Christmas Day 2009

We had a very nice Christmas! It was definitely a Christmas to remember. We missed being with our family. We are so grateful to have all the technology available so we can talk and see them. It makes them feel close. We talked with all of our children and families and even watched Jeff and Maja's kids open their gifts on Skype! We had a very nice mission Christmas dinner in the afternoon with approx. 270 other people!

We had a very rainy Christmas eve. Singing on the steps of the temple with the other missionaries was wet but sweet. We had hot chocolate and Christmas breads at the church afterwards. Later on we had a fun visit with our friends, E/S Thompson, who came over to our home and had clam chowder and homemade bread with us. It was nice to share the evening with friends.

This is our little Christmas tree. We loved the tree ornaments made by the grandchildren with their pictures on them. They will be saved as a real treasure!

I bought this Amish Nativity here in Nauvoo. I thought it would be a nice remembrance of our time here. One of our favorite places to go is to Cantril, IA to the Dutchman's Store which is run by the Mennonites.......almost Amish!

Notice the family picture behind the natvity. What a great surprise to receive this new family picture taken in Layton at the family Christmas party just a week before Christmas.

We forgot to bring our Christmas socks with us so we improvised!

Glenn's present to himself! He made a steelhead fishing rod. It really is a pretty rod!

Pres. & Sis. Ludwig, our mission president and wife, and Pres & Sis. Petersen, temple president and matron, at our Christmas dinner.

Mission Christmas dinner with E/S Carlsen, our Wed. temple night friends.

Sis.Carlsen would "shoot" us if they knew we had posted this picture of them!