A couple of weeks ago Kathy and Lisa came to visit.  It was so good to see them and have them here!  We didn't do a lot, but had a good time visiting.  We did go to the Space Center since Lisa had worked at a company that contributed to the space shuttle.

 We meant to go into it as the culmination of the whole trip as we were leaving, but when we were leaving they shut that exhibit down because of possible lightning.  What a bummer!  It just means they have to come back soon and do it right.  We should go into it first thing and not wait.  But we did get to see lots of interesting things.  What I loved the most was the movie of current exploration visits to Mars and the moon.  But I also LOVED the shots of the engines firing and pushing that megaton rocket into the air.  It was a real show of incredible power!    Just look at the size of them!

The engines are for this Saturn 5 rocket.  It was a thrill to get close to one and actually see its size.

Another day they wanted to see the Funeral Museum.  I had seen signs for it and wondered what in the world would be in a funeral museum.  But it was actually a really large building with many many exhibits.  There were different kinds of hearses and exhibits of special people's funerals--presidents and movie stars and even a whole separate walk through about the Pope--how he is chosen and what he wears and how some of them were buried.  There were all different kinds of specially made caskets shaped like animals for little children, I guess.  There was one big double casket for a couple and their baby daughter.  They had it made and then decided not to use it.  

I learned that the expression "basket case" comes from the civil war when soldiers who had had their legs amputated had to be carried around in a basket.  Or at least that's what the sign said by the basket.  There was also a gift shop with different pretty and religious and even macabre shirts and gifts.  It was a serious museum and not connected to Halloween at all, but it could have been.  

Lisa was watching for our squirrels but did't get to see any.  Instead she saw some lizards and even the cicadas treated her with some shells left on the walls outside.  She collected them and took them home to her grandson.  

We also went to see the new Star Trek movie Star Trek Beyond.  It was fun to immerse ourselves into that world for a couple of hours.  Then they had to go back to the real world and leave us.  It's always good for us to have loved ones come and hang out for a while.  

Today we went to visit the site of the new ward building that is being built in Kingwood.  We are really excited to have it finished because it will then mean that there are 2 wards in our building instead of 4.  We have sacrament meeting at 8:30 am now.  Not my favorite time, but some people like it, Jer included.  

I am waiting to hear from my cousin whether they will continue to bowl on Wednesdays or will move it to Thursdays.  I want to take advantage of the opportunity to hang out with them while I and her mom, my cousin Gloria, are still alive.  I like them a lot from visiting with them at the several activities we have been to up in Fairfield.  They are very natural and comfortable to be with.  They bowl in Conroe which is not that far away so I want to make the most of it while I can.   Because Wednesday is our temple day and Thursday is Jer's peanut butter factory day we will have to rearrange some things depending on when they decide to bowl.  We will just wait and see what happens.  My cousin Doris even acted like she might make the trip down from Dallas once in a while and that would be really nice.  She is the closest I have to a big sister.  She is 82 and that would be a long trip for her.  We will just see how it works out.  That part of our family is another reason I wanted to move here.  I wanted to reconnect to them and make them more a part of my life and maybe yours too.  

And speaking of family, look what I finally put together!  I am so happy with these pictures and get to see them every day as I walk down our hall.  We have had pictures of most of your families and just got a beautiful one from Collinses, and now I have everyone with this addition.  It makes me feel closer to you all as I see your sweet faces every day.   

And we will get to see Heather soon!  She is coming on the 11th and will be here for a little while before she goes back and finalizes her packing for the big move.  She is coming at a good time to realize the extent of the heat.  It has been a warm summer.  But fall is coming soon and will be very pleasant.  Feel free to put a trip here into your plans.  We love you!!