Our last day at the Fall Foodbank outdoor produce distribution.   Jeremiah cames to the Foodbank with his Grandma and Elder Stratton made him a "cabbage hat" and then everybody wanted one!                                                                                     

 We have been visiting seminary and institute classes and traveling quite a bit the last two weeks.  This week we went to North Branch which is south of us and is a ward-confused yet?  There are two seminary classes in the ward, one at the church and one at a member's home, far from the church. Then we went to Pine City for seminary and  then finally home.  I caught a cold and have been coughing and then I went to the doctor to see why my foot was hurting so much and I have broken a bone!  So now I wear a boot and it is tiring to hoist it along but my foot feels so much better!

Ron ordered some running boards for the truck to make it easier to get in.  Last week we gave some rides to a college girl and she is shorter than me and had quite a time getting into the truck.  So it seemed like a good time to order some running boards.  He had them almost installed and asked the Elders for some help.  Here they are in their suits tightening the bolts.

            

 These are the Elders and Sisters that come to our house for a missionary correlation meeting with the ward mission leader... and breakfast.

We went to Minneapolis to a mission conference and Elder Carlson was the visiting general authority and we went to meetings all day long.  Surprisingly, I loved going to meetings all day long.  There have been many times in the past where I wouldn't have enjoyed sitting and listening all day.  And now, I know you are all wondering how Ron did!  We all know he isn't one to sit still for long, right?  Well, he is a changed man.  He can now sit through hours and hours of meetings and remember what he hears.  I know, it's a miracle.

So we went out on Saturday night with our non-member friends to eat at the Duluth Grill.  On their dessert menu was a "When pigs fly" bacon-caramel sundae.  Now, wouldn't you have ordered it just to see what it was like?  Yeah, we did.  And here it is.  Three scoops of vanilla ice cream with caramel drizzled over the top.  On one side are chopped pecans and on the other side crumbled smoked cherry wood bacon and on the top, sea salt.  It was wonderfully good in a sweet and salty kind of way.  So now you want to come to Duluth to visit, right?

Nooks and crannies

Last Sunday night we invited the YSA's over to learn how to make applesauce. We also took turns guessing where Chris would go on his mission.  So far he hasn't received his call, so we don't know who is right.  We asked if he had a place he really wanted to go and he said, somewhere without  winter!

This is Vermillion Lake. Someone told me that it is the prettiest of the 1,000 lakes in Northern Minnesota.  It is sure pretty!
We explored the area around this lake after we visited a seminary class in Virginia, a town north of Duluth.  We hadn't been up that way and we saw the area of the boundary waters and Ely where many of the canoe outfitters are based.


 This is  a seminary class held in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada in the teacher's dining room.  Yes, this ward is in our stake, 3 1/2 hours north of Duluth.  What a great class!  I love visiting the seminary classes and seeing that the gospel is being taught in all the nooks and crannies of the Church.
That evening we went to the campus of Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and attended an Institute class.  See what I mean about the nooks and crannies?






We stopped at a quilt store on the way home and Ron took a photo of the "husband's waiting bench."









 And then he found an interesting rock shop.

Sister Ballif does the dishes after the missionary breakfast at our house.  She does them every Saturday.
We can't stop her.




               AND one more photo of Lake Superior.

Here comes winter!

Sister Simpson and Sister Ballif are serving a mission here in Duluth and sometimes we get to hang out with them. They are such awesome missionaries!  They came over to watch conference and brought "conference treats."  On Sunday it was in the 70's and by the end of the week, the high was 48 and WINDY.

We are teaching the missionary lessons to an investigator who requested "more seasoned" teachers.  Well we are certainly that.  We are have a good experience teaching and feeling the Spirit as we do so.

Last Monday was zone conference and then we provided lunch.  I think these missionaries love the training but they also love the lunch!   

Early Tuesday morning we visited a seminary class in Askov on our way to St. Paul.  Wonderful class, teacher and students.                                                                            

                                         

Just in case you think we don't have any fun...  We went to Minneapolis for a senior couple missionary conference.  11 couples serving in the Minneapolis Mission got together.  First we had a potluck lunch and a getting to know you game.  Then we watched the "Meet The Mormons" movie which our mission president had an advanced copy of.  Then we went to Stillwater, MN to ride on the riverboat and have dinner.  The next day we went to the temple and then back to work.  We are the only couple working with seminaries.  One couple works in the mission office.  One couple are medical missionaries which means he is a doctor and advises the missionaries when they are ill or injured.  One couple works with young single adults.  And the other couples with work small branches (smaller than a ward) giving support to the members.  For instance, one wife told me that she helps a woman who doesn't speak English.  She helps the kids with their homework and she taught the woman to garden.



Saturday morning the Duluth Ward missionary co-ordination meeting was held at our apartment.  Two sets of Elders, one set of Sister Missionaries, the Bishop, Ward Mission Leader and a ward missionary.  We provided breakfast.  Very Fun.  Good to associate with such wonderful, dedicated people.

With the Soelburg's from Mesa, AZ        

Today the Soelburg's came to Duluth and we took them to see Hawk Ridge, Two Harbors and the Split Rock Lighthouse and the beautiful fall colors along the North shore of Lake Superior.  

And when we got home, our door had been " heart attacked"

We went to Bayfield, WI to the apple festival and besides having a good time, we learned that when you spend the winter in MN or WI, you definitely need a "Stormy Kromer" hat.  Or maybe several, in various colors. They are made of wool and have a band that can be pulled down to cover your ears.  Honestly, everyone has one!  About Northland fashion when it is cold, you just don't care."

Then it began to snow....