Flower Fields, Strawberry Fields

We heard about the Flower Fields long before we arrived in our mission. Then when we got here, it wasn't the season for the flowers in the Flower Fields even though flowers have been flowering all around us all through the year.

Little did I realize how close the Flower Fields are to our home. And to Legoland. Which is very close to our home as well.

Upon a little investigation, I learned the flower that grows in most areas of the Flower Fields are ranunculus. 

I think they look a bit like a tight-petaled rose.

We continue to refuse to pay to go into the fields, so we just walk along the upper side where we can see over the wall and look out over the flowers.

On one end there is a field dedicated to look like an American flag. It is made out of petunias.

We decided to go into the nursery after our walk around the fields to see up close what a ranunculus looks like.

On our tour of the nursery, we not only saw many different beautiful plants and flowers, but we also saw these metal/tin/?? pieces of art.

I liked the flowers much better.

We stopped at a nearby strawberry field to buy some strawberries.

One strawberry was so big it almost filled a cereal bowl by itself.

The bright purple flowers were ablaze by the strawberry field.

Here's the American flag from a distance.

My flag, my flag, my country's flag,

I love to see you wave,

My flag, my flag, my country's flag,

The banner of the brave.

Wave on, wave on forever,

The banner of the free!

Wave on, wave on forever, 

The flag of liberty.

(Children's Songbook)

Missionary Returns, Jacob's Family Returns from Disneyland, Beach Day

Oh happy day when we got this elder back in the mission. He went home to heal up a knee injury.

Now our two knee-injured elders are back in the mission and we are so happy they made it back and are ready and eager to get back to work.

We attended a district meeting in the Carlsbad zone.

I thought this was such a cute bulletin board in the Felicita stake building.

I had the missionaries in one of the Escondido districts stand in front of it after their meeting as they were passing out birthday cookies to celebrate one of the sisters' birthday.

Jacob's family had been at Disneyland for several days and when they were back with us again, Glen got busy making French toast for them.

We had an Outback experience with them as well.

They wanted to have a beach day, so we spent a few hours there with them. They enjoyed the sand and the water.

 

One of us appears to have enjoyed the sand as well.

The girls ran to scare the birds.

The birds ended up scaring them.

This cute little Emma just loves to read books. I loved seeing her curled up with a book each night.

Church day and we got the girls posing in the front yard in front of the palm trees.

All lined up in birth order...youngest to oldest: Claire, Logan, Luke, Emma and Natalie.

And then Jacob and Laurie joined them. Such a sweet, cute family. We loved having them come visit so much!!

After Sunday dinner, I got to play my new favorite game with the grandchildren. Surprisingly, Claire and Logan were as good at it as the rest of us.

One last pose with the grandchildren before they piled in the van and headed off to the LAX airport to take their flight home to Omaha.

Great trip. Fun time. We are so thankful they made the effort to come see us in California!!

Quotes of the Week

You have not failed until you quit trying.
--Gordon B. Hinckley

The fact that we can repent is the good news of the gospel!
--Dale G. Renlund

The joy and peace we receive when we know we have been forgiven is a divine blessing.
--Julie B Beck

No problem is too small for His attention nor so large that He cannot answer the prayer of faith.
--Thomas S. Monson