What
a pleasant surprise to be called back "HOME"!.....and what a blessing
too! On our way to Camp Zarahemla, we were able to stay with Christopher
and Andrea. They had just welcomed to their family a new baby girl,
Jocelyn Rebecca, on September 13. What a precious and beautiful baby! Addysin and Caiden
were so cute with their new baby sister! Chuck was taken with her
from the start and Carol was so happy to be Grandma again.....Jocelyn makes 21!
Leaving our beloved Saint George was hard, but our Love for the Lord motivates us to do hard things!!...and then there is this silver lining: Chris' and Melissa's families are close enough to visit us more often than if we were in Chris thought he would try out the ropes course.St. George! Just two weeks after we visited Andrea's new baby, they came to visit us at Camp "Z"! After Chris' family went home, Melissa's family arrived! They stayed in the lodge for free, because guest are not allowed to stay in Camp during General Conference. They rode their bikes all over the camp exploring! They had a contest with Chuck to see who could get the most skips out of a rock!
Matthew gave Chuck a run for his money! Nathan was intent on finding the perfect flat rock. The competition drew the attention of the younger ones and before we knew it...Everyone was in on the business of finding rocks to skip....even Miriam! Later they decided to hunt squirrels.......which can be quite a nuisance at Zarahemla!
Between Saturday's sessions, we went canoeing. Melissa took three and Carol took three. When we got to the middle of the lake, the wind came up...it was quite nerve racking when the waves were threatening to overturn the canoes. Clear Lake is icy cold...especially in October! Grandma and Grandpa were so impressed with how attentive the children were during all four Conference sessions! When they weren't eating popcorn, they were filling in their little booklets Melissa had downloaded off the internet..."color the Prophet's tie, etc." A few days after they left Zarahemla for home, baby Emma arrived on October 7. Chuck and Carol drove to Connell on Saturday, October 15. Carol was able to stay until Tuesday, October 25 to help Melissa...she has 7 children now in addition to being the Relief Society President!...so she welcomed the help. Carol cleaned and cooked, but we had lots of fun watching Glenn Beck too! Emma is such a precious baby...I love newborns! She looks like a "Kelly" baby!...and so much like my babies too! I was ONE HAPPY MISSIONARY! What a blessing to be able to stay with Melissa while serving a mission!...Our dear Mission President said (when I asked him about staying with Melissa), "Sister Lee, there are NO RULES for Senior Missionaries! You are commanded to go and help your daughter!"
After Carol's week at Melissa's, Ryan drove me and the boys (Matthew and Nathan) to Yakima to meet Chuck. We took the boys to Old Country Buffet, and then headed to Camp Z for a week of fun! They loved going out in the canoes by themselves! One day we took a hike. We wore orange vests so as not to get shot. It is hunting season! Along the river, we found some icy spots where the boys had fun cracking the ice. One day, Nathan came running to tell us that there was a deer behind our house at the salt lick! He said "Shhh...." as we tiptoed into the bedroom to look out the window. Lo, and behold there was a "deer"!...only it was a "dear boy"!
We took the boys back to Connell on Saturday, October 29.....then left for Chris and Andrea's where we stayed overnight. I think Andrea was up most of the night finishing Jocelyn's dress...not to mention cinnamon rolls and soup! The next morning was Jocelyn's blessing. Melissa's family came to Columbia Basin Ward too. What a gorgeous baby!!...and family! It was a beautiful day. After church, we had a Bleazard Family Dinner Party.
The very next week we were back in Connell...by now our ward is beginning to think we are inactive! Emma looked like an "Angel"!! I was so happy to hold that baby again...it had been a week! Melissa out did herself sewing a beautiful dress and planning for a big family dinner! Our baby is so sweet!...and Melissa thought she might only have boys!...Haha! I was wondering if we could take baby Emma with us back to Zarahemla?..with six others, they won't notice if we sneak her into the car?...Melissa doesn't think so!
It was Andrew's special day too! After eating a celebration meal, and opening Andrew's gifts, we headed back to the Church for his baptism. Andrew was the happiest boy! He was so proud of his new scriptures from Mom and Dad...and his journal from Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa gave the Holy Ghost talk. Andrew was born after my father died. He has always reminded me of him...he also looks like the Hodge side of my family. Being able to witness the blessing of two babies and the baptism of one very dear grandson is the very best part about serving a mission in Washington!
