Baton Rouge to St. Francisville

The problem with not posting the day that you actually go somewhere is that all the details just slip right out of the memory, and what's left are captions on pictures. Today's adventures took us to Coffee Call in Baton Rouge for beignets, Tony's to see (and smell) the fishy market experience, Port Hudson, St. Francisville and Rosedown Plantation.

Just watching family eat beignets is always an experience.

Before

After--Karina cannot eat beignets or roasted marshmallows without experiencing it from head to toe! She had powdered sugar up to her elbows and down her pants. And Paige was a close second in the "messy" department.

We always take pictures in front of this sign. The first question is usually, "Do they really sell that here?" "Yes! Yes they do!" 

Tanner, Karina and Nathan

A beautiful and typical view from the balcony.  All the plantations seem to have oak lined paths, and I never tire of seeing them. 

The children's room at Rosedown

On the writing desk in the children's room was, as Danielle put it, the original iPad!

Family pic on the Rosedown Plantation steps

The azaleas are just beginning to bloom, and they're gorgeous, but they're going to be even better in about 2 weeks. We were on our way back to the car and were sort of all going in different directions when Danielle's phone rang. It was Paige wondering where we were or where she was. Danielle asked her what she could see that was close to her. "A pink tree!" We had a good laugh since all the azaleas in bloom were pink :)

Gotta love grandchildren and their selfies:)

Don't let Karina's petite frame fool you. This girl has muscles that you  wouldn't believe and also holds her middle school record for pull-ups! (Boys included)

A Great Swamp Tour!

With the rosters put to bed and all the letters out, we left this morning for Henderson Landing and Avery Island. Of course we had to take the Blocker's on a swamp tour. We've now seen this area in every season, and we love it every time. Spring has arrived, and the blossoms and leaves are just on the verge of being profuse. No wonder everyone loves Spring so much after long, cold, white winters. That's not particularly the case in LA, but it surely was lacking in color on the Winter swamp tour. The water was as high as it's ever been, and the gators were just coming out. They weren't hungry, so they didn't come over to the boat, but the big boys were definitely out and about!

We were able to go with Captain Tucker again, and he's always informative and entertaining. He mentioned that alligators can't digest food when their body temperatures are below 65, so they just don't eat yet. And here's another Capt. Tucker tip. There are 2 kinds of mosquitoes in LA--the small ones that go through screen doors and the big ones that just open the doors to get in!

Paige, in front, and Karina ready to navigate the swamps

Early Spring in the Atchafalaya Basin

Capt. Tucker's duck blind.  It has a full kitchen and sleeps 6 hunters comfortably. Define "comfortably!"

The water hyacinth is beginning to grow back after winter

This is Mac. It's hard to tell how big this guy is from the picture, but he's the largest gator they've seen in the swamp. He's about 50  years old and 12-12 1/2' long.

This is not Mac, but he looked bigger and scarier to me.

At the Tabasco Tour on Avery Island

Paige, Tanner, Karina and Danielle--Nathan was almost always inconveniently somewhere else at picture time.

The Blocker's in LA

Danielle's (our oldest) family arrived in New Orleans last night and spent most of today seeing the sights of NOLA. The day after transfers isn't the best time for me to leave the office, so Marc had to manage without me. I don't know how he navigated without my help! Okay, that's a joke. I have been told that I can't find my way out of a paper bag with a map. Sadly, this is very true. We've been here 15 months and to NOLA at least 10 times, and if you dropped me off in the middle of New Orleans you'd never see me again. I'd probably end up in Mississippi or Florida. That's pathetic!

There was plenty to do in the office before the Blocker's arrived in Baton Rouge. The rosters are the biggest project, and it's always nice to get those completed. Fortunately, there weren't any major adjustments to be made, and as soon as President Hansen submitted the new transfer board and it cleared through SLC the rest was easy.

The one little challenge that I had today was an issue with not receiving confirmation on flights I requested a week ago. After I request flights for returning missionaries I always get an email within a few hours with a summary of the requested information. If I've made a mistake on the date, airports, name, etc. they can be changed before the flights are booked. For some reason that never came, nor did the tentative itineraries that come in 1-2 days later. So I emailed the travel office and discovered that, for the first time ever, my request went to "electronic limbo!" But they assured me that the tech team was on it and would get it corrected. Within 10 minutes I'd received the itineraries and profuse apologies. Talk about efficient! Super helpful people in that office makes my job so much easier.

The advantage of not going to meet family is seeing some missionaries. Sister Jewett and Sister Roberts were in the office picking up some commissary and checking out who was transferred since they didn't get to go the the meeting yesterday.

First stop after arriving in Baton Rouge was to take the Blocker's to Bass Pro Shop. They all agreed that they'd never water ski in Louisiana waters after seeing the alligator gar. 

Three Blocker Beauties--Karina, Danielle and Paige

Adjusting to Central Time was a bit of a challenge!

Transfer #11

Only three incoming missionaries arrived yesterday from the Provo MTC, and, of course, we love them already. What we lack in quantity we're making up in quality. They're absolutely wonderful, and will be a positive addition to the mission.

Sister Hansen, Sister Kerr, Sister Woodward, Elder Armstrong and President Hansen

These 2 Southern Californians will now be serving together in New Orleans--Elder Glauser and Elder Joubert

Sister Astle and Sister Boehme

Looks like the Senior table! The Hastings, Bibles, Nelsons and Elder Fontenot

Sister Butterfield, Sister Biver and Sister Hockemier

Sister Smith, Elder Trainor, Elder Andrews and Elder Martell

Elder Hillam, Sister Widdison and  Sister Masteller

Elder Smith and Elder Brown, standing, and Elder Brimhall and Elder Fowler--the white shirts are Alexandria Zone Leaders and the suite are Denham Springs ZL's

Elder Peterson and Elder Perazzo

Elder White, Elder Stewart, Elder Madsen and Elder Wittig. Elders W & W will be leaving us tomorrow:(

Sister McEntire, Sister Hunter and Elder Trainor

Elders Anderson, Dye, Perazzo and Simmons

Elder Murhula and Elder Jean Louis

Sister Ririe and Sister Wood

The newest elder, Elder Armstrong, and his trainer, Elder Morrell--They'll be the Dynamic Duo!

Sister Hansen with Elder Simmons, Elder Armstrong, Elder Morrell and Elder Airplane Toone

A Rose among, hmm, more roses--Elders Barker, Condie, Smith, Nield, Browning, Southward, Gosch and Sister Pearson

Elder Raines, Elder Mills and Elder Wise

Sister Greer, Elder Jacildo and Elder Fowler

Elder Backman

Sister Earl and Sister Worthington

Sister Masteller, Sister Widdison and Sister Dixon

Temple Square Sister Merrill and Sister McMullin

Elder Peltzer with origami made by Elder Barnes

Elder Gordon, Elder Andrews, Elder Cooley and President Hansen

Elder Richardson, Elder Lehr, Elder Brimhall and Sister Bible

Elder Cooley and Elder McCutcheon

The LaPlace Elders--Elder Whitmarsh, Elder Brosnahan, Elder Whittier, and Elder Dobie

Elder Abbott is leaving Baton Rouge :( after 9 months and will be serving with Elder Ralph in Ponchatoula

Elder Wittig flanked by the LSU Sisters--Sister Barclay, from Cedar City:) and Sister Carpenter, from Texas. I thought I'd take a picture of Sister Carpenter and Sister Arntz (from KY), but apparently it's in the black hole. Anyway,  they met at BYU, received their calls at the same time (but I don't think they were together)  left on their missions the same day and were in the MTC together. The best part is that they'll both return to BYU after their missions and I'll get to see them!

Elders Nield, Condie, Browning and Gosch

Sister Hansen always speaks first at Transfer Meeting. Today she reiterated what Elder Mecham said in his farewell comments when he left last month. It's worth repeating. At the beginning of his mission he looked in the white handbook for loopholes. By the end of his mission he was looking in the handbook for ways to receive blessings.

Then Sister Hansen continued by saying that God knows something you don't. He knows things beyond our comprehension to understand. Before the Hansen's come on their mission they lived way out in the Boise countryside. They'd taught their dogs to not go off the grass on their property because of coyotes and other critters, and the dogs were good to stay where they were supposed to, including the littlest one. One day her son came over and brought his dog who didn't know the rules. He took off, leaving the "safety" of the yard, and the Hansen's dogs all followed--a serious case of peer pressure. All of the dogs finally returned, except the little one who never came back. They'd taught her what she needed to do, even though she didn't understand, but they'd just wanted her to have a happy earthly life. 

She quoted D&C 130:20-21 and thoughts from Pres. Uchtdorf. "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated--And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." That's what God wants for us--to be obedient and happy and return to Him. Some people think that God has lots of blessing locked up in heaven, withholding them. He is constantly raining blessings upon us, but we block them with fear, doubt and sin--like opening an umbrella. By following His commandments we close our umbrellas and receive blessing He wants us to achieve. and can return with honor. That's what we (the Hansen's) want for the missionaries. 

Final "Words of Wisdom" from Soon-to-be-Released Missionaries.

Elder Ryan ~ Be yourself, wear a smile, help others and enjoy yourself. I wouldn't change anything. Embrace the hard stuff then get over it! There's no better feeling than knowing that someone you've baptized now holds the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Elder White ~ The mission is awesome and so are you. The mission is awesome, so don't get blue. When life gets rough and tough to bear, buy a pack of abitas (root beer) for all to share. Take a sip, pass it around, and if you're sick, waterfall it down. High five and look around. The Mormon Missionaries run this town. If you don't like my poem, I don't care. I'll be on the beach somewhere! (Elder W wrote this.) Cherish the friendships you make. You won't get them anywhere else. I have a strong testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Learn to apply it in your life. Don't let it go to waste. He took upon himself our pains, etc (quoted Alma 7:11-13). This is the message we have to share. It's incredible! Use it!

Elder Wittig ~ Understand the difference you can make in others' lives. My dad was a great example in my life. He raised his family in the Church, loved us, held the Priesthood and blessed us with it, taught us to go on mission. My dad's a convert. Think about the lives you can change. My older brother said I wouldn't like my mission if I can't get along with my companions, so I made a promise to him that I wouldn't gossip about or talk badly about my companions. I can hay that I've loved all my companions. 

Sister Betts ~ One bit of advice I'll give it to love the people you serve and serve with. You know you did a good job on your mission when it's worse leaving here than it was leaving home. This is the hardest thing you'll do, but you can do it because of the Atonement. Let what the Savior did change your life. His love changes people and it changes us.

Sister Lucherini ~ My acronym--GAPS. G for gratitude. If you're grateful, you can get through anything. A for Attitude--not the arrogant kind, but have a good attitude. P for Prayer. Have it regularly. S for Service. It's how we got in doors and brought less actives back.

Sister Pearson ~ Set a vision of who you want to be at the end of your mission. I wrote 4 things for myself:. 1) Understand the Atonement. 2) Understand Miracles and why God blesses us with them. 3) Listen and act on the spirit. 4) I missed this one:( Two other things I've learned: 1) Learn how the power of love affects people. When you love others you represent the Savior. Ask yourself, "How well am I loving these people?" 2) Being a missionary is the best thing I've done. The Atonement can help you overcome hard times. Be humble and diligent and God can take you from ordinary to extraordinary. I have a picture of the Savior. On it is written, "What have you done with my name?" 

From Preach My Gospel: "More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children." From Pres. Uchtdorf: Happiness is a destination. It's also a path.

I Miss These Faces!

It's so nice to have Kiersten Lindstrom keep in touch with me and with some of our returned missionaries, including President and Sister Wall. And they're still color coordinated! Kiersten and Emily Ogden were able to see the Wall's last week during Emily's spring break. She's took a long term substitute position in Arizona while looking for a permanent teaching position. She already had a Bachelor's degree before serving her mission, but going home mid-school year (December) might make it hard to find something more permanent before fall.

President Wall, Kiersten, Emily and Sister Wall

I love this picture! Former Elder Caesar was able to make an appearance for St. Patrick's Day because he's the right color!