The Big Blair Announcement

This is the first time we've needed to write

Please be kind, please be polite.

As we've thought about what to say

We've stewed the night and day away.

With such big changes about to come soon

We wanted to say it with a boom!

How do you announce such a big change?

How will we survive on a firing range?

We wanted to say how much we love you!

We are so very grateful for all that you do!

We don't have the experience and feel to young

We hope that we've save up enough $$mon$$!

We are a little nervous not to lie.

We hope that together we will survive!

We didn't think the timing would be now.

We hope we will get through this, someway, somehow.

We love you so much, it is so very true.

The only words we can think of are: Thank you and Thank you.

Now all of you may be thinking one thing, which is oh so neat

But you'd be wrong! (And have stinky feet!)

We hope in a few months you don't get stun by a bee

But please, yes please instead visit us in DC!

April Fifteenth is the date we move in.

What a Salt Lake experience this has been!

From Peter and Kate

We were asked Thursday to move to DC. They needed to know by Sunday night / first thing Monday Morning. We are sad to leave but excited about our adventure. Come visit us!

I am trying

Another Day on the Front Lines

Each group of missionaries has two days when they actually go out and tract. The first week we take the train into Manchester and do street tracting. We had our 2nd go at this and I must say it was a little easier the 2nd time. Richard and I went together and ended up teaching a group of 8 young college students who were on an art field trip in the city that day. They were sitting on a ledge resting when we approached them. We told them why we are here, talked about their belief in God, gave them copies of the B of M and ended up laughing, hugging and collecting email addresses. Since then we have emailed them but have had only one response (typical missionary work) but we will persist and hopefully find a way to meet them again.

The second week we drive them to an area, assign each companionship a number of blocks of houses and set them loose. It never ceases to amaze me that some of them actually get inside. Yesterday our little elder from Turkey just kept saying, "All Catholic. All say Catholic!" And indeed that is the familiar come back. They are Catholic so they are satisfied. But it is such great experience and they are pretty hyped up when they return.

I am continually amazed at their diligence. When you study all day, and seek the spirit continually, things happen. We just have 4 more days with this group, and we will miss them terribly but now realize that this is going to be the cycle. They come bleary eyed and in shock. They begin to wake up about 2 days after they arrive. By one week, they have taken off, by two weeks they are soaring, and by the time they leave they are chomping at the bit to get going. A remarkable transformation. A mighty miracle. A sight to behold.

You Won't Believe This...

Firday there was a ward-date bowling activity. Sydney (my roommate) and I were set up with our FHE dad from last semester.

I was not so excited to go. Bowling? Not really my thing. (unless of course it's the wii, in which case I am the bomb)

But... suprisingly I actually beat both Jayson and Syd both games! The second game I was getting a gutter ball every other time I bowled.. EMBARRASSING. But no worries. My last three turns guess what I bowled..

A TURKEY.

Yes. That's right. I guess I have some crazy bowling skills :)

I even got a t-shirt to prove it.

Things every missionary should know how to do.....

FYI

Here is a list of practical things

every missionary should know........

*How to make a bed!

with the bedspread running the right direction

Novel, I know, but they give lessons on

it in the MTC!

*How to polish shoes

With a shoe cloth, no less.

And a spit shine is quite impressive!!!

*How to eat in a suit coat

without spilling!

*How to press a shirt

Like.....all parts of it!

*How to clean a toilet!

We have an entire session on how to clean

toilets, floors, basins, etc.

*How to use hangers!

Like for clothes!

They are not decorations in a closet

*Chairs are for sitting

not for collecting clothes

junk, papers, garbage, etc.

*How to lead a hymn

We have had to teach this to

almost every missionary!

*How to smile!

When they finally relax and

begin to smile

they look so much better!

*Don't leave a girl friend

Had a missionary have a meltdown

this week

GIRLFRIEND

*Get excited

You will love this!

Grandma

What do you do during the blizzard of the century?

Last week we had "The Blizzard of the Century"  It turned out to not be as bad here as expected...However the 3 inches of ice that fell before the 4 inches of snow has been a little problem!
This morning, we woke up to 4 more inches of snow...and it is supposed to snow EVERYDAY this week except Thursday!
Good thing I went to the library again yesterday...
However, this is what happened to me last time I stayed inside and read:







Reminder to all:

DO NOT INTERRUPT ME WHEN I AM READING!
Heather

The Big Snowstorm

When we moved from Chicago to Kansas City we thought we were getting away from the cold, snow, freezing rain and wind. We were told that the winters in Kansas City are not that bad. In fact, we were told that not everyone here even owns a snow shovel.

Last year we had 6 snow days at School!

Tomorrow will be snow day number 6 for this year (yes school is already cancelled tomorrow).

Even my Dad's office closed a couple hours early today and they never close early!

This is the view from our front window. You can't really see it but the wind is blowing the snow all around.

This is our backyard. It is a snow palace.

This is our deck. You can see the drifts are about 2 feet high.

This is another one from our deck.

My Dad barely made it home from work today. We live on top of a hill. The first street he tried had not been plowed and he could not get up it. He made it up a different street but then got stuck in the driveway. He had to shovel himself out while we watched from inside our warm house!

If anyone wants to Skype tomorrow let us know. We will be home as we are not going anywhere!

The Barnes Family