It's Been Awhile

Botanical Gardens

When I set up this blog last year my plan was to post something every week.  Well, for those of you who follow this blog you know that hasn't happened.  It's been over a month since I last posted something.  My plan now is to post something at least every two weeks.  The problem is not that I don't have anything to say but that I'm technically challenged in getting pictures from my iPhone to the blog page just the way I want it.  So, like a lot of things in my life I'm so focused on the process, I miss the bigger picture (no pun intended). 

So...with today's post I'm turning over a new leaf.  I'm foregoing the need to be artistic with the want to share with you our experiences.  I have a least 5 blogs to write to share with you of our past experiences and try to keep up with current happenings as well.  I hope you enjoy them.

NOW...ON WITH THE SHOW

The weather in Kyiv has really changed over the past few weeks alternating between spring conditions and summer-like temperatures.  Almost overnight the streets we've walked during the winter full of snow and leafless trees have transformed into beautiful green canopy over the sidewalks which are lined with beautiful flowers and bushes.  They reflect the joy we have in our Heavenly Father's creations.  The Ukrainians love being outside and enjoy their gardens.  I hope you will enjoy these pictures as much as we enjoyed being in them!

A group of us senior missionaries after stake conference in April.  Visited the A.V. Fomin Botanical Gardens in the center of Kyiv.  It is part of the National University of Kyiv.  It was a wonderful day to walk around the gardens and enjoy what spring had sprung.  From left to right - Elder and Sister Humphreys, Vivian and I and Elder and Elder and Sister Haldeman.  Unidentified Ukrainian with back to camera.

Magnolia trees in full bloom.  The garden was filled with hundreds of these trees.  There were hundreds of people enjoying them and taking pictures of themselves with them.

Elder Haldeman and I testing our "selfie" skills (or lack thereof)

Elder Haldeman is a great guy and a lot of fun to be around.  He and his wife are serving as Humanitarian Aid missionaries.  They are doing a great work in Ukraine.  Also, it's a small world.  Elder Haldeman's brother-in-law, Sullivan Richardson, was a missionary companion of mine when I served in the Finland Helsinki Mission.

One of the walking paths in the gardens.  Very old steps.  

We had a wonderfully happy day!