Present

There is a nice gentleman in our ward who Mark home teaches.  Jerry lives in a care facility and isn't able to get out or come to church very often because of health problems.  But Mark sees him every month and sometimes takes Emma and Samantha with him since he doesn't have a home teaching companion.  Jerry is also an artist and sells his artwork professionally.  He does all kinds of art - painting, drawing, oils, etc.  Yesterday he asked us to come to his apartment because he had a surprise for us.  Previously Mark had commented to Jerry about how much we loved a painting that he had done of the Teton Mountains.  So Jerry did a mountain painting for us that is just absolutely gorgeous!

We were so impressed and touched that Jerry thought enough of our family to give us such a special gift - especially when his art sells for several hundred dollars.  Apparently he has had it done for a couple of weeks and has shown it around the care facility.  As we were leaving, one of the workers saw us carrying out the painting and remarked, "Oh YOU are the ones who get the painting - we're all so jealous!"

We came home and promptly hung it up in our living room.  We love it!