Long days at the office, a trip to the temple,a service project, 40 year anniversary, a baptism, and an open house.

The weather has been beautiful!  I' m loving it!  We've gone in early and left late all week and are pretty much all caught up!
Tuesday we got to go to the temple with departing missionaries!

We drove up to Davenport and looked at an apartment in East Moline for some Senior missionaries.  Mostly we drove through Illinois farm country.  It looks just like Iowa, but without the windmills.

Thursday we helped with a service project.  Actually we didn't get away from the office in time to do much, I did manage to get my new gloves dirty though and we were fed delicious fajitas and peach shakes!  

Friday we managed to get home and cook dinner and ate at home for the first time all week!

Saturday was our 40th anniversary.  We cleaned the apartment, went to Rosa's baptism, got groceries, and went out to eat.  

Our daughter broke her foot.  Poor Jess loves to run and is trying to get her house ready to sell!  Jen sends me pictures of sweet Sarah most days.

They make me smile!  

Today we had an open house at the mission office for the members of the stake.  It was fun to show them what we've done with the classrooms we took from them.  They were impressed.  I wish I'd taken a picture!  We're loving life and learning more every day!  

Safe driving training, Marshalltown, FHE, and more good byes

We've been busy this week! We had staff meeting Monday, started catching up on office work and went to a fun empty nester FHE.

They put up the mission office sign.

We got lots of bedding for the missionaries coming next week.

Elder Quincy went to all the Zone Conferences to teach the missionaries safe driving techniques he learned at UPS. I was alone in the office most of the week, but Wednesday I snuck off and went to the Zone conference in Marshalltown with him!

The Harringtons stopped to say hi!

We saw how the tornado clean up in coming along.

We visited the Tsolukas.

Elder Quincy gave 2 blessings at the hospital in Iowa City to friends from Marshalltown! 

They fed us so well that there was enough food for the Zone Conference the next day!

Meanwhile back in Texas Big sister Mary is taking good care of Sarah.

Thursday night was the good bye dinner for a great group of missionaries! 

President Gelder is 6'7".  Elder Scoresby almost has him.

President Sturm had to see who was wider.

We miss this group already!

The corn got taller while we were traveling. 

Just a block from the mission home.

These 3 have been such great APs!  Elder Christensen is gone!

The last of 4 Zone Conferences this week.

Saturday we visited the Amish town of Kolona.

Then we made shelves in the mission home to hold the bedding.

These Sisters came and helped me change bedding and clean the front porch. 

Elder Sanders came and helped.

All ready for the next group!

It's good to be back, but hard to be away from that new baby!  Thanks for the daily updates Jenny! 

Sarah Christine is born! Back to Iowa

Tuesday evening Jenny had her baby!

Wednesday morning we took the kids to the hospital to meet her and they all like her!

Then we met the cousins at the Children's Museum!

Jen came home without the baby because of breathing issues.  The kids were so happy to have her home

Friday Elder Quincy and James gave Sarah a blessing.  

They cleared her to come home Friday afternoon!

Such a blessing to be there to help and let mom and dad get some rest!

Saturday we said good byes 

Elder Quincy agreed to go home the eastern route so I could visit Louisiana..

And Arkansas for the first time.

Our first time eating at Freddys. In Arkansas.  

Sunday we found a church en route in Cape Girardeau Missouri.   They were so welcoming and friendly!  Twin brothers reported their respective missions to Guam and Canada, we took the sacrament, felt the spirit and it was good!  What an amazing thing to find a church and walk into a meeting with strangers and yet to feel at home!  

We saw the St Louis temple! 

And just like tbat we`re back in Iowa!