Christmas was Beautiful

We had a lovely Christmas. We were so busy we didn't even remember our blog.
On Christmas Eve we had a dinner at our apartment and invited the neighbors. It was great. I cooked a turkey and made pies and Sister Starley (in the apartment behind us) cooked a ham and cheesy potatoes. It was a lovely dinner.

On Christmas Day we went to the Memorial Residence and had a lovely dinner with all of the Senior Missionaries. It was great.

I didn't get to help my mom and brothers and sisters on the nativity this year, but mom sent pictures of it. On Christmas Eve they surprised her with a beautiful new Mary. She is a REAL Manikin with arms that hold the baby so tenderly. The one that has been used for the past 13 years was made out of plastic pipe and chicken wire. This year my sister-in-law Barbara ordered this one and the brothers and sisters went together to buy. It is beautiful and I wanted to share it with you. People come from all around to see the beautiful life-size nativity with music playing from dusk until dawn.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!

We had a fun New Year's Eve. We decided to enjoy a quiet evening at home, but we ended up painting our living room and putting up the floor boards and wood trim. The floor boards were behind the couch, we bought the rest. Our apartment was never quite finished, so we decided to finish it (a little at a time). It turned out really nice. At 9:00 we were pretty tired, so we sat down and watched the first two movies of "The Work and The Glory" that were on BYU TV. Just after midnight Mike got a phone call from Rachel and Sara with all the kids singing Happy Birthday. (It was 10:05 in Arizona and just after midnight here.) Shortly after he got off the phone with them, Dewain and family called to wish him happy birthday. It was GREAT. He loved it!

Today (New Years Day) we went to church this morning and we picked up Brother John Lee to give him a ride. John is a member of our ward who is from China. He's here working on a master's law degree at the college. He wife and 3-year-old daughter in China are living with her parents while he finishes school. He joined the church a year ago. He became interested in the church while he was still living in China. He knew John Huntsman (the ambassador to China) was a Mormon and he was curious so he began reading all about it on the internet. He requested a Book of Mormon, but never got it. He called and they explained they can't send a Book of Mormon to China because it is forbidden by the government. When he reached the United States (Oklahoma) he got one. He read it, believed it, and was baptized in Oklahoma City. He has been a member a year and was just made an Elder. Today after church he invited us to eat lunch with him at his home. Mike invited him over to our apartment for dinner. We had fried burritos that Mike requested for his birthday. After dinner we drove to the memorial to see the Christmas Lights one last time. The covered bridge in the picture is one of people's favorites. I heard there were 11 marriage proposals under the bridge last year. My new friend Doris took her grandchildren. They always park under the bridge and make a wish. It has been a wonderful Christmas but the new year is here. We will start taking lights down on Tuesday. It will be sad to see them go. They have been very beautiful.

Earlier this evening John called. We talked to John, Laura, and the kids on Skype. It was great to see them. If you think about it, it is pretty awesome to be able to talk to your kids across the country and see them on the computer screen at the same time. Shortly after that Jeremy called to wish Mike happy birthday.

As I am writing it is raining outside. All the snow is melted. We have had a little snow come and go but it has rained 3 times in December. It seems strange to me.

WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND SEND OUR LOVE TO ALL!