Greetings from CAM                                                                     November 15, 2016

Dear Loved Ones All,

This week we did all the usual things, make phone calls, send texts, played “Beat the Gate,” do service at Mary’s Kitchen, and for our Hungarian friend, make cookies, and even were able to make a few visits.  The Bishop asked us to deliver invitations to the Temple Preparation class so we spent the first part of the week catching up to the people on the list.  Supposedly they were going to decide on Sunday the time and place to officially start the class.  However, the teacher decided that the holidays was not a good time to try to squeeze in a 6 lesson class, so it has been postponed until January.  I think that is probably a good call.  

We get to do a senior missionary couple FHE about every 6 weeks.  Usually it is a planned potluck dinner at the mission home.  This time I made the 12-hour layered salad, although I didn’t have all the ingredients the night before so it was only a 6-hour salad.  The flavors didn’t meld as well on the shortened time, but it was good anyway.  President Taggart had to take an important phone call just as were going to do a lesson, so Sister Taggart had us tell how we met.  That was fun, and it was especially fun to hear how some of the couples’ stories were slightly different.

Some of the other fun perks of being a senior missionary is that we can make and receive phone calls from family.  That is really nice to be able to keep in touch with loved ones.  We also love getting pictures on our cell phone of the happenings in their lives. . . the grandkids are so-o-o-o-o fun.  AND we get to actually see family when they are here.  Raine called to tell me Sherma (my sisters) and their husbands were going to be here for Sherma’s birthday on Saturday and would we like to get together. We said of course, but Saturday we had a baptism to attend which we needed to work around.  The time of the baptism got rescheduled 3 times, from afternoon to morning and then back to the afternoon.  The reason was that the young man’s grandfather had passed away and they were doing a graveside service, but part of the family needed to be to a memorial for another person who had died, so it all became very complicated.  When the schedule was finally settled we decided that we would have a brunch here at our apartment.  I made funeral potatoes for the memorial and Elder Macbeth took them to the church while I set the table, made some orange juice, cooked some bacon and sausages, and some homemade syrup.  (I have looked in every grocery store and finally found some Maplene flavoring for making syrup the way my mother made it.)  Elder Macbeth got back about 15 minutes before they arrived.  Raine brought her 100% whole wheat pancakes and her griddle and started cooking the pancakes while Nils cut up some fresh strawberries and raspberries.  I got out the whipped cream and we all sat down to a fabulous, scrumptious, delectable meal.  Then we visited!!!!!!!! It was wonderful.  Steve and Sherma were running on basically no sleep, so while they took a short nap we showed Nils and Raine around the apartment complex.  When we got back we just had time for a few pictures (phones are so great these days) before we had to head out the door for the baptism and they left for Nils and Raine’s home.  So, not only did we get to help Sherma celebrate her birthday, but Raine brought me a gift as well.  She gave me a couple of pumpkins she had made out of some antique velvet that Dad had.  They are beautiful and it made me really feel loved. What was a delightful interlude.

The baptism was a highlight of the week.  Multiple sets of elders have taught this young man so it was awesome that he was finally ready.  He is super tall so his uncle, who is in the stake presidency went into the font, he was about a head shorter than his nephew.  It was a good thing they filled the font really full.  Afterward we were able to accompany the sisters to a lesson for a man that they have been teaching who also attended the baptism.  He is a leader in a non-LDS scout troop and is so personable with an award winning smile.  He also is way ready and will be wonderful to have in our ward.

To finish out the day I worked on fine-tuning my R.S. lesson.  Not only that, I reviewed it Sunday morning while Elder Macbeth was at his first two pre-block meetings.  At ward council I was reminded that I am in charge of the ward Christmas Party on December 16^th and needed to make sure it was scheduled on the building calendar.  Originally our ward was scheduled for the 23^rd of December.  It was High Council Sunday and the speakers were very good, especially the last one.  He had personal experiences that he shared about his interactions with non-members.  He said it is important to find common ground and then Lord will help with the rest. 

After church I took out the artisan bread dough that I was going to bake while Carla and Barry’s family were here.  I think I waited too long, the dough was almost soupy and when baked, the bread was spongey and weird.  Lesson learned.

Well that’s it for last week.  Here’s wishing you all have an excellent week.  Continue looking for things that give you joy and be grateful.

Love, Sister and Elder Macbeth      Go!  Fight!!     WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  J