Celebrations - A Great Week — Mark & Elaine Quinn

President Quinn turned 65 on Wednesday, May 22nd, this week and was delighted when on Monday/P-day the office missionaries and the Santa Rosa Zone threw him a surprise birthday party! This was the first celebration of the week. The second celebration was attending the Oakland Temple on Saturday when two of my nieces received their endowments. More information and photos below.

The Technology Hermanas did an amazing job decorating the mission home with a BYU football theme in honor of President Quinn’s birthday. They know how to make him happy. The cake reads, “Your birthday is better than BYU beating Utah!” Our AP’s, who are both Utah fans, are good sports. We have such wonderful missionaries as you can see here in several photos from the party, plus a funny story.

*Elders Averett, Hill, Dixon, Poulsen, Cantwell, Hart, and Mecham with Sister Schneider*

*Elders Wiley, Cantwell, Wright, Mohr, and Poulsen with Herman’s Ward, Estrada, and Chase*

*Elder Lemon, Elder Gardner, and Elder Hill*

*Elder Poulsen, President Quinn, Elder Wiley - They gave him a Cubs hat with our mission theme embroidered on the side.*

Elder Cantwell singing one of my favorite hymns at the party - "I Believe in Christ" It is fun to have it played on the ukulele!

*Hermans Crandall and Chase the creative decorators with Pres. & Sis. Quinn and our fun nurse who helped plan the surprise party!*

*President Quinn pushing the rope swing……*

Funny story… Two of our sister missionaries were on the rope swing in our backyard and were having a hard time swinging. President Quinn thought he would be nice to give them a push. (The photo is blurry as it comes from a video.) Then President Quinn, forgetting he was 65 and forgetting that he was not pushing tiny grandchildren, decided to do an “under dog” push. Also, forgetting that right under the swing area the ground begins to slope downward. As he ran under the swing pushing the missionaries upward and picking up forward momentum, he lost control. He began running forward without being able to stop himself. Luckily, he stayed on his feet as he ran through the rocky/dirt area until he was able to do a tuck and roll into a place of grass and bushes. Everyone was screaming. Elder Wiley, one of our APs, came running into the house to get me. I ran out just as President Quinn got up from the ground smiling giving us all the “safe” sign. When we knew he was okay, we all burst out laughing!

This week we also had a new set of senior missionaries arrive. We are excited to welcome Elder and Sister Wilson. They will serve as “Member, Leader Support” missionaries here in the Santa Rosa Zone.

*The Quinns with the Wilsons - Welcome!*

Friday afternoon my brother, Greg Hoole and sister-in-law Kelly, and their daughters Caroline and Lucy, met us at the mission office. They live in Salt Lake City. Lucy has recently received a mission call to Chili. Caroline is married and lives in San Fransico with her husband, Ben Murphy. It was fun to show them around the mission office and home. We also had time to introduce them to some of our missionaries.

We took them to Armstrong Woods and then to Bodega Bay. The wind was so strong at the bay we could hardly stand straight. We still hiked down to the beach and tried to find some shelter there. No such luck. We didn’t stay long, which was a little disappointing since I love just sitting on the beach and listening to the waves come in.

The next day Anna, another daughter, of my brother Greg and his son Nate with his finance Madie flew in to San Francisco for the temple visit. We met at the Oakland temple where Anna and Lucy received their endowments. It was a time to celebrate as Greg and Kelly’s entire family was in the temple together for the first time.

We’re so happy they chose the Oakland Temple, that way we could join in the celebration. It was wonderful to get reacquainted with each of them. We loved spending time together.

Greg and Kelly took us all to dinner in Sausalito afterwords. Sausalito is a charming little seaside/bayside town. I want to go tracting with our missionaries there sometime!! What a great week of celebrations.

I hope you have a good Memorial Day weekend! I look forward to the summer’s sunshine shinning down on all of us!

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