Jan 17, 2009, Sat, House hunting in Bedford, VA

This may surprise you. This is the view from our hotel window, looking north from the Bedford area toward the Blue Ridge Mountains; part of the Appalachian and Great Smoky Mountain chain.

We have been out looking at rental properties today, in Bedford and surrounding area. We have looked at some possibilites, but have not yet made a decision. The home we like best is 30 minutes out of town, though still in the boundaries of the Bedford Branch. We have also looked at a townhome located very close to the branch chapel in Bedford. It clean and modern, with lots of nice features, but it is unfornished. We are continuing to check on other possibilities.

We know these are great pictures, but when you consider that we were doing 55+ on the freeway at the time, heading out of Charleston toward our assigned area in Bedford, Virginia, I think Linda did super to capture this view of the West Virginia state capitol building as we hurried by.

This was Friday morning, at around 11 a.m. with temperatures in area of 11-13 degrees.

January 15, 2009, Arrival in West Virginia

The countryside in southern Illinois and Indiana took on a dramatic difference from the scenes available to us earlier in our trip across Missouri.

No bill boards line the Interstate in Illinois or Indiana. What a difference!

I-70 from Kansas City to St. Louis is literally one huge bill board after another, mile after mile. Shame on Missouri (shame on Arizona, as a matter of fact!). Our compliments to Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky where you see the countryside with its wonderful farms, rivers and woodlands unobstructed by commercial signs and bill boards.

Wednesday morning the arctic air that swept down over the Mid-west brought the temperatures in the single digits as we drove through St. Louis and crossed the mighty Mississippi.

Linda took this picture of the famous "Gateway to the West" that stands on the bank of the river, welcoming travelers to St. Louis and the great western expanse of the American continent.

Here is where so many early settlers, explorers, adventurers and pioneers came to get outfitted and ready for their western journey across the plains.

We didn't stop but kept on heading east, changing from I-70 to I-64 as we crossed onto the Illinois shore and continued on through southern Illinois, then on through southern Indiana, finally stopping for the night in Frankfort, Kentucky.

We arrived at the West Virginia Charleston Mission Home on Thursday afternoon just President and Sister Thornock were completing a Zone Leader conference and luncheon.

The Zone Leaders were all gathered about their mission president on the front porch and Sister Thronock was preparing to take their picture as we pulled up.

We got to shake the hand of each of these fine elders as they departed. Then we were warmly greated by President and Sister Thornock and taken inside the Mission Home where they fed us a late lunch and engaged us in conversation.

We realized finally, that this is the very same mission home we came to 25 years ago to pick up our son Jeffery at the conclusion of his 18 month service in the the West Virginia Charleston Mission. How special it is for us to be here now at the beginning of our service!

January 13, 2009, Between Topeka and St. Louis

As we drove east along I-70 from Topeka, Kansas to St. Louis, Missouri today, there were numerous sites of historic significance we could have visited, to include: President Eisenhower's ancestral home, President Truman's ancestral home, Fort Leavanworth, etc., etc.

We chose, however, to visit this delightful spot instead, located at Kingdom City, MO, just off the Interstate, between Kansas City, MO and St. Louis. This is what seniors do. They try to re-visit the days of their youth. In our case, the "50's. Was there ever a time more enjoyable? I ask you.

Everything you can think of that existed back in the 1950's can be found in this store. We didn't buy anything, but we did have fun walking around and looking at all the old stuff, like poddle skirts, 45 rpm records, old bill board advertisements and 10,000 other miscel things relating to times gone by.

Hey, it was a fun 20-30 minutes. Then we drove on.

January 12, 2009, Birthday on the Kansas plains

Today, January 12, 2009, is the birthday of the loviest lady in my life! My sweetheart, wife, dearest friend and eternal companion, Linda Burnham Chapman.

She looks like she might be 40 years at the very most! What a special, beautiful woman, mother and choice Latter-day Saint! She is greatly beloved by her children, grandchildren and extended family and many friends!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!