February 9, 2009, Monday in Bedford, Virginia

Here is another picture of the scene from our front porch on the morning after our first snowfall (Tues, Feb 3), here on Hopes Way in Bedford. By noon it was mostly melted away, but it sure was a beautiful sight when the morning sun first hit these snow covered trees that line our little road.

Linda has been quite sick all this past week. She has suffered from a persistant cough that cold medications and decongestants seem to have little beneficial effect. And her pain levels have been very high with her Fibromyalgia and an inflamed esophagus. Everything, all coming at once it seems. We have a call in to a respected doctor, Dr. Dane McBride, an allergist. He is also the member of the Mission Presidency and a former president of the Roanoke Virginia Stake. We are waiting to here back from him.

Linda was too ill to attend Zone Conference last Wednesday and remained too sick to attend our Sunday meetings at the Bedford Branch. I fulfilled my speaking assignment at the Branch Sacrament meeting on Sunday but it was not the same being there alone without my dear companion. The members of the Branch all inquired about her and wanted us to know she would be included in their prayers. They are a wonderful group of Saints.

This is the fireplace area on the east wall of the walkout basement. It is a large room, carpeted and clean. Just waiting for a family to come visit. There is a couch, chairs, table, desk, bookcase and nice T-V. There is a bathroom down here too, and a large utility/storage room and access to the large garage off to the left (not shown).

This is one of two smaller bedrooms across from the master bedroom on the main floor. It contains a single bed and dresser. Linda carried out the blue theme of the room, adding a picture of grandmother Elsie Chapman.

When Portia Dolan, the family member who we will be paying our rent to, stopped by to bring the living curtains back from the dry cleaners, we walked her through the house to see some of things we had done to settle in. She seemed very pleased with everything. She liked seeing this picture on the dresser in this blue bedroom. She said the dresser had been her mother's dresser.

Portia has been so kind and thoughtful in getting this home ready for us to move in to. Both she and her husband and brother and sister Hodge did so many unexpected things to insure we would be comfortable and that the home completely functional, purchasing items for the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, etc., to include new washer and dryer and new refrigerator. We just can't say enough about their kindness to us.

This is the master bedroom. There is a very nice, large wooden dresser, not shown, that matches the bedroom set. There are two clothes closets and the master bath opens off to the right (not shown).

While the curtains and bedspread are old. The owners had everything cleaned and the curtains laundered and ironed and re-hung after we agreed to rent the home. They also went out and bought new mattress covers, sheets, pillow cases and blankets for our use.

I took this picture of the kitchen while standing in the dining room. The kitchen extends some distance more to the left to include the refrigerator and ample room for the kitchen table, chairs and small cabinet (pantry).

Melissa asked for some interior photos of the home we are living in on Hopes Way, Bedford, Virginia.

This is a view looking across the living room into the empty dining room.