Thanks for visiting readers!

It appears that more and more people are reading the blog.  Thank you.  It was to over 500 visits this past week.  I would love to answer questions if there are any.  Sister Burningham

News.

We just found out that Todd Tapp has changed jobs in the Philippines Area Office from Security Manager to Director for Temporal Affairs.  He will be great in anything he does but who will be the Security Manager? Just wondering.

Our homecoming in St. George Utah

Ali showing me her poster.

This is just one of the pictures I had showing our grand-kids greeting us.

Been home now about a month

I had hoped to post some pictures by now but we have been busy putting our house back in order and also I have been so involved in an estate sale of my parents vacation home here in Leeds Utah.  I have completed the estate sale and the vacation home is being rented starting on September 1st.  It was a lot of effort but a successful one.  Reason for the estate sale is that my father passed away on July 1st and mom who lives in Fallbrook and up in years did not want to return to Utah for any reason.  So our son Brad who is the executor of the estate put me in charge of getting the furniture out.  So that is done. Hooray.

We so enjoyed our vacation in Davao with the Alan Mercader family.  Two wonderful days at two wonderful resorts.  We so thank the Mercader family for a wonderful time.

Also we spent a few days at the family compound of Jun Mercader and his family.  An awesome experience.  On July 30th we went on to Hong Kong for a few days and we really enjoyed that.  The Octopus subway is quite a way to get around.  We saw some great sites including a visit to the Hong Kong temple.  Pictures will follow as soon as we get to it. 

We arrived in LA Airport and met by our three sons, David, Brad and Randy and Joanna and Ella.  We really enjoyed our visit with them.  We stayed one night in the Marriott Hotel courtesy of Brad. Thanks Brad.

We spent a few days with my sister Delynn and her husband David and we so enjoyed it.  Delynn and David will be going on their mission on October 3rd as PEF missionaries in Ghana Accra, Africa.  They will be so terrific in this calling.  We are so excited for them.  Their Farewell Sacrament Meeting will be on September 11th and we will be there for them.

We boarded our plane for St. George in Los Angeles on August 7th.  We were met with signs and family and grandkids and a couple from our ward.  It was so good to see them.  Our daughter in law Kjrisit planned a great dinner upon our return.  Lots of family.....we were overwhelmed with it all. 

Our son Brian and family had hoped to be out of our house and into their new home by the time we got back but it didn't quite happen so we were living with our packed and un packed stuff for a few days and family staying here as well....but hey it was fun and we so enjoyed everyone.

We reported to our ward on August 14th with all the family here but Jon.  He couldn't break away from work but we say him in LA and all.  We were so glad to have him with us.

After the dinner at our house after our report, the family started to return to their homes.   We have spent the last three weeks unpacking and cleaning and making trips to Deseret Industries.  Not only for our stuff but my parents place also.

This past Sunday the 28th we reported to the Stake High Council.  It went well.....then of course we can't be too lax, we already have callings to be primary workers teaching the four year olds.  I know we will enjoy it.  It will be a great experience.

With my mother receiving 24/7 care, we may have to make a few trips to California from time to time.  We will watch this for the next couple of months to see how she does.  Perhaps we will need to bring her closer to our home at a retirement home.  We shall see.

Pictures of our trip will follow.  We have just been very involved in getting our home back in order and Brian and Jenna's things out to their home.  But really......All is well.

Maybe the last post.

Today is Sunday the 24th of July, Pioneer Day in Utah.  Next to the last day for us.  I have just finished our breakfast dishes and don't expect to prepare anything further.  We will attend the Makati fourth branch or other wise known as the ex-pat branch where we have been asked to address the Sacrament Meeting.  Wow they see us coming and we get it.  Then after dinner with the McAllisters and Tapps, the McAllisters will follow us to the MPAO where we will return our car then they will take us to the apartment.  I will finish up packing and giving out some food stuffs and a few other things try to sleep, then be picked up by a church van and taken to the airport at 5 am.  Flight is at 7:50 am to arrive in Davao around 10 am. where we will be met by Alan Mercader for a vacation he is treating us to.  Don't know when I can post again, but after Davao we will board a plane to Manila again and then catch our plane to Hong Kong for a few days.  We plan to enjoy our last few days in Asia before we head back to the states.  Am I nervous?  Yes. I am hoping all the weight is correct and that we don't have to pay extra.  Its a trick. 

Thank you all dear readers for following along.  It has been quite an adventure.  Until we meet again.  Probably post again when we are back in the states.

Sister Burningham

July 23, 2011 trained the new girl Sheila (Shella) and sent the box

It was quite a day.  We sent off a huge box, 65 lbs. wow.  Then I trained the new employee, Sheila (Shella) Torres.  She will be really wonderful as she has really picked up fast all the things that she needed to know. I cried as I said good-bye to Ryan Apduhan.  He was my go to guy on so many things.  I called him my son as he was just like a son to me.  Going to miss all these men so much. 

I was told before I left the US that I would fall in love with the Filipino people, but I was never told that it would break my heart to say good bye. 

Salamat po, my wonderful staff both in Cebu and in Manila.  I love you all so much.

Sister Burningham

Last Day in the office today

Today will be the last day in the office.  One more box to pack and send.  Train a casual employee to take my place to be an assistant to Todd Tapp.  Then we will have dinner with Alan Mercader and family.  Almost done.

July 15th picture with all our Security Family at our Farewell Party

We were so pleased that so many people showed up.  Great to have worked with them.

Countdown continues

I met with our landlady on Monday for apartment inspection and she was pleased. We worked out the details of what is left to pay in utilities.  I packed and repacked my suitcase and weighed it and reweighed it to make sure we were within the weight limits.  Still busy with unloading things that were handed off to us.  So amazing the stuff you can accumulate.

Guess who got to give the devotional talk this morning

Elder Burningham and Todd Tapp went to Cebu this morning to be introduced to the security staff and to meet the Temple President and the Mission President.  They are having a staff meeting today also.  I was advised that due to budget...I was not to go and didn't need to go or so the DTA thought.  But I felt bad that I didn't get to see the staff and the beautiful Cebu temple one more time.  I had gone in May and that is all she wrote. 

So in Elder Burningham's absence, I was requested to give the devotional talk today. Every Monday morning at 7:30 am there is a office devotional and  I had about 25 minutes.  I hope that all remembered it.....it was about sacrifice.  But really serving is not a sacrifice....it was very rewarding.  Glad we did it.  I suspect we will do it again sometime however we will wait until my sister and her husband return from their mission in 2013.  Mom is with us still and frail so I will serve her in any way I can and that will be my mission.

All is well.