Transfer #21; Walking Around the USS Midway; Reb's New Calling

It was time for another group of missionaries to go home.

They enjoyed our traditional roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy meal.

Elder Lundquist and Elder Burbank, our assistants, were doing great cleaning up the dishes after dinner.

Here's the traditional photo shot after we finished with the testimony meeting portion of the evening.

The elders slept on the main floor with the sisters upstairs. We woke up bright and early to get to the temple for photos before we entered the temple to attend an endowment session.

Jumping for joy! They are always so happy to be able to attend the San Diego Temple one last time before we take them to the airport for their flight home.

The assistants like the sculpture of the white travelers inside the airport.

It seems like everything we do is tradition! Like going to Tom Ham's Lighthouse Restaurant after we are finished at the airport

There were lots of sailboats in the harbor that day. 

There was also a U.S. Navy Marine Mammal boat going up and down the shoreline feeding and training sea lions to be able to detect mines. 

We have a few hours to wait in between sending the departing missionaries off and welcoming arriving missionaries. This time we decided to see if we could tour the USS Midway. We found it was too much money for the short amount of time we had and so we just walked around the outside of it.

We saw this war memorial.

There was a Bob Hope memorial as he was famous for entertaining the troops with his comedy shows.

The kissing statue was my favorite.

 Soon enough it was back to the airport for us to pick up the batch of arriving missionaries

We brought the group and their trainers back to the mission office two days later to do training with them. I enjoy the midway point when we have them walk all around the outside of the building a couple of times to wake them up and for them to enjoy the beautiful weather.

 

We fed them lunch after their training and sent them off on their way. Transfer #21 was officially completed!! 

Here's cute Brooke wearing her favorite sports team's shirt to school.

Sarah sent this photo of the little boys enjoying all the action going on next door at the Newsome's home. 

This was a cute photo of Abe being the reading parent at Newland's school with little red-and-white checkered Wynne sitting on the floor enjoying the story with the rest of the children.

Rebecca got released from her Stake Primary President calling and was waiting in anticipation to find out what her next calling will be... 

She got asked to be their ward's Relief Society President. 

I had another pacemaker check. Looks like I'm good for another 7 1/2 years of life. YIPPEE!!!!

Quotes of the Week

Godly fear dispels mortal fears.
--David A. Bednar

Don't rationalize away future happiness by taking shortcuts instead of applying sound gospel principles.
--Richard G. Scott

As you respond to spiritual promptings, the Holy Ghost will carry your words to the heart of another, and one day the Savior will confess you before His Father.
--Neil L. Andersen

Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known.
--Joseph B. Wirthlin

Quotes of the Week

Such simple acts of faith as studying  the scriptures daily, fasting regularly, and praying with real intent deepen our well of spiritual capacity to meet the demands of mortality.
--L. Whitney Clayton

The true way to be happy is to do something to add to others' happiness.
--Heber J. Grant

In the midst of life's greatest storms, do not forget your divine heritage as a son or daughter of God or your eternal destiny to one day return to live with Him, which will surpass anything the world has to offer.
--Ronald A. Rasband

Fleet Science Center, Farewell to Rebecca's Family

Glen was able to take a day off to spend with Rebecca's family. We went to the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

There were lots of things for the grandchildren to use to creatively construct things.

When I saw this hand sculpture, I thought of Sarah and the hand she crafted out of clay in one of her art classes in high school.

Brooke did exactly what the instructions told her to do.

Her boat scene was displayed in the glass case.

We stayed until closing time. When Glen spotted a worker dumping out buckets full of popcorn into the trash can, he asked if we could have a bucket. She handed one to him. We took the free popcorn outside to enjoy eating it by the fountain.

We walked around Balboa Park.

For some reason, every time I saw Caroline that day, I just wanted to say, "Hi!"

The next day while the Goldens played, we took yet another group of missionaries to eat lunch at Tequila Factory before going on a tour at the Mormon Battalion.

One of our sisters saw a childhood friend who is serving at the Mormon Battalion. That was a fun surprise for both of them.

A sister volunteered to be the soldier this time during the tour.

The Hemingways were there in costume this time. He is the director of the historic site and they always join us after the tour to spend a few minutes talking to our missionaries.

That evening we got the chance to play Qwirkle. Hurrah!! Kathryn had been anxious to learn how to play the game. She was a quick Qwirkle learner and succeeded in getting the highest score. Good for her!!

The next day we had new leadership training meeting. I think Rebecca's family went to the beach once again.

After that meeting. I went to pick up Chick-fil-A so we could meet with our two new assistants and get them up to speed on what their new responsibilities will entail.

That evening we fed the grandchildren pizza and left them watching a movie under Brooke's care for a short time while we adults went to Benihana for dinner.

Brooke had us laughing so hard one day during our Jenga game.

She gave herself an extra challenge by pulling out one of the blocks by only using her toes and positioned it safely atop the wooden tower without making it fall. BRAVO!!

The Golden family's vacation week had come to an end. Glen made his famous French toast for them one last time. And then they were on their way back home to Utah.

Later in the day when I requested a report of how they were doing, Rebecca sent me this photo. OH NO....!!!!! Car troubles!! How awful!! I was feeling so sorry for them and then...

...I received this photo of a devilish grin on Dallas's face. He had thought it would be funny to pull a prank on his worrywart mother-in-law.

Haha!! Still laughing!! NOT!!!!

It was very good news when we learned they had made it home safely. Whew!! We were so glad they had come to visit. And it seemed like Kathryn had had a nice vacation as well.