Beach at Santa Cruz

So nice and Relaxing....

Payton enjoying the day

It was a little cool in the morning--thus the sweater!

Little miss happy

Carter taking Payton on a walk on the beach

Sandra Young in the blue dress just received her endowment.  We taught she and her mom and sister temple prep classes in Fairfield

Eclipse of the sun!

Elder Barrett and Elder Goynes in Medford, Oregon at the temple

The short clip didn't turn out...so sorry!

Ty with big smiles!

Payton with the giggles

Ty kind of likes his sister!

Dad at the airport waiting for incoming missionaries

Sister Missionaries

Oregon Duck t-shirts dad bought them

Sister Erleback with a broken foot, and Sister Hyde.  We love them!

Our mission has passed by so quickly.  It is hard to believe that we have been serving for 15 months.  We love serving the Lord, and being a part of the California Santa Rosa Mission.  We adore our Mission President and his wife, as well as all of the young missionaries we serve with.  When we think about the responsibility that is ours as representatives of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we feel very humbled.  What a blessing to be a part of this great work.
We have been very blessed as we have been able to teach, love, and work with the most wonderful people.  We love each of them with all of our hearts, and feel so thankful to be a part of their lives while here.  We know that these friendships will be eternal, and look forward to many of them visiting us in Utah.  We have loved watching the gospel change lives, as in-actives have come back into activity, or as investigators enter the waters of baptism.  We love attending the baptisms of the young missionaries, and watching the excitement that they have as they see the people they love become members of the church.  It is really a touching experience.  We thank Heavenly Father every day for this choice opportunity and blessing in our lives.

Debra, our cute investigator and her boyfriend Gary

The grounds are so beautiful surrounding the Lord's house

Debra really loved the temple

The flowers have just been planted.  It will be so beautiful when they are in full bloom

Debra, boyfriend, and her missionaries!

We hope the next picture of Debra will be at her baptism!

Today as I look at some of the pictures on our blog, I am so amazed that our time is counting down so quickly.  I absolutely love the huge smiles on all of the missionaries faces--even in pouring rain.  Those are the faces that we see every day here.  They are always happy and radiant and filled with love.  They love the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; they love our Heavenly Father; they love each other; they love us; they love the people they teach and testify to; they love the wards and branches that they serve in.  Isn't that what it is all about?  To love as the Lord loveth, that is the greatest joy of all.  Love builds bridges, heals wounds, and brings others to Christ.  We love you all so much!

Andrew worn out after fun at Disneyland!  We were so happy that they came to see us, even if it was just for one night!

Happy Drew

Noah, who has gotten so tall!

Noah playing Star Wars

Amber was tired, but happy

Amber, and baby

Amber getting everything ready for the drive back home

Keeping the car nice and organized

Grown-up Jonah

The beautiful Oakland Temple

Missionaries after meeting with Elder L. Tom Perry

Visiting after receiving instruction from an apostle

Carol and Ralph when they came to visit.  It was so great having them here.

The rest of the pictures are missionaries at transfers.

It was a cold, rainy, wet day

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Elder Richins and Elder Scott DRIPPING!

Missionaries in van heading for the temple

Temple day!

Elder Hansen in the middle is our District Leader

Us and Elder and Sister Neuenschwander.  They are headed home next Wednesday.  We will be so sad to see them go.  We love them, and have had so much fun with them.

Feeding hungry missionaries