Tuesday, Dec. 18th
We were at the temple
early this morning to help with the 6am session prayer circle. Then
worked the am and pm shifts. We were exhausted by the time we got
home. I have been reading the Book of Mormon. Wondering about
the references about the gentiles in the last day and what will happen if they
reject the gospel. I hope to get better insight and am determined to
be ready no matter what.
Wednesday, Dec. 19th - It's a Wonderful Life Museum
We welcomed the chance
to sleep in a bit this morning and rolled out of bed just after 9am. The
outing today was to “It’s a Wonderful Life Museum” We rode with Barlows
and took care of some activity business. We missed the exit.
The next exit was 16 miles further making us quite late. At one point,
Dave considered using an emergency spot to head back the other way. He pulled
over and quickly noticed that a police officer pulled in right behind
him. Whoops! The office asked if everything was OK. Dave said
yes and the office let us go. After all we had not done anything illegal,
yet! So we continued on our way and arrived at the museum about 30
minutes behind the others. We enjoyed the museum and reading about the
creating of the movie. It could have been more interesting with some
clips of the movie or maybe even having it run in a theater room.
Something… but I appreciated learning a bit more about a time when Hollywood
had some morals and standards.
We stopped at Sauders
for lunch and did a bit of shopping.  |
| Sauder's Grocery Store |
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| Beautiful Amish Quilts |
Friday, Dec. 21st. Barlow's 50th Wedding Anniversary
Celebrating 50 years of marriage with our dear friends.
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| Dave & Lorraine Barlow |
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| Collective years of marriage at the Party |
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| Barlow's 50th Wedding Anniversary Dinner |
Saturday, Dec. 22
I had some thoughts as
I worked in the temple today. They come from two sayings I remember of my
mother’s. The first “Clean the corners, the middle will take care of
itself”. And the other “Leave things better than you find them”.
Clean the corners
I have thought about
the scripture. Isaiah 11:12 "And he shall set up
an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble
the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from
the four corners of the earth." I smiled as I
thought about how we are searching the four corners of the earth through our
missionary efforts and through our family history work. I don't always
like to clean the corners, you know, unscramble the messes in family search,
look for our lost brothers and sisters. But I do know that as we focus
there that the obvious work in the middle will get done as well.
Leave
things better than you find the them
This
can sometimes backfire if you end up undoing someone else's work. But for
the most part it is a wonderful thing. Imagine what a different world it
would be if every time you left a room you looked around to see if something
needs to be cleaned or put away. Do you think to pick up the extra paper
towels that missed the garbage can in a restroom? Do you put the books
back on the shelf? Do you hang up your coat? Do you straighten the
blinds? Do you wash the dishes? etc. At the temple this may include
replacing the kleenex box when empty, picking up blown in leaves, straightening
the coat closet, wiping behind the sink, organizing drawers & cupboards,
etc. Just little things that can make the environment more welcoming and
calm. Being careful, of course, to not get in the way of others or
the spirit.
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| Happy Helen & I on our way to Church |
Sunday, Dec. 23rd
We
gathered our three fruit baskets for Petraitis, Mary Dennard, and Helen plus
Len & Helen’s Christmas presents as well as Len’s phone and headed for
church in good time. The branch was a buz with preparations and Christmas
cheer as we arrived. The youth and primary children were preparing in the
primary room. I determined where to sit to conduct the primary music. I left briefly and return to find another row of chairs in front
had been set up between me and the children. The chapel was full. No worries. We would figure
it out at the appropriate time. When they announced the program it was an
easy thing to switch rows with the family in front so I could be close to the children. I had
hoped to be on the end of the row near the aisle but another sister came up and
took that spot. No worries. I can make do. I was thrilled
that nearly all the children were there. I came prepare with a Christmas
coloring book I had made and crayons. It was a good diversion for Paul
and Axel. Paul never joined the children singing. Axel would go back and forth.
The
music was better than I had imagined. The children and youth sang with
their hearts and when the congregation joined on the 2nd and 3rd verses I felt
the warmth and joy of Christmas music and message. But I was unprepared
for the sweet joy that filled my heart during the last hymn, “Silent Night”.
What a powerful spirit filled the air. I could have stayed in that
feeling longer.
We
were showered with Christmas cards and goodies. Helen gave us a beautiful
angel ornament with purple ribbon and jewels, can you find it on our Christmas tree?
On
the way home we dropped off the Christmas fruit baskets and gifts. Len
was particularly thrilled to get his phone back. It is a hard thing to be
without a phone and they have been struggling for several months.
Monday, Dec. 24th Christmas Eve.
I gave away a
Christmas goodies bag to the mailman who delivered our last Christmas
box just in time. It was Ray’s dad’s histories. I began to open
them but began to cry with joy and quickly wrapped it up for Ray. He does
not know that it came today. It will be a fun Christmas surprise tomorrow.
Lucky he was off running errands and going to PT when the box came. I
also gave goodies to Richard, the gentleman who drives the yellow Fire-bird. He was grateful.
At
3pm we headed over to Barlow’s for FHE. We made goody containers then
loaded up to deliver to several families that Dave and Lorraine had
discovered. It was
joyful, crisp, and dry, with a few inches of snow on the ground. We came back
to Barlow’s for hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls.
We
left around 7pm so we could get home and skype in for the nativity at Kevin and
Holly’s. The video quality was very poor but we could hear
well. I enjoyed closing my eyes and imagining the chaos. Chris &
Kristi, Sharee & Jeff, Jessica where all there.
Tuesday, Dec. 25th Christmas Day.
We slowly woke up around 8am and enjoyed the opening of Christmas
gifts at a leisurely pace. Through out the day, the children all called
when they opened their gifts from us. I
sure miss everyone.
Around
2pm we went over to Titsworth’s apartment for dinner. I took the
Christmas Salad. The food was delicious, every bite. The
decorations were lovely. If we couldn’t be with family, this was truly
the next best thing. Elder Titsworth had several ‘exams’ for us to
take. Not sure who got the most right, the Elders or the Sisters but it
didn’t really matter. We laughed, ate well, and celebrated the day
together. I read “The Cookie Thief” and “Good King Wenceslas” after
dinner and games.
We joined with the family to open secret pal gifts in the evening. Still my favorite part of Christmas day. The children gave us this lovely statue. And yes, I cried.
to rejoice like the angels,
hear like the shepherds,
and follow like the wise men!
- from one of many uplifting Christmas cards we received this year.
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| panoramic view of Christmas Party Guests |
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| Beautiful gift from our children. |
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