July 21-28th 2014

Here it is Mon. again, where is the time going?  Our week was full of running people to appointments. Rosenna is still fighting her tooth problem.  I wish I had taken a picture of her yesterday when we picked  her up for church.  She walked out in a low cut sundress that left nothing to the imagination, no teeth, and in house slippers.  You can’t help but love her.  She knows how to play the system and get help from the branch. She went away smiling because they are going to save her from being kicked out of her home, we are taking in a food order for her Thurs, and we are making a bunch of food for her today to get her by till Thurs.  How do these people get themselves in such a pickle?  She has had 18 children, (not all still alive), when she called, in tears, because there was nothing to eat, I ask her to call one of her kids and ask for some food, they are all working too hard. We don’t mean to sound like sour grapes but how are we supposed to teach them when we go in her house, the brother lives with her and two grand kids, that are teenagers, all sitting in the middle of the day watching TV.  The more the church does for them the more they expect.  I’m not bitter by any means, just wondering how on earth we can help change their way of thinking! We see it go on and on, generation after generation in our whole branch.  You can’t help but love all of them, wish we could do more, this will just keep on going because they don’t know any better!
  We had a baptism Sun. A young man that is 11, he is very sharp and hopefully will be a strong member of this branch.  He had a really good turn out to his baptism, his mother didn’t even come to the baptism, she is a baptized member but very bitter and talks down about the church, I’m surprised she let him get baptized.
  We have many more Dr. appointments with Rosenna and Dee this week, we have to stagger them cause they are all in a different direction.  We had a thunder and rain storm during the night to beat all the ones previously.  It was just like day, it felt like every time it would come in our bedroom window.
  We want to thank all of you for being so good to us for our anniversary; it was so good to talk to all of you and appreciated the remembrances and cards.  We had game night at  the church, had about 15 there, then Dad took me out to AppleBee’s, thanks to the gift card you sent.  We have learned that we have everything in the world, a wonderful family, each other, wonderful friends and people that has influenced our life so much. And most of all the gospel that binds us all together and gives us our purpose in life.  We are doing exactly what we wanted to be doing for our 50th anniversary, we are on a mission, something I’ve wanted all my life, we are so blessed and thankful for the wonderful life we’ve had together, our family, and so many good friends and people that have enriched our life.  We give a big (THANK YOU)  to all of you for the part you’ve played in it.  We are the most blessed people in the world and all of you contributed to that.         LOVE YOU ALL!

The steps in the movie Rocky

 Philly

July 14-21, 2014

Greetings to all of you from Philly!  A bright, hot day, already in the high 80’s.  We had another great week. It took us a little discipline to get back into the same routine we had when we took a few days off with the Halls.  Seem like so many things fell apart while we were gone, not that we are that important, but just situations that came up in the branch.  Our newest convert left her husband and is now living out of our area.  We still try to meet her at the branch, but that is hard because she had her car impounded.
We had a nice surprise last Sat.  We were helping with the 24th celebration at the park, (it finally got pulled off), people don’t plan ahead nor even think about it until the last second.  Anyway, the Freiss’ called and were coming to Philly.  Dad went and got them at our house. They came down to the park and had a hot dog and met some of the branch.  We then cleaned up there and took them to dinner.  It was so good to see them and get caught up on the ward.  They were going to Ginger’s- she has moved to Connecticut to work.  Howard Nell went back there and is doing well in selling home security systems, so they joined him to try their luck at it.
We have dental appointments to take some sisters to. We had one on Mon. with Sister Dee. I came home so upset it took me awhile to calm down. All she did was abuse dad and I because we didn’t do everything she demanded.  She even accused us of stealing some of her groceries when we took her shopping.  Three calls saying we took her salad because it wasn’t in the grocery sack.  After hanging up on us and cussing, she called back and said it had fallen out of her sack and fell under a chair.  I  feel so bad for her, but, I’m going to wait a couple of week before we handle it again.  It is so tough to get old, maybe that is what dad and I do to all of you!
We had a very spiritual meeting with Kathleen Biedrzycki on Mon.  Her entire life has fallen apart.  Her daughter that got out of prison is going back in, she is raising her Granddaughter, because that mother, died of an overdose.  Now she is going to stop smoking so she can get help from the church.  It sounds like we have sour grapes towards all of it but, we have played this game before.  We pray this time will help when the church pulls her out of another bind.  Anyway, the Spirit was very strong in the meeting. She seemed pretty humbled and willing to start working with all of us in the branch.  Who am I to judge, if I had her tough life I would probably be in worse circumstances than she is. Again I realize how my cup runneth over with gratitude for such a wonderful, easy life.  My attitude has softened by this morning, I’m ready to give it a try again today. Rosina is calling for us to pick up a prescription for her mouth.  3 more teeth to go, hope we all make
We love all of you so much.  We realize that you are having your ups and downs as well. Sorry we vent so much, by the time Dad and I cry, pray then start to laugh about all the situations back here, always by the next morning we are ready to try as hard as we can again.  Your prayers and love a helping us through, no matter how tough it gets, the gospel is true and we are very glad we are back here.
 All have a wonderful week and know how very much each one of you individually are loved and appreciated.  HAPPY 24th  We will be at the dentist with Rosina but thinking of all of you!  Thanks for the support and the encouragement!
All our love, Mom  & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma, Karl and Joyce and Bro. & Sis. Armstrong

A few more pics at the Sacred Grove

 24th Celebration pic-nic

July 7-14, 2014

What a special week we are having! The Halls got here at 12:00 Thurs. night and we got up at 6:00 a.m. to go to Palmyra. It was a hot, muggy day but we had so much fun catching up on the past 6 months. Halls look good, John is having a little adjustment with his meds and heart procedure. They keep such a pace with their temple schedule, I worry about them. We have had several talks about where we are all going to live now we are old. No conclusions as yet... they are thinking Manti, I’m not!
The highlight of the trip was to see our beautiful Granddaughter Addison. She is serving her mission right back at the pageant sight. I had butterflies so bad.  We didn’t know where to find her, so Grandpa split us up.  The only reason is he knew he would find her and get to see her first, which he did. She was standing in the lunch line and Grandpa saw her beautiful blond hair.  We went in and sat by her while she ate and she had saved us seats and we got to sit by her through the whole performance.
 What a wonderful experience, to see that beautiful, wonderful pageant while sitting by Addison. It was a little chilly and she had come prepared. First she put on a sweater, then a jacket, 10 minutes later on went big warm socks, 30 minutes later we shared the quilt she brought for us and put some of it over her. Finally, she put on one more coat and said she was pretty warm.  What a nut she is.  Everyone, the couple missionaries, the staff (pageant participants) all knew her and loved her.  The elder couples couldn’t say enough wonderful things about her. What a treat for Grandpa and Grandma.  The next morning we found her at the Joseph Smith house, up in the bedroom where she was giving tours of what happened in that room. This was where Angle Moroni came and instructed Joseph all night long.  There were nine Smith children, all sleeping up stairs and all that took place while they were sleeping. We listened to her lecture 3 times.  Each time she told different things.  It was a wonderful experience to see her in action!  It was also her BD, so we gave her loves and told her goodbye for another year. Dad and I are blessed with such a wonderful family! All of you are so wonderful. How we love and appreciate what each person contributes to the Army of 30+.
 We went up to Niagara Falls and saw all the wonderful things up there. The Halls enjoyed it, they hadn’t seen it before. We then drove back to Palmyra to spend the night and got up to go to church Sun morning.  The ward there had at least 200 extra people there, probably more, and the Mission Pres. Francis and his wife were the speakers. Addison was having church with all the cast members.
 We have two more days with the Halls. We are going to show them our area, branch and some members, go down town to the temple sight and maybe to the Amish country.
 Missionary work went on hold for three days, we have started with calls this morning with needs so we are getting back into our missionary hats and do what we came back here to do!
  After having a refresher course on the history of the church we have had it so reinforced how very blessed we are to have the gospel in our lives. The most important thing in the world is the gospel and our families.  Thank you for all being so supportive to us, for doing your very best to live the gospel and training such special grand kids. We are so proud and thankful for family, and dear friends!

Dinner with Addison & her companion

tour at the Joseph Smith home

The Sacred Grove with John & Ease

July 1-7th, 2014

 Dear Family & Friends,
We have been out here 6 months now, where does time go to?  Last week was not quite as busy as the week before.  We had a lot of appointments fall through. We have two elders leaving; Elder Raybe is through with his mission and Elder Smith has been transferred.  They both knew it was coming so they slowed down towards the end of the week.  We hate to see Elder Smith leave. He has been with us the whole time we’ve been here.  Really a good Elder!  Tomorrow we get two new ones. Hope they are dynamite! The two ladies that were baptized two months ago haven’t been out to church since our last two Elders left, they were the ones that baptized these two sisters, and they became very attached to those Elders.  There has also been some health issues with both of them, hope that is the reason, we keep seeing them and calling them!
Our Rozenna, (the tooth lady) wouldn’t go back to the dentist this week so now if she feels better we are going to take her in tomorrow.  The poor thing is so scared,  I don’t blame her, she has only three teeth left.  We’ll see if she will go by tomorrow.
The 4th turned out to be real fun, we had invited the missionaries to the house for dinner, others in the branch started asking about it, so we turned it into Pot Luck and held it at our branch.  We had over 30 there, tons of food, then we showed the movie 17 Miracles, they all seemed to enjoy it.  There was a lot of fireworks going on up and down Frankford. We didn’t go out to watch any of it- we were all too engrossed in the movie.  Sounds like everyone had fun with their families, (we sure missed ours)!!!
Sun. was fast and testimony meeting, as we know it was for you too.  We started with 6 people there, but by the time the Sacrament was all over we had a really good group.  About 10 bore their testimonies. It was a wonderful, spiritual meeting.  Pres. Burno was back- he isn’t doing much yet as head of the ward, but he looks a lot stronger and is doing a little more each day!
We had the elders over for dinner yesterday. We wanted to because of the two leaving.  It was hard to tell Elder Smith goodbye.  If we don’t take Rozenna to the dentist tomorrow, then we will go into the Mission Office and see where Elder Smith is being transferred to.
We have been watching a lot of the little messages on the ipads the elders show to investigators.  They are so wonderful. I can’t believe the extra miles the church goes to for missionary helps.  Each of them has a special message for a certain subject.  They are so wonderful for that little extra push of the Spirit to help out a lesson or to get a point across.  The investigators just love them.  Each one we see strengthens our testimony so much. How can people question the truthfulness of our church?  We are so thankful to be out here. Our love for the gospel has grown a million times, especially because we have taken it so in stride my whole life. How come we were all privileged enough to be born into the gospel?  That blessing alone is enough for all of us to have none others, yet we all have so many more.  We know we have the best family in all the world.
Thanks so very much for your love, support and prayers,  WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!! Glad all the Doman’s got home safely, that Harrison arrived safely, that you all sound well and happy and are trying so hard.  KEEP IT UP!!!!!!!
Our Love to all of you, Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma + plus Greats, Karl & Joyce