Hi – I’ll try and write more often, and hopefully not have such long posts.  We have been really busy trying to wrap up everything for Sister Morris leaving.  She had some unfinished projects that she wanted to get done, so – we did them!  We finished her project of making 10 receiving blankets for moms who had babies in the jungle, on the run from people who were trying to exterminate their race, in Malaysia.   I don't know if I have pictures of these or not...

Sister Morris turned 60 this past year, so she wanted to make a pity blanket.  It is made of all black and white materials, has a red inner boarder and minkie on the back, which is folded over onto the top to make the outer boarder.  Here is a picture!  The idea is from the blanket I brought with me that Terrie Wright made me after Tom died.  It’s nice to wrap up in, put on my bed, and get a hug when I need one!

 

Sister Morris leaves in 2 days – weird….  She was released on Friday.  It was kind of a shock to her, though.  She thought she would call and make an appointment to be released, as she wanted a phone release to be able to do all her family has planned for her, and her Stake President ended up releasing her right then and there (after talking with her about the mission).  It has been very hard on her, and I am not looking forward to being in her shoes in about 6 months!  I tell people I will have a transfer experience on my mission – Sister Morris will not –she’s just requested one!

We had Sister Morris’s farewell luncheon on the 22^nd.  There were lots of people there to bid her adieu!  Some couldn’t make it, so image how many there would have been if everyone had been able to come!

 

 

 

Sister Ball will not arrive until late April 8^th, then will come over to Britta’s to unload her things on the morning of the 9th.  She meets with President Gelwix on the 11^th – which is the day I leave to fly home for Camden’s baptism on the 13^th – I’ll then be back in the mission on the 15^th.

We have been really busy with all the missionaries still/again!  We’ve had a couple of minor ingrown toenail repair surgeries, and one broken nose surgery already this month.  We have several missionaries with unknown reasons for illness/headaches/insomnia.  It’s a real worry!  I can tell you, when I eventually get to bed – I can sleep!

I looked to see if I had posted about going to San Francisco in January to meet my sister, Cecily, and her husband, Mike.  I didn’t see it, but if I did, humor this pre-senior missionary, please!

 

 

We went to all the great places to go – Fisherman’s Wharf, and had some clam chowder in bread bowls – it was good, but I like how I make clam chowder which is the old Bratten’s restaurant recipe – modified only slightly!  YUM!  Ask Dan or Jen for a copy of the recipe, as I don’t have any idea where mine is.  I’ll have to do the same thing if I have a hankerin’ for some clam chowder.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s some stinky sea lions too. 

 

We didn’t have time to go to Alcatraz, but here’s a picture!

 

 

We took the trolley to China Town. 

We tried to meet a friend of President Gelwix at his tea house, but he wasn’t there that day. I did take a picture of a picture of President’s friend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped at Lombard Street – my pictures aren’t that good – we didn’t feel like going all the way down to the bottom of the street, and then walk back up to the top…. Lazy lazy!  Too bad-y bad-y!

 

We, of course, went to Ghirardelli Square and had their world famous ice cream sundaes!  I had a fabulous banana split!  I think Sister Morris had some kind of rocky road sundae.

 

 

 We also went over the Golden Gate Bridge – I hadn’t done that before, so it was certainly a San Francisco bucket list item checked off!  It was evening, and here is a shot at dusk and at night. 

 

 

 

We went to the Japanese gardens inside Golden Gate Park the next morning.  As you can tell – it was chilly!!  Nothing like the 3 degrees in SLC with the 36 inches of snow type of winter though, so I’m not complaining!

 

 

 

 

We stopped by the Oakland Temple on the way back to Fresno – it was closed for cleaning, so we couldn’t have gone in for any kind of temple service even if we had planned to!

 

There were other little things that we did, which made the trip even more enjoyable.  Thanks to Cess and Mike for suggesting the trip!  It was great to see you!

We stopped by the Fresno temple the other day – it seemed fitting to take pictures of the flowers at the temple when we arrived in Fresno, and now, when Sister Morris is getting ready to leave.

 

 

 

 

I, of course, need to go to bed….  some things never change!

Hello!  How is everyone?!?  I hope everyone is doing well – digging out of whatever mountain of snow some of you have been buried in, or just enduring the winter – It is a beautiful day, even though it’s cloudy!

I know some of you have emailed me and I haven’t returned that email, for which I am most grieved as it is not something I like to have happen.  Please know I read your emails, I appreciate your emails, I gain strength from them, but I have found myself so short on time that I meet myself going out the door when I get back to Britta’s!  Please forgive me!!  Did you know you can call me on my phone at any time?  If I am busy, I won’t pick up right then, but I will call you back!  (It seems to be working better than the emails for me… sad, but true!

I have started and worked on a blog page, but do you think I can find it?  Amazing!  I’ve lost my mind AND my blog pages…  rats!

It has been a busy time and I think it will just continue to be busy as we are receiving more new missionaries than missionaries going home!  It’s all good!  That’s how it’s supposed to be with Heavenly Father hastening His work.  Our mission count will be 32% higher than 2 months ago.  Unreal!  There are some great 19 year old Sisters, and we even have a couple of 18 year old Elders!  It is amazing! 

We have had some sick missionaries here – as well as 2 broken noses, 1 seriously bruised cheek bone, and an Elder that was listed on the last blog, where he was getting his finger splinted.  He ended up having surgery.  It ended up being a really bad break…  I felt bad for him.  He is still having problems with it…

We’ve had influenza – still going around…., colds, stomach flu, scabbies, and head lice, besides ear infections, poison oak, and strep!  Wow – it sounds like another day at IHC Bountiful Clinic – I just haven’t given any shots!  I wonder who would let me practice on them….

I have seen pure Christ-like love here.  We have a missionary who is being supported from the stake president at home.  It is so humbling to hear of people that pay the whole amount for missionaries that are not their children.  It’s pretty amazing when parents DO pay their children’s way – it is a sacrifice of time and means and one that is worth the cost for both missionary and parent or benefactor.  These missionaries are awesome! 

This Stake President writes the missionary every week.  That Stake president is doing a lot better than I am!  I’ve been a real slacker!  We have dentists and doctors that treat the missionaries for free.  Drysdale Physical Therapy – the one I went to for my wrist - is seeing at least 5 missionaries right now.  All of this just really touches my heart!

I have heard said that some people see miracles in every little thing, and there can’t be that many miracles.  I have heard said some people don’t see God’s hand in anything!  I can tell you truthfully that Heavenly Father’s hand IS in everything – I have seen it, and continue to do so.

One such miracle is our seriously bruised cheek bone missionary’s face was really swelling from the injury.  As I had spoken with the mom, she was worried that maybe some of the teeth had been affected, and she wanted a facial x-ray of the missionary.    The missionary said a Bishop in one of the wards was an oral surgeon and he was willing to take an x-ray of the missionary.  Dr. Fife, our mission doctor, did not know the oral surgeon, nor that he was a Bishop; and was hesitant to send the missionary there.

The oral surgeon’s name is Dr. Ron, but his name wasn’t on our list of doctors/dentists (LDS Providers), so we couldn’t find his number, not even on the internet.  Dr. Fife had wanted to talk with Dr. Ron before sending the missionary there. 

I went to the dentist to have a little work done, and while I was there, Dr. Fife called and asked if I could find anything out about this Dr. Ron so he would feel more comfortable sending one of our Savior’s missionaries to him.  I said, I’m at the dentist, I’ll ask.  I did ask, the staff knew Dr. Ron, but it is spelt

R-A-H-N!

Just the fact that I happened to be at the dentist, and Dr. Fife called while I was at the dentist, so I could ask the staff at the dentist’s office if they knew Dr. Rahn; then they DID know him, but the even more amazing part of this ‘story’ is that I wasn’t supposed to be at the dentist that day.  I was a day early; they were so generous to see me a day early anyway, but then to have all that happen! 

I see, and have seen, Heavenly Father’s hand in so many people’s lives – including my own – it is just incredible!  When you realize how far back in each of our lives these miracles had to start to be put into play now is incomprehensible!  How awesome is that?!?

Willis (my father-in-law) turned 91 last month!  How cool is that?  He is in Life Care Center right now – has been there for a while.  We hope he can go home at the end of March!  He had emergency bowel surgery, after which his blood pressure dropped to 74/34; then he had a stroke.  It’s a blessing he is still alive!  Hopefully he will be able to go home soon.

Sister Morris is finished with her mission on March 26^th.  We have been doing some of the things on both of our mission bucket lists.  There is a sign we see coming home from the Employment Office that states “Pine Flat Lake” and an arrow going the opposite way we go.  We kept saying we would go there, and last weekend we finally did!  It is really more of a boating lake, but we took the opportunity to enjoy the mostly sunny day.

 

 

 

I was trying to teach Sister Morris how to skip rocks.  It was a pleasant day!

On the way to, and home from, Pine Flat Lake we saw mile after mile of orchards.  There were orange trees, lemon trees, and other citrus fruits!  Beautiful!

We have been over to my 2nd cousin's home, Dave and Bunny Ursenbach, where Bunny has taken time to teach us how to make glass block Christmas decorations!  What a cool treat that was!  We had Charlene's help too, and then were lucky enough to have her daughter sell us - GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!   Are they not THE BEST?!?  Of course we bought Samoas or I guess they are called some kind of Caramel something or another now!!  We didn't even have to go find someone!  They have really spoiled us and have treated us well.

 I have several assignments with being the medical coordinator.  One is to go out and meet the physicians and providers who see missionaries, sometimes for free -   Another is to update the Provider list!  Missionary Medical changed insurance companies, so …. Time for a new list!

Sister Morris had her Farewell Fireside.  It is where everyone that is leaving before the next transfer comes and bears testimony at a fireside.  She still had one month left from this night.

These are a few of the great missionaries we have here.  Left is Elder Smith and Elder Gipper.  Right is Elder Parker.  Great, great missionaries!

The weather has been warming up some!  We had a couple of nice 60+ degree days, and today here in Fresno, it was 70 degrees.  We just didn’t happen to be in Fresno!  Yosemite is about 2 hours away from here, and yes!  You guessed it!  It was another thing to do on our bucket list, so we went to Yosemite!  It was nice and warm there too – I have a sun burn on my nose to prove it!  Where’s your sunscreen, Sister Ure?  Nice example for the younger missionaries ~

 Wow!  They even know what a snowblower is in California!
 

 

Half dome

 

 

I loved the green in this river

 

 

 

 

Bridal veil falls

Too pooped to party!
     

       This is so pretty it looks fake! (The one with the bridge) ;)

 

 Yosemite Falls - the lower falls - It was freezing cold here!  I'm so glad we had a least jackets on!

Tomorrow we have been invited to the couple’s home who are in charge of the Bishop’s Storehouse:  Elder and Sister Scoffield.  They live in my 2^nd cousins’ ward.  They are really wonderful people.  We have a young Elder who has skeletal problems which were being made worse by bending over the table to study for 2 hours every day.  As Elder Scoffield is masterful with wood, we asked if he would make a table showing what was needed.  Not only has he done that, but he added “No Regrets” which is the Caifornia Fresno Mission Motto (for lack of a better term to describe it), a pencil holder, a lip to keep the books from slipping off, AND!  The Elder can take it with him when he is transferred.  The Elder tried it out, and thought it was great.  We all hope it will help with the amount of pain this Elder endures!

Sister Morris has been doing the brunt of the work at the Employment Center.  We have a new person, by the name of Ramona Larson, who was recently called as a service missionary from our ward that comes in on Tuesdays.  That is really helpful, as that is when we hold our class; and a senior couple, Elder and Sister Hernandez, more service missionaries, who will be coming in 2 days a week! Both Sister Larson and Elder and Sister Hernandez speak Spanish.  This will be a great blessing, as we do have a lot of people who speak Spanish here.   We just need a few more missionaries, as those that have been serving for many years are ending their time, as our Associate Manager, Forest Addington  and his wife, Linda, will be going on a full time mission with the military relations department to the Japan Toyko Mission, servicing at a naval base by there.  I don’t remember the name of it – I’ll try and remember to ask.  The Addingtons are to report to the MTC on April 15^th (I know that date… oh yeah….taxes ……..).

Sister Morris’s replacement, my new companion, is Eileen Ball from Kaysville, Utah.  I believe she has retired from working at the IRS up there in Ogden, Utah.  We have spoken once, and I should probably call her again to get to know her a little better before she gets here.  She should arrive April 5^th after reporting to the MTC on March 25^th.   President Gelwix has requested another missionary to be Sister Ball’s companion serving as we have at the Employment Office.  I will, then, be moved to the mission office to work.  I will help out at the Employment Center when I can.

It’s really kindof weird having your companion go home.  We will have been companions for 1 year.  Hard to believe…  It would be nice to say it’s all been great, but how would we know the great except for the not so great times.  I love Sister Morris and I know I will miss her.  I’ve had a taste of working without her, being at the Mission Office.  It will be hard.  Someone asked me how will I cope without Sister Morris?  One – I don’t have a choice.   Two – how I’ve coped with everything else – with the faith and prayers of friends and family, and a loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, even Jesus Christ. 

So!  It won’t be the same without her here.  It will be different.
 

We have a couple of more things to do before Sister Morris goes home.  One is to go to a little area called Oakhurst, on the way to Yosemite as a matter of fact, to go through the antique shops up there.  It’s a quaint little town, and she thinks it would be great fun to do that.  We will take Sister Lydia Rasmussen, who went with us to Yosemite today, and Elsie Marrott, who use to work at the Employment Center, probably on the 16th, and Britta if she is available.  Should be fun…

We have a very modified workshop on the 9^th up in Merced.  If you remember, Merced is where Sister Morris’ grandfather is buried.  She is going to take some fake flowers up to decorate his grave when we go next Saturday.  We will be stopping at the Wallwork home here in Fresno after going to Merced,  as Sister Wallwork has offered to show us how to make rolls that taste like the rolls from the Lion House!  Oh my goodness!  They are SO GOOD!  What’s just as amazing is the fact that I’m interested in making bread!  I’m pretty sure that’s why we have stores – to get bread, eggs, milk – etc.   BUT!  Brother Wallwork makes the best cookies!  Yes!  Brother Wallwork!  That reminds me of you, Dan, and your cookies!  (Which, by the way, I am requesting a batch be made for me to munch on as soon as possible after I return home!!!)

Here's the gravesite now - Grandpa's found and has his marker in place!  Cool!

We met the Wallworks at the Fresno Temple.  We have been going almost every Thursday evening to do initiatories.  There are so many good people who serve at the temple!  They have become part of our family.  We have been invited to a town south of Fresno on the 17^th (?) called Hanford, where another temple worker has invited us for Sunday dinner.  Another day – another day to spend time with great people.

We had a nice experience at the grocery store tonight.  I stopped to talk with a little guy who was in the shopping cart being pushed by his dad.  The little guy (Lucas) who I learned was 2 years old and was talking up a storm, would say something but I could only understand ‘cars’, ‘ice cream’, ‘babies’ who mom translated to mean kids, not just babies.  He was just adorable!  I asked Sister Morris if she would grab what we call “a family” pass-a-long card.  This card gives people the opportunity to receive a booklet describing the way to have a happier, better way of family life. 

The Spirit prompted both of us to talk about what we do, why we were here, what we do at the Employment Center, where we are from, that we’ve left our families to come.  We spent some time with them, telling them we help anyone who comes into the office.  As we were leaving to finish our shopping, little Lucas called outloud “WAIT!”  Mom said he usually doesn’t say ‘wait’ , but ‘5 more minutes’, which he has picked up from his grandma.  Little Lucas kept saying that as I would start to leave.  Mom was amazed.  I think Dad had had enough….  How cute little Lucas is!

I best hit the sack.  I will try and be better about writing!   My best and love to you all.  The Gospel is TRUE!  Jesus IS the Christ!  Our Heavenly Father knows and loves each one of us.  These things will never change!  How very blessed I am!  Love, Sister Ure

Here are some random shots -