Fireworks in Tennessee

With the Lamberts at the Nashville Temple

Sister Christensen teaching at Zone Conference

          I think the risk of fire is very low in Tennessee because of all the moisture.  Consequently there must no be any bans on fireworks here.  There are huge (I mean huge) fireworks stands and stores all over the place here.  The stores are open year-round.  The stands pop up everywhere around the 4th of July.  Tomorrow is the 4th but we have heard fireworks already.  We will be manning the office tomorrow on the 4th even though it is a holiday because it's P-day for the young missionaries and they need us to be available there.  We think we will be able to watch a parade that comes close to the mission office, however.  We plan on watching the city fireworks tomorrow night too.
          This past week one of our missionaries crashed on his bicycle and broke his collar bone.  It was severe.  I accompanied him to the ER where X-rays were taken and the initial care was given.  The next day he was in the operating room getting it back into place and plated (internal fixation).  He was hurting so bad but he's doing well now.  I have to admit that it was strange being on the other side of medical care.  We did a lot of waiting and waiting and waiting some more.
          Cecile and I went to Nashville on Friday afternoon to take our car in for routine service.  There isn't a service center in Knoxville.  There isn't a Temple here in Knoxville either.  We took advantage of our trip by going to the Nashville Temple.  We don't get there very often but we enjoyed it.  We just happened to meet the parents of one of our TKM missionaries.  They live in Nashville and their son was called to the TKM.  Anyway they invited us to stay with them in the future if we come over to the Temple again.  We certainly enjoyed our visit with them.  We also met one of the former members of the Tennessee Nashville Mission Presidency.
          Last week we were able to accompany the Pellissippi sister missionaries (a trio), Sister Wagner, Sister Blinkenstaff, and Sister Jarmin to Cade's Cove in the Smokey Mountain National Park.  It is not far from Knoxville.  It is a beautiful place.  We had a picnic lunch.  The most exciting thing was that we had to stop the car while a momma bear and two baby cubs crossed the road right in front of our car.  They crossed the road and then climbed some trees.  There was a whole line of cars behind us probably trying to figure out what we were seeing.  The sister missionaries were really impressed that they saw the bears.  They were black bears.  We also saw some deer.  The antlers of the buck were still in the velvet.  We enjoyed seeing more of these beautiful Tennessee things.
          We got the news that Megan and Justin are moving to Idaho Falls before the end of July.  They have to move out of their house because it is being sold by the owner.  Justin's job ends the end of July too.  They don't really have any place to go so they are going to live in our house until their future is more planned out.  There will be more on this later, I'm sure.

Sisters Jarmin, Wagner, and Blinkenstaff

          We hope you all have a great week.  Enjoy a safe and fun 4th of July.  And be thankful for our great country and the freedoms we enjoy too.   Love you all, Elder and Sister Christensen, TKM

Having lots of fun enjoying nature