Feeding the Elders

Feeding the missionaries every Tuesday night has given Travis and I the opportunity to meet some pretty exceptional young men.

We love the individuality and flavor each one brings into our home.

We love their spirit and the feeling it brings into our home.

We love their love for the Savior and the gospel.

We love their insight.

We love their thoughts.

We love that they all come from Utah. Literally! haha.

This last transfer has been especially a favorite for us. Elder Phillips and Elder Olson have brought so much laughter and daw'gone good times into our home.

Unfortunately they were too good of missionaries and were called to open a brand new area. Holla! Slash, bummer for us.

So we had a farewell party including Cafe Rio for dinner, garnished with none other than an award ceremony. Really.

Legitimate awards and gifts were given.

Bless those boys' hearts, they brought our girls children's versions of the Book of Mormon. I'm pretty excited about that, considering all Londyn can remember from our nightly reading is that, "Nephi chomped off Laban's head." My fingers are crossed that these books contain a little less detail!

Trav was awarded an official man card.

I can get mushy here...

Yes, it's funny that these boys joke about who deserves a man card and who's needs to be revoked...but what I see, are these young men coming into our home and admiring the kind of man Travis is. I love watching my husband interact with the elders. I love watching them relate with each other. They discuss aspects of a missionaries life...what they love, what they struggle with, feelings they have about their experiences. I see these young men valuing the advice Trav has. So when they go as far as awarding him with a "man card"...to me, that speaks volumes of the perspective these boys have of my husband. They truly admire him as a man. That's a little mushy for guys...but for me, I'm a proud wife. And that's what I see.

As for me, I received the 'Fancy Food Fanatic Award' from the official association (FFFA). The mind reels that my award includes food right? I am the one in the kitchen preparing unbelievable meals eh.

To explain:

A few transfers back we had an elder that may or may not have been very eloquent. It was his first night eating at our house...little did he know, what came out of his mouth that night would set a reputation in the mission for the next...however long!

We sat down to eat and he says to me something like...

"Well, usually when we eat at a members house, they try to go above and beyond with the food. Sis. Benson, this isn't fancy at all!"

My mouth indisputably dropped to the floor in less than half a second. And it just isn't in me to let something like that slide. He was instantly put on the spot.

"What do you mean by that Elder Hansen? Are you saying my food isn't good?" Kinda laughing, but kinda not.

The look of fluster immediately consumed his whole face. And the back peddling began. What were we eating you ask...well, it wasn't like I was feeding these boys peanut butter sandwiches. And absolutely in the poor elders' defense, it was nothing fancy either. It was chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, with garlic bread and some kind of vegetable.

But, after that night, every elder who has eaten here makes a smart comment in complimenting my meal...about how fancy it is! Hence the 'Fancy Food Fanatic Award'.

I'm thrilled to be a recipient!

In return, we gifted two of our favorite elders, with Trav's drawing of Christ.

Again, my husband is pretty freakin awesome.

My girls have been such troopers. We've been stuck in the house the past 3 days due to me not being able to maintain a healthy immune system...so we had a snack/picnic on the patio...

which eventually turned into this...

and I love it when they have too much fun!