A Calm Week

Dear Family & Friends,

This past week was a much calmer one for the office.  We had a few missionaries in and out, but not a lot in the way of interruptions.  Jim’s was still stressful as he had to finish the audit and had to look all over for papers and receipts.  He ended up only missing 7, one of which was found when the auditor was there!  But he is glad that that is over for another year.  We even went up to the attic to see the boxes of papers from 2010 until now, some of which we can gradually throw and/or shred.

I had some parent letters to get out to those parents of missionaries who are expected in a few weeks, and to the parents of missionaries who are going home in a few weeks.  Always information needs to be imparted to both the coming and going ones.

This is the first year of having missionaries with iPads.  All their scriptures and Preach My Gospel are in them which is much easier to carry around.  They have had cell phones for a while so are used to those, but some will still abuse them.  We get phone reports that tell us each phone’s usage, so any misuse is caught fairly quickly.  Thank heavens that is only a few of the missionaries.  Most are obedient.  With the iPads, the missionaries and their parents have to pay $300 for their use during their mission.  If they want to take them home, they have to pay an additional $81.  All of this is paid through their church donation slips.

We had a lot more sunny days this week, which was nice, and it even got up into the 70’s, but not today!  Only 50’s. 

Last Monday Larry invited us over for FHE and showed us pictures of the medical trip to Ecuador.  He worked with a great team of doctors, dentists, nurses, and assistants and he was able to do @ 4 or 5 surgeries each day to correct cleft lips and palettes.  Other surgeries were going on at the same time by other doctors.  He showed many before and after pictures.  It was so impressive!!  We are very proud of the good work that he and others do.  It was fun to be at their house and watch Gary working on decorating a shirt for school the next day, Bram working on a Lego set, and Harper making nice notes to give each of us.  We love, love, love, being with our grandchildren here!!  Good thing all our families don’t live here or we wouldn’t get any mission office work done!!

Friday night and Saturday were spent resting and recuperating from the week, doing laundry, cleaning the apartment, and just taking it easy. 

Today we went to our new ward, Larry’s and Holly’s ward, but they weren’t there as it is Spring Break week for them and they were at a beach on the Gulf Coast enjoying sun and warm water.  We expect lots of photos when they get back.

Our cousins, Judy and Devon Tufts, left Salt Lake City yesterday to serve their mission in Honolulu, Hawaii!!  We wish them well!!

My sister, Lois, celebrated her 81^st birthday on St. Patrick’s Day.  My brother Glenn and his wife Kay took her out to Tucanos—a favorite birthday restaurant.  We are glad they all had such a good time!!

The grass is greening up, some bushes and trees blooming, and some flowers.  We love spring.

We love you all and wish you a great week!

Elder & Sister Hartzell

 

 

 

 

 

 

The front of our apartment complex, The Fountaine Bleau Apartments

The front of our apartment with the side door/balcony showing

Inside the front door

Our living room

Our already-cluttered new/old desk

The kitchen and laundry room

Bedroom #1

Bedroom #2