Winter Anyone?

I set out for the center this morning on foot...SK was at the temple.  It was a gorgeous day with a blue blue sky.  Billowing clouds sailed across the heavens at a fast clip.  I paused for a minute and looked up....it almost made me dizzy!  It was nippy and windy, but I had warm clothing on and loved it!  It is mid-December and we - as yet - have not had snow, but it is cold enough to enjoy all the Christmas everywhere.

I passed crowds of people lined up to spend time at Tivoli and more crowds heading for the Walking Street.  I stopped in a little store to get a couple of loaves of bread and some whipping cream.

It was so nice to step into the warmth of the center and turn the Chrismas lights in the windows on.  I spent several hours there preparing white chicken chili and making dessert.  It was pleasant....I turned on some Christmas music and enjoyed the time.  For dessert, we had waffle cookies with warm cinnamon apple slices and whipped cream.

Early in the afternoon Jonathan came in and helped me peel apples.  I love to visit with him.  He has such a strong testimony.  He loves the Lord and he loves his family.  He comes from a strong family who do a lot of things together.  He has 2 sisters who are married and one who will soon be and then perhaps a younger sibling or two.  But even the married ones spend time in the family home often where they gather in the kitchen and cook together, or sing together, or do family history work.

Our numbers were few...we had a dozen come after serving in the temple.  They gathered and had lunch, then we watched the annual message from the Church for Christmas which was truly inspiring.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang some of  my favorite carols and the messages given by the speakers took as their subject the birth of Christ and His life.

They are messages similar to those I have heard at this time of year every year for my entire life....yet they were new and they were wonderful.  One that I loved in particular was about Mary and Joseph and what overwhelming roles they were trusted with.....yet their humility was a quality that made them as perfect as possible, yet they were human.  I love to ponder what they would be like to know. What extraordinary lives they must have led!

We spent some time with the Turpins this evening.  They had been to Tivoli....they came in with rosy cheeks from the cold night air and big smiles from the delight of being out in the Christmas crowds.  They are a wonderful couple who have given their lives in service to their family, their wards and their missions.  They spent some time at the center, which they enjoyed.

They are going to be great missionaries.