40th Anniversary

There are moments in life that we think, "Wow! I never thought this day would come!" Experiencing our 40th anniversary is definitely one of those days for us. (I am wishing right now that I had the gift of writing that my dear friend Lori Wagner has so that I could tell you what is in my heart.)
Lessons learned while living with one person for this amount of time cannot be casually written down. I know Lloyd Sherman Price so much better than when I sat by him outside the sealing room in the temple all those years ago. I believed then I was marrying a good man, one who was willing to serve the Lord and to work hard. Now, I know that I married such a man. Lloyd is not a complicated person. He is what you see; a happy person, one who likes work, and one who gets truly excited about just about everything. He is my joy.
There are many lessons in life to learn and being married provides one with a companion to meet those challenges and experiences. There are times that life is very difficult and I am so grateful that as I have faces those moments (or hours) of abyss, Lloyd's hand has always been there holding on to mine. At times when I have been lying in a hospital bed, feeling miserable, I would listen to the footsteps outside the door and could always recognize my man's step rushing to my bedside. I even just love the way he says my name.
What kind of advice would I give to those traveling the path of matrimony? I am not sure. Sometimes it is just taking one step at a time and hoping things will get better. It takes a whole lot of forgiveness on both sides. It means being realistic about the fact that the trip was never as exciting as we had planned; that the meal rarely is perfect; and that we can never turn back the clock on our bodies. My advice is to look for the good in each other; to pray together, and to hold fast to the Iron Rod. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the glue that holds Lloyd and I together. Come what may, with it to adhere us together, life is good and the best is yet to come.

With Lloyd and I on a mission and with there a lot of financial stress in the family, we wrote and children and told them not to send any Christmas presents. Instead we asked for them to do service projects and then to write us a letter tells us about the experience. We would put the letters on our Christmas tree and then open and read them on Christmas morning. It was a great experience. Our hearts were warmed as we read of them doing things for each other and for strangers. Our hearts were blessed.

On Christmas Eve we invited all the missionaries, Elder and Sister Doxey, a family of six that was visiting here and Santa Claus over to our home for a party. We thought of loved ones at home and were thankful that we had each other. After eating, we had the children put on a nativity for us while we al sang song for it. Each of the missionaries had drawn a name of another missionary and then we made a gift for that person. This was a real challenge for some, but everyone came through with flying colors. It was a great experience.

Santa was played by one of our farmers. He added a Missouri twang as he popped in to visit with us. He really added to our evening. It wasn't long before people went home to dream of home and family.

My sister Nancy sent us cold, hard bulbs less than 6 weeks ago. They came with instructions to just water them sparingly and put them in some sunlight. Within that short 6 weeks, these beautiful Amaryllis bloomed forth. How often life is like these bulbs. It looks hard and like nothings beautiful will ever come forth. When we exercise faith and hope and allow some of the natural influences of the Savior in our lives, beauty can be ours in a short time.

Forgive me but I am still trying to learn my way around this blog. For some reason I was not able to write anything by the pictures I posted. There is one group that is from the Coffey Elementary School program. This is a little town 7 miles down the road that has the school for the First through Eighth grades. Most of the classes have two grades in the same classroom and there will be about 8 to 10 students in that classroom. All of us at AOA were invited to go to the program. We arrived fifteen minutes early, but the place was aready packed. All the little girls were in their best dresses and some of the boys even had on ties. It was very much a Christmas program, with even carols being sung about Jesus. People in the midwest are not afraid to be labeled Christians. All the numbers were so well done. I do have to mention the band that the 7th and 8th graders had. It so reminded me of the one that was in my grade school. I only wish that I had a video of it and I am sure that it would have won the prize in the American Home Video contest. Bless their hearts.
We have also attended the Trenton branch Christmas party. It was so well done. Usually when we show up, the missionaries end up setting up chair and tables. But this time everything was done and the decoration were just lovely. They served different soups, breads and desserts. There was even a contest for the best soup and dessert. After that there was a branch talent show. So many people stepped forward to perform. I showed you some of the highlites. There is Elder Price telling one of his cowboy poems, Blaine age 3 playing a little violin and even Elder Westover whistling. It really was one of the best Christmas party at church that I have been to.

Trenton Branch Christmas Party

Christmas in Missouri

It was so fun getting ready for church and then having it snow just in time to have pictures taken for a Christmas card.

Some of the plagues of Missouri

There have been all kinds of new experiences for Lloyd and me here in Missouri. Here are a couple of pictures of the beetles that have invaded us twice now, once in the spring and then again in the fall. The top pictures is of the flies that also have come. That pictures does not do it justice. We have had almost as many flies as beetles. We are all thankful to good vacuums!

This is one of the things I have learned to do while here in Missouri. These are a few of the rugs that I have made since I came here.

It started by my going out to an Amish man that fixes their buggy wheels. I bought a wagon rim from him. Then I tore material in stripes they are weaved on the rim.

I have enjoyed the different patterns that come out. I have never seen one that I did not like. It has been great fun for me.

I was driving to pick up one of the other missionaries and I saw this bald eagle down in the road eating a raccoon. When I drove up, he flew up in the tree. We were able to get this picture of him. He was just beautiful.

We have seen so many different creatures here in Missouri. It has been very exciting to me.