Our Christmas in New Hampshire

As you can well imagine, this has been a memorable Christmas

for us, as senior missionaries serving in New Hampshire

Manchester, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day 

Saints. It will be different from any others that we have.

To begin with, we don't have a Christmas tree. But this picture

above is Vince's rather hilarious attempt at capturing

the Christmas spirit. Explanation: he discovered a caution

roadside triangle in the Vehicle Coordinator miscellany

in the office, brought it home, used a tray table as display space,

wrapped it in a random string of battery-powered lights,

then surrounded it with other colorful things on hand.

In the spirit of Charlie Brown, it's glow was rather comforting!

Here, above, we are standing near the apartment

clubhouse lobby artificial tree. It was probably the nearest

thing we had to having a tree of our own.

Apartment rental agreement rules forbid natural trees

for Christmas decorations, but I noticed the occasional

suspicious trail of evergreen needles and twigs in

various parking lot locations across the snow or

wet pavement, so someone is testing the rules.

* * * *

Christmas this year was missing the best parts of

why we remember, look back, anticipate and enjoy

the season. So here I pay tribute to those that I love

so deeply and am missing.

First, our youngest son Cory who is minding

our home for us in Lehi, along with . . . 

 . . . his snuggly friend Pogo the aging feline.

(I mailed a catnip rectangular pillow for his Christmas

gift, and Cory has been entertaining me with texted 

videos of the cat playing and hugging and kicking it!)

 Next I show daughter Kenzie and husband Mike

and their six children. Christmas is always more fun

with kids around.

 This wintry picture from a current trip to Arizona is
son Riley and wife Amy, who celebrate their first Christmas 
in a new 'old' home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. 

Hope it was memorable for them, too.

 When I saw this picture, below, posted on FB of the Barrow

family with newly-blended Eric Glissmeyer family

at their traditional Christmas Eve meal on Tues., my heart

really did start to shakily hum "I'll be home for Christmas . . .

if only in my dreams." Sister Elana and her family have welcomed 

the holiday proper at this kind of event for many years now.

It is not so long ago that we had other beloved guests

also there in attendance on the 'Eve gathering. 

I am missing Helen and Gus and Martha tonight, too.

 The rest of my extended family that I am missing

this Christmas season is represented here,

with the family of brother Jeff and wife Sherrie.

Our Christmas season's highlights have included the chance

for Vince to share during the Christmas Zone Conferences

(and therefore with the 145 or so young missionaries

with which we serve) his favorite Christmas experience from

his days as a young Missionary in California/Anaheim.

His family packages had missed him in the December

transfers change of address. He felt disappointment and

loneliness, but kept on working and serving. During

a companionship exchange, he accompanied Elder Kirby

to visit a Hispanic single mother with two young girls.

Though he couldn't understand what they were saying,

the two girls, though impoverished, enjoyed his company.

As the Elders departed, the girls unitedly offered to share with

Elder Warner some of the meager contents of their nylon

mesh stockings, provided by some charity organization.

Of course, he refused, but he was touched by their

generosity that Christmas in a way that has lasted

through the years.

An unanticipated highlight of our holiday celebration

was the invitation by the Alan and Kate Rose family

to travel to Franklin/Tilton to share their 'Eve dinner.

Kate prepared a multi-course meal that included

steak and shrimp. We met and visited with her

parents Bonnie and George and shared in

the reading of the Christmas passages, and also

the fun of the "first present" opening by the kids

of their Christmas pajamas.

We received many gifts and treats from fellow senior

missionaries, President and wife, and young missionaries, too.

 Still, the best part of Christmas is 'gifting' someone else,

so I include this reminder, below, of our apartment version 

of door ditching - without the doorbell.

This small token was given to across-the-hall neighbor

Grace, with whom we have developed a talking relationship

as we go from entrance door to car at the curb

where we often see and greet her as she steps out

onto her small balcony to indulge in something she

is not permitted to do inside the apartment.

Finally, as these usually non-descript days between

Christmas and New Year's Day holidays roll through,

I always have occasion to remember that this is

the anniversary of the passing of our beloved mother Helen.

She battled hard against ailments and aging in order

to be here and bless her children and grandchildren.

Her final active day those 9 years ago was spent 

making day-after-Christmas visits to neighbors 

who were her special friends,

checking in and bringing Christmas greetings.

I honor her for her selflessness and for the many years

she blessed our lives by making Christmas bright.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE!