Merry Christmas!

Well, here we are.....a week before Christmas!  This has been a wonderful holiday to this point.  Decorations have been up since December 1st, cookies have been made and delivered and most all of the gifts have been purchased, wrapped and delivered.  One of the best gifts we gave ourselves was deciding to participate in the "Light the World" campaign.  Each day we think of the things that Jesus did while He was here on earth - like showing compassion, being humble, visiting the sick, reading scriptures, serving others and keeping the Sabbath day holy.  Then we try to do the same type of thing during each of the 25 days of Christmas. It has been a great way to keep the Savior in the forefront of our minds during this Christmas season when we celebrate His birth, His life and His mission.

We want to wish everyone of you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous, safe and healthy New Year!

Love,

Allan and Cindy

Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa

( pick one 😊 )

The pictures start with our November dinner group - it was all about "couples" and we were to come dressed alike!

We do look alike, don't we?!?!

These four pictures are of a Weaver bird that builds nests just outside our window at work.  We have been fascinated watching them weave their nests.  The nests are intricate tear-drop shaped and the male puts them together.  If the female doesn't approve of it - the male tears it apart and starts again.  

A hike through the Klip River Nature Reserve - we spotted a gazillion of these cute little critters.  They are called Hyrax and remind us of rock chucks.

The above three pictures are of Brent and I hiking through the Klip River Nature Reserve.  

Another Weaver bird in the nature reserve.

Thanksgiving dinner at the Area office - my veggie train!  You can't see it but there is a cute little turkey driving the train.

This was a farewell for the sister standing next to me in African dress and her husband - we sang "Lord, I Would Follow Thee".  Santa Clara friends, please take note.....our "music stand" is Paul Graf and our director is Ginny Graf.  

Gingerbread temple!  Made by Sister Coleman.

Our Christmas tree and Gingerbread temple!  The gingerbread smells sooooo good!

Our December Family Home Evening.  Charlene was back in the states - so Brent is by himself in the blue crown.  The Coleman's (Russ & Linda) are in the purple and yellow crown.  Marsha and Jeff French are in the green and orange crowns.  Allan, of course, in the red crown.  The Colemans, and the Lee's (both sets) work in the Family History Centre.  Marsha French is the Area Mental Health Advisor and her husband Jeff is in charge of all of the flats plus supports Marsha in her assignment.
We talked about our Christmas traditions and I read the story "The Tale of the Three Trees".  We had Christmas "poppers" or "crackers" - hence the paper crowns.  We had roast beef wraps, brownies, sugar cookies, apples with a carmel & cream cheese dip and we tried to figure out the names of Christmas carols that had been changed to something else.  We all had a great time and it was on the 4th of the month so it kicked off our Christmas season of social events.  We attended a wonderful family Christmas concert that was totally interactive.  Another very enjoyable evening.  We have had two Area Christmas devotionals and an Area Christmas family home evening.  That is all until Christmas Eve and we will be having a Christmas Eve dinner with a White Elephant exchange.  Then on Christmas Day - the Lees are getting together for a turkey feast.

 

You would never guess what this is all about!  We are buying aspirin!!!!  They lock the aspirin (and I'm sure other dangerous drugs) in these cages that you carry up to the check out counter.  When you pay, they unlock the cages and you can then leave the building!!!!!!

After work on a recent Saturday - lunch out and some beautiful gladiolas that were very inexpensive.

Stay tuned - more to come!