Our Mormon Battalion Relatives; New Leadership Training; Date Night at Legoland

At the end of every transfer we take a group of missionaries to the Tequila Factory for a Mexican buffet. Half of these missionaries have been here for two transfers (12 weeks) and have completed their new missionary training.

The other half are their trainers. It's mutually rewarding for the new ones to have this experience as well as their trainers.

After lunch we walked half a block down a steep hill to the Mormon Battalion Historic Site where we took a tour. 

There was a patch of these beautiful flowers right by the stairs.

After the tour you can pan for gold, make bricks, pump water and climb up into the tower to overlook Old Town San Diego.

There is a kiosk where you can see all the names of the people in the various companies of the Mormon Battalion. The United States government, under the direction of President Polk, requested 500 Mormon volunteers to join the army and fight in the Mexican War.

The prophet Brigham Young told them this was an answer to their prayers. The Saints had been seeking U.S. government aid for their migration west to the Salt Lake valley. This was an opportunity to send people west at the expense of the government.

The prophet also told them that if they stayed faithful along the way, they wouldn't need to fight any battles. They made the 2,000-mile march from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego, California without having to fight.

Thanks to Dad, I was able to know the name of one of my relatives. This time I looked him up on my Family Tree pedigree chart to prove David Garner is definitely in my family line. He is my great-great-great grandfather on the Hyrum Ward line.

He did not make it all the way to San Diego. He was one of the sick Battalion members who was given medicine by the doctor and it did not make them well. He and some other sick ones were sent to Pueblo for the winter.

I love the part of the tour that tells how those people (one of them being my relative) learned in Pueblo all about desert farming irrigation techniques that would be needed to farm the Utah desert which helped the Saints be able to survive once they got there.

Glen located his relative Abraham Hunsaker, his great-great grandfather, who made it all the way to San Diego.

It is always amazing to hear the story of the faith of the Mormon Battalion. Different things stick out to me each time. These are some of the "gold nuggets" I love to hear during the tour:

• We were just ordinary people doing extraordinary things through faith.
• Despite difficult circumstances--we chose to be happy.
• Sacrifice isn't easy, but we knew we could trust God and the prophet He had given us.
• It all comes down to faith in Jesus Christ.
• If you remain true and pray often, the Lord will provide constant care.
• Sometimes you need faith when you make a decision and sometimes after.
• We follow the prophet's counsel and believe we will be blessed for it.
• This experience trained us to be leaders.
• God gave us what we wanted the most from where we least expected it.

This elder spent the night with us. Glen did an exit interview with him that evening and then got up at 3 a.m. to fix him French toast before taking him to the airport. He needed to go home for surgery.

Later that morning we had new leadership training for this group of missionaries. 

Glen met with the sister training leaders for a while after the meeting and then we had our weekly planning meeting with our two assistants and included our new assistant as well. It is always interesting to watch the changing of the guard, so to speak. 

With each transfer there are lots of changes. We really feel it when we have to change out an assistant. Generally speaking, one of the zone leaders is chosen to be an assistant. This time we weren't really feeling strongly about any one particular zone leader. Glen started reading through the list of missionaries trying to figure out who it should be. We were all amazed in an awe-struck kind of way when we all felt at the same time it was to be Elder Lundquist. He was a district leader and has never been a zone leader.

Revelation! It's a beautiful thing! Our new prophet, President Russell M. Nelson talked about how he receives revelation and encouraged all of us to do what it takes to receive our own personal revelation. It is a wonderful experience to have the Holy Spirit confirm to us what should happen. I love it when that happens. We all loved when it happened.

We were finished with our work by mid-afternoon and were ready for a date night activity. We went to LEGOLAND!! I had bought our season passes when I went with Laurie and the grandchildren a couple of months ago. Glen needed to use his before a certain date or he would lose it, so we decided that was the day. 

To avoid parking fees, we have found a great place to park for free outside the park and walk into the park. We walked right by the brand new Castle Hotel that has just opened for business. 

Glen was just itching to go on the Ninjago ride. It bothers him that I have been able to score higher than him in the past and was sure he had mastered the moves to soar past me on the scoreboard.

Well looks like the first try I came in 1st place.

That put us both at Rookie level. Not so great!!

There was no line for this ride, so we jumped on it again. Looks like I made some improvement and got to Ninja level. My poor frustrated husband only scored half what he scored the first game.

The ride attendant instructed him that he needs to hold his hand 8" above the sensor. He also gave us the tip that he likes to rest his elbow on the armrest and move his hand rather than using an unsupported arm.

I liked his tips and liked using his techniques, I increased my score significantly and made the Your Full Potential level. Hurrah for me!!

As is evident in the photo, Glen got frustrated with his elbow on the arm rest and tried using the two-handed strategy. It helped him get to the Ninja level. Yippee!! Our combined scores earned our car the 1st Place award for the ride. Hurrah for us!!

We walked over to our favorite restaurant and to our dismay found it to be closed. UGH!! We sat at a table where we would have sat if we had food and just enjoyed the peacefulness of looking out over the water for a few minutes.

Then it was back to the Ninjago Ride. Glen was just sure he would beat me on our 4th and last try. He did improve a lot, but stayed at the same Ninja level. I dropped a level to Master of Spinjitzu. Our combined scores once again earned our car the 1st Place spot for the ride.

I guess we'll just have to go back another time and see if Glen can improve his skills. As for now, I'm calling myself the Ninjago champion!! At least in this relationship for the time being.

We had to make a Plan B for dinner as we'd planned on eating at Legoland. We decided to drive on the scenic ocean highway and look for an interesting restaurant.

We went to Vigilucci's and sat at one of their inner courtyard tables and it felt like a small oasis from the world for a few minutes. Very calming. Very lovely. Very delicious.

On Saturday we went to a baptism in Carlsbad in the morning and a baptism in Murrieta in the afternoon. Glen was able to take a much-needed nap, which was a good thing as a big issue arose that night that required some effort over the next several days to get resolved.

The temperature in Murrieta was a hot 108 degrees. That's pretty hot for early May, I'd say. Makes us super glad the mission home where we live is in Carlsbad where it doesn't get that hot!!

Sunday we ended up only going to one ward as Glen had to take care of some business. We saw these elders that day.

While Glen was busy making phone calls, sending emails and various other things, I was able to listen to the Young Single Adult Worldwide Broadcast with Elder Patrick Kearon and his wife. 

Since we feel like we know them now as he is over us and they were at our Mission President's Seminar and we listened to them there, it was fun to hear them do this seminar. 

I could relate to how she told of how she excelled academically and in dancing, but not on the sports field. She could pirouette, but couldn't pass, or shoot, or throw, or catch or swing. If they were ever choosing teams for an athletic competition. she was always chosen dead last. 

Like Sister Kearon, I excelled academically and on the piano, but not in sports. PE was my absolute WORST class in school. I'm sure Dad will be the first to remember my only B grade was in PE. UGH!! Horrible memory! 

I had to laugh when I saw this quote on Facebook and have to say I pretty much feel the same way: 

"Adult life might be full of pain and suffering, but at least we don't have to do PE anymore."

Sister Kearon did go on to make her point which was the following:

"Be reassured of your infinite worth--limitless, boundless, without end--to your Father in Heaven. You are precious in His sight. Your Father in Heaven loves you, whoever you are, whatever you are struggling with. You are enough. You are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ." 

That is something for us all to remember, no matter what age or stage of life we are at right now.

Quotes of the Week

Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven.
--Boyd K Packer

As we come to know God, we begin to really know ourselves.
--Douglas D. Holmes

Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.
--C. S. Lewis

New AMA; Mark and Michelle Here; MP Seminar; Grandchild Pics

We attended the Murrieta Zone where Glen taught these missionaries about the rescue effort which is being implemented in that stake.

We met our new Area Medical Adviser (AMA) and his wife--Elder and Sister Burtenshaw. We also met our new nurse Sister Probst. We spent a few minutes getting to know each other. 

The Burtenshaws live in the Irvine mission and oversee 14 missions. Sister Probst lives in the Del Mar Stake and has been called as a Church Service Missionary.

I always laugh with glee whenever I see a house that is tented for termites as our house once was and then I immediately switch emotions to sorrow for the people who live there. I think about how they have had to double bag all the food in their house and in their freezer and refrigerator and then move out of their house for a couple of days as the poisonous gas permeates every nook and cranny. NOT FUN!!!

This tented house is on our street. Our house is one of the red-roofed homes right behind the for sale sign. 

The assistants have been having a good time shredding all the old paper area books that the missionary companionships have been turning in after they have gotten all the information entered into their smartphones.

They wanted me to take a picture and then promised to dispose of all the piles so we could have a neat and tidy office once again. Nice job, Elder Jordan and Elder Eddins!!!

Our three newest missionaries had their first trainer follow-up meeting.

We welcomed Mark and Michelle to our home for dinner and to spend a few nights with us at our house. I only wish we could have spent more time with them, but we were leaving town the next day.

It's a good thing I had practiced making chocolate-covered strawberries a few days earlier.

Because Mark and Michelle sure enjoyed the batch I made for them for dessert.

The next morning the carpet guy was here bright and early to get the carpet replaced in the section where the copy machine sits. He also stretched the carpet in the other two areas that were a problem.

I was glad he got in and out of here before we left for our trip so Mark and Michelle didn't have to deal with workers while we were gone.

Mark was in town to attend some optometry classes in Del Mar and we talked them into staying at our house instead of a hotel. I was sad when we figured out their visit was going to be right during our Mission Presidents' Seminar which is held twice a year. We had them come anyway so they could save money on a hotel.

Then off we went to a hotel.

Our hotel was the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Glen was able to still use his status to get us a nice room with a king bed. Last seminar we had two double beds as he hadn't checked in himself and hadn't gotten an upgrade.

As has happened our whole married life, when we are out of town Glen is always still busy working on his computer. Such was the case this time as usual.

I kept calling this our "vacation" but he kept telling me to not call it that because he still has to fit everything in that he usually does and then has the seminar on top of that.

Well, in my mind, I was on VACATION!! I liked sitting by the window and looking out at the view.

We received a gift basket full of goodies welcoming us to the seminar.

As we walked to the elevator, we caught a glimpse of the pool area. It helped with my thoughts of being on VACATION! We ate a lovely dinner that evening with our peers.

 

The next morning we made our way down to the lower level where all the ballrooms and meeting rooms were located.

I experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when I saw several big fans pointed at the carpet and turned on for drying purposes. 

Flashback to several weeks ago when our house was flooded and 25 similar machines were whirring and blowing in our house. NIGHTMARE!!!

We found our designated meeting room and had to search to find our names to find out where we would be sitting.

We all got a good laugh at the sign posted on the food table when we had our morning break. Glen said they apparently don't know their customer very well!

As members of the LDS Church, not only do we not drink coffee, but we would also never leave "U" out of church!!!

We were fed well as a group for lunches and dinners. These are our friends the Rasmussens from the Federal Way Mission which is soon to be dissolved. They will be changing to preside over the Seattle Mission for their last year of service.

In the mornings we went to the 18th floor to have breakfast in the M Club Lounge. We are enjoying our preferred status as long as Marriott lets us.

It will be sad to lose the status Glen earned while living at the Marriott in Minneapolis for the 2 years before our mission. Not to mention the status with Delta after all those weekly jaunts back and forth from Minnesota to Utah and back again.

Our last day there I was asked to be the pianist. See me sitting off to the right by the microphone?

Our leaders both days were Elder Patrick Kearon, Elder Scott D. Whiting and Elder John C. Pingree along with their wives. 

The second day Sister Joy D. Jones and Sister Jean B. Bingham joined our group for lunch and the afternoon session. They shared a few thoughts and their testimonies with us. 

I asked to get a picture with them to send to Abe and Klarissa as they know Sister Jones' daughter and her husband. 

I took this picture for Mark and Michelle as the Lewises preside over the Washington Yakima Mission and know each other.

This photo is of President and Sister Bekker who preside over the Hawaii Mission. Our neighbors from back home, the Cowleys, have a son who has been called to serve in their mission.

We took this picture with the Frandsens who know one of our new missionaries. They wanted to send their love to her and I told them it will be best done with a photo.

We got home from Los Angeles at dinner time which was about the time Mark and Michelle were finishing up their sight-seeing in San Diego so we got together for dinner.

It was nice to be able to spend time sharing with each other what we'd been doing for the previous couple of days. It was also nice to play Qwirkle with Mark and Michelle after dinner.

Sunday morning we went to church right around the corner. Two of our sister missionaries are in that ward and had invited us to listen to them speak in sacrament meeting. It worked out perfectly as Mark and Michelle had wanted to attend a 9 a.m. meeting so they could leave right after that for the airport.

We bid them farewell and went to another sacrament meeting. It turned out the speakers ended 10 minutes early, so Glen was asked to step in and share something with the congregation.

After the meeting, one of our former missionaries, Emilee Robinson, and her parents were there waiting to talk to us for a few minutes. They had attended another ward earlier and had come to the ward where we were to catch us after the meeting.

She said they got to our building just as the second speaker was sharing her testimony. When it was announced President Thomas would speak, she was so happy!! I actually thought it was a tender mercy for her to have a little remembrance of what it was like to hear him at the pulpit and it was nice for her parents to hear him speak.

When Sister Robinson came up to greet us, she started to cry saying she was just so happy to see us.

Hermana Nadia Terron and Hermana Brenna Donnelly, two other former missionaries were in town and we had scheduled for them to eat dinner with us.

Speaking of visitors...Abe's family was in town (back home in Utah) and it looks like Brooke was very happy to see him.

Newland, Eli and Carson appeared to be having a great time together in the backyard on the trampoline.

Wynne had a really fun time playing on the swing at the new park down the street from our home.

I loved this picture they sent of Madison with her little girl cousin Wynne. Madison's playmate is usually Lincoln. The girls are outnumbered a bit by the boys.

Here's the whole gang! I love each one of those cute little people!!

I'll end with this adorable picture of one-year-old Jonah in his whale shirt looking so happy and cute.

I thought it was a clever thank you note. And on that note, I'll thank any of you who read all the way to the end of this post.