Sweet is The Work - What a Treat

Elder Myers with Elders Searls and Schmidt holding his famous cookies! 

“Sweet is The Work” This familiar hymn came to my mind this week, because missionary work is sweet, especially when you run into Elder Myers and Elder Gordon. They love to bake cookies, and more often than not, you will see each of them carrying plates of their freshly baked homemade cookies. They share their goods with missionaries, members, and friends alike.

Earlier in the week, Elder Gordon messengered me to see if he could make his famous oatmeal cookies with me at the mission home during interviews on Friday.  As luck would have it, Elder Meyers was being interviewed at about the same time as Elder Gordon, so we were able to get the two of them baking together! Elder Meyers brought with him his yummy chocolate chip cookies to share, and Elder Gordon made over 5 dozen cookies for missionaries to eat who were being interviewed that day and to take with them to give to friends at lessons.

Elder Myers and Elder Gordon

It was fun watching them bake. All three of us agree that real butter is an important ingredient for tasty cookies, along with good chocolate chips. I noticed that each of their cookies were evenly rounded, so I asked them the trick. While Elder Gordon masterly rolls each one into a ball, I learned that Elder Meyers has a cookie scoop he uses. They taste as good as they look! Elder Gordon’s recipe is below.

Elder Gordon making his yummy oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies.

This really has been a sweet weekend as I was asked to bring a dessert to the neighborhood potluck on Saturday evening. I have been looking forward to going for a while now hoping to get to meet many of our neighbors. I took a Hoole family favorite – Special K Bars and some of the Elder’s cookies. They were all a big hit.

A few of our neighbors were familiar with the fact that we lived in the “Mormon” home. We enjoyed visiting with many of them and loved getting to know them better. We were able to tell them about our mission and how we watch over 150 young missionaries. One neighborhood couple comes to play pickleball with us when we’re out playing on p-days now and then.

Sister Quinn off to a neighborhood party with dessert to share.

To top off the sweet weekend, Mark and I attended the Coordinating Council Meeting (CCM) Sunday afternoon. One of the attendees, Brother Wells , always brings everyone a box of See’s Chocolates! Today was no different when we found a golden box in front of each chair. I love chocolates! It is so kind of him and a wonderful treat!  

The CCM consists of the Area Seventy over our mission, Elder Wilson, his executive secretary, the area communications chairman, all eight of the stake presidents in our mission, the temple president and his wife and the mission president and his wife. It is a very informative and helpful meeting. It gives us a chance to coordinate our missionary efforts with everyone and visit with all the stake presidents at the same time about moving missionary work forward in the California Santa Rosa Mission. They are great men who love the Lord and serve Him faithfully.

Brother Wells, in the middle here, brings chocolates for everyone in the meeting. 

See's Chocolates!

The sweetest part of the whole week, however, was the birth of our 18th grandchild. Alice Francis. Alice is Hannah and Ken’s third child. Alice spent a few days in the NICU after her birth which caused us to worry a little, but she is now home and doing well.  Mom is doing well too, and big sister Elaine and big brother Sam are having fun helping mom take care of her. I am sitting on an airplane as I type. I get to go help with baby Alice for a few days. I’ll fly into Dallas late tonight, Sunday, and return to Santa Rosa Friday. I can’t wait to give Alice some hugs and kisses.

Alice Francis

Hannah and Ken with their three children, Elaine, Alice, and Sam Francis 

Elder Gordon’s Oatmeal Cookie Recipe:

2 c. butter

2 c. brown sugar

1 c. white sugar

4 eggs

Cream the above ingredients together then add:

5 c. flour

2 teas. salt

2 teas. soda

3 c. oatmeal

Mix together and add:

1 pkg chocolate chips

Bake at 325 for 15 minutes - Enjoy