We received a call from Jamie Gardner from our ward in Lindon and she said they were just getting on the plane to come to Ventura and they wanted to meet us for dinner on Saturday night - during Fall break.  It was the first Sunday in October.  Anyway, she said they were flying into LA and they would be in Oxnard.  I knew that the traffic is horrible in LA - but we soon heard from them and we were right the traffic was to bad to meet them.  So we went to Church on Sunday morning and just as Church was starting - I looked at the door and there were the Gardners and about 20 other people!

 It was so good to see them!  It was wonderful to see someone from home.  They didn't know that we were attending the Ventura ward and they were really surprised.  It was a great day!  We met the next night at McConnells for ice cream and the treat was on Ryan!  We loved seeing the Gardners and see how big the kids have become.

Also, in October, our niece Megan was getting married and everyone combined their resources and we rented a house in San Clemente!  It was so much fun.  Here is Kenzie getting her nails done.  Ellie and Ava are below.  Ava was so funny, she wouldn't move her hands.  Later that day, they went to the beach and played in the sand and all of their polish wore off!  Kenzie and Ellie were both in the wedding.  It was such a wonderful trip and so much fun!  I will have to find my camera to locate pictures of the BRIDE!  Jana (the mother of the bride) and Megan both looked beautiful!  It was a very special weekend.

Here is the view of the beach from the house we rented in San Clemente.  You can see all the kids down there on the beach if you look hard enough.  The only problem was that there is a train that goes from San Diego up the coast - about every 30 minutes - until about 10:30 at night and then starts again about 5:30 a.m.

Then my cousin, Launa and her husband Reece returned from their mission to the London England Temple on the 17th of October and they came to see us the first part of November. Our 2nd bedroom comes in handy - we wish we had someone there every weekend!  It was so good to see them and hear about their mission.  Of course, they have had a very different experience than what we have had.  They are all good experiences on a senior mission - just different.  Everyone is needed.  We took them on the electric boats to see the sea lions and of course the sea lions were putting on a great show.  This time they were basking in the sun on a deck instead of being in the water.  Here is Launa trying to get a picture of them.

We took Launa and Reece up to the Cross at Ventura and showed them they entire valley from the mountain to the south and all of the fields behind the cross.  It is a beautiful view.  Here we are - it is hard to believe that their mission is over and ours seems to be going by faster!



We always say that the days are so long - but the months seem to be flying by.  I am sorry that I haven't posted sooner!  December proves to be a very busy month!  We started the month of December with wishing Andy a Happy 42nd Birthday!  I just can't believe that - but it is true.

We also did the lunch for MLC - which is for 43 people.  Elder Ruse and I did stew and told the Assistants to pray for rain (hasn't rained in over a year) (we decided this on Thursday and MLC is the next Tuesday).  Well - those Elders can certainly pray because it was down-pouring on Tuesday and then we worried for the safety of all the missionaries coming to Oxnard for the meeting.  We are so grateful when prayers of safety are answered.