Week 19: Life is LOVEly

The week of LOVE -- Valentines Day. Lots of packages came in for missionaries this week -- full of LOVE & Happy Valentine wishes from home I'm sure.

We were thrilled to get a couple of packages as well. We enjoyed candy & chocolate from the Merrells, but our favorite part was Brooke's drawing and seeing that she has learned to write her name. Precious.

Tuesday brought a delightful surprise of two dozen roses and a box of chocolates -- a sweet, thoughtful gift from Samuel. Still enjoying the roses.  Van was grateful, too. He said it got him out of having to buy flowers!  He took me to dinner instead for Valentines.

Things were a little slow at the office on Friday!

And Benjamin took time to send us a beautiful card with an extra special message inside.

Valentine Selfie

Our mission isn't all LOVE and fun. We do work. And we also try to include personal and companion study time in each day.  Actually we LOVE that, too. Right now we are participating in a March Madness with the young missionaries. The President is giving us assignments out of Preach My Gospel to complete each week. Then each Zone will have a March Madness Activity on March 17 to culminate and reward our efforts. This week we read Chapters 1 and 6. We would encourage all to read and study from Preach My Gospel -- no matter your stage in life. It contains inspired instruction for all who LOVEand want to share the gospel. Here's a cool quote we found in our reading: "Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self destruction." (Ezra T. Benson)

Yes, we LOVE reading the scriptures. -- and we got to go to the temple on Saturday -- something else we LOVE.

 On Sunday, we treated ourselves to pancakes and the panflute.

We LOVE -- Buchanan's Pancake Mix and the dear friends who sent it to us.

Van, is learning to play the panflute which I gave to him for Valentines Day. He's going to learn some LOVE songs so he can serenade his LOVEly wife?

OK -- things are getting corny. Which reminds me, it's time to enjoy the Sunday night tradition I LOVE.

(Don't you LOVE my sense of humor!)

No doubt --  we LOVE and miss you all. Have a great week.