Missing: The month of October

I just don't know where it went.  One day it was here and the next it had disappeared.  I don't really need it back, I just thought I should report the disappearance. I am actually quite excited for next month as we will get another visit from kids, so Dec can't get here soon enough to suit me. 
This week was a week of meetings.  If you have learned another language, you know how tiring it is to listen. I had rather forgotten, but we have Sister Chantrill here and after our Specialized training meeting which was all in Spanish, she was 'done in'.  She was a real trooper though and let us go out to eat with some of the Elders before we finally got her home. We fed her too, but she was almost too tired to eat. I did finally get some photos of her.

 

 She is from Sheridan Wyoming, served a temple mission in Dominican Republic, and is now in charge of keeping our baptismal records up to date.  We are also hoping she will be able to do our referrals.  A funny thing here in Spain.  Almost no one uses their last name.  We always get referrals with just a first name and phone number.  The computer is not very happy about that.

We found marshmallows and rice krispies so I made Halloween treats for the office.  There are gum drop faces if you can't tell.  I tried to make them orange by adding red jello and trusting the yellow of the rice to turn it orange.  Not too bad.

The ghost bag has my first try at caramel corn.  You can't find corn syrup here so we tried a water sugar combination the internet suggested. It turned to sugar immediately so not really a success but it was still tasty. The second batch I used honey and that worked really well.

My best guy got nuts too.., cause I'm nuts for him ya know.

Our first group of trick or treaters .. Do you see their costumes?  They are 'elders'!  I loved it.  They had to learn how to tie a tie for their scarves.  So adorable.  We only got one actual group of  kids trick or treating, and that was all.  We have a pumpkin thanks to the Todds, but we didn't carve it.  I want to cook it and use the flesh.

 These photos are from our Specialized Training.  We don't actually see most of the missionaries very often, even the ones in Malaga, except at zone or stake meetings. The exceptions are the Fuengirola and office missionaries and APs.  It is so fun to see them all again.

There is never any drama either...

Here is Rod's baseball coach.  Remember My husband actually caught a fly ball last week.  There is another game planned for  this Fri in Granada.  We may have created a monster with these ball games, but every one loves having a zone activity that they don't have to plan.

Rod calls these his Clark Kents.

We went to Granada today for Stake Conference.   It is a 2 hour drive.  We are so spoiled in Mesa.  I love that the building and the members look just the same as at home, well except for the fact that there are men in the choir.

They had us on the stand cause Rod was backstopping Elder Norton as translator, anyway, this photo is from the stand looking back.  The Mission President spoke and so did Sister Deere, in Spanish! 

 President Deere pointed out that we have double the number of missionaries serving in the Granada Stake now from a year ago.  He asked the members for help.  First he said, Feed them.  That is good.  Better, give them people to teach. Best, invite someone over to eat dinner when missionaries come to eat, and help them teach in your home.  Great advice for all of us. 

After our meeting, we met .... The CASTILLO  family.

Rod remarked how much she looks like our Shane. Sister Castillo thought so too. We have family everywhere.

We sure do love all of you.  Know that we pray for you and are so very grateful for your prayers for us.  I want to tell you of another miracle.  We had an elder who had just arrived, who hurt his knee playing soccer.  Everyone there was sure he had blown out his ACL.  he was rushed to an ER and they wanted him seen by an Ortho, who happened to be there in the hospital right then.  That Dr was also sure it was a torn ACL, he just didn't know how bad.  He was seen in the Dr's office, and an MRI was ordered.  Our Elder missed his first MRI appointment because of transfers, but made the second.  When he went to the Dr to have it read this past week, the Dr was dumbfounded because there was no ACL tear.  He had done the exam at the time of the injury and again at the second visit and both indicated a tear which would have needed surgery and a return to the States.  The MRI was done just to learn the extent of the tear. The Dr read the report, didn't believe it and read the films himself and saw only some cartilage damage which can wait for repair for some time.   He will have 6 weeks of physical therapy, and should do fine. That is Your prayers at work!!!  So, Thank you one and all.  We are doing so very well and are grateful for the opportunity to serve here in Spain.  We are so glad for your support.  You are the BEST!