Merry CHRISTmas

our message is simple this season, LOVE

for many years I have told the Twas the Night before Christmas poem to many loved ones, and this year, only once,, I practiced with my youngest grandchild as he turned the pages in the book to follow along and see if I was correct.

to include our year in a poem and not have it be a "brag" letter, which is what my mom called it, the poems become shorter and shorter, 

this year is no exception

as much as we love you all

our times together

 or not together

you are loved

  and missed

 and cherished

 

Loving our FAMILY together

We love getting together with Morrison Cousins, these are my moms side which is really fun because there are two sets of Identical twins!

lucky for us John Green is a photographer,,, AND  Dicks wife who couldnt make it owns her own Bakery and gave each delicious Peppermint chocolate cakes," cake de fleur"

Lucky for us that we are health enough to carry on fun converstions on so many different topics, This time there was alot of talk about travel. 

Here is Victoria just before heading back to Canton Mi, Oh how I love hearing all about college especially all the dancing she is doing. Having here energetic,fun loving self is always uplifting

my gift, VIctoria wanted some pampering! and Brandi fit her in!

This amazing photo was taken outside OREM temple during its openhouse, We went in cold but came out warm from the spirit but even colder from the storm that started while we were inside, Here we are with Nikki and Daryl and their cute girls

looks where my moms clothes ended up !!!HAha ,they make greeat Nativity costumes for the Rose shop annual food drive at the Larkin Mortuary. Missy did a great job organizing tne nativities around the world

inside the Rose shope.. who is that Santa?

most of my days have been chasing the sun just like my cats 

or on the compter getting ready for our next BYUPATHWAY world wide South Lagos Nigerian mission as District leaders. I have so much to learn, Firstm keep the glasses on so I can see the key board, keep praying and keep practicing on zoom and whatsapp

another cat is hidden here, Can you see her?

 

celebrating in St George

Celebrating another year George. It ended up being a great opportunity to see the two temples therr but neither one were open as  our timing was a few weeks off on either one. I have always loved seeing the St George temple on our many many drives from LA to Provo and it has such great history with the LDS church. It has just been refurbished and enlarged to keep up with all the wonderful work. 

we look a little tilted here as we bike along the Virgin River trail which turned out to be just down the road from our hotel. It was 35 degrees but wonderful sun and color

we went thrifting and who doesnt need another hat, sweater or skirt or tie!!! best find was some new bowls as we are dropping our old ones so they need to be replaced

finding the Washington Redclifts temple was a fun adeventure. Mostly because it was directly across the river from our hotel but no bridge or development was between us and the temple. After driving and thrifting all of a sudden there was Moroni peeking up above a Red clift.

Greatest fun for me was seeing Jake in the stae finals was club swimming! We watched him swim 4 times , his best being the 200 breaststroke. Oh how I love his hard work and leadership

while watching Derek made this AI of him with Karina and Dan in their Palm Springs Iron man which happened the next day! They all finished which is another great challenge completed for them all. Oh how I love their 

dedication.

back home we started decorating... and the holiday season has begun. It is difficult to return to snow and ice and another winter, but we are now District  leaders in South Lagos Nigeria and need alot of tutoring in whatapps and more zooming practice so we can help other missionaries. We both love learning and serving so we will continue to grow and serve in BYU Pathway Worldwide