SPRING SPRING SPRING

Dear Family and Friends,
          Spring is a glorious time of the year in Tennessee.  Blossoms are everywhere, including right outside our windows at our apartment.  Right now the cherry trees and the redbud trees are at their height of blossoming.  They are everywhere--even on the sides of the freeway.  Last week it hailed quite hard and the blossoms on the Bradford pear trees were knocked off so the pear trees are not in bloom now.  The maple trees are leafing out now and some of them have a reddish color to them so they are beautiful too.  We were so lucky to have had two springs to enjoy on our mission.  We aren't necessarily sorry that we only have one summer (very hot and humid).
          We had a very busy week this past week--lots of travel.  On Tuesday we had a special fireside given to the missionaries by a young singer from Nashville named David Archuleta.  He came and sang and talked to the missionaries in the Stake Center.  Elder McNeil was going to accompany him on the piano but he wasn't able to play one of the songs so he asked Sister Christensen to do it the morning of the fireside.  She didn't have much time for practice but she did really great.  David Archuleta is an exceptional young man with exceptional talent.  He is not very tall and looks to be only about 14 years old to me but I think he is about 24 or 25.  He surely has a great voice.  He came to the Stake Center a half hour early to warm up and go through the numbers.  We got to meet him then.  I took a few photos.

Cherry Blossoms just outside our apartment

David Archuleta, Cecile, Elder McNeil

          On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we had our last three Zone Conferences of this series.  Friday we were in Cookeville, which is about half way to Nashville.  So we decided to head on over to Nashville right after Zone Conference.  We were invited by the Lamberts to stay overnight with them.  The Lamberts had a son serve in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission.  We knew him and had met his parents at the Nashville Temple last year.  We've stayed with them several times now.  They live very close to the Tesla Supercharger station in Nashville, which makes it very convenient for us.  They are also very close to the Temple.  We went to the early morning Temple session yesterday and then came home in time for Mom to get to the dinner before the Women's broadcast.  We are so lucky to have met the Lamberts.  Brother Lambert is a counselor to the President of the Tennessee Nashville Mission.  We took them out to dinner Friday night to try to at least show them a little appreciation for letting us stay with them.

Redbud tree outside our window

David Archuleta warming up, Cecile playing

Nashville Temple

          We are still rejoicing over the best news we have received--that Justin has received a job offer to work at Primary Children's Hospital.  This will be a huge blessing Megan and Justin and their family.  We have been praying and fasting for this blessing to come for quite a while now.  The Lord has answered our prayers.  Congratulations to Justin for this great news.

          We love you all (y'all) and pray for you all (all y'all) every day.  Thanks for the support you give to us.  

Love, Elder and Sister Christensen, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma