Week 59: Like a Turkey With Its Head Cut Off

Some of the finest missionaries the WATAC has known

 Wow! What a week. Fall is our favorite time of the year, and Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday. It's always been a holiday to relax and enjoy family. We missed not being able to be with our family, but we did enjoy seeing and talking to most of them via Facetime. We are so grateful that they were able to gather together.

Sisters Thompson & Dale

On Monday evening we were able to go to dinner with Christopher. He came down from Seattle and we went to the Silk Thai here in Tacoma. This was Christopher's birthday present to his dad. We really enjoyed the food and being able to visit with Chris. Could kick myself for not getting a photo that night. Have to do dinner again!

Other than that, it was far from a relaxing week. This week was a transfer week. We both had a grundle of work to do at the office. I think I put out 65+ letters this week in addition to all the other work that goes into bringing in new missionaries and sending some off.

Spent a lot of time in the kitchen as well. Sister Harwood and I fix lunch each transfer for all the new missionaries, office elders, AP's, office staff, and President and his wife when they come in. That was on Tuesday. We do an orientation with them and introduce them to their new companions.

Then all of the mission came in that day for Transfer Meeting. We got to hear testimonies of the 21 missionaries who departed on Wednesday. These are 21 of the finest missionaries ever. Thirteen of them were Sisters -- each so amazing. We've grown rather attached to this group. It was very hard to say goodbye. Before Tuesday ended, I had to get these 21 missionaries check-in for their flights and print boarding passes. It's a long, twelve hour day, but yet, at the same time, quite invigorating.  Missionary work does that to a person.

We were up early Wednesday. Picked up three missionaries at 6:45 a.m. to get them to the airport. The rest of the group left a little later. Then we started our day at the office. Plenty to do. I take notes at Transfer Meeting (thank heavens for those shorthand skills) so I am able to put a summary of each missionary's testimony in our monthly newsletter. The next newsletter has to go out Monday morning, so no putting off that project.

Wednesday night was for more ..... cooking, of course. I made vegetable dip, two pie crusts, and our family's traditional yam casserole.

Thursday morning .... more cooking, but it was kind of a bad day in the kitchen. Tried my hand at homemade Coconut Cream Pie. Didn't turn out well. Made a Banana Cream pie. First attempt had lots of teflon flecks in it -- bad pan, bad pudding. Sent Elder Hadlock to the store for some instant pudding. Used too much whipping cream to make it; very thick, but tasted OK. Due to pie frustration, I didn't get the yam casserole in the oven to bake when I should have. Dinner had to wait a bit.  On the plus side: Rhodes rolls turned out great and Mrs. Cubison's dressing took care of itself fine!

We joined with the Harwoods and Martins for dinner. It was a lovely meal and we enjoyed playing Ripple with Phase 10 cards afterward. Best part of the day, however, was visiting with the family.

Thursday evening .... more cooking. This was for Friday's lunch. Fixed two turkey breasts, frog-eye salad, and pumpkin cake. Sister Harwood and I were in charge of lunch for about 50 at the New Missionary Training meeting held Friday. Normally this is handled by a committee of sisters in the Tacoma Stake, but they were unable to do it this time. A little bit of work, but a lot of reward as we got to again be with missionaries. At the end of these meals, they even sing to us!

Saturday we had our workout at the YMCA, did our cleaning -- which, by the way goes pretty fast when you're in a small apartment. Makes me wonder if I really want a bigger house to clean.

Sunday meetings were delightful. It's quite cold here (low 30's, but feels colder) so we're glad to be able to spend the rest of the day at home. Tired of turkey so we had a simple hamburger for Sunday dinner. It's now about 6:45 p.m. and I'm determined to finish the blog, and get a letter off to Ben so we can start popcorn by 7 p.m.

No more turkey for a while!

It has been a full, fun, crazy busy week. But we are so, so grateful to be here and to have the love and support of family and loved ones.  Someone at church referred to the Law of Occupied Space which says that no two things can occupy the same space at the same time. When thoughts of gratitude fill our mind, there is not room for bad thoughts, negativity, self-pity, unkindness, etc. Gratitude makes us feel better.

Ok, well, time's up. Life is good. May we keep moving forward -- in gratitude.