Finished!

I finally finished updating the Secretary's Office Manual--all almost 100 pages! It's nice to get that little task off my plate.

Happy Mardi Gras!

We were up early and found a place great location where we could watch the parade in Lee's Circle. By the time the parade began we were freezing! Sunday was an absolutely perfect day, but by this morning the temperature dropped and the wind picked up. Not a good combination when you're unprepared. We had planned to watch Zulu and Rex. That was cut by about 75%, and we headed back to Baton Rouge with hot chocolate and the heat on high. It was so cold that I couldn't bear to take my hands out of my pockets to take pictures, so, except for 2 short videos, this is it!

While we were waiting for the Krewe of Zulu to arrive, skeleton man proposed to red hat girl, and then the news picked it up and filmed them just after the proposal. And we were about 6 feet away. That was a fun beginning to the day.

Newscaster just after the wedding proposal.

One of the Zulu Krewe

The Zulu King is up there somewhere

We came back to the office to get this mornings' work caught up. No one was there because Tuesdays and District Meeting days, then they usually go to lunch. But Sister Biver and Sister Chandler dropped in and posed for their picture. I'm not sure their moms would recognize them!

Lundi Monday!

It's Lundi Gras, y'all! I'd never even heard that term until I turned on the newshere in New Orleans, and they were talking about Lundi Gras celebrations and festivities. So here we are in NOLA because tomorrow is Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, and we decided this would be a unique way to celebrate our anniversary. We left Baton Rouge a little early thinking the traffic would be terrible. Surprisingly there was almost none. So after an early dinner we checked into the hotel then walked a few blocks to one of the parades.

The first one was the Krewe of Proteus, which I'm renaming the "Bootie Parade!" There were more bands than floats and each band had a drill team or dance team or flags or baton twirlers or all of them, and they all wore some pretty short costumes. By the end of the parade we had 2 strings of beads and I was beginning to wonder why there's so much hype about Mardi Gras. 

That parade ended and we started back to the hotel. We'd gone a block when Marc suggested that we go back and wait for the Krewe of Orpheus who was coming on the same route. Even though the weather has changed from 70 degrees and breezy to 50 and rain, it was so worth it! It was too dark for many pictures, but I managed to get one of the train. It must've had 8 cars! And they were much more generous with the beads. I probably have enough to open my own store. 

Another thing I liked about this parade was the theme for each of the floats--"The Magic of an Ordinary Day," "Music, the Language of Angels," "The Splendod of a Sunrise," to name just a few.

Every parade began with  the American Flag

King Neptue

In this parade everyone on each float looked the same--same mask, same hat, same hair, same costume. They could use a little variety!

I don't even know the name of this float but thought this guy was kind of cute.

When we returned to see the Orpheus Krewe this was one of the first "floats." I was really a great display of lights and very generous with the beads.

A Mini-Reunion

I Love the South! Where else would you hear someone pray for President Munson and aks that he be blessed?

Just before Relief Society I received a text from Caden Steele. I know Elder Mecham was giving his homecoming talk today so there were several LABRM missionary alumni who were in Idaho. It looks like 4 of them came in from Provo. This group spent the night at the Steele's. They all look great--and happy! Thanks for the pic, Caden!

Katherine Stennett, Kiersten Lindstrom, Chandler Adkins, Caden Steele, Jenna Schmutz and  Billy, Bill, William (or whatever he calls himself) Watkins. I did mention, when Jenna was back in town, that she was dating someone special. Now you know who, and I couldn't be happier!

Finally! A face to go with a name and voice. Meet Grandpa Smith, Elder Holden Smith's gpa. And  that could be Grandma Smith with him, but I'm not saying definitely. Gpa Smith and I have become great phone friends. He told me that they were going to attend Elder Mecham's homecoming, so that's where this pic is taken--Sugar City, Idaho. Before Elder Smith returned to Baton Rouge, Gpa told me that he was praying so hard for Elder Smith to have a good companion. After Elder Smith returned to the mission for the Nov. 5 Transfer and Elder M became his new companion and trainer. Grandpa had his prayers answered in the best way possible, and now Elder Smith is the District Leader and training a brand new missionary. 

A Great Tracting Story

The Prairieville Sister Training Leaders and Plaquettes met at the office today to go on an exchange. While the Plaquettes were waiting for the others to arrive I asked them how their week had been. They just about jumped out of skin from excitement. Yesterday they went tracting in Port Allen and happened upon a man, maybe in his 40's, outside mowing the lawn. They introduced themselves and struck up a conversation, then he said to them, "You're angels sent from God!" Sister Morris thought he was joking around, but he repeated it, and when she looked in his face could tell that he was serious. He said he wants to bring his family to church this Sunday and also wants the Sisters to visit his parents in Plaquemine.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Sunday.

Sister Biver, Sister Butterfield, Sister Lucherini and Sister Morris

Updating the Office Manual

It was so quiet in the office yesterday and today, so I've been taking advantage of the lack of activity to update the secretary's office manual. In a few months we'll be moving on and someone else will take our place, so I decided to see what I've been missing in the instruction book. Fortunately, Sister Olsen did a great job as my trainer. I've never actually even looked in the manual. What I discovered yesterday is that it was made up in 2010--long before the Olsen's or the Gordon's and President and Sister Wall were here! I did manage to find all of it on the computer which is making the task much easier. It all makes total sense to me now, but I'm sure it would have baffled me a year ago.

There have been several policy changes along with some computer updates. But it's a pretty thick binder, and I've spent many hours and have more to come. The bright spot in the day is always the missionaries. These were the only 2 companionships for today.

Sister King and her new companion, Sister Chandler, serve in the Baton Rouge North area. Sister Merrill, the Temple Square Sister who was with Sister King, was transferred to Many--almost 4 hours from here.

Elder Toone and Elder Anderson came in from Amite (an hour away) to get their car registered. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but here it is again. All of the mission cars have to be registered in this parish, so these elders had to make the long drive into BR to get that taken care of.

Baton Rouge Spanish Missionaries

Tuesdays are District Meetings, so after their meeting and lunch, the whole Baton Rouge Spanish District came into the offfice. There were a few changes at transfers last week, including moving one set of elders out of Baton Rouge. So here's the present line-up.

Sister Jewett and Sister Roberts. I think this is going to be a very fun pair. They've been living in the same apartment with the BR North Sisters but will be moving soon to a different location.  Our mission numbers are dropping so there are a few extra apartments. 

Elder Cunningham and Elder Drollinger are the BR East Elders and Elder Joubert and Elder Horrocks are now the BR South Spanish Elders.