CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS: IV Decorating

Decorating, for me, is an important part of the Christmas season. I guess I inherited the tendency from my mother, the only person I know that hangs Christmas ornaments from the ceiling (or she did when we were kids). When I was a child I thought it was magical! Now, our youngest daughter does the same. I like to decorate our entire house – it is fun for me. But, when we left Oregon in January, we didn’t pack any Christmas decorations – there simply wasn’t room.

And, it wouldn’t make sense to buy many decorations here, because going home there won’t be room either. So, I was not expecting much to happen in the way of Christmas decorating on our mission. I seem to remember stories of missionaries cutting out paper trees and putting them on the walls of their apartments (maybe our kids). In Elder Watts’ case, as a young missionary, he got a Christmas tree for free on Christmas morning.

For us, now as adult missionaries in New York, little by little, things started looking hopeful as far as decorations go. On our way to our mission last January, we stopped in Utah to see relatives. Our oldest daughter gave me my Christmas present, that didn’t get mailed. It was three very beautiful Christmas decorations, two ornaments and a cute box.

Then, last February, when our neighboring missionaries left, they gave us their beautiful lighted wreath and an artificial tree.

Another daughter and her husband gave us two more tree ornaments, relevant to our mission, a crystal maple leaf and a fox ornament.

When we moved to our new apartment in November, we found a table centerpiece and another wreath.

So, the day after Thanksgiving we hung a wreath on our door and another one on our wall. We put up our “Charlie Brown” artificial tree, with lights and decorations that came in the box.

To my delight we found some other decorations in the box including a darling nativity set.

We did buy ourselves some stockings – I couldn’t get through Christmas without stockings.

Next, an unexpected package arrived in the mail from yet another daughter, gifts for the 12 Days of Christmas, most of which were more decorations. YEAH!

As we went to work at the Smith Farm one morning shortly after Thanksgiving, it so happened that the Facilities Management team was there to decorate – so, they were kind enough to let me help.

The next day, at the Hill Cumorah Visitors’ Center, Elder Watts and I were there doing some organizing in one of the storage areas and to my delight, the Facilities Management Team was there doing some decorating, and again, they let me help. Let’s see . . .organize a storage area or decorate for Christmas . . .I choose decorating.

To me, these experiences testify that God is mindful of me and my insignificant desires. I love everything about the Christmas season and I especially love that we reflect on our Savior, Jesus Christ and His birth. And I love knowing that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me. He loves each of you too – that is the good news of the Gospel!

Here are some of the decorations from the Sites in Palmyra and Fayette:

You might also enjoy going to the following link to read about Christmas in Palmyra at the Historical Sites.  Elder Watts is quoted and Sister Watts has some pictures posted.  http://www.mormontimes.com/article/18922/Experiencing-Christmas-at-LDS-Church-sites-in-Palmrya

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS: III - Kids and Christmas

While it's true, we won't be home for Christmas and will miss seeing our grandchildren in Oregon,  it buoyed our spirits to help with the local elementary school's Santa's Breakfast last Saturday.

Several Senior Missionaries and Young Sisters showed up to help.  We started out before the breakfast officially began by washing tables in the cafeteria to prepare for the guests.

As families arrived they had several options, one of which was a visit with Santa.  Needless to say, that's where most families went first.

After meeting with Santa, families went to breakfast.  Elder Watts was a greeter and checked tickets.

 Some of the Senior Sisters helped serve the food . . .

. . . while the Senior Elders cleared and washed tables as families finished eating.

And, as families ate their breakfasts, other missionaries sang Christmas carols.

Another activity available to families was Santa's Shop. Here visitors could buy gifts for $1.50 each.  Once they were finished shopping, they could get their gifts wrapped for free. 

Some of the Senior Sister Missionaries helped out with the gift wrapping . . . I was one of them.  Those who know me, know that I love wrapping gifts and I love kids  . . .what a perfect combination for me.

It was so much fun to talk with these little shoppers. They were so proud of their purchases and happily told me who each gift was for, adding things like, "I know my grandma will like this."

The gifts were simple, but bought with love for each recipient.  It helped me focus on what really matters at Christmas.  It doesn't have to be a big, expensive, gift - it really is the thought that counts, as trite as that sounds.  And once again I realized, if a person is "down in the dumps", or in our case, a couple of "holiday homesick missionaries"; serving others is the perfect antidote.  This video clip eloquently expresses what I'm trying to convey.

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS: II Christmas Devotional

What else do two holiday homesick missionaries in New York do to celebrate the holidays?  Well  . . . we won't be home for our traditional Watts Family Christmas Devotional where we share talents,

eat good food,

and act out the Nativity. 

We will miss these events.

But we can and we did watch The First Presidency Christmas Devotional. 

Elder Watts and I opened the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center after hours.  We usually close at 6:00 PM in the winter, but we kept it open until after the devotional was over at 9:00 PM, inviting missionaries to bring friends to watch it in the large theater at the center.   Unfortunately, blizzard like conditions kept many away, but there were 18 of us in the theater, young Sister Missionaries, young Elders, Senior Couples, and one investigator.

And even though it was cold outside, the devotional warmed our hearts and we were filled with the Christmas Spirit.

And, as usual, it was excellent!  We loved the music provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square.

President Dieter E. Uchtdort spoke first using one of my favorite children's stories, The Grinch, to illustrate the importance of focusing on the meaning of Christmas, encouraging us to "Rejoice in the birth of our Savior".

Next President Henry B. Eyring reminded us that part of the Spirit of Christmas is to bring joy to others and to remember the importance of the Atonement.

President Monson concluded with a message about giving with love.  He told of a man named John who was stationed in Germany after WWII.  John had a frail German woman that cleaned his house.  She gave him a gift out of her poverty that he remembered the rest of his life.

The gift was some worn postcards from the way this woman remembered the Germany that she loved before it was destroyed by war.  She had placed 10 of these cards in the shape of a star and left them on his desk with a handwritten message "Merry Christmas."  John said this humble gift taught him the true meaning of giving.

Look for our next post on how Holiday Homesick Senior Missionaries celebrate by serving.

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS: I

So. . . how do a couple of senior missionaries in New York celebrate the holidays?  During the coming month we will be posting the answers to that question.

We will start with Thanksgiving.  While it was hard to be away from friends, family and our own comfortable traditions at home, we did have a special Thanksgiving here on our mission.

We started the day working for three hours at the Smith Farm; keeping it open for any guests that might want to come for a tour.

Next, we spent a few hours at our apartment, preparing food, reading and playing games (a holiday family tradition)

That evening we gathered with 28 other senior missionaries at the Smith Farm Welcome Center for a very delicious Thanksgiving Dinner and some fun visiting.

Finally, we topped off the day by Skyping with some of our children and grandchildren.  We are thankful for this unique experience that we will always cherish!

FOUR SEASONS IN THE SACRED GROVE: Winter

We have now walked through all four seasons in the Sacred Grove.  We love it in each of its seasons.  Perhaps you will enjoy seeing a glimpse of it during each season.  Since we first experienced the Grove in the winter, that is the first season we will share in this first of four posts.

As you walk through the grove with us in winter, you might enjoy reading one of our favorite scriptures about seasons from
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

Each season of life has rewards.

A joyful outlook can be part of all of our seasons. We should remember: Not all things are possible in all seasons.
 

Through prayer, each each of us can find and follow our personal timetable. We can set priorities and follow gospel principles in different ways through the varying seasons of our lives. As we are faithful, the Lord’s hand will always guide us: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:6).  From VT Message

We are thankful for this season of our lives in which we are able to serve  here in the New York Rochester Mission. 

What are some of the blessings of your season of life?

Next week: The Sacred Grove in the Spring

THE MOVE!!!

Last week was the big move.  Well, not really a big move, since we only moved 3 miles and didn't have to move dishes, furniture, etc. . . just our clothes, food, and personal items.  Using these trusty moving tools: scissors, marker and tape, along with boxes, we packed our belongings from our cute little apartment on Stafford Road.

Below you see our packed boxes placed in the back hallway of our Stafford Road apartment.

On Monday, November 2, we left this very nice missionary apartment in the basement of this white house on Stafford Road in Palmyra . . .

 . . . with this beautiful view of the Sacred Grove out our back window . . .

  . . .and this view of the Palmyra Temple from our front yard.

We packed our boxes in our little PT Cruiser, just about 9 months after we packed them to move from Oregon, and moved to State Route 21 in Palmyra.  We had almost all of our belongings in our car when we left Oregon (a few boxes were shipped later - well, maybe more than a few) But, it took us six trips to move all of our belongings this time.  So, here is the million dollar question: "How will we get it all home?"

Until we could unpack we stored our belongings in the garage of our new apartment on State Route 21.

Then we unpacked into this very nice missionary apartment in the basement of the left wing of the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center. . .

  . . .with this beautiful view of the Hill Cumorah out our back window . . .

  . . . and this view of the Christus in the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center from our front yard.

So, why did we move?  Elder Watts was called to be the assistant director to Elder Lenker who is  Director of the Visitors' Center and Historic Sites, and Sister Watts was called to be the finacial secretary to Elder Lenker.  Elder Watts is also now the site supervisor of the Hill Cumoroah Visitors' Center.  It is easier to fulfill our new responsibilities in this new apartment.  We will continue with our previous assignments as well: Working at the four historic sites here in the area, working with members, investigators, and new converts in the Rochester 2nd Ward, and working in the Palmyra Temple on Friday evenings. 

We feel so blessed because of the wonderful experiences we are having as a result of serving as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We recommend serving a mission to all senior couples who can possibly go.  It is worth the sacrifice!

Here is a powerful quote by President Monson about senior couples serving missions:

"And now to you mature brothers and sisters: we need many, many more senior couples. To the faithful couples now serving or who have served in the past, we thank you for your faith and devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. You serve willingly and well and accomplish great good.

To those of you who are not yet to the season of life when you might serve a couples mission, I urge you to prepare now for the day when you and your spouse might do so. As your circumstances allow, as you are eligible for retirement, and as your health permits, make yourselves available to leave home and give full-time missionary service. There are few times in your lives when you will enjoy the sweet spirit and satisfaction that come from giving full-time service together in the work of the Master."
                                     General Conference Address - October 2010