Travel

We left Brigham City at about 5a.m. to head for the airport. My dad drove us up we unlo aded everything and that was a lot of stuff. We checked in very easily and everything was so smooth.  When dad got back home there were 2 in of snow. What a blessing to have not had snow to the airport. We went to Dallas and were there for about 4 hours. We got chicken nuggets and the children played at the mcdonalds play area there. Then we loaded the airplane and were off to London. I had not been sleeping and having some hard time with all the stress. I did not sleep well on the plane but felt great peace( Tim had given me a blessing that would go well on the flight) When we got off the plane we very nicely went through customs. I realized that our cell phones would not work and so when we went through the doors and Tim was waiting for us it was heaven to see him. I was so relieved and finally to be together and know that we would not be apart again. We then got our rent a car and headed for Stone hedge and then on to Stratford upon Avon and went to Shakspeare’s home and the children walked in the plaza and saw a juggler with a bunny. Then we went Oxford and then to preston and checked in the temple and the children ran to do baptisms in ten minutes because they only do baptisms just two nights and we would not be there on the other night. We were blessed to be there just in time. Then the next day we went to some of the sights the place where the first converts ran across the bridge to be the first ones to be baptized and we ran across the bridge as a family. Such a fun memory. We saw where the market where the missionaries preach and also president Hinkley. We then went to the home where President Hinckley got the letter from his father that stated to forget yourselves and go to work. It was very nice to see the sights and related the missionary experiences. Then we went to Chatburn and then to Donham and rode the  mile in the fields full of sheep and the beautiful country side. I loved Preston and the feeling of being out in the villages We went to the temple a lot and loved that. The housing was great the girls slept in one room and the boys slept in another. It was so peaceful and the spirit was there. The next morning Tim ans Eric went to the temple early and then we went to Cambridge waked around and got some soup and bread. Thenwe headed

Italy

We flew to Milan it was a short flight and then we drove to the Milan square and saw the incredible church there and ate pizza. We watched the people and enjoyed that moment. Then we drove to Verona and pulled up to a place that looked like a dump and I was worried as Tim walked in but once we got inside it was a darling bed and breakfast We had two rooms on the 5^th floor. Hannah did not like the bath room down the hall. The children loved the elevator (very old fashion) and the breakfast was great. We met a man from Sweden who son had lived in Uganda and was going back to visit. The children and Tim walked around the town for a while. We were wondering if we should go to Venice because of the drive but decided that we should go. So we spent the day in Venice and we are so glad that we did. We had the whole city to our selves almost and the children played tag on the square. It was so beautiful. We rode a gondala , fed the pigeons, went to the church walked the little back lanes. The weather was fabulous and the memory was incredible. We then drove to Impruneta, a small villiage about 10 miles from Florence. We got  to our place and we stayed at a very nice villa. It was an old farm house converted into a place to stay. It has been just perfect like a condo with lots of room for the children. Tim and I went shopping and loved that experience. I want to be missionary some day with him in Italy. The views here are amazing and the people are so kind. We spent the first day exploring the country side and the views are amazing. We went to castles and to a vine plantation. We went in and said that we would like a tour but did not drink wine. The man thought we were weird but thought that he could do a small tour without the focus on wine. We did it and had a great time. After he let us try some  olive oil and some balsamic vinegar they were delicious. Tim bought some honey that tasted like olives and grapes.(very good) We went back to the villa and relaxed and the children sang songs until late into the night. It is so fun to hear them laugh and giggle so much. I love it. We went to the work out room too. The next day eric and Hannah went to the all you can eat breakfast on a date they had a great time. Then we went to Florence and saw some really fun sights ate pizza that we loved and saw the first baptistery. We were driving there and the view of the city was fabulous. After got home  the kids went to the pool and played in the sand.Tim and Cariel walked to the store and then came home mad a fire in the kitchen and then the kids ate dinner . I have loved having a kitchen and sitting down and eating as a family. Then Tim and I went out to dinner at a restraunt I had some very good soup. It was nice to be together. This is such a nice time to travel with children they are all old enough to carry their own stuff and to stay close to us. I have loved Italy. IT has been so nice The Lord blessed us. I had wanted to go Egypt and had asked Tim many times to go there it would be warm we could see the pyramids but he felt we should not go there. Now after watching the news and seeing the turmoil there we understand why we did not go there. The weather has been in the high 50 and just lovely. I like to travel on the off season here it is not crowded and just perfect.

I didn’t think that Italy could get any better but yesterday was so incredible. It was amazing we got up went for a run and then ate breakfast, pasta and then walked around the pool and Mckay and Eric ran through the olive trees. We were sad to leave the wonderful  place. We headed for Senia and I loved city on the hill. We bought 3 passes to see things and took turns going into different venues. The church was amazing and the view was great. There were escalators that took us to the top of the city. We then headed for Assissi. The country side was delightful. Then we saw the city on the hill and we stopped at a cemetery and I saw an old lady climbing a ladder to put flowers on a grave sight of her ansester. They have very different cemetaries here and they stack them upon each other. We then went to Assissi and I LOVED IT. It felt very removed from the world. We went to the St fransicas church and we saw a lot of monks and n uns. The streets were so quint and so neat. I felt the spirit there and knew that these people were trying to be like Christ. I fell in love with that city. We then tried to find our hotel. It was about an hour father and boy was it out in the country. We were the only ones there it was really out in fields. The children watched a Andy Griffin Movie all on one bed. It was fun to see them all so close and laughing, We got up this morning and did yoga and then walked through the farm and read scriptures and said a prayer overlooking the country side. It was really a farm with cats and a dog that wanted to play with us. The children loved it. We then headed to Rome. It took about an hour. Tim told the children about the catholic church and the Roman empire. Liza did her report. Each of the children had been given a city to do research on and tell us what they had learned. It was great. We then got a bus tour the man gave us a good deal and went to see the fountains and and also the unknown soldier tomb. We saw a lot of the roman ruins the Collsium, and where Julius Cesar was killed. It was amazing. Loved seeing and hearing about it from the view of an open topped bus. We then found our apartment it is about 120 yards from the Vatican. Amazing. We went to church at the rome ward such a sweet experience to be around saints so great. Then went back and ate dinner and then took the bus to sights around town we saw the collsum and spray painters on the road. Then we saw the pantheon and then walked b the Tiber river and saw st peters from a distance. It was such a great walk. Eric taught the children about history very fun. Then we came back and packed up and got ready to leave at 4 am. Left in the morning and headed for Pisa early enough to have no groups just us. Mckay had done this report so loved it. Found our last pizza place  and then headed for the airport. Returned the car and then got on the plane and got to London at about 7pm went to the hotel and got our 10 bags all was fine. Another blessing read scriptures we have been reading 5 pages aday because our stake president in Uganda asked that all families read 5 pages aday.Has been a reat blessing for our family. Have loved that. Got up and the kids had a buffet breakfast and loved that. Went to the airport with all our bags so nice to have Tim with us everything was so smooth then8 hour flight to Uganda the children just watched movies for 8 hours. I tried to sleep but could not very well there was a church group in the hotel and they were up all night.

 Arrived in Uganda late long lines Hannah had had enough very tired made it and met our driver Jerimiah saw the poverty and lack of keeping things up all over. Got to our home very nicely fixed up. Tim had worked hard and slept lots of noise. Then the next morning our helper came Agnes young lady 21 and very nice. I woke up to TIms voice outside the window talking to our gardener about an injury as he spoke  could hear the Savior in his voice gently trying to heal the hurt. Very beautiful moment. Everyone came to say hi I can tell that Tim is so loved here very much. Just such a sweet man. The Fountsind  brought dinner and then the Dennisons brought food for a couple of days  They are so nice here I feel so welcomed.