We found some Mountains and Water in the Desert! Saguaro Lake & Marina

Fun P-day. It was a great drive out of the city.  

Cactus, lake, boats, and mountains all in the same picture! 

Superstition Mountains 

This bird is a lot larger than it appears. 

GLORIA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!

Birthday picture with the poster made by the sisters. Love all these people!

Eating donuts, but I couldn't get in the crowded room for a good picture?

Sister Finau and Sister Gordon, cuties

I enjoyed my birthday for several days. We played games on the weekend to start the celebration. After a nice walk, Richard thought I should get a special breakfast. We drove to McDonalds (classy hugh) for breakfast. The rest of the day I answered face book messages, talked with my children and grandchildren, opened cards and gifts. It was a great day. We worked in the evening. We took the donuts to preparation meeting on the 18th. We took the pictures, ate donuts, and they sang to me. Lots and lots of hugs and well wishes!

Richard and I went to dinner at Carrabba's for dinner. On Saturday we went to the swap meet with miles and miles of shops. We got a lot of walking in. I guess everyone that comes to Mesa has to go to the swap meet. I spent some of  my birthday money there. It was interesting! Reminded me of the swap meet in New Orleans and probably many other places. Lots of people and lots of stuff!

Fun Events at the Visitors' Center

A darling group of activity day girls brought bags they made for all the Sister Missionaries. They were filled with treats. The sisters on shift posed for pictures with them! These sisters are such a great influence on the young girls.

A group from the ward we are assigned to, the Udall Ward, visited the center. They did a scavenger hunt and watched a movie.  I enjoyed visiting with them. They heard it was my birthday and shared some truffle's with me and gave me hugs! I always love that. The girls names are Emeri, Mallory, Baylee and I missed one? with Sister Ewton and Sister Smith. Made my day! Today at church I got another hug from them. I have some new friends!

These two pictures are of some sweet Relief Society Sisters that visited the Humanitarian Exhibit. They were so fun to talk with. I have a special love for Relief Society and for the Humanitarian Exhibit. I got some hugs and lots of visiting done, it was great! 

We thought we should get a couple of working pictures. This is where and how we spend a lot of time at the VC!

We get such a diverse group of people at this visitors' center. We see lots of members with family and friends, visitors that see the Christus and just stop by, investigators, Elders with investigators, Sisters with investigators, people wanting to watch movies, those that want some peace or to feel the spirit, YW & YM groups, single groups, temple waiters, youth waiting to do baptisms, wedding waiters, people wanting drinks, or restroom stops, those who are traveling, people who have moved away and come back for a visit, those that have moved here from other states, even a dance group met there to take pictures that were going to homecoming, lots of people getting pictures outside come in after to cool off or get drinks, youth get baptism pictures here, and it goes on and on. Always something new and unusual.

MaryAnn and Terry Visit

I forgot to take any pictures so I borrowed this one. MaryAnn and Terry came for a shopping trip/visit/anniversary, to Mesa. We went to lunch at Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert. They use fresh foods they grow on their farm.  It was a fun place, nice fields surrounding it and we enjoyed the food. It felt like we were in the country. It was packed with families. This week is a break from school for the surrounding areas.

Amanda, Read, and Halie met us there. Read had just passed his drivers license test! Yeah! We went to see Amanda's home after lunch. They are renting while waiting to decide what to buy or to build. It was a great visit.

MaryAnn and Terry stayed overnight with us. Saturday morning we went to the Mesa Temple for a session with them. We went to the Old Country Buffet, where we had breakfast and lunch!  It was a fast trip and we had to work our regular shifts while they were here. We enjoyed their company. Great weekend.

THERE IS BEAUTY ALL AROUND!

Sister Luna and Sister Hourrtiner all dressed up and ready to go to a Ward activity, "Hispanic Night". They said it was great!

I had no idea they started putting up the Christmas lights in September! Can't wait to see them all lit up on Thanksgiving Day!

Just love this bush! It is amazing!

Fall in Arizona apparently means, planting of spring flowers. Interesting.
They are so pretty all around the temple and the visitors' center.

I spy a lizard! I know the grandkids will like this. It's not quite the wildlife we see on the Africa blogs, but it is what it is!

We see bunnies almost every morning on our walks. I finally stopped to take a picture. They seem to live in the  cactus garden at the temple. Shown below.

I love this cactus garden. It is beautiful. 

What a surprise to see Layne! I just love visits. He was on a business trip. I love the Koldewyn kids. I feel like they are a part of my life, because when they were younger, they were. We had such a great visit and nice hugs! He is so handsome and such a great father. Thanks Layne for sharing some stories with us, it meant a lot!

One of the most beautiful sights we saw one morning was the Harvest Moon. I didn't take a picture but it seemed to be right in front of us and down below the tree line,  between the palm trees. Not sure what a picture would have looked like but I promised myself I will always try to get a picture of the beauties around me. They have beautiful sunsets and sunrises here too. Sometimes I forget my phone is a camera.

Some of the other things we have done lately: Dinner and games with other missionaries, fed the Elders and some Sisters, family home evening with senior missionaries,  exploring the area. When you get out of downtown there are many beautiful communities. I actually drove to my hair salon for the first time (Richard usually does all the driving). We found Mimi's Restaurant. We visited a huge outdoor mall and laughed because it was still hot and apparently, no one goes to the outdoor mall when it is hot. They had a huge movie theater. The whole place was pretty empty! I thought of all the money they were losing staying open? Our purpose for going there was to check out the Scout Office, which was a little disappointing to Richard, no shoulder patches.