Another Surprise Birthday for Elder Blain!

". . . the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love."   

2 Nephi 26:30

We had a teaching appointment at 12:30 and the (very sweet) lady asked me to cover Elder Blain's eyes until we got into the living room.  When he opened his eyes, there on the table was lunch and a birthday cake!  He was deeply touched that she would do that for him.  How spoiled can he get?  Not only that, she gave him a box of chocolates!  I must repent for coveting his chocolates, but (sigh) I am cursed to live in this chocolate loving country and not be able to have any!  Though I'm jealous, I am happy for him to be treated so well and it certainly has made this birthday extra special even though it is hard being away from home and missing a family get together.  We shared most of the cake with the zone leaders and others at the church building tonight since we were there for the Preach My Gospel class and our Missionary Correlation meeting.  Like I said, the English are getting even with these Americans and fattening us up for exportation.

See how special he is being treated.

A close up of the cute cake.

Yum!  He's reading his card there on the right.

We met this purple couple today in Queen Victoria's garden.

And we met happy yellow flowers.

It is surprising that a giant Sunflower grows in England.  Ha, ha!  The bees were enjoying them.  See the bee on the left?

Many of the flowers are about done for the season.  The pink one below is barely hanging in there.  Most of the Begonias have bug holes in them and are turning brown around the edges, though there are a few still looking very beautiful.  The rain has also knocked a dent in many of the flower beds.

Good bye, pretty Begonia, we shan't see you again until next year.

PS.  I am getting a bit suspicious with all these single women being so nice to Elder Blain.  Are they praying that I kick the bucket so they can have a go at catching him?  One in particular has said she would love to find a husband like him.  Harrumph . . . I am watching her closely.  To be so brazen as to have a crush on my companion with me present . . . or maybe she hadn't noticed me there.  The missionaries are warned about watching out for females being smitten, but some missionaries are so dedicated to teaching and focused on spiritual things that they are oblivious to crushes those they are teaching may develop.  Female antennas tune in to what's going on immediately, right?