Snowy Salt Lake City....

We just returned from this beautiful place!

We flew up to the see the wedding of these two

special people.

This is Elder Michael Farnsworth

and Hermana Liz Doxey.

Two of our great missionaries.

It was a glorious event.

We were able to say a few words at the luncheon.

And here are a few friends that we ran into at the reception....

Elder Jaden Mecham, Elder Spencer Chun, Elder Sam Andersen,

Hermana Erynn Shearman, Hermana Kaylee Sandstrom

and Hermana Jane Jackson...  How Fun!

They all seem to be doing great.

Terry had to see this exhibit in Provo....

One of the things on his bucket list.

He loved seeing this original artwork of some of the great ones.

 Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann and Frans Schwartz.

Thanks to Sam for making time to escort President Turk

to the Art exhibit.

We also ran into Elder Smith's parents at City Creek...

We don't know them... but they recognized us from the blog.

Elder Smith was our financial Secretary and now is the Assistant.

We also had dinner with Elder Fackrell.  We haven't seen him since he has been home.

He looks great.  We had dinner with Elder Jones and Marianne

and Sam and Jaden.

We went to a high school basketball game and dinner with friends

from Brigham City... the Walkers

So much fun... so much snow...   now I am home sick with a

very bad cold for Christmas

BUT

It was worth it!

JOY TO THE WORLD!

President Turk and I just spent some time reading sweet 

Christmas messages 

from our missionaries tonight.

I was on my bed weeping.

What a privilege it was to work along side 

the greatest missionaries in the world.

Christmas will  definitely be different this year

than the last 3 years...

All I can think of in my heart and soul is...

JOY TO THE WORLD

THE LORD IS COME...

LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!

Christmas will never be the same for me because 

I am not the same.

I have experienced JOY in the greatest way possible...

By learning to share the Gospel ALWAYS!

This means with these special little ones too.

~ JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY ~

My heart is ginormous and filled with so much love...

I have a ton to spare...

If you need love and light.... Find me!

I will pour it upon you

like nothing you have ever experienced!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Party On...

I have been throwing a few parties this holiday season...

It's fun to have an excuse and a deadline to 

get the house looking festive.

We can even party outside during the holidays because of the 

spectacular weather in Mesa, Az during the winter.

I have thrown some parties for church, for the Relief Society,

for my 14 year old niece and nephew

   

with all their peeps....

 I threw a party for my niece Annie - for her day date 

for the Christmas Formal.

This is her group below.

We still have Company parties...
Family Parties,.,  etc....   tis the season, right?

But yesterday I was able to help with the
big Devotional, Party, Lunch, Service Project....
for the Mesa Mission.

My brother-in-law, Craig Ahlstrom is a counselor
in this mission here to President Jenkins.

There were about 220 missionaries there.
What do you think happened to me?
Oh yes, there were some tears.

But I jumped right in when all the missionaries were
early for lunch.
They were there an hour early....
I started some of our favorite games from our mission
while they finished preparing the lunch.

It was a big success but very sentimental and sweet.

I saw Elder Bigler and Elder Bakaitis,
brothers to some of my Hermanas.

Oh, how I miss my missionaries!

Cousins....

I LOVE THESE PICTURES....

These two cousins have such a fun relationship.

Griffy is on the left.  He is our daughter Molly's oldest.

Tillman is on the right....  He is our son Parker's oldest.

I can't stop smiling when I see this picture.

My cousins were a big part of my life growing up.

My children count their cousins as their siblings...

and now another generation with built in 

best friends!

We love our Cousins!

Picture Christmas.....

Picture a stable in Judea....

Picture a sacred Silent Night...

And can you hear the angels near and 

see the star so bright!

We can't tell this story enough,

Molly and I love to act out the nativity with the children

using the  Primary Nativity songs....

We assign all the kids the wooden figurines

that they will place in the Stable.

We then turn on the music and 

the story comes alive.

The children know that this is a very sacred and true story...

This is the greatest story every told...

Only it is not just a story.... It is the birth of

the Savior of the World...

And our own personal Savior.

I love Him!  

All that we have...   all that we are.... and all that we ever can become

We give to HIM!

Our lives are so much better in every way 

when we turn it over to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

I testify with my whole soul

the He LIVES!

"OH COME LET US ADORE HIM!"

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

Papa T and I took the four oldest grand babies to 

"BUILD A BEAR"

this morning...

And "Ta Da"

they created some glorious 

little friends for the season...  and beyond.

There really is nothing better than enjoying 

the conversations of these little ones.

They also went to home depot for the craft classs

I can't get enough of them!

Early Christmas Present....

Look who showed up at our door one night last week....

Yes, Elder Ben Mennis!

He missed a connection in Phoenix and gave us a call

and he got to spend the night at our home.

I know that his wife Kiki was sad...

but thanks for sharing him.

He's now back in the cold weather in Utah

studying and working and freezing.

It was so much fun to see you and catch up.

Thanks for calling us Ben!

Merry Christmas!