News from CA                                                                                            12-12-2016

Dear Loved Ones All,

Another week has raced by and I have a hard time thinking of what in the world I did that took up that much time.  We did the usual, Mary’s Kitchen, and of course there is a never ending amount of texting and phoning to try to make appointments.  My foot pedal to my sewing machine broke so I had to order a part to fix it.  It finally came in on Tuesday so I was able to repair a couple of problem pants.  I had 3 pair of pants that needed to be hemmed and a troubled tie to be stitched back up, and my first broken backpack.  It amazes me that the missionaries always start with, “Sister Macbeth, can you sew?  I have -----that needs to be fixed.  Do you think you could maybe fix it?”  Then they show me what needs to be done.  After fixing one elder’s pants three times I told him that there was not enough original thread left in the seat to repair.  I found a pair the right size at Goodwill and gave them to him and told him I didn’t want to see the problem pair ever again.  He wanted to know where the new pair came from and I told him “Magic.”  He said he didn’t believe in magic, so I said “A miracle.”  To which he responded that he had seen enough miracles that he could believe in that easily. 

We have taken food several times to our friend who was in the hospital for so long.  He hasn’t fully recovered and is skin and bones.  He is still waiting to find out what help he is going to get from special services, and I don’t really want to make it seem like he is getting along ok until after they come and assess the situation.  I don’t know how willing the ward is to be his housekeeper, cook and laundry service.

We have been able to share the Christmas video, “Light the World,” with quite a number of people.  We were dropping off some cookies to a less active family.  It turns out they weren’t home yet, but the neighbor next door who is a good friend heard us knock and told us that they would be happy to deliver the cookies for us.  They are Catholic, but they loved the video and we gave them their own bag of cookies, and the “Joy to the World” video too.  They were very nice.  I wish everyone could have such nice neighbors.

The Brandts loaned us a tree and their Mickey Mouse / Disney ornaments and some snowflakes to decorate it.  It only took about 3 hours to decorate it.  Elder Macbeth also bought me a star to go on top , a Santa Claus ornament, and a pickle ornament to hide in the branches for when the grandkids come.  It turned out very nice, even if it doesn’t touch the ceiling.  I’m definitely not complaining.  Especially compared to the one that Elder Macbeth jokingly offered to buy me that would fit into a doll house.  If I ask him nicely he will probably be willing to add a photo of it on the bottom. 

It seems like we are eating the same thing every other day, so I remembered the recipe I sent to the MTC when Jayann went in just before Christmas.  I was asked to send a recipe for one of her favorite foods to have Christmas morning.  I sent them the recipe for Puff Pancakes.  I found the recipe in the Macbeth Family Cookbook and they were as good as I remembered. 

Sunday was rather busy.  We had the pre-block meetings.  Elder Macbeth was on the program as the first speaker.  Bishop got up to welcome congregation and to start the meeting so when he glanced down on the program to see who was giving the opening prayer there was Elder Macbeth’s name right after the sacrament.  We had two special musical numbers, so one was listed after his name and the Bishop assumed that he was on the program for the prayer and announced Elder Macbeth as the prayer.  Imagine his surprise when he also got to introduce him as a speaker also.  Elder Macbeth also taught the Gospel Doctrine lesson in Sunday School.  I only had to teach the lesson in Relief Society.  I was rather glad when Bishop was done with his interviews and tithing settlements so we could go home and eat since neither one of us ate breakfast.  You know, like fast Sunday only we weren’t fasting. 

Anyway, it looks like this new week already has more on the schedule so I’m sure there will not be time to get bored.  I have to figure out what to do for our people we visit as a little remembrance for Christmas.  Hope this finds you all happy and excited for this wonderful season.

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