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.