Kennedy Space Center

We got to go to the Kennedy Space Center for free a few weekends ago. It was open to all Brevard County citizens as long as they brought canned food to donate. They had some very cool 3D Imax movies about the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station. We also saw all kinds of rockets used through the years, from the Mercury program to the newly planned rockets that will replace the shuttle program. We saw one of the shuttles, the launch pads, and the giant hanger. Also, there was a sweet alligator just chilling in the park's pond. We are both nerds so we had a great time! Mom (Merrell) and Grandma this first picture is for you. :)

These are the engines of the Apollo V rocket (the one that took the astronauts to the moon). It is huge!

The Brevard Zoo

We went to the local Brevard Zoo a few weeks ago. It is pretty small, but we were actually pretty surprised at how many cool things they had there. We got to see some monkeys, African cats, a bunch of birds, alligators, and a whole lot more. The whole zoo was beautiful. There were plants everywhere, it didn't even feel like a zoo. It was especially fun to feed the giraffes and see the three bald eagles they had (don't worry, they didn't cage them or clip their wings, they were rescued birds that cannot fly and would not survive in the wild).

This photo is dedicated to the loving memory of Steve Irwin.

Why we are loving Florida!

Okay..I am SO behind on our blog. I need to get up a post about The Kennedy Space Center, Halloween, the rapid growth of my stomach, and our trip to the Zoo but there is no time now. Those pictures will be coming soon but for now I just thought I should share some of the things Bryson and I love about our new home (besides Bryson's wonderful job that he loves!).

First of all, we have all of our windows open and our sliding door open wide in the middle of November and it feels wonderful in our apartment. Our place does not even have a heater. There is no need. We can use our apartment swimming pool all year long! Here we are in the pool last week:

Another thing we love: it is beautiful here. Everywhere I look there is something green or some beautiful bird flying by! I was driving our sister missionaries around a neighborhood here and saw a flock of wild peacocks! They were just roaming around. It was amazing. And there is no such thing as an inversion here!! :) I am so grateful for this beautiful world the Savior created for us.

We also love our ward here. All of the members are so welcoming. It is very different to be in a non-BYU ward but we love it. We have a lot more responsibilities but I really feel like I am really serving in the church. There are so many opportunities to serve those in our ward and also to help the missionaries. Bryson and I have been introducing ourselves to all of the investigators. We had a family home evening with one this week and we try to go teach lessons with the Sisters whenever we can. It has been such a blessing for me to have more opportunities to share my testimony.

I am so grateful for all the blessings we have. We are sad to be so far away from family and we miss you all but we are enjoying our new home.