June 30

I'm late this week, but for a good reason! We have been on vacation! Yes, senior missionary couples get to go on vacations. My sister flew into Raleigh on the 24th (her flight was 3 hours late, oh well) and we headed to Asheville to see the Biltmore Estate. And what an estate! 8,000 acres, 250 room castle (?) and gardens to die for. You really have to see it to believe it. We hiked up three flights of stairs and visited most of the rooms, I think. Then we spent some time taking photos of the flowers. Karla even went down several flights of stairs (and yes, back up them) to see the conservatory with its exotic plants. I barely made it back to the shuttle before I gave out.

Then we traveled back to Greenville to stay overnight and headed to the ocean the next day. To Harker's Island to catch the ferry to Cape Lookout. Rode the "mule train" – actually in the back of a pickup – out to the very tip of the point of the island. You can see waves washing ashore in both direction; there has to be turmoil out there somewhere. On my sis's bucket list was to get her toes wet in the Atlantic Ocean. We did that, even found a few shells for her to take home. Hiked over to the lighthouse but didn't feel up to walking up the 263 stairs to the top. I heard it is a marvelous view; I'll take their word for it. Next we traveled to Manteo to stay overnight. Had to have some authentic fresh caught fish at Tale of the Whale. Even I, who does not particularly like fish, enjoyed my skewers of shrimp, mahi and scallops. Next day we get up and get ready for church in Nags Head. We are there 10 minutes early – those who know Karla know what I'm talking about! And the building is locked; it was stake conference. There were about 50 people wandering around (all visitors) waiting for the doors to open – they didn't! So we went on to the Wright Brothers Museum in Kill Devil Hills. Very interesting; lots of photos, some taken by one of the brothers who liked taking photos. The replica of the plane is awesome. To think someone would actually get on that and push it down a hill and have it fly – not me, thanks.

Then on to Norfolk Botanical Gardens to see more beautiful flowers. Even took the boat ride around Wright Lake and saw some of the wildlife, mostly birds but a few turtles. I didn't look too closely for snakes. Took oodles of photos, especially of the roses. They were a tad bit past prime, but still gorgeous.

I would not want to be a tourist every Sunday, but we did try to go to church, it just didn't work out. Instead we enjoyed the wonderful world that was made for us by our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. So thankful that we can enjoy it (and the air conditioning in the car). It was a wonderful time to spend with Karla. Family. Means. Everything. What would we do without family? Or the gospel? It would be a sad world indeed.

Monday we drove back to Greenville and she got to meet a few of the YSA at FHE then off to Raleigh to catch her plane early Tuesday morning. A shuttle ran from the hotel to the airport, so we didn't even have to drop her off there; we got to stay in bed.

Well, it was a whirlwind trip but a good one. 1,537 miles by our odometer. One we won't forget. So glad we could spend it with her.

We love all our family, extended family, family in the gospel and friends. We pray that your week will be a good one. I think we are about ready to go back to work. God bless all y'all.

Love, Elder and Sister Steffler