Mom Dad,

Sorry we haven't been on the blog much, but we did promise that we would put a video of Emma in her walker, so we hope you guys enjoy that. We wanted to thank you for the heart felt talks we had, We now know what we have to do. We are so very grateful for all that you do and we feel blessed everyday knowing you are serving the lord and setting such a great example to us all. Emma is growing more and more everyday, although my sweet darling Emma has now taken her father's traits to all new levels. She is so much like her father, it is unreal. We now call her our wild child, and boy can she scream. Everywhere we go Emma has to have a few yells to let everyone know she is there. Emma has three more teeth coming in besides the 5 she already has, so she's getting some choppers. Emma loves to listen to the radio now, she is starting to bob her head back in forth, it is so cute. She is still in love with Charlie and Lola and we so desperately hope that it continues to stay that way. Her time to watch her show, is our time for a break or do the housework. Cookie dear i am sorry to inform you that the back yard has become a jungle. My dear husband has not had the time to mow the lawn as much as he wants. though he does do the lawn every Monday, so it's not getting totally neglected. I just think it's soo funny. Cookie I have to give you props for stripping your hair and going grey, I have to admit you are all the more brave! Well we are finally enjoying the pool for the summer, took a little while for the pool to warm up, but it has been very nice. Jackie and Edgar came up and spent the night with us and went swimming. I cooked a fabulous dinner and breakfast the next day, that I got Edgar to say he wanted to come over more often, Jackie of course laughed. Well we hope that you are enjoying the mission more and more everyday and hope to hear from you soon. We love you guys ..

Happy Father's Day Byron

I am so sorry this is late....what can I say - We are bums. Hey By - Aaron and I thought of you ALL weekend long and not just because it was Father's Day and you are such a great Father, but also because it was THE MOST EXCITING week of golf EVER!! The Us Open was at Torrey Pines and it was Tiger's first tourney after his knee surgery. OH the Drama of it all. Tiger was obviously still in pain. It was awful...he would totally wince after almost every shot. At times he even buckled almost to his knees in pain, but he kept plugging away. On Friday he shoots an amazing display of awesomeness - 30 on the back nine to get back into contention. THEN on Saturday he drops an eagle and several birdies (after a double bogey then bogey start to his round) to stay in the game. He is heading into the 18th needing a birdie to tie the leader (Lee Westwood). So what does he do? HE EAGLES the hole to take the lead! It was AWESOME. OK so why were we thinking of you? Cute old Rocco Mediate who has dropped off the face of the earth and struggled with his back and what not comes out of obscurity to be in contention. He even had to go back to Q school to be there and he was hangin' with all the younguns. He was in 2nd place when Tiger eagled that putt to put him in third place. Everyone was cheering for cute Rocco. He was the same ol same ol, too. He even wore his player badge on his shirt so... "They would know who I am". He was chatty and smiling and just plain happy to be there. Aaron must have said a zillion times..."Did you know Rocco is my Dads favorite player?". We SO wished you could have witnessed his awesome weekend. OK So what happens is Sunday was just a plain struggle for Tiger. He doubles the first hole and his knee is obviously killing him and Rocco is just cheerful chatty Kathy one hole ahead of the last group just rifling them in there. It was like he had a laser on his golf club. It was some awesome golf. However, Tiger just kept coming back. Heading into the 18th Rocco has been ahead by 1 stroke for a few holes now and Tiger has a 20 ft(ish) birdie putt to tie Rocco - He sinks it of course! It was so fun to see ol' Rocco just pacing away watching the feed on the television. So they had to play an 18 hole playoff on Monday. 45 yr old Q school qualifier Rocco against the Titan Tiger with an ailing knee injury! Mondays round was back and forth, but mostly with Tiger having the edge and then Tiger just runs away with it and on the 11th tee he has a 3 stroke lead. Well, that is when the Rocco show started. He fires three straight birdies to tie it up. Then a bogey from Tiger puts Rocco in the lead. However, coming in on the 18th tee Tiger needs a birdie putt to push it into a sudden death playoff and he OF COURSE makes it. You can probably guess how it finishes - Tiger won that hole and then the end, but man o man was it exciting to watch. I totally get why you are such a Rocco fan. What a great guy and so much fun to watch. Thus, our thoughts were with you all weekend long! We love and miss you! Thanks for teaching Aaron to love Golf, but more importantly to love his wife and kids.

Cheers, Mandy

"You again?" said President Monson.

- Well Fiji has struck again!!!! More questions for the prophet. We had a small group come this week from Kiribati. Just two families with two minor problems. 1. a eight year old girl unbaptised 2. a father not a member for one year until July 1, 2008. We can baptise her in a ward font [not like last time when we had to get the ok from President Monson to baptise a 8 year old in our font since she was to be sealed the next day]. Here they just send families on and just have faith that all can be worked out on this end at the temple. You would think they really check their records carefully, but they don't......they just send them on. When you think about it you can sorta understand. This is their only time to go to the temple and things were mostly done....right? It give me a lot of hope, that the Lord is far more merciful that folks think. But knowing me I should not think of that loop hole tooooo long. Just speaking for myself, folks. So within an hour of arriving at the temple President Wells was speaking with the prophet again on Fiji and our unique situations. He said " yes ,an exception can be made for this father and they can be sealed on friday for time and all eternity, and wished them well." The most common mistake people make in the temple is that they come on the date of their baptism to be endowed not on the confirmation date and they must come back on another date. We had a couple in our ward from the last temple presidency in the Houston Temple and she said this was the hardest thing in the universe [not world as you may think] to not let them in the temple and help them keep the spirit within whist [English word for while, I can spell and am a master of grammer -lie,lie, and more ...] they could not come in. Here it is a once in a life time event and the Lord is kind and understanding, elsewhere not so...there church rules and they are quite firm. We had a couples conference here and both Byron and I wanted to be ill and skip it. BYRON IS ALWAYS A QUESTIONABLE EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW. We had a great time and ate 4 times.=1 pound fiji fat. Somehow we are the only couple in the mission who are losing [?] weight. Lets be clear, poor Br. Wettstein has made a deal with the devil AK myself. The details can not be made known , threats were made= 8 pounds lost from Br. sucker and ready for this ..?.. 15 for myself, Miss devilish. Honey I have not weighed 155 for 15 years. NO great secret. No oven in my flat and we can swim when the weather is mush warmer. mush, mush warmer. I have been telling my landlord [we are surprised that we don't have to call him , Lord Landlord] These folks just take this british crap of pompishnish to ====far. So I'm on his Lordlyness, ak, Sr.Darth, bad side. I have complained about the following, mice, no oven, termites, no oven, mice, no oven, oh yes and termites and of course a my washer is dying. I will get a another washer when mine dies. Then I get one from the Australian embassy down the street. It seem that their contract reads the following, washers must be perfect working order and can not have one dab, touch,or a spot of rust on them. Folks Aussies are smarter than mormons. My machine is covered with rust and has a broken lid and I still have mice. I stuffed a door mat under my front door. THe space under the door is huge and Byron has seen a mouse, SEEN A MOUSE SCURRY FROM UNDER OUR FRONT DOOR AND WALK BOLD A BRASS INTO MY KITCHEN AND OPEN THE FRIG AND DRINK A DIET COKE.!!!!!!!!!! Really, Byron has seen this. Back to my door mat. The little kritters started eating through my door mat to get in to the candy store. They love candy poison and don't eat big boy poison. Soon they will be on a diet to get under my Willy Wonka Wonderful Candy Shoppe [British, folks] darn door. I feel so much better. Byron has gone to sign up for his driving test. Before I take that test ....I will open my own door for the furry little creatures. We went to another lovo this past weekend and still aren't hungry. That was sat. and it is now thursday. We have a lovo bug. The food always tastes the same=cooking food in a huge hole in the ground tastes the same=blauga,and more blauga. Give me some cajin blackened anything and I will be happy. I have decided to have our own texas lovo for all of our friends when we leave. I am planning the menu now. Red beans and rice and chicken. Everyone who come to see us will bring 20 pkgs if Zaterains red beans and rice mix. I am already starved. Enough on food.
Sister Wells says it is rather common for them to receive call at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning with names to be put on the temple roll here=from the states!!!!!!!!!!!! Why????????????? Because they say the Fijians have the greatest faith and their help and prayers are what is needed. Can you believe that????
Before I close I must tell you of the following event that happened to me last saturday June 14, 2008. It is raining is so wonderful and cool. I can sit here and type and look down the hall and out the back door and see the water falling in the pool. This is not a brag, as my family [not my kids] feel my life is just too colorful and then judge me by their life's lack of colorfullinesses, and then to not feel sad about the conditions of color or lack there of in their lives, they then feel my just can not be so colorful and then they doubt my life and all there in it. We are blessed to be here in Fiji and know it. We were leaving the temple a little early to go to the bug lovo, and I came behind the Matron. She had a three year old little girl all in white and bare foot. The matron was carrying her socks. Behind a family friend was carrying a one year old, all in white with a vest and bow tie=sound asleep on her shoulder. He was the size of a 15# sack of potatoes and around here that is valuable folks. So I just walked behind to watch. All entered the sealing room and I peaked in=our president does break some rules regularly. He seals islanders as families with other families watching =not alone. This way they have a collective memory of the sealing. So looking in I saw so many families all in white and waiting for these little brown angels=barefooted, too, and I was filled with the peace inside that is given to those who work in the temple and to those who attended. A sweet warmth of the soul that even a smile can not do justice too. I reached out to quietly close the door with my right hand and in doing so felt a warm burning in my right shoulder and felt my shoulder being healed. Three times now I have felt this healing sensation. The second time I was at the hospital doing blood work and then went to my doctor and she speechless= I had been totally healed. [ 3 large fissures on my bum-child birth left overs] . I had fought Byron for an early blessing on the monday before and by wednesday I was totally healed. Not one angry purple or red scar either. Blessings are just that, aren't they? Those gifts of the spirit include the gift of being healed, because of your faith. This I have now had in my life three times now. These a numbers to keep track of- not weight, All of my love. Bula Vinaka, ya'll from fiji love Sister Cookie Wettstein ak MUM

Lots of love Dad

Happy Father's Day!

Hi there Dad.  Dante's favorite thing to ask me before

he goes to bed is, "Mom, tell me a story when you were

little..."  So, I tell him all sorts of stories.  And when I

can't come up with another Amber story,  I tell him stories about his aunts and uncles.

He particularly loves when I throw in stories about his Papi.

On the way home from our river trip today, I was thinking about

some memories I have of you--some of which are great

stories, and some of which simply define who you are as a dad.

I remember how you love to watch cop shows--especially NYPD,

and oh how you can carry on in the car about other drivers, 

I remember the day you were made Bishop

 and watching you walk up to the stand to take your seat...

 I remember our road trips--and you making me run behind

 the car on some lonely highway for my bad attitude! 

I remember my siblings hanging out the windows

 laughing their heads off at their older sister...

I'll never forget how you threw my brothers'

 paper routes and worked with mom every weekend...

Or how about having the family maintain the front of

Bayou Bend...

I smile when I think of you as Elvis, or singing at

girls camp, or dancing on stage in a tutu, 

or telling funny stories of your childhood

 (the kind of stories where you're laughing so hard you can 

barely get the story out)... 

I remember watching you play ball 

and coaching my brothers even when it seemed tough...

 I remember you tenderly taking care of mom

 when she was so sad and I remember how proud you

were when each of your son's returned home from 

serving honarable missions...

 I remember being punished for sneaking out and told

to read the "Miracle of Forgiveness,"... I remember you walking

me across the football field my senior year... I still smell Old Spice

and think of you... I am so happy you were there to cut the

cord on Isabella and take care of my Dante, I miss seeing you

with my children... 

I remember sitting next to my amazing siblings

as you spoke at Grandpa's funeral and knowing how proud you

were that we were there with you... And seeing you leave on

your mission with the full purpose and intent of pleasing

our Heavenly Father makes me love you all the more.

I could fill pages with all sorts of memories but I'll save those

for another time.  Dad I love you.  You make me happy to know

you and even happier to have you as my dad.  You are 

strong and loyal and I adore you.  

Please know we miss you.

Lots of love, am

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's out there, especially my own. I was thinking about what kind of ode I could give my dad. I kept thinking that I would write something great make Dad cry and how fun that would be to watch Dad cry because of something that I wrote. I then realized that I am not that good of a writer...as you can tell...and that trying to make my Dad cry is actually kinda twisted. I then decided to be funny but then my wife said I am more goofy than funny so I should try something else. How about I simply state and emphatically declare that I love my father and I am proud of him and Mom for their mission and dedication to the important work of loving God more than us. If they loved us more than God then they would, in the end, never have us forever. As a result they can love us more than ever possible. Thanks Dad, I love you and so does my family. Happy Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day Pops

I thought that I would remind you of what you looked like when you were rocking your 'stache and I was a natural blond. You can click on the picture and it will enlarge. You are a great father and I will always remember how you came to the hospital everyday when I was sick and sat and talked with me (even though I made you watch Zena). You have always helped, loved, comforted, and listened to me when I needed it. You are a good example of what a father/husband should be to Edgar and I appreciate that. I hope you have or had a great day. We love and miss you.
PS I want a picture of Mom's new gray/silver hair asap!!!!!!

Notes from Abroad

I have saved notes from all of our dear friends who are serving world wide missssions to put them together in a small collection. THe Lord works everywhere in our world and all at the same time to care for His children.
Bulgaria
Elder Wettsteins nephew, Elder Purvis, is the new zone leader in Burgas, Bulgaria and sent us the following the news brief :
KSL news ran the following. The Church of Jesus Christ LDS released this statement: "Contrary to erroneous media reports, two LDS missionaries serving in Burgas, Bulgaris, did nothing to disrupt the services of a local church and when asked to leave, did so immediately. The missionaries were invited by amember of the congregration. and had been in contact with their ZL, Elder Purvis. He said do not wear your tags and stay in the back of the church and watch. The orthodox church then called a news conference and announced that the Elders had done the following+ Interrupted the service to mark the Assscension of Jesus, were preaching, refused to leave, preached for half an hour, and were removed almost by force. The church has called for the removal of all LDS missionaries. Well Elder Purvis had the good sense to have his mission Pres. sent a note to his family stating all was well, but still the mess did get messer. This happened last week. The local church has asked that the entire LDS church and missionaries be expelled!! Mostly just bad press, but does show how anything can be twisted and turned into a potential problem. The media interviewed Elder Purvis and took photos and they were on three morning papers! He was quite surprised to see himself in the news the next day. The results have not been stated and the missionaries did have lay low for a few days. He will keep us posted of the fallout. He was emailing his family and they were on the internet at the same time and were able to chat about the mess and were assured of his safety. This is the latterdays, for sure folks While on Bulgaria let me tell another story from Elder Purvis's about their first mission president and how he was converted.
We are so blesses that Byrons sister, Cindy, forwards her sons weekly letters to us here in Fiji. [It still is such a joy to write Fiji and of course=Texas] And for all to know AUNT CINDY WRITES TO US EVERY WEEK AND IS REWARDED FOR HER WEEKLY EFFORT IN GOOD STUFF [ SULUS AND PEARLS.] PASS THIS ON OH YEA WANTERS OF GOOD STUFF=WRITEING =STUFF. Now if you are reading our blog just email me about what color of pearls you want and I will start looking. I have no real idea on prices but, tomorrow we are going to a lovo and are going to Singatoga for church. Sister Wells said to stop at a shop on sunday on the way home. She bought her pearls there and we can at least start looking and find out some prices. Sr. Wells is going to Savusavu for her earings=she wants lavender. The stores here have single silver and black but no other colors. Most go to the outer islands we are told, so we shall see.
Nigeria: We have friends, the Robinsons, in Aba Nigeria at the temple. There they start their days with the pounding of the yams as their clock. Yams? Their apt is above the patron housing and at 5:30 each day they have cooked huge yams and then start pounding them in huge bowls with huge wooden pestals. They eat mostly rice,fish [anything with a tail that swims] a starchy " ghari" ball wraped in a pumpkin leaf mixture. They have very strong teeth and attribute it to their custom of eatting chicken and fish BONES!!! Actually that is really a great source of natural calcium. Any takers????? Also the Nigeria men must pay a dowry for a wife, so few marry or at an older age [30++]. They are trying to stop this custom in the church, but then what will be their shame at a future date for this practice is unknown?? Also a faithful temple worker has now tested positive for HIV and a church decision must be made on health issues with all temple workers. ??? they just don't know. She had been deathly ill and had received a blood transfusion. The temple has received much need additional security camers and the missionaries in the temple must have armed guards at all time they are off the compound. The temple site has razor wire and is electrified for extra security. In Fiji we have only Sr. Seru's son with an old radio as security. He is the ward clerk who keeps the tything money on top of the Wells garage door each sunday night and then takes it to the bank monday morning after work. Note: Br. Staggs comments on the darndest ways to handle money is in Fiji. It is in a old blog piece. I found the rest of the Nigeris bride info. Here is the rest.The families of brides put great demands on grooms. The family of one bride demanded the following " the man must finish building their house and pay for it himself, another made financial demands that would extend for years into the marriage of the daughter!!!!!" Few marry. Like I said we love the Johnnie Lingo story, but in truth this is the direct result.
Bulgaria: I forgot to add this. Allen sent this about the first mission president of Bulgaria. Before when ulgaria was under communism [I hit something wrong,sorry] an opening was available in Nigeria for a doctor. Nine doctors wanted the job. So they put 8 slips of paper in a bowl that said no and 1 that said yes. The first time they drew the youngest doctor won. All agreed he was to young and drew again. He won again,all agreeded again he was to young. Again he won , and so it went for 7 tries and each he won. This was before you could speak of God ,so thy said it was his destiny. I cann't find his name [sorry] The younhg doc went to Nigeria and found the gospel and came home to begin the church in Bulgaria and became the first mission president.

Friends in Mexico Hales, Villahermosa, temple.
They were shopping at Wal Mart and found a young American couple just walking the isles and looking dirty, hungry and a bit tired and worn. Sr. Hale [starved for english speaking] asked about them. As the conversation turned the couple asked where the Hales were from and they replyed, Hunhtsvill.Utah . It ended up that their neighbor was the younger womens grandmother. The couple had started on a honeymoon with not enough money, quite enough faith, and had met other LDS members in WAL MARTS who had seen their condition and had helped them. So the Hales took them home. A bath in Srs. boat. Sr. Hale hates showers so ...aWALMART BLOW UP PLASTIC FLOATING BOAT... in their shower is her tub. Br. Hale has a plastic pail and he showers and bales out water , and bales out water , etc. Anyways they were clean, feed , took a nap, freshly washed clothes, and off they went to a temple session and then to the airport and home. They had enought good sense [remember the following phrase' God watches over fools, old ladies [men where necessary] and bishops and now silly newly weds.

I must leave for the temple and work, but will send all of our love from all over the world including the London temple, each says the same.............. The gospel is true, working in the temple is wonderful, and life is good.
Byron I need to looke for a blow up plastic boat-I need a tub bath, OK honey?? I'll keep you posted. Bula Vinaka Ya'll LOve MUM

Hair and Pearls

Hi All-

Today was the bomb, and that means = the best. We had a clear phone line for 2 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we were able to talk to all of the Houston Wettsteins. Mich was touched by our prayers and picked up the phone - it said out of area= where does that apply to? I was wonderful and wonderful. I am on medication and sleepy, can't spell, and have changed my hair color......wanna, really wanna, know what color that is?? SILVER, no joke. I just went to a new european hair shoppe and said match it up honey and she said 65.oo bucks lady. First she stripped the ol reddish stuff and it turned a lovely orangeish. Then they all looked at me and thought I would scream, but I was prepared-I knew it would be a funky something so orangeish was coolish! They were quite entertained that I said I knew I had white girl hair. and was prepared. I read 6 trashy [not bad trashy-people mag trashy] weekly mags. I now know about someones twins, Jens love life, Britneys butt and Oprahs exs tell all book for 9 million. [really, Stedman gets 9 M?] I just OD on it all-I have been reading the D&C for light reading and it was just too much for me-I quit... Tell me about Oprah though, I do want to know that, OK? Then she, this tiny indian gal weighing no more than 79 # put the mojo on and I am silver, mostly. So as soon as we get our newest care package - picks of Nonnies new hair do will be the news on the blog!!! Thanks again Mich- you are psychic and super. Now to all who are interested in pearls , just send me a note on the color. I am going for a deep silver grey. Same for mandy and mich. I am literally going to a man's little house to pick out earrings. And we will stop over for one hour each way at the main pearl factory in Savusavu on Vanua Levu. Cindy , Larke = are you interested? Let me know. No one is going to break the bank, but this the event you have been waiting for. Mandy wants a single pearl. I am looking for earings, maybe a cluster of small deep grey ones and then to match it to a great big whopper 14mm momma and a tiny [discreet- who am I kidding, not myself nor any of you] bunch of good diamonds. I now have learned a new British term......lay in. I have gotten the one piece I want down 1/3 and can put that baby in lay in until she is paid for. Yes thank you very much, a nonnie high finance term. I have to get up before the chickens tomorrow- early temple days are tuesdays and saturdays. Your dad just came in here and said that we are twinners-just like sagie said papas hair and nonnies hair is SILBER.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Sagie... Dad has not read this article and doesn't know about the new word of the day. Keep quiet or else. I only read him the parts I want him to know- ....... a good marriage tip, too. Oh yes we are going to an indian wedding on July 4- on our way to Denru and Nandi.
Bula Vinaka, love MUM

Temple closing plans

Well hi, and yes it is still raining and will continue for at least a few more days. Sr. Bohman says that the rain is what clears the air enough of crap [air born spors=crap] and smog from diesel and this is really a heathy thing. We are all sick of Sr. Bohman and the weather. {quote Br. Bohman} I went and helped the missionaries set up their tables for their goodbys to their mission presidentand his wife. The Ardons from New Zealand. Br. Ardon works for the church in New Zealand and thought that he knew the pacific before they came here, but he didn't!!! It is only being here and driving daily through the slums and going into the members homes has he come to under stand poverty. And let me make this clear the saints generally are impoverished, but the gospel makes it bearable. They have church members of all classes and races who truely are concerned of their welfare. The church meetings show this melting of classes, and the temple. The poorest of the poor can come to the temple for free. IN the states you must pay for your clothes, but not here. Folks they just don't have any cash extra, ever. Example, one brother who works with receives a military pension if 18.00 a month.!!!! With some extra intrests he and his wife live on 85.00 a month. Another brother has a governlment pension of 25.00, and his wife works still. Brother Wells gives them cab money and a phone card each month. Or else we would have no Fijians working until 5:00 and at that it would be just like the states-mostley women workers. When I can show you Sr. Tilleys house I will explain more about their living conditions. {Wade and Claudia have sent our care package and soon we will have photos on the blog} Back to temple costs. I have a friend in Houston who can not pay the rental costs nor buy her temple clothes, so she does only initatory. She would always give her testimony of initatory and I commented on that once [her testimony] and she then told her situation. I bought her temple clothes before I left. Did you know you can buy them 1/2 price if they are a first time purchase? They know I do this at our distribution center and always give me that rate.

Yesterday we talked to Blake-my mistake I really wanted to talk to Ami. So now everyone in Arizona at Cosco knows our holiday plans and thinks Blake is sorta stupid and deaf!! Try having a conversation in Fiji [we have our windows open- no air conditioning -cars and trucks, noise, and the BBC on the radio] with someone at the food court at Costco. And yes, have the entire mess over the internet computer , on SKYPE. All Blake really knew for sure was his mother is alive . Going on a trip to an island and it is going to cost him mucho money. I love mysterious conversations about my favorite subject-pearls. To be clear.... black pearls, from Fiji, grown in the waters surrounding Taveuni island. !!!!! Ok this is a call to all girls- I am going to ..we are going the first week of July to Taveuni island by boat. We wanted to take a [real name] Captain Cooks 5 day cruise of the Yasawa islands from the port of Nandi, but the dates we wanted had been booked since before we arrived here in Fiji!!! And also we didn't have enough money. So we will book for Januarys closing of the temple and hopefully we will be early enough. If not herreees to next July folks. Last resort[ha, ha] sell harryand pot and take a " Blue Lagoon cruise. For the right price they are the best. Oh I spoke to Claudia the other day and she grabbed harry and he could hear me!!! His little face turned around and he was looking for me, sorta like little sweetie, April. We have been so mad [me] about the crapy phone set up here and still ours does not work, that we have been forced to pray.. Can you believe that? Prayer. And it has worked, this week. Anyways April was on the phone in her big girl panties, having eaten a choc popcicle, which was still all over her face and on the computer talking to me, with head phones on. I have been promised that picture, too.
So back to pearle, BLACK PEARLS,FROM TAVEUNI,FIJI-WITH A CERTIFICATE [sp]. We are taking a cabin on the,[ready for this] Bligh Shipping Lines. like Captain Bligh of the Muntiny on the Bounty fame] We board sleep, eat , stop at Savusavu port [Sav ou sav ou port] on Vanua Levu island for one hour or so and then on to Waiyevo, [way e ve o] Taveuni, [it is like taxi only Tavi oon e island]. This island is called the garden island is a mecca for divers from all over the world. We will snorkle and I am bound and determined dto see if they can do snuba diving. We were to dive in Florida on a cruise but, the harbor was damaged and we could not dive on the 3rd largest coral reef in Key West. Damn, I am still ticked off. Also on the island there are mostly second homes from NZ and AUS. To them it is rather like Galveston Island is to us, only farther. Anyways they have a free golf course. Not enough players to turn a dollar, but for free and they make their money back in food and drink. The course is for the homeowners. So folks dive and play golf. [and buy pearls] You dad just couldn't pass up the golf and snorkling. We will stay two nights and then come back on the Bligh shipping lines. [ poor mans cruise and the only way other than flying in little planes that seat 8.......] Black pearls are rare and cost mucho but, I am looking at the mobe pearls. These are the one lobe pearls that are naturaly flat on the back. They are the only pearls we can buy. They make fabulous studs. A 14mm natural black pearl is 800.00 - 1200.00 in cost. The mobes [maw bays] are what I bought in SanFrancisco years back with Aunt Diane. They were so tired of us and called us the cheap sisters. I walked in and asked to see their old inventory-I was looking for these mobe pearls exactly. I had mine set in white gold and they are worth a bundle. Black pearls come in a variety of shades. I love the grey shades. So the big question is dou want me to shop for you ladies? I have a yes from Blake [ he would had sounded so cheap not to in Costco] and from Wade and from Edgar. My budget is about 2oo total and Sr. Stagg said they were very reasonable 50.00-100.00-total. She did not know about mobe pearls until she was at the pearl factory. I am looking for her, too!!!. I am hitting her husband up for money tomorrow, don't tell him.!! Email me about a color if possible. The black pearls come from oyster shells that have black lips on the outside, this is how they can tell. Here we farm them. I will tell you lmore after our holiday.
Then we will come home here for a few days [I am going to Pacific Harbor with or with out the od man] and go lto Nandi [airport area] and stay with our friends the Staggs. More golf, shopping, and Capt. Cook day cruises. The Staggs are here to teach the islanders how to aduit themselves!!!What is Salt Lake thinking? Anyways we have taught them how to arrange their time like temple missionaries. [I am a good friend, to all] So these are our plans. We
We are going with the Bohmans next weekend to Singatoka and to a lovo. It [the lovo] is honor of the temple trip. We are honored. These folks don't have much and hopefully they wull catch a lot of fish and steal a large pig. We will bring our own extra food, to!!! And we will stay the night the Spyglass resort, I think. This is the only time off that Sr. Bohman gets, as she is the only doc for the entire mission. We have a MD in NZ that she works with, he is a great and honored pain in the butt. He thinks he is the pope!! He has served 3 missions in Africa and now does't even own a home anymore.!! They will serve until who knows. Still he is free and competent. Sr. Bohman is sure his family is glad to have him out of the States and all they have to put up with are the many blessings sent to them by their great father, doctor. We all feel sorry for his wife, so sad, too bad>>>> Aunt Cindy you are included in the pearl deal, pass it on.. All of ou love,Bula Vinka MUMe

What a Stud!

Isn't Asher just the most handsome thing?