Free Museum Day and Randomness

Every month in Athens, there is a free museum day that usually honors someone or something Greek.  It is a great opportunity to see places in Athens for free.  It comes with crowds but that is part of the fun.  This month we went to the Archaeological Museum of Athens.  It is the largest museum in Greece and very important because it houses antiquities from all over Greece.  It was huge and we felt rather overwhelmed but because we live here, we can go again and again. 

Before the Crowds We had a special opportunity to meet district leaders from many European countries that are in the Central Europe District.  They were in Athens to have a retreat with staff that serve in our German office.  They were learning self care techniques and enjoying Athens.  We were in charge of cleaning the church room where they would meet and fixing food for their Sunday meal before they would be heading home.  I felt so much appreciation for these District Leaders that have so much responsibility to take care of their area that is so spread out.  I hope I never forget when I am back in my neighborhood where everyone is tucked into a few blocks.  They came from Thessaloniki, Albania, Serbia, Austria, Germany.... Sister missionaries translating  Sister Reidhead is a wonderful meal planner...maybe some things will rub off District Council Each week we gather with the young missionaries to review, organize and plan.  It is not easy being a young missionary in Athens.  The Greek Orthodox church is a way of living here much like being in Utah with a church on every corner.  The churches are beautiful.  I love hearing the bells ring all over Athens wherever you are.   Eating leftovers from the Coordinating  Council--it is always good to plan for extra food! They are looking at pictures of our missionaries when they were young and guessing who is who.  They had a great time and we love being with them and learning who they are.  Prison of Socrates and Philopappus Hill Southwest of the Acropolis is Philopappus Hill where a monument and burial chamber stands on the top.  Philopappus was a Roman magistrate.  On this hill is where they think Socrates was imprisoned and died by poisoning but no one is really sure.  It is a lovely, quiet wooded area with trails and fantastic views of the sea and Athens.  I took the picture of the boy doing crazy stuff on the post while admiring his strength.  It would have been a cooler picture if I had taken it a little sooner when he had both legs upright.  Grandchild's baptism We are grateful for technology and the ability to tune in from far away to special events in our family's lives.  We were so happy to be able to watch our grand daughter being baptized and then to visit a little with those in attendance.  It is really awesome when I think back at the time our children were on missions and we had snail mail and then email, the call on Christmas and Mother's Day.  Moms just don't have that same excitement now because they can talk to their missionary every week. I am glad they can! May the 4th...our cute little Ewok grand daughter Athen's Cemetery We needed a break from the computer and got on the metro to see Athen's Cemetery.  It is the first cemetery in Athens and has many important people buried here.  It is one of the largest cemeteries in Europe.  Everything was marble and I mean everything.  Not the trees.  Plaka Above my head is the Acropolis.  Down below lies the historic Plaka and neighborhoods.  The roads are narrow and homes are clustered together.  There are no big apartment buildings. It is a lot like Santorini with white washed walls and blue doors.   This will be my first Mother's Day away from home.  I always had my mom to celebrate until 2 years ago.  I have loved being a mom.  It is better than I ever thought it would be when I was single, pregnant, or with 4 kids under 5 with cloth diapers.  It's the best deal ever beside Kim.  My mom is holding me.  She made all our clothes and they were beautiful like her!