Tracting Plane to Plane?

When I served in my second area - St. Ann - they were planning on an airport expansion which has happened. There were a lot of vacant houses because they all got bought out by the airport. I didn't expect to see missionaries still in this apartment and that was accurate. I assume St. Ann is not its own area now either and that was also confirmed later by a missionary I talked to. -T

I spent more time in this apartment than I ever wanted to - Surgery + Bad Companion = Not the Fondest of Memories

It always seemed to be cold and dreary here too

Yes...better memories!

Apt E

And apparently no one has still returned my bike to where they stole it from.

Oh the Hummer? That's just our weekend vehicle!

We went back to my first area - Frontenac. It covered Frontenac, some of Kirkwood, Ladue and some other small towns. Ladue has been rumored to be the second richest city in the country behind Beverly Hills. So, while we were touring the area we stopped at the biggest house in Missouri. I don't know if those last two statements are true or if they're just missionary myths. Either way, Ladue is rich and the house is big. -T

They got a new sign at my first apartment! We lived in Kirkwood.

I liked Elder Grover, but I like it better with her.

Apartment #26...once again, I liked Elder Saline, but I like it better with her.

I used to sit out on the balcony and look at the Porche/Audi dealership across the street. I do NOT remember these trees ever obstructing my view! I gotta look back at old pictures.

We almost couldn't get the entire thing in, but I think we just about did! If you're wondering, no, we never tracted this house - can't get in the gates. Again, apparently the biggest house in Missouri. I would like to get the checker look going in my own yard.

First street I ever tracted. Although, the sky here is blue. The sky then was very gray and we got absolutely soaked!

The Frontenac building! Not only my building my first area, but all the transfer meetings occurred here.

Another famous spot. This is the rim I was hanging on in my Christmas picture I sent out my first Christmas.

The last time I got transferred here, I was with no companion for almost 7 years! Now I got her as my companion...even though she's wearing dude's clothing...I couldn't be luckier!

Catholic Basilica

One of the most impressive buildings I've ever been in is probably the St. Louis Cathedral a.k.a the Catholic Basilica. Our first stop was here because it added culture to our itinerary and I thought Lindsey would enjoy it. The murals and size of it are extrememly magnificent, even if we feel some of the doctrines in the paintings are inaccurate. -T

We didn't want to pay to light a candle

Anyone know greek?

I wonder how many people you can fit in this place!

And He came straightway out of the water?

The front of the cathedral Apostles

Some of us were happy and eager to confess our sins...

...others of us were not as humble. I call this picture "thug love." Look at the gangster in this picture with her baggy clothes, folded arms, and well...that face!

(OR, this is Lindsey refusing to get in the booth for Todd's picture. -L)

We both liked this picture, although we weren't totally sure what Christ is holding here.

Maybe we should have come back in a few months to baptize our baby here

Lindsey wouldn't let me go and try to get the tour group that was there to pay for our trip.

Last Supper - Judas is the only one whose head isn't glowing

I did think maybe I was receiving revelation in this picture

The Angel of Harmony is always a hit

From a distance

This gives a sense of the size of this thing

It really is huge

We took a helicopter ride to see it from a bird's eye view. Okay, not really, that isn't the sun reflecting off the buildings, that's the flash off a picture.

I've become really good at the self-taking pictures

Starting our Trip to the Past

After being home for 8 years, I was finally making my first trip back to my misson - St. Louis, Mo. It's kinda hard to believe that I haven't been back when it's only 5 1/2 hours away. Anyway, how fun it is to take my hot wife! -T

We got a call telling us there was a wreck and bad traffic on our route in Northern Kentucky. Luckily, it wasn't in the direction we were going.

We were glad we weren't stuck in it.

Six hours, including a lunch break, later...we had arrived! The arch from I-64 driving through East St. Louis

If you look under the arch at the two tall buildings on the right, that is Gentry's Landing. It was formerly (don't know anymore) the sister missionaries apartment, but it is more famous for being the spot of my Christmas photo my second Christmas in the field.

The NEW Busch Stadium - the first major change we saw to what I once knew

I couldn't help but take a picture when I was at the gas station. It looks like a 60's restaurant...I thought it was cool and never saw it in the 2 years I was here.

Okay so I took two pictures of it

Stoned

We have a ton of stones and rocks in our landscaping. Come to find out we have even more rocks than we thought as we tried to dig through dirt that was just FILLED with rocks. Anyway, we put stones in the man-made path we have through our backyard landscaping. We stil want to put an all rock path going behind the garden Lindsey has started, and also reorganize some of the other rocks/paths, but that will take time. -T

First stone laid

I was almost out of energy after the first one - so hot!

Looking for low spots

The middle of day 2 to finish

Close up

I like it

I ran on it for a kid demo - we think it's safe

20 Weeks - WE'RE HAVING A...puppy?

The ultrasound was way cool. The last time I went, there wasn't anything in there because well, there was no baby anymore. So, I had some anxiety. Today was much better though. Technology is amazing. We informed the lady performing the ultrasound that we didn't want to know the gender. She said that's what she did for her first. Anyway, she showed a whole bunch of stuff including the blood flow in different parts of the body, all four chambers of the heart, etc, etc. The blood flow on the screen actually looked like fire. It was weird. Anyway, the latest technology is apparently 4-D pictures. So, that's on here and provoked Lindsey to say, "Our kid looks like a puppy!" If the baby would have heard ALL of Lindsey's comments, he/she would have horrible self-esteem. Hopefully, Lindsey gets it all out now. Anyway, the thing that stuck in my mind was when we were told "everything looks fabulous!" -T

It's amazing! Our baby sits up already!

Lindsey titled this picture "tired." I guess the baby got tired and laid down for this picture.

"Our kid looks like a puppy" -Your Loving Mother

4-D is pretty cool, huh? Despite the weird nose, no eyes, huge lips, ears growing out the top of its head, and whatever else Lindsey said about our baby...we love it! -T

Well Mom said all of the Spjut babies had turned up noses, so I guess that part comes from me. But why is it so huge? Todd says it was probably just pressed up against the glass. -L