Heading home for Departure

 had to stop in Yosemite on our way home - didn't have time to climb Half Dome or El Capitan but Half Dome is on the list.

 Bridalveil Falls - so beautiful

Base of El Capitan - it's a long and difficult hike just to get to a spot where you can start to climb

 El Capitan just waiting to be climbed

Water falls all around the Park, Half Dome in the distance.  It's massive when you get up close
This is a view from the tunnel as you first come into the valley with Bridalveil Falls on the right.

Wendy and I drove from Yosemite over to Napa Valley for the night.  It is a long road but beautiful country, farming, vineyards, lakes and ranching.  Beautiful rolling hills.  We spent the next few days driving up through California, Oregon, Washington and over to Spokane, then up to Invermere.  We arrived Monday evening and spent a few days getting clothes and our home organized.  We will spend time here in Invermere and over in Calgary over the next 5 weeks as we get ready to fly to Provo to the Missionary Training Centre on June 9th.  We are very excited to get going as it's been almost 8 months working on visas and getting ready to go serve.

Newport Beach Marriott - Palm Springs Desert Springs

Wendy and I have enjoyed the past week at the Newport Marriott with Dave. Lisa and kids.  We did some hiking, swimming (lots of swimming), games and activities 4-5 times a day for the kids, Crystal Cove beach, and some great relaxing time.

Our pool for the week

one of many daily activities for the kids with a sprinkle of swimming and ice cream floats each day.

Brady was interested in driving the other kids around the complex - not going to happen

Another one of the activities - shaving cream design

Breakfast at Rose Bakery one morning - yum, granola - yogurt - bananas - strawberries

 Crystal Cove Beach with the kids

Audrey taking pictures of the caves at the end of the beach.  

Golfing in Palm Springs at the Shadow Ridge Golf course.  94 degrees - Wendy has been hard to beat the past few days.  I'm down 3 strokes after 36 holes so tomorrow I will need to play like Bubba Watson

 Of course after a tough day at the course you need a great Mexican meal at EL Gallito's a family business for years here in Palm Springs just on Hwy 111.  If you are ever in the area it's a must.

Doesn't she just look like she just beat me for the second round in two days.  Watch out tomorrow.

Daily grind in Southern California

Wendy and I start our day with a long walk in the hills around Ladera Ranch.  There are many trails through the neighbourhoods as well as up and down the hills and ravines.  We try and get 10 -12 Km each morning.

We like this trail because when we get to the end we can see the beach at Dana Point.

We then jump on our beach cruisers and ride over to the pools ( about a block or so) for our daily swim

Ladera has a few beautiful pool areas, and this one is real close to Dave and Lisa home.

We have gone from 10 lengths to 44 lengths so we are getting a little better at the swim portion of our workout.

Hey, after any workout you have to have something good to eat once in awhile so we head over to Dana Point for the famous Shwack burger

I know it seems wrong but you got to admit it looks good and by the way it is good.  Yum

                          Then the afternoon gets busy with taking the boys to the pool again.

                                                   Scout activities - Carter Saunders

Then there is always homework.  Carter doing his reading assignment with Brady learning the ropes.

California Dreamin

                       Party time on Mission Viejo Lake with Dave, Lisa and Kids.

Dave and I took Carter and Brady over to Phoenix to spring training and a game with the LA Angels vs San Francisco Giants.  Great time, nice experience, I forgot how much I love baseball.

 Wendy and I spent a a few days down in San Diego and visited the Mormon Battalion history site and there in the artifacts was a sword that Philemon Merrill used on his journey as part of the Mormon Battalion.  Philemon is my Grandma Saunders Grandfather on her mothers side.  Great surprise.

We had a great day going on a tour of the USS Midway.  It was great to see the immensity of this ship and get educated on how they launch a plane and trap a plane when it lands on the deck.  The living quarters and food services were neat to see.  We had lots of fun and thought often of the young boys in our family and how much they would enjoy this museum.

some great old planes and new ones as well.

A tribute to all the sailors and to Bob Hope.

                                  The famous Coronado Hotel on Coronado Island

               Pearl of India - great old ship that went around the world at least 6 times.

Long Long beaches on south shores of Coronado Island - wonderful place.

Preparing for Samoa weather

Wendy and I have to get ready for warm weather in Samoa - 31 degrees every day with a low of 26 degrees.  80-90% humidity.  

So we are spending a month in Southern California where we can swim everyday and get some sun.

We will be able to go to the beach and catch a few rays as well -

I think Wendy is excited about this

We can do a bit of biking and walking to round out the exercise 

And of course we will need to get a bit of golf in as 2 years is a long time to not golf.  

More Tests

Here is a picture of our 3 bedroom home in Samoa.  The van has been replaced with a new 1 ton van so we have lots of room for passengers or cargo and spare beds for guests.

Wendy and I have spent the past few weeks back in Calgary getting new medicals, X-rays, Police reports and passport documents filled out.  We are grateful for the Dr's who have helped us thru the process in a very efficient manner.

We went out to our home in Windermere for a few days to pick up some clothes and check on things. The mountains have had lots of snow as you can see - it's building up everywhere.  The Valley was clear and no snow, very spring like.  We had a nice few days to relax.

Jessica and CJ went down to St. George to look for a home so Wendy and I have been the chief cook, bottle washer, baby sitter of Eli and Ida for 4 or 5 days and it's been real fun.  We took some walks, played some games, and had a special meal each night.  Saturday - Pizza , Sunday - spaghetti, Monday - meatballs, Tuesday - Tacos, Wedensday - Waffles.  Whatever rhymed we made.

The Family we will miss

Well, I don't know - you tell me. DO you think you would miss this bunch?  I know we sure are going to miss them and expect they will all grow a few inches while we are gone.  These little ones are a great blessing in our lives.  It seems as though most of our thoughts and aspirations centre around these special boys and girls.  We love them and we pray for their success in life as honest, upstanding contributors to a better society and loyal friends.  We hope they will always know how much we love them and will stand by them in their successes and failures.

Checking in on the Salmons

Wendy and I took a flight over to Texas to visit Stacey & Aaron and the 4 boys.  We had a great time with them.  How could you not;  Dahl is just the best big brother and so kind, Ty smiles so hard his teeth fall out, Reid is wonderful friend and brother to Rex and Rex is cute as a bugs ear.

Rex showed us how to eat ribs at a great place in Durant Oklahoma, Aaron's dental office is in Durant.  Rex can really clean up a rib.

Ty & Dahl both had a basketball game at the Baptist Church.  They have a great facility and the boys get lots of good teaching in both basketball and religion.  Before the game starts the teams all join a circle and the referee kneels down in the middle and says a prayer. At half time both teams formed a circle and a young lady gave a bible story. Following the game they all went into a room and each player was recognized for their good play and given a nice message.  They do it up big in Texas

Dahl and the boys were great cheer leaders for the Olympic games while we were with them.  We watched Canada and the US as they went for Gold.  The Canada women's hockey and the Canada men's hockey were lots of fun for the boys to watch.

We all went to one of Ty's plays at the school one evening and watched Ty perform with his class.  They did a great job.

Time to Visit Loved ones.

Wendy and I had time to visit Dave & Lisa and kids in California in that we don't leave for Samoa till June 9th.  We drove through the Redwoods as we made our way down to Southern California.

Wendy couldn't get her arms around this tree and it was a small one.  The Redwoods are very beautiful, we would suggest to anyone that it is a worthwhile drive through the "avenue of the giant"

We had a great time hanging out with Dave and family, riding bikes, swimming, going to baseball practices and enjoying some nice warm weather.

You have been Re-assigned

Well after 4 months of trying to get visas to India we have been unsuccessful.  We have tried every thing and every way we could think of to get the Consulate attention and issue us a visa but we were unsuccessful.  We have since learned that the Missionary Department has called 8 couples in the past 2 years and no one from Canada has been able to get a visa since early 2012.  This of course makes it difficult for the Missions in India.

On Feb. 20th Wendy and I were reassigned to the Samoa Apia Mission to work on the American Samoa island as CES Specialists, teaching Institute, Missionary Preparation, Temple Preparation and to provide services of all every kind to the 40 missionaries on the Island.  We are so excited.