Summer Fun Begins

Dear Family & Friends,

Lilacs just starting to bloom in Anchorage.

Kitty writing this week...finally.  When I started to get sick two weeks ago, I was sitting down with terrible stomach pain and passed out, face planted, and wrenched my back. I think I had a virus combined with bronchitis. Thankfully no permanent damage to my face, but my back is still healing. I have osteopenia, so I am very grateful I didn't break anything. Incentive to take up yoga more regularly. I also ordered a rebounder. We used to call them a mini tramp. Now instead of feeling 20 years older, I only feel 10 years older:) Life is very fragile. I was feeling a little down last Saturday and then the moose and calves showed up! It made my day and I felt Heavenly Father was mindful of me and sent them to cheer me up. It worked. After breaking up the house cleaning over the course of the last week while I healed, I was able to get a manicure and pedicure on Saturday, so I'm feeling a bit more myself. The lilacs were blooming and the scent was heavenly. We heard in Utah they have already come and gone.

Cute grandkids.

Very early Sunday morning we picked up our son and his sweet family from the airport. For our 50th wedding anniversary next April we told the kids we wanted to give them all a chance to come to Alaska with their families. Our first group is finally here and we are so excited. We miss our family and especially the grandkids. That is really the only main sacrifice in serving a senior mission. The Lord has been very mindful of our family and we feel grateful for his watchful care of them in our absence. We attended the noon meetings instead of our 9 a.m. ward at church so we could get a good night's sleep. Our son smoked delicious pork baby back ribs on the Traeger. It has been rainy all day yesterday and today, but we were able to get in a fun two mile walk after dinner. Our grandson was drawn to every puddle. The fresh air up here has spoiled us. Our grandson wanted to play Alaska Alaska and it was close, but he won after our three rounds. It is hard for us to get to bed early as it never really gets dark. The little ones internal clocks don't let them sleep in. Today they are off doing indoor activities. We have a report due every Monday so we are at the Visitors' Center all day anyway. No moose spotting's yet, but we are hopeful.

We love the new location of our Visitors' Center. The trees and green grass behind us with a cute path winding down from the new parking lot for workers. We are about five feet higher in this location and have a great view of the new temple being constructed. We are on the same side of the parking lot as the existing Anchorage Alaska Temple. We even ordered a new larger sign that can be seen from the road. The 5' x 8' sign reads: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Anchorage Alaska Temple, Visitors' Center. I haven't been on site for two weeks, so we are heading there in a few minutes to see the progress and take pictures.

Have a wonderful week. We love hearing from you. #ThinkCelestial

Love, Elder & Sister Badger