BritishSmarts: Week 26 ( New Babies at the Archives)

We are happy and enjoying our mission. We enjoy Sundays and time with our ward so very much. Our temple prep class is such a wonderful experience each week. We are hoping to attend the temple with some or all of our class soon.

Paul's had struggles getting around this week. He's struggled with gout, but it is nearly gone.

It looks like we will be spending a full day and a part day in the London Family History Centre each week. All day each Tuesday and 4 hours on Friday where we will exchange places with the couples from the other London mission who run the family history centre. Paul's expertise will be of such great value to the patrons of the centre (British spelling) and Annie will learn a lot while we serve there. We should enjoy the change, but are glad to be still digitizing as well.

You all can be proud of this "oldy moldy" (as Spencer would say) couple that has really learned how to get to places via the bus and underground and train system. We took the overground train to attend a baptism this week. Which was a great experience. Mohamad a former Muslim joined the church and promises to be a very strong member. We took the buses to a hospital for Paul to get a chest x-ray (check up order of our Doctor). We took the buses to grocery store and back with lots of sacks full of groceries as we do each week. We also take the underground every time we go to downtown London area. Each week we find ourselves learning about new bus or train routes and charting our course. It is an experience we will always remember.

This week was the 24th celebration in Utah and not a celebration at all in the UK, but we celebrated anyway. Paul was able to get the parade live on the internet and we hooked it up to the TV. We worked all day but were still able to watch half of the parade just like we were back home in Utah.

24th parade on TV

Paul watching the parade

Picnic on the deck

We also had a picnic with Elder and Sister Powell on our deck. We enjoyed fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, fruit salad, and rhubarb crisp. An all American meal, minus the home made ice cream.

Mom and 3 of 4 cygnets

Dad swan taking it easy

The swans and cygnets are growing rapidly. They are two months old and almost as big as their parents, but they do not look as white as mom and dad, yet.

Mom and two ducklings

More ducks

We were surprised this week to find one of the ducks with 4 ducklings. I was only able to get two at a time in the pictures.

Happy birthday to Jessilyn!

Love you guys so much!!!!!!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie, Elder and Sister Smart

We are proud of all of you and your efforts. This week we particularly want to mention Andrew and his schooling. He announced that he had been accepted to both BYU and Utah, to finish his law schooling.