Exciting week ahead in Utah

 

     I hope you don't mind my posting this picture of us. I went to get my haircut and told the stylist that I had let my hair grow out a little because my husband liked my hair a little longer. I told her it was easy to manage shorter but I would try it longer, so only cut off 1/2". She started to cut but then said "you know what, you should wear your hair shorter if you like it." She then cut about 2 inches off. I think it was her stand for women's rights. I don't think it has been this short since LeAnn cut it for her licensing exam. She was a bold stylist. It is easier to style but next time I'll tell her I like it long. She was fun to talk to so I can live with it.

      I feel like we are getting used to serving as missionaries now but there are still new things to learn every day. We have had several missionaries leaving for reassignment the past few weeks. Or at least getting ready. Two elders going home to the Philippines were supposed to leave tomorrow and found out today that the border is closed. So their plans are on hold. Another missionary needed a Covid test 3 days before leaving to England and didn't get his results back in time.  We had to cancel his trip from Alaska and have him fly to Salt Lake instead. He was then able to get tested in one day there and leave the next day.  Logistically that is harder to do but it has been a problem getting reliable testing done here. It has also been a bit frustrating managing Covid vaccines for missionaries. Especially with the problems with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. It makes such a difference in quarantine for missionaries if one is vaccinated and one isn't. Because they spend all of their time together, if they are exposed to Covid, they both have to quarantine unless both are vaccinated. Being quarantined really slows down missionary work! I don't know how President King does it all but he always finds a solution. He is very inspired! When I feel discouraged it seems like the next day (or two) an answer comes. I am so grateful to see how the Lord does prevail when there seems to be no other way.

     This was transfer week. They seem to come so quickly. There is a lot of excitement with change. I like to see how kind the seasoned missionaries are with the new missionaries. I know it has been very hard not having the MTC experience. Many of the missionaries look a little lost and some overwhelmed. But the missionaries all rally to reassure the new ones that it will be okay. And after a few transfers they are the ones reassuring new missionaries. It's like the circle of life, the process of growth and change. 

        Elder Robinson is usually very busy transfer week getting the missionaries things they need with moving. It usually means getting a few beds, bedding, household and kitchen items. Some apartments go from 2 elders to 4-5 elders in an apartment. The missionaries are always happy to see Elder Robinson. He takes good care of them! Also with it getting lighter at night more missionaries need blackout curtains. So we have been hanging curtains. It doesn't get dark now until 10 pm. I can't imagine what it will be like in June. 

     We were excited to get to see the Aurora here in Anchorage. It wasn't as impressive as going to Chena but it only took us 10 min to drive a little south of Anchorage to see it. It was not crowded where we stopped and was 37 degrees so being outside was actually pleasant. I need to get a different camera to take pictures. But it is really hard to get a picture that captures the movement of the lights. That is what is mesmerizing is to see how it shifts and changes. It's like magic in the sky. 

     One thing the missionaries all enjoy is coming in to the mission office on Mondays for mail and a treat from Sister Tracy. She makes a different kind of cookie every week. Their favorite by far is the Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispies Treats. It disappears quickly, so she now makes a double batch. Elder Tracy also made this Lime Gelato to celebrate warmer weather. I hope you will try it for Home Evening and think of it as a treat from Alaska. Ice Cream is very popular here. I should have found a recipe for Moose Tracks ice cream (one of my favorites!)

Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispies Treats

1 c. butter, 2 (12 oz.) bags marshmallows, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 10 c. Rice Krispies

Glaze: 3 oz cream cheese, 3/4 c powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla,  1-3 tsp heavy cream (optional)

Melt butter in pot and mix in marshmallows to melt. Add cinnamon, salt. Remove from heat and add Rice Krispies. Pour into greased 9 x13 pan. Let cool. Make glaze. Blend softened cream cheese with sugar and vanilla. Thin with cream to desired consistency. Spread or pipe on top of treats. Dust with cinnamon.

The Best Lime Ice Cream (Gelato)

1 c. sugar, 2 c. heavy cream, 1/3 c. lime juice, 2 TBS lime zest

Combine sugar, cream and juice. Whip until smooth or blend about 30 sec. Add zest. Pour into 9-inch pan. Cover and freeze 2 hrs. Transfer to large bowl. Beat for 2 minutes. Return to pan. Cover and freeze another hour. Stir again and freeze one more hour. 

Here are a few miscellaneous pictures. This Jeep with snow trax was on a big mound of snow that is now gone. I could see Ben getting one of these. You can see that most of the snow is gone. The missionaries who were here last year said it goes from white snow to brown grass and then beautiful green in about 2 weeks. We'll see. Lastly Elder Robinson has been looking for apartments in Wasilla. He found an ad for a rental with this picture of 3 bears. One of the selling points is that it comes with bears in the backyard. Yikes! No playground in the backyard though.

    Spiritual Thought: I liked what the speaker in Sacrament meeting shared today. It was from a talk by Elder Larry Corbridge in 2008 General Conference. He said "The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel...We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way and go it alone. Which way is easier?" Life is hard. The gospel is easy, once you make the choice to trust God. The easiest way to live life is to life the gospel. That is something to think about this week.

     Some highlights this week were that yesterday, April 17, Tate Hillstead was baptized by his dad, Joe. Collynn and Joe and the rest of the family are so happy for him. Secondly, this Friday, April 23, Summer (Dan and Lisa's daughter) will be going to the Draper Temple to receive her endowment as she prepares to serve a mission in Chicago. She will start MTC online May 15 and then be ready for a beautiful Chicago summer in June! And then on Saturday, April 24, Joe and Collynn will be sealed in the Provo City Center Temple. They are such a wonderful couple and great parents! Happy for the whole family. I am so excited that all of my kids will be together this weekend to celebrate. LeAnn and family are coming from Idaho and Kate and family are in UT getting ready to come to Alaska on May 1. They are good brothers and sisters. Twenty of our 25 grandkids will be taking care of each other(??!!) on Friday night at Lisa's house while they go to the temple with Summer. Ethan is in charge. I hope they take lots of pictures!

We love all of you and are especially excited for the activities in Utah this week. Have an exceptionally great week!

Love,

Elder and Sister Robinson