New trainers, prep for transfers, baby blessing

Last week was a great week as we were able to prepare for transfers this week.  Steve still had to interview the departing missionaries, but we were able to have some time in our office at home and get so much done!  There is a lot of praying, and pondering that goes into each and every transfer!
Steve feels it is such a remarkable thing as he seeks for the spirit to help him determine where missionaries should go and with whom.
We were both able to go do some weekly planning with  missionaries on Thursday which we always enjoy!  He was able to go with two sets of zone leaders, and I was able to go with one set of sisters.  I always like being able to go to weekly planning with the sisters.
Then on Friday we held our New Trainer's meeting for the missionaries that will be training the 24 missionaries arriving on Wednesday!  Actually only 23 come Wednesday and the last one comes on the 26th.  We are so excited to get them here in our mission!  We just love to welcome these new missionaries straight from the MTC full of faith and enthusiasm!  It brings great life to our mission.
We are sad to see the others go, but always excited to see what the future holds for them.  As we are sending one of our assistants home, Elder Stringam, we had to call a new one, Elder Grinwis.  We are excited to work with him and feel he will be a great blessing in this assignment.
Saturday we drove down to Lethbridge to participate in the Lethbridge Stake Conference with Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Seventy.  He is the one who set me apart as a missionary, so it was special to be with him again.  We have the real blessing of being in many stake conferences- about 27 per year- and in each one there is always such a great spirit.  We only hope that when we are asked to speak we can add to that.  Following the conference we were invited to a delicious lunch at President MacLennan's home.  His wife Kathy is an incredible cook, and she fed us well!  They are always so kind to us.  We have loved the friendships we have made with these stake presidents and their wives!
Then we had to leave to get home for a meeting with our assistants, but on the way we were able to pull over for a few minutes and FaceTime in to see our oldest son, Brad, bless their new little baby, Jake, who we have never seen face to face!  They did the blessing in their home, so it was special for us to feel like we were a little part of the sweet event.  I have to say that it has tugged at my heartstrings a little bit to not be there for Miles' baptism last week, and this baby blessing yesterday.  So, I am really grateful to have at least been able to watch from afar!  The miracles of technology!
We are excited for this upcoming transfer week!  It is always a fun, hectic week.  On Thursday evening we always breathe a little sigh of relief!  And then we start up with interviews on Friday!

Weekly planning with Sisters Dewsnup & Hathaway

Cute sisters that will be training!

Elders at the New Trainers Meeting

More elders who will train

Elder Grinwis (new assistant), Elder Stringam (going home) Elder Wolfe

Elder Stringam insisted on one more selfie!

Brad and Katy with their sweet little Jake on his blessing day.

Proud Dad with his sweet little guy!
I need to be able to snuggle this little one!