MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Although our official release date doesn't come until the 17th of October, the Temple Department gave us a wonderful farewell luncheon yesterday. It was so nice, a special event to top off our three years of serving in the Temple Department, a dream come true. Donny and Christi surprised us by showing up to take part in the celebration. It was so neat to have them there. We were so thankful for their support. It was difficult saying good bye to all the great people we have met and served with. We have learned so much and are so thankful for the safety we have had. Rarely does a day go by that there aren't several accidents on the freeway and we have had some really close calls. It is not easy getting up at 5:00am and commuting in the snow and rain. Then walking from the Conference Center to the Church Office Building. It is a breeze and beautiful in the spring, but winter is another story, but we would not trade it for the world.

These two pictures of us are with our companion couple. Joyce and Chris Layton, what a wonderful couple to serve with and spend three years with, in close quarters.

Some dear friends we have met and served with

And with an angel to lend her support and a big thank you to all of you for your support.

Since our official release date is the 17th we have decided to have an Open House that evening. We have never really retired, we went from running the business and working in the Fresno Temple to serving a three year mission, so now we are going to celebrate with our neighbors in Stone Hollow and some from the ward.

I could never begin to tell you how much this mission has meant to us, so I guess I won't even try. I know we were prepared for this for a long time. I know that the Fresno Temple was a big part of that. My gratitude is just so overwhelming sometimes. It will be exciting to see what happens from here. We still have a two year mission in our future, I am just sure. It will be a little while before we do that, but we are excited and eager for the opportunity. We love you all, thank you for your encouragement. Time to take a little time for ourselves.
Well, if you can call going to the temple more often, doing our genealogy and digitizing our journals, working on our pictures, home and visiting teaching, serving in our ward, working out at the fitness center, serving at the Humanitarian Center, etc. as taking some time. You know what I mean, you all have full lives. We send our love to one and all.