Ties, Ties, Ties

My collection is coming along quite nicely.  

I counted the other day and I have dozens.

I'm excited to start putting together the quilt.

The missionaries can't keep their hands off.  Every time we have

ZLC, a transfer or a training, I have to go down and straighten 

all the ties, because they lift them up to see who's tie it is.

At the least it's a conversation piece.

Back to School ZLC

I had some fun with a back to school theme and ZLC.

I made these awesome crayons out of chocolate.

They turned out really cute, don't you think?

Some looked better than others, but they will all taste the same.

I wanted to find little crayon boxes, but didn't have any luck,

then I found these perfect little sacks, they work pretty well,

wouldn't you say?

Then I set up their meeting tables downstairs, like a back to school dream,

complete with a new pencil, notebook, sticky pad and crayons.

I've never done this before, but I had to, the board was calling out to me.

Oh, the first day of school, such fond memories.

I decorated the lunch tables with crayons,

apples for the teacher,

 and brand new pencils.  #2 of course, nothing but.

I even changed the blocks.

And for lunch, I fixed first day of school breakfast.

Crepes with all the toppings, blueberries, peaches and strawberries,

bananas, peanut butter, nutella, maple syrup, raspberries and bananas foster.

Did I forget anything?

I don't think so, from the look on their faces.

I think they're all enjoyed it.

Elder Hendrycks told me, this was his most favorite meal of all time.

They haven't quite figured out, they don't have to put everything

on all at once, they can make several.  I cooked enough.

Typical Day in the Life, eh!

We had another transfer this week, but because I'm not allowed to post pictures

of the missionaries so I decided to share in words what we do.

This is pre transfer and new missionary day

Bake cookies, cook beef, grocery shopping, look over packets, pack basket for lunch items, gas up car, drive through car wash, drive to airport, wait, pace, wait, “here they come”, greet new missionaries, shake their hands, hug new sisters, let them meet assistants, put their luggage in the trailer, take pictures, take more pictures, drive to office,

wash hands, bless food, eat lunch, take individual pictures, copy paper work, driving video, medical training, interviews for driving, load missionaries back in van, drive to mission home, interviews, assistants training, resting, letters to mom, gift bags, fix dinner, wash hands, bless food, eat supper, finish interviews, fireside, song, opening prayer, video, council from President and Sister Campbell, testimonies, song, prayer, send missionaries to assistants apartment, companion decisions, letters, cooking for tomorrow, dishes, bedtime!

And this is transfer and departing missionary day

Get up, put breakfast out, drive to stake center, new trainers meeting, song, prayer, song prayer, meet trainers, hand out trainers treats, song, prayer, training, song, prayer, pictures, move into transfer meeting, greet all missionaries, herd them into chapel, meeting, song, prayer, announce areas, office staff training, musical number, farewell testimonies, President’s council, sing O Canada, prayer, mail pickup, pictures, hugs, tears, more hugs, more pictures, luggage into trailer, outgoing missionaries to mission home, wash hands, bless food, serve lunch, interviews begin, going home regiment, visiting, more interviews, filling out customs card, load missionaries into van again, head to temple, temple session, more pictures, back to mission home, wash hands, bless food, eat dinner, more visiting, win, lose, or draw, fireside, song, prayer, video, our tearful farewell and advice, sad closing song, prayer, tie cutting, hugs, more pictures, dessert, pack and weigh suitcases, repack and weigh luggage, load luggage into trailer, no sleep, we crash, up at 4:00AM, load missionaries into van, drive to airport, roll all luggage into airport, goodbyes for assistants at the curb, check in at kiosks,  stand in line, pay for luggage, get them through, say goodbye for last time, drive home, watch the sun rise, get home around 6:00AM

CRASH!

Typical day in the life of a mission president and wife, eh?

My Elder Graul

I love Elder Graul, he has been our assistant

for the past few months and he is in our

home a lot.  

I have the incoming and outgoing missionaries

put their name on a cup so that we don't waste.

Elder Graul always comes up with something clever.

Like the "Holy Graul"

and the little bear, GGRRAAUULLL!

Finally!

I am soooo behind.  This was a huge milestone to get 

through August, now I'm only a month and 25 days

behind, ah shucks, that's still two months behind.

Stay Tuned!!!

Make sure you go back and watch for my catch ups,

or ketchups, just kidding.

(posted on October 25, 2012)

Warm Reception!

When we showed up for the baptism, I could tell there was something

going on in the cultural hall, so I snuck in to take a peek.

They were setting up for a wedding

This must be for pictures or something.

It's really fun to see the differences, 

Utah receptions vs. Canadian receptions

We've only been to one, we've seen one being set up while we 

were having a meeting in the chapel and we are invited to one tonight.

But from what I can tell, they plan on dinner, which we don't do

in Utah, they have the bridal party at a table in the front,

see the above two pictures.

And they do their best to make a church gymnasium look

like a reception hall.  I love the chair covers, that has to be pretty

pricey, they must buy and borrow.

It's fun to see what the latest color schemes are.

NLT

We are training new leaders today, gearing up for our transfer next 

week.

We always like to welcome them to our home.

Just to give you an idea of the shoes that have to be filled,

we have terrific leaders right now.

I  hardly measure up.  ;)

I woke up early, again, to make homemade, warm cinnamon and

orange rolls.  I'm getting better every time.

Cinnamon

Orange

ice cold orange juice and milk

grapes and my new favorite, blueberries

Oh, they turned out soooo good

Ahhh, what a tough decision

fruit looks gorgeous, 

drinks poured,

everything's ready to go

all we need are some elders to eat it

They seemed to really enjoy it.