Christmas visitors from near and far

This week started out with a quick trip to Idaho Falls to visit Linda Perkins, Debra's' sister.  It was surprisingly warm in Salt Lake and Idaho for December 23.  We had a nice visit with Linda and her daughter Jodi and her children Carson and Kaytlyn.  We had a 45 minute delay as there was a traffic accident on I 15 at Brigham City.  We came back to Salt Lake to be "home" for Christmas on the 24th.  We had a very quiet Christmas walking around Temple Square (at least I thought people would be in there own homes for Christmas.  No, they were all walking around the square in the rain)  It was still very nice.  We watched a Christmas movie and went to bed!

Christmas morning I got a call that my sister Sherry and Richard Jensen were coming from St. George to share Christmas with us.  We had a way too short visit with them, but it was so fun to have them here.  We also had a mission Christmas lunch at 1:00.  I roasted 15 pounds of potatoes...…….do you know how long it takes to roast 15 pounds of potatoes?  More than three hours!  They never did brown but they were very good.

Richard and Sherry Jensen Christmas day 2019.  She had surgery on her lip and so did a profile picture

Later Christmas day Heidi, Wynn, Alea, and Weston came for our traditional clam chowder and rolls.  They brought me a much needed warm fuzzy blanket and Bob way too many 3 musketeer candy bars.  We walked around Temple Square again with them and it was much colder.  We then came back to play games, another family tradition.  We were able to talk with most of our children.  Thank goodness for technology!

It was a cold but glorious night!  Weston, Wynn, Heidi and Alea Christensen with Grandma and Grandpa Barton

The next morning I made "hot cakes" in a little fry pan. (no griddle)  We went to the Family Search Library and the Church History Museum. There is so much for families to do and explore.  I must say you could have a great vacation with your families just coming to Temple Square.  Heidi then joined Bob and I at the temple to do sealings.  The Training Zone, where we are assigned, has a standing sealing session with the same Sealer, Brother Kerr.  As it has been for the past few months it was so busy!  They do 10 sessions a day with one each hour.  To accommodate the crowds they have been doing 17 session.  It is crazy but so great to see people rushing to the temple before it closes.  One of the sisters said it was kind of like when the saints were leaving Nauvoo and their temple.  They just wanted to go one more time.  Gratefully there are many temples we can attend.

Heidi on the steps of the Salt Lake Temple East Doors

Hot cake in a little fry pan

That night we joined Bob's sisters Jo Lynn, Kaye and Sam, DaNell, and some of their kids at Buca di Beppo, an Italian restaurant.  After eating way too much, Heidi and Wynn and there family left us to go to Highland with Wynn's Parents.  It was so fun to have them here with us.

 

Bob, Debra, Shelly, Jo-Lynn, Kaye, Sam, Allie, DaNell, Maddie, Josh, Andrew ,Heid, Wynn Weston was taking the picture at Buca di Beppo.

Friday the 27th our friends from Mesa Connie and Tom Larsen came for the afternoon and evening.  Again we walked around Tempe Square to see the lights.  It was the coldest night yet because the wind was blowing.  It was 25 with a wind chill of 19.  Burrrr!  Of course we played some games, it wouldn't be Christmas without games.

Connie and Tom Larsen with the Christmas lights.

Saturday December 28 was Weston's 16th birthday and he wanted to be home in Mesa with his friends and so they are home safely.  We have blessed with a feeling of "home" with all the visitors but also a reminder that wherever the spirit of Christmas and the Savior are, there is home!  We were able to do one more sealing session on Saturday, the last night before the temple closes for 4-5 years.

Bob and Debra on the stairs at the East doors.  We had our wedding pictures in the same place 46 years ago

We are loving our mission and learning so much about Family Search.  Whoever knew there was so much to learn!  We are getting better at navigating our way around the site and pray that the Lord will bless us to be able to serve the missionaries when they come in on January 6th for training.  We now have our computers and a place to work, now if we can just learn what we need to.
 

Bob and Debra at our desks and computers.  We are on the third floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building North East side.

Sunday found us at Music and the Spoken Word.  It is so fun to walk across the street and be at the Conference Center.  How blessed we are with great family, friends, and missionaries.