Discharged

Like the Mormon Battalion, we followed the prophet and enlisted for 12 months.  Like the Mormon Battalion, our 12 month mission has brought many blessings.  We are grateful we had this opportunity to serve.

Monday we had our last shift at the beautiful San Diego temple grounds. 

Tuesday we went through a session at the temple and then had our last shift at the Battalion.  As we said goodbye to the Sisters that night, it was teary for me.  After they all got home safely, Craig and I put up a seven-foot banner in the break room that we had been working on as a surprise.  It had about 200 pictures we had taken of everyone over the last year.  It was such fun to make!

Group hug at the end of our last shift.  You can't really see me on the right.

The next morning was transfer meeting.  We needed to bring our costumes back and turn them in, so we came as the meeting started.  Not many changes this transfer.  As everyone went to the front steps for pictures, I went down on the sidewalk to take my own pictures.  But President Schmitt thought we should be IN the pictures, even though we didn’t have costumes on.  One of the Assistants to the President came to get my phone as he has done for the last few transfers.  He also took fun pictures of himself and the other Assistant, as usual.  Another ‘last’.

Regular transfer photo, includes the two new senior couples!

This is the first time we have taken a crazy picture.  I don't think those in the front knew what was happening.  President Morgan, on the top left hand side, has been called to be a Mission President in Santiago, Chile, in July.

President Morgan (2nd counselor in the Mission Presidency), us and the Schmitts.

Thank you, APs!

Afterwards, the Sisters all went to look at the banner.  The loved it as much as we hoped they would.  It was fun to hear them talk about various pictures and all the memories they found there.

Later that day we had lunch with a Sister who went home last December.  She and her mom were visiting San Diego during her spring break.  It was so good to see her again!  We started packing up all of our stuff, then went to see another companionship.

Sushi with Nikita and her mom

Sister Owens and Sister Dunaway

On our last whole day as missionaries in San Diego, we did lots of fun things.

 

Ocean Beach

Bronx pizza with Sister Larson and Sister Saathoff

Crown Point beach and a great view of downtown San Diego

Sister Nicholls and Sister Cazares

The beautiful temple at night

We also did some un-fun things like pack the car and clean up.  Craig was able to fit things in every inch of space in the car.  I wouldn’t let myself think about leaving too much or I would get weepy. 

We left San Diego on Friday morning.  Good-bye, life changing San Diego mission!

A quick list of things we learned or learned more profoundly on our mission.  It is by no means complete.

God loves us

God loves to forgive

Miracles happen every day

Wearing costumes and talking to picture frames isn’t the worst thing in the world

Battalion Sisters rock

Be careful where you get a Cali burrito

Mission Presidents should get a free pass into heaven

We have worked with 39 of the finest sister missionaries in the world

Missionaries have great faith

Repentance is everything

My relationship with Craig is stronger because we served a mission.  And I love him even more than before.

The Atonement is real and can be used in my life and yours on a daily basis

A few more pictures you might like.

Hardtack....

...is nasty

We miss this already.