A Full Week

Our beautiful weather in England last week was short lived . . . we arrived home today needing our coats, scarves, and I wish I had my gloves with me on the walk from the train station back to the carpark at the office.  Burrr . . . . 

Remember the first three months of our mission when I was writing three-page letters every week?  We were experiencing so many new things, all of which I wanted to share with you.  Now, the last three months of our mission, we are still having many wonderful experiences, some are repeats of annual events.  To be honest, instead of feeling the excitement of something new, I am feeling the sadness of “this may be the last time . . .”   I have shed a few tears over it, I’m not going to lie.

Paris Temple with Daryl Watson

We love traveling by train!  Anytime we can,  we choose train over plane.  We are on the Eurostar train just now, returning from our National Public Affairs annual training meeting, this year held in Paris.  

Our seminar was held in a hotel just minutes from Versailles and a five-minute walk from the Paris Temple.  The weather in Paris was lovely.  We began our seminar on Friday evening with a session at the temple.  It set the tone for the entire seminar.  I HEART the Paris Temple!   Saturday was filled with training classes from 7:30am - 6pm - a long day of sitting, yet so informative.  We learned so much.  The instruction was focused on using internet to share a message about our church.  Twenty one countries in Western Europe were represented by members of our Church.  Most of the countries have very few members, and the person over Public Affairs is working hard to bring The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints out of obscurity.  One country, Slavakia, has only five active members. That is hard to even imagine!   There were some new faces, but a lot were friends we had met at last year’s conference, friends like Raimondo from Italy, Sergio from Spain, Krisztina from Hungary, and Ingrid from Sweden.  We made new friends as well, like Hana from Czech Republic, Violeta from Poland, and Lars from Denmark. These types of gatherings opens our eyes to how blessed we are to live in the USA for so many reasons.  We sure hope some of them come to Utah someday and we have the opportunity to see them again!

Paris Temple with the Connollys

Saturday night we took the river cruise down the Seine River and saw the beauty of Paris all lit up in the night, including the breathtaking Eiffel Tower again.  WOW!  My wish for all of you is that you have an opportunity sometime in your life to do the same. It needs to be on your Bucket List.  

Sunday our Seminar went from 7:30am - noon, ending with Sacrament Meeting.  My favourite part of the Sunday session was the talk given by Rick Turley, Managing Director of Public Affairs. He talked about touring with President Nelson on his World Ministry Tour and the key messages he gave the world.  It was no surprise that one of the main messages was from the two greatest commandments; love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-29) and let your actions show the world that you embrace it. Something new to add too my list of things to ponder, and definitely things to improve upon.

The closing song was “God Be With You Til We Meet Again”.  Sigh. I was the chorister, but I did not choose the songs.  That one was difficult!  I was able to hold my emotions together thankfully.   Three cheers for staying strong until the song was over.

Favorite Public Affairs quote from the seminar:

    I believe that the Lord is anxious to put into our hands inventions of which we laymen have hardly had a glimpse.  With the Lord providing these miracles of communication … surely the divine injunction will come to pass:  ‘For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth—the gospel must be preached unto every creature.’

Cruising on the Seine

Would it surprise you to know that this quote came from a talk given by Spencer W, Kimball in 1974?  It’s hard to deny modern revelation.

Well, thanks for reading my ramblings once again. Much of what I felt this week will stay in my heart. . . . No words to describe.

Happy Birthday this week to my friend Lise, my example of a true minister.  She had the concept down at least 35 years ago.  I know, I’ve been the recipient many times. Lise, “MAY the 4TH be with you!  And Happy Birthday, dear friend, Kathy Pack, Happy Birthday (and Cinco de Mayo) to you!

Cheers from England,

Ron and Marie

PS - GO JAZZ!

Sun... Glorious Sun!

The many many MANY emails, FB messages, etc we received this past week was such a blessing to us.  Thank you so very much for thinking of us and taking a minute to write.  As I’ve said before, they always come at the right time.

Happy 8th Birthday today to our Maxwell Roger!  He is witty, has a soft heart, and is a good friend at school.  Not only is it his birthday, but it is his baptism day!  We will stay up and Facetime into the baptism tonight at 11pm.  I am so grateful to be able to do this.  It hurts not to be there. 

Enjoying the sun at Witley Park

We had a slower week this week, coming off our busy week in London the week previous.  And to top it off, we have had absolutely glorious weather beginning Wednesday, with only a sprinkle of rain on Saturday.  Temperatures were high 60’s and low 70’s with sunshine that was felt clear to the soul. A walk each day in the park, dinner in the Wills’ garden, and a Saturday outing were just a few highlights.   It has truly made me so grateful for simple things and lifted my spirits.  I only hope it will last . . . (right?)

Wednesday night and then again today the Elders came over for dinner.  Friday night there was a party at the church celebrating St. George’s Day.  Apparently St. George slayed a dragon and saved a princess, so now he has a day just for him.  The potluck dinner was suppose to be a traditional English dish. Ha!  I have loved sharing American dishes with my English friends, and NEVER had I made anything English.  Nevertheless, I searched recipes and settled on Cottage Pie, which on an American menu would be Shepherd’s Pie basically.  It turned out fine, or at least the pan was empty, and I was initiated into the official cooking club of the British persuasion. Simple blessings.  

People in the ward are realizing that it must be getting close to our end date soon, and are asking more and more.  They say the nicest things to us.  Missionaries are such a blessing to a small, struggling ward. Not necessarily us, as our shoes will easily be filled, but any help of strength and support is so badly needed.  Each time I have to say, “about three months left”, a little choke escapes my mouth also.  We are really going to miss so many that we have loved and served, and who has served us. 

Today we went ‘a ministering’ . . .  to our little Ferguson family.  The children lost their last living great nan and experienced a funeral for the first time this past week.  I shared with the little girls that I had also experienced a loss recently with the passing of my own mum.  Our lesson to them was that the word ETERNITY meant forever and ever and ever . . . and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this life is not the end, but our families and friends can be together for ETERNITY.  I know it is true, and so grateful for that knowledge.

So this week . . .off to Paris on Thursday for a Public Affairs Seminar.  Next month . . . family and friends from home visiting . . . can’t wait!  You will continue to be in our prayers as we express to our Heavenly Father how grateful we are each of you. 

Cheers!

Ron and Marie

Our cups runneth o'er... again and again...

Dear family and friends,

As I ponder the events of this week, I feel amazed, humbled, and a little teary!  I’m not sure I can put into words all that I felt and I’m sure I won’t give it justice.

Anytime a member of the Quorum of the Twelve travels, there are a lot of moving parts.  But when the Prophet of our Church travels, the moving parts increase exponentially.  As you know from our latest letters, the last two weeks our top priority has been the World Ministry Tour of President and Sister Nelson and Elder and Sister Holland.  We were responsible for working with media, and also responsible for working with the Stakes in finding individuals and families for media to interview that met the criteria of who they were looking for.  

We arrived straight from the Netherlands to London Monday night.  Tuesday morning we began merging all the moving parts we were responsible for with the many other people who also had assignments; ecclesiastical leaders, media, church photographers and videographers, facility managers, security, etc. in order to make sure Thursday went off without a hitch.  I have to say that we worked with some of the finest people I have ever met.  I fell in love with London all over again, not for the sights this time, but for the people.

Found a friend in London today! And we get to work with her all week! 

I especially loved working with the media.  I felt like I was back in the saddle again from my time with Primary Children’s Hospital. It was even some of the same people we were working with which was really fun.  There was one moment that I felt a strong deja vu moment, and I thought to myself,  ”Which came first? The chicken or the egg?”  I was so thankful I had been ‘prepped’ by the Lord several years ago for important things yet to come without even knowing.    I hate to overuse the phrase, but I am convinced it was once again, divine design.

President and Sister Nelson and Elder and Sister Holland were scheduled to arrive at the Hyde Park Visitors Centre/Chapel at 1pm, have interviews, a meet and greet with six families, a photo with the London England Mission, a handshake to the missionaries, all before the 2pm meeting with the missionaries.  (Only the London Mission attended the meeting, the rest of the missions watched it via satellite.)  This all happened as scheduled which was a miracle.   Our responsibility at that time was to facilitate the meet and greet, so although it all took place in the same area, we did not have the opportunity to stand in line to shake their hands along with the other missionaries.  We were the only ones who didn’t.  But after it was over, President Nelson saw us, walked over with Sister Nelson at his side, read our badges, said our names, looked us in the eye, and shook our hands.  We were able to tell him what a privilege it was to meet them both.  I felt like a warm blanket had just been placed around my shoulders.  Elder and Sister Holland had already been whisked away for another interview.  Too bad, we wouldn’t get to meet them and shake their hands (or so we thought at the time).

It was a privilege to be in the missionary meeting.  Elder Holland told the missionaries how life changing his own mission to England was, and how he has thought about it and loved it almost every day since 1962.   He advised every missionary there to do the same.  He said to not only focus on the conversion of others, but the conversion of our self.  His message was powerful.

Before speaking, President Nelson introduced everyone traveling with him, from his personal secretary to his security detail.  When he introduced one of his security team members, Brother Parker, he invited him to the pulpit.  He said, “Brother Parker has a daughter serving in the Leeds Mission under President Turvey right now.  Brother Parker, stand here at the microphone and talk to your daughter (who was watching via satellite.)  This big, tough, burley security guy stood at the pulpit and melted.  When he finally regained his composure, he said.  “To all the missionaries listening, I am speaking for your dads also.  If they were all here, I know this is what they would say to you.”  He then addressed his daughter, calling her by name.   “Jessie, I love you.  I miss you.  It’s hard having you away from our family so long, so far away.  It’s even harder being this close to you and not seeing you.  But I wouldn’t want it any other way.  I wouldn’t want you anywhere else.”  Oh boy . . . out came the tissues.

President Nelson spoke to the missionaries as if they were in a circle chatting.  He invited participation and had them stand up and give answers to the question, “How do you gain inspiration when teaching the Gospel?”  A missionary would stand up and give an answer, and then President Nelson would expound on it.  He ended the meeting pronouncing and apostolic blessing on all the missionaries of joy, strength, good health, that our families would draw closer to the Lord because of our service, especially the little ones.  He blessed us with safety in travel, and a blessing of healing for our loved ones.  This blessing meant a great deal to Ron and I.  It was an answer to a prayer.

The meeting was over too fast.

The 7pm Devotional was attended by members of  the two London Stakes.  There were not enough tickets for everyone.  Each Bishop had the difficult task of deciding whom their allotment of tickets should go to.  About 750 tickets were issued.  Even though they had tickets in hand, members cued in a line for up to four hours outside to get a good seat.  Many felt this would be a life-changing experience for them.  We were so grateful to be given tickets to attend.   We were on the very back bench in the Chapel with media, as we were one of the last to slip in.  Members all over the UK watched the broadcast via satellite in church buildings.  

Sister Holland talked about the wonderful people the Nelsons are and told personal stories about them. 

Elder Holland talked about this past General Conference and the significance of modern revelation.  He reminded us that we are all entitled to our own personal revelation.  As always, his words pierced my heart, as he seemed to know just what I needed to hear. 

Sister Nelson’s talk was amazing.  She is a great speaker.  She talked about how she had witnessed the personal revelation her husband had received since being called as our new prophet.   She spoke very openly and very organic.  I love her already.  President Nelson reminded me so much of President Hinckley.  Everything he said just made you feel so good about yourself . . . that you’re doing ok, and yes, you want to do better.  He closed that meeting also with an apostolic blessing to all of kindness and consideration to others, safety in travels, fidelity in families, and of healing and health.  

We closed the meeting by singing “We Thank Thee, oh God, for a Prophet” and the spirit was tangible. Many were overcome with emotion.

The Brethren exited the chapel down the aisle we were sitting, stopping to shake the hands of as many as he could.  One little Filipino woman jumped right out into the aisle and threw her arms around President Nelson.  Before Security could even react, President Nelson had enveloped her in his arms just like a father or grandfather would.  It was so touching.  Another young sister began to cry when Elder Holland touched her hand, and then he put his hand gently on her face.  It was so sweet to witness these acts of meekness and humility.  We were so blessed to be sitting where we also had the privilege of shaking Elder and Sister Holland’s hand (and having a bit of a conversation with Sister Holland) and then again with President and Sister Nelson.  And because we were sitting so close to the media, we are fortunate enough to have photos of the greetings.  In the photo, you can see he is saying something to us.  Because it was the second time that day he had greeted us I think, he said, "Sister Partridge, now all we need is a pear tree, and we'll have it made."  He's just so real.

My favorite quote from President Nelson this week,  “The Lord’s message is for everyone.  This is a global work.  Whenever I am comfortably situated in my home, I am in the wrong place.  I need to be where the people are.  We need to bring them the message of the Savior.”    I have pondered these words for three days now, asking myself how this applies to me, even after we return home from our mission.  

We were on stand-by until noon on Friday for any further help needed for media, and then we boarded the train for Solihull.  Once in Solihull we went to the office and worked for a couple of hours on photos from the event for Mormon Newsroom UK.  

Saturday, I went for my first walk of the year!  No kidding!  The weather has been so cold and rainy this spring thus far, but yesterday was beautiful.  It was nearly 60° and sunny most of the day.  The water in the nearby rivers is at the very top with some even overflowing.  It will be a while before the British worry about a drought for sure.

We were happy to get back to church in our own ward today with our own ward family.  Ron taught both teacher training classes, and I was with my Primary children.  After church Sisters Gee and Brown came over for dinner.  They are such a delight.  (Rhonda, Sister Brown is from Cardston, and she knows lots of Gibbs!  I think she mentioned a Max Gibb?)

We’ve been so busy this past week.  My apologies to all those who wrote and I have not had a chance to write back.  I loved every email!  When we arrived back at the office Friday, our mail slot had several envelopes in it from a special group of friends.  Thank you so much!  I love you for thinking of us!

Happy Birthday today to our girl Carly who is 16 years old!  She is beautiful, confident, and feisty all rolled together.  We sure love you Carly!  Happy Birthday tomorrow to our son-in-law, Sam.  We are so grateful Alisha chose you!  We are also grateful that tax season is over for you on Tuesday.  You deserve a rest.

I am so grateful for the blessing this week of shaking the hand of our new Prophet.   I am grateful we were in the right place at the right time to make this happen.  It was such a tender mercy . . . I’ll never forget it.  Have a wonderful week, and to our children and grandchildren . . .  always make the ‘best’ choices.

Love to all,

Ron and Marie

Tiptoes... through the tulips...

Oh my goodness what a week!

With the time difference, the last session of Conference last Sunday began at 9:00 pm for us. We had caught wind through an email that a BIG change was going to be announced last session, so we stayed up and watched. And what a change! The new catch phrase . . .Ministering. I just love it. Doesn’t that describe what so many do perfectly? And who knew that Shakespeare had it figured out way back when he wrote the play Hamlet, and said, “A ministering angel shall my sister be.” So true. It’s in the DNA. So . . . after that big announcement, we decided to turn in for the night and watch the rest for FHE the next night. Monday morning we woke up and immediately saw the announcement of new temples! Wohoo! We jumped out of bed and watched the next hour right then. Although I had watched the announcement on Facebook, it brought tears to my eyes as I watched President Nelson announce it again. My heart leaped again when Layton, Utah, was announced, not to mention Nicaragua, Russia . . . and India! Double WOW.

Tuesday morning (because Monday was a bank holiday) the water cooler talk in the office was, of course, Conference and everything that took place. When the subject moved to new temples, someone asked me, “Why was there so much excitement from the audience when the Layton, Utah, temple was announced?” I felt terribly uncomfortable and extremely spoiled explaining why we were excited to travel only 7 minutes instead of 20 minutes to get to the temple, when here they sacrifice so much more to travel much greater distances. Nevertheless, Ron and I feel like a temple even nearer to us will be such a blessing. Three cheers for our new prophet!

On the way to the Eurostar to Netherlands,
we stopped at 9-3/4.

Many of you saw on Facebook that we spent our bank holiday on Monday touring Highclere Castle, aka Downton Abbey. It was a bucket list item for sure . . .CHECK! I wanted to take photos of EVERY SINGLE ROOM! From the time we left the carpark, signs were posted “NO PHOTOGRAPHY INSIDE THE CASTLE.” What? I had promised pictures to certain lovers of Downton. I turned to Ron after we saw the first sign and said, “I might have to be a rule breaker today . . .” His answer to me . . . “Then you had better take your badge off, Sister Partridge.” Curses. Foiled again. So, fun selfies were taken outside with the abbey in the background, but none inside. You’ll have to take my word for it that the rooms are just like in the show. Lord Grantham’s desk, the big red sofas, the large dining table . . . they had poster-sized photos in many of the rooms showing scenes from the TV series. It’s on the top of my list of favorite things we’ve toured while here. If you’re a Downton Abbey fan and ever in England, I highly recommend it.

At the office on Wednesday I made final preparations for our video shoot this weekend in the Netherlands, and also worked on President Nelson and Elder Holland’s visit to London next week. Malcolm told us we were needed in London tomorrow instead of arriving on Wednesday, so we packed our bags for and 8-day trip, heading to the Netherlands first, then tomorrow, instead of riding the train from the Netherlands to London then home to Solihull, we will stay in London until Friday.

Two bucket list items this week, the second being a tour through Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam on Thursday. It was interesting, fascinating, and sobering all at the same time. I only found out a couple of weeks ago that Corrie ten Boom’s house is a museum also in the Netherlands. I surely would have planned to visit it as well. I am so grateful for their examples of courageousness, love, forgiveness, and unselfishness. If you haven’t read her book “The Hiding Place”, it’s a must read.

Saturday and Sunday were spent filming testimonies of faithful saints in Zoetermeer, a province of South Holland. It was my favorite video shoot so far. First of all, it was 70+ degrees both day, and most of the videoing took place in beautiful countryside. Regardless of whether we were on a bridge next to The Hague Temple or in the middle of a field with a windmill in the background, there were people on bicycles passing by. I want to move to the Netherlands for one whole summer and cycle everywhere with the rest of the country. They bike in the winter too, in 15° weather. Not for me, but yes, I’ll take the summer. Before jumping in a car, their first thought of transportation is their bicycle. The fit and thin Dutch have it right.

The De Jong Family

The missionaries, YSA’s and families we videoed were exceptional. We met the De Jong family. They were delightful! Their sons, Reuben and Own taught me how Pokemon Go works!   One man is a refugee from Iran. He lived in Iran in the time of the Shah of Iran and came by foot to the Netherlands. He made the trek after being shot in the leg. He had a special witness of Jesus Christ. The missionaries from Morgan, Tooele, Herriman, and Spokane were delightful. The YSA’s were inspiring. My testimony was strengthened today.

Even more than the tulips, I love the bicycles. I think there are just as many.

Another connection . . . as we were leaving the Church today to go to the windmills to film, an American couple stopped us in the parking lot. “Do you know where the Relief Society Room is in the building? We are trying to find someone our son baptised while he was here serving a mission. She just had a baby and we HAVE to see the baby! We are very short on time.” “No,” we said. “But the building is small, so if she is in there, I’m sure you’ll find her. Where are you from?” “Utah.” “So are we! Where in Utah?” “Kaysville.” “So are we! Where in Kaysville?” “West Kaysville, just off Angel.” “We live West of Flint Street and Barnes Park.” “Anywhere near the Potters?” “Yes! Bishop Potter lives across the street from us. He’s our Bishop!” Their last name is Yocum.

Sometimes I just have to pinch myself to make sure this is all real . . . .

Thanks to those who continue to reach out to us from time to time. After 14 months of my jibber jabber, thank you for sticking with me. We love hearing from you. We are grateful for our many blessings, and the blessing of serving this mission. We are grateful for you, our dear family and friends, and pray for you. You are always in our hearts. Blessings upon your head.

Much love,
Ron and Marie

Happy Easter!

“He is not here; for he is risen.  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying . . . Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”  (from Matthew 28)

I love Easter, and I love the week before Easter and all it represents.  I am grateful to join in the celebration with my fellow Christians.  I am grateful for the resurrection of Jesus Christ that enables us to live with Him again.  He has paid the price . . . the rest is up to us.  To those of you who have recently gone through difficult times, this knowledge is sure to be a great comfort.

This past week has been a good week.  It has been fun to be involved in the social media Easter campaign #AlwaysThere.  If nothing else, it causes a moment of reflection, which is always such a blessing. I hope you took a minute to watch it. 

One last lunch with this fabulous District before Elder Murray and
Sister Chen  leave us. “I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord ....”. 🎶Goodbyes are hard!

We unexpectedly said good-bye to two dear missionaries this week.  Transfers caught everyone off guard, as it was just a five-week span (just the way the calendar works out a couple of times a year) and no one expected to go.  Real tears were shed by more than one.  But, on the bright side, we have two new missionaries to love, Elder Fox from here in England and Sister Brown from Canada.  They are both delightful.

VICTORY!

So . . . way back last year not long after we arrived we had our first turn to help clean the church.  Every church is supposed to have two Hoovers (kind of like we call all tissues Kleenex), and our church only had one that worked  . . . kind of.  It takes forever with just one!  Ron and I made it our goal to stay on Facilities Management (who are stationed in our office) until we secured another one for our building!  We went right over the head of the person in our ward who should have ordered one long ago . . .

This week was the fifth or sixth time we cleaned . . . Ron’s eyes lit up when he opened the utility door (as he is chief Hooverer) and he gave me thumbs up.  There, sitting next to the old vacuum was a brand new shiny, larger Hoover!  We did it!  V I C T O R Y! It only took a year.   Here’s to no unfinished business by the time we leave . . .

The whole of the UK basically shuts down over Easter weekend.  Bank holidays Friday and Monday.  No school for two weeks beginning last Friday.  The office was even quiet on Thursday, kind of like the few days before Christmas.  Everyone checks out.  We celebrated Good Friday with a trip to Costco to purchase food for our YSA activity Saturday.  The YSA wanted to get together to watch the opening session of Conference (that’s 5pm our time) and eat tacos and ice cream.  Easy peasy.  I’m on it.  I’m so glad they put up with us.

Friday evening we were invited to the home of Kathryn and Josie, a mum and 16-year-old daughter who have been members of our Church for only three years.  Josie is struggling with Seminary this year and Mum thought maybe Elder P. could help.  They are vegetarians so Ron is always a little worried when we eat with them that they’ll serve brussel sprouts or cauliflower and kale . . . and what would he do then?  But alas, he was safe, as we had nachos and a nice bean chilli over spaghetti noodles.  They are lovely people and we enjoy their friendship very much.  

Before Conference on Saturday we attended the baptism of Beth, one of the three little girls in the Ferguson Family that we have become very close to.  We love that they think of us as grandparents and not just missionaries, and they fill a void for us.  Along with every event, from Ward Conference to baptisms, and sometimes for no reason at all except a social, comes a Munch n’ Mingle.  I’m really going to miss that when we go home.  I think we should start neighbourhood or friend Munch n’ Mingles at least monthly, if not ward.  Anyone game?  But . . . back to Beth, she looked darling and was so excited and my heart melted at the opportunity to witness it.  Blessings, blessings, and more blessings . . .

WARNING:  A lot of Mormon Jargon in the next two paragraphs:

Like I mentioned, while most of you were enjoying a nice breakfast just before Conference, we were with the YSA’s eating tacos.  It was an awesome experience, that first session . . . wasn’t it?  I loved standing to sustain President Nelson with my Relief Society sisters, and I am so pleased about who was called as new apostles.  Ron said he thought one would be Elder Gong.  He spoke to us while we were at the MTC.  He’s awesome.

Today we have watched Saturday afternoon and Priesthood session of Conference so far along with the World Report and other special “in between” programs.  It is fun once again to see events we were involved with featured on the World Report.  We are anxious to watch the next two sessions, and then we will be sad it is over for six months.  Isn’t that the way it goes.

(End of jargon  J)

Favourite Conference quotes so far:

“If we do not find time to unplug, we may miss the opportunities to hear the voice of Him who said, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’.”  M.  Russell Ballard

“Things that don’t change remain the same.”  Lynn G. Robbins

“Personal sacrifice strengthens us and gives value to things we sacrifice for.”  Taylor G. Godoy

I feel like this is good advice for everyone, every religion, every age.

Happy Birthday on Saturday to our sweet daughter-in-law, Hilary whom we love so much, and to my best friend since we were 3 years old, Liz.  And also to the one who lets me eat off his plate . . . Happy Birthday!

We hope you have a wonderful week this week.  We are off to Highclere Castle tomorrow (Downton Abbey) on our day off and to the Netherlands on assignment on Thursday.  We will think of you as we tiptoe through the tulips.

Happy Easter!

All our love,

Ron and Marie