29 December 2017 Dinner with the Knowles and other journal items

Friday 15 and Sunday 17 December 2017, I think I mentioned earlier that in the month of December there would be a musical event everyday at the visitor's center. We haven't been to many, and there are still more to come, but Friday the 15th and Sunday the 17th we had a chance to see two great shows. On Friday was the Capital Carillon Bell Choir. It was one I wanted to see, as I love listening to choir bells. It was a great group of performers, with several bell styles, from small to very large each with it's own sound. The music was beautiful and sometimes unique. At the end of the show they invited anyone to come down and ask question and see the bells. I of course went down there and visited with some of the performers. They answered questions and let me try the bells myself. I rather enjoyed it. For some reason I didn't take any pictures?? Oh well next time I will. On Sunday the 17th we went with the Weight's, Bishop's and Snelson's to see The U.S. Army Band Brass And Percussion Ensemble. As you would expect they were very good and I did take some pictures.

Sunday 24 December {Christmas Eve} I'm just writing a couple of short items for the next couple of days. Started the day on the Metro train headed for church like most Sundays. It's Christmas Eve and only one meeting, Sacrament meeting. It was a good Christmas program, highlighted with the Merrill family, (President's family) singing/signing with Eric Scott, (2nd counselor) signing O Holy Night. Later we went to the Rockcreek ward for their sacrament so we could see their Christmas program. Capping the evening and night we went to Mike and Michelle Knowle's home for Christmas Eve dinner and a really nice visit. We met the Knowles while visiting Sara and her family when they lived in Laredo, Tx. Mike was in the branch presidency, Sara and Michelle hit it off great and still remain friends. Anyway Sara told them we were serving in the DC temple, and they live in Maryland they invited us over for dinner. I'm here to tell you it was a very good meal, homemade everything (pies in particular). It's about 30 miles away from us, meaning at least an hr. drive. We were having a great time and realized it was 10:30pm, so we needed to get home arriving about 11:45pm. Wonderful day and evening.

Monday 25 December {Christmas Day!!} Today was spent opening gifts, from each other and the kids. As a side note, almost everyday we found something on the doorway from one of the missionaries. It is truly a loving friendly group. Christmas dinner was a progressive dinner, building 20 hosted the appetizers, building 16 hosted the salads, building 14 hosted the main course and our building, # 18 hosted the desserts. As always to much good good food and as always good good people. 

Thursday 28  December,  All week long missionaries have been coming in early or staying late to help out while the part time district workers take time off for family or vacation. It has kept us extra busy, but extra time in temple is a good thing. Anyway tonight we had tickets for one of the Visitor's Center nightly concerts, the Baxter Family Bluegrass Concert. Well, I like bluegrass and I like Christmas music, gotta like both together. I did, it was good wholesome family entertainment, an LDS family who play several bluegrass instruments, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar. And as you would think they all play other instruments. From 4 yrs old to dad and mom, the bass player was a member of the ward. I have a couple of videos, which I can't post, because I don't know how to make them work. Maybe I'll post one on FB.

10 &11 Dec 2017 Visitor's Center and Colton's Christmas party

Saturday 9 December 2017, It snowed all day, but only dropped about 2 inches of snow. That's some small flakes! Still it was the first snow fall of the season. Pictures below.

Sunday 10 December, Everyday in December there is an event going on at the Temple visitor center and we (missionaries and district workers) are asked to help usher and just be a presence at the visitor center. Our schedule is such that we can't be there very often, however we decided to help out this last Sunday. We were first asked to watch/guard the room that has all the manger scenes. There is a room set up with donated manger scenes from around the world. Our job was to usher people, smile a lot, and welcome people as they pass through the room. Also to make sure the little kiddos don't handle the mangers, as they are donated from various people.  We were able to usher one of the many concerts that are held everyday. It was a Youth concert, Young Columbian Youth Singers, their performance was an American history in song, then ending with a medley of Christmas Carols. I thought it was very well done and enjoyable to watch. We hope to see more in the future. I didn't get any pictures, but I have some for the next page.

Monday 11 December 2017,  Christmas party at President and Sister Colton. What a great evening this was, all the missionaries and some district workers gathered together at the Colton's home for dinner and fun, with some caroling thrown in. I imagine there were about 65 - 70 people there. It was the last "farewell" to the Sudweeks who as of today left for home. They will be the last missionaries to leave before the temple closing. Since we came, the missionaries who were leaving and those arriving would have a monthly "Hail and farewell, basically a hello to the newcomers and a goodbye to the ones leaving. If you look back a couple of post you'll see the one we were in at the Folger's farm. Anyway each leaving couple would do some kind of a skit or presentation. The Sudweek's was a group reading on the birth of Christ. It was great fun and tender, and I have asked them to send me a copy of the skit. I played the "Wise Man". After dinner we talked then gathered around for Christmas caroling. I did take some pictures, not many, but some. 

 Snow starting

↑😅 At the temple↓

😀

Colton's back of house 

Backyard 

Front house 

Setting up dinner 

Here we go a caroling... 

Wayne and Sue Slade singing away

Dawn Dyer in the middle 

President Colton playing his harmonica

Sister Johnson, ward choir director, in front.

Name dropping time! Just saying, 

1. Brother Parker, the temple recorder is the grandson of President Ezra Taft Benson. He is a wonderful man, very humble and kind.

2. One of the district workers, Tom Hugh Nibley, is the son of LDS author/scholar Hugh Nibley. 

3. Sister Hatch (one of the Hatch's) is a district worker, wife of Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.

just saying...

Thursday14 December 2017, Rock Creek Ward temple day. I wanted to add this short piece and a little history with it. When the Rock Creek Ward has a temple day, Brother Chin, a missionary and sealer in the temple asks if anyone has any family names that would like done. Now saying this, I mean family as in a you have searched and found a complete family's work to do. For example, last night we did the sealing of a husband to his wife (first) then sealed their eight children in order to their parents. As each child was sealed Brother Chin seated them in a row, the middle two seat for the parents, then on either side the children in order of their birth. When that was completed we sealed one of the daughters to her husband, then sealed their four children to them. Following that we sealed three other children to their spouses. So when we finished we had 5 families eternally sealed all seating together. It was really nice and you could really feel the spirit. All the patrons and workers were temple missionaries or full time district workers from the ward, Patty and I excepted as we are in the deaf branch, but live in the ward area. I wish I had pictures, but of course don't so you have to imagine it in my mind with me. It was beautiful!

2 December 2017 Tender mercies at the temple

Saturday 2 December 2017, we were asked to officiate the last session of our shift (4:30). Earlier at the preparation meeting President Swift asked us if we were going to the Deaf Branch Christmas party, we said we had to officiate the 4:30 session. He said we could have asked to change the schedule to enable us to go, but we thought no we'll do the session. Now you know we are the only missionaries who use sign language, and is one reason we are here. Also we know that the 3rd Friday is the ASL day. However a deaf patron can come in anytime, as was the case tonight. While we were waiting for the patrons to come in the session, the shift coordinator came to us and said a deaf patron was coming in and wanted to attend the 4:30 session. I was at the door and a man came in, I asked him if his wife was with him, thinking about them being the witness couple, he said yes she was. I went to speak with her and found out she was the deaf patron. I asked her in sign if she would like to act as the witness, she was surprised that I knew ASL and agreed to act as the witness couple. I proceeded to run the session as a ASL session. We had closed caption with ASL interpreting. The prayer circle was done like an ASL session and the veil also. It was really a great blessing to be available for her. The coordinators mentioned as we all did that the details are in the Lords hands, He knows where we need to be and why. It's our responsibility to do it. I know it doesn't sound like much but when you are the only ASL missionaries there working any shift and time, and the one session we are working on that day she picks to attend. I feel blessed to be involved. I will say it's not the first time or only time we had deaf patrons while we have been there. It just works out that way.


Sunday 3 December 2017. Brookside Apts. break-the-fast. It is our floor's turn to host the break-the-fast for our building (#20).  We decided on Mexican food, I made tostadas, and cheese crips. We also had enchiladas, chips and salsa, and beans. Once again to much food, good food though! 1 picture to show, very simple. This is our apt. what you can't see is that to the left is the apt the sisters ate in and to the right is where the food was set up and of course straight ahead (our apt.) is where the brethren ate. Again you can see the closeness of the apartments, and so the closeness of the people.

Monday 4 December 2017, Pemberley on Pond. This is a bi-annual event with the temple district workers and missionaries. Brother and Sister Jenkins invite all the missionaries and full time district workers to their home for a luncheon. Since it's December it is a Christmas luncheon. The Rock Creek Ward ( missionaries ward) asked us to head this activity up. Brother and Sister Jenkins provide all the meat, plates, flatware and drinks. We bring a side or dessert, again to much food, but what a fun time. They have a piano and an old pump organ, which someone starts playing Christmas carols.  They have no children nor of course grandchildren, so they share with neighbors and missionaries. Here are some pictures of the place, which is called Pemberly on Pond, I know there is a reason, I just don't know what it is.

I thought this was cute, a silver tea set with hot apple cider  

gathered around the tree 

Some shots of the house and surrounding area

Pond below 

Continuation of the day; on the way home we stopped at the Battlefield of Bull Run. I'm telling you history is everywhere. Bull Run or the Battle of Manassas as the confederates called it, was the first real battle of the Civil War. Neither side was really prepared for the battle, new green recruits, neither thinking the battle or the war would last. Both hoping to end it in one battle. Sadly 4 years later and 600,000 American lives later it ends. Anyway about seven hundred forty- seven men died and about 4,000 wounded between both sides at Bull Run ending in a Confederate victory. Another thing about this battle is, this is where Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson stood his ground earning his famous nick name Stonewall Jackson. I love the history here. 

 This house was owned by an elderly widow (Judith Henry), who refused to leave her house

when the canon bombs started. She was killed from an explosion. Her grave is on the property

The battle took place on Henry Hill

Bull Run Monument 

Judith Henry is the widow that was killed 

Until next time, May God Bless America