Sunny Sunday Flowers & Such & My Faceplant in Mud

Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.  Doctrine and Covenants 68:6

There's a big bird sitting on top of the tree, but you probably cannot pick it out.  I walked up this hill on my hapless adventure today.

Elder Blain said I had a rough night with screaming out in my nightmares.  I felt rested this morning, so he is probably the one who suffered the most from lack of sleep.  Perhaps that was a shadow of things to come for the day . . .

Today I was asked to teach the lesson in Gospel Principles, be in Primary to talk with the children about missionary work with Elder Blain, and as Sacrament started, was asked to teach the Relief Society lesson today!  We had a week's notice on the first two items, but I was reeling a bit with the last request.  Fortunately, the lady who asked told me later that it got worked out and I wouldn't have to do the Relief Society lesson.  Whew, the things people think missionaries can do on the spur of the moment!  I do like to plan lessons as I'm not that great on my feet with last minute things and no warning.  That happened in the last ward too where I had about ten minutes notice to teach the Relief Society lesson and it wasn't a good experience.

Then, after church I took advantage of an absolutely beautiful day and went for a walk down the hill because I wondered where the road would take me.  It took me to disaster!  I almost killed myself by talking a bad fall, but was blessed not to have broken anything.  I did get some nice pictures along the way.  All the mud came out of the clothes as I did an emergency wash before it could set in.  I only have two sets of sweat pants (one was already in the wash from mud picked up on my last walk about).  My one sweat shirt is what I use for walks as I don't have a warm casual jacket.  I also need the seats to stay warm in the house.  It'll take all day tomorrow (and probably into Tues.) before they dry.  Meanwhile, I'll figure out something else to wear to keep me warm.

We returned from the Church Educational System Young Adult Fireside and I decided to post the pictures before my body parts seize up from the trauma.  The cuts and scrapes are cleaned up and bruises are appearing, but it looks like I'll be fine in a few days.  I can walk and I didn't break my neck (though it felt like it when I did a marvelous flying face plant), so I am thankful I'm walking and not in the hospital.

Watching the CES broadcast that was recorded from last week so we could see it this week.  You people in Utah have it made getting to see things live.

Oh, before more pictures, just want to mention how happy we were to attend another baptism here in Blackburn Ward yesterday.  There were nine baptisms Saturday in various parts of the mission.  It is always exciting to go to a baptism and feel the Spirit there.  This one was interesting because there was no pianist, so we attempted to sing the songs, but a couple people were singing really loud and threw everyone off.  I've never heard, "I Need Thee Every Hour," sung so off tune because the person next to him was really loud and tone deaf.  Elder Blain was laughing so hard he couldn't sing.

Okay, so you see the far away hills?  That is where I wanted to go to see what is on the other side.  I entered the village of Hoddlesden heading down the road as you can see.

This is the beautiful countryside--an extension of the moors that are part of the area where we live.

This is a fancy bus stop in the little village that only has a post office, a pub, and one little shop.

Many of the villages have these war memorials in the town centre.  The sign on the building says, "Queens Way."  Only one in a million here in England.

Village name.

Lots of cobblestone and parking!!  My, how unusual to have parking anywhere in England.

The people love their queen.

Ivy on a tree not recovered from winter yet.

Everything maroon!

Ah!  A purple flower!

Love the flowers coming out again!

The evil water fall that lured me over to tumble down the bank.

Looking across the way to where took the flying fall and slid into the fence.  The cement slab or some roots near it are what tripped me up.  You can't really see my skid marks.

This is the fence that stopped me from ending up in the drink.  I was still quite shaken as I took this picture.  I first sat on the ground for a while and checked out the extend of my damages.

Then, I picked myself up and started walking home before the stiffness and pain go to me.

Still enjoyed the colors along the way.

Even these looked pretty. I think I was so happy to be in one piece that I was celebrating life.

Gorgeous!!

Oh!  So pretty!

Glory, glory, hallelujah . . .

"T" for terrible tumble

You need no longer wonder where the names come from in Harry Potter

Fact discovered:  Thousands of years ago, the Romans used this road (well, it has been repaved since then--ha, ha).

This the corner of Roman road and our road, which is March House Lane.  We're down the hill past where the car is coming up.

The moon tonight before the CES broadcast looking out towards the Missionary Training Center in Chorley.

My lip hurts and my nose is a bit scraped, but I'm alive and ready for another day--not exactly like today.