Getting Back to Normal

December 27, and people are getting back into normal life again.  Stores have been shut since Monday and were opened again today.  Stores are cleared of Christmas, but many people still have their decorations up and lit.  I hate to take our little display down!  The mail - which has not been delivered since Monday was delivered today.

I love the little red post boxes all over the place!

So what did we do today?  We went shopping.

Actually, we just went to a grocery store a couple of miles away that has an American section.  For the holidays, they had Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup!  We bought everything they had.  12 cans.  They were expensive, but now I've got them, there are a couple of dishes I can make for the center, that just wouldn't have been the same otherwise.  I would have preferred Cream of Chicken, but I am thrilled with these.

The greater portion of our day was taken up with traveling to missionary apartments again.  We did more inspections, and each one we do makes me happy.  The young elders we visited today just make you glad to be alive.  They live in very different neighborhoods and have very different circumstances as far as the apartments go, but each seems happy and excited about missionary work.  Having a prayer with these young missionaries is a sweet experience.

We left at 9 in the morning when it was just beginning to get light and got back when it was dark (actually it starts getting dark around 3).  It was later than that, but by the time we had dinner and cleaned up and did some laundry and worked on the reports, it was 8 p.m.

We had a treat this evening.  My brother and sister-in-law from Connecticut called.  We visited for a little while with them and several of their children...one of whom is going on a mini-mission to the Washington D.C. visitor's center.  After seeing all these cute young missionaries these past days, I can't help but think she is going to have a wonderful time!  Skype is an amazing thing....cheaper than sending a letter!

As we traveled from place to place, I snapped several pictures of a dramatic sky with the sun trying to break through the clouds, some beautiful stark forests....and some quaint old buildings.

Do you see the thatched roof?

This is actually not a normal day for us, but what a great time we had!