Monday Christmas Eve 2018

Whew!  What a fun filled busy week!

Tuesday, the 18th, we did the lunch for the returning Missionaries, at the Stake Center.  It was a bit easier having it there than the pavilion by the Temple.  We only had about 11 returning home missionaries.  Three were our VC Sisters.

Then for most of the week we prepared for Christmas with baking and delivering and visiting with families.  We have made some good friends here and they are like family now.  Friday, we had our Senior Couples Meeting, we delivered our presents for the VC Sisters (we each had two to buy for, these were Sisters who might not have any presents to open on Christmas day).  Saturday we went with my good friend Leslie (who has now come to sew for the PCC as a missionary) with her roommate (not called companion as they each have a different assignment on this mission) into Kaneohe to a Farmer's market.  It turned out it was on Sundays and Wednesdays not Saturdays.  So we drove over the mountain to Costco, then lunch and then Walmart and home.  They were able to stock up and many items they needed.

Yesterday, Sunday,  we had shorter meetings at both our Branches.  A lot of people were gone and it was kind of empty, especially at YSA.  As the YSA meeting was ready to start I looked over and saw this lady walk in, I knew I knew her but it took a minute.  It was my good old friend from when we lived in the Woodside condominiums over 35 years ago, Leslie Gibbons!  What a fun surprise.  Turns out she is related to our Branch President, through her daughter's marriage.  She had her son JD with her also.  We were able to catch up a little and I'm hoping to have her and Jim over for dinner with us some day soon.

JD and Leslie Gibbons

We had a Christmas Sacrament meeting and it was basically scriptures of Christ's birth with a lot of singing.  Our wonderful kids did a great job.  I love these people so much.

Louie and Chelsea

Alora, Ryo and Louie

Alora and Char

We actually had time to have a leisurely dinner today.  After dinner I ran over to the VC to the Fireside of the Chalk family.  While driving I passed a bad accident in Kahuku by the High School, where a utility pole had been hit by a SUV and the pole fell on top of the drivers part of the car.  When I arrived at the VC there was no power, so no lights.  It was weird.  I ran and got a flashlight out of the car and then everyone used their phones flashlight to shine so the people could be seen and see their music to perform for us.  It was a "Light your World" moment for sure.  They did a terrific job.  When I went to come home all the lights were out all over town and it was pitch black.  Spooky.  I drove through Kahuku and just past the accident the lights were on again.

I wanted to post these two pictures,  both are of Ramon with our granddaughters.  One is of Rayma 20 years ago and one is of Esme a week or so ago when we were home.  Very similar pictures of our beauties.

Ramon and Rayma 20+ years ago

Ramon and Esme

Christmas Eve we met at the chapel to have dinner that the Goo Family provided for us.  It was beautiful Salad and Soups.  It was so kind of them to think of us all at this busy time of year.  We enjoyed visiting and eating and then they stayed and sang every Christmas song in the Hymn book, all the verses, but we came home.  Wonderful end to a Christmas Eve.