Tom and Debbie's Mission Blog: A Season of Hallelujah!

As we come to the end of our holiday season, we are grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the opportunity to celebrate his birth and life with our family. We are also thankful to complete our study of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It has taught us so much about Jesus Christ and His everlasting gospel. For me personally, it has inspired me to reflect on how merciful the Lord has been unto the children of men and unto me. This daily reflection has turned my heart to the Lord in love and gratitude. We also had some special inspiration this month from two movies, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", and "Mully".

Our Christmas celebration this year has included a visit to Fargo, North Dakota, to participate in the baptism of our grandson, Hudson. The week before Christmas, we went to four performances in 5 days. All four sang the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah, which touched our hearts. We also sing Hallelujah for the Lord's mercy to us. We traveled to Cache Valley three times for a piano recital, an ordination of our son, Dan, to high priest, and to exchange Christmas presents with our three families there. After exchanging Christmas gifts with many of our children, we were "home alone" from Christmas Eve at 9:00 pm until noon on Christmas Day. It was a blessing to have some extra time to ponder the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

At the baptism of Hudson and celebrating the fourth advent in our home

Fargo, North Dakota:

December would not usually be the time to visit North Dakota, but our grandson, Hudson, turned 8 on December 2. On December 7 he was baptized and we were privileged to participate with him. In fact Debbie and I were both speakers at his baptismal service. He was baptized by his father, who holds the priesthood of God and was able to both baptize him and confirm him a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Danny also conferred upon him the gift of the Holy Ghost. It brings great joy to see our grandchildren being raised in righteousness.

Hudson, with his Dad before the baptism

Hudson with his parents after the baptism

Before we went to Fargo, they were experiencing temperatures down to 2 degrees. We brought a heat wave with us that brought temperatures up to the 40s. As we left, the cold weather came back and dipped below zero. This was certainly a blessing for us.

Temperatures on December 7, the day of the baptism

Winter advisory on Sunday of a storm coming in. Temperatures dropped on Monday with extreme winds. Feels like 6 degrees.

A beautiful rainbow after the Sunday showers, looking out into their backyard

While in Fargo, we were able to watch the three oldest grandchildren pass their skating tests. This qualifies them for free equipment for their hockey team next year. They are amazing, already way ahead of their grandparents' skating ability, skating forward and backward.

Addie, Hudson, and Grant passing their tests on ice

We were also able to attend their ward Christmas party that night. It was an amazing presentation by the primary and a nativity presentation sung and presented behind the screen.

The primary singing, including Addie and Hudson

A nativity presentation with images from behind the screen to the music performed

The next day we were able to attend Church with Gina's family and then spend the day with them, exchanging Christmas gifts and having special time with these grandchildren that we don't see often enough.

Addie, Rylee, and Quinn at Church

Quinn with her new Unicorn

Rylee opening her present with Grant looking on

Addie with her new keyboard that she had already learned to play, learning from DuoLingo

Hudson with his 8 year old birthday cake. They waited to celebrate until we arrived

While we were there, Grant was not feeling well. He has been struggling to adapt to his new school. I held him on Sunday night, letting him know how much I loved him. In the sweet words of a 6 year old, he kept telling me how much he loved me. He melted my heart. We are thankful for these special times.

On Sunday night we participated in their nightly Christmas Story. Danny reads it every night from a book that Debbie made for Gina earlier in the year. It was heartwarming to see them enjoy the same stories that we read to Gina and her siblings when they were kids.

Missions, past and present:

A few days before going to North Dakota, we went to the German Christmas Market at the Heritage Trails State Park in Utah. This always reminds us of our time in Europe. The atmosphere is electric and the foods bring back very specific memories. The following include photos of some of our favorite foods that we were able to enjoy.

Welcome (Willkommen) to the Christmas Markt

We always enjoy a little taste of Holland, Poffertjes

Poffertjes cooking

and being delightfully consumed

After our appetizer, we went for a Dönar Kebab, which are common in Frankfurt

Our Dönar Sandwich

We added a bratwurst to round out our European Food Festival

Enjoying our German heritage

10 days earlier we went to the homecoming talks of Elder and Sister Rasmussen who had served with us in Palmyra. Four of the five missionary couples were together again. One lives in North Carolina and was not able to be with us. We look forward to continuing these special relationships.

Four missionary couples that served together in the Palmyra Temple before Elder and Sister Rasmussen spoke in Church

Finally we have gone through many hours of training for our new mission as institute teachers for BYU Pathway. Because of the volume of new missionaries, we will not begin teaching until the first week in March, but we have been able to learn from others on-line and with inservice meetings. It has been nice to not occupy too much time during this busy time of the year. We will continue to learn and observe other classes until we begin our own.

Church Workforce orientation meeting with others, many of who are missionaries

This was from our monthly In-service meeting for missionaries, about 100 individuals included in this on-line meeting

Temple Service:

In November we returned to our family temple gatherings. We held a sealing session with Debbie's siblings and sealed 12 couples and 36 children to their parents. Two days later, we did baptisms with our grandchildren and baptized exactly 36 individuals. Coincidentally it was the same number who had been sealed a few days earlier. We find temple work for our ancestors to be extremely rewarding. It also builds relationships with our siblings and with our grandchildren. Just recently we did a small baptism session for Camila's biological ancestors. More about that in the next blog.

November baptisms with our grandchildren

Special baptisms for Camila's biological ancestors on the day after Christmas

Multiple visits to Hyrum and Nibley, Utah:

The same day that we went to the Christmas Markt, having been well fed, we continued to Cache Valley for a piano recital for Ellie, Olivia and their mother, Melanie. They have become a pretty talented family on the piano. The trip takes a bit of time, but it is worth it.

Recital program with three Digernesses

Olivia playing her song

Ellie announcing her song

Melanie after her duet with the piano teacher

Two weeks later, right after returning from North Dakota, we returned to Hyrum as our son, Dan, was being set apart as a High Councilor in his stake. First, he had to be ordained to the office of high priest. I was honored to be able to perform that ordination. This experience was very special as a blessing rolled out of my mouth in great detail, without any prior thought. I clearly experienced the power of the Holy Ghost in being voice for the blessing that Heavenly Father had in store of Dan. This was our second experience of priesthood power in the lives of our posterity in the same week. We are grateful for His power.

Photo of us with Dan and his family after the ordination and setting apart

Since we were making one more trip, Dan organized a cookie decorating activity for all three families of grandchildren before the ordination. This gave us the opportunity to accomplish multiple purposes on this visit. Dan and his family also fed us dinner.

Grandkids decorating cookies

Another photo from the other side, same precious grandchildren with their Oma

We made one more visit to Hyrum and Nibley on the Sunday before Christmas after our Christmas sacrament meeting. This time we exchanged Christmas presents with Dan and his family. We then had dinner with Jared and his family and exchanged presents. We finished the day by exchanging presents with Kari and her family. It was a long day, but very rewarding.

Recognizing the hand of the Lord in our lives:

In the months after returning from our mission, I began to feel like the spiritual experiences were not occurring nearly as often as when we were on our mission. On our mission, I often had multiple entries to my journal on the same day. As we entered into the month of December, I had not written very often in my journal. As we studied Moroni chapter 10, the Come Follow Me manual asked us to review phrases in Moroni 10:3-7 and ponder the following questions: What does this mean? How can I do this better?

As I pondered the following phrase in verse 3, "that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts", I was inspired to make a commitment to record daily how I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life. Debbie has already been doing this for a long time. Since that day, December 16, I have found examples of the Lord's hand in my life every day, often multiple examples in the same day. I have realized that I had not stopped having spiritual experiences, but had simply stopped looking for them. I came across this quote which describes what I am feeling:

"The last five words of [Moroni 10:3] offer an important admonition- ponder it in your hearts.' What is the antecedent of 'it' — the thing that we are to ponder? It is 'how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things.' We are to remember how loving, how provident, how good, how forgiving our Heavenly Father has been toward us.

"What usually happens when we begin to ponder how merciful the Lord has been to mankind? To us personally? What happens when we count our blessings, or perhaps our sins for which we must ask his forgiveness, and recognize his hand in our individual lives? Is it not true that our hearts turn to the Lord in love and gratitude? Do our faith and humility increase? Yes, and that, in my judgment, is the impact of verse 3-following the counsel therein helps us to become more humble, more willing and ready to receive new information and knowledge with an open mind" (Elder Gene R. Cook, "Moroni's Promise," Ensign, Apr. 1994, 12).

Hallelujah, LORD OF LORDS, KING OF KINGS:

Starting with December 16, we attended 4 performances in 5 days. This began with a performance of Taylorsville High School (McKenzie singing), Hillcrest High School (Joshua singing), Forgotten Carols with Michael McLean, and the Tabernacle Choir concert at the Conference Center. All sang the Hallelujah Chorus. On Monday, the Hallelujah Chorus was the last song sang at the end of the concert. All of the alumni in attendance went up and joined in. This was absolutely amazing.

Taylorsville High School choirs and alumni singing the Hallelujah Chorus

Mckenzie in the Concert Choir

McKenzie greeting her Oma after the concert

The next day we had another wonderful concert with Hillcrest High School. Joshua is in the Vocal Ensemble of his High School. Once again, the Hallelujah Chorus was sung, this time just with the choirs.

Joshua singing with the Vocal Ensemble

Joshua is also in the Music Council for Hillcrest High School

Joshua after the concert

The next day we went to a performance of the Forgotten Carols. This is always one of our favorite holiday traditions. Debbie introduced me to the Forgotten Carols, when were first dating right before our marriage. Michael McLean was back into the production for the first time in a few years. As part of this production, Michael McLean introduces the quill that Handel used to write the Hallelujah Chorus which we heard for the third time in three days.

At the Forgotten carols

Two days later, we were privileged to go to the Tabernacle Choir concert. Our daughter-in-law had received four tickets and offered for us to go with her and Jacob. As usual, the performance was magnificent. To our joy, the guest singer and the Tabernacle Choir sang the Hallelujah Chorus, our fourth time to hear it that week.

With Jacob and Deb at the Conference Center

We were also able to hear the story of Dr. Charles Mulli and the Mully Children's Family. This individual, who began as a six year old orphan in Kenya, had grown into great financial success until the Lord asked him to divest himself of his enterprises and start helping the extremely large number of orphans in Kenya. His story was so amazing. Then Charles Mulli came out on the stage and talked a little more with the audience in the conference center. We have since watched a full length documentary about the amazing work done by God through Dr. Charles Mulli. I recommend that everyone learn more about this amazing individual, now one of my personal heroes.

From the program of the Tabernacle Choir

The movie, Mully, found on YouTube. This is a must see for everyone!

After the performance we exited the conference center from the top exit and were able to enjoy the Christmas lights from our special vantage spot. It was beautiful! After this week, I can only say, Hallelujah!

Beautiful lights from the top of the Conference Center and on Temple Square

Another view directly across from the Tabernacle

And a view of the Salt Lake Temple at Christmas, still under remodeling

Christmas Parties:

This same week before Christmas we had 3 Christmas Parties. As usual, we host a Christmas party for our posterity that live in Utah at our Clubhouse. This year we had 44 in attendance and a good time was had by all. We love to get everyone together, even though it can be a bit of work. This always includes a nativity by the grandchildren, with Opa reading Luke 2. No photos were taken because I was reading. The next day, Debbie had the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Christmas Social. Five days later we had another party for all of the posterity of my parents, also at the Clubhouse. This one had about 60 in attendance and was coordinated by Kendra, my younger brother's widow. At this party we had all of the posterity of my oldest brother who has passed away more than 20 years ago. The parties are great, but the greatest value is the association with family and friends.

Our posterity in Utah, Beckie helping them to identify their strengths and how they can help others

All their answers were posted on three different boards which we took home. A fun present from our posterity.

We also had a gift exchange with the cousins, this is always a highlight

Our grandson, Caide, who is suffering from the same disease that killed his mother, was able to be with us. We gave him this toy horse. He loves horses!

This was the party with my parent's posterity, about 60 in attendance

We divided in 5 groups to put together the 12 cupcake puzzles. Included my brother Dan who came from California with his family to be with us.

Everyone after stomping on balloons in another fun game

An hour after the party was over, everyone still talking and enjoying this once a year family activity

Gift Exchanges:

Each year the gifts for our posterity gets more voluminous. We still give gifts to each of our posterity, often with some bonus gifts of new gadgets. This year it was thumbs up phone holders. I purchase them and Debbie wraps them. Before we went to North Dakota on December 6, we had mailed gifts to our family in Pennsylvania and took gifts with us to North Dakota. After returning Debbie wrapped the remainder of the gifts for the other families. She wraps them all up in a different wrapping paper for each family so we can keep them straight under the Christmas Tree. This year she wrapped over 150 gifts.

Our tree with all of the gifts except those that went to Pennsylvania, Chicago, and North Dakota

In the 10 days before Christmas we began exchanging gifts in our home or in the homes of our children. This year we exchanged with three families in Cache Valley, one on Christmas Eve and had three different families in our home before Christmas. At nine o'clock on Christmas Eve we were alone in our home and no one came over until noon on Christmas Day. For the first time we had time to ourselves to enjoy some nativity based movies on Christmas Eve and to open our own gifts for each other in the morning as well as connect with our family in Pennsylvania. It feels like we are entering into a new phase of our lives, with our posterity being a little more independent of us. It feels good. We visited a few more families after Christmas and only have two more individuals with presents under the tree. We do plan an after Christmas lunch for some of the grandkids who do not live with our children. This worked well last year and is scheduled again for January 4.

We take photos of most of the kids opening presents but don't have space to share all of them in this blog. However, I want to highlight just a few of them:

This is Sophia, daughter of our Exchange Student daughter, Giovanna. She just loved this unicorn jewelry box, which was suggested by her mother.

Dawson opened these 4D puzzles on Sunday afternoon in Hyrum. Before we left to go back home we received the following photo from his mother:

First puzzle already completed the same day

Tiare lives back and forth with our son and her mother (not married). She comes and celebrates her entire Christmas in our home with her dad.

Ellie is an avid reader and loves this particular author. We had a 'buy two get one free' deal on Amazon and she got two books instead of 1 from the same author.

Ella is the 9 year old daughter of our son-in-law from a previous marriage. She was able to be in Nibley when we came up and enjoyed her Barbie car and her birthday presents from last month. She lives in St. George.

Little Austin is our youngest grandchild, enjoying his first Christmas with three sisters watching him open his present.

Other Christmas Activities:

We had a Salt Lake County cookie decorating day on December 23. This included two of Pollyanna's children. When little Paisley came she went right to our little toy nativity set. She asked me what baby Jesus looked like. After the cookies, we watched the video "The Christ Child" with Paisley and Aria. When we went to Paisley's house, her mother showed us the picture that she had drawn of Jesus with her. These times are our opportunities to share our witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Aria and Paisley decorating cookies with their Oma

Paisley and Aria watching the "Christ Child" with their Oma

Paisley's picture of her and Jesus Christ

After I took Aria and Paisley home, I picked up River's kids, who live with their mother. Four of them came and had their turn to decorate cookies. When they finished we shared with them some gifts from their father who has minimal contact with them. This was a special time to talk to them about the relationship with their father and support his efforts to reach out to them. We then played games until their mother came to pick them up.

Joshua, Jacob, Evelyn and Jasper decorating cookies with Oma

The same four enjoying the presents from their father

On Christmas Eve, we went to Beckie's house to celebrate with her family on the "Polar Express", had a wonderful dinner and exchanged presents with them. Beckie went to Washington on Christmas Day to meet her boy friend's family. This was our Christmas Eve activity for this year, no effort on our part except to show up.

Beckie reading a Christmas story to all . . .

Including these two on the other side of the camera lens

On one of our Friday date nights we decided to watch the "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". This is a remake from a show from our youth. As we watched this movie, we felt such a powerful spirit telling us that everyone can change for the better. Imogene said in the story something like"When we act in this pageant, it is a chance for us to live a different life than we have been living". It had a profound effect on her to be Mary, the mother of Jesus. It also had a profound effect on me. We watched this movie again when Moroni and Tiare came over to exchange gifts. It has been one of the strongest feelings of the spirit that I have felt this year. I recommend it to all.

A wonderful Christmas movie

Earlier this year, Gina requested a copy of Favorite Christmas Stories that we used to read with our children every night in December while a candle was burning. Since Debbie had done the work to digitize all of this for Gina, we printed out additional copies for the rest of our children. We then delivered them to all of our children by November 30 so that they could begin on December 1. As we visited Gina in North Dakota, we enjoyed participating in the reading of their Christmas Story. We also talked to several of our children who were enjoying this Christmas tradition with their children. This brought us quite a bit of joy to see this tradition continue and to see our gift being utilized. On December 15 we received a text from our son Ammon, who had rejected our earlier contact efforts. He wanted a copy of the stories and also some favorite recipes. Debbie had given those out last year.

One of the binders that we prepared for each of our children

We were pleased to find Ammon's address and deliver these two homemade gifts to him. As we arrived, he asked us to stay and to read the Christmas Story that night with him and his son, Tommy, and also his girl friend and her son. It was a delightful experience that warmed our hearts in a relationship which had previously gone cold. Ammon even posted a video of us reading the story. Below are screenshots from the video.

Grandpa reading the story

Ammon and Tommy listening

We live in a condominium with mostly older residents. Very few can put lights on their houses. Since our house is at the entrance from Redwood Road, we feel an obligation to be the welcoming Christmas lights into our community. Years ago we bought a nativity scene to be the center of that welcome. We receive nice comments from residents thanking us for this Christmas entry.

Our condo is the first you see as you enter into our neighborhood

My beautiful festive wife after our ward Christmas party

Rebuilding a shed:

Since we have come home from our mission, I have gone to our trailer each week to help improve the living conditions for Moroni and Ben. My major focus has been to rebuild the storage shed that Ben had bought and had not been able to finish. We have added a wood floor and framing inside. We fortified the connections from the shed to the wood floor and framing, reinforced connections of the roof, and attached a lock to the door. I am not a handy man. Each day I have gone there, I have gone with a prayer in my heart and tried to figure out what to do. Finally, last week we finished it. It is ready to move some of Ben's things into it from his previous residence. It certainly is not professional, but I believe it is adequate and it has been done by the promptings of the Holy Ghost. This is clearly one of the days that I saw the hand of the Lord in my life.