January Already!

Happy New Year!  It has been busy around here.  Both at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site and also at the San Diego Temple grounds.  The Battalion was like the middle of summer!  Last Sunday we had over 800 visitors. 

On New Year’s Eve the Sisters had to be in by 6.  Some were working their shift as the Battalion stays open until 9.  So all of the Sisters came to the Battalion at 6 and we had a pizza dinner.  It was a very fun time.  As it turned out, Craig and I happened to find seats at either end of one of the long tables.  Some of the Sisters said it felt like they were at a Robinson family dinner.  We said come on over after our missions and we can make it happen.  That would be so fun.

Maybe the other senior couple didn't feel like it was a Robinson family dinner, but the Sisters did!

Afterwards, the Sisters did some study and set some goals, then we were able to play Meet the Mormons right in our theater.  On New Year’s Day it appeared on the list of programs we are able to play.  Before it came out in the theaters, the missionaries saw it during zone conferences, but we were working our shifts so we hadn’t seen it.  We have seen it now and really enjoyed it.  Right now we are playing it in a loop, but soon we will be able to have regular showings people can come see.

We got permission to drive up to visit Genna and Jeff in Orange County on New Year’s Day.  That was great.  It is always good to see your kids.  The traffic even cooperated and we made good time.  Of course we had lunch at our favorite revolving sushi place.  Then we went to see the Newport Beach temple.  Genna was our GPS since they have been there many times.  We knew it would be closed, but Craig and I had never been there before and we had the time.  It is beautiful, just like we knew it would be.  We had a delightful visit.  We let the Mission President know when we got back in the mission boundaries.

The next day Jen and Peter Kurt and their son Nick came to town!  SO fun to have family visit.  We had lunch together.  Their oldest daughter is on a mission so they bring her picture with them and take pictures so she can see just what she has been doing!  We had a great time catching up.  After lunch we went home to change into costume and they went straight over to the Battalion for a tour.  They were nearly done when our shift started.  The Sisters were interested to see Jen to see if we look alike.  Not so much (except for the nose!), but they could tell that we are Sisters and have some of the same mannerisms.  Thanks for coming, Kurts!

 Our four Mandarin Sisters are quite excited that the Mandarin members are now attached to one ward instead of going to whatever English ward is closest.  They have been meeting with the UC (University City) 2^nd ward for a few weeks, with their own Sunday School class in Mandarin, as well as Relief Society and Priesthood classes.  Today they had their own Sacrament Meeting in Mandarin, too!  Very wonderful.

Today you get to meet Sister Hatch from Utah.  She was called Spanish speaking and has been here for less than 4 weeks.  She is a lot of fun, always smiling and happy.  She is eager to learn everything.  She is an artist and has always loved art, even as a toddler.  She has a degree in Studio Art.  She has an etsy shop and sells prints of her gorgeous paintings of temples to help finance her mission.  

Sister Hatch is full of energy.  Her family is her favorite.  She loves to hike, dance, travel, and loves all things outside.  That means trees, plants, flowers, animals and even bugs. If that wasn’t enough, she would like to go into architecture.