December 2018 Catch-up: Razzle Dazzle, Walking Man, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Christmas Carol

This has nothing to do with the mission, but is interesting.  My older brother, Lorum, used to tell me I was a walking encyclopedia of unrelated facts -- here is one.   This is called dazzle camouflage.  The US called it razzle dazzle or dazzle painting.  It was used mostly during World War I, some in World War II, but less after that.  Each pattern was unique so the classes of ships could not easily be recognized by the enemy...

 

Can you see "walking man" in the middle center of the mountains.  There are other names, but this is the one we know.  It is on the way to St. George and only visible when there is snow.

Where but in Gainesville Florida - home of the Gators - would you find orange and blue (UF Colors) on the handles of the Walmart carts.

 For Christmas Eve, Brent and Dana Wainwright invited us down to the place they are fixing up that is "way down upon the Suwanee River"  and right off the Gulf of Mexico.  Note that it isn't the Swannee - but the Su-wannee.

 On the way down we passed quite a few areas that have planted pine trees for harvest.  The church lost a lot of these in the Florida Panhandle area when the hurricane hit.  The trees snap off or twist so the lumber isn't any good.  You see them in various heights along the road.

 We always like to see the post offices - this is for the town of Suwannee ..

 Brent and his sons have added this high roof and porch that goes the width of the home.  Parking is underneath, their home is on top. They have a fire pit and a sitting area and a workshop area.  It was a nice day with no rain.

Deep frying the turkey

The homes in this area have the boat docks sometimes right off their homes.  When they are not being used or when a storm is expected, the boats are winched up.

 The homes are on top.

 

After dinner, Brent took us on their little fishing boat and we went up the inlet that comes by their home, then out to the Suwannee

We do enjoy Brent and Dana, true southern hospitality

 
 Cormorant birds fill the trees like lights on a Christmas tree

 Brent and Jace fished along the way

and pulled up a crab trap.  The crabs are in the bottom left corner - people here love them.

  And then we were out where we could see the Gulf of Mexico.  We didn't go out on it because it was a little rough that day, but it is a thrill just to know you are seeing it.

 

Christmas morning we and the Schroeders - another Senior Couple - fixed breakfast for the missionaries in our zone.  

After they played Christmas song charades - pretty clever.

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

 Jingle Bell Rock - and here you have to work to find a rock.  They finally used a piece of a sidewalk that had been ripped out.  The Elder on the left is Elder Brimhall from Taylor, AZ.

 Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer -- a part that was easy for me to play.

 Someone can always think of a game - Elder Hiatt taught this one - you put a dollop of the spray whipped cream on your wrist, then you bring that arm up fast and stop it sharply with the other hand - the whipped cream flies into the air and the trick is to catch it in your mouth ... it was fun and funny.  Some did well, some missed .. Sister Schroeder did it and it flew over head and behind her. We do enjoy these young (and not so young) missionaries.

We went to see Christmas Carol in the Hippodrome Theater.  It has been there for Christmas for 38 years and there was a family there who had been every year.  In the early days the building was the post office.  It is beautiful and well preserved with very ornate trim.

 
The Haddocks, Ed (the counselor in the Mission Presidency) is standing by Mike, Marsha behind him.  The Schroeders are at the back - the other Senior Couple that serves here.  They do record preservation at the University,  They digitize the books so they are available on line.  Sister Schroeder said that sometimes Don gets caught up in the reading of the book - does that sound like something Elder Waite might do.

  The elevator was the original - still working.

Really like this from Elder Bednar when he talks about the work of the Eternal Father and of our work.  Never thought of it this way before:

“One of the most well-known and frequently cited passages of scripture is found in Moses 1:39. This verse clearly and concisely describes the work of the Eternal Father: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (emphasis added).

A companion scripture found in the Doctrine and Covenants describes with equal clarity and conciseness our primary work as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father. Interestingly, this verse does not seem to be as well known and is not quoted with great frequency. “Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength” (D&C 11:20; emphasis added)

Thus, the Father’s work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. Our work is to keep His commandments with all of our might, mind, and strength—and we thereby become chosen and, through the Holy Ghost, receive and recognize the tender mercies of the Lord in our daily lives.”   We are grateful for each and all of you and hope you had a Merry Christmas and that the New Year will bring lots of blessings.