Good morning—If you could film a movie here it would be an episode of “Twilight”. Cold, Dense Fog and rain! They said that it gets foggy here at this time of year but we had no idea it was like this. It lasts all day and night, lifting periodically and then sinking in again. Sometimes you can hardly see the lines on the highway. It is worse out here by the orchards as they keep the fog locked in. The mists are so heavy that it looks and feels like it had been raining heavily and the cold is penetrating! The piles of shells and hulls from the hulling processer gets wet and stinky and attracts massive herds of fruit flies. All in all a new adventure!!
We have finished our home but it is sitting vacant waiting for the State of California to release the water rights on the plant. They met a few weeks ago and we thought it would happen then but they said they would take it under advisement on February 28. Our site manager thinks that the state is flexing its muscle because of some words he had with them on getting the permits last year. I guess that he told them what he thought of their stonewalling everything and this is their way of getting back. California regulates itself to death. The latest is the new legislation that requires all new homes to have complete sprinkler systems in the home like in commercial buildings.
Dad & Elder Browning have been working on the duplex and it looks like they might have that building completed before we get the final inspection on ours. They are also working on 2 other homes that are vacant. One is in horrible shape, mold, roaches as well as broken everything. The family that lived there were terribly dirty. The one next to it just needed new paint, tile, carpet and updating of lights etc. They have been working on that one for a couple of weeks and it is looking very nice. Yesterday they put bug bombs in the other one to start killing all the vermin before they get in there to start renovating.
I sure hope that all the bugs are killed off before I start working full time with Dad in a few weeks. The Brownings finish their Mission on February 19 and will be heading home to Layton, Utah. We are sure going to miss them. Great friends and it will be nice to have them close by when we go home.
We had a wonderful Christmas in San Diego. Fun trips, lots of good food and games. It was so nice to be with all of you. The kids Christmas Eve nativity play was so clever and lots of creativity and work went into it. Thanks to Corey and Sarah, Sydney, Megan, Madison & Adam for being such great hosts and making us all feel so very welcome. We missed the Fowlers, and the Jason Shaw’s and are glad that Kendra is recovering from her surgery.
How our hearts are saddened by the loss of Rosa’s mother. We had such a wonderful time visiting with her parents a few years ago in Missouri. Great people! I can hardly wait to get to know them better when we are all reunited again and there will be no language barriers. I want you all to know that I have a very strong testimony that there is life after this earthly journey as there was before we came here. As long and hard as this may seem here now it really is just a small moment in the grand design of our eternal existence. I believe that people we know and love here will forever be part of our life and are aware of what we are going through. Heavenly Father wants all of His children to come home and provides help from the heavens to prompt and guide as we make decisions and choices.
On New Years Day we went with the Brownings to Moro Bay over on the coast. It too was a cold rainy day but we had a good time walking along the beach and shopping at all the little boutiques along the bay. The first store we went into we all bought fleece jackets and hats and gloves to wear over our jackets we had brought with us. Then we drove up to elephant seal lookout. Thousands of elephant seals come there at the end of December until February to give birth and mate and then migrate North. The beach was covered in seals. The big males are huge and loud. A lot of fights and babies being born in the sand. Amazing. The seals come back each year to the very beach they were born on.
This month has been filled with the usual, feeding missionaries twice a week, weekly Family Home Evening with the Brownings, projects at the farm, dinners, scouts, quilting and teaching Gospel Doctrine. Dad also teaches the High Priest class twice a month. I have completed my December afghan and almost finished a new one this week.
This month we have been able to go to the LA temple and are going again this Friday as it is our stake temple night. It is so good to be able to stay at the temple overnight especially now with all the fog.
I have been reading James E. Talmages book, Jesus the Christ. Powerful yet simple and clear reading. I would highly recommend that you all add it to your reading list if you haven’t already read it or perhaps reread it. Testimonies have to be fed and that is a feast!
We love you all and are so proud of the things you are doing and the people you are.
Honor Bright!!
Mom & Dad
No comments:
Post a Comment