I've Been WORKING on the Railroad

I've Been Working on the (Orange Blossom Special) Railroad
All the live-long day.
I've been working on the railroad
Just to pass the time away. 

It may appear to some that the musical missionaries have weekend vacations just to pass the time away each time the show goes on the road. Here are a few photos to dispel that myth. Besides the set up, the concerts require long hours and long distances all the live-long day.  After they return to their areas, the missionaries go right back to work.

Despite the funny faces, Sister Laxton and Elders Clark, Woodward and Waldie are WORKING on the sound system.

Elder Call and Sister Lee have starring roles in the hard WORK of set up.

Sister Echols isn't above getting down on her knees to WORK on preparations.

Hail to the chief, er President, who WORKS harder than anyone you know.

Elder Raymant and Sister Lee WORK on sound checks so the concert will sound right.

Elder Call's idea of "PASS THE TIME AWAY."

The audience has no idea the WORK they missed in the hours before the performance.

Saturday was the final in the first series of Orange Blossom Special Concerts. It has been a wild and crazy ride with lots of learning curves and wonderful passengers. Sister H was surprised to be a last-minute substitute to MC the program with President Leavitt.
The audience was large and enthusiastic. Today the missionaries offered musical numbers in the Sunday meetings and enjoyed a "linger longer" with members and missionaries from Saint John and Hampton.
This is not the end of the line, however. There are other things in the WORKS. Beginning in January, the Orange Blossom Special rides again with a family concert featuring Disney music and Peter and the Wolf. The Orange Blossom fiddle piece and Phantom will still be in the line up.  Stay tuned!

Top of the World

Having the Huffs come to spend a week in October put us at the top of the world. Sometimes we feel like we are so far north that we live at the top of the world. The love of our family and friends, here and at home, also keeps us at the top of the world.

Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky
Got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream

We had sweet dreams at the Coastal Waters B & B. This is the only picture with all of us in it. Yes, the sun is in our eyes.

Heather & Gracie had a dream to see Anne of Green Gables at PEI. We loved the musical, Anne & GilBert, the chocolates, the beautiful foliage, and all things Anne. Gracie got the hat with the red braids, but I guess we didn't get a photo.

Elder H. loved taking the ferry and letting someone else do some of the driving.

Everything I want the world to be
Is now coming true especially for me
And the reason is clear
It's because you are here
You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen

Heaven for us was seeing the grandkids; for Sister H. it was also returning to TreeGo.

Adam and Dallin thought heaven might be lobster; Heather not so much

Elder H. finds lighthouses quite heavenly, so he enjoyed Peggy's Cove.

Another view of the Top-of-the-World beauty at Peggy's.

We all agreed that the Halifax Temple was most heavenly. Dallin did baptisms for the first time and Gracie got to go in the waiting room and get a peek at the temple. We were blessed to see President and Sister Robinson who just finished their 3-year calling and are back in Utah by now.

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world

The grandkids sent Halloween LOVE that made our day.

We loved the Halloween party and Elder Campbell flying through the air, dressed like a shark, to take the donut down.

More Halloween love with the YW and the Elders.

Don't you love Bob in the Phantom mask with his cute granddaughter?

Birthday LOVE:  Sister Sandberg's birthday; Sister Lewis and Elder Campbell had half birthdays.

Elder Thatcher was at the top of the world and the top of the organ at the Yarmouth Concert.

Loving Friends like Jim & Marylynn Thibeau and Love letters put us at the top of the world too.

Foot"notes": We also love:
That the Huffs got to see Grandpa Phantom in the Halifax Concert
The Guest-Lovitt B & B in Yarmouth
Double Thanksgiving celebrations:  Canada's was in October
Finally got an article on the Orange Blossom concerts published on mormonnewsroom.ca
The Back to Basics program in the mission that is helping us dig into the scriptures
Sharing God's love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with His children here in Fredericton