Getting busier!! and Happy Birthday Spencer

Monday, Jan 12th -  Happy Birthday Spencer!
THOUGHT: "THE MEASURE OF WHO WE ARE IS WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE!"

Today is Spencer's birthday!  He is 24 today!  I can't believe I have had him for 24 years, but I find it impossible to believe I have had Scot for 36 years!  Time is making me crazy!!
Also it was Sean Stringhams wedding reception tonight!  I am so sad to be missing that mostly because I half raised that kid!  He is part of the family!  Spencer was in the wedding, so he had to drive down on his birthday and be at the reception!  I was informed after he got back to Logan at midnight of how snowy the roads were in Sardine canyon!  I'm glad I didn't know that before!  That canyon is dangerous when it is stormy!  I know he was blessed to arrive back in one piece!  I have a lot to be grateful for!
Life here in the mission is getting a little bit busier!  We spent a lot of time at the office today.  Greg is trying to get all of these service missionaries organized.  He is also trying to catch the mission presidents to have a meeting with them to talk about the health of the missionaries in their missions!
I, of course just piddle around while at the office.  Sometimes I work on spanish but other times I look at Facebook and fill my mind with worthless wonders!!!   I think I need to be spending more time learning spanish!  We walked home from the office, had lunch, got the car and went to Costco!  I couldn't find half of the stuff I needed so I came away frustrated!  I am trying some of the new recipes I am finding on Pintrest and Facebook but I can't find some of the ingredients so back to soup and quesadillas we go!!!   We had FHE with President Pieper!  He is in the Area presidency and very nice!  He talked to us about the plan for the whole country of Mexico church wide.  We talked about fasting and faith and how we aren't solid members until we have faith and fasting and paying tithing and fast offerings!   Our new friends from the Temple were there and we made them come to see out place so they would feel bad for us as they are living in the penthouse and all!  We all had a good laugh about where we live!  It almost makes it worth it to live here - just for the laughs and sympathy we get!   Adios!
DRIVING TIP:  It you turn your flashers on - you can park anywhere you want - even in the middle of the road!

Tuesday, Jan 13th

Another groundhog day!  We got up, got ready and off we went walking back up to the office.  I am really going to be in shape  one of these days from hiking up that hill every day!  Greg had his phone call with the insurance company that the missionaries work with.  Dr. Ruiz and his wife came to visit us at the office.  They seem sad.  I think they really miss being the area medical doctor and wife!  Hey I will let them come back and take over this job again!!!  Maybe in 16 months he can have it back!!  After the meeting we walked back down the hill, to home, ate some lunch then headed off on an adventure!  (as though every time we get in our car it's not a huge adventure on these roads).  I didn't have to drive today!  We took the bus down to the metro station and hopped on the subway for a little ride!  Greg had found a lady that he had baptized 42 years ago!  Her name is Anna Maria Mendoza.  She was 9 at the time and still recognized him when he walked up to her!  She even remembered my name from our wedding invitation forever ago!  Impressive!!!  She has a son and daughter and 5 grandchildren.  She had another daughter that died when she was 14 from cancer.  She runs a little paper store - which included wrapping paper, gift bags and a variety of other little things! It was a very happy reunion between the two of them!  Greg had also baptized her mother.  She had passed away in 1997.  It's a wonderful life!
We visited so long we were almost late getting back home and eating our soup and quesadillas before we went to the church for a little farewell party for the Olsons and Ellis's. The spanish ward is very, very sad to see these couples leave!  They have been a big part of that ward and served them all with cheerful and willings hearts!  They have done everything they have been asked plus a whole lot more!  They will leave a huge hole!  They were 45 min. late starting the party which is a record.  Usually it is 1-2 hours late before things get started in this ward!  Welcome to Mexico!!  They served a warm drink - kind of like a cider but with pineapple juice and cinnamon and something else???  I couldn't tell what it was!  I made Greg drink mine!  I hope he lives through the night!!!   XOXOXO

Anna Maria with daughter and grandchildren
Greg baptized her 42 years ago!

Wednesday, Jan 14th
THOUGHT:  "I CAN'T CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND, BUT I CAN ADJUST MY SAILS TO ALWAYS REACH MY DESTINATION!"

Again, we got up ( not early enough for Greg!) dressed and off we went to go find another Mission President and his wife - the Valadez'   We had a blast finding the right roads and turns and stuff!!  Greg told me to turn left, not at this light, but at the light up there!  Then I got distracted and didn't turn and oh boy!  was I in trouble!  I think I need to let him drive once in awhile!  Every person in every car down here thinks they should be in front of me and everyone else on the road!!!   These people are all nuts!!!
We had a nice visit with the president and wife.  They are done with their 3 years in July!  Sister Valadez talked about being very tired!  All of these presidents and wives work so hard to keep their missionaries healthy and happy and heading in the right direction!  Some of the missionaries come up with the darnedest  things - day and night of every day!  They are very nice.  Sister Valadez kept trying to talk to me in English and so I was egging her on so I didn't have to talk in Spanish!  You know how I am at that!!!
We made it there and back home for a nap!  I get exhausted when every one is speaking spanish and I am trying to listen so hard to try to understand!  It fries my brain!
We got to visit another mission president and wife ( from Idaho Falls - English) in the afternoon!
Such nice people.  They have seemed to have had a lot of sick missionaries in their mission!  Lucky them!  They live is a big beautiful home behind big walls and gates!  You never know what is behind those walls!
WALKING TIP:  Never, never, never look up when you are walking around here in Mexico!  You will trip and break your neck, arm, wrist, ankle and leg!

I don't really know!  Some cool looking church as we passed by!