April 20 - 23, 2016

On our way to Santa Maria on Wednesday as we were approaching Santa Barbara we saw a cruise ship.  If anyone wants to come see us and go on a cruise, we'd love it.

Dell did interviews with the Santa Maria zone and then on Thursday we were in Atascadero for the San Luis Obispo zone interviews.  While he's interviewing I vist with the companion.  At the March zone conference we introduced My Family to the missionaries.  This is a great proselyting tool to use family history.  So the missionaries need to know how to go about doing some themselves.  They are authorized to go to the family history library once a week for an hour to move forward in completing the booklet and finding stores about their ancestors.  We have encouraged our missionaries to help those they teach understand the importance of going to the temple.  It would be fantastic if within three weeks a new convert is able to go to the temple and do baptisms.  Even better, if they take their own family names.

I usually take a treat of some kind but this time I'm giving them a quote from President Boyd K. Packer:  "When we research our own lines we become interested in more than just names or the number of names going through the temple.  Our interest turns our hearts to our fathers - we seek to find them and to know them and to serve them.  In doing so we store up treasures in heaven."

In May we are having zone activities.  The missionaries are to come prepared to share a story about their ancestor and dress in the period of clothing of that era.  We know they don't have the clothing so this is a way to share this idea with others and then borrow and return clothing.

We went to the Farmers Market in SLO with President & Sister Kasper.  They close down some streets and the vendors provide... It was fun watching the people.  This is done every Thursday evening year round.  As you can see, the men got corn on the cob (kids, Dad did great in keeping his face clean) after having tritip sandwiches.  Christine and I had a veggie crepe.

Fun fact for those who know the Oswalds:  President Kasper was talking to Mac at the MTC about a missionary.  Mac told President Kasper he had served as Mission President in the mission.  It was during the time that President Kasper got baptized.  Mac asked who the missionaries were.  Since Oswalds keep in touch with their missionaries Mac said he was going to talk to the missionary.  It was arranged for the two to talk.  President Kasper has had callings in the Church that have influenced many.  His two sons have served or are serving missions.  One went to Italy and the other to Brazil. We never know how we can touch lives.  We thought that was way cool.

Friday morning we went to district meeting in SLO.  Afterwards the Astons, senior couple serving in the Morrow Bay ward, and us went golfing in Morro Bay.  All week we watched the weather and rain was predicted.  We went anyway.  After the second hole we had a down pour and then it stopped.  The breeze dried us out.

While putting, this wild turkey came stroling out of the bush.  Then two more.

Turkey crossing!

Diane and Tom Aston

We only golfed 9 holes because we were a bit cold.  As we were putting the clubs away the sun came out.

This morning we rode bikes.  We wanted to do a longer ride because yesterday we enjoyed donuts.  My favorite was Nutella filled from SLO Donut Company.

We turned off Foothill and started riding up a canyon.  Three turkey vultures perched and one flew over us.  We rode past a farm with chickens, pigs, horses, we heard turkeys, goats, sheep, cows, and a sign beware of dog.  On the road not far from there we saw several Grouse birds. We're excited to go directly there next time rather than to the end of Foothill and turn around. We'll be able to go further up the canyon.

I am so grateful for God's creations!  This land we have to live in is amazing!