Saturday, December 14, 2013

           Greetings family and friends.  We hope you are enjoying every precious part of this season in celebrating the glorious event of our Savior’s birth.

          The temple day was shortened by one session so the temple workers, missionaries, and presidency could have a Christmas program and pot-luck dinner at the church.  Some of the Christmas music I love from my “stash” fit into my suitcase and the beautiful carol arrangements made a nice 30-minute prelude to the program which was held in the chapel.  It felt just like Christmas to play for the music on the program which included about eight carols and a duet.  The program was very nice and the dinner pretty amazing.  People brought tons of food and they piled their plates high.  Everyone seemed to have such a great time and it was so nice to attend a Christmas event with people we have come to know and love. 

          After the program I was visiting with a sister we haven't seen for a while.  She is the one who gave me a Book of Mormon in Spanish when we first arrived and told me to read it every day, and a Spanish textbook.   Well, tonight she was wearing a beautiful blue scarf and I mentioned how pretty it was and how beautiful it looked on her.  That was a mis-step.  She explained that someone had given it to her as a gift to celebrate Independence Day, and then she  took off the scarf and gave it to me!  I tried to refuse, but she insisted and I finally knew she would be hurt if I didn't accept it.  I'm not sure I will dare compliment  anyone again.  I felt so bad she had to give it up, but she did it with a big smile and a warm hug. 

These are the six little siblings who were sealed to their parents last night in the temple.
You'll have to use your imagination and see them all in white.
They range in age from 12 to 2 years old.

Here they are in front of the temple.

The next few pictures are from our dinner tonight and won't mean much to any of you, but might give you
a little flavor of our event.  We now have names to go with lots of the faces and have made many new friends.

This isn't a very complimentary photo, but these sister's are two of my favorite friends and I work with them a lot.
They are both so kind and friendly. 

This sister is also a very sweet friend.  She raised her children alone and they are all active in the Church.

Mary--who works in the office

The couple on the right are the Valle's and he is a temple sealer.  They are dedicated in their service.

Brother Matamoros

This is the blind man who comes to the temple every Tuesday for hours and hours of work.
He is posed here with his mother.