Golf and Goodbyes

Matt really, really likes to golf. This is both good and bad. Good, because I get to tag along and drive the golf cart. Bad, because it's kind of an expensive habit and one that I'm not very good at. So every now and then, Matt takes me to the driving range in hopes that my sad skills will improve and I'll fall in like with this hobby of his. (He knows that "love" isn't quite possible for me and golf!) These driving range excursions always provide a good laugh, so we brought the missionaries along on their P-day.

The boys had everything under control and were hitting beautiful balls, even when imitating Happy Gilmore. *cough*Elder Gilbert*cough*

I, on the other hand, needed a lot of help. You guys, I don't know what it is, but I really can't figure out this driving thing! The only times I've ever done well is when I've had the golf pro right there correcting my every move. Matt tried to be of assistance...

... but I still managed plenty of dribblers, along with this swing-and-a-miss so perfectly caught on film.

I blamed it on the airplanes interrupting my focus, of course.

Luckily, years of serial dating allowed me to perfect my mini-golf game and therefore my putting skills. I can't drive the ball to save my life, but I can win a putting contest or ten. Needless to say, I was excited when we switched gears and pulled out the putters and I was able to redeem myself.

We stayed until the sun set over the golf course. The sky was beautiful that day!

Shortly thereafter, it was time for our buddy Elder Gilbert to head to another area--he'd been in ours for nine months, which is a very long time for missionaries to stay in one place. He put on his special suit when he stopped by to say goodbye and insisted we take a picture in front of the "Wall of Love."

Before we knew it, Elder Anderson was at our house for his final dinner before heading home at the completion of his 24-month service. We fed him bacon waffles and apple pie, and then wished him luck finding a wife! (Kidding, only kidding.)

We were missing Elder Gilbert, though, so we swung by Burbank on a Saturday night to take him and his new companion, Elder Cuthberson, out to dinner at Bob's Big Boy. This little gem is home of the original double-decker burger and the cutest big-bellied statue that just begs for a few pictures.

I remember always having the missionaries over when I was growing up in Northern California, and I really missed that living in Utah. Now that Matt and I are back in SoCal, we're loving all of the opportunities that we have to get to know so many great young men.