Some Fun Along the Way

Lest anyone thinks all we do is work!!!!!
Here are some fun things we have been able to see and do.

Pensacola Naval Air Station Museum

This was an activity with all the couples in the mission after a Senior Couples Training.

Entrance 

Lovely Entrance to the left of the previous picture

 The Museum covered the history of aviation starting with WWI.  Here is a small sample of the planes we saw and the many marvels of aviation.  The tour guide was a retired navy flyer who had flown most of the planes during one of his 330 missions. This display showing the men in a bunker during WWI was my favorite.  The carrier pidgeons were the first flyers.

WWI 

Live carrier pidgeons

TAT-TA-TAT-TAT

German fighter plane WWI
Red Baron's Plane

America's Answer
Sopwith Camel
Can you find Snoopy?

The guns were located behind the propeller.

WWII Japanese Zero

Japanese fighter pilot with his plane

WWII American Fighter

Atomic Bomb

Blue Angels

 We went to an Imax theater to watch a movie about the Blue Angels only to find out they were right outside training.  Had we only known....GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

Appollo Space Ship

President's helicopter.
 Richard Nixon mannequin is sitting in the passenger seat

Daddy comes home

Florida Caverns State Park

The whole state is made of limestone so there are caverns all over.  This is the only one giving tours.  It is located right here in Marianna.  

Entrance to the Caverns

Pond in the cavern shaped like South America

The cavern was made passable by the CCCP workers during the depression.  In order to see better while they were working they put white plates in the ceiling above their lights.  It reflected the light and made it brighter.  Must have been a good idea. The modern version is leave the plate, add electric lights.

Plate in the Ceiling to reflect light

OUCH!!!!

There are some lovely facilities in the park.  Two large picnic grounds to have a family reunion or church party and the Blue Water Swimming Hole which is just like its name suggests, Blue.

Water Safety Advise
Only Swim where you can see the bottom.
Gators love the water, too.

Ponce DeLeon Springs

"You may not regain your lost youth but you will definately know you are alive."

 The water is 68 degrees.  The only cold water we have found in Florida.

There is certainly none coming out of your tap at home.

Close encounter with a Gator.

Falling Waters

The Tallest Waterfall in Florida

73 feet

The viewing platform is about half way down in a sink hole.  We think this warrants a return trip when it is raining.  Washington/Oregon waterfalls spoiled us.  

Top of falls

Bottom of Falls

 These are sink holes.  

The limestone gives way or is eaten away by water erosion leaving a giant hole. 

 And yes, that is a big dark hole with no visible bottom.

As fun and beautiful as all these things were, we are finding the most delight in teaching the gospel and helping the people of the Marianna Ward.  We are teaching 3 newly baptized members the New Member Lessons.  It is a wonderful experience to see the light of the gospel illuminate their countenance as the principles are explained, the Spirit testifies to them of their truthfulness, they accept and their faith is strengthened.

OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

We have been blessed with a very comfortable home.  If we did not appreciate it when we first arrived, we surely do now we have been out and seen what some people live in.  The homes run the gamet of elegant old Southern Mansions to well-built modern homes to modular homes to trailers that have seen a better day to run down shacks.

Our Home 

This home was built by our landlady's mother when she did not want to live in the old mansion anymore.  She had it built just the way she wanted and we could not be more pleased.

View from the Porch

Gardenia bush on side of the house

They smell lovely, too.

Lane in front of the House.
 Our landlady lives down there.

 There is a great room with sitting, dining, kitchen and office areas all in one.  The master bedroom, walk-in closet, and bath are all large and comfy. There is an extra bedroom we hardly use.

Saving that fireplace for future use.  They say it gets cold.

Sitting, Kitchen, Office 

Dining room view

Our First Dinner in our Marianna Home

Our first week was a blast.  I learned to not wear my sandals every where.  We are very happy to have brought the Sequoia.  The GPS is not always accurate.  Homes can hide in the bushes.  Paved roads become dirt very fast.  Trees grow moss. Floors of trailers rot out and if you cover the hole with carpet, you won't fall through; this time. Bugs bite, lots of bugs.  People said, "Bugs."  I thought cockroaches.  Not even. A good bug guy is a MUST HAVE.  Henry is not the only one with a large girth.  There is beauty all around. Cardinals do not like to have their pictures taken.

4 Wheeling to a Member's Home

Mossy Trees

Out searching for member's homes,
 were rewarded with this sight.

Magnolia blossom

Restraunt Booth Southern Style

My best attempt yet at getting a picture of a cardinal.
 May take 18 months to perfect.

We have truly been blessed to have some wonderful Elders and Sisters to show us the way.  Their

testimonies shine out with their enthusiasm for the gospel and dedication to the work.  We have been the beneficiary of their success and have 3 new members whom we are teaching the new member lessons.

Our first Elders.
 Cannon, , Washington, Utah; Nelson, Santa Clara, Utah;
Carlson, Delta, Utah

Our first Sisters
Wood, Provo, Utah; Jensen, Preston, Idaho

Whether we live in Florida or the "Couv" our testimonies burn brightly.  Our hope is that we can use this base to help others learn of Christ, come unto him and become one with the Saints of God for we know that is the path to true happiness.