"God does not begin by asking about our ability, but only about our availability. And if we then prove our dependability, He will increase our capability."
Neal A. Maxwell
Apparently Thanksgiving is a faded memory and Christmas time is here.
The Senior Missionary District held a Christmas potluck dinner the Monday before Christmas. Not a one of us wanted to make any plans for Christmas Day just in case our kids and grand kids wanted to Skype :)
Sister Berry getting into the Christmas spirit.
Elder Bevans and Elder Hansen checking out Elder Hansen's white elephant gift.
Sisters Nielson, Danes, Vaden and Bevans.
Following a delicious dinner we had a white elephant gift exchange.We all picked a number 1-16, I lucked out with #15 so I was ready to roll, but unfortunately everyone was on their best behavior. I had visions of a Julie Bacchus ornament exchange dancing in my head, but sadly everyone seemed more than happy with the gifts they had selected. Even Sister Gordon who received Sponge Bob Square pants shampoo!
The Assistants to the President, or three Musketeer's, one last time.
Elder Patten, Elder Quarnberg and Elder Curtis.
Elder Curtis departed for Salt Lake City, UT (home) the day after Christmas.
It's just not going to be the same without him.
Frosty friends and mission mascots.
One of Santa's helpers getting ready to make some last minute deliveries to missionaries whose Christmas packages were delayed and received in the office on Christmas Eve.
We even had a package to deliver in Sumterville so we got to get acquainted with the new calf in the herd.
Christmas Day!
Our Idaho grand kids!
As you can plainly see Santa must have thought we were nice and not naughty this year
because we received plenty of reasons to be thankful.
Tradition, tradition! (Think Fiddler on the Roof) Although we did not feed the masses as we often did on Christmas Day, we did have steak, eggs and hash browns per our tradition!
Elder Delgado, Eric Tweedy, Elder Ago at Eric's baptism Saturday, December 29, 2013.
Following Eric's baptism we decided to check out a new Mexican restaurant on our never ending quest for food comparable to Dos Coyote in California. Eureka, we may have found it!
An unexpected gift I received after Church today from my special friend, Sister Dudley.
Of all the blessings which I have received since being called to serve as a missionary I think the one that has meant the most to me it is the feeling that the Lord provided me when He, the Lord, let me know that He had answered the prayer of another person through me. Sister Dudley has been a member of the Church for over thirteen years and determined to seek the blessings of the temple for over three. Yet it was while we were serving in the Poinciana Branch, teaching the Temple Preparation Class, that she was finally able to decide that it was time to go to the temple, no more procrastinating.
I don't know which one of us was more happy :)
In closing, as the new year fast approaches, let us remember that if you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always gotten and you can't build a reputation on the things you say you are going to do. Albert Schweitzer declared, "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will really be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."
Availability+Dependability=Capability
Wishing you a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year!
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