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!