Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella

Christmas Eve:
I had a busy day with lots of last minute errands to take care of. Good thing I didn't have to work! I was even crazy enough to go to the post office to pick up some stamps for a bill I had to get in the mail. I'm glad I got your package off before the rush! Anna and I planned a get together for Christmas Eve, consisting of seeing the lights at Temple Square then coming to my house and eating take&bake pizza from Litza's. Well, later that afternoon it started snowing pretty heavily. David and Sheila came over to my place to give me a ride and we called and asked opinions about changing plans for the evening. We bagged seeing the lights, which was too bad because I haven't seen yet, and just coming over for pizza and games. It was so fun having everyone over at my house. All my roommates were gone, so I had the house to myself. We played a new version of Balderdash and it was soo funny! It has categories besides the definitions - including: movie plots, initials, laws, and famous people. Boy, we just get laughing with some of these answers. The best one was when we had to make up movie plots for the title, "The Cow and I". You can imagine where some when with this. Some plots similar to "The King and I", some had plots about Johhny Lingo, Mom wrote one about a gastric-bypass patient and the man who loved her, and I wrote something silly about Tarzan and a cow, etc. Well, the real answer was about a french lieutenant escaping with a cow used for distraction. We renamed the movie, "Le Moo em Mua". Too funny. Well, the night came to a close and everyone left to get ready for Santa Claus' coming. I packed up a bag and went over to Mom and Dad's for the night.

Christmas Day:
Silly enough I had a hard time staying asleep - maybe the child in me was still excited about Christmas coming. Mom got us up after 7 and Dad almost made Andrew and I walk out backwards to the living. I told him that I was almost 30 and I wasn't going to walk out backwards anymore! (hehe) Andrew got a cool remote control airplane and I got a new sleeping bag. I was excited about that! Soon after looking at Santa gifts we got to talk to Jonathan! That was soo fun! It was good hearing your voice - I felt guilty about talking too much to Jonathan because I wanted to hear him talk! Talking with Elder Jonathan got us returned missionaries reminiscing about our own Christmas in the mission. I had two and both were fun, but the most homesick day of my mission. That's why it's important to keep busy and visit members and whatnot, to keep yourself from getting blue and depressed - like Elvis Prestley. After talking to you - we had breakfast and delved into the stack of presents. I got some fun things, including: a red fullsize maglight, Pride and Prejudice piano music and soundtrack CD, a candle warmer from David & Sheila, The 3 NeverEnding Story movies. I was very happy about my stash. Soon it was time to go over to Grammy's for the annual party. Grammy had loads of good food and everyone from Duke family was there with all our bunch. I have been working on collecting family history names and ordinance information on the Missall and Jeppson side. I decided to print out a copy for Grammy - since it is her ancestors. I put the pedigree charts and family groups sheets into one binder and I think it came together pretty nice. Grammy was pleased with the final result and I'm glad. It was a good day over all and I was pleased with the results.