Hair!

Newport Beach and Disney for Presleys 2nd Birthday

Hello from the Tarwaters!!
We made it back from Newport just in time for the 100 degree weather this week Yay for us!!. We had such a fun time at the beach and disney. Presley was terrified of the rides and the waves at first, then loved every minute of it! And so did her hair! Mother? Was this how my hair was when I was little?? Because the girls did not have near the hair that she does...anyhow, I was just content laying on the beach and eating and going to the OC swapmeet, oh and sleeping alot. My friend Grace Evert moved to NB and she came to sit with us on the beach. Tres and the kids, caught crabs and had crab races, and rode our beach cruisers everywhere. Presley had fun with her cousins making sandcastles and screaming at the top of their lungs. We had about a half a dozen under the age of 3. Anyways just thought I would check in...wondering if Tahna got swept away in the floods, or mom fell off the curb again??? Love and miss you all! Congrats to Ron and his graduation, and Katie this next week!!

Another fall

I guess I have to admit that 2 weeks ago I had another fall and I'm afraid that I broke my other foot/ankle.  I was too embarrassed to go back to the doctor after only 1 month so I have been trying to keep off it, ice and elevate but with Ronnie here and my mission responsibilities it has been impossible to keep off it.  I have used the brace and am wrapping it.  After 2 weeks the swelling has bone down and the nice purple/green color is fading but I am still in quite a bit of pain.  You say I'm stubborn, prideful, old, senile, clumsy or what?  This time the French Elders and an investigator were witness to my taking a tumble off a step. 

Ronnies visit

Ronnie and Abbie and Shane came to DC for a visit and to go to Ron's graduation.  He got his Masters of Scieince at George Washinigton University.  They loved going to all the museums and gettiing the flavor of DC.  They ventured out on the Subway one day and had a great experience.  They most of all liked to walk around the Capital and White House grounds. Ron liked the Holocost Museum and Library of Congress but the kids wanted to move on saying 'boring' after awhile.  We got rained on after the Saturday night ceremony and missed the Sunday morning speeches on the mall because of rain threatening and they had a hard time getting up at that early time because they were still on AZ time.  The men caught a Baltimore baseball game while Abbie and Grandma stayed home and watched chick flicks. 

that magical age

Ethan is always saying what he can or can't do at certain ages like closing his eyes during prayers- maybe when I'm five. It reminded me of one of his 3-year-old feats... wiggeling eyebrows at will. Ethan had a great birthday. He got to go to the temple visitor's center. Sammy turns 1 soon. We are going to have swimming lessons next month. We're just getting so big!

Another story, Jose

The Spanish speaking Elders told us this story told to them by Jose Lunas, an investigator they are teaching.  When he was coming to the US he had been walking many days through the desert and had been several days without food or water.  His feet were so damaged he was afraid they would have to be amputated.  When he couldn't go on any further he collapsed on the ground.  He had a vision where he was standing at a pulpit teaching a large group of people about God.  After that he heard someone walking up behind him and he felt them put their hands on his head and said some words that he couldn't understand.  A little while later he was able to get up and continue walking. 

Baptism for Dad

Phillipe Edzang requested Dad to baptise him on Sunday.  I gave the talk though it was not in French.  He is a great young man.  Dad baptisied Emmanuel last month.  It seems that older people hold a lot of respect with African people. 

We had Stake conference last week and ome of our French members Brother Moncho gave a talk.  He told of his conversion.  In Cameroon his father in his village was chief and Bro Moncho was in line to be the next chief but he wanted to get a better education so he traveled to Ghana.  It was very diffiicult time for him and he had many trials.  Everywhere he went he saw this book called "Gospel Principles".  He said he thought this book seemed to be following him everywhere.  He was very curious and wanted to read it but he didn't want to steal it because thiefs were treated harshly.  One day he decided to 'borrow' it overnight and return it in the morning.  He did this a few days but nobody seemed to move the book during the day so he took it.  When he came to America the Elders found him and started teaching him.  They were surprised because he new all the answers to their questions.  He told him he had a book.  When he showed it to them they started to laugh.  He was baptised soon after. 

He is going to the temple this month with his wife and little daughter, Parole, who is 2 yrs old and in my primary class.