News from CAM                                                                                         January 17, 2017

Dear Loved Ones All,

The great news first:  our “Mission Miracle” Grandson, Bridger Michael Wright, was born this morning at 8:19 am weighing in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 in long.  Mother and baby are doing fine, if you consider a C-section fine..  We are of course thrilled and wish we were there, but are comforted that there is a parade of people willing to help. 

Now to my report.  On P-day I decided that I was more than ready for a new perm and now I have lots of curls.  Besides the cleaning and laundry I dismantled the Anaheim Christmas tree, which makes the apartment look quite bare.  We took time out to go jump start the elders’ car before having supper and returning the tree and ornaments.   We made sure the good sister who loaned us the tree had a photo with us and her tree so she can remember how much we appreciated her thoughtful generosity. 

I made multiple turkey casseroles while Paul tried to create a viable Ward Area Book that works for our calling.  The regular Area Book is not exactly written for perpetual home teachers, or member sleuths, since all our people are already members.  One of the older couples in our ward received a new microwave for Christmas so they donated their old one to our church building.  I sure could have used it last week while preparing food for the wedding.  We also have a sister from our ward in the hospital again so we continued to visit her throughout the week.

Wednesdays are fun because we get to serve at Mary’s Kitchen.  We are starting to recognize most of the patrons now, although many of the volunteers change weekly.  It is really nice to be appreciated and even told so every time we serve there.

We got our DNA reports back from Ancestry.  That was interesting, although it would be nice to have time to delve into the information and try to see where it takes us, but for now I guess we will have to wait.  We also had the other senior missionary couple in our complex down for chicken divan.  They loved it, and I, of course am so glad that there are so many fabulous recipes in the Macbeth Family Cook Book.  Even though I do google for recipes occasionally, I know that the family recipes are tried and true.

We continue to text, phone, and try to visit members with varying success.  We get to meet some; some have moved, and others are totally unavailable at the moment.  I am trying to be more patient and exhibit more faith that when the time is right it will happen.  We got a new elder this week (Elder Hansen) from New Orleans, LA.  He doesn’t have much of an accent until he says the name of where he is from…then you can hear it.  He bore his testimony on Sunday and I think he is going to be awesome for our ward.

I made sugar cookies this week and frosted them with a delicious butter cream frosting.  I am afraid that I will have to confess that it is left over frosting from the Nachreiner wedding cake.  She made it with butter and rich cream and was going to throw away the left over frosting.  It is delicious and free, so what is there not to like?  Besides that, the young missionaries think frosting makes cookies all the better. 

I repaired more problem pants.  When we took them to the office there was a package from home, (and two more pair of pants).  Our daughter finally braved the snowy roads to take it to the post office.  It contained Christmas presents and birthday presents.  That was kind of fun to still be getting presents mid-January.  J

My jaw has been giving me trouble this week.  When I bite down I get a shooting pain that goes from my jaw clear up to my ear.  I can carefully chew, but no biting.  Guess I will have to break down and go see a dentist.  Not only that, the coating on my glasses is peeling off.  We went to Lenscrafters in the mall and they checked them.  Yep, the coating is coming off and they can’t be repaired without ruining the prescription.  And by the way, “it has been over 2 years since you got them, your prescription has expired so you will need to have your eyes checked even if they haven’t changed.”  Other than that I am in fine shape.  The visit to the mall wasn’t a total waste…I finally found a couple of cardigan sweaters; a navy one and a sea foam one, and a white ¾ length sleeve jacket.  Lucky me. 

Sunday we got to go down to Laguna Niguel to have dinner with our son Brad and his wife Becky and their 4 kids, plus her parents and sister’s family.  It is always such a delight to visit family, and grandkids are the greatest.  I can’t believe all the great bonuses that senior couples get to have. 

Still, the best news of all was what I posted first…CONGRATULATIONS Jayann and Paul on becoming bonafide parents!  We love you all and hope this is the best week ever up to now.

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