Twins and a Ronda hike

Our little Relief Society had a fun service activity.  We quilted two darling quilts.  I may have mentioned our branch member that was expecting twins.  Well they got here just as we finished a little gift for them.  We bought fabric and gave it to Sister Chantrill (on the left) and she brought it back made into darling quilt tops.  She even quilted the straight lines by the machine and then we got the branch sisters together, those that were available on a week night, and they learned how to quilt.

Sister Chantrill, Bruna, Belinda and Hazele

Debbie

It was a new skill for almost everyone.

They all did great work!

 

They turned out darling!

 

 

Here are the new owners.  It did my heart good to hold a tiny one, though for twins, they were big.  The one on the left was 6 lb 13oz and the other was 7 lb 3 oz.! The doctor induced her labor.  He thought she would have gone to term otherwise, about 3 more weeks. Yikes.



Adorable!

Then we went to Ronda for P-day



 We had been to Ronda before with the other senior couples last November.  It is a beautiful little town with this canyon running through the middle.  Rod had wanted to hike down that first visit, but we didn't take the time then.  Several of the missionaries wanted to see the town and take the hike, so we got together and did it.

This view is from the bridge that unites the two halves of the town.

Our office elders, the APS and the sisters came, as well as the Fuen elders and ZLs from Malaga.

The missionaries insisted on taking our photo together, so this one is for you kids.
 Umm there are a few more too. 

The flowering tree in the background is an almond.  The tiny nuts look just like my peaches do at first.
 I was intrigued.  It appears they are in the same family.  Who knew?

They even have an arch.

I don't know of a more picturesque place even with the power lines. 

There were a few posed photos of course....  Sorry, my angle was a little off.

We had a steep hike in a few places.

I just love that there was actually water in the river.

Trying to be artistic.

We made the missionaries turn their eyes away, except the photographer of course. 

We were impressed with the climbers from far away, then we saw the staples in the wall.

Here is our Gollum with his 'precious'.  Elder E was the only one who would fit in the hole.

The moss on the rocks was positively plush.

Rod thought the flower should be behind his ear.  I couldn't believe how big they were.

Our boys know why these elders are smiling so broadly.  They are Elder D and F who are currently serving with us in the office.

We had a wonderful time.  I love getting to know the missionaries in a less formal setting and they really do need some 'down' time to just be goofy and act their ages.  They work so hard to do everything correctly, because they really do love the Lord and so want to serve His children here in Spain.  They are doing a fantastic work here, and we love them!

A 'Rally' Fun Malaga Museum

I am a week behind again.  We had a couple of fun 'p-day' activities so here is the evidence.  Two weeks ago we headed to Malaga to see a museum we had noticed a sign for some time ago.  The original plan was to see this one and the Picasso Museum.  However, we ended up spending all our time here.  It was a truly inspired combination, because they have some gorgeous, authentic dresses and hats from bygone eras and then examples of autos through the years, generally the luxury models and the haute couture that the women  in them might have worn. 

 

 This is the display at the start of the exhibits.  That is my hubby showing the elders some of the finer points of dress construction.  Yes the beading and sequins were done all by hand.

 

They were just stunning!

This is the one that I wanted to wear.  Those tiny pleats go all the way around.  ( He was NOT touching it!  I promise)

Here are some of the first models displayed.

The manikins were cool.  I really want that cape too.

This model has a 'mother-in-law seat.  That is really what it was called.

There were plaques for each car and  also each dress telling about the designer and people who wore/drove them. 

Don't you love the horn on this car?  (the snake)

This one was popular because of the storage for parcels.

I was intrigued with the gears and push buttons of this one.

 

This was a race car.  I think the gear train was out of leather, and there is a basket just behind the driver's elbow,  I think for the umbrella.

This was a mini car with just 3 wheels.

Another 'mini'.

This was a real Rolls Royce!  ( Not mini!)

This car was supposed to be one of the fastest of it's time, and you can tell by the expression.

I think the artists from 'Cars' must have studied here.

This car was left in the condition it was found in.  There are bullet holes in the back seat.  It survived the bombing of London.

 

The photo on the wall behind this car shows the artist that painted it standing next to it.  She was well known but of course I have forgotten her name.  It was before color photography though. 

 

"My Grandpa had one like this!"

"Look at that interior"

There are some amazing hood ornaments too.  Do you know this one?

It was just an inspired pairing: cars and dresses.  I quit taking so many photos as we got to the more modern cars but they were amazing too.  Another interesting note.  I saw several grease spots on the floor.  I suspect that many of these cars are in running order!
I will post photos of our trip to Ronda next week.  We maybe leaving  this Thursday for zone conference  in the northern zones. Then we will stay in Granada Friday night as we have an institute meeting there on Saturday.  Next week we start preparations for the next transfer.  Life is moving FAST.

I have to post a special thank you.  Our darling office elders, Elder F and Elder D, invited us to dinner tonight.  We had a wonderful time.  You must understand.  Having us come to their apartment means they have worked hard to get it spotlessly clean as well as them buying, cooking and feeding us dinner.  They did it as a thank you for all we do for them.  Well, maybe also so we could admire their work getting it clean too. Previous elders had not left it that way.  I was really touched.  I will post photos next week.  Just know that our missionaries are taking care of us too.  We sure do love them!!!
 

Feb Fun

Well, I finally asked our finance officer and he showed me how to find my 'lost' photos, That means I am returning to some of our 'February Fun'.

Sister Bruna and I took a 'walk'.  The views were wonderful!



 

 

This is the view inland.

Aren't I stylin?

Sister Bruna, our branch Relief Society President

This is the seaward side.  There was a 2 hour walk between the two views, just so you know.

I just love being photographed you know.

 

One of the adventures of our traumatic transfer week was an Elder ended up having to spend the night at our place due to a travel snafus (not his fault).  Elder Castillo thought he looked like a puppet.  He is the first missionary that our residency officers questioned whether he was old enough to be here without parents. 

One of our AP's had a birthday

This was the farewell journal Rod made for our departing AP, Eder K.

Remember the broken umbrella photo from a couple of weeks ago?  Well, the wind got even worse.  I took this photo from our office window.

I think I mentioned our evening at a professional basketball game.  We went with this 'super man' and his mom.  We had a wonderful time.  His Dad was high point man.

'

Just yesterday, he became big brother to twin sisters.  We were astounded because the first one weighed 6lb 13oz
 and the other 7lb  5 oz.  Mom is a slender little thing.  We were glad they induced labor or Mom might have popped.

 We have had  home evenings with the kids of this family a couple of times before, but the parents never came.  Well, this week they all came and we had a fun time. They really love playing spoons.

Rod was tickled that we have a missionary  with the same name as our latest grandson.  Here is Grandpa practicing on one Jace in order to get warmed up for the one at home.

What a good Sport!

We want to thank Donnie, Katie, Daniel and all the others who read and leave messages on this blog.  Todd, your comments feel like letters and really should be answered.  We LOVE them.  We are so grateful for all of you who are helping our girls get used to being mothers of 3 while we are gone.  Yes, the babies won't really know the difference, but we miss having the opportunity to be 'in on' everything.  Thanks to all of you for all your support and prayers.  They have made serving far away from family so much easier.  We know that our family's needs are being met, and we are so grateful. 











 

Apology

To anyone who still reads our blog (Hi Mom),  sorry I missed the last couple of weeks.  That transfer I mentioned was complicated by about a dozen unexpected events, missionaries taking the wrong train, not getting their tickets, a new secretary,  and a nice big munch and mingle on Sunday evening, to name a few, that it took us the whole next week to recover.  That means we had to take last week to catch up.  Remember the "church vacation" Keith mentioned?  Well this wasn't it, as least lately.  I have also been fighting a sinus infection which saps my energy and focus.  There.  Done whining.

We have begun attending institute on Fri nights as a first step in our work with the JAS (young single adults).  My cute husband had the idea to take cookies for everyone plus an extra available for each of them to share.  First they had to promise to tell who ever they shared the cookie with that they got it at institute.  We expected to do that on Valentines day but class was canceled that night so we took them last week.  They were a hit.  It was such a fun idea, and will, I am sure, help increase interest in institute. Even if they just give it to Mom or Dad, it will add their support to their child's coming.  Attendance at institute is a measure of the activity of the young adults here. 

I also got Alaina's quilt done.  It wasn't really a regular quilt because I just don't have that much time and energy right now.  What I did instead was put two pieces of fleece together and appliqué some clouds and a moon on them.  I had planned on stuffing the clouds, but it looked bad when I tried it, and I was sure any stuffing would just wad up when it was washed, so, no stuffing.  They still puffed up nicely.  I will try to do a real quilt when we get home. 

I chose moon and clouds in hopes of a baby that sleeps well for her Mama.

We were very excited to welcome Jace Ramsey Jesse Wach to the family last Friday.  That leaves us with an even dozen grandkids now.  We are so excited to get home and meet  and spoil them...  Thank goodness for technology.  We get to see everyone's photos right away, no waiting for film to be developed and printed and mailed.  We get to Skype and see everyone too.  It is such a blessing.

In Relief society last week they brought up  Matt 25:35-40 where the savior says 'inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my bretheren, ye have done it unto me.'  I tend to look at things in a straight forward manner, not usually looking for other meanings.  That is why I think it was the Spirit that made me look at that scripture in a different light.  Of course, the mission has something to do with that too, but  when he says I was an hungered, for the first time I thought what if that hunger was for the word of God?  What if the thirst was for the water of life, the nakedness was vulnerability to Satan's fiery darts, a prisoner of sin, unable to see any way to freedom.  I expect everyone else saw that all along, but it was a new idea to me.  We have the solution.  We must not be stingy or too busy to share of our abundance.
We feel such love for all of our family and the wonderful people we have met here. Even when it is hard, this mission brings us great joy and satisfaction.  Thank you all for your support.