Returned Missionaries Are Returning, Dental Connection, Found the Flower Fields

It appears our returned missionaries love returning to their mission. Recently we had Sister Bradley stop by for a visit with her friend Megan who is getting ready to go on a mission. Who knows--maybe she will be called to our mission.

Sister Laing is a fellow (or should I say sister) resident of Ogden, Utah. She brought her mother with her for a returm visit. She came bearing gifts (or should I say gift).

This was a funny scene as we were driving down the street. Two huge dogs had their heads hanging out the back windows of a car. This one has such long hair that I had to wonder how it could see with all that wind blowing its hair into its face.

There are some gorgeous, bright red flowers at the turn-in to a shopping center near our home. They always catch my eye with their brilliant beauty.

Since it has been well over 6 months since we got our teeth cleaned, we decided it was about time to find a dentist in California. Glen had learned there is a missionary he knew from his Mexico Torreón Mission who is a dentist in Carlsbad. We ran into him at stake conference and made an appointment the next day.

Turns out Glen had several problems that needed to be dealt with. I had a back tooth shaved down a bit to see if that will help the tooth that was bugging me. Now we're good to go another 6 months!

This group of three new missionaries and their trainers (plus the assistants) had their second meeting together doing role playing to show what they have been working on in their First 12 Weeks of training as they have been in the mission 8 weeks now.

It wouldn't be a good post without a selfie of the assistants.

Once every transfer we have a dinner FHE with the senior missionary couples. The men always let the women dish up their food first. This time the women all filed into the dining room filling the table.

That left the men having their dinner squished together in the kitchen. It was an unplanned-on-our-part segregated dinner. 

We all came together in the living room after dinner as we listened to the McClellans and the Corlesses share their testimonies as they were finishing up their missions.

(Back row) Me-don't know how Glen and I ended up so far apart..., Elder and Sister McClellan, Elder and Sister Sattley, Sister and Elder Corless

(Middle row) Sister Spiegler, Sister Christensen, Sister Atkinson, Sister Maughan (her husband was taking the photo) and Sister Miller

(Front row) Elder Spiegler, Elder Christensen, Elder Atkinson, Elder and Sister Burgon and Glen

During dinner the doorbell rang and it was somebody from our ward bringing us a bunch of carrots. It was so nice of them to think of us especially when we don't even go to our own ward because we go around visiting different wards every Sunday.

Our neighbor Judy told me about how she and her friend like to walk on the road above The Flower Fields when they take their morning walk. It overlooks the blooming flowers. That way they don't have to pay the $14 fee to get in. We decided to investigate for ourselves. We parked at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets mall and climbed the stairs to take a look.

Idea foiled when we found gates at the bottom of the second set of stairs so there was no way we were able to get even a tiptoe view of the fields. So we started walking and walking and walking...

We walked all the way around the fields until we got to the upper side which opened up so we could look down on The Flower Fields. And what did we behold??? No flowers!!! But look at that ocean view!

The fields are open to the public from March 1 through May 14. This year the flowers are slow in blooming because of all the rain we have had. Stay posted for updated flower photos.

Glen has been interviewing each missionary each transfer. We go from building to building interviewing by zone and this goes on for days and days.

This particular day I wondered why this sister had brought a sombrero with her. She said she and her companion were going to do companion role plays after their interviews and she was prepared to get into character for the role plays. Gotta love a sister with enthusiasm for the work!

We received news of a new incoming missionary mid-transfer and were excited to learn he is from our area back home.

I can always tell when we are close to the airport when we drive past this house. It has lots of seashell statues/creations/artwork?? on display in the front yard.

We took the new elder to the mission office and did all the new missionary stuff with him. While Glen was doing an exit interview with Elder and Sister Corless, we sent the missionary off to lunch with the assistants.

Then we drove the missionary to the southern part of our mission where he has been assigned to work with the two elders there and will be joining them in learning to speak Farsi. 

Elder Ruhl has been suggesting we go to Jake's in Del Mar for one of our date nights, so since we were down in that area, we did what he suggested.

The restaurant is located right near the beach with big windows in the dining area overlooking the ocean.

Usually Glen is a get-from-point-A-to-point-B-as-quickly-as-possible kind of guy. But, in this case, he did what I was hoping he would do and took the slower historic coastal highway all the way back to Carlsbad. 

We got back to our area just as the sun was setting.

Turned out to be a very lovely date night--thanks to the assistance of one of our assistants and the patience of my always-on-the-move-as-quickly-and-efficiently-as-possible husband who decided to slow down a little bit to "take time to smell the roses" or, in this case, took the time for us to enjoy the coastal view.

TO SMELL THE ROSES SWEET - by A. P. Hancock

I think you need a morning break, come walk with me awhile. 

Forget the world of push and shove, and let me see you smile.

Oh yes, I know it's difficult to tear yourself away

From all those most important things that run and rule your day.

But you will be surprised to find, my stressed-out, uptight friend,

A moment here, a moment there, can help your soul transcend.

So tell me now what you will do when all the work is done.

Will you simply rest yourself, or have a little fun?

I suggest you write it down and promise to fulfill,

For often times we have intent, but never know the thrill.

It's time you realize, dear one, that life is short and fleet.

So plan today to take the time to smell the roses sweet.