Feeding the Missionaries

I can't even remember what the occasion was here...but if there's missionaries involved, there's food involved too.

We were trying to fatten this missionary up because he had lost a bunch of weight.

After dinner, we weighed him and he had gained a few pounds.

One of these Elders was in the hospital, so they came and spent the night at the mission home.

Between them they ate two DOUBLE batches of buttermilk pancakes. (somewhere around 30 pancakes)

This cute Elder stayed almost a week at the mission home after surgery on his broken foot.

If I do say so myself, that's pretty nice presentation!

We even celebrated his birthday while he was with us.

The elder on the left was staying with us because his Mom died. It was such a hard time for him. He and his companion stayed with us for a few days.

On most of the holidays we invite the mission staff over for dinner. They're so fun to have around.

This was one of the Sister's P-Days at the mission home. They just love to get together with each other and be in a home together.

This was a sleep-over we had with these three sisters when they were abandoned at the bus station on transfer day. Their bus wasn't going to their area because of an accident. (We teased them that they just made something up so they could sleep over.)

After dinner we watched church movies and had popcorn.

Our Birthdays May 2012

We had a staff meeting on Jim's birthday, so I made a birthday cake to share with the office missionaries.

I even found some birthday hats!

I'm glad we got to blow our candles out together or we might not have got our wishes.

The ward had a birthday party for all the May birthdays too.

Sisters' P-Day at the Mission Home July 2012

We had a really fun day together with all of our sisters except for two who are too far away to bring in.

Jim had their full attention.

We had a little breakfast with homemade cinnamon rolls. I've sort of made a precedent now that we have to have cinnamon rolls whenever the sisters come.

We really have the best sisters in the world in our mission.

They are so darling!

We made a cute card for the sisters that couldn't be with us and sent a picture of all of us holding a sign saying "we miss you."

Everybody got a chance to write something.

The sisters are as crazy as the Elders!

These three sisters always spell trouble! They snuck into the office and rearranged the mission board to feature themselves as the assistants! They're leaving next transfer and they keep asking if they can stay and live with us in the mission home. I say yes! We'd love it!

Their little pink sign says "Assistants to Sister Hart"

Sister Whoever

This is the picture we sent to the two sisters who couldn't come. They were so sad! But Jim and I made it up to them by taking them out to dinner alone with us the next week when we visited their area.

A Surprise for Jim

This man and his wife showed up at the mission office to meet Jim while they were on vacation. He told us that Jim baptized his parents when he was just three. He has always wanted to meet the missionary who baptized his parents and be able to thank him in person. He is still active in the church with his wife and his parents have served six missions! It was a tearful meeting.

Our Mission Keychain

We have been giving this keychain to our missionaries as they leave the mission. The problem is, those missionaries who have gone home before we got these all want one now.

Mother's Day 2012

I got a big surprise on Mother's Day--my kids sent these beautiful roses! Pink roses are my favorite!

We had just come home from a bike ride with the office Elders when the doorbell rang with the delivery.

This pretty butterfly came on the bow.

Our fun bike ride.

An old bridge along the trail.

The office Elders made me a cake and gave me a picture of our bike ride together.

We had the Elders for dinner that day so they could Skype with their families. One of their moms asked if the cake was edible. It was good!

Fourth of July 2012

Jim eating our first batch of homemade ice cream. It was delicious!

Our Zone Leader's Council fell on the 4th of July, so we had a little "American" celebration. Jim talked a little about America's role in the restoration of the gospel. We also sang the Star Spangled Banner in English. It brought a lump to my throat! I love America. 

This is the flag cake I made.