The "Mini" Mission

Dear Uncle George: I have a problem with too many buttons.  I mean so many options and a girl  likes options.  Except when it is necessary they be in order so that they can make things "go." I don't like to be bothered with making things "go," so 16 years ago tomorrow I had a son so he could do it for me.   You know, turn on the TV.  The DVD.  Movies.  Nothing you know anything about, but trust me, worth it.   It really has worked out well for me. All I have to say is "Make it go" and the men in my life hop up, thrilled that they can serve me at anytime and my every whim.  :)  Not. "Mom, can't you learn to do this yourself?"  But I know I have succeeded in my mothering when he says "I know, make it go"  BEFORE I ask.  Who says all that brainwashing I did when he was young didn't paid off? How does one retrace someone else's steps 106 years after the fact?  How does someone make a journey like this "g...

Dear Uncle George, You know, this is not the first time I have thought long and hard about you and your photographs. It was March 2011. Sorry I didn't really think more about you since then, but I have been busy cruising the West Indies and surviving trying to cross the street in Calcutta.  And don't forget figuring out the new name of our 6th rescue cat (and before you get all judgmental on me, I didn't bring him home and he doesn't live in the house....I just give him little snackies so he will perhaps stop gnawing on his lower leg.  See, not my fault). As I am known to do, I took myself on a little day trip to the nearby, but not to be confused with some amazing metropolis like Gower (no offense), town of Richmond. As I wandered about, I took photos for fun.  No project, no purpose.  At that time, I was fully immersed in shooting the construction process of the Kansas City Temple, and visually, just needed a break.  If you want to refer back to it's...

George in Independence/Kansas City:   April 24, 1907 Rose about 5:30 am.  Washed my feet.  Prayer with Elder Harris.  He then took me on to the Temple Lot.  This is a beautiful place--quiet and pleasant.  Agreeable to the eye.  I felt it a privilege to be in this land which the Prophet of the Lord designated as the center stake of Zion.  I arranged to make a picture of the mission home, when the instrument was blown over and so damaged by the wind that I could not make the picture.  I went to Kansas City.  Very windy all day. Supper at the mission headquarters and then to the office to assist with the mail.  They sent twelve sacks today. Val:  April 24, 2013 Dude, have you heard of OCD?  It is a behavior for folks who struggle getting past certain fixations?  I think you have it.  You seem to be concerned with the cleanliness of your feet.  Just the night before you washed your feet to refresh ...

Written by Uncle George:  April 23, 1907 Woke up in Bison, Kansas at 4 am.  A farmer says the stone fence posts cost about $.15 each.  Windmills.  Notice the wheat is about 3 to 4 inches high.  The train brought me into to Kansas City at almost dark.  I reached the mission headquarters after 10:00 pm, 302 South Pleasant Street, Independence.  I am thankful to get out of the the noise, bustle, dust and smoke of Kansas City.  A wash and foot bath;  I felt refreshed.  A poor colored man asked me to allow him to carry my equipment.  I told him I was not going any farther.  Was hungry and wished a nickel, which I gave him. Val: April 23, 2013 Like your mission, my mission will actually be broken up over a year span.  Like I always say, "It isn't my fault."  Just like finding myself an owner of 5 cats, sometimes things just get off my organized, detailed track. Last year, this very day (May 6th) we were dedicating the...