Swimming party in December??????......

This evening we went to President Michaud’s home for a “Finals” swimming party for those going to school. Swimming at Christmas???? It was pot luck and he made steaks with the branch funds.
We arrived at 6 pm because that is when the party started. One brother arrived shortly after we did. There was just the 4 of us until about 6:30 when a couple of other ones arrived. By 7 pm (1 hour late) we had about 12 people there so we started to eat. I took broccoli salad, one brought chips and the others didn’t bring anything. By the time 7:45 came there were about 25 people there but the only other dishes that came were a vegetarian wrap, a small container each of macaroni and cole slaw and one more bag of chips. No one brought dessert. That made about 5 dishes and 25 people. I guess the other 20 thought they would just eat off of whatever anyone else brought. The steaks were huge though and I had plenty to eat. There were only about 5 people who chose to swim. It had been raining all day and the wind was blowing so it was quite nippy. Tim even said he was cold, which is very unusual.

Say ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Tim has been under the weather with a very sore throat for the last 3 days. Elder & Sister Black came into the office on Friday. She has studied nursing so she said if he would find a tongue depressor and a flashlight that she would check to see if it was strep. Elder Black found a flashlight in his car and Tim found a metal ruler and cleaned it with alcohol. She performed the procedure right there in the middle of our office.

Good News!!!!!! It's not strep.........................

Thanksgiving Day.........

What a strange Thanksgiving. We went to Hometown Buffet. All the missionaries were invited to at least one or two dinners. Two of the other couples had family visiting and the other couple was invited to a non-member's home so we went with the new couple, The Welchs, out. Neither of us felt like cooking a big meal for just 4 people and Tim was just as happy because he doesn't care for turkey.

More beautiful baptisms......

Today has been a great day. We attended the singles ward for the 2nd time. When it was time to start the meeting, the counselor came and asked if any of us could play the piano because their pianist hadn't shown up. I volunteered. We had a combined RS and priesthood session so I again played for that. We usually get about 40 people there. There is an investigator who is really close. She actually had this Saturday set up to be baptized but is going to San Antonio to see her family for Thanksgiving and had forgotten that she wouldn't be home by Saturday. Hopefully the following week will work for her. We are trying to have a "White Christmas" and reach 100 baptisms in our mission in December. That is really a stretch as the highest we have ever had before is 61. Please keep us in your prayers that we can reach that goal.
Today we went back to the Fort Lauderdale Ward to see Sheryl Zayas get baptized by her husband, Socrates. He was just baptized 7 weeks ago. He is Cuban. They have 2 darling little girls. It was so exciting to see the completion of both parents getting baptized. They are looking forward to going to the temple next year. Sheryl will become a family practice doctor in a couple of months. They were fellowshipped by a couple in our ward who lives in their apartment complex. They will be a huge blessing to the Fort Lauderdale Ward.
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We also had the father of another family who was baptized about 6 weeks ago get baptized last week. That completes their family of a mom, dad, a teenage daughter and son and an 11-year old daughter. The mom and teenagers have already been to the temple to do baptisms for the dead and are coming along super fantastic.

Christmas shopping in 80 degree weather........

I had a really odd experience this afternoon. I decided to go to the new Kohl’s down the street from the office to see if there was anything that would make me feel better about the way I dress. I pretty much walked in and out but couldn’t believe what I was hearing and seeing. There were people everywhere and nothing but HOT sweaters and winter clothing. (People were actually in coats and boots last week because it got down do about 73 degrees). Christmas music was playing “It isn’t Christmas unless there is snow”. I thought to myself….”Are they really playing Christmas music?? IT IS 80 degrees OUTSIDE!!!! Are they insane?” Then I realized that they must all be Christmas shopping. How weird. I knew right then and there that Christmas will NOT be the same this year. I don’t even have a desire to put up a tree. Elder Dalling said I was “Bah hum-bug” so maybe we will put up the 3 ft tinsel one that is here in our apartment. I think it will look pretty silly but “Oh well”. There won’t be any presents underneath it because we are going to give the couples here a poinsettia right after Thanksgiving to put in their homes. We are not buying gifts this year---everyone will just get money. It is so hard to imagine that it is cold and snowy in Utah right now. It feels like August in Utah.