Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018

Good-bye 2018


This will be the last post for the year 2018 !!  How quickly it has gone and so many things have happened!  Now, I really do not have any pictures to post but that doesn't mean that we haven't been busy.  First of all, we worked Christmas Eve until noon and got alot done in each of our areas because there were not visitors around that we had to work around.  Later, that evening a bunch of us missionaries got together and had a meal at the FM compound conference room where we laughed and visited, then played the white elelphant gift pass game and did a couple of minute to win it type games. It was a fun evening. Of course, we ended the evening with the Christmas story from Luke and wished each other a Merry Christmas.

Christmas morning, Jim and I got up and after exploring our stockings we gave each other our gifts.  Then we sat and looked at the gift in our laps and then at each other and started to laugh.  The gift size was exactly the same and the gift shape was exactly the same....you guessed it !  We got each other exactly the same gift (a projection alarm clock since ours had died)  Do you think that we have lived together for 45 years or what !!!   Too funny !!  We had a brunch later in the morning with about 13 other couples and really enjoyed visiting with them (some different /some the same as the night before)  We were able to visit with Grandpa Pitcher and the Spencer family on the phone which was fun and Cody & Emily texted us a picture of Cody playing Santa while trying to avoid a trail camera that his kids set up to catch Santa ....made us laugh!  It was an absolutely gorgeous day weather-wise and so we went for a walk later in the afternoon.  Just so you know....we did miss our family but at the same time we were grateful that we could share Christmas with some dear people that we have learned to love here in Nauvoo.  

The remainder of the week was spent working as usual and enjoying seeing the different projects move ahead.  Currently, we are working at the "Holiday Condos" getting them ready for residences for missionaries.  The church is not going to be renewing the leases on the private homes that they have been using for that purpose and they purchased an old motel that needs ALOT of renovating and updating.  Two units are targeted to be done by the middle of January so that 2 couples can move in because their lease expires the end of January.  It is going to be a push but everyone is trying hard to make it happen for them.  

This next week takes us into a New Year and that always makes me re-think and evaluate my goals.  With the new Come Follow Me program that has been introduced, I am excited to implement the scripture study and learn more in the New Testament.  We are still serving in the nursery in our Quincy 2nd ward and probably will until we complete our mission so we will be unable to get the benefits of the Sunday School discussions, therefore, 3 other missionary couples have decided that we should get together on Sun. afternoon after our respective meetings and do that discussion together.  I am looking forward to that.  I have completed my reading of the Book of Mormon after the challenge that Pres. Nelson gave to us women this past conference and love that book and the things that I learn more of each time that I read it.  Several years ago, I memorized the Introduction along with my Laurels and I am in the process of refreshing that to my memory.  There is a special spirit even with just that page!!  I know that this book is an inspired set of scripture that a loving Heavenly Father provided for us as an additional witness to His divinity and to the divinity of Jesus Christ and outlines the plan of happiness that He provided for each of us.  What struck me most with this last reading was the number of times that He warned the Nephites / Jaredites of impending disaster but at the same time He offered forgiveness and mercy to them if they would just repent. I know that He does the same of each of us.  He is waiting for us to turn to and depend on Him because He has already suffered and paid the price for our shortcomings and imperfections and because of that, He is the only one who really can give us the peace and comfort that we desire.

We love you and hope that you have a great week.  I'll try to remember to take some pictures this week.

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