December 18, 2017

California, Irvine Mission Presidency

President & Sister Clark

Sister and President Hobbins

Sister and President Bruce

Christmas Family Home Evening at Mission Home

Elder Pack, Elder Tracy and Elder Capasso

First Day at FAM Thrift Store

Kristy and Barbara

Navy-Marine Corps Luncheon

Kaitlyn and Kristie

Navy-Marine Corps Luncheon

Recognition Program

428 Total Hours

Our Table at the Recognition Luncheon

Suzanne and Cheryl

RS Dinner at the Hatch Home

RS Sisters from San Clemente Ward

Segerstrom Center of the Arts

for Millenial Choir Concert

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Senior Couples Christmas Activity

at the Segerstrom Center

Merry Christmas from

Camp Pendleton

December 18, 2017

We've had a fun week celebrating Christmas in California.  We had a lovely dinner and Family Home Evening for all of the senior couples at the mission home.  Sister Clark is such a gracious hostess and a fabulous cook.  Sister Brinton had written a reader's theater and presented it with Elder Finlayson and Elder Nygren.  Such a lovely evening.

Tuesday we got to meet our new elder--Elder Capasso from Hurricane, Utah.  He will be serving in a threesome for this transfer.  We attended graduation with the Elders before serving our first four-hour shift at the FAM (Family Assistance Ministry) Thrift Store in downtown San Clemente.  I sorted clothes and Brad did repairs around the building and moved large items.  We were pretty tired at 6 pm but enjoyed the new friends we worked with.

I attended my first Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Board Meeting on Wednesday.  I enjoy working with such dedicated volunteers there.  I have been asked to serve as the Lead for the Budget for Baby Program at the Camp Pendleton Office.  It should be a fun experience.

Attended several parties on Thursday.  First we attended the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.  It was a classy event.  Those who planned it did a great job.  That night I joined the sisters of the San Clemente Ward Relief Society for a Christmas dinner at Mary Alice Hatch's home.  She lives in the same gated community that houses President Richard Nixon's Western White House, La Casa Pacifica.  It's quite the neighborhood.  I got to meet Sister Baker a new sister missionary from Dallas, Texas.  She is adorable.  We will look forward to getting to know her better.

We found out on Thursday that Grandpa was in the Navy Hospital in Portsmouth Virginia and was in need of emergency surgery.  He had been enroute to a candy drop at Mantio North Carolina Outter Banks near Kitty Hawk.  His surgery was around midnight  We are thankful Denise was traveling with him and Mike was able to join her in supporting Grandpa during his hospital stay.  He is doing well and we hope he will be able to travel to Mike's house for Christmas later this week.  He has received excellent treatment from the caring naval staff.

Friday the San Onofre Office surprised Brad with a homemade berry pie in honor of his upcoming birthday.  It was delicious.  We had to leave early to drive to Irvine to attend a concert at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts--a magnificent building.  The Senior Couples were there to see the Millennial Choir and Orchestra perform.  We had heard they were better than the Tabernacle Choir.  I don't know if they were better but they were certainly close.  Three choirs performed including a children's choir, a teen choir and an adult choir.  They were amazing.  We thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

After all the partying, we needed some exercise so Saturday we hiked the nearby mountains in the morning.  It was the first really windy day that we have had since we arrived.  We had planned to go to Dana Point to the Holiday Boat Parade that night but the winds changed our plans.  So, instead we watched the BYU-Utah basketball game.  Go Cougars!!

The highlight of Sunday was joining our family Christmas Party at Boyd and Cathy's house on FaceTime.  It was the best Christmas present ever seeing the family together.  Of course, we missed Heidi and Craig and their boys but it was wonderful seeing the Utah group having fun together.  We have received a variety of Christmas cards from friends and family.  We are so thankful for all of those who have remembered us this Christmas season.  We love all of you and feel so blessed to have you in our lives.