Joy to the World….Let Earth Receive Her King! Merry Christmas to all of our dear family and friends. Wow, what a wonderful day we had in Madrid-the temperature was a balmy 65 degrees and the sun shone brightly. As we contacted our family in Salt Lake City we read in the Deseret News where snow was causing all sorts of power outages and roads had been closed due to blowing snow. When we read this, we immediately emailed our kids and told them not to risk travel and that we could talk at a different time. To our joy, it was not as bad as the paper had described it and we made contact with all of our kids and families. Those from West Jordan had the most difficult time, but were careful and arrived safely.
This definitely was a different Christmas time for us, as we really missed being with our family and friends. Separation really made the heart grow fonder and we look forward to being all together next year.
We received some wonderful, thoughtful gifts from our family; a digital photo frame (with pictures already loaded of the family), a warm, soft robe,
the DVD of “The Forgotten Carols,” a box of Fernwood Mints, 
a magnificent 2009 Calendar filled with beautiful pictures of the family at different times throughout the year, and stockings full of fun things. The DVD was meaningful as we had been going to The Forgotten Carols production with our kids for the last several years and when we watched it we felt as if we were really there-linked together and singing “We can be together, forever.“ We really enjoyed watching the grandchildren open their gifts from Spain; the boys all received Bulls, the girls Fans, and the little girls a Stuffed Animal. The parents got another Christmas decoration “Feliz Navidad.” The magic to see and communicate from 6,000 miles away is amazing. We heard from each family that they had a wonderful Christmas in their own homes and, of course, the kids were anxious to get back and start playing with the toys Santa had left for them. Our many thanks to the Pearson, Randall and Shaw families for their contributions to the “Christmas Fund.” Each year we make a contribution and give the money to a different family member to give to someone in need during this time of the year. This year it was our opportunity to be the recipients and we spoke with our Bishop in the Madrid 6th Ward and he humbly accepted the funds and with tears in his eyes said that he knew just where to use this money and that it would be a great blessing to some members of his ward. Thanks to each of you for sharing your fiscal blessings with those in need. We know that everyone could use those funds, but what a joy it is to give.
On Monday we went to El Escorial to look at their city decorations, we had heard that they were magnificent and we didn’t want to miss them. What we found was really quite interesting, there were figurines throughout much of the city in clusters. The personages were paper mache and dressed in the clothing of the timeframe.
The were animals, oxen, chickens, elephants, horses, camels and much, much more. As you can see by this picture, the elephant was really huge. 
It was different than we expected, we would imagine that most of the figurines and setting pieces had been used for many years. The manger was a special setting and we waited our turn to be able to get our group to sit for a picture. 
We all came away with a really good feeling. Later in the evening we ate at a restaurant and had some Spanish food which was pretty good. On Tuesday we had the Thomas’s (Gordon & Catherine) and Sister Nancy Lafertt over for dinner. We had an enjoyable evening and learned a little bit more about each of them. The Thomas’s are from Provo, Utah-this is their fourth mission and they speak almost perfect Spanish. They were both professors at BYU and have each published books. They have been Mission Presidents in Argentina and most recently were serving in the Canary Islands (part of the Malaga Mission). Their experience there had not been the best (served for 18 months then extended for six months to serve in the Temple) as he was a counselor in the Malaga Mission Presidency and was sent their to prepare the district to become a stake. The only thing, the members did not want that to happen? He ran into roadblocks every time he turned around and finally they had to give up and they started working in the branches to strengthen them. Maybe in time they will grab hold and run with the ball? Sister Lafertt is originally from Chile, she didn’t know the church there and was a pretty successful jewelry store owner/operator until the political scene change several years ago. She lost her business and her plan was to come to Spain for a short period then on to Australia where she had family. She had her marriage annulled (had three children) and came on her own to Spain. Within about one month she heard a knock at her door and it was the missionaries, she and her three children all accepted the invitation and were baptized in 1979. She has remained in Spain and moved to an area where many of our Temple Workers live. In the first years of the Temple in Spain, many of the people that were called to work in the Temple moved closer for ease of commuting to complete their assignments (most had been used to traveling to the Swiss Temple). She is a stalwart and really loves serving in the House of the Lord.
Wednesday was Christmas Eve and we ran a few errands and then dined with the Lunt’s and Bradshaw’s. We ate shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp and played games.
The next morning (Christmas Day) the Temple Missionaries had a Brunch and there was plenty of good food.
Most of the native missionaries had gone home for Christmas to be with their families
so those of us that were left had a great time and enjoyed the wonderful food. The attendance at the Temple was more than we had expected during the week and many wonderful experiences were created. The young couple (Vinas) from southern Spain (Cadiz) were there everyday, we had them for dinner the Sunday before Christmas and then went with them for Chinese Food on Friday after our shift. There was also a busload of saints from Bilbao come in on Friday and there were Baptisms galore with all of the young people. It is so neat to feel and see the love that the people have in their eyes and heart for Temple work. It’s hard to explain, but it is real and one can really learn from watching their Temple Worship-this includes the young people.
Saturday we had the movie night and showed “The Forgotten Carols” and everyone loved it, there were some that had never seen the play and others that had seen it years ago. There were tears freely flowing throughout the entire night and we all reflected upon the loved ones that we are separated from. The good thing is we have a family here, the love within this group in magical and we could call upon anyone at any time to assist us with anything (stand as a witness at all times, in all places and at all times). We love our Missionary family and look forward to only strengthening our relationships over the next few months.
Today, the best day of the week, Sunday! We had the opportunity of speaking again at the Missionary Training Center. This is a new group of Elders and Sisters, it is really peculiar-there are more Sisters (10) than Elders (5) at this time. The spirit was really strong and due to the small number we had more time than normal to fill up. We found out that there is one Sister here that is actually a miracle child. We were told that as a youngster she was sitting on the kitchen counter and fell off hitting the floor with a gut wrenching thud. She was in a comma for two weeks, she awoke and was fitted with a neck brace to start rehabilitation on her neck. Within a couple of days she went back into a coma and the doctors took the neck brace off. She again woke up. This was perplexing to the doctors, but through x-rays and other tests discovered that she was born with a defect in the vertebrae of her neck and without performing surgery this would have eventually taken her life while she was still young. They repaired the vertebrae and over the next few months she regained some of her strength and mobility. To this day she still limps a little, with complications on her left side, but is as energetic as anyone we have seen. While we were eating lunch with the missionaries following the meeting we heard in the background a sound that sounded like a big old cuckoo bird (imagine that sound) and it was this Sister laughing-that is her laugh. How refreshing to hear! For her to have the courage, faith, and desire to come on a mission, knowing that she is not perfect and, perhaps at some time, subject to ridicule. She is one of our heroes.
As we look to the closure of another year we are reminded of the many wonderful blessings that we have been blessed with….most of those probably undeserved! We are healthy, wealthy in spiritual terms and gaining wisdom each and everyday. Our family is alive and well, we have grown stronger and closer through some financial adversity this year, but we believe are better for it. We have learned to put our trust in the arm of the Lord and not in man. We are the two most blessed parents in the world to have eight beautiful, loving children and ten of the greatest grandchildren in the world. We know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TRUE, God lives and knows each and everyone of us. Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer, we have a living Prophet on the earth today. May the Lord bless each of us as we truly count our many blessings, naming them one by one…..and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Love Mom & Dad (Nana & Papa)
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