Spring is coming to Texas

 Although it has been cold (lows in the 20s for many days), the weather is starting to warm up and we are seeing more and more signs that spring is coming!  Some of the trees have green "halos", others have pink flowers, the daffodils are blooming and warm air is coming!




 Tiny pink blossoms in front of our apartment.



Most of last week we had to wear sweatshirts AND coats on our morning walk.  Today was a sweatshirt only day, and we even had to tie them around our waists by the end, as it was getting so warm.  A very welcome change.

One of the things we have noticed on our walks and drives is that almost every palm tree we see is dead.  We found out that last year they had very deep freezes (pipes bursting, power outages, etc.) and that 90% of the palm trees died here in central Texas.  So sad!


 We were very busy last week.  We had appointments almost every day.  We have an even busier week this week.  We are starting to teach the English Connect and Family History Connect in both Gonzales and Lockhart.  This week we are contacting the newspaper editor in Gonzales to have something written up about the free classes.  We are hoping to get in put in the "Church" section, which they print up for free. 

They have made little pass-along cards with the Family History times, and will be making new pass-along cards in Spanish for the English Connect times and places.  They are starting to post it on-line, and we already have one new student that will be joining us on Wednesday.  So exciting!

 We signed up to volunteer at the local food bank here in Lockhart.  We haven't heard back from them.  Two of the sisters volunteer there each week. Two of the sisters volunteer at a local pet shelter (cats), but when they described it, it didn't sound like something for us.

We starting teaching a couple, Jenni and Heriberto, the temple prep classes.  They were super excited to hear that we could go with them to the temple. (We have permission to leave the mission boundaries to go to the temple with members.)  They had hoped the John could seal them, but he had to tell them he is only authorized to do sealings in the Provo City Center Temple. :-(   But we are excited to take them!  That will probably be in June, as the San Antonio Temple is closed April and May for their deep cleaning, etc.

 We had a great experience with the Elders Quorum President as we met with him about brainstorming ideas about ministering in the branch.  It was a pleasure to witness revelation come as we counseled together and through the person who holds the priesthood keys.

Elder Bell (aka John) has also started teaching Priesthood Prep for several who are soon to be ordained elders.  They well be ordained after Stake Conference, which is April 17. So General Conference is on the 1st Sunday of April, then Stake Conference is on the 3rd Sunday of April.  Don't know what our traveling will be like..... Don't know which people have Internet, is the church going to broadcast it, etc.

We go on a walk each morning.  Sometimes it is to Walmart or the grocery store.  Other times we just go to new places.  We've seen parks, schools, historic buildings and lots of neighborhoods, both old and new.  We really enjoy our walks!

Amist all the busy times, we drive... a lot!  30 miles to Gonzales, 30 miles to Kyle, 20 miles to Dale, etc.  We are glad to have a hybrid!  We fill the tank about every 6 days.  John does the driving, and if we don't have something to plan or practice, I knit or crochet.  So, some of the photos are what I've made and some are places we've been.😀 

 In front of the Gonzales branch building.



I made these before coming, but recently put them out for St. Patrick's Day.
 In a pond in the city park.  There were geese and ducks.

 Muskovy ducks.

 We ate at Black's BBQ last week.  This week we ate at Chisholm Trail's BBQ.

 Tiny airport.

 My new boy in green.

 This turkey vulture was with a small group enjoying a dead squirrel.  This is the closest we've ever been to one in the wild.

 The pink and blue bunnies are new this year.  The blue one, which I just finished yesterday, has already been given away. 😍


 

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