First post of 2016

Can't say goodbye to 2015 before wishing my best-companion- in-all-the-world a Happy Birthday!

After we took LeAnn and Austin to the airport on Christmas morning, we had brunch with the missionaries.....

a lovely program ......

.....and celebrating Elder SAUNDERS' 70 something birthday.  Thanks, E/S HAWKINS!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Frankfurt!

  We celebrated with the missionaries by visiting the Mathesons',  the Newman's, and the Hawkins' apartments for food and fun.   The young missionaries joined us and added their joy and enthusiasm.......they are an amazing group!

It was very foggy, but we could see the FIREWORKS in the street below us, and see the glow on the sky around us.  I wish I could know how much money went into them.....they were everywhere....and lasted over an hour or more.  By the time we left to go home, the foggy smoke was very thick.  The celebration was still going on here in Friedrichsdorf, but it was quiet by 1:30 a.m.

We've had a little snow, but nothing like Utah has had.  Mostly rain, a week of frozen temperatures, and still the lawns and fields are green.  To keep our spirits up, we had a dinner and dominos party with the Mills, Bakers, and Malcoms.  The Mills are our new Zone Leaders replacing the Riggs.

Their first Zone Conference was a great success.  The theme was "A Marvelous Work", referring to the gospel and missionary work.  Elder Dyches of the Area Presidency spoke, as did Elder Mills and E/S Castleton who are leaving in February.  We will really miss them.  They got here after we did and are going home before us......that's the difference in 18 months and 23 months!  By the way, we have been here longer than all the missionaries.  We will be having the next Zone Conference the end of April to accommodate the 4 couples who will be leaving in May.....including us!

This is the most wonderful group of people.  We are so grateful to be a part of them!

We were asked to arrange the dinner after the meeting.  We asked  a member of our ward to cater it and she delivered the most wonderful meal!  Thanks to Sister Sonia Silva for the delicious Portugese meal.

And thanks to Sue Mason for helping......sorry I missed  a picture of Elizabetha Calebrese.

I did the decorations......I miss you, Sister Dittmar!  We used a Valentine theme.  

We have really missed being able to go to the temple, so we were anxious to go to the Open 

House  showing the plans and the progress.  The new Stake Center is looking good.....

The baptistery will be underground, so there will be more room in the temple.....I wish we could see the new changes, but we are hoping to return to the Draper baptistery to resume our service there.

The weather has been gloomy.  This is the view from my desk.

But last Thursday was brightened by 2 things......we got a new picture for our office wall.....

And then we got a package from Kaycee filled with love and hearts......that's the theme Kaycee set

for our mission....H E A R T.....His Example Always Remains True.

The conversation hearts were a big hit.....they don't have them here, so everyone had to see, read, and eat some.  Missing the Hershey kisses, too.

While eating my lunch, a potato chip crumb fell onto my skirt......coincidence?  I think not!

We took Marianna Starbauch to dinner to thank her for all the sweet and helpful things she does for us.  

She choose a delightful restaurant in Nidderau-Windecken, where she lives.

Keith had salmon and we had  ka noodle......potatoes filled with ham and bacon.....Tyler would have loved it!

After dinner, when it was too dark to take pictures, she showed us the results of a project she was involved with a couple of years ago.  Their committee commissioned an artist to make brass tiles and install them in the cobblestones in front of the homes where Jewish people has been taken and placed in concentration camps during WW II.  Marianna had purchased one for a couple and showed us where they used to live.  May we never forget........

Memorable day!  Sisters Ryser, Me, Piedgrass, and Castleton posing outside this wonderful souvenir shop in Wiesbaden with the proprietress.  (This is supposedly the biggest coo-coo-clock in Germany.). This lady was so helpful....she loves the missionaries...and she should.....we spent ALOT of money on souvenirs!  Sister Piedgrass just got here, but the rest of us are leaving in February, April, and May.  What a fun day....just me and my credit card!!

We have had to cancel our trip at the end of our mission because of problems that would occur if we stayed past our visa date.  Long story, but it so okay.  Keith doesn't understand the concept of "found money", (which is strange with him being an accountant)... So it's a good thing I do.  I found this extra money that we saved by not going on the tour........so I spent some of yesterday!  Now, ladies......am I smart, or what!!!

 Time for church.  Sending love from Germany!