The Thanksgiving and Christmas season are continually full of food, music, spiritual stirrings, family and friends, all meant to enrich our lives and hearts. Since the last blog I penned a little less than one month ago stating our release as full-time missionaries, our Bishopric and Heavenly Father didn't want us to slack off, I suppose, so assignment after assignment have been heaped upon us (Steve always there to lend mental and physical support). As each opportunity for growth and service surfeited, I was reminded in my patriarchal blessing with the admonition that I was to "gladly accept every assignment given me." For journaling purposes, I wish to record the ones I can remember as follows:

Nov 4 - Interviewed by the full Bishopric and called to be a Gospel Doctrine Teacher

Nov 5 - Community Christmas Chorus rehearsal

Nov 12 - Spoke at Young Women's In Excellence meeting for all YW, parents and leaders-spoke on "remembering" (pre-existence, past and future)

November 13- Next evening, President Dallin Sohm, Stake President of S. Jordan River Stake phoned and asked me to speak for 5 minutes to the Stake H.Priest meeting and dinner on Church-service missionary program the next night.

November 16 - Presented Gospel Doctrine Lesson #42, 3 Nephi 22-26

November 19 - Christmas Choral rehearsal

November 20-Bethany Ogletree, our BYU-I coed came to visit us for 8 days! What a week!

November 25 - Christmas Choral rehearsal

November 26 - Visited Grandy at hospital in Orem; began cooking 5 pies and cornbread dressing at 8:00 PM. A very long day...

November 27 - Thanksgiving at Cowley's home-fantastic!!

November 28- Bethany and I decorated the outside and inside our home--how fun to have her 'legs' and assistance.

November 29 - Bethany and Steve clean Church; Lola at Christmas choral rehearsal

November 30 - Gospel Doctrine Lesson #44, Mormon 1-6

December 2 - Presented book review (45 minutes) on Gathering Christmas to Relief Society sisters are ward Christmas party

December 3-4-Christmas Choral rehearsal

December 4 - Steve and I attended the viewing of Apostle Wirthlin at Larkin Mortuary; what a grand reunion to visit with all 8 Wirthlin children and spouses, plus Joe and Kathy; truly, this is one of the great families of the church.

December 5 - Attended Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's funeral services in Tabernacle; tickets given us by Joe Wirthlin, Jr. What a sweet tribute to this dear, humble man.

December 6 - Assisted with food preparation for Ward adult Christmas party, 10:00 AM, "First Nativity"-10:00 AM--beautifully decorated by planned by the Activity Committee

December 6 - Community Chorus Christmas Concert at Bingham H.S.-wonderful array of Christmas songs celebrating the life of Christ, led by Marlene Stanley

December 14 - (forthcoming) -Play Christmas prelude and accompany Sacrament meeting; also, teach Gospel Doctrine Lesson #46, Ether 1-6

All of these commitments and activities don't mention our three day Church-service missionary service every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays at the Church Office Bldg. plus all the Christmas preparations, sewing, cooking, wrapping, mailing, etc. for our family spread out all over the world.

How we love Christmas and all its preparations; however, today, Sunday, December 7, was most memorable as testimonies were borne and hearts touched forever in sacrament meeting Relief Society. How grateful I am for this gospel of Jesus Christ. I know beyond of a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ lives and that He and Heavenly Father only desire us to have faith, repent continually, partake of all the opportunities for spiritual growth they continually invite us to participate in, to serve, to pay our tithes and offerings, to love one another and to endure to the end so that we might live with them one day. I cannot begin to feel enough gratitude for the showering of blessings that have come to Steve and myself our entire lives. Our lives haven't been particularly easy, but our multitude of challenges and hurdles have only made us stronger and more committed to living the gospel.

I am reminded of Elder Wirthlin's last General Conference talk at which time he quoted his mother who said, "Come what may and love it." This is what we continually strive to live and to do. Perhaps, it has taken me years to fully embrace this attitude and to truly have integrated it into my life. I have come to realize that "THINGS" don't matter, but people, family, eternal life and my precious testimony.