It only takes a moment...

To fall in love with our sweet grand daughter, Abby Elizabeth Hendrickson. She was born to Luke and Liz on November 26. We love her, even if it has to be From a Distance for now. She plans to come see the land of Anne Green Gables this summer. We will then make up for lost time.

 

 

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The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

We don't have an open fire, but we love our little gas fireplace that keeps our apartment so warm and cozy when Jack Frost is nipping at our noses.

Our season was made much brighter singing yuletide carols with the missionary choir in two concerts in Greenwood and Truro.

We should have dressed up like Eskimos for the snow and freezing rain that roared through while we were there, but we were glad for a safe hotel room to wait out the storm and an uneventful return to our apartment-home. 

We CAN be dressed up like Eskimos because of the generosity of our friends here who have given us FOUR coats!

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

We had not A turkey, but two American Thanksgiving turkey dinners.  Sister Kadisch raised a turkey specifically to cook for the six missionaries in our ward. Later in the week the Sterners hosted another delicious turkey dinner with some ward members, but we forgot our camera.

We met one turkey this summer while working in Sister Kadisch's garden.

We all donned turkey slippers...

...and enjoyed the turkey's ultimate sacrifice

So we're offering this simple phrase
To kids from 1 to 92
Although it's been said, many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to You!

Here's one of our favorite kids, who is not far from 92 getting a chocolate Riesen from our stocking.

We shared THIS simple phrase with those who passed our door:
Jesus is the  Reason for the Season.

We have come to adore Him more than ever before. Our Christmas wish is for you to know and feel His love in your lives.

Love,
Elder & Sister Hendrickson

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

I am a Rock; I am an Island

"Some Shocking Good" on the Rock

"Some Shocking Good" is President Leavitt's favorite song from Newfoundland, also called The Rock. We had a wonderful time there September 13-16. The Orange Blossom Tour steamed into Carbonear for a performance at the beautiful Princess Sheila NaGeira Theatre (that's how they spell it here), a benefit for the local food bank. Saturday we attended zone training and district conference meetings. That night there was a talent show in St. John's featuring local talent--it was "Some Shocking Good"--and some of the numbers from the concert. Sunday we sang and enjoyed district conference and another over-the-top meal with the saints.  Monday we squeezed in a little sight seeing when the rain stopped for a bit.

The Tiffanys, Wiebes, Tibbitts and President and Sister Robinson also made the trip. Elder Wiebe did lots of free shuttles for those of us without wheels. Sister Leavitt did district training for all the auxiliaries. The Noftles organized the events in St. John's. We met two new missionary couples who will serve in Newfoundland; we look forward to knowing them. 

Elder Clark, Elder & Sis Call, ready for take off with us

Rare shot of Sisters Call and Davis sitting down. Sister Davis organized events at Carbonear

Sister Calvert's Swan Song after serving well as the President's Executive Secretary

Our superstars got a dressing room and lighted mirrors at the theatre

Sister Broadhead took this reflective picture of Sister Laxton

Elder Call, our concert master

Elder Nzojibwami and President Leavitt, the Masters of Ceremonies

Our generous and cheerful taxi service:  Elders Lybbert & Dupin

From Signal Hill near St. John's a stunning view of the "rock"

St. John's Harbour

Prince Edward Island, an "Isle in the Water"

PEI, of "Anne of Green Gables" fame, was a wonderful Island getaway September 28-29. The locals had conjured up some magic to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the church in Montague. The missionaries and local leaders had dived right in to offer an open house at the church, the Orange Blossom concert at the local high school with great community involvement and benefit, and Sunday meetings with lots of fellowship and food.

In addition, Elder Call found another Bed and Breakfast in Montague with delightful surroundings and hosts, Richard and Janice Knox. Richard helped with the cake auction during the concert which raised $800 for a local organization, Inclusions East. I met a kindred spirit friend, Blanche Moyaert, who attended the concert and enjoyed it so much she joined us for our meeting block and linger longer on Sunday.

We got tickets for October 10. Elder H is reflected in the window

Elder Hawkes eating his cooking before his last concert. He is going to Newfoundland.

Cake Auctioneer and Richard Knox at the cake auction

Sisters Drew, Broadhead, and Comfort singing for joy

Knox Dam B & B

B & B gardens

String Sisters at the B & B

Great display at church open house by Sisters Starkie and Wilkinson

MTC reunion with Sisters Echols, Laxton, & Starkie

Foot "notes"

Our new member, Julie Goguen, is officially engaged to Jared Hunt and planning a summer wedding in the Halifax Temple. We hit a coyote with our car when we picked Jared up from the airport on Labor Day. Minimal damage, maximum shock. Sister H also saw a moose wandering around the area on her way home from exercising. It was during the moose hunt, so maybe it was hiding out.

Our daughter Heather and her family are driving from Boston as I write. Very exciting!

How we love this work and the Savior. Conference was wonderful this weekend.