June 18, 2018

Sancho's Tacos--San Clemente, CA

Elder Pack and Elder Sanford at Sancho's

Kaitlyn Gallant--Mainside NMCRS

Kysen Colman

Elder Halvorsen with

Spencer and Andrea Dawson

Andrea Dawson, Michi Stephens

Elder Sanford and Elder Pack

Oceanview from Shorecliff Meetinghouse

June 18, 2018

Monday we did the commute to mainside so I could pick up the jacket I had accidentally left at the Thrift Store.  Since we were making the drive, I attended the NMCRS Board Meeting instead of joining in via telephone.  The first agenda item was our good friend Kaitlyn Gallant has been appointed the interim director at the MCRD Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.  We have loved working with Kaitlyn as our trainer and friend.  We will all miss her.  In the afternoon, we got to chat with Heidi and her boys--such a busy and fun family.

Graduation was a disaster.  The microphones weren't working well and we couldn't hear the announcer.  The missionaries were denied entrance to the base--Elder Sanford's pass had expired-- and we didn't get to talk to any marines.  But, after the graduation, we did meet Elder Pack and Sanford at Sancho's Tacos in San Clemente for lunch which was a quaint little shop.  The Elders planned to walk all day and contact as many people as possible.  We're praying they will be able to find a golden family soon.  They are great young men.  FAM was hard work.  We were both physically exhausted when we finished up the day.

We said goodbye to Kaitlyn on Wednesday.  She has been a constant source of encouragement and support at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society,  We wish her the best as she starts her commute to San Diego each day.  The one thing that is constant at NMCRS is change.  I was able to help train two new volunteers which was fun.  

We haven't risen at 4 am in a long time.  But, we jumped out of bed to be at the Colman's house at 4:45 am to care for their children while they took Kysen for surgery on his finger.  The surgery went well and they really appreciated our help.  Most of the kids slept until they returned from the hospital about 9 am.  We were really glad they allowed us to serve them that day.  We left directly from their house to go to our shift at the Thrift Store.  We arrived just in time for me to serve as cashier when the store opened at 10 am.  We opted to not attend the Cake Cutting in San Diego that afternoon.  We came home and had an afternoon nap.  The Stephens provided us with great company and a delicious meal that night.  It will probably be our last meal with the Dawsons.  They will leave for Okinawa the end of June.  Michi cooked a delicious Japanese meal for all of us.  We left the Stephens home and went to ARP.  We sat by Bob and Leslie Gale who will be leaving in July for a humanitarian mission to Milan Italy.  They knew many of our friends from the Basilone Branch.  The lesson was on forgiveness and how it softens our hearts.  Several attendees shared how hard it is to forgive themselves for the choices they have made in life.  So thankful that the Savior is merciful and forgives everyone who is willing to repent and seek Him.  It is comforting to know we can all be forgiven.

Friday we made our weekly contact with the marines through text messages.  Had a fulfilling day at the San Onofre Office where Brad was able to help two families deal with financial difficulties.  He does a great job encouraging them and helping them get on the right road financially.  We stopped by the Herzog's home and welcomed baby Benjamin.  They are such a beautiful family.

Saturday I used a few hours for some much needed exercise.  We were scheduled to care for the Colman children in the early afternoon but just as we pulled up to their home we received a text that the kids were all napping.  So, since we were on base, we went to the beach for a nice long walk looking for sea glass.  Unfortunately, it was a bad sea glass day.

Father's Day was a time to celebrate Elder Halvorsen.  So thankful for my kind, generous, faithful and loving husband.  He has been a great example to our children.  I feel that our boys are fantastic fathers and admire them so much. Our grandchildren are so lucky to have them as their fathers--great men.  We are also blessed to have Craig as Heidi's husband and the father of their darling boys.  They are such a great example to us by how they lovingly serve their neighbors.  We were able to speak with Grandpa and share our love with him.  We are so sad that he is struggling right now with health issues but he is and always will be a light in our lives.  Denise is going to be representing him in Germany this week--she has been prepared for "such a time as this."  We're so thankful for her dedicated service and hope her trip to Germany is memorable.

We had a great turnout at church on Sunday.  Jaxson Tubb's parents are in town for graduation.  It was wonderful seeing them again.  We are really going to miss Jaxson and the other marines in Bravo Company.  President Stephens shared his thoughts about how marines can keep the Sabbath Day holy--by doing good as the Savior did.  At our evening services Bro. Richards spoke about qualities of a righteous father.  We have such wonderful men in our family who have those attributes--so blessed.  The Branch sisters provided the meal.  I made half of the 30 lbs of red potatoes.  Sis. Richards made 12 meat loaves.  We had about 50 marines--they ate every bite.  Loved talking to the kids and their families between our sessions.  So thankful families can be together forever.