64th-66th Week—November 27-December 17, 2012

 

 

December Birthdays

December 6--Happy Birthday Dear Christi--???—Who knows her age?

December 8—Happy Birthday Dear Charlie—6 years old!

December 10—Happy Birthday Dear Charles—40+ years old

December 15—Happy Birthday Dear Grace—11 years old!

December 28—Happy Birthday Dear Ben—19 years old!

And of course we celebrate Christ’s birthday December 25^th!

Picture Blog

          Since I have so many photos to enter this time, it will be just a picture blog.

November 28-30

Brad had meetings in Santa Monica so we got to take Charlie
to Disneyland--the "happiest place on earth." There was a heavy mist
all day or else a drizzling rain but we had a great time anyway. This was
at the entrance to Disneyland.

 

First on the agenda was a picture with Mickey Mouse
following a 20 minute wait.



Charlie waiting for the train.

The first stop was the brand new Cars Land in the
California Adventure Park.  This was Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.

Of course we had to be in the Radiator Springs Race.  We were told
there was a 70 minute wait but it was only a 45 minute wait.  Here we are heading up the mountain for the race.  Our cute yellow car won the race!

Charlie was mesmerized with Its a Small World.  It was all decorated
for Christmas.  They sang Jingle Bells as well as Its a Small World.



Grandpa and Charlie on the Mark Twain Riverboat.

Charlie on Grandpa's shoulders so he could see the
shimmering Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Charlie loved the ipod at the California Science Center.

Brad and Charlie at the Santa Monica Beach.

December 2

Jorge, Lesly, Marisol, Jorge Arzu
We taught Jorge, the dad, every week for 10 months out of the
Book of Mormon.  We encouraged him through some huge family
trials.  We prayed for him and with him.  This was a great day!

Us and the Arzu Family

Elder Olsen, Us, the Arzus, Elder Miller, Elder Mitchell.
Elders Olsen and Miller taught him the missionary lessons and
also helped him through some trials. We were so grateful for them.

Elder Gonzales, Arzus, Elder Mitchel
These elders baptized Marisol, Lesly, and Jorge Jr.
They helped Lesly and Jorge Jr. many, many times.We
were grateful for them also.

December 7 and 8


 

The Shumans are going home to Georgia right after the first of the
year. They wanted to go to the San Diego Temple before they left.
They invited us to go with them. We decided this would be our Christmas
present to each other. We are so glad we did. This temple is very different
from other temples. When they sent to blueprints to Salt Lake they were turned down.
Someone offered to pay for the temple so Salt Lake approved it. It is absolutely beautiful

.

Following the temple session we ate a delicious meal at this
Mexican Restuarant.  It was recommended by one of the temple workers.

Following our meal we walked around Old Town San Diego a bit
and then we drove back to see the Christmas lights at the temple at night.  The camera
doesn't do them justice.  They were very pretty.

The following morning we ate breakfast provided by the hotel and
then went to the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center. This is the Shumans.

This is us out front.  The Visitors Center has just been redone
and it is wonderful.  They have interactive pictures--it reminds me a little
of Harry Potter.  The rocks and logs shake.  It is very informative as well
as entertaining.  At the end they take your picture and make it into a postcard and
they also email the picture to you. When you go outside you can pan for gold. (It is
really fool's gold) and you can climb up in the tower.

 We are in the covered wagon.

December 15
Reyna and Celso's Wedding

 We worked quite a bit with Reyna and Celso.  December 15 they
got married and Sunday, December 16, he got baptized!  She is a member.
(Our bishop is in San Salvador spending Christmas with his mom.  It has been
23 years since he was there for Christmas!  He will hopefully meet Walt and Eileen
at the temple.  He wasn't available to perform the marriage.) 
The stake president, President Bragg, flew back from New York City
to marry them.  He speaks Spanish well and he did such a nice job.  It was such a happy
day.  Reyna just radiated. 

This was the first time we have seen Celso in nice clothes.
He looked so handsome.  President Bragg told me she just
radiated happiness and he was nervous.  He would hardly smile
he was so nervous.

December 16
Celso Castillo's Baptism

 Elder Rosales, Celso Castillo, Elder Shumway

Us and Celso--I felt so terrible--Reyna missed his
baptism because she had to work. . .

Sunday night was the departing missionary fireside.
This is Elder Panta.  We worked with him a long time
and loved him.  He is from Brazil.
This is Sylvia Campos that he worked with for a long time.
We have also worked with her a long time.  She loves him but she still isn't
ready to commit to be baptized.