More wonderful Christmas events - Christmas Eve - Christmas Day 2023

 



Christmas surprise!  On December 21, we got a call from Dwayne and Starla Kendell.  They served in the Johannesburg Mission - we met them in the MTC and kept in touch our whole 18 months, they served 23!  It was delightful to have them come to our house and catch up on the happenings in South Africa! Elder Kendell and Elder Perkins - one of the senior couples serving in the Area Office, were mission companions 40 years ago in South Africa!!


The Kendells brought us this amazing lamp from a vendor at Irene's Craft Market. He made these temple lamps especially for the missionaries.  We had gotten Nativity ones from him when we were there.  The Kendells were good missionaries and made him a friend and he asked them what the symbol of our Church was - they told him the Book of Mormon and Temples.  Each side of the lamp has a temple - Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town and Salt Lake.  The top has Angel Moroni blowing his trumpet!  Wow - what a great gift!  It came with the small led light - I like how it glows! 


Here is our fireplace - with the gas fire flames!  When we put the Christmas things away - we kept the lantern on the fireplace - so precious!  Great reminder of the Light of the World, our Savior. 


Saturday December 23, we woke up to a wonderful sight!  Snow finally!  Here Harold is shoveling the front walk - it wasn't very much but so fun this close to Christmas!  I like how our light pole looks with snow on the fake pine boughs!  The red satin bow is from Heidi and Stefan's wedding clear back in 1991!! 
On Sunday, Christmas Eve, we visited with Wayne, Lori and Amy Mortensen.  It was delightful to talk about Janice and how great a person she is...we missed her funeral as we were in South Africa.  Harold decided she would want us to stay and finish our mission.  It is different to live in Bountiful and not have her here!  

Such wonderful people in our lives.  It is great that Lori and Amy moved in with their parents to help take care of them.  We are blessed with amazing extended family!!!  


We invited the Utah families to come to Christmas Dinner at our house.  Here is the living room set up waiting for them! 

Our dining room set up also.  We have never had a Dining Room before and I love it!  

Mortensens and Williams came and ate with us.  Fairbanks came after dinner and we all had a good time.

Joel, Anna, Ben and Kate - loved spending time with these great people!  
Polly and Chris made this amazing pillow for us - It will be a family heirloom!!! It has twinkling lights!


Our first kiss was under the mistletoe - in 1964 - month of March!! Becky and I shared an apartment at the back of our cousin's house - and yes - we left the mistletoe up all semester!  I met this handsome man in the first week of February.


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