December 5th Letter

December 5th Letter

December 5^th, 2015

Dear Family,

            Hope all of you had a fun shopping day.  We sure missed you but loved seeing the pictures and fun texts.  (Taylor)  Loved the little kids also in fact loved every picture and Saturday wrestling scores we got.  You are great kids.  Love, love you.

            Last Sunday we finally cooked our turkey and invited the Elders over.  It was yummy and they were good company.

            The Branch decided to get a Mission Plaque for our one missionary.  They sent us to Gallup to find one.  We worked with the Salts.  The missionary is their daughter Megan.  What a fun project.  It turned out so great!

            We decided that if the Young Men got pizza on Wednesday they would come to mutual and have a planning meeting.  We made notes and took out to 5 boys in the branch.  3 of the 5 boys came and planned things like:  game night, snow boarding, getting clay and making ceramics but they said you had to offer a prayer before you could dig up the clay.  Oh well on that one.  They girls wrote testimonies to take with Books of Mormon when we all go caroling in a couple of weeks.   There were 5 of the 7 girls there.  They are great girls with good testimonies.  They had a short lesson on what a testimony really is.  Loved it!

            We took a huge load of weeds to the dump – last one for a bit.  Sister Leonard invited us and the Elders to dinner.  I was worried because I thought she was old and it would be hard for her.  It was yummy with corn tortillas and such.   Found out during the dinner that she is 4 years younger than me. 

            Here is an example of us driving down a street in Zuni.  One white truck and 9 dogs chasing us.  Wow I may never like dogs again after our Mission.

            Got to take birthday card to Sister Hooee.  We really love this family.  We had a good visit and the next night Brother Hooee said that this was the first card she had and she was so happy.  They do love little things.

            Did some service for Marie and grandma by fixing her trailer skirt, lifting her t v so she could dust beneath it, and fixing her smoke detectors.  She had a list when we stopped by.

            Had a great start to our day on Thursday.  We were invited to Sister Vicenti’s to see her son’s pottery.  He is a member living in Santa Fe.  His pots sell for $2,400.00  Showed us how he makes them.  We will sent a few pictures of his amazing talents.

            Another neat story.  We bought a few Christmas presents from a very talented lady in our Branch.  When we paid her she said she was so happy – now she can buy her daughter Gail the special light bulb she has wanted and needed.  Just wonder some times at the small things that make them happy.  I told her she made me just as happy because I could send some of her very beautiful things home to Utah.  Love these talented people.

            We were ask to go to the hospital in Zuni to see a boy from Ramah.  He has been in there 3 days for infection .  He is 13.  His grandpa won’t leave his side.  We tried to get him to leave for a few minutes to rest but he loves his grandboy like we love our grand children.  Such beautiful commitment to family.  We were so touched by him we went and bought treats and took back to him.  He finally opened up and liked the same things all kids like – beef jerky and potato chips. 

            President Walker wants a nativity done at our Christmas Party.  I found what we did as a family last year on the internet and took it to him.  When we see him tomorrow we will see who he has to this.  So glad they are doing this. 

            We visited with Brother Hatch.  I think I told you how glad I was that one of the Melchesidek Priesthood holders in our small Branch is on eye Doctor.  He is a great man.  He retired and he and his wife served Missions then when she passed away he came here to work.  His family is in Albuquerque and close to him.  A very great man.

            The Elders came over with a peanut bar cookie like we make at home.  Only difference is they smear an inch of peanut butter between the bar and the frosting.  Yikes for the eating that we are doing.

            Went back to visit Eva Marie the lady we took chicken to last week.  It was her birthday so we visited and took a card.  We were glad to see her sitting there eating chicken her daughter had brought to her.  What a cute lady.

            On Friday we needed to go to Gallup to get the Missionary Plaque.  We left at 6:30 so we could go to the balloon festival.  They launched 45 balloons at 7:30 a.m.   It was beautiful.  We are sending pictures.  We noticed that the Panda Express is now open in Gallup.  Yea

Saturday and Sunday are the Shalako  days here.  It is a big religious celebration day that I sent you the pages of information about.  They have people represent their gods.  They come off the hill and meet together.  The fire god goes first and actually lights a big fire of the weeds at the dump.  I think it will burn for days!  They go to the Shalaco houses that were built this year for them to stay in for a few days while they do their praying and rituals for health and posterity.  Lots of traditions and some not very happy ones.  They will be up all night and then tomorrow they will have the race between them and hope no one falls because they whip them.  The ladies have been cooking all week to feed these people and their families.  There are around 25 cars around each Shalako house today.  We went to the craft fair only and made a few purchases.  We are staying away from the races and the religious things.  It is a little uneasy down here right now.  There are quite a few people that come to see this but it is not something we want to attend.

            Elders just came over and we made Luminaries to put out front of the trailers.  It is Elder Blazzards family tradition and he wanted all 4 of us to make them.  I can’t draw but had fun with them.

            Hope all of you enjoy the Church Christmas fireside tomorrow night.  What a great time of year to love your family, celebrate with them, hug them and grow together in love and Spirituality.  We can’t look at our little Cache Valley Christmas tree without thinking of all of you, loving all of you and missing all of you.  There is nothing as important as spending time with your family.  Put them first above all else.  Some times that is hard but it is so important they know they are the most important thing in the world to each of you.  We were all sent here to help each other.  We are all Heavenly Fathers children and will some day return to Him.  We are so thankful for our Testimonies of Jesus Christ – it is such a beautiful blessing in our lives.  Be kind and respect each other.  Love all of you,

            Mom and Dad

 Zunis don't don't do much work. Tree growing up through cat. The cat is buried. I bet it has been there 15 years.

Bet it has been there 15 years on Main Street Zuni.

Balloon launch pictures at Red Cliff Park in Gallop

 Balloon launch

Love this picture. A little Zuni child sleeping while shopping in Walmart

 Wellsville Founders Day has nothing over Zuni Shalako celebration.

 Fur salesman selling at Shalako celebration.

 A family giving burnt offerings of food for their uncle who passed away one month ago. They say

he will receive the food on his Journey to one of the Gods.

month ago. They say he will receive the food on his journey to the gods

 Elder Blazzard's family tradition of making luminaries. We had fun. The other Elder is Elder

Yorgensen.

elder the shorter one is Elder Yorgenson

 Sis Vecenti and her sons pottery. Sells for around $2,200.

 Shalako pictures. Fire god sets fires to cleans and purify as he runs into town.

 Picture of another beautiful hill.

 Dads Shalaco head gear. Officially the biggest turkey in town.

Soft ball game in plowed field.

Our Christmas devotional with President Walker and family.