Merry Christmas

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday morning the family had breakfast with us before taking off to Utah. We got some cute pictures but in my defense they were taken before shower, make up and hair care so don't judge me too harshly...lol!

Kati, Zach, Jacob Jenni, Jim and Tyson and Parker in the front.

Five of our eleven favorite people in the whole world!

All too soon it was time to say goodbye. It was such a fun visit for us, there is nothing better than family visits while on your mission.

A couple hours after the kids left it started to snow and soon we had our very own winter wonderland. It was supposed to snow off and on all week so it will definitely be a white Christmas.

I spent a couple of hours in the afternoon cleaning the church. It was such a blessing to be able to use the space as a place to gather with the family.

We sent a plate of Christmas treats with the kids to take to our friends at Martin's Cove and they sent me this picture. While we served together we talked a lot about our grandchildren so it was nice that they got to meet a few of them.

Tuesday is always laundry morning at Sister Barker's house. Both Sister Barker and I had our crock pots going with soup which Elder Lindsey and I braved the roads to take to a funeral being held in Mission. On our way we stopped at the post office and were surprised to receive a huge box from our friends the Davis family full of clothes, coats and blankets. We are putting everything to good use, filling boxes to be delivered tomorrow. We are so grateful to our friends who have sent things. The postage is terribly expensive, something we didn't realize before but the sacrifice is greatly appreciated. It finally stopped snowing about 3:00pm after coming down for about 30 hours straight. Elder Lindsey worked on the sidewalks so we could get in and out of the motor home and the church.

He cleared the way so I could get in the motor home then got out the snow blower!

Wednesday was a very busy day. I started out by getting the treat plates ready for delivery.

Next I made fry bread for our Indian tacos we were having for lunch after our Addiction Recovery class.

Usually we have soup after class but since it was Christmas Eve we celebrated!

After the ARP class and lunch Elder Lindsey and I headed out to deliver our plates of treats to friends from the Branch, and people we are working with. We had five stops in Mission, three in Rosebud and two in St. Francis. Lucky for us the roads were clear and the skies were blue. When we got back home I made the mashed potatoes we were taking to the Barkers for dinner and whipped the cream for the two chocolate pies...now that's a picture I should have taken. They were beautiful and delicious!

We had a lovely evening joining two other couples for dinner plus the Barker family. It was a full house but a lot of fun. The children played while the adults sat around the table and laughed and visited for a couple of hours. 

Me and Savannah. I gave her her first taste of chocolate tonight...she LOVED it!

We ended the evening watching one of the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas programs on the BYU channel. 

Merry Christmas! We continued with our Christmas tradition and Elder Lindsey made us omelettes for breakfast.

They were delicious!

We spent Christmas day relaxing at home. It snowed all day so we didn't even step outside, just enjoyed watching it fall from the cozy warmth of our little home. We snacked, rested, read, watched TV and talked to family (the best part of the day...we miss them all!). For dinner I fixed grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. All told it was a lovely day to rest from all the hustle and bustle that is this season of the year.

Friday we managed to make it out to the post office. We were invited to a party but because not all of the roads were cleared yet it was postponed. That actually worked out well for us because Elder Lindsey has a cold and wasn't feeling up to doing a lot. He did spend about an hour in the morning clearing the walks around the church and our motor home. Thank goodness for four wheel drive or we'd never make it out of the parking lot. It snowed lightly for several hours but is supposed to be clear and cold the next couple of days before snowing again on Monday.

Mother Nature has added her own decorations to our Christmas wreath.

Saturday we escaped the motor home and drove to Valentine, Nebraska for an outing. We did a little shopping at Shopko and a western store, had lunch at McDonalds and went to see The Hobbit at the only movie theatre in this part of the country. On the way home we stopped at Subway and used  one of the gift cards Sister Busch gave us for Christmas and brought a sandwich home for dinner. It was a fun day.

I had a really neat thing happen to me at church today. Last night Raymond stopped by to see if we'd like to purchase another one of his hand made wooden Native American flutes. We have purchased a couple of these in the past and they really are quite beautiful and sound wonderful when played. This time we told him we were out of spending money and so couldn't buy the flute. I didn't think anything more about it until sitting in Sacrament meeting when I got the strong impression that we should have bought the flute. So I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer asking Heavenly Father to have Raymond return to the Church so that I could buy the flute. Now I expected that Raymond would show up at our door sometime in the afternoon but instead after the closing prayer I stood and turned around and there he was sitting on the back row of the Chapel. Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers and because of that Raymond has gas money for his car and I have a flute which will always be a visual reminder to me of the tender mercies of the Lord in our lives.

We wish all of you a wonderful New Year. Our love and prayers go with you always.

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Family

Dear Friends and Family,

Winter arrived Monday morning with snow and ice and very cold temperatures. Snow in South Dakota is different than in Utah in that snow doesn't fall here...it blows. That means some spots have very little snow while others like the door in front of the church, our front door and anywhere we park the car has  large drifts of snow. Also because of the wind and blowing snow it was a no drive advisory day. We did venture out to get the mail and then I spent the afternoon in the church baking. I needed a new supply of muffins since I serve muffins and soup after our ARP classes. I also am doing Christmas baking and candy making so we can take plates of goodies to Branch members and some of the less active members we are working with.

Tuesday we got a huge surprise when we went to the post office...packages! Our thanks to Fran and Howard Holfeltz for the fleece blankets which are going into Christmas boxes we are putting together for a couple of needy families. Another thank you to the members of the ward who sent us a little box of goodies. We feel your love.

Wednesday was our ARP meeting and this week the focus was on hope. The hope that Jesus Christ brings into our life when we despair of ever truly being the person we want to be. The hope that when we fall today that tomorrow will be better. The hope that is in our hearts that no  matter our challenges and sins the Atonement of Jesus Christ can make everything right again. After meeting we had social time around the table enjoying taco soup and muffins. We love our association with the people who participate in these classes.

Saturday was our Branch Christmas brunch and Nativity. We had a great time. I made French toast and the branch provided ham and others brought, pancakes, waffles, fresh cinnamon rolls, donuts fruit, juice and hot chocolate...a virtual feast!

Mary (Averi) and Joseph (Tavian) with baby Jesus (Colton). 

We just love these kiddos!

Saturday afternoon we prepared for Jim, Jenni and the kids to arrive. It is a long trip from Mattawan, Michigan and we were thrilled that they were able to visit us on their way to Utah for Christmas. They arrived about 10:30pm and after dinner (spaghetti and garlic bread) we took them over to the Barker's where they took over their basement. We can never thank the Barkers enough for putting them up for the two nights they were here. There are just not any motels close by so their hospitality made this family visit possible.

Sunday was wonderful. Zach gave the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting. Kati gave a beautiful talk about Christmas in the Ukraine and the ways in which the missionaries tried to bring the true message of Christmas to the people they came in contact with. We also got to hear her bear her testimony in Russian. Then the Primary children (including Parker) sang two Christmas songs. They did a wonderful job! Jacob spoke next. He talked about keeping Christ the focus of Christmas. Kati and Sister Gilson did a wonderful piano/violin number "Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel" By this time we were about bursting our buttons we were so proud! Jim was the last speaker and he too made us proud. He started by telling everyone that he was the favorite child because he came to visit....actually more importantly he brought the grandchildren to see us! He talked about memories of Christmas and what really matters at this time of celebration...family and the memories we make with them. Jenni then gave the closing prayer. Way to go family...we love you!

We had a traditional Sunday dinner in the church, pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad and vegetables. We invited the Barker family to join us and Sister Barker made her wonderful rolls. For dessert we had apple pie and ice cream.

Family time is the best...for us this was Christmas dinner!

The kids table. That's parker in the green shirt.

After dinner and clean up the Barkers headed for home and everyone else headed to the motor home where we put the couch down and spread out and watched a couple movies and visited.

Zach found a comfortable spot on the floor!

 Parker found his spot.

Jim, Tyson and Jacob stretched out.

Kati tried to stay awake for the movie but that chair is just too comfortable!

We never imagined we could fit nine people in the motor home and be comfortable but we did and we were. It gives us a lot of joy to spend time with family, especially the grandchildren. We love them all so much and are so proud of the people they have become.Our poor Tyson wasn't feeling well and by tonight was running a fever so his dad and grandpa gave him a blessing before the family headed back to the Barkers for the night. We will have breakfast together in the morning before they head to Utah.

We wish all of you a wonderful Christmas. We love you.

Elder and Sister Lindsey

I Love to See the Temple!

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a productive and blessed week. On Monday after we cleaned the Church we got the Christmas tree out of the storage shed and got it set up in the foyer. It now awaits the young women who will decorate it before our Branch Christmas breakfast that will be held on December 20th.

Wednesday we had our first participants in the Addiction Recovery Classes. It was a spirit filled hour as we talked about the principle of honesty in our lives and how it can aid us in recovery from addictions and in our relationships with family, friends and our Heavenly Father. After the class we drove to St. Francis to make contact with a referral. We met with  a young woman who had been taking the lessons while she lived in Bismarck and who we will now continue to teach....just like real missionaries!

Thursday we worked around the Church. I did some deep cleaning of the bathrooms. Sweet Sister Barker told me today that every time she walks in the kitchen  she smiles and feels happy at how nice I keep everything. We also got a big thank you from our facilities maintenance man who was making his monthly rounds last week. The role of Senior Missionaries is different and more varied than that of the young Missionaries and often in these remote areas of the Church the active members need the love and support we provide as much as the less actives and non members we also strive to serve.

Friday dawned clear and beautiful and Elder Lindsey and I left early and headed to Bismarck, North Dakota to attend the Temple. We took Sister Patti Busch with us. Brother Busch passed away suddenly last Spring and Sister Busch is a faithful, stalwart member who is always reaching out  and serving others. The people in this area love and admire her and have wonderful feelings about the Church because of Patti and her husband and their kindness and the love that they have shown to everyone through the years. It was fun for us, the three seniors in our little Branch to have time together.

Elder Lindsey and I at the Entrance to the Temple.

It is a five hour drive so after arriving we checked into our hotel, rested for a couple of hours then went to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and arrived at the Temple in time for the 5:45pm session. It felt so good to be back in the Temple. To go from weekly attendance to not attending for nine months because there are no Temples close to where we have been serving has been hard. Bismarck is one of the smaller Temples but the spirit there is huge! Both days we were greeted at the recommended desk by the President and Matron who were so excited to see us. We had met them the week before at District Conference and they greeted us like old friends. It made us feel so loved.

After the session on Friday we made a stop at Walmart before heading back to the motel for the night. The next morning we hooked up with the Barker family and Annette at breakfast and Elder Lindsey took Annette and Laura to the Temple since they had to be there by 9:00am for the 10:30am session.

Sister Barker (Laura) and Sister Fool Bull (Annette)

What a blessing to share this special day with Annette and many members of our small Branch. When you go to the Temple with someone who is going for the first time it gives you an opportunity to reflect on things through their eyes. The tender mercies of the Lord were with us and continued after the session when Elder Lindsey participated as four of our young men did baptisms.

There is a peace like no other that comes by being in the Lord's house.

After the Temple we were very mindful of our five hour drive home so we did a quick drive through at McDonalds and got on the road shortly after 2:00pm. We dropped Patti at home about 7:30pm and were in our jammies by 8:00pm!

Because of District Conference last week today was our Fast Sunday. As you can imagine after our sweet experience at the Temple yesterday the testimonies were heartfelt and strong. The most wonderful thing about serving a mission during the Christmas season is that you spend so much more time focusing on the Savior who is the only true reason we are celebrating. It is a blessing we wish for all of you.

Our love and prayers,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

District Conference

Dear Family and Friends,

This week started off busy then we got a hitch in our "git up" but recovered to end the week with a very busy two days in Pierre at District Conference. Monday Annette who we are teaching Temple Preparation to invited us over to her apartment to meet with her sister Angel. We took the DVD of the Mormon Message "True Christianity" that Elder Lindsey is in and shared it with her and then talked about what it means to be a Christian. Angel told us that she'd been sneaking Annette's Book of Mormon to read so we gave her her own copy.

On Tuesday we went back to Annette's to teach her the last Temple Preparation lesson before she goes to the Temple on December 13th. Angel was there and had question about some of what she'd read in the Book of Mormon so we spent some time answering those. We look forward to teaching her.

Elder Lindsey and I both battled colds this week but by Tuesday afternoon I was down for the count and didn't really feel human again until Thursday. I'm not sure why we say "oh, it's just a cold" when they can make you feel just miserable! Since I rarely get sick anymore I guess I can't complain.

We are decorated for Christmas! I love the reflection of the tree.

Saturday morning we headed to Pierre for District Conference. We ran a few errands before going to the church for an activity the Missionaries did with the Primary Children while their parents attended training meetings. It was fun but wild!

We managed to get a group picture with most of the children and a few Elders and Sisters.

Elder Lindsey helped by holding Savannah Barker

In Rosebud we have four babies under the age of six months and they all have siblings so all the parents have their hands full and it is not unusual for me especially to have a baby in my arms. Today one of the Senior Sisters from another area said "Sister Lindsey everytime I see you another mother is handing you a baby!" I told her we have an abundance of babies in Rosebud and my arms are needed!

The Church building in Pierre has a full size chapel and cultural hall but only has classrooms on one side of the building so is still smaller than what we are used to at home. It was fun though to be in meetings where the chapel and overflow were full. President Allen our District President has great vision for this District to grow from Branches to Wards and from a District to a Stake. We feel very blessed to be just a small part of that vision. President Anderson presided at the Conference and as always gave good counsel. How blessed we are to have him as our Mission President, we learn much from him every time we are able to listen to him speak.

 Because so many come from so far the Relief Society served dinner Saturday afternoon and lunch at the conclusion of the conference today. The food was good and plentiful both times and it gave everyone a chance to visit before heading home. Today we also had a special opportunity to see "Meet the Mormons" and it was just as touching the second time around. We will be very excited when we can purchase the DVD and show it to our less active and non member friends.

After the movie most of the Rosebud Branch went over to the Capitol to see the Christmas trees. They were beautiful. 

My favorite Christmas Elf!

It was so pretty, it certainly put us in the Christmas frame of mind!

We have ended our Sunday like many of you I'm sure, by watching the Christmas Devotional. What a beautiful and Spirit filled way to end our wonderful weekend. The Devotional, for us, is always the official start of Christmas.

Our love and prayers are with each of you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Thankful

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday I spent much of the day making soup base to freeze using the bones from the two turkeys we cooked for Sunday's pot luck. We make soup for people in need, funerals and wakes and to serve after our ARP meetings. A couple of the sisters make wonderful rolls so between us we can quickly put together and deliver a good meal to our brothers and sisters in need

Tuesday evening we had Relief Society. We learned to make beaded earrings, although I discovered my talents don't lie in jewelry making.

We had 17 sisters around the table.

This is Kiaralysce, she's six weeks old and is sporting the hat her mom learned to make at our crocheting class. She's the youngest of the four adorable babies that I often get to hold...a grandmothers dream.

Wednesday we did some work around the church and I baked pies, made stuffing and sweet potatoes and generally just got ready for Thanksgiving. We were invited to President and Sister Gilson's. He is the Branch President. They have four darling children including two babies, one six months and one almost three months. When they were expecting Colton they got the opportunity to adopt Wyatt so it is much like having twins. They also had all of President Gilson's siblings and families visiting so along with us and another couple from the neighborhood we had a full table and a great time visiting with everyone. Not to mention the food was plentiful and delicious!

Saturday we attended the memorial service for a members husband. The Native tradition is that a year or two after the funeral you have a party with food and a program in which people talk about the person who has passed and the family hands out gifts to everyone attending. They collect these gifts during the year between the funeral and the party

This is the gift Elder Lindsey and I received...everyone received something.

Laura was given two of these pillows as a thank you for the service she has given to the family.

These are just two of at least 15 quilts that were displayed and given to close personal friends and family of the deceased. There were also probably 30 blankets given away. It was a blessing for us to witness the way in which these wonderful people honor their loved ones by sharing gifts with their friends.

We have thought a lot about gratitude and the things we are grateful for during this last week. We know we are blessed. We have never wanted for food on our table or a roof over our heads and we have more than enough clothes in our closets. As we live here that point is especially brought home as we see so many around us who have so little. 

We received a large box from our friends the Culverwells this week and today when the call went out that a member has no heat in her trailer (the high temperature was 14 degrees today) and needed blankets I was able to send two from their box. It made us reflect on how blessed we've been to have such wonderful giving friends in our life.

Our thoughts this week have been with our family and the times we've been surrounded by them at Thanksgiving. We've thought about how much we love them and how grateful we are for the good lives they live. We have been especially grateful that my mother is regaining her health and that Elder Lindsey's brother is surrounded by family who love him  as he battles his cancer. 

As Elder Lindsey has continued to teach Annette the Temple Preparation lessons this week we have reflected on how blessed we were to live where we do in Salt Lake where 15 minutes in any direction brings us to Temple. In three weeks we will travel almost 6 hours to the Bismark Temple with our Branch. We are excited. It's been almost nine months since we've been to the Temple and it has felt a little like a drought. It will be even more special to be there with Annette as she receives her endowment. 

Every day as we pray for you, our family and friends know that we are so very grateful for each of you in our lives and that we count you as blessings.

Love,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

If you feed them...

Dear Family and Friends,

Sometimes it feels like the weeks just fly by and this one has. Elder Lindsey is feeling great and so this week we started back on our walking program. First thing in the morning before breakfast we put on our sweats and go into the building and walk the cultural hall for 30 minutes. We will add five minutes every week until we get back up to an hour. It has felt good to both of us to get back into the routine of exercising.

At Martin's Cove we had the most beautiful sunsets but here in Rosebud the sunrises are amazing!

This week Elder Lindsey started teaching the Temple Preparation class to two Sister who were baptised about two years ago and are ready to take the next step. He taught the first class on Thursday evening and then on Sunday after church he taught the second class. It has been so fun to feel of their excitement in taking this important step. As we have held the classes we have the added benefit of developing deeper friendships with these wonderful Sisters. Their commitment to living the Gospel in the midst of families who don't share their faith strengthens our testimonies.

Tuesday some of us sisters got together for a crocheting class taught by a  less active Sister we have been visiting. She is amazingly talented and is very willing to teach us beginners. It was fun to sit together, practice our stitches and visit. We shared a lunch of soup and applesauce cake and made plans to get together again in a couple of weeks.

Friday we drove over to Pierre to do a Walmart run and to pick up a prescription for Elder Lindsey. After shopping we visited the State Capitol.

This is called "Fighting Stallions" and is a memorial to five South Dakota lawmakers who died in a plane crash in 1993.

"Fighting Stallions" with the Capitol building in the background.

This is a war memorial to the service personnel of South Dakota. The lake in the background is heated and there are hundreds of ducks and some very large geese that reside there year round which makes walking on the sidewalks treacherous! (think geese bathroom)

This is the fountain at the other end of the war memorial.

This is the rotunda just inside the door...it is breathtaking!

The volunteers had just started decorating the trees for Christmas. We will be back in Pierre for District Conference on December 6th so plan to go back and see the completed trees. 

On the third floor balcony looking across to one of the many  trees being decorated.

Elder Lindsey getting a drink outside the Senate.

The grand staircase.

Before heading for home we had a late lunch at Guadalajara's Mexican food, our favorite.  Pierre is a very pretty small city on the Missouri River and we look forward to exploring more of it on our next visit. 

Sunday is always lovely. Today we probably had about 100 people at church. President Gilson had family visiting and then because we were having a potluck Thanksgiving dinner after Sacrament meeting we had quite a few visitors, thus my title of this weeks post...if you feed them. It was nice to meet more of our membership and also the non member family members of some of our newer members. 

Quite a feast. The branch provided two turkeys and a ham then everyone brought food to share. The desserts came out after the main course was finished and they were wonderful and varied also. No one went away from this meal hungry!

A few of our favorite little ones; Jacob, McKashia and in the pink dress in the background, Averi.

As always there is cleanup but once again many hands make lite work!

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week know that you are the blessings we are most grateful for. As our family and friends you have blessed our lives in ways you will never know. As always we send our love and prayers.

Elder and Sister Lindsey