Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Eve 2007





We had a lovely Christmas Eve celebration with three of our children, their families and the Beshire Family we have been befriending. After a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, we retired to the living room for a scriptural reading of the First Christmas. We sang the traditional Friendly Beasts song with puppets. Jackson also sang a solo of the Little Shepherd. We then dressed in the Santa's helpers' costumes and prepared to visit the Bashire family with our Sub for Santa offerings. (I was nominated to chair the Sub for Santa for our ward.) You will note from the photos, Santa arrived to help us deliver, along with Grandma Kathy, and elves -- Jackson, Davis and Ella.

Friday, December 14, 2007

The Beshire Family from Burundia


As many of you know, I was released last month from my calling in the Young Women after six fun, fun years serving the teenage girls in our neighborhood. I was sad to move on, but I have since been asked to take on a new project. I have been called as a ward missionary with a special assignment to fellowship a new family from Burundia, recently baptized into the Church. They have lived in a refugee camp in Tanzania most of their lives. All of the seven childen were born in the camp. They finally were selected to come to America as part of a special program. My assignment is to help aculturate them and mostly to help them learn English. I try to give them a "daily dose" of English, by dropping by their house and playing word games, flash cards, bingo etc. Today we learned food and kitchen items. After the lesson, we went through the cupboards and refrigerator and named everything. I was surprised to find a package of chicken thighs sitting on the shelf in the cabinet. I tried to talk to the mom and dad about the importance of refrigeration, but I am not sure they understood. They resisted my efforts to move the chicken to the frige, but finally they did place the chicken in the frige. The frige, by the way, was completely empty except for one large cabbage. (They store the toaster in the dishwasher.) It is rewarding service and I hope to make a difference in their adjustment to this new way of life in the US.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Let the Season Begin


Christmas was designed for children. Every day and night brings a new exciting activity connected to the holidays. Danny was in toddler heaven when he could sit in front of bowls of candy and decorate a gingerbread house. Brings back the memories doesn't it? How about sharing one of your favorite childhood Christmas memory. Are you carrying the traditions forward?

Strolling the Zoo with Grandma Kathy





What fun at the Phoenix zoo. If you don't recognize the ankle biters, they are Danny Church(Whit's son), Ryan Church (Eric's son), Brooke Church (Whit's daughter) and Sophia Church (Eric's daughter)

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Princess Brooke


Brooke Elena Church
It is so fun hanging out in Arizona helping with the new baby and observing the whole family in their element. Brooke is all ready for Church so I posed her in front of the Christmas tree. She always looks so cute every morning. She picks out her own clothes each day and the other day she came downstairs looking so cute. I told her how cute she looked and she replied, "Well, Grandma, I am a good dresser!"

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth


Elias Jack Church
Big brother to Brooke, Danny and Ty
Age 7