A Few Highlights (Not Christmas Related)

 December 2022

We had so much fun over the break.  We had ping pong tournaments, game nights, bowling, volleyball, pickleball, Sunday nights with familly, Taco Villa Monday on Wednesday, walks (me and Bryn) at UTPB and more.  

Tanner, Erin, Kaide, Brinley and Aub went bowling two Mondays in a row.  It's cheaper on Monday.  It was so fun to watch them head out the door together and hear them laughing and talking when they came home.  They went another time after Christmas and Brian was able to join.  I stayed home because I was beat after a quick two day trip to Dallas.  I asked them to take lots of pictures, and they understood the assignment! 

One of the funnest things we did was organize volleyball up at the church a few different times.  A few days before Christmas, I had signed up to feed the missionaries (two companionships), and we reserved the gym to play.  We didn't know if they would be able to join us, but they were.  We invited Bishop Ormsby and family to join us as well.  He and Emmerson were able to come.

We decided to move dinner to the church, and we had sliders, fruit, chips and dessert.  Then the elders shared a really great spiritual thought and asked to to share about a time we had served or been served.  It was a great way to think about Christmas time, Jesus Christ and how we can feel His love.  

Then we played volleyball for two hours and had a blast.  

I'm really glad the current mission president allows the missionaries to occasionally do things like this with ward members because it truly blessed our family.  In the weeks since this activity, we have grown closer to them.  Our teens see the elders as relatable.  Erin has begun taking the discussions.  (I think this happened in January.)  Tanner has been out to lessons with the missionaries several times, and Aubrey is open and engaged in gospel discussions when they come to our home.  It's fun to think of Parker serving and connecting with Ghanaians while other families' sons are serving and connecting and blessing our family.

Lots more posts to come....