Sunday, Feb 7, despite the snows of Friday and Saturday, the Bedford Branch held Fast and Testimony Meeting, scheduling it at 12 noon, with no meetings to follow.

It was very important that we were able to hold this meeting. The snow storm of the previous weekend and forced cancellation of all our meetings that last Sunday of January.

The Branch members came together and we had a combined Testimony meeting and an opportunity for Jacob Quick and his family to share their feelings as Jacob spoke for the last time before leaving for the MTC in Provo and his assignment to the Nevada Las Vegas West Mission. It was also a time of goodbye to Elder Fullmer, who has been a missionary in the Bedford Area since last August and who, by his hard work, faith and example has become beloved by all the members. He will be tranfered this week to Charleston, West Virginia where he will serve as a Zone Leader. Elder Liddiard will remain with us. His new companion will be Elder Cowley who has been serving as an Assistant to the Mission President, so we are looking forward to getting better acquainted with him.

Friday, Feb 5, the eastern seaboard began to feel the oncoming of the third major snow storm of this interesting winter season.

This is a view in the midst of the storm, from our kitchen storm door, looking south, out across the yard to the fir trees that line the boundry of this property and the thicket of hardwood trees beyond.

We probably had about a foot of snow on the level before this storm moved on past us late on Saturday.

This is the Bedford Area Welcome Center, located near the interchange where one of the main roads into Bedford (122) crosses the Salem/Lynchburg Turnpike (US 460). This is where we go each day to connect to their wireless Internet system, allowing us to send and receive email messages and other Internet access. We don't have to leave our car. We can make connection simply by opening our laptop.