Botanical Garden 6/24/17

President Jones told us about the botanical garden behind the City Hall and towards the Cross.  We scheduled to do the hike on Saturday, June 21, before staff meeting.  We were having a breakfast meeting at the mission home to discuss the transfer.  We got up at 5:45 so we could get back in time for the Andruses to come over as they were doing German Pancakes.

 Along the trail were markers of what the plant was.

 "The sea once it casts its spell holds one in its net of wonder forever."

 We climbed steep stairs to get to the top.  Dell made the comment "stairway to heaven." I said "I hope not." 

 Rocky!

 This is overlooking the avenues.

 This is the same spot but looking to the ocean.

 This road goes to the Cross.

 It's crazy that it took almost three years to find this hike as every six weeks we would drive to the cross.

This is driving back from the gardens.

Movers 6/21/17

It has been a challenge trying to get things packed up or set aside for the movers to pack things up.  I really didn't want to be stressed at getting it all done but some things just had to wait.  We set aside what we needed to wear for here and St. George.  Wednesday night as I was going to bed and thinking about zone conference the next day and that I was going to wear my pink skirt and jacket, I got a sick feeling because I had not taken out my skirt and it was in Los Angeles by then.  I tried to do my "Oh well."  Then I realized I didn't keep out a blazer for Tuesday for the transfer meeting.  I am glad to say I didn't lose any sleep over it.

 When we arrived three years ago I made a list of what we brought.

We hope our things will arrive at home before Jace and Kim leave for St. George.

We had a wonderful visit with Elder Carl Cook last Tuesday.  He arranged to call us at 9:00 a.m.  He was very kind and asked what we had left to do before going home.  When we told him we were working the transfer, zone conferences, and receiving new missionaries, he laughed.  He said you don't have time to be trunky.  It has been a blessing to stay so busy.  His counsel to us was to go home and simplify.  Give ourselves some time to process what we've experienced -- reflect.

The 101

For three years this has been my favorite part of the freeway.  We are heading back from Santa Barbara to Ventura.  The palm trees line the road and the hillside is beautiful.

 Only in California?  We are in bumper to bumper traffic on our way to Goleta for zone conference.

 We have seen this bike path and not known how to get onto it.  The Andruses rode it one Saturday and told us how to enter.  We drove 20 minutes to get there and it was only about 8 miles round trip.  We got up at 5:45 because we had to be ready for Elder Carl Cook's phone call at 9:00 and then go to the office to finish up the transfer process.

This is the pier to the man made island.  We thought we might be able to get closer but it was closed off.

Farewell 6/12/17

We went to church with the Bowens in the Ventura 2nd Ward.  As we were leaving the building, the view of the ocean was beautiful so we took a picture.  Too bad it doesn't show up very well.

The Ventura Stake put together a farewell social for us.  A Just Serve meeting was also starting at 4:30 so we grabbed these men for a photo.

President Sheranian (released), President Moberly and President Lythgoe.

Salvador and Maria Vargas wanted a picture with us.  They were so sweet.  Since President married them, they have been sealed in the temple.  They attend the Spanish Ward (San Buenaventura).

The Bowens even came over for a short while.

Sister Black painted this picture of Two Trees for us (a landmark in Ventura).  

Bowens

The Bowens arrived on Wednesday, June 8 when we were still driving back from San Luis Obispo.  Deb and Doug drove separate.  The kids were in bed so we didn't get to see them until Thursday morning.

We stopped at SLOdoco to bring donuts for breakfast.

The Bowens went to Universal Studios while we had interviews in Ventura.

We went to Toppers for dinner and then to McConnells.

Monday morning we had appointments at the mission office.  We were able to go to the beach in the afternoon.

Deb dug a hole in the sand so Shae could stand in it knee deep.

Doug helped Dax with boogie boarding.

We showed Doug and Deb the Cross and then McConnells.

It was so bright so they all looked away from the sun.

Shae gets hugs!

Group hugs

Saying goodbye this morning.