Friday, October 31, 2014

Bugs?!

 Tuesday morning I heard guys outside. Look what I saw when I opened the blind. When termites are found, this is what they do and then fumigate.  It was interesting watching the men put the
covering on.
This is the front of the house. 
It was on only for a day. 

Monday, October 27, 2014

Del Mar

We had a mission president's seminar in Del Mar from Wednesday to Saturday.  This included mission presidents from the North America West (20) and North America Northwest (15) missions.  We decided to drive to get there and went on PCH 1.  This was pretty cool seeing all the fishing boats.
We left early enough Wednesday morning so we could go to the San Diego temple.  


Thursday afternoon we had lunch out on the terrace.  During the seminar we had assigned seating and we were able to sit next to the Albas.  This was Jace's mission president and wife.  
It was such a blessing to have gone back to Santa Rosa with Jace and meet them and even stay a night with them.  When we were called, I would reflect on our experience with the Albas.  We love them.  It was fun to hear them talk to others about Jace.

Thursday afternoon we had a couple of hours after training before dinner.  We enjoyed sitting out by the beach.  What a beautiful sight.
We chose in advance as to what we would like to do on Friday afternoon for our free time, The Mormon Batallion, a cruise in the bay to see the many ships, or stay at the hotel.  We went to the Mormon Batallion museum.  It was very informative and enjoyable.

President is panning for gold.  Sister Christopherson said whoever finds the largest nugget pays for dinner.  President Felix found the largest.  We had a wonderful dinner at the hotel on the terrace and saw the sun go down.
Elder and Sister Christopherson were wonderful to be around and listening to them-- amazing.





President and Sister Russell serving in the Oregon Eugene mission.  We've told them about the Andruses since they are in their mission.  They are from West Jordan.         
President and Sister Robinson serving in the Alaska Anchorage mission.  It was snowing when they left Alaska.  They are from Bear Lake, Idaho area.
On our way back to Del Mar we stopped at the temple so the others could see it.  We went in the lobby and the temple president was there and invited us in to see the baptismal font.

A sample of the beautiful flowers on the temple grounds.
I forgot to put this picture in and don't know how to move it to the correct place.  This is from the terrace of the hotel and you can see the sun gowing down.

Mission Map

 Our zones are outlined in green. We have 8 English zones and 2 Spanish. (Ventura has both and also Camarillo.)
This bush is outside our garage. The flowers only last a couple of days. We are seeing lots of different flowers.  Even though there is a drought, it is very green to us. 
As we were driving to church, D commented that we get to see Palm trees every day. 
We are in sunny California. 

Monday, October 13, 2014

One end to the other

Last week we had interviews up north.  We went to the most north zone in the mission but not to the most north place in the mission.  We were in San Luis Obispo Thursday and Friday night.  We went walking on the Cal Poly campus.  Saturday our goal was to fine the football stadium.  
It was a bit fogged in.
 During lunch for the interviews we watched Meet the Mormons.  Elder Holland sent out a letter stating that the missionaries do not go to the theaters to see the movie.  We were sent a DVD to show our missionaries.  It just so happened that interviews were scheduled from the end of September to October 17.  We are to send the DVD back by October 18.  I love it when a plan comes together.  If you haven't taken the opportunity to see the movie, please do.  It's great!  Mormons are normal, we're not weird.  I loved all 6 of the stories.  I have to focus on other thoughts though when it comes to the missionary mom and the love she has for her son.  We have a couple of missionaries who said the story line is somewhat like what their mom has gone through.
The marine layer is very interesting.  We can experience pockets of it.
We left SLO so we could be to the Santa Barbara airport to pick up an Hermana who served in Uruguay but had to go back to Utah due to back problems.  She was home for three months and now has been assigned to our mission.  
We just had to stop at the Old West Cinnamon Roll.  Not only for us to get rolls for lunch with the Hermana but a cute Sister knows I love the rolls and she has made arrangements to get rolls to us a couple of times.  We surprised her and her companion along with about 4 others with rolls.  It was fun to text them and say come outside NOW.  (Of course, they would know because of caller ID that it was 
President Felix.)
Rolls were being made.  It was fascinating how they were made and how quick.
Butter
Sugar
Cinnamon
Role it


Chop chop

We picked up the Hermana and stopped by the beach where we take the new arriving missionaries.  The park was full so we parked and ate in the car with the windows down enjoying the ocean breeze.
I drove (basically I always drive so President can read emails) to Ojai where she would be serving for at least three weeks.  We went a way we haven't gone before and it was beautiful.  After dropping her off we drove to Santa Paula so President could do a baptismal interview.  Again, a back way that we've not been before.  While he was doing the interview I stayed in the car and worked more on the Orientation book.  We left Santa Paula and drove to Newbury Park which is not quite the most south in the mission.  We had to address some issues with a sister that was in need of help.  We got home after 9:00 p.m.  
It was a very full day!
Today I spent most of the day working on the Orientation book and feel it is ready for press except for the cover.  We have a new Elder who sketches so well.  I asked if he would come up with some ideas for the cover.  Hopefully next week we can get the book printed.  We've been hoping we'd have the Ipads so that info regarding them could go in the book.  Too bad, we don't want to wait any longer.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Bowens

 We were so excited for the Bowens to arrive.  We ate lunch out on the deck. 
 The mission has a large van so we used it to get around.  That way we could be together. 

 Cooper loved the pumpkins. 
For many weeks we passed this field but had no idea what was planted.  We saw green and then the field started turning yellow. We still couldn't tell what was planted.  Last week we saw this.  So it seemed liked pumpkins all of a sudden appeared. 

 Saturday afternoon we rented an electric boat and went through the harbor. 
 We saw many boats docked. 

 Towards the end of our ride we saw these seals or sea lions.  Of course we wanted to go closer. 
 Too close!  See the red hair in the left corner.  Brooke jumped from the side to get away. Papa doesn't have the experience that would have been good to have.  We bumped into the side of the boat and the seal apparently didn't like that. He reared his head and became quite vocal.  We were afraid the seal was coming aboard.  Brandon pushed us away. Thankfully we got away.



 Brooke is demonstrating how sweet and good. 

 My dream. ..since the first day we picked fruit I wanted to see grand kids picking. 

 Go see Brooke and get some fruit.

 We took the Bowens to the Cross.
 The pictures below are at Marina  Park.  










 We got tacos and then to ice cream.  I think they'd come back for this. 

It was hard seeing them drive off. So tears seeing them come and tears seeing them go. A fast walk and all day of missionary interviews helped to overcome.