Week 46
Yesterday Kayla was baptized.  She is from Ponca City, but came to Stillwater this summer to continue her schooling.  She had had some of the missionary lessons in Ponca, but continued here.  Such a delight!

A wonderful day for Kayla

Two more pictures from last week:

The city buses have school spirit!

The OSU topiary near the stadium 

Thursday was Zone Conference--we had to leave after the first hour to teach a class, but we enjoyed what we had of President Mansell's discussion about change.  We went back for lunch and then heard Sister Mansell's talk about being successful missionaries (her main point was to worry only about the things you have control over, and do them well).  Then we left again for Kerby's physical therapy.  Even though we didn't get to participate in much, it is wonderful to see these young elders and sisters devote themselves to the Lord's service, and know that mission presidents and their wives are called to nurture testimony and train skills in the missionaries.

Just a note about the physical therapy.  Kerby was doing really well for over a week, then as we walked to the stadium last Saturday, his tendon just started hurting again, and he's been in pain ever since (but only when he walks--if Star Trek transporters had been perfected, he could avoid the pain altogether).  He's continuing with the therapy, but also has a referral to an orthopedic surgeon.  You might pray for his recovery if you're so inclined.

As previously noted, we are teaching Doctrine and Covenants, Part I; Book of Mormon, Part II; and Teachings of the Living Prophets this semester.  We are having the same experience we had last spring when teaching Book of Mormon I and Old Testament II--we just see over and over again the beautiful harmony and unity of the Standard Works and the words of living prophets and apostles.  The scriptures in each class so often reinforce each other and address various doctrines and principles of the gospel from different historical perspectives or with different examples, but always pointing to the Savior and His Atonement and our Father's great Plan of Happiness.  What a blessing to live in this dispensation and have the fulness of the gospel to guide our way.

Week 45
Another fine week with our YSAs--great classes, fun Soup Tuesday, good associations with good people.

Yesterday we went to the OSU football game.  First some of the ward members met at the institute to walk over to see the Spirit Walk--the band and drum line and Pistol Pete go to the student union and perform for about 15 minutes, then they play while the team marches out of the union and over to the stadium to get ready for the game.  As always, the intensity of the tailgating is amazing!

After that, we walked back to the institute for our own calmer version of tailgating with hamburgers and hot dogs, etc.  Then Kerby and I walked back to the 60,000 seat Boone Pickens Stadium.

The empty spot is where the band sits

And we were appropriately attired in orange (it was stripe the bowl day, so fans wore orange or white depending on section number).

There are a lot of interesting traditions at OSU games, and the most interesting one is the Paddle People.  There are about 200 of them, and at any given time over 100 of them sitting on the front row at the north east and north ends of the stadium.  They hold wooden paddles to beat on the padding that surrounds the playing field.  There is a cadence leader so they pound in unison, and they pound during player introductions and 10 quick times after an OSU first down.  Otherwise they are there to menace the opposing team, and they pound constantly when the other team has the ball until that team is about to hike the ball.  Apparently other coaches have talked about how unnerving it is to hear that constant pounding.  The paddles are considered weapons, so they can't be taken out of or into the stadium--they are stored there and the Paddle People come to games 2 hours early to get their seats and do a little practicing.  Sore shoulders and blistered hands are the dangers of being a Paddle Person, but since they have to be rabid fans to participate, they don't let that stop them.

The paddles say "Pokes"--the nickname for the Cowboys

Another fun tradition is Bullet and the Spirit Rider. After every OSU touchdown Bullet, a beautiful black horse, and the Spirit Rider carrying a big OSU flag come galloping onto the field.

One of the reasons we wanted to go to a game is that three of our YSAs are in the marching band, and we wanted to see them in action.  Even though we couldn't pick out our kids, the band put on a fun show at halftime.  To a person with virtually no coordination, how they can play an instrument while marching into formation of fun shapes is pretty miraculous.  

The day was terribly hot, but finally cooled off some.  Then when the score was tied at 38 (we played the Pittsburgh Panthers) a couple of minutes into the 4th quarter, the game was delayed because of lightning in the area.  Everyone had to clear the bowl--and most folks just left.  When we walked back to the institute it was a fairly steady but light sprinkle.  Moments later, as we drove home, it was a deluge, and the the lightning and thunder were all around us.  Two hours later the game resumed, and OSU won, 45 to 38.  

I've mentioned in previous posts how curious the fraternity and sorority doings are.  The very first week of classes, we saw frat boys carrying big metal pieces out of storage sheds.  Soon we saw welding all over the place.  For the last week or so, each one has had rented lifts out front, and the structures are getting taller.

Skeleton structures for the Homecoming Walk Around

What we've learned is that each frat house is paired with a sorority to create masterpieces for homecoming.  While the guys are building these structures, the girls are working with chicken wire and tissue paper creating works of art to be mounted on them.  Then they get put up between midnight and the morning on the first day of homecoming for the Walk Around.  Word has it this is amazing to behold and lots of fun.  There are prizes for the best.  All members have to commit to quite a few hows per week to work on the structure or the paper art.  Can't wait to see it, and will have pictures of the whole event in mid-October.

Aside from the wonderful time we're having with our mission calling, we are really enjoying the traditions and customs of Oklahoma.  It's a lovely state with lots going on--I guess OK is one of those "best kept secrets" that only a lucky few get to experience.

Week 44
Well, what I thought I would be telling about didn't happen!  For weeks we had planned to go to the Chickasaw Cultural Center on Labor Day.  It's two hours south of here, and they were having a special Labor Day program.  Off we went, only to learn that, though they are open 7 days a week, the celebration was Saturday and Sunday, and the center was closed on Labor Day!!

Kerby between the welcoming wall and the closed sign

Fortunately we had a very nice lunch (best fried green tomatoes I've ever had--now that's something you don't see on menus in the west) at the resort/casino/spa in Sulphur.  It is named because of the sulphur springs that used to be a huge draw for their medicinal qualities.  The area is now the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, a national park, and we explored the springs and little waterfalls.  The best part of the day was that Kerby could walk the mile trail with virtually no pain in his tendon--all those weeks of therapy (which aren't over yet) finally paying off.  The springs are cold, which is different since smelling that much sulphur is usually associated with hot springs or geysers in my experience. We did enjoy the day even though the main attraction was closed.

We got home in time for FHE--nerf gun wars.  These YSAs really know how to play!

Usually the nature reports are about something pretty, but there is a plague of webworms here.  They are not supposed to really harm otherwise healthy trees, but a lot of trees look like the one below. We're going to see if it comes back in the spring.

Hardwood trees all over the area are infested with them (not all to this extent), and spraying doesn't help because it can't permeate the web bags.  Not a pretty sight at all.

Last week's magnitude 5.6 earthquake was upgraded to a 5.8 after all the data was analyzed.  We didn't feel any of the aftershocks that Pawnee had, but on Thursday afternoon we had one loud boom and one good shake.  Ten minutes later we heard another boom and felt another good shake.  They were 3.0 and 2.9 earthquakes centered in Stillwater.

We continue to enjoy working with the wonderful young missionaries.  The four assigned to our ward are hard workers.  Here they are at dinner last week.

Sisters Smith and Belshe, Elders Richardson and Van Alfen

Driving home from the temple on Friday night, we were treated to an incredible lightning show for over an hour.  Then 10 minutes after we got home the sky opened and heavy rain fell much of the night.  The thunder clouds and lightning in Oklahoma are simply marvelous to behold.

Stake Conference was today, with a wonderful adult session last evening.  The primary theme last night was family history and today, temples.  A few other topics were addressed, as well.  Every speaker did a great job of conveying their message and inviting the Spirit.  Beautiful musical numbers just enhanced the meetings.

Tonight the YSAs are having a pot luck dinner at 5:30, followed by the World Wide Devotional for Young Adults broadcast at 7:00.  Elder Quentin L. Cook will be the speaker.

Week 43
Yesterday morning we had the biggest news of the week as a magnitude 5.6 earthquake woke us up at 7:03 am.  It was centered in Pawnee--32 miles north east of Stillwater.  It was the strongest earthquake we've ever experienced (and the largest magnitude in Oklahoma history).  I don't know which was more startling, the loud rumbling or the quaking. It lasted at least 90 seconds, maybe a little longer, and we were grateful later to learn there wasn't really any damage in Stillwater.  (Our neighbors upstairs said their pictures fell off the walls.)  It was felt as far south as Dallas, TX, and north to Nebraska.  In Pawnee, groceries were thrown off shelves and several buildings were damaged, but there was only one injury, and it was minor.  It's quite interesting to hear something you just experienced announced on the national news. (FYI--our alarm is set for 5:30 am all week, so we were enjoying our sleep-in on Saturday.  Maybe the quake was a message to us!)

Damage in Pawnee

I guess it was the week for nature to make herself known, as Eric and Emily in North Carolina had a tree in their backyard struck by lightening.

Today our grandson Sebastian is being baptized in Germantown, MD.  We hate not being there, but are so proud of him.

Back to more mundane events, FHE this week was water balloon volleyball--Elder Kerr was the scorekeeper and water balloon distributor.

We had rain on and off early in the week, but Wednesday it really came down.  Unfortunately, the missionaries were on campus with their booth.  They really got drenched--pretty much soaked to the skin by the time they got to the institute building.  Elder Richardson didn't want to put wet socks back on, so he tried drying them over the toaster:

Hoping for the best

Well, that didn't seem to be working, so a while later we smelled smoke--he had put the socks right on the toaster, and they started melting!  We all had a good laugh at his "holy socks."

On Friday night the Boomer Blast was held (fireworks at Boomer Lake).  It was postponed from July 4th because there had been too much rain then.  We didn't participate in the Trucks and Tunes part (food trucks and bands) that began earlier, but we found the perfect spot for viewing a really spectacular fireworks display.  

Saturday was the opening football game of the season at OSU.  The population of Stillwater almost doubles on game day.  We just drove around the periphery because it's so amazing to see.  Tailgate tents as far as you can see, orange and black everywhere, and just a festive atmosphere.  I hate to add that much of that atmosphere is fueled by beer--these folks would be shocked to learn how much fun you can have completely sober; guess they've never tried it.

We had excellent classes this week.  Our institute students really love the gospel and are hungry to learn--that makes for wonderful discussions.