Dear Murray Family

Dear Murray Family,




I just put Jerry on the Airporter so that he could make his way to the Oakland Airport and then on to Salt Lake where Allison will pick him up and take him to our Provo home. Jerry and another friend, John Torrens, are going back to Salt Lake to visit an old friend, a former skiing buddy, bishop and stake president. His health is going downhill pretty fast, so Jerry and John wanted to get in a good visit with him. Also, Jerry and Neil will be finishing up the details on the sale of the Myton House. A BIG thank you to Neil and to members of his family who have had work parties out to the Myton House several times working on the house and yard. We wouldn't have been able to keep the house for as long as we have, without them.



Jerry and I have completed a month of our Church Service Mission at the CA Santa Rosa Mission Office. This certainly is not an MTC Mission, but we do get to live in our home and serve at the same time. We are a bit overwhelmed right now learning our responsibilities, but hopefully, we will feel comfortable with what we are doing soon. Right now, we are going into the Office 3-4 days a week, which makes for 8-9 hours each day, with commute time added in. We just attended an All-Mission Conference last Monday. Elder Kearon, of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy and Pres. Boyd K. Packer's nephew, member of our Area Presidency, were our speakers. We didn't think we were going to have any "perks" with this mission (other than living in our own home), but this certainly was a very spiritual and inspiring conference and good to gather with all the missionaries in this mission. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen very often.



I hate to boast...but...we have had the most spectacular weather here in Northern CA for about two weeks now. Who needs Hawaii, the Caribbean, Florida or Palm Springs when you can go off to work in the morning without even a sweater or jacket? I am just wondering if this will prolong our winter into spring so that we won't have all the beautiful spring weather we usually get from the middle of February through June. It does make us hang our heads a little when we think of those of you who are suffering through the snow and cold of the Midwest and Utah. It might help you to feel a little better when you think of all that we have to put up with to live here in California like higher prices, lots of liberalism, Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer!



As for our family: Lisa and Bob are all moved into their beautiful new home in Morgan Hill. Well, there may be a room stuffed with boxes of things they don't know where to put or they just haven't gotten around to yet. Lyle has a temporary job that will hopefully turn into a full-time job that hopefully will turn into another full-time job that will fully provide for his family. Our family appreciates all those who have been fasting and praying for Lyle. Susannah and Kevin are STILL patiently waiting for a baby to adopt. Jerry and I know how it feels to have to wait so long when you want a baby so much. Please keep them in your prayers and your eyes and ears open to their cause. Jenn is going to the Caribbean this month and we get to granddog sit Nikki for about ten days. She has started another semester and is taking Physics. Allison is away more than she is home. In March she will come back to California for Austin and Michael's baptisms and then be happily on her way to Ireland with a couple of friends. Pretty soon she will have out-traveled her parents!



We surely love and appreciate all of you! We'd love to hear your family news on this blog. We enjoyed Christmas cards from many of you this year and we are still basking in the "warmth" of our Nauvoo Family Reunion last August. Take care and have a good February!



Love,

Marylyn (and Jerry)