Dear Family and Friends,
The top picture is only one of the amazing sunsets we get to see almost every night. The second one is of the potatoes that Geraldine Maize and her kids harvested the last couple of weeks from their garden. The last one is of Geraldine and the kids digging them out. She and her kids loved their garden and they definitely showed what can be done with hard work and faith.
It has been a pretty amazing week with everything that went on this week. It seems like we had something every night but Monday at the church.
On Thursday we had what they called “Super Thursday” which started at 5:30. Sister Goldtooth and Sister Butler had organized several activities, all of which were fun. Sister Anderson showed the sisters how to make their own kites for their kids. Several kids had come even though it was for the Relief Society sisters. They jumped right in and made their own kites with Sister Anderson’s help. It was perfect.
Sister Tunney showed the sisters how to make their own foot stools out of large juice cans. It reminded me of the one Dale VanScyok, Elder Olson's aunt, made us as a wedding present. We still have that one and one she made for grandma, Marie. Ours is 42+ years old. The grandkids love them.
At another table they had the sisters put together a binder of recipes that they had collected this last year and organize them into a handy little cookbook. I had organized mine just recently, so I just grabbed the cover page and now mine is all done.
One of the biggest hits was the clear glass plate activity where the sisters were able to put their black and white photos on the back of the clear glass plate covering them with a mixture of Elmer’s glue and water. It reminded me of the modge podge they use to use for craft projects, which dried clear and protected your craft. After the pictures dried they sprayed the back with black, silver, or gold which would show through on the front side. She also brought the attachment they could use to hang them on the wall.
Some of the sister did not have family pictures with them, so we handed out pictures of their favorite temple and they put them in the center of the plate and put colored tissue paper around the outside. They plan to hang them on their wall to remind them of their eternal family goals to honor their covenants, stay active or do what is necessary to get to the temple with their family.
I helped with showing them two simple afghan patterns. I had shared the pattern with Sister Butler and she has made two since I showed her. Several sisters learned how to start and make the two afghans, which they will be able to complete before Christmas and use for gifts for family members.
The whole idea behind the activities was to share simple gift ideas that didn’t cost very much and that they could give to their family members without spending a lot of money. The gifts are practical and easy to make.
There were about 30 sisters involved and I think everyone is looking forward to the next activity which will be this next Thursday.
Friday night we had an informal piano recital that Sister Anderson called Piano Play Time. I have to admit that I thought I was over being terrified, but sadly my hands shook and I could not play my song very well at all. I did not however run from the room screaming or crying, so I guess you could say that I am doing better. ;o} We have another Piano Play Time on Dec 7. Hopefully I can redeem myself.
Saturday we started the meetings for Stake Conference. At the adult session, President Justice shared the pictures he had taken in Jerusalem and other places he visited during the last three weeks. The pictures were amazing and when he showed the garden tomb you could feel what he felt when he was actually there.
Today we had our meeting over satellite broadcast. All 95 stakes in Arizona took part wherever they were. Gary E Stevenson, Cheryl Esplain, Jeffery R Holland, and President Eyring all spoke. President Eyring did not mince words about being prepared, but also said we should be wise optimists, in these latter days. He used quotes from 3 Nephi about how all the children should be prepared and that the Savior would come to people who should be prepared.
He encouraged us to be more bold as we proclaim the gospel and that we should expect peaks and valleys, work for improvement and remember the promised blessings that are contained in the scriptures. He reminded us not to be discouraged, or be tempted to quit. I have to admit when I look at all there is to do some days, I do get a little overwhelmed, but remembering his counsel will sure help.
After conference, we had Lee, Avy and two of their grandsons over for dinner. The young elders from Cameron also stopped in and we had a great time. Elder Olson had cooked meat in the dutch oven and Avy helped make the fry bread. The two little boys had a picnic on the kitchen floor, but I let the elders sit in the living room, since they gave their word of honor that they would not spill.
You have to remember that our apt is very small and the kitchen table only seats four people and we had 8. No one seemed to mind and the elders said they would come back anytime we invited them. ;o}
Tonight Sister Norris and I worked on the Crownpoint obituary collection that we have complied. We finished the second binder and only have one more to go. We are going over each record to double and check and make sure every entry was accurate. I think binder two took about two hours.
We are also working on the cemetery records for Dennehotso. We are half way done. The Chapmans brought by the second half of the names on the tombstones, which I will start entering this week.
A Sister Sharp is planning a trip to Phoenix for Thanksgiving. She works in the church acquisitions dept in SLC and will look over what we have been doing and see if we can preserve it under special collections. We keep busy that’s for sure, and from listening to President Eyring we are going to get even busier, as saints everywhere continue to move forward in the great work we are involved in throughout the world.
As the holidays approach it looks as if we will meet with the missionaries and the young elders from Cameron for the holiday dinners. It should be a lot of fun and help everyone not miss their families quite as much. I know the young elders had a good time this afternoon and I suspect it was one of the better meals that they’ve had for a long time, at least they said it was.
It is getting late and I have much to do. We miss you all and hope to hear from you during the holidays.
Elder and Sister Olson
PS Hope I caught all the typos, but if not it will give you something to do. ;o}
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