LA Temple

 

Hey grandma and Grandpa!  You'll have to tell me if you are checking our blogs but I figured you weren't so posting this on there.

 I took the kids to the temple on Monday since its closed.  The visitors center there is super cool and lots to play in too and about 20 touch screens that show different videos.

 

flowers (and grapes) for Grandma!

here the girls are practicing being missionaries with some sisters we met at the visitors center

We love you!  we miss you! 

Hello from the Vegas McCoys (not so grande)

 Mother's Day

 

"Did you toot dad? Or was that the pet duck again."

We can't stand it !!

We can't stand it -- all these videos and pics of grandkids are killin' us.  They are so stinkin' cute -- we just want to pull one of those horror movie stunts and climb through the screen and hug 'em.  So you'll all have to get skype if you don't have it so we can pretend we're right there. 
Sounds like some of you have gone or are going out of town for the 4th of July -- enjoy and be safe.

As for news on this end -- things are going well -- we already feel like we belong here.  And yes, I'm already snoring in Spanish -- piece 'a cake -- I got this down !!  It's funny though, everywhere we go people look at us and often ask us where we're from.  When we tell them we're from the US they ask us if we like it here in Saenz Pena, Argentina.  Of course we tell them we do and why -- because we're here on assignment with our Church, etc . . . and we're into a gospel discussion with them.  It's been fun to watch Jan get into it too -- she's become pretty fearless, despite her limited Spanish, she can still shop with the best of them.  And when she bears her testimony she does it in Spanish and the people are just transfixed -- you can hear a pin drop.

To give you a feel for how things are down here -- Jan participated in branch choir practice the other night and the choir members (about 10) all stood in a line shoulder to shoulder on the stand "singing" a-capella.  Right behind them was a beautiful electric organ/piano with people available to play it.  When I asked one of the choir members why they don't use the piano accompaniment, he just shrugged and said that was just the way they always did it.  Never mind that nobody could carry a tune in a bucket -- why do things different?  So Jan organized a little quartet with organ accompaniment to show them how nice it can sound with music added.  We'll see what happens.

We spent last weekend with the mission president and his wife -- a nice couple from Chandler AZ.  We went out to a branch to do some investigating to see if things were as bad as reported -- an absentee branch president and a witch (I mean a woman who actually practices witchcraft) as a relief society president.  Fortunately, we found the reports to be exaggerated and we were able to persuade the mission president not to put us out there in that branch but let us continue to work at the district level to help qualify it to become a stake.  We had dinner that night with the prez and his wife at a nice hotel near-by -- and Argentine steak is as good as they say it is !!  I have to admit it was pretty nice to sit down to a good dinner and conversation with some Americans.

Well, this is getting pretty long, so probably better bring it to a close.  We haven't forgotten about posting some photos and promise to do so soon.  In the meantime, keep the news and photos coming on your end.

We love you and pray for your welfare,
XOS,
Dad and Mom/Brian and Jan


   

          

Brynn "live"

So you might need to turn it up to hear Dal ask Brynn to smile for him and then she does this head-shake thing...we think it's hilarious! oh and she just woke up.....13 hours later! should i be worried? xos!

Post

So did you get my package? it was over the price limit by a dollar something unless you were meaning Argentine monies, then i have no idea.....enjoy that Swiss Miss and make sure to add water!

Ok so you guys don't post nearly enough for my liking, i need to know more! Like does dad snore in a spanish accent now? have you been robbed? mugged? or in any way beaten up some locals? i bet you could take em madre. Do they have any crazy holidays where they burn down buildings?

Typical face when Dal holds her

 Yes, she's wearing a green tutu!

 If she only knew her legs looked like that, her face would probably show different

(But she loves looking at herself in the mirror)

Playing a little gui-tar with daddy

Well we're just enjoying our summer. next week we'll be in Pasco for the 4th, Kevin bought us a car so dal needs to fix it a little bit and we'll do some wakeboarding, watch fireworks maybe some golf. who knows? Brynn is doing just fabulous. Sleeps 12 hours most nights and then 2 hour naps besides. she's just growing, growing and is so fun. Girls Camp is in 2 weeks and it'll be hard to leave her. Welp, hope to see more pics pronto. remember to take lots and lots! xos!

Emma's Blessing

It was so fun to skype with you guys last week. Emma definitely misses you both, especially snuggling with her Grandma! We love you both and love hearing about all the work you are doing. I'm not quite as savvy with the video and blog stuff but I can post pictures. Here are couple from Emma's blessing (Father's Day). It was a very special day and Garlan did a beautiful job giving her a name and blessing. Luckily he stuck with Emma Kathryn and didn't change it to Gertrude or Helga. haha. 
She is growing every day and becoming more alert and animated. She definitely has some spunk to her personality and she loves to be standing and facing everyone. I think she'll end up skipping crawling and go straight to walking.
Let's skype soon!
Much love!
Emma & Co

Post Father's Day

Just a note to thank all of you who served up Father's Day well-wishes privately or on the blog.  It was indeed a good day.  I guess we were so taken in by Brooke & Jason's videos that I forgot to wish all the fathers in our family a Happy Father's Day -- so Happy Belated Father's Day to all of you -- Brandon, Rob, Paul, Jason, Spencer, Darek, Garlan, & Dal.  You're all good men and we're glad to see you doing your best to lead your own families in righteousness -- we're all beneficiaries.

And congratulations to you, Marschell.  It's been a torcherous path at times, but like Elder Holland taught in his last General Conference address, the parable of the laborers is a good reminder for all of us.

Beyond that, it's P-day for us so we're out the door to relax for a while.  Love you all.  Keep us posted on what's happening and we'll chat later.

XOS,
Dad & Mom 

PS -- as soon as we have a little more time I'll try my hand at posting some photos. 
     

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

It's very late and probably not even Sunday anymore where you're at but wanted to wish you a wonderful day all the same.  I have thought about you throughout the day and know that you're where you need to be.  Interestingly, within a short amount of time of working things out, you received your visas and I received my letter from the First Presidency.  Paul and I have been cleared to be sealed.  I know that Heavenly Father loves each of us and wants to bless us as His children.  It's been a long road and a lot of spiritual growth has taken place.  I'm grateful for the gospel and for family.  Thank you for raising us in the church.  Thank you for doing all you could to parent so many children in righteousness.  I know that we have benefited in many ways by your example.  Take care of each other and know that we are praying for you and your mission experience.  Love you!

Marschell

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Happy Father's Day pops.  You might already be on to Monday, not really sure.  Had lasik and the screen kinda burns my eyes, but wanted write something.  Hope you had a great day and thanks for everything.
Love ya!

Father's/Grandpa's Day

Ah,ha,ha --  we got home from church today and saw your video, California McCoy's, and thank you so much !!  What a treat !! -- especiall being so far from home.  What technical know-how -- we're totally impressed.   

Today we had a Father's Day Primary program in our branch for which Mom played -- what a hoot -- little kids are the same everywhere.  It's so cool though, to hear these little primary children sing the same songs we've heard all our lives -- only in Spanish instead of English -- and see their parents beam with pride.  So we really appreciated being able to come home and hear our own children's children sing to us via the internet.

It's been a busy week and next week will be more of the same -- Tues is a Zone tng mtg at which I'll be presenting to the missionaries our plan to become a stake -- we need their help to make it happen.  We need 5 branches w/ at least 150 members and 12 - 15 full-tithe paying MP brethren each to qualify.  We could use your help too if you'd like to include some specifics in your prayers for us -- for which we thank you very much.  Nothing is very easy down here, so the Lord has definitely got to be part of the process.  We're shooting for the end of this year to have the required number of MP brethren to apply for "stakehood".  We're relying on a couple of scriptures to explain "the why" -- D&C 115:4-6 and D&C 133:8-11, if you'd like to maybe go over those in FHE or something.
On Wed we have a fiesta to celegrate Flag Day and Mom's been asked to speak to the RS sisters and share humanitarian service ideas, so she's getting geared up to show them her children's activity bags.  She borrowed the sewing machine at the building (which is almost as big as our Graham stake center) and of course the first thing we had to do was get it fixed.  By the way, a point of interest -- there are no parking spaces around the buildings down here -- since almost no one has a car.  Not like at home, where there has to be all kinds of parking around the building to accommodate everybody's cars.
Meanwhile, we've made some really good contacts in the community -- there's an English school near-by so we just stopped in one day and volunteered to help out if we could since we're native English speakers and the Director jumped on it and invited us to come speak to one of her adult classes.  We did and have become acquainted with an ear-nose-& throat specialist, a nutritionist, and the owner of a couple of motorcycle dealerships -- really good people.  So the work is progressing and we're enjoying it immensely.
Well, not to make this too long -- there's just a lot to share and we can't write "the hundreth part".  But again, we love you and hope things are going well.  Let us know on the blog.

XOS,  love ya's,
Dad and Mom