Elder Lee and Elder Meireles with a cute Brazilian girl...

Matt's companion, Elder Meireles is getting transferred tomorrow. Matt will get a new companion, and he will have a friend from his first area back in the district with him. Elder Breinholt is coming to Sao Borja. They should have some good times!

Elder Meireles emailed this picture, with the following description:
"isnt this the cutest baby you've ever seen??
hahaha!!
;)
Meireles:

Pandemic Awareness

Lately I have been thinking more and more about our family's preparedness. In our church we are counseled to store food and water and other essentials. We have tried to follow these guidelines with our family. We have been working on updating it recently. One of the things that is always a possibility is a pandemic. With the recent news about a possible pandemic starting in Mexico and now spreading to the USA, I have been thinking again about how important it is to be prepared. If a pandemic starts, there is a very real possibility that authorities could quarantine people to their homes. Are we prepared that we could get by without having to go to the store?

Here is an article about the new flu that is raising fears:
New swine flu likely widespread, experts say.

and here is a link to the Provident Living site:
Pandemic Preparedness Planning

Finally, here is the Link for the government's site:

PandemicFlue.gov

I hope and pray there is no need to worry, but pandemics have been something the human race has dealt with for centuries, and we most likely will again, so it is best to be prepared.

I survived the storm. We got some big hail. It was bigger than quarter size. The storm was very fast moving and so while we were in the thick of it the sky was clearing to the west which gave the sky a very cool orange glow to it. The orange glow was caused by all the smoke in the air. On the news they said that Oklahoma has a lot of brush fires and homes burning. I'm posting a picture of the hail, the orange sky, and a cool one of the street light that came on when the storm got really dark and then went off when the storm had moved on by. And yes, instead of taking cover like the weatherman said to do as a lot of rotation was approaching Hartford, I was out taking pictures. What a fool. With thunder, lightening, and rain all around I had to balance the camera on the car top, and while holding an umbrella over it hold down the shutter release. I went inside during the hail. That was some BIG hail. In the picture of the hail I have a quarter and a nickel in the center.

Dark and stormy night!

David has gone to Fort Smith for his High Council meeting and I'm here alone. There is a heavy thunderstorm moving it. It has been super windy this evening. I've even worried that the trampoline in the back yard will blow away. Looking at the radar, I see a heavy red line of storms just about to hit. Well If I have to go to the inside room for safety (the bathroom in this house) then I won't be too crowded.

I love all my family and friends. I hope they are safe as the storms blow through!