An Apostle Came to EBM

We were very privileged to have Elder Holland to come to visit the Mission following the extra conference we attended on Sunday.
My task was to ensure that there were magnificent flowers and Julie the florist made a fabulous job!

This is one of two wonderful displays

Meeting Elder Jeffrey R Holland again

It was AN EXCEPTIONAL meeting, All the Elders & Sisters were in their seats quietly contemplating whilst they waited for Elder Holland. Elder Holland was delayed and was most apologetic to the waiting Elders & Sisters.  We had talks from those who were with Elder Holland but of course he was the one they all wanted to hear from.

We were all invited to meet and shake his hand and tell him our names and where we came from. It was quite a personal few moments.

Elder Holland said that in days gone by each missionary would have been interviewed by an apostle- now that was not a possibility but her said in the moments he shook our hands he was conducting an interview! He told President Rasmussen that he had a good group of missionaries and although there were some with problems this was to be expected.

Elder Holland spoke to the assembly and made the point that he was going to speak about obedience but felt impressed to speak about The Atonement to this group, He then proceeded to give us a two hour lesson on the Atonement, and managed to answer a question in my mind that I had forever... I have written my notes in my Mission Book because this does not seem an appropriate place to record the feelings I enjoyed.

Elder Holland also spoke how the Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 had been rocked by the three recent deaths and how he personally had been so affected. Elder Holland also talked about his wife Pat who had been unable to make the trip due to ill health.

It was a wonderful meeting and afterwards lunch was served and all settled outside on the grass to visit with each other. A completely amazing day and so thrilled to be a part of it, Although the clean up took some time after and we had tons of flowers everywhere for a week. Feeling so blessed.#

Sunday Lunch

Well chatting with the AP's on Sunday at church only to discover they were having cereal for lunch so we invited them back to try chicken in mushroom sauce, with veg and mash. We also had apple crumble with ice cream. I made the crumble with some of the freshly milled flour given to me by Brother George, from the Wylde Green Mill.
Lunch turned out really well and was very appreciated by  Elder Ferrell and Elder Unice.

Elder Unice with Michael

Three Elders messing whilst I sorted lunch! Unice, Ferrell & Michael

American Mothers Day

Because it was American Mothers Day yesterday the Sisters who live in the block next to us brought me a small gift. I was so touched

From Sister Sorenson and Sister Lee

A Trip to the RICOH

So we got up and cleaned and then headed to Sutton Coldfield to do some shopping before heading off to the RICOH at Coventry.
After  a bit of a hit and miss season Leicester Tigers had the opportunity to make it into the top four. At Christmas 2014 you might not have given them a chance of the top 6, things were bad, with injuries.
But here we are Tigers never say die..... We had booked parking not too far from the stadium and after a minor blip found the parking space. It was a little walk to the stadium a bit more than the 10mins they suggested....but the day was pleasant and we bimbled along. This was our first visit to the RICOH and to buy the tickets Michael had to join WASPS, whatever!!!

Had to say we had good seats. I find the "American" approach at WASPS very annoying with all the razzmatazz etc but hey ho whatever you like.
WELL THE AMAZING THING WAS ALL THE TIGERS TEAM TURNED UP it was a great match from end to end until the Tigers began to turn the screw. The final score was



Freddie Burns putting scores on the doors

 



Happy people

IPADS EVERYWHERE

The EBM has eagerly been awaiting the arrival of the IPADs from Apple- direct from China. Every week for the last month I have been tracking there whereabouts. They arrived just as rain was starting so there was rush to ger them into the office and then decide how and where we could secure them. The picture below show what £70,000 of Ipads look like.....

Michael's Birthday

We were set to meet up with Jenny & Ed Bardsley tonight in Walmley but Jenny's dad Tom seemed to be close to dying and  then....rallied so we had a call saying could we meet at TGI Fridays in Binley Coventry. This was just around the corner from where I worked at Orbit. We headed to Coventry and made good time.
We had a lovely evening and a great meal. So lovely to spend time together. Michael got a bag of chocolates from Jenny and she gave us a lovely plaque which I intend to place in our bedroom.
The children all got gifts to their dad as well he had quite a booty

GOODIES FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY AND CAKE!

I LOVE THIS

Black Country Museum

So after somewhat disturbed night because Ruby got up we all survived. Daniel had a great sleep and really liked the quilt and the big blow up bed! Even suggested he could take the quilt home as he liked the quilt cover as well....
After breakfast we all met up and headed off to the Black Country Museum, and after a bit of a detour as Spaghetti Junction was closed we made it to the park. The weather was good but there was a bit of a que.
We had a really good day and the children really enjoyed it especially seeing the small houses where people lived.

It got a bit hot and I was glad of a seat!

Waiting for lunch

Waiting for lunch, it had become too much for Daniel

Not sure who was taking who for a walk!

Family Visitors- Malachowski's

So Emma & Richard brought the children to stay! during half term. They came to the office to check out where we worked and then we headed to the flat. They loved running around checking out the flat.
When they arrived Michael was still out with the AP's and Genevieve was running around asking where her granddad was and as soon as she and Bethany saw him they ran at him!
Tonight Daniel & Ruby are staying with us and the rest are in the Premier Inn at Whitehouse Common.
Tomorrow we are going to the Black Country Museum.

Checking out Grandma's desk

A Beautiful Day

Today was the funeral of a beloved friend A Bryan Palmer. He died on the 21 March 2025 aged 89. Bryan had suffered a major stroke a number of years ago that had changed him a bit and he managed bravely with it.
Margaret his wife had supported him through quite a trying time. It was fair to say though that the day of his funeral was beautiful. The sun shone and it was decidedly warm. We travelled back to Leicester for the funeral and the service was a great tribute to him from his family and friends. It was lovely to meet with some people we had not seen for a while, including his son Jonathan who had come over from New Zealand.
During the service Margie (his daughter) had put together a video of photos of the things Bryan loved and sure enough there was Michael and I on some of the pictures. The big question was where were the photos taken and why were we all on Leicester Station with suitcases. I could not think of where we were going together and had a complete blank until...I watched the link again later that day and we noticed that one of the pictures showed Michael, me and Bryan sitting on the edge of a fountain in Minnewater in BRUGES.......how is it possible to completely forget that we had spent a four day holiday with Bryan and Margaret in BRUGES!!!!! it has made me realise that I must have forgotten great chunks of my life!!!! very worrying... but great to have those memories dug out of the old brain filing system.
We love you Bryan

Mothering Sunday

So Mothering Sunday comes around and I received three lovely cards. Beautiful flowers from Matt & Zoe were delivered to the office, a real treat. Rachel had some Avon at home for me  to collect and a lovely necklace. Emma sent a package that we had to collect from the sorting office in Sutton Coldfield. We had to go adventuring to find the sorting office, which on a map didn't look too far from the centre on Sutton Coldfield: but was a fair old walk up hill, not do bad coming back! Emma had sent me a cupcake bath bomb and a plant than can be grown in the box and chocolate......
Thanks one and all!

From Emma & Richard

From Matthew & Zoe

From Rachel & Ric

 



My flowers and goodies

Family Visitors- Page Jnr

Matt and Zoe came for lunch prior to going to Sutton Park in the afternoon with the children. The children were very lively and enjoyed their visit to the office. I had prepared some lunch and we all had a picnic at the flat.
Amber felt that she could live in a flat like ours and be ok....I think mum and dad thought it might be an option.

AVENGERS?

Toby was finding his way around

Amber's First Production!

Amber was in the chorus of Oliver at South Wigston High School. We picked up her dad and we three went to watch her, This was the second night and she really looked like she was enjoying it all. Amber sang with real gusto as did they all. It was truly a magnificent production for a High School and all those who participated should be proud of themselves.
I certainly came back to Birmingham (oops Sutton Coldfield) singing the songs from Oliver

Amber the urchin...

Snow,snow,snow

Today the snow came, fortunately it didn't stay for long. Sister Burt was out there with her iPad busy recording the snow to send pictures back to her family in sunny California.

Sister Burt

It was soon gone.....

An Evening Out

We had hardly got our feet under the desk at the Mission Office before we were invited to share an evening out with some of the other senior missionaries to celebrate Sister Jolley's birthday. The Jolleys are the couple working in the Resource Centre and  the other who came,were Elder & Sister Jones from PR at Solihull, Elder & Sister Burt who work with us in the Mission Office, Elder & Sister Buck YSA and Elder & Sister Rooney. Elder Rooney was formerly a Labour MP . We all went to the Thai restaurant in Wylde Green, very enjoyable.
I made small gifts of zipper pouches with hand cream in for Sister Jolley and also for Sister Burt as her birthday is tomorrow.
What a lovely evening.

This is the Jones, Jolleys, us and The Burts



This is the Burt's and us with Sister Rasmussen the next morning celebrating Sister Burt's birthday

Got there

The end of the first week and we have survived ....still lots to do but we are getting there, Michael went back to the flat to wait for the Sky man and the plumber....jobs all done!

We went to the Tigers tonight but had an horrendous time getting to the M6 from the flat, found a car broken down causing all sorts of trouble. We need to find a better way to Leicester. When we go to the skittles next week Michaels friend Heidi will show us a better way.

The Tigers were brilliant and beat the Scarlets 40-23. However I have never been soon cold! Was glad to get back to the flat have a drink and warm up. The bed was really inviting tonight.

Meeting our Landlord

We met our landlord tonight, he seems very friendly and well disposed to the church. Mark fitted towel rail, toilet roll holder and the biggest mirror into the ensuite, he also fixed the light pull. Mark was really sorry about Michael being attacked by the light shade.

Mark has arranged for a plumber to come on Friday, which is useful as Michael will be in as the Sky man is coming to sort out the internet.

Our First Week

We headed to the England Birmingham Mission Office for our first day and found we were the early birds, thank goodness we had a key.

We went early just in case the traffic was really bad but it was ok.

We have spent the week clearing out cupboards ensuring things are all filed and finding letters we needed to  make payments.

We have ordered stationery and had our first meeting with President Rasmussen and all the other office staff ( that would be the AP's and the Burts)

Michael has a new best friend...Robert Brooke to help with info on vehicles....

With a Vengeance

So Sunday morning up and got the chicken and everything prepared for lunch. I invited the Burt's to come when they get back from Tamworth.

So when things go wrong with a vengeance .....Michael was using the bathroom when the glass lampshade  fell, hit him on the head and then shattered against the bath! it took about 15 minutes to clear up and take splinters out of his leg and find a plaster.....
Michael was really distressed especially on top of not feeling well and we are both a bit anxious about Monday...

Took the missionary Sisters Mackay & Leiss  to church this morning and enjoyed the day at church. It felt quite strange having no responsibility other than to be there. We were made very welcome.
After church I got the lunch prepared and we waited for the Burts.
We had a lovely lunch together they are a really nice couple, they come from California

Still no TV....lots of DVD watching or radio.

IT DID

Following on from Friday we got up Saturday and walked to the small parade of shops near us and I found a really good hairdresser called James and he fitted me into his schedule. I was really pleased with my haircut.
When we got back we decided to go to Dunelm to get some rugs as the bedroom felt a bit sparse with the laminate flooring.
We got some lovely cream rugs very nice and cosy.
We managed to sus the central heating but still that TV will not work so a lovely afternoon spent listening to the radio very pleasant.

We went to the baptism at Wylde Green Chapel tonight. It was lovely to be a part of the meeting.  There was a musical item played by Elder Lu which was just wonderful and I could have spent the whole night listening to him. Elder Lu is one of the Assistants to the President.

If It Can Go Wrong.........

We managed to get everything into Bishop and our car. I would like to say that I was upset about leaving home but that wasn't the case, it felt like we could let Rachel settle in without us.
I set off first and Michael travelled with Bishop Bromley. We arrived safely and it took about half an hour to unload  and then.....unpacking began. We are glad that we had made two earlier trips and so it didn't take too long. We cleared the bedroom first and made the bed
Here are some pictures of the afters....

 The kitchen is good but not too much storage but has the essentials including my food processor!

 T
The entrance to the lounge and the dining area. Family photos look better here than where we had them at home.

Well it was all looking good until we couldn't get the TV to work. We tried all the leads in all the aerial sockets we could but the TV wasn't having it!!!!
At least we could watch DVD's.

Managed to pull in the shopping and called in at Dunelm to get some anti slip fabric to stop the bed skittering over the laminate flooring .By the time we got back realised we hadn't eaten.
We headed off to the Flaming Grill  next to the Premier Inn for much needed sustenance!!

Early night SHATTERED!!!

It begins

On Thursday 8th January 2015 we went to Matthew and Zoe's with Rachel, Rc and Lily-Rose and Bishop Peter Bromley set Michael and me apart as Church Service Missionaries. We both had lovely blessings and were told not to worry about our family as they would be cared for by the Lord. It was quite poignant to see Matthew pin on his dad's missionary badge.
Bishop offered ti help us move on the Friday, which was a real blessing. Zoe took this picture of us just before we went off home