Here we have Elder Downward (to the left) Zone Leader of the Blacksburg Zone, which is to the west of the Roanoke Zone. And next to him is one of his missionaries, Elder Ericksen, who he brought to the Allergy Center for a follow-up appointment with Dr. McBride because Elder Ericksen is suffering from a skin rash. I had a very nice visit with these two fine missionaries while waiting for Linda, who also had an appointment with Dr. McBride.

Elder Downward is from Bountiful and Elder Ericksen is from West Jordan, Utah. I told them I needed their picture because Sister Chapman did not get to meet them and she would be asking me all about them. They kindly consented!

We have experienced a dramatic upward trend in the weather/temperature these past 3-4 days, following the snows of the previous weekend. We are now bumping the high 70s!

I'm not sure what I'm posting here, but enjoy it, if you can. I'm wanting to post the picture of the two missionaries I spoke with while Linda was at her doctor's appointment at the Allergy Center in Roanoke on Thursday.

This is a home we drive past each day on Longwood on our way to the public library in Bedford. These hardwood trees tower upward with great majestic, outstretched limbs. The photo does not begin to do justice to the sight of these marvelous trees, which in summer must be heavy with green leaves.

Don't ask what that piece of paper is, hanging out of my coat. We don't have any idea. After we ate lunch at this restaurant, ( "Liberty Station," a converted train station in Bedford) I wanted Linda to pose in front of these ice cycles hanging off the edge of the roof, but she would have none of it!

If you will come visit us, we will take you to this restaurant. It is good food and an interesting piece of Bedford history.

Mar 1, 2009 A New Bishop in Linden, Arizona!

We want to extend our congratulations to the new Bishop and his wife and family in their newly created Linden Ward in Show Low, Arizona. Our very best wishes to you, Steve, and to Ann and the Children as you begin this new adventure in your life! If we understand it correctly this action was taken today. We wish we could have been there to be part of such an important moment in their lives!

This is the view from our hotel window, following our return from the final session of Stake Conference, here in Salem. Salem is just on the west side of Roanoke, about an hour out of Bedford when the roads are dry and conditions are normal. We were glad we weren't feeling the necessity of driving back to Bedford in this storm.

We are tucked in for one more night at the La Quinta Inn on Sheraton Drive, just off Interstate 81 on the north side of Salem. We will make our way back to Bedford in the morning unless conditions worsen.

We came down to Salem, Virginia from Bedford on Saturday, Feb 28, and took a room at a hotel just off the I-81, less than a mile from the Roanoke Virginia Stake Center. We did this so we could be more available to attend the meetings of Stake Conference without having to drive back and forth between Bedford and Salem. This turned out to be a good decision because of two snow storms that hit the Roanoke/Salem area starting last night and again today. It is still snowing at 3 p.m. as we post this picture to the blog back at our room after the conference.

Our visitor, Elder David Cook of the Seventy, provided inspirational council to the adult members of the Stake last night and to the youth of the Stake in the General Session this morning. President and sister Thornock also spoke as did a counselor in the Washington DC Temple Presidency and his wife, President and Sister Fox. Their's was a very compelling message about the importance of the Temple. They spoke from a perspective of conversion to the church in their adult life and the great blessing of the Temple as they have been able to do the ordinance work for so many of their departed ancesters.

After the close of the Sunday Session of conference we happened to meet this little fellow, Jared Taylor Farnsworth, great grandson of Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of television! He is in the arms of his grandfather, Paul Rucker of Salem. We were so struck by his sweet demeanor and cute outfit we had to stop his grandfather and ask for a picture.