Back to Vicksburg

Warning: techno geek me cannot get these pictures to line up with the correct picture - but you'll get the idea.
Now you may be wondering - do these people ever stay home?
Well, Memorial Day weekend turned into a four day weekend, so we decided it was a perfect time to return to Vicksburg, MS.
So we headed northeast out of Texas, through beautiful, green Louisiana and once again crossed the mighty Mississippi River.
We enjoyed an unhurried day in the Vicksburg Military Park; the National Cemetery was very moving being so close to Memorial Day.
Every state that fought in that battle and siege has a memorial built around the Park - this is the one for Texas.














It was a little sad to have to find the Confederate soldiers over in the town cemetery. Yes, you can't quite see it, but those are small Stars and Bars flags. Remember where you are.
This time we also had time to visit the USS Cairo Museum on the other side of the Park. It was a Union ironclad gunship that was the first ship sunk by a naval mine in 1862. It was discovered around 1960 and raised in pieces in 1965.
We were able to drive home on the Natchez Trace for about 50 miles. The Natchez Trace is an old indian trail turned into a trader's trail/pathway that ran from Natchez Mississippi to Nashville TN in the north, about 440 miles. It is now a Scenic Highway and a dream to drive - very peaceful; very little traffic and big trucks are forbidden.
You gotta love the food variety in the South!!!

Elder Woodward update

Alex survived the MTC; said he loved the Spirit there and enjoyed learning how to teach as well as playing volleyball during gym time with the missionaries going to Sweden and Estonia. He said it was great to hear all the different languages in the cafeteria. Tie trading on Saturday evenings was a fun activity and he assured me he came away with most of his "good" ties. Elder Woodward arrived in the mission field on May 25th.
President and Sister Pendleton with one of their nine new missionaries!
He is currently serving in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas and his companion/trainer is from Salt Lake City. He is thrilled to be back in California and is enjoying meeting the new Ward members. Elder Allen took him tracting for the first time and Alex reports that most everybody was polite with only one door "forcefully shut" in his face. All his moving experiences and muscle came in handy when they helped an investigator move last Monday. Apparently they have a car and live in a small house behind a member's home.
He mentioned again that any and all snail mail letters or postcards would be greatly appreciated. I'll repeat his address - it comes through the mission office in Sacramento. (Antelope is a northern suburb of Sacramento).

Elder Alexander Sindel Woodward
California Roseville Mission
8583 Watt Ave
Antelope, CA 95843-9117

Visitors

Look who came for a visit!

For those few who may not know, this is our daughter Mary and her children, Gracie and Zachary.
You've heard a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are lots of pics.














At a nearby Mall playground. This is Gracie's new friend Jacob who announced a few minutes later that she was his girlfriend. It was very cute.





























In case you're wondering; Gracie is doing great health wise.