Water Fountain in Neuaffoltern; our apple pie with raisins; Our Omega meeting with S. Wellborn, E. richeson. E. Nilsson, E. Dockstader, S. Larson, E. Larson, E. Vincent (behind spoon) E. Knight, E. Irick, S. Miron, S. Robinson.

NOVEMBER 24, 2009 TUESDAY

We got up with one thing on our minds today, preparing a lunch for the district that would be delicious, nourishing and on time and as close to a Thanksgiving dinner as we could get without a turkey. We had all our supplies loaded up in our little pull cart as well as all our hands could carry and were at the Church by 9:30. While Diana cut up all the vegetables and made the salad, I washed a big pot of potatoes and got them on and boiling. We spiced up some flour, rolled the chicken in it and then fried it long enough to get the outside crispy. It then went into the oven to bake. This time we kept checking it so we would get it cooked, but not burn it. Diana got the big table out of the overflow, rolled it over to near the kitchen and set it. We had things under control by the time district meeting started at 10:30. We turned down the chicken a bit and then went to the meeting.

For this Omega meeting the missionaries decided to watch the “Prophet of the Restoration.” We don’t know if that is the real title, but it’s the DVD on the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It’s always a testimony builder to watch this movie and it’s one we all ought to watch from time to time. It would help us to see where our commitment level is and if it’s where it should be. I kept ducking out to go to the kitchen to check up on things, and each time everything seemed okay. Part way through the movie I got a call from Norma Bachmann who invited us to Thanksgiving dinner on Friday evening. She asked us to think of a few other members she should invite, too. She said she had invited Elders Dockstader & Diaz (his new companion) and Elders Nilsson & Irick, but when we asked them later, if they were going to go, they said they had been invited to the Weidmann’s and would be going there instead. We volunteered to bring pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes.

Just before the movie was over we left to go make the gravy, mash the potatoes and then get everything ready for the meal by the time the rest of them came. This time everything turned out perfect. The salad was great, the chicken tender and moist, the gravy just right as well as the corn (how do you ruin corn?) All of that was followed with apple pie and ice cream. There was, however, one big problem. These missionaries don’t eat as much as they should. There was waaaaay too much left over, so we know what we’ll be eating for the next week or so until it’s gone. After the meal was over and the missionaries left, it took us about as long to clean up as it did to prepare everything. But soon all the fun was over and we went home to rest up and get ready for Institute tonight.

About a half hour before we had to leave for Institute Rebecca skyped us. We had a good chat with her and were surprised that Mack recognized grandma and actually called Diana grandma. We didn’t know he could say as many words as we heard him speak. We do miss our kids and our grandkids. Rebecca also wanted to know how to make a small batch of carmel so she can make carmel pretzels at home. We walked her through the steps and it shouldn’t be too hard to do.

7:40 rolled around and we were off to Institute. After opening exercises Elder Dockstader came up to us with a cheesy grin and reminded me the I promised him I’d cut his hair tonight. It was supposed to be before Institute and not during. He wanted to look sharp for tomorrow when he and Elder Richeson go to the airport to pick up the “Goldens,” (new missionaries arriving in the mission) at the airport. Why get things done before when you can wait until the last second, right? Diana went to class with Suwang while I and Elder Dockstader walked home to cut his hair. That done, we got back to the Church just before the classes ended. There was the usual after class refreshments, but this time it included a send off for Phillip Ryser and another young man from another ward who are both leaving for their missions in a few days, one to Berlin and Phillip to Hamburg. After that we came home.

Earlier in the afternoon we also got to talk to Roxsan, Nathan and Rees on skype. We feel blessed to be able to communicate as freely as we do with our children and their families.