Feeding the Missionaries

When asked about her favorite Christmas tradition, Morgan responded simply, "Feeding the Missionaries."

Last year (2011), my parents were asked by the Carlsbad Mission President if they would help provide a nice Christmas Dinner for ALL of the missionaries in the mission.  So, on Christmas Eve, we helped serve Lunch/Dinner to about 200 missionaries.  The girls absolutely loved it!  

So, when Papa Dale was asked again for 2012, the girls were ecstatic!  

Despite our preceding weekend (Poinsettia Bowl, Great Park Balloon, Boat Parade), we felt rested enough to come help out.  The truth?  The girls wouldn't have it any other way.  

The girls love setting out drinks (water bottles) for the missionaries.  They have the missionaries collect all the empty water bottles for recycling and donate the money to the mission fund.  This year's donation: $7.00!  (random fact: CRV is 5 cents per bottle...)

And, per tradition, the missionaries sang Called to Serve just before we served the meal.  There aren't really any words to describe the power behind missionaries singing this, other than awesome. Such an incredible feeling!

Since Brian was at home (my parents live about 2 minutes away) working while Carson napped, I was nominated as the second meat carver.  A more appropriate term would be "meat hacker", because I do NOT carve meat!  Nonetheless, the new elder in our ward politely said to me on Sunday, "I recognize you--you sliced my meat at the Christmas Dinner."  

And, although I don't have any pictures, we loved watching the mission talent show afterward.  The girls just can't get enough of the singing, (appropriate) dancing, and musical instruments!  They can't wait to serve missions of their own! 

We sure hope this tradition continues for many years to come!

As of Late...

Aside from moving, here's what else we've been up to during the month of June:

Our stake hosted a Super Saturday Activity/Open House with a BBQ, games, and a few missionary events (i.e. tours of the church...).  

Aside from the jumpy house being the HUGE hit for the girls, they were actually pretty good at ladder ball.  I was very surprised!

  

We enjoyed a birthday party at Monkey Bizness.  We sure will miss the McKeons and "Big Jack" (he's only 5, but that's how the girls differentiate from "baby Jack", their cousin) when we move at the end of the summer!

Sadie practiced her air hockey skills.  A long way to go on this one...

 Sadie spent hours singing Primary Songs with her special song book.

She also spent hours sleeping...all while using her hand as a bookmark.  I guess she really wanted to hold her place!

And, since we've moved, the girls have a picnic every day for lunch.  They love to eat outside and stare at the parking lot.  A few times, we have seen bunnies in the grass, and they love that!

Quote of the Day

I know I haven't posted anything from our trip--that will come soon (maybe).  However, as I was preparing my Primary Lesson for tomorrow, I read this quote from the lesson and thought it's worth sharing.

“Habits are easily formed. It is just as easy to form good habits as it is to form evil ones.”

--Joseph Fielding Smith

The Twelve and First Presidency

In our search for fun activities for Morgan and Sadie during General Conference, Morgan and I found this video.  It's only a minute long, but has a catchy tune!!


http://www.bookofmormondiscovery.com/conference.html

All Things Church

Our Primary Program was 2 weeks ago.  Morgan entertained the entire chapel with her dancing for every song, complete with jumps for joy in "Follow the Prophet".  I would have loved to get it on video!  But, I didn't, so next year, if you would like a Not-So-Boring Primary Performance, you'll have to come see it yourself!  Oh, and she recited the First Article of Faith, too.

After she memorized the First Article of Faith, she constantly repeated it.  So much that Sadie has even memorized "We Believe".  She also loves to recite it, so if the topic ever comes up (which it does all the time--we're currently learning AOF #2), Sadie says (i.e shouts), "My We Believe!  Sadie We Believe!!"  And then, we listen to Sadie.

And, depending on what mood she's in, the ending can sound like "Holy Doggy", "Holy Goalie" or "Holy Sticky".  It reminds me of my Grandma's sunbeams years ago, who recited "...and in the Billy Goat"!!

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Because of General Conference next week, we had Fast Sunday today.  Visiting the Logan Temple last week was a touching experience for me, so I bore my testimony today, and. of course, I couldn't finish without many happy tears.

While I was up on the stand, Morgan asked Brian why I was crying.  He replied, "Because Mommy is a Cry Baby."  Morgan responded, "No she's not!  She's a Cry Grown-up!"