Paradise

noun
1. heaven, as the final abode of the righteous.
2. an intermediate place for the departed souls of the righteous awaiting resurrection.
3. ( often initial capital letter ) Eden ( def. 1 ) .
4. a place of extreme beauty, delight, or happiness.
5. a state of supreme happiness; bliss

This is the view from our top deck in Corona Del Mar of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina, Dan refers to as "Paradise".

Sao Paulo Temple

This is Aubree with her district at the Temple. They are not allowed to take their camera's to the temple so this was taken by one of the Presidency's Wife. Aubree is a solo sister, which means she has no companion.

Last Phone Call

Aubree called me from the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport last night around 5:30pm. We were having a great conversation about her passport being stamped July 30th with her Visa. Yes, she was waiting to just get her passport back with the stamp. We are not sure why they sat on someone's desk for 5 weeks. When I say "they" the other eight Elders with Aubree had their's stamped July 30th as well. So they got deverted to Provo until the Consulate could figure it out. I look at it this way, Aubree got to experience the best of both the MTC's and see her friends in the process.

All of the sudden we both hear "Aubree Lyn Corbin, please report to the gate for immediate departure!" Evidently, she was not on the same flight as the other 8 Elders. She had the earlier flight leaving at 6pm, they were leaving on the 7:30pm flight. She told me to call her back on the payphone in 10 minutes. Well, I called her back and an Elder picked up and said she was on the plane. They were as stunned as she was but she will beat them to Brazil by 1 1/2 hours. Crazy! Hopefully she got to get some sleep...The email below came this afternoon annoncing her arrival.

Aubree has arrived - Brazil MTC

Dear Parents,

We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC. What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time. We promise to take good care of your missionary.
They now have companions and are settled into their rooms. They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study. The branch presidents and their wives, will soon give them a second greeting. These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.
The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs. He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.
Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple. This will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on individual assignments.
Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder [sister] when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”

Please accept our love,
President Donald L Clark and Sister Zaza Clark

ADDITIONAL information . . .
DO not send packages to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. All packages must be sent directly to the mission where your missionary will be serving not the MTC. If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field, please understand that the package can not be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you. The only other option is for us to open the package and forward the letters and photographs, giving the rest of the content of the package to the missionaries that are here.

WE Strongly eNCOURAGE sENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name. Your missionary will provide you with his district and box number. Also, please DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers. The cost to get this type of correspondence is exorbitant.

P-Day Casual

Laundry - Laundry - Laundry - eat!
There's always time to eat...

Aubree has always had great enthusiasm for life. Can't you see it in her face? Go Aubree...

Sister Smith - Sister Michael

Aubree has two great companions. They are in a three-some all headed to Brazil at some point. Aubree said they are great buddies and loves her companions. Awesome!

Lil is Gone too!

Farewell to Lil Cannon, on her way to Conneticut...Delta Gamma buddies give their final salute until they meet again in 2/12.

Such cute sister missionaries! They will be mover and shakers...

Farewell to Emily

EmilyWong is headed to Asia, Aubree overlapped her by 1 week. They grew up together in Irvine. Cute friends!

Aubree's taking a brake, long days at the MTC. But she loves it!

It's Amber's Day!

Happy Birthday Amber! Well, this is one of those birthday's you start to say you are 29 again. The big "30" has arrived. I'm sure she doesn't feel any older just wiser. A wonderful mother to our Daners and Zoe Girl, she has to keep two steps ahead of them.

"It's mothers who set the tone for the home...[and] most directly affect the lives of their children. It is mothers who teach infants to pray, who read them choice and beauiful literature from the scriptures and other sources. It is mothers who nuture them and bring them up in the ways of the Lord. Their influence is paramount." Gordon B. Hinkley

Thank you for being a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, friend, and handmaiden of the Lord. We love you and hope you have a fantastic day! You deserve it...

Big "15" Birthday

Brenan is "15" today! Wow-he will be driving soon and is already bugging me about lessons. He still insists on lighting his own candles, does that mean I'm now off the hook after 30 years? We went to Island's per his request. He loves the chicken fingers in tortillas with ranch. We love you Brenan! HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

10th Grade @ Corona Del Mar High

As we were faced with having to move again or stay put we considered Brenan's desire to stay at Woodbridge High School or transfer to Corona Del Mar were all of his church friends go from the Ward. I was not excited about even the thought of moving. Well you can see how that went...
Today was Brenan's first day and he was really excited to meet new friends and hang out with his buddies. We have been in Corona Del Mar for almost 4 weeks and I have to say I don't think we will be moving away from here any time soon. It's beautiful! We can walk to the post office, bank, lunch cafe, Albertson's, dinner, beach, etc. The weather still has coastal fog but burns off by 1pm. There wasn't much of a sunny summer this year but still beautiful!

Life continues for the Corbins...