16th-22nd March 2009

Dear Family,
Last weeks cold rain was replaced with beautiful warm and sunny weather.
In the Tuesday morning New Testament class, Mom taught about the ancient temple ceremonies and how they related to the the Plan of Salvation, including the the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the High Priest, whose sacrifice was himself, in place of the ceremonial animals.
On Friday, all six of the Senior couples in the mission gathered for a dinner hosted by President & Sister Miller at the Mission Home. One couple, the Ott's are new so it was the first time we met them. He played Major League baseball for a few years. They were very excited to meet us because the other couples had been telling them, specially to Sis. Ott, ''we can't wait until you meet the Corless'es” because they figured she and Mom would have a 'blast” together. They were right. They both talked and laughed, and probably could have kept on doing it all night. Yet we all mingled and had a good time socializing and sharing stories, late into the evening. We stayed in McAllen overnight and got back to Corpus Christi, Saturday, in the afternoon.
Saturday, Grandpa Corless was admitted into the hospital in Rupert, Idaho, where they are trying to figure out why he became disoriented. He is not suffering from pain, but his mind is playing tricks on him. So far there is no official word as to why, but Geri and Joel suspect a new prescription medicine for his Parkinson's disease may be at the root of this problem. I think that makes sense since Parkinson's is neurological disease and the prescription medicine is likely to have some effect on his nervous system.
We hope all is well with everyone.
Love y'all, Mom & Dad

HubbleSite - Theater

Dear Family,
You got to try this one! It is awesome and in every way out of this world!
HubbleSite - Movie Theater

Week of 9-15 of March 2009

Dear Family,
Spring in South Texas has brought 70-80 degree warm and sunny weather early in the week to rain and 40-50 degree cold for the later part of week. It has been very dry in Corpus Christi so the rain is a very welcome change.
We have had the opportunity to cross paths with few more South Texans this week. I hope our visits have left them better, at least in some small way, than we found them. It is amazing how many problems people can get themselves into by not following the Lord's plan, but it just as amazing how living the Lord's commandments can dissolve the seemingly insurmountable problems. For instance, we see the delight of a new convert as she gains a greater understanding from studying the scriptures in the light of the restored gospel. A sister, who is grieving from the death of her husband, is finding comfort and peace in her heart. Another sister, who has been clean from alcohol and drugs for several months, enjoys the missionary visits and wants to be baptized, but struggles with lack of support from her family. Another sister is finding clear direction with light and peace in a world full of darkness and confusion as she is accepting Jesus Christ into her life. However we are convinced we are being blessed more than we are blessing others.
We are truly the history hungry hounds. Our recent edification comes from the study of ancient temples through some Hugh Nibley book and CDs. It appears that most all of the activities of civilization has root in the ancient temples. At the time of Abraham, the Egyptians, in their preoccupation with the afterlife, had virtually a complete working model of the temple and ceremonies, but lacked the priesthood. There is no substitute for the real thing.
Today we had Bishop Smith and family for dinner. Both Bishop and sister Smith have Idaho roots. Mom thoroughly enjoyed their daughter as they set the table and seasoned the pasta together. We miss our little grandbuddies.
Thanks for your calls.
Love y'all, Mom & Dad

Week of March 1st -7th 2009

Dear Family,
The top story for the week: Welcome to little Mary Amelia! Congratulations David & Jana on the fruits of their labor in bringing this 8 pound 3 ounce little angel to be with us. What a blessing she is to all of us. Mary is the 7th granddaughter and 18th grandchild that our family has been blessed with.
This week has been full of activity. We completed the inspection of the 14 missionary apartments in the two zones and emailed our “Matter Organized” report back to the Mission Office. We visited with 32 of the 38 total missionaries in the two zones. Mom filled a little cup with Easter candy for each missionary. It really is a blessing to us to be associated with such wonderful, high caliber, young people as these dedicated missionaries are.
Wednesday evening we received a call from a Brother and Sister in Idaho Falls where Michael and his companion had just taught a lesson to their niece. They were so impressed with them that they had to call and tells us how great missionaries they are. Needless to say we were so pleased that Michael has been working hard and using his talents to further the Lord's work. Once again, we were reminded how blessed we are to the parents of all you children. You inspire us!
Tuesday we taught the 8th of 15 New Testament Classes. We are in the last two months of our adventure in Corpus Christi and the time has kicked into hyper-drive and seems to be rocketing by at warp speed.
Love y'all. Mom & Dad

Week of February 21-28

Dear Family,
Just as foretold, there is never a dull moment in this old world as we prepare for the Second Coming.
Wednesday evening, after interviews, (Mission) President and Sister Miller, invited (Stake) President and Sister Ratliffe, CES Administrator Brother and Sister King and us to dinner. We all had a great time. The men sat at one end of the table and the ladies sat at the other end; we did not interrupt eachother at all, but had a wonderful evening just getting to know one another better. The ladies in tune with their great taste, ordered the food, including the dessert, and it was great! We were specially pleased that sister King, who had been ill for a time, came. We had stopped by her house the day before to encourage her to come and Mom's hugs seemed to make the difference. She not only was there but it was obvious that it did her good to get out and socialize a little.

We went on several appointments with the Elders this week and met some very interesting people. Everyone has a story, complete with challenges and triumphs, and everyone of them could use the healing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We enjoy working with these missionaries. The association with them in this great work is a real blessing to us.

Sunday, we attended the Conference Broadcast for Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Bishop Edgely of the presiding Bishopric, Brother Costa (2nd Counselor in SS Presidency), Elder Quentin L. Cook and President Uchtdorf - all edified us. We brought a less active member. Afterwards, we went to a few appointments with different sets of elders, visited two less active members and made a couple of future dinner appointments with them. We hurried home and made our "Sunday dinner" for 2 other Elders who needed a dinner appointment of their own. :)

It is like Mom says, "Our mission title is 'one hug at at time'."

I hope all is well with all of you, Thank you for the calls; we really enjoy hearing from you.

Love y'all, Mom & Dad

Week of 16th - 22nd of February 2009

Dear Family,
We are doing well. The South Texas winter weather has been very pleasant and good to us.

We have been on the go this week trying to make a difference for someone . We taught the 6th of 15 New Testament classes (Romans 1-8). We got on to the subject of accountability and the importance of keeping our “matter organized” and how it relates to our physical, mental and spiritual well being. We enjoy the students and the class discussion and the discovery and or rediscovery of the true & powerful doctrine contained therein.

We made a picture album for Brother Flores, a member of the branch, who is under going experimental cancer treatments. It has 50 photos from his birthday party last week and we made an 8X10 photo with a nice frame of him and his wife. We have been so excited to give it to him today at church.

We went on several visits with the Elders this week. One was an emergency visit to a recent convert who is struggling with tobacco. We were able to visit and help her avert the crisis and left her better than we found her. Another visit was to a less active member who has been studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. We found her in such an agitated and confused state of mind she could hardly express herself. However, after an hour of sharing our testimony of how study and prayer can lead us to truth, reading part of the Book of Mormon to her and asking her to study, ponder and pray to know the truth, she also was better than when we found her.

We went on a little side trip to Alice, Texas to escort our musically talented District Leader, Elder Walker, to play the organ and piano for a wedding of a member groom to a non-member bride. It was a very interesting cultural observation as to the level of dress standard of the attendees (guys vs. gals). The ladies, with few exceptions, were all dressed up and looked real nice. White shirts with Levis and boots and Hawaiian shirts, suits and ties were all well represented attire for the guys. The father of the bride wore a western styled tuxedo with a black cowboy hat and a toothless grin. Everybody seemed to be happy so it was a success for them.

Once again we recognize the Lord's hand in our lives and the lives of others. As we do the best we can, He fills in the huge gap left by our inadequacy and makes all the difference in our lives.

We sure love you all, Mom & Dad

Week of 9th - 15th of February 2009

Dear Family,
We hope everyone had a happy Valentines Day. We went with the Elders on two appointments before we attended a birthday celebration dinner for Brother Flores of the Spanish Branch. It was his 72nd birthday. He has been under going treatments for cancer. There were a lot of friends & family in attendance to celebrate and he was so happy to see everyone; we took pictures of the attendees to make a book for him as a remembrance. Mom had fun learning some Mexican music dance moves and everyone seemed very peasantly surprised so see an "Anglo" missionary so enjoying their music.
Friday evening, after going to two teaching appointments with the missionaries, we attended a Valentine activity sponsored by the 2nd & 3rd wards and got to visit with a number of people. Afterwards, we went to the Weatherston's and played a game of Greed. Thursday, we had some teaching appointments with the Elders,and then had our own celebration with a Texas Roadhouse steak dinner.
Tuesday after the New Testament class we went to Giron's (the Brazilian family), to help them load the truck for their move to Florida. Four Elders joined us so the work went quickly. In spite of moving, Sister Giron made us a home cooked lunch. Yumm!!! They left on Wednesday morning. We will miss them. Tuesday evening we went to an appointment with the Elders and then took them to dinner, where we met a member of the church who owns a construction business. He told me his Ford Trucks outlast the Chevrolets by 3.4 to 1 i.e. he has to buy 3.4 Chevy trucks to last as long as 1 Ford truck. Dad was PROUD and had a grin that went from ear to ear. Mom asked him to send us his data so we can forward it to those interested.

We are doing well and enjoying the warm weather but also we miss the family.

Love y'all, Mom & Dad.