Garden allotment in Lingfield, Turning it over.
Somebody else's allotment. We are behind this one.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Reporting in
Reporting In
January 28, 2018
Our 29 acre London Temple compound can feel sheltered from the business of the world. Mail and delivery trucks make daily runs but that is all the commerce we see. The only money transacted around here happens in the Clothing Till inside the temple if a patron wants to rent clothing or down in the Canteen if that same patron (or a worker) would like to purchase a lunch. Note the English people call it the Canteen. To the Americans, it's the Cafeteria.
Now, you just have to picture this since no pictures are taken in the temple......Rosa is the manager of the place. She is a big happy Spaniard who moved here two years ago from Ireland where she had lived for twenty years. Again, I say I am amazed at the diversity of people and languages here in Great Britain. Sister Rumes and her son, Daniel are her only helpers. The Rumes' are from Switzerland and are here with their special needs son serving their third 6 month mission. She tells me that since Daniel has never been able to serve a mission, they do this for him. Brother and Sister Rumes can work circles around most of us. Brother Rumes does much of the repairs anywhere that is needed on the Temple grounds. Daniel floats between helping in the Canteen and helping his dad. He can't understand a word of English but he sure will wait to be spoken to and he always gives me a big smile.
Often, workers are assigned on our Rotas (schedules) to spend an hour or two in the Cafeteria helping out. I love that duty. I get to change clothes and wear special shoes. The end of the duty involves a free bowl of ice cream. Most of my time is spent washing and drying dishes as the temple dishwasher is broken. I also help making the cheesy potatoes. Now, these are a staple served everyday. Along with these calorie laden, heart- attack- making little gems, regular jacket potatoes (baked potatoes) are served. A patron can count on pork and beans, chili, or tuna to plop on their jacket potato (well, for a price). Personally, these are not very good. But, the English people do love them. Along with potatoes, the Canteen can surprise us all occasionally with Fish and Chips or pastry pies (filled with steak or chicken or cheese and onions.) Rolls and a small salad bar can be counted on each day also. Lest I forget, the Delivery lorry (truck) brings in cakes and mousses that are displayed right by the Salad Bar. And of course, this is my favorite spot to study each day as I pull out our Lunchbox from the Workers Refrigerators.
Each Temple worker is assigned a thirty minute break for lunch or dinner, depending on what shift is working at the time. On our lunchbreak this past week, we were sitting by one of our patron friends, Lynn Baker. We were eating our favorite lunch of all time - bean burros that My Mikie makes in bulk here in the flat (apartment) and then, freezes. It is common each time we pull them out for an English person to quietly ask what we are eating. Their voices always portray a note of sadness as they must think we are too broke to afford much else. Just like clockwork, Lynn asked what it was that we were eating. We gave our standard answer. She says, "That's not a burro. It's an old pancake!" We had to show her the beans and cheese. These poor English people just don't know what they are missing with their jacket potatoes topped with pork and beans. Other people have commented on our pancakes that we eat also, but Lynn was horrified.
Well Folks, can you picture any of this. I so wish I could just send you a picture of our English Canteen and our Worker Friends who run the place. It's a happy place. They are always happy to see us and we are always happy to eat our old pancakes.....aka bean burros.
MY LOVE,
Sister Seaman....Mom and Grams
PROPER ENGLISH:
*Making a rod for your own back - creating a big mess for yourself to clean up
*Where your face fits - where a person fits in the social circles
*Jumble Sale - rummage sale because it all gets jumbles up
*Boot Sale - to sell your junk out of the back of your car at a flea market
I said it once and I'll say it again, I love how the English people all end their statements with a question. Example:
*We want to serve all the patrons, don't we?
*The Book of Mormon is full of stories, isn't it?
*It seems to be a dreary day, doesn't it?
*After all, the motorways were backed up, weren't they?
Frank William Seaman
One day this week, I was sitting behind the veil waiting for the session to come through. The workers that are assigned gather there and wait in this spot. As they were coming in, I looked up and saw a man coming in and in my mind I said, "Hello Grandpa Frank." I could not believe my eyes. There, walking towards me, was my Grandpa Frank Seaman. For those of you who remember that far back, he is the one that use to say, "All the more for Willie."
Of course it wasn't him but a close facsimile, and it had a profound effect on me. I have thought about him a lot this week. I didn't know him well. He died when I was about 11 or 12. His mind had been gone for a lot longer than that, so he had never really known who I was.
Seeing him in the temple brought about the thought process that ends with families being together forever. I am so grateful for that experience and being reminded of how important the work is we are doing here in England. Not just for my family and but for thousands of families.
Last Monday, one of the single sisters, Dee Long (from Colorado, she is 80) ask Kim and I if we could help her with a service project for her friend Sister Dockerty. We home-teach Sister Dockerty. Here in England the towns and villages are governed by councils. One of the things the councils do is set-aside and over-see land for gardens for their citizens. They are called allotments. You make application and if selected, you get a garden spot, about 20' x 50', for $50 a year. Sister Dockerty has one of these allotments and so we helped her weed it out and turn it over for her. It is still, to this day, a surprise and it was a partly sunny day (another surprise.) For those of you in the high desert southwest USA, doesn't January seem a little early for this kind of activity.
Anyway, maybe we can go back and help her some more this year. It felt good to be out working in the sunlight.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
January 28, 2018
Our 29 acre London Temple compound can feel sheltered from the business of the world. Mail and delivery trucks make daily runs but that is all the commerce we see. The only money transacted around here happens in the Clothing Till inside the temple if a patron wants to rent clothing or down in the Canteen if that same patron (or a worker) would like to purchase a lunch. Note the English people call it the Canteen. To the Americans, it's the Cafeteria.
Now, you just have to picture this since no pictures are taken in the temple......Rosa is the manager of the place. She is a big happy Spaniard who moved here two years ago from Ireland where she had lived for twenty years. Again, I say I am amazed at the diversity of people and languages here in Great Britain. Sister Rumes and her son, Daniel are her only helpers. The Rumes' are from Switzerland and are here with their special needs son serving their third 6 month mission. She tells me that since Daniel has never been able to serve a mission, they do this for him. Brother and Sister Rumes can work circles around most of us. Brother Rumes does much of the repairs anywhere that is needed on the Temple grounds. Daniel floats between helping in the Canteen and helping his dad. He can't understand a word of English but he sure will wait to be spoken to and he always gives me a big smile.
Often, workers are assigned on our Rotas (schedules) to spend an hour or two in the Cafeteria helping out. I love that duty. I get to change clothes and wear special shoes. The end of the duty involves a free bowl of ice cream. Most of my time is spent washing and drying dishes as the temple dishwasher is broken. I also help making the cheesy potatoes. Now, these are a staple served everyday. Along with these calorie laden, heart- attack- making little gems, regular jacket potatoes (baked potatoes) are served. A patron can count on pork and beans, chili, or tuna to plop on their jacket potato (well, for a price). Personally, these are not very good. But, the English people do love them. Along with potatoes, the Canteen can surprise us all occasionally with Fish and Chips or pastry pies (filled with steak or chicken or cheese and onions.) Rolls and a small salad bar can be counted on each day also. Lest I forget, the Delivery lorry (truck) brings in cakes and mousses that are displayed right by the Salad Bar. And of course, this is my favorite spot to study each day as I pull out our Lunchbox from the Workers Refrigerators.
Each Temple worker is assigned a thirty minute break for lunch or dinner, depending on what shift is working at the time. On our lunchbreak this past week, we were sitting by one of our patron friends, Lynn Baker. We were eating our favorite lunch of all time - bean burros that My Mikie makes in bulk here in the flat (apartment) and then, freezes. It is common each time we pull them out for an English person to quietly ask what we are eating. Their voices always portray a note of sadness as they must think we are too broke to afford much else. Just like clockwork, Lynn asked what it was that we were eating. We gave our standard answer. She says, "That's not a burro. It's an old pancake!" We had to show her the beans and cheese. These poor English people just don't know what they are missing with their jacket potatoes topped with pork and beans. Other people have commented on our pancakes that we eat also, but Lynn was horrified.
Well Folks, can you picture any of this. I so wish I could just send you a picture of our English Canteen and our Worker Friends who run the place. It's a happy place. They are always happy to see us and we are always happy to eat our old pancakes.....aka bean burros.
MY LOVE,
Sister Seaman....Mom and Grams
PROPER ENGLISH:
*Making a rod for your own back - creating a big mess for yourself to clean up
*Where your face fits - where a person fits in the social circles
*Jumble Sale - rummage sale because it all gets jumbles up
*Boot Sale - to sell your junk out of the back of your car at a flea market
I said it once and I'll say it again, I love how the English people all end their statements with a question. Example:
*We want to serve all the patrons, don't we?
*The Book of Mormon is full of stories, isn't it?
*It seems to be a dreary day, doesn't it?
*After all, the motorways were backed up, weren't they?
Frank William Seaman
One day this week, I was sitting behind the veil waiting for the session to come through. The workers that are assigned gather there and wait in this spot. As they were coming in, I looked up and saw a man coming in and in my mind I said, "Hello Grandpa Frank." I could not believe my eyes. There, walking towards me, was my Grandpa Frank Seaman. For those of you who remember that far back, he is the one that use to say, "All the more for Willie."
Of course it wasn't him but a close facsimile, and it had a profound effect on me. I have thought about him a lot this week. I didn't know him well. He died when I was about 11 or 12. His mind had been gone for a lot longer than that, so he had never really known who I was.
Seeing him in the temple brought about the thought process that ends with families being together forever. I am so grateful for that experience and being reminded of how important the work is we are doing here in England. Not just for my family and but for thousands of families.
Last Monday, one of the single sisters, Dee Long (from Colorado, she is 80) ask Kim and I if we could help her with a service project for her friend Sister Dockerty. We home-teach Sister Dockerty. Here in England the towns and villages are governed by councils. One of the things the councils do is set-aside and over-see land for gardens for their citizens. They are called allotments. You make application and if selected, you get a garden spot, about 20' x 50', for $50 a year. Sister Dockerty has one of these allotments and so we helped her weed it out and turn it over for her. It is still, to this day, a surprise and it was a partly sunny day (another surprise.) For those of you in the high desert southwest USA, doesn't January seem a little early for this kind of activity.
Anyway, maybe we can go back and help her some more this year. It felt good to be out working in the sunlight.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
Monday, January 22, 2018
I Have a Friend
January 22, 2018
I have a friend named Helene who comes to the temple with her parents. She was born with a disease that begins with the letter "M". You all remember where I work. There is not a lot of chitchat so I have forgotten the name of her disease. Helene's right side is partially paralyzed from head to toe. She wears a small badge that says, "I use my left hand". Her right shoe is built up with a brace attached so she can walk.
It is hard to understand Helene when she speaks. Her parents were doing baptisms a while back and this is something she cannot do because of her paralysis. I was able to visit with her while she waited for them to complete their work. It was so very apparent that she adored her mother. She was so concerned about her having wet hair and getting a cold. She was so relieved when her mother was through. It is clear that her parents are her caregivers and her dearest friends.
This week, in a session, her father escorted her to the front and sat her in a chair so she could fully participate in a prayer. Throughout that same session her mother helped her with her clothing and prompted her when she forgot something.
Helene and her parents are some of my heroes. Wouldn't it just be easier to stay home? Their travel time is long and they pack to stay overnight in the accommodations. They bring their own food in as all three are restricted in their diet. Helene has a strict schedule of eating, bathing, and sleeping that must be adhered to. These parents have cared for their youngest daughter day and night for over forty years, never taking a break.
My Mike and I were listening to President Nelson's October 2013 conference talk, "Decisions for Eternity" just this morning. Among other things, this stood out to me:
"Stellar spirits are often housed in imperfect bodies. The gift of such a body can
actually strengthen a family as parents and siblings willingly build their lives
around that child born with special needs".
I thought of my friend, Helene. I especially thought of our dearest Elijah and his parents and siblings at home in Arizona. I have watched the battle Elijah's parents and siblings have waged to give him all he needs in this life to be a happy boy. I can look ahead and see Elijah's parents doing the same things for him as Helene's parents do for her. And what better spot to bring her than the temple. That is where we are all on the same page. Where we all learn at our own pace the role we each play in this grand plan of Happiness. Where we are reminded that this life is a small part of the grand scheme and every wrong will be made right, every sorrow will be compensated for. Isn't it wonderful? I can picture my friend Helene someday dancing. Her mother told me this week that she relies on promises made in the temple that one day her baby girl will be made whole. She says it has been so worth it to bring her to the temple often.
My love,
Sister Seaman.....aka Mom and Grams
PROPER ENGLISH:
*bonnet - hood of your car, not to be worn on your head
*boot - trunk of your car. A trunk is an old fashioned large suitcase.
*wing - fender of your car
*windscreen - windshield of your car
*petrol - gasoline for that same car
*lorry - a big truck that takes up the whole teeny-tiny road so it may be easy to take out a mirror on the parked cars that take up the rest of that teeny-tiny road.
A Driving Report
Kim's blog had me thinking about my driving abilities, experiences and incidents. I am 73 days accident free. How about that! That is how long I have been driving on the left side of these teeny-weeny tiny roads here in the English country-side. I am not incident free however. I continue to get honked at, as I cut people off in the round-abouts.
And they make strange allowances for parking on these very narrow roads. In the little villages, on all roads, they allow parking on one side of the road in certain areas and you can park in either direction (what?) That means there may be cars parked out into at least half of your lane which means when you are driving, you are in the opposite lane by half. When a car is coming from the other direction, there is often not enough room for you to pass by each other. Which means that one car has to stop and get as close to or onto the curb as possible, or right up next to the parked cars. Often times the other guy just keeps on coming.
On the way home from church Sunday, I was driving through one of these narrow places as the cars were parked on my side. The car coming the other way didn't even slow down or move all the way over. I slowed way down but I could see that it was going to be a very tight fit. I missed the car in the other lane, but I heard a very gentle whump, whump, whump as we passed the parked cars. My friend Graham, in the passenger seat, says, well you got some mirrors Mike. We kept going as you can't tell which cars were struck by my car. Everybody's mirrors are scathed and scratched with scrapes of different colored paint. My car is no different. It is also a good thing they are spring loaded.
I still have bad dreams about driving and wake up drenched in sweat. It is crazy, but I am getting better.
We drove over to the Maritime Museum and the World's Mean Meridian Line and Observatory. It was fascinating to me as I discovered what the big deal about the Meridian Line was all about. Not only is it where you can stand with one foot in two different days, but you can see how they made star charts by watching the stars and moon cross the meridian and taking measurements and making calculations. It was the beginning of how ships at sea could take siting's on the stars and moon and look in the star tables and figure out their latitude, which they had not been able to do accurately before. We also visited the Cutty Sark, a very large 3-masted sailing ship, built in the mid-1800s. It is preserved and maintained as a museum now. It was big. It was a good day, and even partly sunny.
We had a part of a day this week where the sky was absolutely cloud free. That has not happened since we have been here. It was good to see the blue sky.
We are doing well.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
January 22, 2018
I have a friend named Helene who comes to the temple with her parents. She was born with a disease that begins with the letter "M". You all remember where I work. There is not a lot of chitchat so I have forgotten the name of her disease. Helene's right side is partially paralyzed from head to toe. She wears a small badge that says, "I use my left hand". Her right shoe is built up with a brace attached so she can walk.
It is hard to understand Helene when she speaks. Her parents were doing baptisms a while back and this is something she cannot do because of her paralysis. I was able to visit with her while she waited for them to complete their work. It was so very apparent that she adored her mother. She was so concerned about her having wet hair and getting a cold. She was so relieved when her mother was through. It is clear that her parents are her caregivers and her dearest friends.
This week, in a session, her father escorted her to the front and sat her in a chair so she could fully participate in a prayer. Throughout that same session her mother helped her with her clothing and prompted her when she forgot something.
Helene and her parents are some of my heroes. Wouldn't it just be easier to stay home? Their travel time is long and they pack to stay overnight in the accommodations. They bring their own food in as all three are restricted in their diet. Helene has a strict schedule of eating, bathing, and sleeping that must be adhered to. These parents have cared for their youngest daughter day and night for over forty years, never taking a break.
My Mike and I were listening to President Nelson's October 2013 conference talk, "Decisions for Eternity" just this morning. Among other things, this stood out to me:
"Stellar spirits are often housed in imperfect bodies. The gift of such a body can
actually strengthen a family as parents and siblings willingly build their lives
around that child born with special needs".
I thought of my friend, Helene. I especially thought of our dearest Elijah and his parents and siblings at home in Arizona. I have watched the battle Elijah's parents and siblings have waged to give him all he needs in this life to be a happy boy. I can look ahead and see Elijah's parents doing the same things for him as Helene's parents do for her. And what better spot to bring her than the temple. That is where we are all on the same page. Where we all learn at our own pace the role we each play in this grand plan of Happiness. Where we are reminded that this life is a small part of the grand scheme and every wrong will be made right, every sorrow will be compensated for. Isn't it wonderful? I can picture my friend Helene someday dancing. Her mother told me this week that she relies on promises made in the temple that one day her baby girl will be made whole. She says it has been so worth it to bring her to the temple often.
My love,
Sister Seaman.....aka Mom and Grams
PROPER ENGLISH:
*bonnet - hood of your car, not to be worn on your head
*boot - trunk of your car. A trunk is an old fashioned large suitcase.
*wing - fender of your car
*windscreen - windshield of your car
*petrol - gasoline for that same car
*lorry - a big truck that takes up the whole teeny-tiny road so it may be easy to take out a mirror on the parked cars that take up the rest of that teeny-tiny road.
A Driving Report
Kim's blog had me thinking about my driving abilities, experiences and incidents. I am 73 days accident free. How about that! That is how long I have been driving on the left side of these teeny-weeny tiny roads here in the English country-side. I am not incident free however. I continue to get honked at, as I cut people off in the round-abouts.
And they make strange allowances for parking on these very narrow roads. In the little villages, on all roads, they allow parking on one side of the road in certain areas and you can park in either direction (what?) That means there may be cars parked out into at least half of your lane which means when you are driving, you are in the opposite lane by half. When a car is coming from the other direction, there is often not enough room for you to pass by each other. Which means that one car has to stop and get as close to or onto the curb as possible, or right up next to the parked cars. Often times the other guy just keeps on coming.
On the way home from church Sunday, I was driving through one of these narrow places as the cars were parked on my side. The car coming the other way didn't even slow down or move all the way over. I slowed way down but I could see that it was going to be a very tight fit. I missed the car in the other lane, but I heard a very gentle whump, whump, whump as we passed the parked cars. My friend Graham, in the passenger seat, says, well you got some mirrors Mike. We kept going as you can't tell which cars were struck by my car. Everybody's mirrors are scathed and scratched with scrapes of different colored paint. My car is no different. It is also a good thing they are spring loaded.
I still have bad dreams about driving and wake up drenched in sweat. It is crazy, but I am getting better.
We drove over to the Maritime Museum and the World's Mean Meridian Line and Observatory. It was fascinating to me as I discovered what the big deal about the Meridian Line was all about. Not only is it where you can stand with one foot in two different days, but you can see how they made star charts by watching the stars and moon cross the meridian and taking measurements and making calculations. It was the beginning of how ships at sea could take siting's on the stars and moon and look in the star tables and figure out their latitude, which they had not been able to do accurately before. We also visited the Cutty Sark, a very large 3-masted sailing ship, built in the mid-1800s. It is preserved and maintained as a museum now. It was big. It was a good day, and even partly sunny.
We had a part of a day this week where the sky was absolutely cloud free. That has not happened since we have been here. It was good to see the blue sky.
We are doing well.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
Monday, January 15, 2018
Sisters Cydne Morgan (R) and Erika Hixon popped in for a short visit!
They served with us in the Missouri Independence Mission.
Our Senior Missionary Friends watching President Monson's
funeral service in the lounge.
TWO HAPPIES in one week! Marie Boblett sent me a package
of Sunshine from AZ. Such a fun surprise! Everyone needs a
friend like Marie. I also got my Happy Light from Amazon UK.
Everyone living in England should have one. I can testify that
their lives would change.
Costco in the UK is the same, yet so different. Trainers are sold
here instead of tennis shoes.
PANTS ARE NOT TROUSERS; TROUSERS ARE NOT PANTS
PANTS are not TROUSERS; TROUSERS are not PANTS
January 15, 2018
It was my week for the Clothing Till. I learned some interesting things. First off, English money is not a bit like American mula. My saving grace was the fact that each drawer of the till was labeled. I have taken a fancy to their 2 pound coin and the 20 pence piece. A 2 pound coin makes me rich since it is so heavy in my wallet. As for the 20 pence - it's just of cute with its pointed sides. I felt like a child playing store all week as patrons came in to rent their clothing items. Between customers, I would take out a few coins and count random change. Oh, it took me back to my teaching days! One of the centers my students always loved was the shopping center where we would make change with random coins.
I learned other important truths in the Clothing Till. My first hard lesson happened more than one time when I would try to sell pants to male patrons instead of trousers. I could not figure out why the young patron blushed, giggled, and snuck peeks at his mother when I repeated his order back to him. Then, as we carried on, I asked him what size he wanted in his pants. And off he goes again, blushing, giggling, and looking at his mother. She did not think anything was funny. That is when it dawned on me that pants are not trousers in England. Pants are underwear. These boys and men wear trousers, especially in the temple.
My clothing terminology took several hits throughout the week. Fortunately, I was not reported. Most sisters were patient with me as I tried to hand out knee highs to wear with their slippers. Those little puppies are called POPSOCKS. I asked an English worker why and she couldn't give me an answer.
Last night, we said good-bye to our friends, the young sisters who have working in the visitor center. They are being transferred out this week to do fulltime proselyting in the London South Mission. Right after they left, we had a surprise visit from two of the sisters we knew in the Independence, MO Mission. They are over here with a group of ten girls being tourists. Oh, it was so good to see them! They rode the train and then, got an Uber to drive them the twenty miles out to the temple sight. I still don't know how they found us! Oh, to be young and bold again. My Mikie drove them back to the train station so they could catch the last train back to London. Those kind of experiences mean so much to us when we see or hear a familiar face! The gospel is oh so true in England but I have to say when I even hear an American accent from a patron in the temple, I want to hear their life story.
We loved to watch President Monson's funeral service live over here this past week and we are looking forward to sustaining a new prophet (well, in our hearts) this Tuesday. Isn't the gospel of Jesus Christ a miraculous thing? It has such order and beauty. I am so thankful to play a teensy-tinsy role in the big picture. I always hope my little efforts are accepted by the Lord and that my girls and their families know that my only hope is that it will have a positive effect in their lives.
Never ask an English man what size of pants he wears,
Sister Seaman.....aka Mom and Grandma
PROPER ENGLISH THIS WEEK:
*Swanning off - fooling around. Don't go fooling around.
*chuffed - proud
*Too many cooks, not enough broth - self-explanatory.....Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.
Death's Doorstep
Lately, I have been thinking that my life must be almost over. I have been put out to pasture. I will never do anything again that requires adrenaline or risk (which I used to live for.) My administrative service day's are over, both in church service and life service. Retirement pretty much stinks. My health is not what it used to be. There is always some kind of self-induced and imagined scare going on with my heart or cancerous growths or whatever. I can't smell, I can't hear, I can't see, hair is growing out of my nose, ears and eyebrows faster than it is growing out of my head. I can't drive well on the left side of the road. I don't adapt like I used to. What happened?
It has been like somebody threw a switch and everything changed and I feel cheated some how. I know that this sounds like I am having a super-duper pity party, but what happened? Does getting old happen over-night?
Kim says that she likes getting old because it means she is beating the odds and that means she has lived longer than her parents and that each day is now a gift. I have not yet lived longer than my parents. My dad has been gone for 22 years now. He died at 69. My mom died 15 months ago, she was 88. I am only 65. Maybe when I get to be older than my dad and mom, I will feel like the days are gifts.
I guess I need to throw out my old goals and set some new ones. Maybe I wouldn't feel so much regret in not meeting the old goals.
Don't get me wrong, I have had a great life so far. I married the right woman and because of that choice, we have raised six amazing daughters and have had an extraordinary life together. Believe me when I say that I married up. My family is everything to me.
During the all the years, there have been things that I do not regret. I do not regret my service in the church. Even though it meant sidelining some of my own wishes, the 30 years of church service have been a bigger blessing to me than anybody I could have served. I don't regret learning how to fly an airplane, or snow skiing, or water skiing, or hiking in some of the most rugged and beautiful places on the earth.
Well, do you get the idea? I am going to go out of this life kicking and screaming and trying to be somebody my kids and grandkids will remember.
Kim and I are serving missions so that our family will be blessed and know that they all need to be doing the same thing. The mission right now is England is temple work and it does get tedious. But I it is one of the things that I will not regret because I know as well as anything that we will look back on this time as well spent and worth every sacrifice.
So, now that I have talked myself out of the self-pity, I recognize that the years have gone by in such a hurry. I don't want to be considered used up and believe I have things I can still offer. I have shut the door on death for another day and live for a useful tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
January 15, 2018
It was my week for the Clothing Till. I learned some interesting things. First off, English money is not a bit like American mula. My saving grace was the fact that each drawer of the till was labeled. I have taken a fancy to their 2 pound coin and the 20 pence piece. A 2 pound coin makes me rich since it is so heavy in my wallet. As for the 20 pence - it's just of cute with its pointed sides. I felt like a child playing store all week as patrons came in to rent their clothing items. Between customers, I would take out a few coins and count random change. Oh, it took me back to my teaching days! One of the centers my students always loved was the shopping center where we would make change with random coins.
I learned other important truths in the Clothing Till. My first hard lesson happened more than one time when I would try to sell pants to male patrons instead of trousers. I could not figure out why the young patron blushed, giggled, and snuck peeks at his mother when I repeated his order back to him. Then, as we carried on, I asked him what size he wanted in his pants. And off he goes again, blushing, giggling, and looking at his mother. She did not think anything was funny. That is when it dawned on me that pants are not trousers in England. Pants are underwear. These boys and men wear trousers, especially in the temple.
My clothing terminology took several hits throughout the week. Fortunately, I was not reported. Most sisters were patient with me as I tried to hand out knee highs to wear with their slippers. Those little puppies are called POPSOCKS. I asked an English worker why and she couldn't give me an answer.
Last night, we said good-bye to our friends, the young sisters who have working in the visitor center. They are being transferred out this week to do fulltime proselyting in the London South Mission. Right after they left, we had a surprise visit from two of the sisters we knew in the Independence, MO Mission. They are over here with a group of ten girls being tourists. Oh, it was so good to see them! They rode the train and then, got an Uber to drive them the twenty miles out to the temple sight. I still don't know how they found us! Oh, to be young and bold again. My Mikie drove them back to the train station so they could catch the last train back to London. Those kind of experiences mean so much to us when we see or hear a familiar face! The gospel is oh so true in England but I have to say when I even hear an American accent from a patron in the temple, I want to hear their life story.
We loved to watch President Monson's funeral service live over here this past week and we are looking forward to sustaining a new prophet (well, in our hearts) this Tuesday. Isn't the gospel of Jesus Christ a miraculous thing? It has such order and beauty. I am so thankful to play a teensy-tinsy role in the big picture. I always hope my little efforts are accepted by the Lord and that my girls and their families know that my only hope is that it will have a positive effect in their lives.
Never ask an English man what size of pants he wears,
Sister Seaman.....aka Mom and Grandma
PROPER ENGLISH THIS WEEK:
*Swanning off - fooling around. Don't go fooling around.
*chuffed - proud
*Too many cooks, not enough broth - self-explanatory.....Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.
Death's Doorstep
Lately, I have been thinking that my life must be almost over. I have been put out to pasture. I will never do anything again that requires adrenaline or risk (which I used to live for.) My administrative service day's are over, both in church service and life service. Retirement pretty much stinks. My health is not what it used to be. There is always some kind of self-induced and imagined scare going on with my heart or cancerous growths or whatever. I can't smell, I can't hear, I can't see, hair is growing out of my nose, ears and eyebrows faster than it is growing out of my head. I can't drive well on the left side of the road. I don't adapt like I used to. What happened?
It has been like somebody threw a switch and everything changed and I feel cheated some how. I know that this sounds like I am having a super-duper pity party, but what happened? Does getting old happen over-night?
Kim says that she likes getting old because it means she is beating the odds and that means she has lived longer than her parents and that each day is now a gift. I have not yet lived longer than my parents. My dad has been gone for 22 years now. He died at 69. My mom died 15 months ago, she was 88. I am only 65. Maybe when I get to be older than my dad and mom, I will feel like the days are gifts.
I guess I need to throw out my old goals and set some new ones. Maybe I wouldn't feel so much regret in not meeting the old goals.
Don't get me wrong, I have had a great life so far. I married the right woman and because of that choice, we have raised six amazing daughters and have had an extraordinary life together. Believe me when I say that I married up. My family is everything to me.
During the all the years, there have been things that I do not regret. I do not regret my service in the church. Even though it meant sidelining some of my own wishes, the 30 years of church service have been a bigger blessing to me than anybody I could have served. I don't regret learning how to fly an airplane, or snow skiing, or water skiing, or hiking in some of the most rugged and beautiful places on the earth.
Well, do you get the idea? I am going to go out of this life kicking and screaming and trying to be somebody my kids and grandkids will remember.
Kim and I are serving missions so that our family will be blessed and know that they all need to be doing the same thing. The mission right now is England is temple work and it does get tedious. But I it is one of the things that I will not regret because I know as well as anything that we will look back on this time as well spent and worth every sacrifice.
So, now that I have talked myself out of the self-pity, I recognize that the years have gone by in such a hurry. I don't want to be considered used up and believe I have things I can still offer. I have shut the door on death for another day and live for a useful tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
Monday, January 8, 2018
From left to right Elder and Sister Murdoch and Elder and Sister
Whitehouse. Hampton Court on a cold winter's day. Summer
home of Henry the VIII.
This is the clock courtyard of Hampton Court and only a small
part of the entire building of Hampton Court. The great hall is
on the left and the entrance to the palace is the center door.
An Old Friend Has Died
An Old Friend Has Died
January 8, 2017
*Let us relish Life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love."
*Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives."
*Don't save something only for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".
*Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, He is with us. He has promised that this will never change".
This whole post could and should be covered with quotes from President Monson. I, like so many of you, feel that an old friend has died. It has been a bittersweet week. But mostly, sweet - thinking of the grand reunion he has had with his wife. I am so happy for both of them and feel a great peace that the Lord's work will carry on. We will all learn to honor, love, and revere our next prophet. There is such beauty and order in this gospel. Before we heard the news about President Monson's passing, we had had on the American news. It was rich with announcements about the mental instability of our president from one side. The other side was actively slamming all the liars and cheats that were still crying in their milk about the outcome of the 2016 election. It's enough to make my head spin. What a morning of contrasts as I felt a peace and happiness for our dear prophet.
We were able to facetime our whole family on New Year's Day as they were all together for a celebration. To see them all at one time reminds us that not a lot has changed at Home. Yet lots has changed as those grandkids continue to grow up while we watch from afar. Teeth have been lost, driver's license tests have been passed,......the list goes on. We continue to have faith that our serving this mission is and will bless our dear family's lives.
We were able to facetime our whole family on New Year's Day as they were all together for a celebration. To see them all at one time reminds us that not a lot has changed at Home. Yet lots has changed as those grandkids continue to grow up while we watch from afar. Teeth have been lost, driver's license tests have been passed,......the list goes on. We continue to have faith that our serving this mission is and will bless our dear family's lives.
Besides the passing of President Monson, it has been a quiet week. I was home for three days with a cold and cough. It seems that all of England has a cough or illness of some kind. And everyone has their remedy to get well. As for me, it was to lay low, drink Emergen-C and ponder the meaning of life.
MY LOVE,
Sister Seaman...aka Mom and Grams
Proper English Lesson:
*colour - color
*zed - in the alphabet "z" is pronounced "zed"
*a misery - a pain........(have I told you this one?)
*feeling like an oily rag - Feeling like I just don't fit
Henry the VIII
We visited one of the Palaces of King Henry the VIII today. It is called Hampton Court. As we toured this giant mansion and grounds, the thoughts of how the very rich and powerful have lived through the years of history have become more in focus for me. England, of all places, has been the seat of some of the most powerful rulers in history. And one family, in particular, has had that power. How does a monarch rise to power and his family remain in power through generations of time? It is a serious question to me and one that amazes me. Just because you are born into a certain family does not mean you are fit to rule. Sometimes this was evident and a weak King would inherit the throne, which caused a lot of problems.
King Henry was not a weak King, but he was a little crazy. He was a doer and a shaker. He was also a very smart politician. There was a little mental illness in the line of succession which didn't help matters.
King Henry did hire a few bright men to design and build Hampton Court. It is awesome and must have been really awesome several hundred years ago. It is located a few miles southwest of London on the Thames River. It was not built as a castle or a fortress but a palace for entertaining. (See pictures)
The English people are very proud of their kings and monarchs. It amazes me a little. Our tour guide today was an English Temple worker. He and his wife were kind enough to drive the van and tell us all about the palace (he is very knowledgeable about all things English.) One of the sisters in our group ask him if he had spent anytime in the USA and he said about 4 weeks total. She ask him if he would consider living in the USA and he said no. She was shocked. She said that she didn't understand, surely if he had been in the states that long he would want to stay. He said that he was glad to wake up every morning and look in the mirror and see a proper Englishman. He is also a lot of fun. I haven't laughed like that for a long time. His name is Jim Whitehouse. I will remember him as I think of the English people and their history.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
MY LOVE,
Sister Seaman...aka Mom and Grams
Proper English Lesson:
*colour - color
*zed - in the alphabet "z" is pronounced "zed"
*a misery - a pain........(have I told you this one?)
*feeling like an oily rag - Feeling like I just don't fit
Henry the VIII
We visited one of the Palaces of King Henry the VIII today. It is called Hampton Court. As we toured this giant mansion and grounds, the thoughts of how the very rich and powerful have lived through the years of history have become more in focus for me. England, of all places, has been the seat of some of the most powerful rulers in history. And one family, in particular, has had that power. How does a monarch rise to power and his family remain in power through generations of time? It is a serious question to me and one that amazes me. Just because you are born into a certain family does not mean you are fit to rule. Sometimes this was evident and a weak King would inherit the throne, which caused a lot of problems.
King Henry was not a weak King, but he was a little crazy. He was a doer and a shaker. He was also a very smart politician. There was a little mental illness in the line of succession which didn't help matters.
King Henry did hire a few bright men to design and build Hampton Court. It is awesome and must have been really awesome several hundred years ago. It is located a few miles southwest of London on the Thames River. It was not built as a castle or a fortress but a palace for entertaining. (See pictures)
The English people are very proud of their kings and monarchs. It amazes me a little. Our tour guide today was an English Temple worker. He and his wife were kind enough to drive the van and tell us all about the palace (he is very knowledgeable about all things English.) One of the sisters in our group ask him if he had spent anytime in the USA and he said about 4 weeks total. She ask him if he would consider living in the USA and he said no. She was shocked. She said that she didn't understand, surely if he had been in the states that long he would want to stay. He said that he was glad to wake up every morning and look in the mirror and see a proper Englishman. He is also a lot of fun. I haven't laughed like that for a long time. His name is Jim Whitehouse. I will remember him as I think of the English people and their history.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
Monday, January 1, 2018
The is an area on the south coast of England, on the English channel,
known as the Seven Sisters. They are white limestone cliffs and are
not far from the Cliffs of Dover. It is beautiful.
These are the two Sister Missionaries from the London Temple Visitor's
Center that gave us the final tour of the Temple grounds. The oak tree in
the background is the Memorial David O McKay Oak Tree (not the original
as it rotted out several years ago.) Sisters Neilson (R) and Leavitt.
Elder and Sister Seaman at the Seven Sisters on a windy, cold
winter day in England.
English Lesson for the week, "No fly tipping." I don't know how they
get there, but it means no dumpster diving.
A New Year
A New Year
January 1, 2018
January 1, 2018
A new year is upon us. What will it bring?
These have been my thoughts this week. Over and over again. To be straight up honest, I was feeling quite smug, proud of myself that I got through Christmas without the sickening feeling that homesickness can bring me. It wasn't until the day after. I was putting my three Christmas decorations away in the closet. It was late afternoon and dark outside. It hit me like a ton of bricks.
"You will be pulling these same three decorations out of this drawer next December......and it will be dark then, just like it is now".
This dark, dreary land has become a weight on me. I am looking at it as a challenge. How can I conquer it? What strategies do these English people use when they don't see the sun for weeks on end? Exercise? Eat? Sleep? Shop? Explore? Just to let you know, I'm trying all of it. When I lose it, my Mikie
is so kind to me. He knows what I need and I know what I need. I need the sun. And when my head is on straight, I know I will see it again. One little trick I have found is to open the window. We have birds living in the beautiful bare trees outside our flat. They chortle and peep most the day. I just absolutely love them. We have taken to putting bread crumbs on our ledge and wait for them to fly over for a bite. They are my friends in England.
The London Temple Visitors Center closed its doors for good on December 29. It is a sad day for patrons who bring their families with them when they come to do temple work. The missionary department from Salt Lake has determined that the center has not had enough traffic to warrant keeping it open. We will miss it. We have attended presentations and concerts there on a weekly basis since we arrived. We will miss our friends who have manned the center. The two couples from America that were serving there have been reassigned. Our two young sisters will go out to fulltime proselyting. My Mikie and I and our friend, Sister Long, took the last temple grounds walk available with the young sisters this past week. We have loved these beautiful 29 acres of grounds surrounding the temple and now, we have a better vision of the landscaping, plants, trees, etc. Even if it's the dead of winter and the sun was not shining. It is still such a quiet, beautiful, peaceful spot. Rain or Shine.
So....as I look back on 2017, I ponder my personal growth. Did I make a difference anywhere along the way? I think of my dearest companion. Did we live up to the Lord's expectations of us? I think of our dear, dear girls, their spouses, and our most precious grandchildren. We have five grandsons now holding the priesthood - Ethan, Kyson, Noah, Zane, and now, Cash. Do they understand the magnificence of that? Probably not, but hopefully, with time, it will matter. We watch from a long distance as all our 22 grandkids grow up into their own person. Oh, we are proud of them!
We feel humbled that we have such a precious family. We will expect lots of growth from all of them over there in sunny AZ. in 2018. We will continue to do our small part from this end. Come rain or shine. But seriously, go get a sunburn and think of me. That sounds wonderful.
My Love,
Mom, Grandma, and/or Sister Seaman
The London Temple
I may have mentioned this before, but I have wondered why, on earth, the London Temple site is where it is. It is an hour's drive from London. It is in a remote, rural area, made up of farms and tiny villages scattered around, that has not changed in centuries. The people who visit this temple usually drive by car, bus, taxi or train to this site and arrive after a several hour trip. The buses don't actually stop here anymore and the train station is about 5 miles from here. So why here in Newcastle?
I didn't know this, but the English people were encouraged to emigrate to the USA, particularly to the Salt Lake area, until the outbreak of the war in 1939. One of the major factors was that the saving ordinances of the temple were not available in England. In 1945, then counselor in the First Presidency, David O McKay instructed the members to stay in England. In 1952, President McKay announced that the church was searching for property in England for a temple. The spot chosen by President McKay was a beautiful 29 acre site, which had a large lily pond at the exact site of the temple building. The architects tried to discourage the President McKay from building on this site, but he insisted. It was later discovered that underneath the lily pond, at the depth of the foundation of the temple, was a natural shale platform. The project engineer reportedly said, "You could build the city of London on that site."
The lesson here, at least to me, is that this is where the Lord wanted his temple in London built, for whatever reason. It is a most beautiful spot.
After reading Kim's message above, I thought I might add a thought or two.
Last night, as I was just going to bed, sitting on the couch thinking, a thought came to me out of nowhere. I remembered several occasions when I was a young boy, as my family was leaving my Grandpa John L Davis' home, to return to our home, he would stand out by the gate of his front yard and wave good-bye to us and cry. I have thought about that through the years and wondered why he cried. He knew we just lived a couple of hours away. And we came to see him and Grandma on a regular basis.
I might have realized it all along, but last night it came to me that he cried because he loved us. And I mean really loved us.
I think what Kim is experiencing lately is all about love. I know that she dearly loves her children and grandchildren. She misses them. I can see her standing at the gate waving goodbye to them and crying knowing full-well that she will see them again in the not to distant future.
I am profoundly thankful for that kind of love. It has made such a difference in my life and will in yours.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
So....as I look back on 2017, I ponder my personal growth. Did I make a difference anywhere along the way? I think of my dearest companion. Did we live up to the Lord's expectations of us? I think of our dear, dear girls, their spouses, and our most precious grandchildren. We have five grandsons now holding the priesthood - Ethan, Kyson, Noah, Zane, and now, Cash. Do they understand the magnificence of that? Probably not, but hopefully, with time, it will matter. We watch from a long distance as all our 22 grandkids grow up into their own person. Oh, we are proud of them!
We feel humbled that we have such a precious family. We will expect lots of growth from all of them over there in sunny AZ. in 2018. We will continue to do our small part from this end. Come rain or shine. But seriously, go get a sunburn and think of me. That sounds wonderful.
My Love,
Mom, Grandma, and/or Sister Seaman
The London Temple
I may have mentioned this before, but I have wondered why, on earth, the London Temple site is where it is. It is an hour's drive from London. It is in a remote, rural area, made up of farms and tiny villages scattered around, that has not changed in centuries. The people who visit this temple usually drive by car, bus, taxi or train to this site and arrive after a several hour trip. The buses don't actually stop here anymore and the train station is about 5 miles from here. So why here in Newcastle?
I didn't know this, but the English people were encouraged to emigrate to the USA, particularly to the Salt Lake area, until the outbreak of the war in 1939. One of the major factors was that the saving ordinances of the temple were not available in England. In 1945, then counselor in the First Presidency, David O McKay instructed the members to stay in England. In 1952, President McKay announced that the church was searching for property in England for a temple. The spot chosen by President McKay was a beautiful 29 acre site, which had a large lily pond at the exact site of the temple building. The architects tried to discourage the President McKay from building on this site, but he insisted. It was later discovered that underneath the lily pond, at the depth of the foundation of the temple, was a natural shale platform. The project engineer reportedly said, "You could build the city of London on that site."
The lesson here, at least to me, is that this is where the Lord wanted his temple in London built, for whatever reason. It is a most beautiful spot.
After reading Kim's message above, I thought I might add a thought or two.
Last night, as I was just going to bed, sitting on the couch thinking, a thought came to me out of nowhere. I remembered several occasions when I was a young boy, as my family was leaving my Grandpa John L Davis' home, to return to our home, he would stand out by the gate of his front yard and wave good-bye to us and cry. I have thought about that through the years and wondered why he cried. He knew we just lived a couple of hours away. And we came to see him and Grandma on a regular basis.
I might have realized it all along, but last night it came to me that he cried because he loved us. And I mean really loved us.
I think what Kim is experiencing lately is all about love. I know that she dearly loves her children and grandchildren. She misses them. I can see her standing at the gate waving goodbye to them and crying knowing full-well that she will see them again in the not to distant future.
I am profoundly thankful for that kind of love. It has made such a difference in my life and will in yours.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
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