Texas…….no, wait………TEXAS

 We began our week in Texas with a visit to the Houston Temple.  We met a brother inside the temple who, after finding out my last name, asked, "Is your father Kelly Ogden?"  When I replied in the affirmative he said, "Your brother was in our ward here for a while."  Tis a small world.

 We decided to do some sealings at the Houston Temple.  We were warned months ago that sealings can be somewhat precarious for pregnant women.  Sam got to find out why that is the case.  However, she didn't let a momentary loss of consciousness slow her down a bit!

 They say that everything is bigger in Texas.  I can say that includes the hearts of Sam's relatives, who were very hospitable to us during our short time in the Lone Star State.  Here we are at El Gringo (Mexican food) with (left to right) Wilma (Aunt Lola's friend…..and now ours too!), Amanda (Aunt Beverly's daughter), Samantha (Amanda's daughter), (Great) Aunt Beverly, (Great) Aunt Lola, and Sam.

 After spending a fun night in Houston we drove over to (Great) Aunt Lola's place in Yoakum.

 Aunt Lola's house at the ranch in Yoakum

 Aunt Lola and Sam discussing genealogy

 The tree Aunt Lola used to play under…….I think she still plays there.

 Mmmm, the cows get huge blocks of chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

 "Ladies, that crazy human is about to lick our salt."

 Hey Doug, do you remember 809 Cadwell Street?

 I usually like to arrive at a new temple (one that I have not previously visited) during the day in order to take pictures, but I'm really glad we arrived at the San Antonio Temple at night.  It is one of the most beautiful temples I've seen.  Sam and I had to walk through bushes to get this picture.  Why do they block me from getting to my sign?!

 Oh, that stained glass!

Remember what I said about the small world?  Inside the San Antonio Temple I met a guy with whom (Is that correct grammar, Mom?  With whom?) I served in the National Guard 10 years ago.

 Aunt Roxie!  Another one of Sam's fabulous Great Aunts.  I was thrilled when I found out that Lola and Roxie are big fans of Rumikub.  We probably spent six hours over three different days trying to best each other.  What a hoot!

 On Saturday, I left Sam in San Antonio and drove to the Dallas Temple.  Perhaps it would be better said that Sam made the wiser decision to have mercy on her rear end by avoiding another 8-9 hours in the car.

One of my early Christmas presents from Sam, which I was allowed to open upon my arrival in Dallas.  Isn't she wonderful!

Santa Claus attended church with us on Sunday………and he led the music too!  I wouldn't normally take pictures during Sacrament Meeting, but I couldn't pass up this Kodak moment.

 Aunt Lola, Lorenzo, and Kerry took us on the river walk Sunday evening.  Beautiful!

Aunt Lola, Sam, Daniel, Kerry, and Lorenzo

 We visited the Alamo on Monday morning

 Davyyyyyy……Daaaaaavy Crockett…..king of the wild frontier.  Remember that old TV show?

 Davy Crockett's wife?

We had lunch at Schilo's (pronounced "She-lows"), a German deli in San Antonio.  I had the split-pea soup and German potato pancakes with apple sauce.  Sam's pregnancy stomach told her to go with the chicken-salad sandwich.  We both drank the delicious homemade root beer.

 We started our week in Texas with the temple, so it's only fitting that we end this Texas experience with a visit to another temple.  What a great week!

The quote of the week goes to 79-year-old Aunt Roxie: "I've got a crush on [Fox News host] Bret Baier."

A few responses to our question, "What is one thing you know about Mormons?":

Charlene - Concierge at Wyndam Garden - Baton Rouge, LA:  Hesitation……..more hesitation……[laughing] "I'm speechless.  I'm sorry, you guys caught me off guard.  I wasn't expecting that question."

Cynthia - setting out bags of taffy at a country store near Yoakum, TX: "I don't know much.  They have their own book and their own beliefs.  I don't judge them.  We all believe in God.  You can't take your name tag with you when you die.  You won't be Mormon, Catholic, Protestant, or Evangelical."

Melissa - Concierge at La Quinta - Hillsboro, TX: "Many stars, moons, and wives.  Am I right?  I dated a Mormon once, but I can't do the many wives thing."

Security guard at the federal courthouse and post office - San Antonio, TX: "I used to live in Utah.  Frigid winters."

Cashier at United Supermarket in Lubbock, TX: "They're strict."

Duck Dynasty

 Today we decided to visit the Duck Commander warehouse.  We didn't see any of the members of the popular TV show.  We were told that Willie is overseas visiting the troops and the rest of the family are enjoying time off.  I had planned on driving to Phil and Kay's house, but one of the warehouse employees told me that because of the ever-increasing number of people who simply show up at the house, a large fence was put up and now you can't even see the house.

 The famous loading dock

 The world's largest duck call

 One of the funny signs at The Pickle Barrel.  This one is for you, Sara and Jarem.  I was disappointed that they didn't have squirrel, frog legs, crocodile, or any other exotic foods on the menu.  I'm in Duck Dynasty country!  Where can I get some fried squirrel?!

From northern Louisiana to southern Louisiana.  We type the address of a temple into the GPS, navigate to the temple, and then pick a nearby hotel/inn to stay the night.  Tis nice to be close to the temple.  As we were leaving the temple tonight we saw the temple president and a small group of temple workers eating a late dinner in the waiting area.  They invited us to eat with them.  One of the workers (Brother Wiley……Wiley might be his first name) had made deep-fried turkey in a crock pot, which we packed in between buns, tomatoes, lettuce, mayo, and mustard.  Dessert was a delicious pecan-coconut-oatmeal cookie.

Regarding our question about the Mormons, I'll simply say that the three people we talked to today didn't know anything about our religion.  This is further evidence of why it is so important that we open our mouths everywhere we go.  We don't have to preach, but even just talking to people and meeting new people when possible will open doors for sharing the gospel or planting a seed.

At least two of the people we have spoken with in the last week have referenced TV shows about "Mormons".  They think the shows are about Mormons, when in reality they are about the FLDS faith or other groups often confused with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  

We've got to get the word out!

Atlanta & Birmingham

 Lots of driving today!  Our first stop was the Atlanta temple.

 Then we drove over to the Birmingham temple.

 Here's a little shout-out to Elders Jensen and Powell, and Sisters Brummer and Nelson - four of a large group of missionaries we saw at the temple.  Keep up the good work and we'll do what we can to help!

We had a couple of hours to burn before we could enter the temple, and the church building next to the temple happened to be open, so this is how we passed the time……pig, horse, soccer, and football.  This is our "front-cover-of-Sports-Illustrated" pose.

And now we rest our road-weary bodies in Jackson, Mississippi.

Responses to our question, "What is one thing you know about the Mormons?"

Female concierge at Microtel Inns & Suites - Atlanta, GA: [with a southern, African-American accent] "The who?!"

Maintenance guy who poked his head around from the back room after hearing our question posed to the female concierge: "Did you say ya'll are Mormon?  You've got huge peach farms down south.  Very nice people."

Waitress at Chili's - Birmingham, Alabama: "I feel like I should know more.  I live right by the temple in Gardendale [that's where the Birmingham temple is located].  Aren't the Mormons the ones that wear skirts and long hair?"

Female employee at Shell gas station near Birmingham temple: "I don't know much, but my cousin married a Mormon.  We went to the church for the reception.  Best reception I've ever been to.  Very kind people."

Concierge at hotel in Jackson, MS: "I don't really know anything.  They're cool people as far as I'm concerned."

Savannah, Georgia

 Today we took a walking tour of beautiful Savannah, GA

 John Wesley - Founder of Methodism

 It was 80 degrees when we left Savannah this afternoon.  It's 45 degrees here in Atlanta right now.

 Mike - our tour guide

 We were told to eat at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House, if we had time.

 It was worth waiting in line.

 You sit at 10-person tables and chat with random people while enjoying all kinds of southern home cooking.

Sure was a nice day…….probably our last warm day for a while.

A couple of responses to our question about Mormons:

JoAnn - concierge at Country Inns & Suites in Savannah: "They're very religious."

Jack and Mary Ellen - married couple sitting at our table at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House: "They have the best genealogy system in the world."