Christmas Tree in our "Home"

Our little Christmas tree is just right in our apt. It looked pretty good when we put it up, but looks better now that we have presents under it from our family and friends. Thanks so much for the cards and gifts. We are having dinner with the Bishop and his family on Christmas Eve, after we deliver a few presents around the mission to missionaries whose families were late mailing out. We'll spend Christmas with missionaries and visiting.

Everyone have a GREAT CHRISTMAS!

Friends and Food

This is a family, or I should say 3 generations living together, that we had ribs with...and not even southern style. Ricco  loves to try out new recipes with meat and we all love eating. Grandma Raylene is fighting breast cancer after having had a quadruple bypass in January this year( and losing her husband in Dec of 09) and just had surgery on her eyes yesterday, and is having her gall bladder out tomorrow. Now, anyone want to complain about their health?

Oakland Temple

Phil with two ward member friends who drove Elders to the Temple...Les Wood and Jim Frasier.

Phil looking out over Oakland on a misty day. It has sure been raining a lot!

Oakland Temple

Once every quarter, we get to attend the temple. We went to Oakland this time. The missionaries are supposed to get a ride with members. We were taking our van, but at the last minute wound up taking the Mission van in order to take a couple of extra Elders who got stranded with no ride.



 

This was the same day we picked up turkey roasts that had been shipped to us by NORBEST via Leonard and Laura Beckham in Moroni. We served it at our Mission Christmas Conference. My camera went bezerk that day, so I have no conference pictures. Check out the Santa Rosa Mission blog to see them.

Ward Christmas Party

I got a few shots of our Ward Christmas Party. The little girl with Santa is Brynn, and the little boy is Heath. The rest are just group shots. Enjoy!

Crazy and Busy!!!

Crazy and Busy are the two words that should describe these last 2 weeks. We've been training at the office. And of course, it was the most hectic time of all. We feel like we've neglected our Ward friends, as we don't get home until late and then are working on projects until all hours. Jane isn't particularly happy about not having any time to visit and teach. She did get to play the organ for Sacrament Meeting on Dec. 19, our Christmas program. She's also been playing in RS or teaching Primary (she kept sneaking in and watching). Phil enjoys Gospel Essentials (Principles) and even got to teach one Sunday when the Elder who was to substitute forgot.

We've made a couple of trips within the mission to inspect apartments, and close a couple of apts. down so the missionaries could  move in with members. we're starting to really appreciate our little CLEAN apartment.

Transfer Day Dec 2010

Thought you might like to see Elder Kyler Walker from our Stake in Washington. His dad is Bishop of the 12th ward in Washington Fields Stake. "Hi! Mom and Dad, I made it!"

Transfer Day Dec 2010

Today was Transfer Day.....Again. This happens every six weeks. This time Jane got to figure out the "loop" while training in the office. Didn't have time for pictures because of orientation. We did get one of Elder Ames and Elder Ryan Williams (who looks like Russ with blue eyes) with us because Elder Williams was transfering out of our Zone. He had been our Zone Leader with Elder Ames.

Robert Silva's Baptism

Monday, November 29, 2010, Phil was able to baptize Robert. This very special young man has been taught by the sister missionaries, Stebar and Wang. Sometimes his lessons have been at our apartment. We feel blessed to have been a small part of his conversion.  His mother is not a member. She and Robert live together in an apartment in Santa Rosa.

2010 Sisters' Conference

Friday, Dec. 4, 2010 was our Sisters' Conference - no men allowed (except Pres. Bunker for a talk).  The pictures are taken during our lunch. I'll post a group picture when Sis. Bunker gives me one on Dec. 15 at our Mission Conference. Sister Bunker is the one in the red sweater vest. That's 40 pairs of shoes you're looking at.

Testimony

I looked on our blog and realized I've never printed my testimony. I want to share that with you now. (Jane)

I am very thankful for missionaries who had the courage to go into the hills of Tennessee looking to share the gospel. I'm also thankful Papaw and Mamaw went to S.C. to work and were in a Branch/ Ward there so the gospel could be taught to me. I'm thankful that daddy's mother read to him from the Bible when he was young.I'm thankful that he joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that he and mother took us to Primary and Sunday meetings. A lot of people say they won't force their children to go to church; that they will let them make their own choice. Daddy always said you need to know what the choices are. And the only way you know that is by actually going to church. I'm thankful for the heritage of faithful, God-loving ancestors who read the Bible and had integrity and were hard working people. That faith was passed to my parents, and to me and my brothers and sisters, and hopefully to my children.  I know our Heavenly Father loves me and has a plan for me to return to Him. I know Jesus Christ, His Son and my elder brother carried out the central part of His plan through his Atonement and Resurrection. I cannot fathom in the least degree how bad his suffering was for our sins and actions and thoughts. I just know how thankful I am for him and his sacrifice.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church restored to the earth today. That we have a prophet today who, just as in olden days, receives revelation from God.  I am thankful for the Priesthood of God on the earth that allows us to be sealed as a family for all eternities. I love Phil and my children and grandchildren. I cannot imagine my life without them being a part of it. I am so thankful for other family members and friends who have influenced me for the good. I'm thankful for the opportunities I have to serve the Lord. I will continue to do so.
  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.                Barbara Jane Robinson Adamson

RS Food Storage/Water Storage Demo Nov. 10, 2010

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This was a night where everyone brought something made from their food storage. I took Cinnamon rolls and a rice casserole.

Northern California Coast

We also got a chance to see the Pacific Coast. It was cold Friday! We stopped at a place called the Glass Beach. It used to be the dump. Yes, you read that right. Now the ocean has come in and picks up pieces of broken glass, pottery and such and tumbles it until it is smooth and looks like gems. We also saw some people snorkeling for abalone. They were a group of LDS families from Lumas, CA. who invited us to their campsite to try some. We decided to just go see what they looked like - but not eat any. They are like giant snails. All you kids "google" them. They gave us some of the shells and said we could have them made into jewelry or etc. I think anything like a giant snail that you have to beat with a wooden mallet to thin out and prepare for cooking doesn't sound too appetizing.

Trip to the Redwoods

We had a "Conference" with the other two Senior Missionary couples, Elder and Sister Nueneschwander, and Elder and Sister Snow. It was a great trip up to ride the Skunk Train and see the Redwoods. It's called the Skunk Train because you can smell it coming before you see it. The amazing thing was that we had passengers that rode up to their cabin homes in the canyon because there were no roads in. Looked like not too much of anything in the area - water, electricity, etc. It used to be the canyon where they would cut the redwoods down and float them out. The train was like the Heber Creeper. There was a Redwood that was over 1000 years old. (The blurry picture)

Thanksgiving Feast

We had Thanksgiving with Bishop Preston and his family. What a feast! Elder Anderson and Elder Cannel were also there. Along with Sis. Anderson, a traveling nurse, staying with the Jacobsens. Bro. Lopes came for pie afterward. The pie makers in the family are Beverly and Davey.