Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Miniature Golf

Saturday, December 26, we planned to drive to Santa Barbara to go to the acquarium.  I checked the GPS to make sure we had the correct address.  It said it would take 1 hour and 45 minutes.  Whoa! That is over an hour longer than it should take.  We found out there was a brush fire along 101 and the traffic was being diverted.  New game plan:  let's go to Golf and Stuff. 



We've never golfed in a tie and a dress.  A little over dressed, perhaps but we had a lot of fun.  
The kids ended up playing games in the arcade and then we went to Red Brick Pizza.  It was so fun being with the Hales!  Grateful they were able to spend the week with us even though mission responsibilities took some of our time.  They were understanding and entertained themselves. 

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Merry Christmas

The Hales arrived Monday, the 21st, in the evening.  Tuesday they went to Universal Studios.  We worked on transfers until Wednesday.  Annie and I made swig cookies Wednesday night and then frosted them on Thursday.  That was after our staff meeting at the office to tie up any loose ends for transfers on Monday.  Shelby and Annie helped in getting things set up for the open house for the Ventura and Camarillo zones.  Shelby made her wonderful carmel/pretzel/chocolate popcorn.  The open house was from 4:00 to 6:30.  

We put a sign outside the door that said walk in.  That is why I was surprised when there was a knock at the door.  When I opened it, this is what I saw.  So fun to have them sing to us.  
Tad and Nash found a good place to eat before it got crowded.


The Hales acted out the Nativity for us.  Tad was a bit shy so I held him.  He was a shepherd while Tate and Nash were wisemen and Annie was an angel.


Shelby borrowed bells from some friends.  Singing to the bells was fun.  I would have liked it to have lasted longer but many of the missionaries had other invitations.  They were to be in their apartments by 7:00 unless they had an invitation to be in a home.


Nash was liking the popcorn even on his face.
The kids were excited to go up the stairs to see what Santa had brought.
After seeing what was in our socks we had cinnamon rolls that I had made a couple of weeks before and had put in the freezer.
Exchanging gifts around the Christmas tree.  Tate handed them out.
Nash was the first to run to the water.  He didn't get in very far as it was cold.  It was windy and that made it even colder.  Just because it was different to go to the beach on Christmas, we did.


When we got home we found this.  Many of the missionaries in Ventura wrote us some sweet notes.
We are noticing angels among us.
This Christmas season has been wonderful.  We had zone conference/Christmas devotionals on the 15th and 17th.  The afternoon focus was on angels.  We are angels, there are angels around us and we can ask for angel's to help us.

Monday, December 21, 2015

2 Transfer

 Elder Haney was called to serve in our mission for two transfers.  A missionary can serve a two transfer mission to make sure the missionary can sustain the missionary schedule.  Elder Haney was great with two different areas and companions.  He received his call to serve the remaining 21 months last week.  His parents and Sister drove over from Bakersfield to witness the opening of the call. He will be serving in the Minneapolis Minnesota mission.   He reports to the MTC on January 6. He still needs to talk with his bishop and stake president and then go to the LA temple to receive his endowment.  This will happen tomorrow. The neat thing is his companion has been given permission to go with him and will be his escort. 

 Last week between zone conferences we were able to take the Assistants to the LA temple on Wednesday. It was a very small session at 8:00 in the morning.  It was a blessing to be able to go and the traffic wasn't bad. 
Elder Young, President, and Elder Ruby

Friday, December 11, 2015

Ventura Pier

I couldn't figure out how to get the pictures from facebook to the blog so I took a picture with my camera.  
One of our missionaries messaged me and said "I've seen videos of the storm out there!  Hope everything is okay!"  My response was "so where are you talking about?  In Ventura we have wind.  What's happening?"
Getting on facebook I see more posts and find out the surf was high maybe up to 15 feet.  Waves crashed over the top of the pier with a railing dangling and pilings were pushed to shore.  There was some coastal flooding.  The report said one of the palm trees near Surfers Point fell over and erosion continued on the bike path.  This is where we like to ride our bikes.  We'll have to wait a week or so before we can go see.


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

The Sky

We enjoyed the company of Becky, Katie, and Brooke this past weekend.  They arrived on Thursday evening.  Friday they went to the outlets and the reason for coming here was to do a Spartan Race that was about an hour from the mission home.
Here are their clean feet before leaving for the race.  
I don't like saying good bye.  They left Sunday morning to drive to Burbank where they flew back to Utah.  They were very helpful while here as we had projects getting ready for zone conferences and Christmas devotionals next week.
So often I am amazed at what we see here in California.  
This is Thursday morning on the road by the mission home as we went walking.
Same day looking from the living room window as the sun was going down.
Monday morning we saw a sliver of a moon with a star beneath.  Something very unusual.
This morning I went walk/running on foothill.  I couldn't resist in taking pictures; unfortunately the camera does not do justice.
I am so grateful for God's creations!

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Thanksgiving

Because of poor planning or I might say no planning for cooking prior to Thursday due to busyness; I got up at 6:00 to start preparing.  I needed to get the rolls and pie done before the turkey would go into the oven.  I am happy to say, it all came together even being able to work out on the treadmill.
The turkey fell apart and Dell learned a new way to carve it.  
We invited the Spanish speaking missionaries in the Camarillo zone and Ventura zone to dinner if they didn't get an invitation.  We also invited the assistants and had 8 missionaries for dinner.
Sister Felix, Hermanas Hemingway, Peterson, Griffes, Ricks, Elders Ruby, Young, Taufatofua, Turley
Last year I inserted a question that had been typed on a piece of paper wrapped in foil then inserted in the dough of the roll.  I did it again this year.  After eating before dessert everyone shared their question. It was received very well and we had good discussion.  It was good to rest a bit before pie.  The missionaries don't have hours to sit around before having dessert because they need to be out doing THE work; although the little break between was appreciated.
Hermana Ricks' mother sent her decorations and she brought them over.  They wanted President to put on the turkey legs but I did it instead.
It was a wonderful time spending it with missionaries.  
We were very happy to have been able to see almost all of the family through skype or face time.  It's a blessing to us to be able to see and talk with our great family!
At MLC on Tuesday we included discussing "The Family -- A Proclamation to the World"
Part of our presentation included pictures of us and our family.  We are so grateful for the family we have (and it continues to grow).
Hermanas Ricks and Griffes are practicing for our Christmas Devotional.  Our theme is focused on Angels.  I've asked Hermana Ricks to accompany one of the Elders and three Hermanas as they sing
 "Angles Among Us." Tuesday one of the members who has produced different projects is helping record the music with the missionaries and then will put together video and pictures of missionaries that I'm giving him.  We are so excited!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Agave Bushes

Tuesday afternoon these agave bushes were planted.  We didn't see them until Wednesday due to all that was going on.
I got an email from the FM group stating agave bushes were planted to dissuade traffic through the area.  We've only been asking for months for something to be planted there so that it wouldn't be so inviting for someone who shouldn't be going on the property.   We are pleased with the addition. 

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Bosch

Out with the old and in with the new.
I was so sad when the inside of the Bosch mixer bowl on the left started peeling.  I'm not sure how old it is but it could be close to 30 years old.  I was willing to wait until we get home to see if we could replace it.  Dell went on line and found one and went a head and ordered one.  It came from the Bosch store on Highland Drive.  That's funny.  I think I should make cinnamon rolls now.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

65

Dell wanted to start his birthday off with a good bike ride so he took off while I did preparations for the requested breakfast of german pancakes, topped with lemon curd (which I found a recipe for and made the night before) and garnished with raspberries.  I added bacon, eggs, and a mango smoothie.
We seem to be able to schedule golf on our birthdays.  Last time we golfed it was windy and a bit chilly.  That is how the golf began yesterday and ended up but during the middle it was beautiful.  Fortunately we had jackets this time.






We played best ball.  Our score was 86.  We had a lot of fun.



We had dinner at the Lure and then saw the new James Bond movie.  I'd say a bit intense for us missionaries.
This morning we both went riding and it was to a different area.  We saw a coyote.  We were glad it kept on walking.