Monday, October 30

Since we really aren't going anywhere this P-day I decided to show you a bit more of our world.  We walk across the street and down possibly 1/2 block and we are at the Temple.  When we pass the Temple we go through a building used to keep children who will be sealed and a few other things that has a center staircase.  We walk down those stairs and out onto this view of the Chapel parking lot and the hilside full of nice houses and high rises across the street.

On to the left and down a walkway is the chapel.  There is a podium, a piano and a sacrament table at the far right and then a room full of benches on a tile floor that can be moved out of the way for activities.  There is a sliding door behind the benches where chairs are set up (and filled) each Sunday.  There is a stage at that end of the room.  The doors are closed after Sacrament meeting and SS classes are held in the two halves while Primary and the youth meet down a hall.  We have determined by the area around the chapel, the clothes people wear and the cars that they drive that we are probably in one of the more affluent Wards.  There are no regular missionaries assigned to the Ward but there are eight Temple missionary couples (3 from in the country and 5 from outside) which adds to their bulk.  I was told that we are probably the only Ward in the county where there are headsets and interpretation.

We stopped on the way home so I could snap some pictures of the flowers by the Temple.

These interesting trees and roots are just outside of our building.

These are the front doors of our building along with my cute companion.

This is the beautiful courtyard you see when you enter or when we look out of our kitchen window.

These are some of the high rises you see across the main street.

 I had Dad sketch the apartment for you.  We are very happy here and as we see the other three apartments that were created from this house we feel very blessed that this one fits our needs so well.  Some of the apartments have no windows or doors that aren't screened or on the side that get too much wind.  Our windows all face in internal cement courtyard that really serves no purpose except providing wonderful windows without winds or insects.

We noticed a dresser in the living room of one apartment but we have tons of space with shelves in our bedroom that serve the needs that a dresser would provide.  Our bedroom is big enough that we each have a computer desk in it.  The other apartments have their computers out in the living rooms.  We have so much kitchen storage that some of the shelves have nothing on them.  We have seem metal shelves out in the room and other interesting storage in the other kitchens.  We feel SO blessed.

Probably the most interesting thing that is really different here is the bathroom ventilation.  There are no fans but instead a skylight in the ceiling that has some open windows at all times.  There was a lot of wind the other day and I found a few leaves on the bathroom floor.  There is always dust of the sink counter, etc. but there are ALWAYS open windows.  They are set so no rain comes in but it truly is interesting.

Here is the view looking up in the bathroom.

We have a great family in the Ward who have a 27-year-old autistic girl.  She is very pretty and has a good memory for names, etc. but must be on about a third grade level.  Last night at 9:30 our doorbell rang and she was there with her parents.  She had made a Halloween card for every set of missionaries. 

Now we have a Halloween decoration on our fridge.  I told here that I would wait for something for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentines!