Many Ways To Say Goodbye

On Saturday evening (June 4), President and Sister Randall had invited all of the Zone leaders and branch leaders (and Jena) to their cabin up in the mountains past Oakley.  They are being released at the end of June and wanted to "thank us" for our service in the mission. (However, they are not letting the mission do a good-bye social for them because it has been their privilege to serve.  That is the type of people they are.  We love them.)

It was a beautiful drive as the landscape was green and crops were growing in the fields along the way.

The weather was slightly overcast with a bit of wind--actually perfect on a warm June afternoon.

Driving the countryside, you never know what treasure you might spy.  I am actually quite proud of this photo--taken as we were making a turn out the passenger window.  It is a closed road side diner made from an old train car.  I love that I got the weedy parkway strip, the dinner and the clouds behind.

The cabin is located in a gated community and we arrived about the same time as several other zone leaders. 

We parked at a base parking lot and carpooled up to the cabin.

The view off one of the decks---

Inside---conversations around every corner---and so much food.  How I love these wonderful people!

And Sister Randall makes great ribs and OUTSTANDING Baked beans!!!

We ate outside with Carters, Hiltbrands, President Randall, Burrows, and Farnsworths.  It was great.  My only regret was that we couldn't have done the same with everyone else.

We then gathered for "The Meeting" that President Randall had promised us.  It was a time of reflections and gratitude from the three good men who have served as our mission presidency.

President Randall

The "balcony seats"

Sister Jeannie Larsen telling a story

Before President Kirt Larsen speaks about the zone leaders who served under him...

and then President Mike Parker did the same...

Mission leadership, zone leaders (old and some brand new), and the Branch leadership

of the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission

June 2022

(and Jena :) )

We took this photo of the Randalls with Jena--how they have grown to love each other.

The cabin

The evening as we waited to leave

The grandchildren rocks

We waited for our turn to ride in the Razor back to the parking lot with Elder Burnham.

President Randall wishing everyone a safe trip down the canyon and watch out for deer.  When it was our turn, Gary offered him a $20 tip for him as the gate man and our Razor driver.  That made him laugh and he told us we were the only ones offering a tip for service.

Entering back to the Salt Lake valley---what a wonderful day!

We will miss the Randalls and we are so glad that we were able to serve under them.  We know that we will grow to love the Holmes as well as they begin their service in a few weeks.