Christmas is a busy time around here so I hope I remember all of the happenings. We have been working hard in our new office. One funny! When we walked into the new office the first morning. Elder Coleman said, "How was the commute?" (Jokingly because it is about 30 steps from our apartment door to the back door of the office.) Ed said, "Whoa, I'm not quite awake, I need the drive in the traffic to get the adrenalin going." We all had a good laugh.

Ed and I had the special opportunity to take Elder Vinas and his wife Christina to the airport. They are spending Christmas with their daughter and husband. Both are inspiring examples to all.

On Tuesday night we went to the Colonial Zone for dinner. We dined at a very nice place sitting outdoors on a plaza among buildings hundreds of years old. We walked by the oldest Cathedral in the western hemisphere built back in Columbus's time. We need to go back to explore some more. We went with the Mehrs. They are here as public affairs missionaries. We really enjoyed their company.

On Wednesday we began our training to be ordinance workers at the temple. We were taken on a tour of it to show us the physical workings and our responsibilities as workers as well as studied a little. We are looking forward to the experience.

Christmas Eve we were invited with senior couples to the Berkley's for a dinner. It was a great turkey dinner with all the trimmings. After, we went back to the Casa and had cookies with the elders from the MTC (CCM) They sang to us and then we shared cookies. What a wonderful group of young men. It was a bright spot to be with them.

Christmas day a group of senior missionaries delivered quilts and personal hygiene kits to an assisted living home for the aged. It was run by Catholic Nuns. We sang Christmas Hymns for part of their Christmas Mass and Program. It was a huge place with all kinds of needs to be met, very humbling.

In the evening, we all met at the Temple President's home for dinner. The parties here were all nice but the thing that we loved most was the visits with each of our sons and their wives on Skype. It was so fun to see them. The hardest thing was hanging up. I just wanted to reach through and give them all a hug. Ryan thoughtfully called as the children were opening presents so we could enjoy that part as well. Thanks so much. Hope all had a memorable, peace-filled Christmas.