California Adventures

We've had a great two weeks.  The murder mystery dinner was lots of fun.  Moonbeam Rainbow and the birdwatcher were not involved in the murder, but weren't very good sleuths, either!  Neither one of us guessed right, but we had fun trying.  There were over 50 people there, and they all seemed to have a great time. 

Here are some of the people who attended, with their costumes.  What a night!

Yesterday, we spent our "P" day at the ocean again.  Wow, this mission is really hard :)  We drove down to Santa Cruz, and stopped at "The Mystery Spot" on the way.  This is a very strange place.  The setting is among a forest of redwoods, and very beautiful.  This spot is what they call a gravity center, where there seem to be strange forces at work.  Most of the effect is because they show you a slanted house that they claim slid down the mountain after it was built:

They go through a series of experiments that make balls roll and water flow uphill, and it seems highly unlikely, but there still is something strange about the place.  Dad and I both experienced a feeling of pressure and lightheadedness that is unexplained.  We weren't the only ones, some of the younger people felt it also.  Whatever it was, it was fun.  We'll take whoever comes to visit us there (hint, hint).

We then drove up Highway 1, stopping to watch wind surfers (amazing), and pelicans diving for their food.  That was enthralling, and as I had the binoculars trained on a bird, up popped a whale!  Holy cow!  It was something.  There were a group of them out there, and we watched for an hour as they flipped their tails and spouted.  Listening to the crashing waves and seeing the beauty of nature was just what we needed after a busy week of meetings and visits.  This week will be equally busy, and we are enjoying it.  We got invited to dinner at 2 members homes this coming couple of weeks, and we always enjoy that.  Plus we try to take the elders and/or sisters out to dinner once a month, and will get a chance to do that next week.  They are so much fun to work with.  Add in the MSA activities, (movie night this Friday) and we don't feel like we are working at all!  But we hope what we are doing is helping.  It sure helps us!

We are looking forward to Conference this next weekend, and hope a member family will take pity on us and invite us to watch in their home, as we don't have TV or enough internet data to watch in our apartment.  We realize how much we take for granted living in SLC, where access to Conference is so easy, and watching it with family is so fun!  Hope you all enjoy it, even though we won't get to look for our favorite choir member this time.  We will miss seeing you, Amy, but know you did the right thing by taking time off.  You are so very busy and stressed.  You all have so much on your plates, and we are so proud of you for all you do.  We hope the grandkids are all healthy, especially JJ.  That crappy child! :)  Cailee's meds for her asthma weren't working, so they changed them and she is doing better.  We got a great, newsy email from Aubrey last week that filled us in on them.  We so appreciate any and all communication with our family. 

Forgot to mention that we stopped at a fish market on the way home at Half Moon Bay and had the best clam chowder we'd ever eaten.  It sure was a stinky place, but great fish.  Here are some of what they had on offer:

 

                                                              Live lobsters, dead fish!

So that's our life.  We are trying to enjoy every minute, and time is flying.  Our mission is one third over!  Wow!  After the holidays, it will be half over.  We can't believe it.

The Birthday month is almost here, and we will try to get the cards out on time to all our October celebrants.  Forgive us if we don't make it quite on time.  We try....  We're so grateful to those of you who will be at Bruce's baptism.  It sure is hard not to jump on a plane and fly over for it, but we feel like we need to concentrate on our purpose here and let you all and the Lord take care of the family.  We know you do a great job.

Kiss each other for us, and enjoy your busy lives.  We love and miss you all.  Tracy, post a picture of your sweater.  One of the cute sister missionaries is learning how to knit, and told me about someone who could teach me, left handedness and all.  I might take her up on it.

Bye for now.  Keep on blogging!