15th Comings

We were happy to welcome these elders to the mission on Monday, 22 February 2010. We were busy making lunches for them of cold cut hoagies, carrotts, brownies, fruit snacks, and water. We were on time to the airport in Santa Barbara and it was a good thing because they arrived about 10 minutes early. All that extra time was lost however because five of their suitcases did not make it on the plane with them. We were delayed while they filled out paper work and so on. Actually, it was a good thing that some luggage was delayed because I did not plan too well and we actually filled up all our vehicles with the luggage we had and there was no more room, so it was nice that the airline delivered the last five huge suitcases to the mission home about 8:30 that night.
We spent the whole day trying to get everything done in less time and somehow it all worked out. At the mission home, we had a nice dinner of lasagna, green salad, homemade rolls, and fresh fruit. They are a great group of elders.

Feb 5 departure

Elder Hastings was ready to go home and see his recently married brother before he moved to Brazil for a few years so he departed the mission a little before transfers.

Surprise Visit

We had a surprise visit from President Murri's sister, Diana, from Jackson Hole Wyoming on February 1, and we forgot to take any photos! But we had a great time together and enjoyed a fine lunch by the wharf. Thanks for coming to visit us, Diana!

MISSION TOUR 2010

President Murri and his current assistant, Elder Engel (on the left), and former assistant, Elder Hawes.

Every year we have a general authority visitor to the mission. This year we had Elder William R. Walker and his wife, Vickie Walker visit with us. We had three zone conferences and traveled from Santa Maria, through Ventura, to Bakersfield with them.

Sister and Elder Walker, Sister and President Murri, and

Sister and President Record. (President Record is President Murri's first counselor in the mission presidency.)

Another photo of the Walkers and the Murris.

Leader Update

Elder Engel and Elder Hall - the assistants to President Murri.

14th Goings

President and Sister Murri in the farewell photo with Elders Robison, Cortez, and Mackendrick on January 13, 2010.

14th Comings

We welcomed these missionaris on January 11, 2010 - our first ones of the new year! Front Row: Hermanas Frost, Patterson, & Beardsley
Second Row: Elders Gardner, Eldredge, Leakehe, Jenkins, Eliason, & Williams
Back Row: Elders Collins, Estrada, Palma, & Soza

VISA DEPARTURE

We bid farewell to Elder Rassveld on January 5, 2010 and sent him home to Canada. His visa was expiring before transfers so we needed to get him home.

Half of the Story

President Murri had a little trouble piecing together the full story after receiving these president's letters that were damaged in the mail.

More Special Visitors!

The morning after Christmas we had four grandchildren and two children arrive to spend some time with us in sunny Southern California.

Here they are in front of the Christmas tree,

a little dazed from the drive from Provo, but glad to be here nevertheless.

This was Jack's first visit to California and we were delighted to have him and Grandpapa Murri was thrilled to finally get to meet him.

Here is Kate with her Christmas cereal.

Will seems to be happy with his cereal, too.

Spencer is a little overwhelmed but will tackle the job anyway.

Will groovin' with the ukelele.

Dale checking out his gift bag.

Spencer eating at the new kid table and chairs.

Kate swinging

Will at the ladder

Jack just enjoying being here.

Jack giving Grandpapa a little talk.

I think that Jack is worried that Kate is going to take his binky,

but she was just giving him a hug of love.

The light saber fighter.

Grandpapa and the Murri Grandkids. They are having a great time together.

Fun at the mission home!!

Playing on the stairs at the mission home is a favorite activity of all the grandchildren.
Here are Will and Kate taking their turns.

Celebrating Lisa's birthday by getting all dressed up and posing for a photo.

Happy Birthday, Lisa!!A Ventura sunset for Lisa!

Playing with Grandpapa's Lincoln Logs.

Will and his new Star Wars play doh set.

Will really liked the picture display on the box of the play doh set that showed the various aspects of the set and what was included. He very intently made all the pieces in just the right colors and put them out on the table just like the photos on the box. I was very impressed with his ability to do this and to stick with it until he was done. It took him a long while with all the interruptions he had. Here he is posing for his own cover box photo.

Kate and her new dress up princess clothes.


Spencer playing with his new shape sorter.

Grandpapa and Jack.

The last full moon of 2009. Just barely made it.

Celebrating Dale and Kara's birthdays on the deck in the moonlight.

They haven't celebrated many birthdays like this!

Kate, Will, Dale, Kara with Jack, and Spencer "ready to party"Kate and Will

A great new Year 2010!

Spencer having fun.Kate having fun.

Spencer having fun in his favorite cubby hole at the mission home.

The first Ventura sunset of the year.

Grandmama and Jack

And then they left and we were empty armed and desolate.

Christmas Eve Snow & Christmas Day Sun

We traveled to Tehachapi for interviews on the day of Christmas Eve.

We found our Christmas snow!!

Not too much but it was a treat for us. Looking at the school yard across the street from the Tehachapi Chapel

and the mountains in the distance.

The snow covered grass on the north side of the chapel.

Scarey, slippery entrance door. I wonder if they have heard of ice melt?

CHRISTMAS DAY IN VENTRUA

Our northern flower bed in the front yard.

(These are real flowers blooming on Christmas Day!)

More of the same flower bed.

Looking out the back off the deck toward the east.

Our mission home on Christmas Day 2009.

We were delighted to be there.