Every Day a Great Day!

Today was a beautiful day!!!  Perfect!  After the Relief Society Women's Conference and Lonnie finished working on an old pick up, we went for a ride along the Pacific Ocean.  It was a relaxing way to spend our P day. 

This week we had the Elders come to dinner. 

Elder VanKammen and Elder Barney
We got a wonderful letter from Elder Barney.  His mother taught him well!  It was very sweet and made us feel very good. 
It is important to let people know how you feel and how they make you feel!

      There are many people that make us feel good, makes us want to help others feel good.  The saying is true: Rather than what they say, you remember more how that person makes you feel.  There are so many people in our lives that make us feel valued. 
     At the VA, going every day, I have gotten to know a few people.  Amber in Radiation is excellent and explains everything and gives helpful hints on dealing with the side effects.  Janessa in Women's Health Clinic is from Columbia, South America (20 years ago) and is a single mother.  She is an LVN and is putting her daughter through medical school.  It was so interesting talking with her.  Marvin is a very spry, 86 year old volunteer who was in WW II.  He loves to joke and makes people smile and always says "My wife asks me everyday, why I get up early and I tell her it is because I can!"  and "God Bless!" to everyone.  He is amazing. He travels the 27 miles of hallways of the VA to help other veterans.  There was a girl, Charity, that I met at the parking lot....she had the same hair style as me. She seemed nervous.  We were able to sit and talk about the side effects of chemo and radiation.   I love sharing my testimony of Christ's love with all these people and so many more!

A friendly squirrel at the VA by the parking lot.  The volunteers have him eating out of their hands.

This week, we have a new Senior couple, the Hackings from Utah.  I forgot to get a picture.  We had a luncheon which was very yummy.  Elder McOmber made his speciality homemade ice cream.  Here is crushing the bigger salt for the freezing of the ice cream.

Elder McOmber is helping Elder Olson (another Sr. Missionary in the office) with his old pick up.  Elder McOmber was in heaven taking the engine out and getting his hands dirty.

Elder Olson is another impressive person.  He is 80 years old and can not even think about retiring.  He continues to build cabinets.  He has so many projects planned--rebuilding multiple cars/trucks and building more things.  He finds it hard to accept help.   He is going to help with bicycles when we leave, and his wife works in the office, both as Service Missionaries.

from our excurtion today

a wind surfer...Catalina Island in the background, can't always see it so good.

The beach was busy.

There was a wedding party taking pictures-we had fun taking pictures also.  There were ALL kinds of people at Seal Beach. They are jumping for joy!

Elder McOmber stops and talks to everyone he comes in contact with.

     Today we had our Relief Society Women's Conference.  Bonnie D. Parkin, past General President of RS (2002-2007) spoke to us about "Stand ye in Holy Places and be not moved".  D&C 87:8  Rise to the Divinity Within You.  Sister Mariann Reynolds knows Sister Parkin and introduced me to her.  A couple of my favorite quotes from today was:
"The fabric of a family is always under repair."  And  "Don't play with snakes, they bite. Weed your garden-root out the bad-repent.  Don't go thirsty--study the scriptures, drink of the living water"   She said we need to share our stories with each other.  That is something that I love....to hear other people's stories. 

"Too often we tend to split the Lord's work into parts that seem unrelated. Whether it is preaching the gospel to nonmembers, serving with new converts, reactivating less-active members, teaching and strengthening active members, or performing family history and temple work, the work really is indivisible. These efforts are not separate. They are all part of the work of salvation."

Russell M. Nelson, "The Work of Salvation: Parable of a Father at Bedtime"