All this and Disneyland too!

Just checking back to see how long it's been since we posted on the blog.  Looks like about 10 days - time flies! When I last posted, we were busy preparing our Thursday Forum luncheon. It was lots of fun and a great success! This will be one of our regular duties here, so every Thursday will find us in the kitchen.

The institute director asked us to remain at the Institute until late Thursday evening so that the students could come and use it to study, relax, etc. in the evening.  So we stayed and ate our dinner there.  Elder McGuire is posing with his Costco Chicken Caesar salad!

Friday, we attended our first zone meeting.  So fun to see these young missionaries in action.  They asked me to come prepared to bear my testimony about the Purpose of Missionary Work. We enjoyed learning from the Zone Leaders, and being able to contribute a little to the training.  Here's a picture of Elders McCloy and Baloaloa, the Zone Leaders, in action!

And then Saturday, we were able to attend the temple with the Slaughter family (from home) to see Kristi get married.  So great to do an endowment session and the sealing with them!  It's such a blessing to be in the temple, thank you so much Carolyn and David for inviting us.  It couldn't have been more beautiful! What a sweet, sweet moment it was for both of us, especially for Elder McGuire, having been Kristi's bishop.

Sunday, we decided to try a different approach to attending the meetings with both wards.  We focused on just one ward, attending the Ward Council and all of their meetings, plus the Break the Fast held afterwards.  Next week we'll do the same with the other ward.  We will then attend the FHE and activities of the alternate ward during the week.  I think we'll like it better - it won't feel quite so frantic and we won't be so worn out.

Monday we spent time at the institute, grocery shopped for the Thursday forum, then attended FHE with all of the Senior Missionary Couples. That's quite a party crowd!  They love to get together and have fun.  We had a Soda Jerk party, making our own milkshakes and sodas.  We also saw a slide presentation by the missionaries in Imperial Valley - the inland agricultural area.  It's extremely hot, and almost exclusively Spanish speaking.  The CES missionaries there are taking Spanish lessons so they can communicate with the people.

With our milkshake - we're in the Grossmont Institute Building

Tuesday night we had our class again.  This time, both missionary companionships in the area attended.  Studying the Pearl of Great Price enough to teach it has been a great experience.  

Because we were going to be gone on Thursday, we spent the afternoon on Tuesday prepping the Forum meal (lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and cinnamon roll cake.)  

Wednesday morning we had our first experience of doing car inspections during a zone conference.  (The mission doesn't know how iffy it is to have US doing car inspections!) It was beastly hot and humid.  After lunch, we left to go to Anaheim to meet Bobby and family for a couple of days at Disneyland.  (Senior missionaries have a lot of flexibility - had to let the Mission President know when we left and when we got back was all.)

So, Wednesday evening and Thursday were spent with Bob's family in Disneyland.  So good to see them all!  Kids already looked like they had grown!  We had a lot of fun - even though it was SAUNA HOT!  I don't think I've ever been to Disneyland when it's been this hot - high 90's with 60 percent humidity!  I've got a million pictures, but here are three:

We're back now, and catching up on errands, etc. today.  Being with Bob's family made us anxious for time with each of them - we feel so grateful that we are close enough that we can enjoy their company occasionally!  Nat is coming next! (Sept. 27)