We were in the MTC with some very neat people. This is a picture of our district. \
L-R Elder and Sister Johnson (South Dakota, Elder and Sister Slade(Indiania) , Elder and Sister Peterson(Alabama_) , Elder & Sister Nichols ( SLC South) .

We left the MTC on Friday. Spent the night with Mom and Dad. On Saturday Morning we left early to get to Ft. Collins, Colorado to have a little time with LeGrand's brother Brent and his wife Gay.
We had a nice visit with them, a delicious dinner and some time for a few games. I learned a new one called "Word Thief" and then we played Rummy kub. It was fun and a good visit.

We left today (Sunday) dressed to go to church on our way. It had snowed during the night , so our drive to Sterling, Colorado was slower than we had planned. Which made it so we missed church. Then it began to snow and the road began to be covered with snow. by the time we got to North Platte, NE. the roads were getting worse and the gas station said that the "covenant " trucking company was pulling all of their trucks off the road. So we got a room at the "La Quinta",
and moved in for night.

Soon after we got in we saw on the TV that there had been a 50 car pile up 50 miles down the road from where we are. Had we gone on we would have probably been involved.

So for now we rest and don't plan to get to the mission until tuesday.

• We left home on Friday and took the weekend to rest and recover. On Monday AM about 10:30 we went down to the MTC and checked in. We were not able to find the medical vaccination cards so we had to sign a waiver.
  
• Monday was a long day of discussion (mostly them discussing) preach my gospel. We were given some time to work on our preparation for a discussion we had to give.
  
• Tuesday we more of the same (sitting) *my tail bone is soooooo tired. We prepared some more to give our 1st discussion to a member that comes to the MTC and pretends to be investigators.
  
• So it is WEdnesday and we gave our discussion today in the AM., Now today we are planning to present another discussion tomorrow. I am really tired. Poor LeGrand spends most of the day being sure that I don't fall off my chair or sleep soundly enough that I slug or hit someone or yell out. My medicine makes me have crazy dreams. They were having a discussion and I was dreaming that someone said the closing prayer. Well , I was surprised when I jerked awake and no one was leaving.
  
• LeGrand has a hard knot on the back of his Right leg. He has vericoise veins and these are different than eever before. So we may have him checked out before we leave .
  
• We talked to the President and have now been assigned to Kokomo , Indiana. 45 miles north of Indianapolis.
  
• We found an apt . on line for 1 bedroom, $389. for a 1 year lease. If is is in a good area and we like it we will rent it. We will be able to keep t he cost down , even if we have to buy some 2nd hand furniture.
  
• We are seeing if we can leave on Friday to allow us a more restful less hurried trip to the mission home. It will take us 3 days to get to our goal, barring any weather.
  
• SEE YA:LL
  

We spent the last 2 weeks getting our home ready and our car fixed. LeGrand kept saying there was something wrong with the car , he thought it was the muffler. I was in the area of our car repair guy so I took it in and had them run a diagnostic on it. Not the muffler but a leak in the coolant. The next morning Wednesday , before we left, he took it in to see what needed done.
By the time they got thru it was going to cost more than the car was worth to repair. It was becoming a money pit.
So off to the car store to locate something we could drive and depend on. It was hard for both of us because we had been without a car payment for a year and we didn't want to pick up another.
But I choices were taken from us so to speak . We bought a 2006 Equinox, which we like. It is easier to get into and out of and has more room in it. It looks like the picture only the color is sandy gold.

We are renting our house to a young couple while we are gone. We trust them and hope they enjoy it as much as we do when we are home. However the morning we left, we had a hard time. The house was ours,,,yet we were turning it over to some one else. Such funny feelings we had. Our setting apart was nice. We drove away from the church after that.

We already miss our kids, but are anxious to get started. It has been a month of emotional ups and downs. see you all tomorrow

Christmas came to our house this year. Tricia and Her Family came to visit for the holiday. So much fun was had by all. We were in the process of packing and getting the house ready for our mission. Here are a few pictures to enjoy. We certainly missed the rest of our children.

This is one of the cutest (funniest) cartoons I have seen lately. Thought you might enjoy it . We laughed pretty hard when we read it. Our Friend has it framed and on a wall in her house. She knows the cartoonist. Go ahead and laugh.

Coy Loree Woodward Carson

My Mother

My Mother is not doing well. She is 84 years old and close to returning home. I will miss her. For years she has been my mentor, best friend, cheerleader, role model and leader. It is because of her and the decision she and my Dad made in 1957 to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that I have the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. Because of her and her love for being a Mother that I love being a Mother. I learned from her how to be dedicated to my callings in the church. I learned to see the world as a great place. To feel that I could do anything, that I was smart, organized and had some level of creativity. She made me take piano lessons, (which by the way I wish I had studied harder) , We listened to good music , enjoyed good musical theater and movies. I saw her work hard on our yard to have beautiful flowers, green grass and trees. I appreciate trees of any kind.
I have a deep appreciation for little children and they joy they can be to all of us. The role a mother plays in their lives. She taught me to forgive others and not hold grudges. To apologize when necessary(which I have to do often, because I have not learned to control my mouth)( oh well, at least I know how)
She loved my friends, helped when they needed it. She loved my husband and my children, knowing they were the best.
I see that she needs to return to her Father in Heaven , but I will miss her sweet influence in my life. Thanks to my knowledge of the gospel plan I know that I will see her again.
She will enjoy the reunion on the other side, with her parents and a Sister that she never knew. Aunts(one that she is named after) and Uncles, Grandparents that love her too.
She married one of the greatest Men on the earth. He has loved her and cared for her through their 62 years of marriage.
I love you Mom,