I've Been Bad

Dear Family and Friends,

I own it, I've been very bad on keeping up on our blog and now two weeks have passed and things are happening so fast that every minute I procrastinate puts me farther behind.  So here goes.

The Monday before Thanksgiving started our decorating marathon.  We started at 7:00 am at the Visitor Center.  We have 9 Christmas trees, a nativity display with over 60-70 nativities from around the world.  We have beautiful art work by Julie Rogers of Mary and the Christ Child and a beautiful enormous painting of the Shepard's looking up at the Star.  It is truly magnificent.  All the Senior Missionaries worked for over 2 hours but we finished and it looks beautiful.

Tuesday morning we met at 7:00 am at the Tabernacle and hung garlands all around the balcony, hung wreathes, put up two 12' trees plus a few other touches to prepare the building for all the events that will be held during the season.  On November 29th we started with the Temple Lighting Ceremony and will have events every night, except Mondays, through the first of the year.

Wednesday morning we met at 7:00 am at Brigham Young's to dazzle the visitors with garlands and bows.  Lots of wreathes and candles in windows and Poinsettias on the piano.  And last but not least was Jacob Hamblin's home.  I decided that I would decorate it between tours.  It took me about 3 days, but another couple, the Ercanbracks put up the two trees and decorated them.  However, Sister Ercanbrack caught her toe on a loose thread on a rug and fell.  She received several nasty bruises and the jolt was so hard, her diamond came out of her ring.  I felt so bad, she was so nice to help us with the house.  There is lots of burlap and muslin garlands, red bandanna bows and sleigh bells.  

All in All the sites are very festive and the visitors keep coming.  Bruce is in charge of the statics for all the sites and we are on track for over 300,000 visitors this year.  Over 2,500 came to the lighting ceremony and we have between 300-700 come to the events at the Tabernacle each night. Busy, busy, busy.  Now, all the stockings are hung and we begin to "Share The Gift" with all those who come.  

Our Thanksgiving was filled with good friends, wonderful family, and fantastic food.  We started the day by gathering all the Sister Missionaries, plus other Sr. Missionaries who are serving in the Temple, or Family History Center, along with a few homeless men and women who come to the Visitor Center and served them dinner.  We fed over 70 people turkey, ham, dressing etc. etc. etc.  We ended with pie and a talent show.  So glad Bruce and I don't have any talents.  Elder Watkins showed us his mad yo-yo skills and dry jokes.  Sister Nicholas and Sister West made us smile with a version of Part of That World, from Little Mermaid with the words changed to what they are looking forward too when they go back to" That World",after their mission. ( So Cute). Those who  speak French, entertained us with "I Am a Child of God" in French.  They did a wonderful job.  Then Sisters' Hansen and Martin played a Viola, Bassoon duet. We ended with Sister Kaona doing the Hula. (Why won't my hips move like that?)

Part Two--We met all my family at a church for Thanksgiving Dinner. (Here We go Again)  There were 50 of us with only Krisit, Dave, Jake, Tiffany and Kade missing.  My mother was in heaven and we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening at the church, eating, playing Chicken Feet (dominoes) and a wicked game of soccer in the gym.  Not sure that was kosher but they were having such a wonderful time, I decided I would ask for forgiveness if the soccer ball went a-wry and broke something like a nose or arm or leg.  We have some competitive family members but no worries, all is good.  

We were able to spend Friday with family as well, since it was our P-day.  Hung out at the pool, took my mom on a tour of all the sites, played Pickle Ball, Volleyball, then ended the day with left overs in our club house.  The kids were in the theater room watching a movie while the adults enjoyed the relative quite of the great room.  We love our family.

This week has been filled with our shifts at the sites, along with attending the events at the Tabernacle.  Since we sponsor three of the 6 nights, we are asked to attend as many as possible.  They are all very good, but, night after night is exhausting.  That's why my Diet Coke habit comes in handy.  Right now I could use and IV in my arm with Diet Coke running 24-7.  But again, not complaining.  Keeping busy is a blessing that I love.  We are so busy that I loose track of what day it is.  It really doesn't matter because each day is filled with work that we enjoy.

I've rattled on long enough, but hope I haven't left anything out.  If I have you won't know, so doesn't matter. We send our love to all and pray your Holiday Season is filled with Peace, Love and Joy.

 Bruce and Dawna

Elder and Sister

PS  Happy Birthday to our beautiful, kind, funny grand daughter, Rubie.  We got to celebrate while she was here.