25 Dec- Xmas Brunch & Ronsendall Dinner

Up early this morning to make a fresh fruit salad with vanilla yogurt. That was my assignment. We had a virtual spread to eat. Ham, egg casserole, stuffed french toast with homemade warm buttermilk syrup. It was so yummy. I will send the recipe to Sister Anderson soon. I took pictures to share. I was in charge of the program, so we had a gift exchange with the usual game that is played where
someone hates the gift that they end up with and another person scores the big one. Everyone had a big laugh at every ones misfortune at getting the white elephant gift. I think this is the only time that is permissible.

The second game we played was just as fun. I racked my brain for weeks trying to find a fun game for 40 plus people but I finally decided on a combination charades and pictionary. I also thought it would be fun to have all of the Oscar winning movies to act out. Some were hard and some were only one word. One of the very shy Senior sisters just couldn't bring herself to act out "CHICAGO" I said well then just draw the state of Illinois and put a star on it. They finally got it, but I think it would have just been easier to do a chorus line dance . But then some people do not like to get up in front of others. It was actually very well received. The team with the least amount of minutes total got a Milka candy bar, Elder Walter's favorite. Then left about 1:00 to make another batch of candied yams and get ready for our dinner with the Rosendall's.

This is the family whose house we are working on. Sister Rosendall is originally from Austria, went on a mission to England and has lived in Germany since the late 1990's. As I mentioned before, she has the four young boys and Arial, her Ampere is living there. When we arrived, the storm was still raging from the day before and it had dropped a lot of snow. We couldn't even get to the front door so Elder Walters got out his trusty snow shovel, which he always keeps in the car for emergencies, and cleared a walk way for me to get to the house. He is a very chivalrous man, that's one reason I married him. Of course he also cleared a path way for the little older lady who lives next door and also the parking spaces for the bakery directly across the street. Everyone came out to thank him but he just loved knowing he had done a bit of service that day. Everyone in the neighborhood knows we are LDS because of the badges and because the young Elders come by the help out periodically.

Dinner was delicious as usual. She cooks all German dishes. Today we had Roladen, potatoes and red cabbage. I watched her make everything so I can make it all when I get back home. The meat is beef ,cut very long and thin. On this is placed onions, julianne veggies, mustard and herbs. Everything is rolled up and fried till brown. Then water or broth is added with other vegetables and cooked until tender, about a hour and the juices are made into gravy. Delicious. The red cabbage is something I really love to eat. The purple cabbage is shredded along with some apples and placed in a pot with water and cooked down. To this is added prieselberries or our equivalent of sweetened cranberries. The potatoes are great. She makes them all the time. Kind of like our potatoes with a cream sauce. We were stuffed but happy.

The gifts were then given to the boys and they went crazy as there mother only gave them books. I am so glad I listened to Bro. Walters on his choice of a gift. We did not expect to get a gift from Sister Rosendall as she is on a limited budget but she gave us a knife from Japan. The blade is made of ceramic. It has the sharpest blade I have ever seen. I think it has Cutco beat.
The storm was still in full force so we had to leave early before we got stuck there. With much praying, we finally arrived home, glad to be where it was warm. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas this year and thanks for all the words of encouragement and cards. Also a big thank you to the Vista 8th Ward for your huge poster with everyone's well wishes.

We have the opportunity and privilege to hear on a regular basis the words of three of the 70's who are over the European missions. They were featured along with other 70's in the Liahona, which is a church magazine comparable to our Ensign but geared more toward this area. They wrote about their traditions at Christmas time. Thought you would like to hear what they had to say.

Elder Causse (France) said, 10 years ago they formed a family Chorus and went to hospitals and retirement homes sharing music and a spiritual thought about Christ. They now have a 44 member choir and they sing and distribute gifts to the sick and elderly and spend time talking to them as well as listening.

Elder Kopischke (Germany) said they prepared a songbook of Christmas carols. He plays the accordian and everyone picks their favorite. They also invite those in the Ward who they feel need extra love during this season.

Elder Teixeira (Portugal) said Their main focus is on reading the scriptures as a family and to extend greater amounts of love to others.

Merry Christmas everyone, enjoy the pictures.