Dec. 7

What a wild week! First about the photo posted below. Innocent that it looks, beware where it can lead. More about that Monday.

First: Nov. 30, Sunday, no branch meetings (most of the branch members have either gone home or are attending with their families in their home wards) so we went to a family ward. Not use to the crying babies. That didn't take long to forget about! Next, the choir. It sang "For the Beauty of the Earth" that our stake choir had sung a while ago – it is not an easy number, and they only had 20-25 members in the choir, but it sounded wonderful. It was good to attend a family ward again. Had a dinner appointment with the Lewis': roast, red potatoes, green beans and cranberry salad, all very good. The YSA elders also enjoyed the meal, then we had an introduction of sorts meeting and went over what the sisters had told us about their contacts. Sis. Lewis made a blackberry cobbler while we were talking and we enjoyed that afterwards, with a little ice cream.

We are so proud of our family Christmas photo tree; sorry it turned out blurry in the photo. Reprints on regular paper, not so good. But I can sit in my recliner and look at the fam and enjoy everyone.

Dec. 1, Monday. Can't believe it is December! Went on a walk along our "new" path. We walked to the end of it; instead of turning around and walking back, we thought, we will take the road going right and circle around and get back to the car. The path took 30 minutes; the "circle around" took another hour! Have I mention before that there is no grid layout of Greenville? We were both hurting by the time we made it back to the car – ankles, knees, hips, back – you get the picture! For FHE we picked up Tyrei (who had worked all weekend and was happy about that) and had Chic-fil-A for all the members. We also warmed up the leftovers from stake conference. The YSA played games then volleyball.

Tuesday we had a car appointment at 8 a.m., so no walking. E. Steffler went to the Ford dealership and I stayed home to make bread and get started on the laundry. He only took about an hour and I had barely finished showering and dressing. I did get a batch of bread made. Then we were having the carpet cleaned, so we moved the kitchen tables and chairs into the kitchen. Costly day of cleaning corn out of car's fuel and cleaning carpet, but both needed done. And the carpet looks amazingly clean; the car runs better, too.

Wednesday we walked around the apartment complex. Visited Joanna and read Alma 37 with her. Made another batch of bread (my assignment for Saturday was homemade bread and butter). Have you ever tried hot sweet dill pickles? You take dill pickles and chunk them like for sweet pickles, then process them as you would cukes for sweet pickles – only these have some jalapenos sliced in also. They helped the turkey casserole go down, for the second time! Got the car filled up for our trip and went to Institute committee meeting. All we do is talk about our numbers attending and what is for snack afterwards. I volunteered to make a pumpkin roll for next week, as it will be our last institute for the semester. Sister Walker covered D&C 68-74 then read a story from "12 Gifts of Christmas" by Richard Siddoway; she read Violet's story, very touching. Sis. Walker has volunteered her home (dressed to the hilt for Christmas, I have heard) for the last session. Had a nonmember text that she wanted us to teach her the lessons, so maybe we will be "real" missionaries!

Thursday we had a short walk hoping it would help our legs weather the ride to Williamsburg, VA. Got on the road at 9:45, so no early start for us. Pulled into the hotel about 2, got settled then headed for Colonial Williamsburg. We started in the gunsmith and foundry; showed all the handwork involved in making a rifle back in the 17th and 18th centuries. Then the Getty House where we saw what the higher class of people lived like; a few fancy carpets and china and harpsichord. Next was the Courthouse where misdemeanors were tried. E. Steffler played the part of a Presbyterian who was tried because he had not informed the court he was a dissenter from Church of England. Fined 5 shillings or 10 lashings; still had to pay a tithing to the Anglican church for helping the poor and needy. Visited several stores: bindery, milliner, Capitol, where the House of Burgesses (commoners) and Governor and his panel met (separately). Walked a mile back to the car and to supper. Rested then went swimming in the indoor pool; oh, how I have missed being in the water, and sat for a while in the hot tub. Nice after the long trip and walking.

Friday we had breakfast in the motel, not too bad: bacon, scrambled eggs and a muffin and juice. Got lost trying to find Colonial Williamsburg, so went to Visitor Center and rode the bus; much nicer and not as much walking. Got off at the tavern stop – only 4 taverns nearby! Went to the wig shop where you could be measured for a wooden head shaped like yours; then shave your head and cover with a cloth then place the wig. They will even wash and set the wig when it gets dirty. Wigs were made of human hair, yak hair and horse hair. We told them, no thanks! Visited the Raleigh Tavern for a program, "A Georgian Christmas," King George in England and George Washington in America. There was singing, dancing and stories. Visited weaving and spinning shop; she showed how to spin wool and cotton and carded some cotton. Very interesting. Caught the bus and returned to the car. BTW, the decorations on the houses and shops were beautiful; all natural materials used to make wreaths and swags – fruits, nuts, wine corks, anything natural. Drove to Jamestown where we stopped at the Glass House to watch two glass blowers make a pitcher, so we had to buy one like they were making. Then to Historic Jamestown. Watched a short film in the visitor center and had lunch. Walked through the museum where various articles were displayed that have been found in diggings. Walked about the grounds of the original Jamestown and took photos. Very interesting, the history of the place makes one very grateful that God's hand was in the founding of our country. We were very tired, so went to hotel, short swim and hot tub, then watched a movie on TV. A chick flick about Christmas and romance. Lights out at 10. I was surprised we made it that long!

Saturday we were up and on the road by 9 and arrived at the mission office/church 5 minutes to spare for our senior couples activity. Had items for missionaries lined out on a table: bag, colored duct tape, chap stick, white out, pen, sticky note pad, Christmas card from 1st presidency, hot chocolate packet, peppermints, Skittles, Snickers, Hersey chocolates and candy cane. Just before handing them out at special Christmas activity (ours is Dec. 23) they will add a mini loaf of sweet bread and Cuties. The bagging went quickly, only about 1/2 hour. So we started our lunch about 11: 3 kinds of soup, green salad, frog-eye salad, bread and butter, and 3 kinds of dessert. All very yummy. Left around noon to return home. A good little vacation. Stopped to gas up the car for $2.41 a gal.! That's 20 cents cheaper than Greenville. Stopped at the Dismal Swamp rest area and walked the 1/4-mile nature hike, just to keep our legs limbered up. Home about 3 and finished up on some Christmas stuff.

A very busy week, an enjoyable week, even the driving was not too bad. Easy for me to say, since I did not do any of the driving! E. Steffler was tired, though. Almost at our half-way mark. It has been great most of the time. I'm getting a little homesick and missing the fam as we get closer to Christmas. Having their photos on the wall is not helping that, but I enjoy looking at them and praying that all is well back home. Thanks for all the prayers for us. We love all y'all and so does God. Have a blessed Christmas season, and remember, He is the Gift. christmas.mormon.org Great video and reminder. Elder & Sister Steffler