Christmas Festivities

This is the set up for our Christmas brunch at the Stake Center. Everything was so pretty! We had the Senior missionaries, the young Sister missionaries, the Facility Management missionaries, the Temple missionaries, and a few other guests -- there was about 70 in attendance. We had a nice brunch and a FUN program afterward. A nice Christmas morning.





This was the food table.








And this was the drinks table, with Elder Hamblin, Sister Bennett, Elder Bennett, and Elder Huffaker.





This is Sister Halladay -- the "kiwi thief"!! She is the Sister they had to send home with some heart problems. They checked it out and found that it was due to an automobile accident she had shortly before she came on her mission. Some depression on her heart. They cleared her to come back, so she returned the first of Dec. She is quite a character, but she is without doubt the top missionary in getting referral cards. We were happy to have her back.




This is Sister Stanger and Sister Huff. These are the two that have been in the Pittsford Ward with us -- and we go teaching with them. They are adorable! And excellent missionaries. They were the ones to teach and baptize Kong. Sister Huff just got transferred this week -- we will miss her! Though she is one of our "training Sisters" here at the sites, so we will see her often.

Christmas Aftermath

This is our little Christmas tree with our Santa gift and some pretty pink roses Ray gave me.





This is a close up of the "Face to Face" First Vision Sculpture that is a replica of the BIG one we had at the Sacred Grove in the Welcome Center. We really wanted this one as a remembrance of our mission here.



This is my very favorite Christmas Card! It's from Jacob and Brooke and contains a personal recording of a Christmas message
from each of them. It was so fun to hear their voices! Glenn said Jacob found the card -- THANKS, Jacob! Inside the card it said, "Love You Bunches" and plays "Jingle Bell Rock." What a treat!








This is our Christmas card wall. Lots of fun cards, photos, and wonderful greetings from family and friends! Thank you all for your thoughtfulness in remembering us at this holiday time. We loved the pictures and letters we received.

Thanks!

Dear family,

Well, Christmas is over for another year. We just wanted to thank each of you for your phone calls and gifts -- it really brightened up our day to hear from all of you. Holidays (& especially Christmas) can be a lonely time without your family. We do love all of you and appreciate all you do for us. Thank You, Thank You!!!

It sounds like the weather has been really crazy -- actually everywhere! Kevin's family even getting some snow and hail. And Krist & Brent getting snowed and drifted in!! Snow also at Glenn's and we read in the newspaper that many roads had been closed in Utah because of the storms.

We had snow and BITTER cold about a week ago and now this morning they are predicting a high of 60 degrees tomorrow. CRAZY!!!! This morning I can even see some "green grass" showing thru the snow across the street.

All is well with us and we did have a really NICE Christmas -- activities seemed to keep us busy yesterday and now we're tired to start the weekend. HA!!

We hope all of you will post some Christmas pictures on your blogs, so we can enjoy some of your Christmas. (Glenn, remember you were going to post some pictures of you new truck???)

Love you all, Mom (& Dad, too) 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

We wish all of our Family and Friends a Very Merry Christmas! And a Happy, Happy New Year!


These are our meager little outside decorations for Christmas -- candles in the windows and our tiny tree and presents. But at least, it greets us with some color and cheer!


This is Elder and Sister Hamblin going to work at the Grandin Bldg. on Monday (22nd). This mountain of snow was scraped from our parking lot. In the background is the Towpath Retirement Center where we do our service project with "Meals on Wheels." This mountain of snow, continued snow, 14 degree weather, and wind chill enough to freeze you to the bone greeted our Christmas week. Tho' it has tempered quite a bit and should be more pleasant for Christmas Day.

Most of the senior couples went out to Honeoye Falls (near Mendon, NY) to Brother and Sister Tuttle's place for a live animal and children Nativity Program for Family Home Evening on Monday night. It was in a big barn and it was cold, but the half mile walk to and from the barn was REALLY COLD and the wind chill was definitely sub zero. I don't think I've ever been soooooo cold in my whole life!!!!!


Just thought I'd add a picture of three of our sweet Sister missionaries -- Sister Nielsen, Sister Silva, and Sister Porter. This was Sister Porter's last Site mtg., she finished her mission and went home on Monday this week. She is from Kaysville. These Sister missionaries are really WONDERFUL, sweet girls!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like CHRISTMAS!!

Winter time has come to northern New York! We don't know if the COLD, COLD weather comes from the humidity from the Great Lakes or just from the cold winds from Canada (or the North Pole!), but it is COLD. We had a really nice Interfaith Devotional program at the Fayette Ward bldg. down at the Whitmer Farm last Sunday -- the Senior Sisters sang Pres. Hinckley's special hymn, "My Redeemer Lives" to accompany a special slide presentation. It was a real special evening. The couples also mingled with the crowd and served refreshments and encouraged referral cards. We also stayed to view the First Presidency Christmas Devotional following the program. It was a nice evening.

We had a baptism the end of November. The Sister missionaries had been teaching Kong for quite some time and we have been going with them to teach him for a few months. He is a Laotian man who was formerly a Buddist. He still doesn't speak real good English and is still learning a lot about Christianity and about the Church. His name is Kong Onesengmani, his wife died about a year ago and he has a 13 yr. old son that lives with him and another son who is about 21 yrs. old and is going to school in Laos.

This is our small Christmas tree that is in our entryway porch. We also have a few lights outside, so it is beginning to look a little Christmasy.

We do have a little Christmas tree on our desk in our living room, it's kind of cute and we like it.

Our missionary crew, us and Elder and Sister Bennett (Linda & Gary) by the Christmas tree and Nativity at the Grandin Publishing Co. bldg. in downtown Palmyra, NY.


We bought warm wool coats for the cold New York winter!!!! And you better believe, we really need them!!!