Getting Ready for Christmas

We saw this light display in Billings

We’ll try to get this email out before Tuesday this time.   This was week two of visiting and cookies.  Monday, we took the Aylesworths out to visit the Pithans.  The Pithans have known April since she was a little girl.  They have been so excited for her to have found such a wonderful husband as Keith, and even more so that they have been able to be sealed in the temple.  It was a longer than usual visit, but quite enjoyable.  I brought cookies to the Pithans and also a big box of hot chocolate.  They were enjoying some the last time we were there, and   Pat said they drink it a lot.  I gave the tin of cookies to Pat.  She opened them, had a face of delight, then declared them to be hers, and hers alone.  No sharing with her husband.  I thought it was fine, since I had the hot chocolate.  So I gave that to Brother Pithan.  He opened it and said, “Well that’s just a fine present.  I don’t really like hot chocolate.”  Great.  I guess I did a poor job of that selection.  It was funny.  He claims he will hold her hot chocolate hostage until she’s ready to share the cookies.  I told him I could bring him his own tin of cookies, but he thinks that wouldn’t be nearly as fun.

We also got all the Christmas cards mailed out.  The post office lady was happy for me to just hand her the whole box.  We had our Christmas story lesson in Seminary.  I have been saving Luke 2 for this.  I have been wanting them to really feel the true Spirit of Christmas.  I was really feeling it as I prepared this lesson.  I wanted the students to feel it as well, but not sure they did.  That is something I want to work on for this new semester in Seminary; helping the students feel the spirit more.  Tuesday, we had Jeopardy as our test review.  Then Wednesday was the test, and Thursday, we went over the test.  I brought muffins for test day and then Thursday was our weekly goodies from one of the student’s family.  That was our last day for the semester.  It would have been Friday, but we had Zone Conference in Billings on Friday morning.  The students were quite ok with being over a day early.  

Tuesday was shipping day at the ranch. This is the big pay off day for all the hard work all year.  The calves are rounded up; sorted by sex, then weighed.  The buyer is present in the weighing shed during the weighing process.  It is the same routine as when the cows are processed.  Walt was part of the team that “pushed” cows.  The steers are weighed first, in groups of 20.  Once there are 20 on the scale, the gate is closed and they are weighed.  I was the fortunate one to record the information in the “official book.”  It started out being pretty cold, but was sunny and it warmed up quite a bit later.  It was windy in the morning as well.  Poor Walt, he was pretty bundled up, and I was in the wind proof weighing shed.  Once the steers and heifers are all weighed, they are loaded up onto cattle trucks (18 wheelers).  It took 6 trucks, each holding about 90-100 calves.  Of course, there was a serious meal afterwards.  I did help get the final touches done for lunch while Becky finished up the paperwork for the sale.  It has been so fun learning about the cattle ranching process.  Walt could easily have been a cowboy in another life.

Shipping Day

Wednesday was our Senior Center lunch service.  I brought in cookies for the kitchen staff.  They were quite excited about that.  They each took home what was left.  They sent us home with ham.  Good exchange.  That ham came in handy when we were serving at the temple on Friday night.  We got rolls from the Ward Christmas party to go with the ham.  That evening was our ward Christmas party.  It was a very nice meal, a really cute song by the primary, and a great presentation about the wise men- their gifts - and our gifts to the Savior.  It ended with the children all getting foam rockets.  It was hilarious to see all these rockets shooting across the gym.  

Santa handing out candy canes at the Senior Center Lunch

This is Santa and Miss Lee.  She is 90, nearly blind and hears poorly.  She is amazing in the kitchen.  We just love her!

Our 3 Wisemen.  

Ward Christmas Party

Lucille and Richard at the Christmas Party

Thursday, we left for our trip to Billings for Zone Conference.  We drove straight there.  We did our big Costco shopping - 2 hours.  Our car was totally packed by the time we were done.  That evening we went to the temple, then spent the night with the Solomons.  They will be done with their mission in two weeks.  We will really miss them, and not just because we get to stay at their apartment while we are in BIllings.  They take such good care of the mission and the missionaries.  She is the secretary to the President and he is in charge of finances.  They are the ones who set up our house so wonderfully.  The Solomons work at the temple on Thursday evenings.  

Friday, was our Zone Conference.  It was one of the best we have experienced since being here.  President and Sister Larson spoke, and the Solomon’s shared their testimony with the other parting missionaries.  The Solomon’s daughter passed away 14 years ago on the 21st.  Sister Solomon shared how about 6 months after her daughter died, Sis Solomon was just so very sad and just wanted her daughter back.  She said she received an answer to her grief with these words, “She cannot be with you, but I can.”  The tears were rolling down my face by this time.  What a wonderful thing for us to understand, especially when we want our loved ones back with us.  Jesus Christ can be with us, He can lift our burdens, carry our load of pain, grief, loneliness, and despair.  Sometimes we just have to allow Him to do so.  

One of the Sister Missionary tables at lunch at Zone Conference

Me, Elder and Sister Solomon, and Sister Vandeveer

Our zone

After the Zone Conference, there were gift bags for all of the missionaries.  There was one more generic one and then one specific for Elder or Sister missionary.  So we each left with two gifts.  That was really thoughtful.  

We headed right to the temple afterwards for our Friday night shift.  It was a really good evening.  What a blessing it is for us to be able to work at the temple once a month.  It never ceases to refresh our spirits and give us a sense of renewal.  We really needed it this month.  The Lords seems to always know what we need and blesses us.  We are so grateful.  

This is a display we saw in Billings on the way to the temple.  The next two pictures are the same house.

Another display we saw on the way to the Solomon's.

Saturday, we said our final goodbyes to the Solomons.  Then we headed off to home.  Kate and Drake left Provo that morning to visit with us for Christmas.  We only got home a half hour before they arrived.  Luckily, we had arranged with the Elders to meet us at our house and get them to help us unload our car.  We treated them to some Cheeseees at Wayback and some chocolates.  We had pizza - free from Little Ceasars’s.  Drake cannot resist pizza.

Beautiful Sunset we saw on our way home from Billings.  It was just outside of town.

After dinner, we made some cookies.  The chocolate ones with the Andes mints melted on top.  We got the last of the presents wrapped and Kate dyed my hair.  We didn’t get to bed too late.  It’s hard when we finally have Kate and Drake there.  Drake and I had to leave in the morning around 7:30 am, in order to pick up all my people.  It took some creative figuring on picking up Gary, and then Kay and Abi, plus have Kate and Drake and get Walt to his 8:15 am meeting.    We worked it all out.

Sunday was just the Christmas sacrament meeting.  I gave Sis Knight’s talk for her.  She wrote  it but figured she wouldn’t be able come to church because of her foot surgery.  I like presenting a talk way better than writing one.  It worked out perfect.  Our little last minute choir did a pretty good job with our two Christmas numbers.  There were several people that were at church that probably only come on Christmas.  There was one gentleman  that came that we had never met before.  We recognized his name from the Christmas card list.  We invited him to sit with us.  Kate and Drake sat with Gary in the row behind us.  I think it was a good call.  We are on a mission and need to put those needs first.  

After getting Gary home, we went over to Lucille’s house.  She wanted Kate and Drake to come and see her tree and player piano.  It was a fun time.  I played first, to show them how it’s done.  Then Drake took a turn.  He had a much longer roll than I did, but he hung in there till the end.  We gave Kate a short roll.  We all agreed it is quite a work out.  

Kate playing the player piano at Lucille's

Kate and Drake dancing to a waltz number I was playing on the piano

Then we headed to visit our widow sister that Gary loves to help.  He bought Christmas presents (I did the shopping part) and two boxes of food for her.  She had no idea we would be coming.  She was in tears at the generosity.  I told her if the benefactor didn’t identify themselves before we left, I would tell her.  The Bishop thanked him at church Sunday for his kindness and generosity - his Christ like spirit.  

Our widow sister overcome with emotion at the presents and food

Once we were back home, we had some sandwiches and got things packed up.  With four small suitcases and Christmas presents, the car was filled to the brim.  I couldn’t even see out of the back window.  We left at the time we aimed for; which made me very happy.  We have really been looking forward to our Christmas visit with the Bailey’s.  It feels a bit like a vacation.  We saw an amazing sunset as we approached Sheridan - the end of our journey.  We were welcomed with hugs and smiles.  A great way to start our Christmas celebration.  Kate and Drake have been quickly assimilated into the family.  

The sunset in Sheridan

That is it for this week!!  Two days until Christmas!!  We send our love and Christmas wishes your way.  We are hoping to FaceTime with the children and grandchildren either Christmas or Christmas Eve.  

Me reading the nightly Christmas Story to the Grandchildren at Wendy's in Billings.

Sis Erickson made pillowcases for the Smith kids.  Nicholas fit nicely inside.

Lots of Love,

Elder and Sister Vann