January 12th through January 18th

January 12^th through January 18^th:   Monday we went downtown on the bus with the Rays and the Roesberrys to do some shopping in the market.  We went to an artisans market and then to the big market.  Mom was successful and found the things she needed to finish off the birthday presents for the kids and grand-kids.   We all played cards in the evening and it was a very relaxing and fun day. 

One of the churches right next to the downtown market.  We had never stepped inside.  Beautiful paintings.

I found a new girlfriend at the artisan's market.

Mom and Jan with the salesman who helped mom find what she needed.

One of the old buildings made out of Cantera stone. (It's green)

She doesn't need 3 hands to carry everything she needs.

Tuesday we were back at it with our regular routine, presidency meeting for me from 8:00am till about 1:30pm, then lunch and back for the evening shift.  Wednesdays are almost always the same, work at the temple till noon, lunch and then back for the evening shift.  Thursday we had 3 buses from Cholula, Puebla come and we had a great day.  Mom took an early lunch break because she had to be the afternoon secretary.  So as I was getting home, she was getting ready to go back.  Friday the group canceled, but we still had 3 newly called missionaries come from Mexico City and we ended up having 3 sessions in the morning.  Mom again had to be the secretary for the evening shift, so I went back and did a session.  Saturday we had 3 buses again and the temple was full and busy from early morning till about 2:00pm.  President Atkinson left for Puebla for some speaking assignments. 

One of the couples that got married this week.

The bride with her two kidos.

A youth leader and two young men waiting their turn to go into the Baptistery.

These girls had finished their work in the temple and had changed and were waiting for everyone else to finish before getting back on the bus to go home.  They look pretty happy, don't you think?

 

Sunday President Pena and I connected by phone to two Area Coordinating Council Meetings.  We presented a power point on the numbers from last year and what we had observed from the stakes that had the most success.  We suggested that if all the stakes would follow the best practices that we had observed, that they all could have a more enjoyable experience on their next visits.  We then went to church in the chapel right next to temple.  We enjoyed dinner at the Rays, with the Roesberrys, Penas and Sister Zarco.  Mom went back to the temple for a meeting with all the secretaries from 5pm to 7:30pm.  We then talked to all the kids.  They all seem to be doing well and we feel so blessed.  We love Skype and Face-time and don’t know what we would do without this technology.  What a blessing.  We can’t believe that January is more than half over.  The time is flying by and we are truly seeing the tender mercies of the Lord in our lives and the lives of the saints that come and worship in the temple.  The happiness in the faces of the families that come to be sealed is so uplifting and inspiring.  We know, that they know, what a blessing the temple is.