Fall Festival and Snow

We felt bad to miss the Fall Festival in Palmer last week because of a massive traffic jam.  The Festival sells out every year and we only had tickets for the first Saturday on the 18th. It was sold out for this past weekend but the ward mission leader, who owns the farm and runs the festival, was kind enough to leave our names at Will Call so we could get in.  The Fall Festival was our first activity when we arrived to start our mission a year ago on September 18, 2020. President and Sister King took us to the festival to introduce us to life in Alaska. We enjoyed it just as much yesterday as we did a year ago, even though it was a bit colder.

     We enjoyed picking carrots, seeing the missionaries helping with parking and games,  and seeing the kids and families having fun. We didn't get the big carrots like last year but smaller ones tasted just as good. It was so muddy. We just put on our big rubber boots and sloshed through the fields. 

     We thought this food truck with chocolate covered bacon looked like a great treat for Jed, Jack and Zack. Anyone else?

     Michael and Bonnie arrived Friday night for  a visit. They will be here through Oct 4. It snowed 2-12 inches in Anchorage and the surrounding valley early Friday morning. The power was out in scattered areas also so it was a snow day for schools in Anchorage and Eagle River. September surprise! Although it is cold, the weather looks pretty clear for the next few days. We were able to see Denali from Kincaid Park. The view is a little "milky" but still visible. Also we were watching planes flying in about every 45 secs.  Mostly FedEx flights. 

     Potter Marsh is always a picturesque spot in every season as well. 

     We had spot prawns on Saturday and for Halibut Sunday we had Cedar Plank Halibut with Citrus Cream Sauce (Elder Robinson's favorite). Delicious! Let me now if you would like the recipe. The fresh seafood and vegetables have been so good.

     Spiritual Thought: I have enjoyed so much reading family history stories on Family Search. I read the history of William Henrie by Callie Morley this past week. It was about 36 pages, but so interesting. I learned about the origin of the Henrie name. William Henrie was living in Ohio when he was taught the gospel by Parley P. Pratt and Samuel Smith. He eventually joined the church and moved to Nauvoo in 1842. Before leaving Ohio he felt that Henry was too common of a name and was always mixed up with the given name. He changed the name from Henry to Henrie so that "from now on all will know that if they end the name with an "ie" instead of "y" they are my descendants or relatives." It worked. I  know if someone's name is spelled as Henrie, we must be relatives. I feel grateful to be a descendant of William Henrie. He left a legacy of love and devotion for family and the gospel. He had a deep love for the Prophet Joseph Smith and testimony of him as a prophet. He had many miracles and blessings in spite of hardship. It was also interesting to learn of his wife Myra Mayall. She was a school teacher and businesswoman. She was very smart, had a good sense of humor and good judgement. She worked hard, was devoted to service to others, and tenderhearted. I laughed to learn she liked Halloween and would dress up as a witch or gypsy and tell fortunes for Halloween. That's where our family Halloween fun comes from! Families are connected in the most interesting ways. It has made me think of what I want my children to remember from being in our family. I hope above all they will remember miracles we have seen in our lives and the blessings the gospel brings. I hope they will have a desire to  seek and love truth and to love each other. It also made me think of what it means to be a descendant of someone. That is a good thought question.

     We hope you enjoy Conference this weekend and find something in what you hear that will bless and help you in your lives. Each time we listen I feel it is just what we needed to hear. It is hard sometimes to listen to all of conference in real time, so we hope you can at least listen to what Pres. Nelson has to say. We pray for each of you and look forward to hearing how you are doing too. Have a great week and enjoy Lisa's birthday!

Love,

Elder and Sister Robinson

Transfers are this week and we will miss Elder Bateman. He is from Payson. His family owns a dairy farm with 32,000 cows. He knows hard work! He will be going to Fairbanks for the winter. What a blessing for people in Fairbanks!