December 19th through Christmas Day

December 19th through Christmas Day:  Monday:  We did our cleaning and grocery shopping and had a very lazy afternoon resting up.  Tuesday through Friday:  We worked both morning and evening shifts.  I officiated in 3 sessions during the week.  We had a zone of missionaries from the Quito North Mission come each morning.  We also attended a little party for the temple workers in the patron housing cafeteria after each shift.  Some of them had gelatin salads, others bought pizza, others had chicken and rice.  The workers really enjoyed getting together.  We contributed a drink for most of the shifts. 

President Aguirre thanking all the workers

Saturday: We went and did some Christmas shopping for gifts for the children of David and Fernanda's children, President Aguirre's grandchildren.  We received a much appreciatead invitation to go to dinner at President Aguirre's home for Christmas Eve dinner.  We were feeling a little homesick.  President Aguirre picked us up at 5:00 pm and we spent the evening at his home.  Dinner was two turkeys cooked differently.  One was covered in bacon. 

Dinner was delicious and then we went upstairs to Fernanda's apartment and opened all the presents.  It was a little chaotic.  It reminded me of when our children were small. 

The grandchildren had to dance before they could open presents.

The floor was completely covered in the end.

It was nice to have somewhere to go and it was really special to be with such a loving family.  We love the Aguirre family.  Sunday:  We went to church and then President and Sister Aguirre brought us leftovers from the dinner the night before.  We were able to have a video call with all our kids and grandchildren.  Our grandson, Evan, had to go back into the hospital the day after he got home from his surgery for his broken leg.  He had pneumonia.  He was one sick kid, but was able to come home on Christmas Eve.  In the evening we watched an episode of The Chosen. 

Kimball and his book.

Stanford and his book.

Abigail and her book.

 

December 12th through December 18th

December 12th through December 18th:  Monday:  We went into Quito in the morning and made reservations for a short trip to the jungle for the weekend over New Years. 

Genevieve and Sam and their two daughters are coming to visit right after Christmas.  It will be so fun to have them here for a few days.  We then went to lunch with Elder and Sister Cameron.  We have not seen them since Thanksgiving and since we were already in Quito it seemed like a good chance to catch up.  Church travel had been in contact with us and we now have our tickets bought for our return flights home.  We will arrive on Feb. 13th, our release date. 

The nativity set was a gift from President and Sister Winters.

Things are going to go so fast now.  The days are long but the weeks fly by.  We did our weekly grocery shopping when we got home from lunch.  Tuesday through Friday:  Each day was the same.  Up at 6:00am, breakfast, shower, to the temple by 7:00am, home by 12:30pm, lunch, a short nap, back to the temple by 4:00pm, home between 7:00 and 8:00pm, a quick snack, and then to bed at 9:00pm.  Saturday:  We got home from the temple at 3:00pm.  Chris spent the whole day in initiatory.  I split my day between initiatory and officiating a session.  Saturday night we got some bad news.  Charlotte's oldest son, Evan, fell on some ice on their driveway and broke both the bones in is lower left leg.  Evan is a big guy and it took Charlotte, two of her neighbors, and Genevieve, to get Evan in the van. 

He spent Saturday night in the hospital and was operated on Sunday. The surgery went well.  They had to put a rod on the large bone.  They say the small bone will heal on it's own.  He had to stay Sunday night in the hospital.  Hopefully he will be able to come home today. 

Metal rod in place.

Sunday:  We went to church and had a quiet afternoon in our apartment, getting updates on Evan. We have given all our kids, their spouses, and our grandchildren money to buy a book for Christmas and when they buy it they have to send us a picture.  James, Kirstin, and their kids Facetimed us to show their selections. John, Jill, and Ellie are the only ones that have sent us pictures.  This is a loving reminder.

December 5th through December 11th

December 5th through December 11th:  Monday:

We stayed in our apartment whole day trying, to get over being sick.  Tuesday and Wednesday:  Chris was feeling better and was able to go back to the temple, working both the morning and evening shifts.  I stayed home and coughed and blew my nose for two days.  Thursday and Friday: We both worked the morning and evening shifts.  I officiated one on the sessions on Friday.  We are both feeling a lot better, but we don't have a lot of energy.  We came home from the morning shift and we both took 2 hour naps before going back over for the evening shift.  Saturday:  This was the first day that I was what I would call "at capacity".  We had 6 sessions, with an average of 35 patrons each, 8 weddings, 10 women receiving their own endowment, 4 men receiving their own endowment and over 100 youth in the baptistry.  Mom worked in the initiatory for 8 1/2 hours and couldn't move when she got home.  I officiated one session and was the follower on another.  I got to sit much of the day.  Mom, on the other hand, was on her feet all day long.  Sunday: We went to church with President and Sister Aguirre.  It was the Primary program.  It was fun to see their grandchildren perform. 

After the meeting was over before they all ran off.

The girls all had crowns of flowers.

The boys all had blue bow ties.

Mom and Edu, short for Eduarda,  one of President and Sister Aguirre's grandchildren.

We came home and fixed a broccoli and bacon salad and then went next door to President's apartment for lunch.  It as very enjoyable to sit and talk about the week with President and Sister Aguirre.  We make each other laugh a lot.  We feel so close to them.  We are glad to be feeling well enough to be back in the temple and we are sure that in a day or two the sniffles will be all gone.  

They got up the Nativity this past week.

  

November 28th through December 4th

November 28th through December 4th:  Monday:  We took Corinne and Cynthia, both members of the start up team from Salt Lake, to the grocery store and then I cooked orange chicken for them. 

L to R  Corinne, Cynthia, and Chris

The other thing that happened Monday was Wally Cooper, a real good friend of ours, had sent me the name and phone number for a Paul Eugene Sparks.  I called him and he was the missionary that baptized Dany and his wife.  I have put them in contact with each other.  Thanks Wally for your help. Tuesday and Wednesday: We worked both shifts.  I took one of the sessions on the morning shift.  Thursday through Sunday:  Chris had come home Wednesday night feeling like she had a cold.  Thursday morning before going over to the temple she used one of the COVID home tests we had brought with us.  She tested positive.  I started feeling sick on Saturday and so we spent the rest of the week holed up  in the apartment, drinking lots of liquids and feeling lousy.  Not much else to say.  By Sunday, Chris was feeling a lot better.  It's Monday and I am also feeling better.