Mission Call

This week we recieved an email from the Mission President's wife in the Ireland, Dublin mission. Since we have been on vacation in Florida for two weeks, our mission call was waiting for us at home in our held mail. To make a long story short, we have been emailing the Mission President back and forth and had Jeff overnite our call to us, so it's offical. We are headed to Ireland December 6th.(if we get our visa by then) We are to report to the Provo MTC on Nov. 30th. We have been called as missionaries for the church with the instructions that the mission president may change our assignments however he wants. So, we still are not sure what we will be doing. We are excited and will do whatever we are asked to do.

The next few weeks will be busy as we shop for mission clothes, get our house in order, renew driver liscences, get more shots...etc. My mind is whirling and on overload, which is probably good....so I don't think about being gone for 23 months! It's exciting, scary, sad, happy and every other emotion you can think of!

I do feel blessed to be going to Ireland. It's a beautiful country, safe, clean and I know we will have a wonderful experience. There are 6 senior couples there (counting us and another couple from California that will be going the same time as us), 110 missionaries, 2 stakes and a district. The whole island is smaller than Utah! The weather is 70's in the summer and 30's in the winter, which is perfect for me! Today it's in the 50's.

Life is full of change, and this will certainly change ours. Our testimonies are strong and we know we will be blessed. Hopefully we can bless others too. It's pretty neat to have a mission call signed by the prophet!

Florida

We are having a great time in Florida. Every morning Dylan comes running in to wake us up and play! Today he was a big dinasaur and then decided to climb into this pillow case. I carried him all around the house in it. He thought that was pretty fun! Yesterday we went to the Starfish Co. for lunch. It was a fun little fishing place. The food was great! Best mahi sandwhich I've ever had!!

It was warm but a little overcast. We had a good time watching the pelicans!

Monday we went to the Ringling Art Museum. The grounds were beautiful. Right on the coast.

Dylan and Grandpa.

This was the patio of the mansion. John and Mable Ringling. One of the Ringling Brothers.

The Ringling Manison

The grounds and gardens were beautiful.

Shaylyn was such a good girl in her little sling. She slept the whole time.

This is Birch by the statue of David.....

Sunday we went to Church with Jana and Tony. Here is their new home. It is really nice.

They have a great ward. The people are really friendly and it was fun to see where they go to church!

Shaylyn

Such a cutie! Shaylyn is growing and changing everyday! It's so nice to be here.

Beautiful Day at the Beach

We went to Lido Beach today. The weather was perfect! I forget how peaceful it can be listening to the waves, watching the clouds, the birds, the sunset.....the kids!

Shaylyn's first day at the beach! She did great! Slept the whole time.

We stayed to watch the sunset and then went to dinner at a really fun seafood restarant in Sarasota. Fun day! Wish everyone could be here!

Our new baby grand-daughter

Little Shaylyn Kay was born October 13th. She weighed 7lbs, 15 oz. and was 21" long. She has a full head of dark hair and she is beautiful! We are having so much fun being in Florida with her and her family! We went straight to the hospital from the airport. It was late but certainly worth the trip!

It's so much fun to be Grandparents!

She is such a sweet little baby. She is so good and we are so glad she has joined our family.

Aunt Julie made this beautiful blanket for Shaylyn. Such talent! We love PINK! Shopping is so much fun!!!!

SNOW??? In October???

It's snowing today! The leaves are still green, but they are covered with snow! It is beautiful....but alittle early for me! I guess Birch won't mow the lawn today! Florida, here we come!!!!!

Seniors Conference

Last Thursday and Friday, we had a Seniors Conference at the mission. All the senior couples in the mission came. We met at the temple Thursday afternoon and went through a session. Then we all went to the Mall of America to see how many pass along cards we could give out. We got several referrals and gave out alot of cards. After that we went to the mission home for dinner and then had a wonderful testimony meeting. The next day we had breakfast, training, lunch and then headed to the Jonathan Paddleford paddle boat for a fall cruise up the Mississippi River. It was a chilly......but beautiful fall day. It was fun to get to know the other couples in the mission better.
It was nice we could go inside to warm up, although I spent most of the time out on the deck!

The leaves are just beginning to turn.

Here's the Howell's ready to embark. They were the last ones on the boat.

Elder Holt, Elder Wiberg and Sister Rudolph.

The Powell's and Sister Corcoran. Elder Sippel bought some popcorn to share.

The Barlow's are new to the mission. They are serving in Duluth - CES. They have only been here a month and it was really fun to get to know them. They are my aunt and uncle's neighbors in Orem!

Sister Howell and Sister Naatjes! They are the best!

The Surratts are serving in Hutchinson, the Sippels in Hayward, the Wiberg's in Sparta, the Powell's in Menominie.

What a great way to spend our last day together. We feel so blessed to have known all these good people who are sacrificing so much to serve a mission here in Minnesota. They all miss their families and some are not in good health, but they willingly do what they can to help God's kingdom grow. They are all great examples of us, and we will miss serving with them.