We topped off the week by watching the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. What fantastic games. This first picture is in London the host of the 2012 Olympics.

The Chinese did an incredible job. It's hard to fathom how they pulled it all off. It was fun to watch. We saw Michael Phelps win all 8 of his medals.

I found one picture from last week. The Hamiltons, Crookstons and us took a walk into the grove to see if we could find the witness trees and the pillows and cradles Bob Parrot showed us. We were successful. The six of us had a wonderful dinner Saturday evening at the home of the Hamiltons. They are from the Salt Lake Temple.

We had a great FHE with Sister Clark, a site missionary, telling her conversion story. She grew up Mennonite and found the church in Arizona. She has written a wonderful book about the life of her mother, Christmas Carol Kauffman, a very famous Mennonite aurthor. We all love it.

The grounds of the temple are so beautiful. It has been wonderful weather with lots of rain and everything is gorgeous and green. The corn fields are over 6 feet high and the soy beans are a couple of feet tall.

The highlight of our week was a visit from Leonard and Cindy Hayes from Arizona, formerly from Camarillo, CA. What fun to visit the sites with them. We attended an endowment session together and Paul and I were asked to be the witness couple and the next evening we went back and did sealings together. They are on their way to Washington, DC.

As we visited the Smith log house they were making some repairs on the front step. We got in through the back door. We also visited the Whitmer Farm and had lunch at "The Great Wall"

This is the apple orchard and the apples are looking good. Many of the orchards in the area have had a rough time with all the hail storms we have had. Bro. & Sister Cahoon, they serve as coordinators on Friday evening and work in the office, have a very large orchard and they have about a fourth of their orchards damaged.

We noted that the trees are too full to see the temple itself. We also send our love and support to Kenlyn and George Christenot who enter the MTC Monday morning in preparation of their mission in Virginia. What fun you have in store for you. Enjoy!! Their grandson, Jordan, also received his mission call to Riverside, CA. How fun to be out together.

We have had a wonderful week in the temple. The Rochester Mission sent their missionaries to the temple as a reward for their hard work. We had about 20-24 missionaries every morning. It was wonderful to have them and you can just imagine the laundry but it was worth it. We met these Elders in the grove. They are serving in Buffalo. We missed Sister Siebach the last part of this week. She went in for surgery on Wednesday and will be home tomorrow. We miss her sweet smile and leadership. Everyone stepped in and helped fill the void. We had more weddings and sealings of children this week than we have had for along time. I guess school is starting and the temple will be closed for two weeks for maintenance. We love and miss Sister Siebach.

Leonard, Cindy and Paul on top of the Hill Cumorah

If you can believe it we have some trees changing colors. I guess they don't know it is still summer. We will really start seeing the grove change as we look out the window from the temple.

What a fantastic week. Also we want to send hugs and kisses and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Robbie, our grandson, who is 5 today. We love you. Have fun at your train party tomorrow.