Then last Monday at FHE we did a service project. We helped provide gifts for foster children in the south. Kimberly, who plans our FHEs, has a sister who lives in North Carolina, and she is a foster mom; she knows lots of the other foster families in the area, and said they don't get much for Christmas. So we all contributed gifts, along with other members of our ward, wrapped them and Kimberly sent two huge boxes off to them this week. It was a great way to serve and have a nice time socializing with the mid singles.
Then last night, Kimberly went to the Oakland Temple to receive her endowment. It was a wonderful day for us, because we had taught her the temple preparation lessons. She's been a member for a year, and is very enthusiastic. She got lots of support from the ward, and the two missionaries that taught her at first were able to come. We drove 3 missionaries up with us and took them home to Santa Cruz after a dinner of pizza (they ate 2 large pizzas!) Here are the two Elders who baptized her, and Kimberly in front of the temple. It was a rainy, foggy night.
We have been having a lot of rain. The costal areas have received about 16 inches in the last few weeks. The ground is pretty saturated. Our drive home last night was in the rain through the Santa Cruz mountains, along a winding road that was slick and scary. The forest comes right up to the highway, and sometimes trees become so saturated, they literally slide down the mountain into the road. We know - we hit one! There was a bus in front of us, and the bus must have hit it first, but we couldn't see it until it was right in front of our car. There was a horrible crunch, and zoom, we were past it. It dented the front of the car, and ripped off the side mirror! We were both pretty shook up, but un-harmed. We got home and saw some other scratches, but feel very lucky that it didn't break the windshield. The branch that was sticking up that got us was about 4" in diameter, so it could have done much worse damage. We called the insurance company today, and will take it in for repairs next week. We can't drive much without that side mirror, not on these freeways. So we've been home all day with not much to do. Sigh....
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas. We hope you have a peaceful, relaxing, enjoyable week. We miss you all terribly, but know we are where we are supposed to be. We don't have plans for Christmas Day yet, but will probably get some invitations at church tomorrow. Erin and Dave, be safe driving the kids down south; Amy and Rob, have fun in Disneyland, Tracy and Dave, enjoy time with family and friends, and Megan and Shawn, enjoy the fun of having a Santa believer in your midst for maybe one or two more years (?).
Still waiting for pictures of the pocket party! Blog, people, blog!
Love you all so much.
Aww, Mom and Dad that just stinks about your car!! You are so lucky it didn't hit the windshield--it could have broke more than just the windshield. I hope it got fixed quickly without too much fuss. I worry about you driving out there in CA, but I didn't think because of trees jumping out in front of your car!
ReplyDeleteWe got your card yesterday. It's really pretty and original. Thank you! We are all by ourselves this Christmas. Melissa's family is at her in-laws. Wende's family is down in Mesquite. We have her German shepherd to dog-sit while they are gone. Her name is Portia and she is very, very sweet and Rocky just loves her (jealous little Ripley even tolerates her). That has been fun so far. So Christmas should be nice and relaxing for us. It's even supposed to snow.
Love you and will talk to you Thursday.
T
Oh my goodness Mom and Dad! I'm so glad you guys are OK. That's neat about Kimberly going through the temple. If anyone was ready, it was her. She is such a neat lady. Mom, did you get an invitation for Christmas Day? I hope so. We were thinking one day while we're out there that we could drive a couple of hours north and you guys could drive south and we could meet for dinner or something. But with your mirror being gone, that ruined that idea.
ReplyDeleteTracy I hope you guys enjoy your quiet holiday. Maybe next year we can all get together somehow.
We are excited about our trip. Brandon is the only one that doesn't seem thrilled at the idea of 8 straight days together haha! He'll either decide he's really glad he married into the family or that he wishes Jen was an orphaned and only child. Wish us luck.
I get to go back to choir January 4th. I am excited, but nervous about how I will work it all out. I told Erin yesterday that I will need to be more organized than I have ever been, and I've never really been that organized, so it will be interesting! I feel like the Lord will help me if I ask and am diligent to my family duties.
Jim and Jamie McArthur lost their oldest son this week. He had muscular dystrophy (as does their youngest). Jack was 22. He caught a virus and was unable to fight it. His heart was already declining rapidly, so the virus weakened it even more. He is a sweet kid and Jamie and Jim miss him terribly. I wish we were going to be here for his service, but we'll still be in CA. Jack's favorite place was Disneyland, so I told Jamie we'll be thinking about him and their whole family while we're there. She said, "Eat some popcorn in Jack's honor." We'll bring some home for them, along with lots of other treats I know Jamie likes from there. I'm so sad for her and Jim. Everyone has known all of Jack's life that he probably wouldn't survive past 25, but it doesn't make it any easier. The last year, especially, Jack has literally disappeared. The term "dystrophy" is an exact description of what happens to a person who suffers from MD. Death was probably very sweet to him. He no longer is bound by a completely dysfunctional body.
I have lots of pictures on my phone of the pocket party. I will post them.
Have a merry Christmas everyone and a fun New Year's Eve!!!
Love to all,
Amy
We got 3 invitations! So tonight we are joining a Saratoga Ward family for Christmas Eve dinner; we have a brunch with another family tomorrow, and dinner with another Senior couple in the evening, that I am helping to prepare. So it will be super.
ReplyDeleteWe got to help make breakfast for the whole mission this morning. (300 people). It was a lot of work, but so fun. They had a talent show, a gift exchange, a devotional and a movie. It was quite a day. Then I ran home and put a pumpkin pie in the oven, then off to the dinner. We don't have time to be homesick! We hope to talk to you all tomorrow. Have a wonderful Christmas Eve. So great to hear from folks on the blog. Love you all so much.