it home without missing their connecting flight. Julie did have to endure a THOROUGH bag search, twice. She said it was a humiliating experience, having to let everyone see all the chocolate and Nutella packets she had accumulated. Apparently, our other daughter, Jill, had to go through the same procedure when they flew home, too. I am totally shocked that any T.S.A. person would think they looked like suspects who were trying to hide something.  

Julie...NOT amused at her second search!

Niel and I wept all the way back to our digs. We did our shifts at the temple and came back and tried to sleep off our depression. We love to see these kids, but really hate to send them home without us. Oh well.

By-the-way, Niel and I have been new assignments in the temple. We are the ‘trainers’ for our shift. We can’t tell you how extremely thrilled we are to shoulder this calling. We were kind of thinking the temple president may call us to be Shift Coordinators. Niel was not ready for such an involved calling. Little does he want to admit that he could have quite easily done it. He’s done a lot harder things in his life. However, we are happy to serve where ever we are needed. Being a ‘trainer’ encompasses training all the new and returning ordinance workers as to the proper (London Temple proper) way to carry out the work we do in the temple for the living and the dead. This week, in fact, we have been training a delightful couple who have come to us all the way from Laramie, Wyoming. They are going to be a real asset to the London Temple. They are very capable, friendly and knowledgeable. 

Elder and Sister Cooper from Laramie, WY

The only thing that has been a little bit of a hurtle for them is to deal with three foreign languages in one session.  This week we have had patrons from Portugal, France and Spain. It’s been great and we love for them to come.  They like to bring their children (who are apparently out of school) with them. As I was leaving the temple this afternoon, two darling young boys were kicking a soccer (football) between themselves. It got away at just the right moment for me to kick it back. Instead of kicking it to his companion, this little boy kicked it right back to me. It about laid me out flat. I guess he thought I could actually play with them. (I was honored.)

We hope spring is coming your way. Ours is going to be ever so lovely. The Rhododendrons are starting to blossom as well as the Azaleas. The Daffodils and Tulips are almost done. 

They were wonderful. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to send a picture of our tulips and Forget-me-nots too.

Love to all. We are tired, but happy.

From Niel (Grumps) and Carolee (Grammy)