Portugal and other Pics

Happy 2010

Happy New Year!! Thanks for remembering my birthday! Can you believe you are the son of a 70 year old mom? I am so blessed and well cared for by my wonderful family. Thank you for all you do and the way you do it. The temple has been busy even to the point that we had to work a double shift. This week a group of adult singles from our area have been here all week doing temple work during the day and having activities at night. They have been so faithful and seemingly tireless. We enjoy being busy!! Just a thought for you....our President gave us a FHE lesson this week on the Plan of Salvation with how temple work fits into the plan. He had some really interesting points that were a bit new to me. I found out after the lesson that he had taken some of his lesson from the teachings of Brigham Young. If you have your manual on BY look up what he had to say about temples. It was very interesting. We have been pretty much homebound for the last week because I was suffering with a cold and the weather has been cold, rainy and snowing. It is so funny to me to see people walking down the street with an umbrella during a snowstrom. I just do not remember ever using an umbrella during a snowstrom. The temple will be closed for 2 weeks starting next week so we are going to Portugal to visit a friend and do some siteseeing.

12 days...

Wahoo!! Thank you, Thank you , Thank you for the wonderful packages containing the 12 days of Christmas. We will be opening one a day for the next 12 days. Wrong, we have opened it all and really enjoyed your efforts. We are so pleased and happy to receive the super surprises in each package for each of the 12 days. Mom picked up a bad cold yesterday and wasn't able to go to the temple with me today . That is the first time that has happened and it was very depressing for both of us. I have to say you really made our day . We are so grateful for your unselfish efforts. It looks like it took just a little over 10 days to get here. Granpa really likes the oatmeal packages which they don't have over here in Spain. Somebody had a great idea. Of couse you what Grandma likes the best. We both are impressed with the time you had to expend to make the 12 days possible. We also did the 12 days for some friends over here and they seemed to really thrive on this effort on their behalf. It makes you feel loved and cared for. We love you and appreciate all you are doing and have done. Here is or wish to you for a HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!

Missionary Christmas Party

Christmas Eve and FHE in the President's Apartment

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Here we are on a quiet Christmas Morning , thinking about our family at home and hoping all is well this morning as you wake up to celebrate the Birth of Our Lord and Savior, Creator of the world the person who came to earth to redeem us from our sins and break the bands of death making it possible to live forever if we will simply try to live his gospel and reap the blessings that he promises us ultimately all that our Father in Heaven has with eternal life beside our Savior and loved ones. This keeps us trying as hard as we can to serve our Heavenly Father with all of our heart, might,mind and strength. We love Jesus Christ and know that he loves you for keeping on trying to do what's right. Reach out to others and feel the magic of Christmas love. Remember, don't give up, keep on trying and all things will work out for your good.
We hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!! We love you...Thanks for being you !!!!!

Choir and Snow

We are continuing to be busy in this multi language temple. It can really be exciting at times.
We just returned from singing in a Choir sponsored by the East Madrid Stake which presented a very professionally done Christmas Concert. The Choir Director is a member of the Madrid National Choir and her husband is an accomplished and very creative pianist. It was a pleasure to sing for her but we held long practices each Sunday as she worked tirelessly to improve diction and quality of the people singing. Dick accompanied Sister Leonora Smith,who used to work in the Church temple dept. and help all of us seniors get processed for our temple missions. She has a trained soprano voice and she sang "Gesu Bambino". We came to Spain together in October. Dick also accompanied Sister Patricia Cerro who was here last time we were here and she sang " Oh Holy Night ". It was a delightful experience and we sang all the Christmas Carols. There were other duets and solos and groups, one of which Dick also accompanied on the song of " Estrella de Luz ". This was a group of young people about 10-12 in number. We woke up this Monday morning to a beautiful white covering of snow all over the ground and vehicles. The lights on the Temple Square are still on and it is quite beautiful. This is our second storm. We have a wonderful couple as our Temple President Garry and Lanelle Moore and they enjoy getting together with all of the Senior missionaries and we have several activities planned for the holidays to get through the season without too much heartache from not being near our families. We had a great Thanksgiving dinner with 40 + people attending and it was like days of old . We miss you and love you and really appreciate your e-mails. We wish you a Merry Christmas and an even better New Year for 2010!!!