Did we tell you summer days around the Institute are just a bit slower? We suppose it may be that way from time to time no matter where you serve in the Lord’s army. There simply exists gaps in this great work at times no matter how good the planning.
No matter. Before the big ramp up for fall, we were encouraged to take a few moments to “smell the roses.” So we have been giving a few tours around campus to a few institute visitors this past 4th of July holiday week.
And among them were Mike’s parents!
Just how swell is it to have your very own parents visit you while on your mission? We asked that question to the “younger” missionaries and they didn’t think we were very funny.
Well, of course, we gave them the full campus tour.
Then we took them to church:
Okay, not an actual church, but a large room in the University of Washington’s library.
It kinda reminds us of something like unto the Hogsworth great hall doesn’t it?
Anyway, it is very beautiful. And it is where we would go to study if we were aspiring wizards.
We also were able to spend sometime with them touring some beautiful gardens:
And yes, we stopped to smell some roses:
Then we said our good-byes to Mike’s parents and “Surprise!”
We then said Hello again to our daughter!
That’s right. Katie dropped in to fill out the remainder of the holiday week.
Of course we did not forget our main duties around the Institute, even with the extra visitors.
Can we tell you how much FUN it was to have our RM daughter attend our Tuesday night institute class. As you may recall, the class is entitled “Building Lasting Relationships” – (aka “eternal marriage prep” class.) Yes, there she sat, “captivated” so-to-speak. While her dear old parents lectured on and on about the importance of dating and temple marriage. Okay, so she might not have been hanging on our every word. And she might have had to roll her eyes a few times at some of our comments and jokes. But did we tell you how fun it is to have a daughter who doesn’t think her parents are the most embarrassing people on planet earth? She even raised a question and made a comment in class. How cool is that?
Since it was the 4th of July weekend, we did reward her for not walking out on us in class by taking her for a day visit by ferry boat to a nearby island. While there we . . .
And can you see that dark pointy thing out in the water?
At first we only saw it from the distance, then, , ,
Orcas look really cool out in the wild! (especially when you blow up the picture just a bit.)
And they look even cooler in pods:
And they even sound cool when they “blow.”
Anyway, it was just a fun experience with Katie.
Notice the cute “wind-blown” helmet-hair look after being on the mopeds:
And if you look even closer, you might notice that one of us got stung by a bee, right under the eye – Oouch! In fact, that same person got stung, not once, but TWICE. We aren’t saying who, but our little “bee-magnet” in red still looks great doesn’t she! Despite the stings, she was a real trooper and still enjoyed our company.
Upon leaving the island, on the way home, we then got real close to the land made famous by, , ,
You guessed it, that crazy series of teenage books that once you start reading you can’t put down (but are also too embarrassed to let anyone know you are reading them, hah!)
Actually, we went home and to bed without seeing them firsthand. But we heard from the students Seattle fireworks this year were fantastic and as always free! (It’s Mike’s pet-peeve that Provo is the only place on earth where you have to pay to see the fireworks.)
Well, Katie is now back in Provo herself.
We remain here holding down the fort and trying not to lead too many students astray with our summer teachings.
We love and miss you all and promise to write something more “missionary” in nature now that all our company has gone.
Hope your summer is going just swell!
Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny” Thornton
No matter. Before the big ramp up for fall, we were encouraged to take a few moments to “smell the roses.” So we have been giving a few tours around campus to a few institute visitors this past 4th of July holiday week.
And among them were Mike’s parents!
Just how swell is it to have your very own parents visit you while on your mission? We asked that question to the “younger” missionaries and they didn’t think we were very funny.
Well, of course, we gave them the full campus tour.
Then we took them to church:
Okay, not an actual church, but a large room in the University of Washington’s library.It kinda reminds us of something like unto the Hogsworth great hall doesn’t it?
Anyway, it is very beautiful. And it is where we would go to study if we were aspiring wizards.
We also were able to spend sometime with them touring some beautiful gardens:
And yes, we stopped to smell some roses:
Then we said our good-byes to Mike’s parents and “Surprise!”We then said Hello again to our daughter!
That’s right. Katie dropped in to fill out the remainder of the holiday week.
Of course we did not forget our main duties around the Institute, even with the extra visitors.
Can we tell you how much FUN it was to have our RM daughter attend our Tuesday night institute class. As you may recall, the class is entitled “Building Lasting Relationships” – (aka “eternal marriage prep” class.) Yes, there she sat, “captivated” so-to-speak. While her dear old parents lectured on and on about the importance of dating and temple marriage. Okay, so she might not have been hanging on our every word. And she might have had to roll her eyes a few times at some of our comments and jokes. But did we tell you how fun it is to have a daughter who doesn’t think her parents are the most embarrassing people on planet earth? She even raised a question and made a comment in class. How cool is that?
Since it was the 4th of July weekend, we did reward her for not walking out on us in class by taking her for a day visit by ferry boat to a nearby island. While there we . . .
Rented some mopeds and drove around the island. We found this cool lighthouse and more, , ,
And can you see that dark pointy thing out in the water?At first we only saw it from the distance, then, , ,
Orcas look really cool out in the wild! (especially when you blow up the picture just a bit.)
And they look even cooler in pods:
And they even sound cool when they “blow.”
Anyway, it was just a fun experience with Katie.
Notice the cute “wind-blown” helmet-hair look after being on the mopeds:
And if you look even closer, you might notice that one of us got stung by a bee, right under the eye – Oouch! In fact, that same person got stung, not once, but TWICE. We aren’t saying who, but our little “bee-magnet” in red still looks great doesn’t she! Despite the stings, she was a real trooper and still enjoyed our company.
Upon leaving the island, on the way home, we then got real close to the land made famous by, , ,
You guessed it, that crazy series of teenage books that once you start reading you can’t put down (but are also too embarrassed to let anyone know you are reading them, hah!)Well, the 4th here in Seattle ended in a big bang:
Actually, we went home and to bed without seeing them firsthand. But we heard from the students Seattle fireworks this year were fantastic and as always free! (It’s Mike’s pet-peeve that Provo is the only place on earth where you have to pay to see the fireworks.)
Well, Katie is now back in Provo herself.
We remain here holding down the fort and trying not to lead too many students astray with our summer teachings.
We love and miss you all and promise to write something more “missionary” in nature now that all our company has gone.
Hope your summer is going just swell!
Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny” Thornton
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