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
