Christmas In Georgia

I have missed my family a great deal this week but I have not been sad...I have been grateful. The highlight of Christmas was being able to g-chat with most of my children and their families Christmas Eve when they gathered at my house. Did my heart good as I talked with everyone there from the youngest to the oldest. They are my treasures. I heard from so many of my friends by card or email and it was such a lift. I continue to be carried by the friendship, support and example of good people. Our friend and co-worker, Brenda, had complications from a routine surgery, so we spent Friday afternoon at the hospital with her and today went to her home down the road in Sugar Hill. She is much improved. Friday morning we went to the temple...the perfect place to be Christmas weekend. After we left Brenda Friday afternoon we went to Stone Mountain Park to see the 2 million lights...breath-taking. We also saw the night parade and then went into the theater to see Polar Express in 4D. That was done very well....Disneyland-ish. Saturday afternoon we took Catherine out for Christmas Eve dinner at 2:00. Justin was not able to come for the best of reasons: he has a job. He paid his tithing shortly after being baptized and just as we expected, he found work. Catherine is starting her second week of work. They are being showered with those blessings that are the reward for obedience and faith. It is such a joy to watch. Sunday our friend, Laurinda and her daughter, Courtney came to church with us and then later at 4:00 we went to her friend, Cherry's house for a Jamaican Christmas Dinner. Are you ready for the menu: turkey, fish, oxtail, lamb, curried chicken, sweet and sour chicken, meatballs, sweet potato souffle, celery casserole, stuffed mushrooms, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, grape salad, pepper- tomato-cucumber salad, beans and rice, dumplings, cheeseball, and for dessert: rum cake (we passed), lemon pound cake, brownies, and cookies. AND....you don't just begin dinner, eat and then it's over...no....people came all night long and were still coming and eating when we left at 9:00! Lovely people who didn't seem to mind we were the only white ones in the bunch! We certainly loved it!
My heart is full as I realize that everyday is Christmas for me as I think of the Savior, consciously try to represent Him well, constantly seeking help from Him and Heavenly FAther as I serve these good people, repenting and trying to improve and be more like Them. I couldn't love Him more at Christmas than I do each and every day of this blessed life as a missionary. I am most grateful.

A Jam Packed Week

Tuesday and Wednesday found us down the road in Powder Springs teaching a two day workshop to 15 people, and what delightful people they were: Charlie Baggett, Nick Pritchett, Jose Gomis, Mike Holmes, Dave Colby, Ron Bass, Kristy Malone, Maricela Harn, Narcos, Joyce Green, Alex Westin, Starla Williams, Seth Hardin, Christ Cordulack, Naycole Sai. We have a teacher, HR student, appraiser/inspector, architect, remodeler, accountant student, two SAP ladies, meatcutter, Business Administration student, salesman, bi-polar genius,and an accountant and three day convert! Got home at 6:30 Wednesday night in time to pick up Catherine for a meeting with the Bishop to get a referral to Developmental Services for employment help. Thursday we had all day training and then that evening we had a PRONET meeting in Sandy Springs. It was a super networking meeting, so whenever they were short a person, I got the nod to sit in the circle. I loved meeting these people! Joel, who is one of Karen's favorites, has a full time job and is also an entrepeneur with three businesses: finding leads for software, facebook application for providing gifts to people by searching all entries for clues, picking up the $500 boxes to return to Cable Companies...besides, he is a gem of a man. Friday: training half a day...work the rest. Seth called wanting me to look at his resume and also to let me know he has an appointment Monday afternoon with the Rome Braves, a minor league team, and this without using any of his contacts!!! LaShonta couldn't keep her appointment because she doesn't have any gas money, but has been working with me over the phone and email working up resumes for a full time job to care for her two year old while she completes her Bacheor's degree in the evenings online. I called Jamshid with a job lead only to find he found a job as a mechanic!!! What a thrill...he was in such a panic when he came into our office several weeks ago. I had put his name on the prayer roll. I put Seth's on today and should have added LaShonta's, but will next week. Friday was a bit of a rough day so after work I went Christmas shopping to keep my mind occupied. There was a sweet uplift, and that was receiving emails from Natalie, April, Bonnie, Dani, Jennie Stanfield, Valerie Kunde, a text from Marissa, a call from Rory, a card from Jill Lichfield, a handmade ornament from Davis, and a whole packet of notes from members of the Meadow Springs Ward sent by Ellen Sly. The tenderest of mercies! Fell asleep working and awoke at 3:45 a.m. so I got all my family's cards and packets ready to mail with their checks and odds and ends gifts. Also got my email Christmas letter out. We went to our usual 9 a.m. temple session where I did the work for Mary Ann Slauter, one of Sister P's relatives by marriage. Friday night Jarron and Dani and other family members were in the temple. Saturday morning Tiffany and Bruce were doing the initiatory work for 50 ancestors on the Mitchell side. After the temple a half hour line at the Post Office, but I got all of Christmas mailed! To the store to buy some fruit to take to the Ward Christmas Party that night. A few hours at home to putter and off we went. So nicely decorated, a tasty breakfast was served, and the kids got to see Santa. Catherine and Justin came, so that was great! Elders Salomonson and Nelson were there to fellowship them and others. Justin paid his tithing and will be getting a call on Tuesday for an interview at the new Chipotle, and then will follow up with McDonalds as well. Party over, but not before Sister P and I had our pictures taken with Santa! To Walmart for Sister P to pick up photos while I called Sonya to see if she still was going to church with us tomorrow in Conyers, but a second voice mail in as many days, so....probably not. Home to do some laundry, email a Christmas letters to my home Bishop and to my Stake President. President Meyer and his executive committee had sent me a Christmas letter with each of their testimonies and encouragement. So appreciated, being far from home. Icing on the cake....Amanda is pregnant!

Keeping Myself Humble

The first Saturday of the month Sister P and I usually sign up to clean the church. Choosing to clean the bathrooms keeps me humble...VERY humble. It is a great deal more painful when Heavenly Father humbles me, so I try to take care of that myself. I am not into pain! We signed up in Relief Society but did not show up on Brother Stice's list that Saturday, but those who were on the list did not come! I am sure they had good reasons, but if not....they need to clean some bathrooms!

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