Mexican Moments with Greg and Peg: Oh Christmas Tree!

Thought: "If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments" (Howard W. Hunter, "The Real Christmas," Ensign, Dec 2005, 22–25).

Thursday, Dec 11th. We have had a very productive day! It started out very slow, but we got our act together and the afternoon and evening turned out fine! I have been so excited all day! Abi is dancing in the Tabernacle Christmas Program, which starts tonight with the muppets! I am excited to hear how her experience has been! We are waiting to hear about that!
We walked to and from our office and did some work while we were there! We got home early afternoon and I decided to make my first official meal with my crockpot. I have a recipe for Beef and Broccoli! It took me from 3-8:30 to find what I needed, organized my stuff, get it cooked and so forth! I was too tired to eat it, but it passed Greg's taste buds so I have another meal I can make. It should only take a couple of hours next time! Also, I put the lights on the tree, then Greg helped me put the ornaments on! It looks fabulous in our living room! I told Greg I think I am going to leave it up all year! It helps me to not be so homesick!
Then while our dinner was cooking, we got our exercise clothes on and went to our little workout room here at the hotel! It has 2 little treadmills and 2 little bikes in it! It also has some free weights and 2 exercise balls! It worked out OK! We were sweating by the time we left!
So there you go - a slow start, but then we got all this other stuff done! Muy Bien!

We also got this pic tonight!
Our poor little Max had a fun trip with his sister!
We wouldn't know what to do if someone didn't have a cast on something!

Beka sent me this pic
"This is how you can tell it's finals week!
I went out in public like this!"
I thought the grinch was in our house!

Our Christmas Tree!
We didn't even have to decorate our sticks behind !

Feliz Navidad!

Thought: "Part of the purpose for telling the story of Christmas is to remind us that Christmas doesn't come from a store. Indeed, however delightful we feel about it, even as children, each year it 'means a little bit more.' And no matter how many times we read the biblical account of that evening in Bethlehem, we always come away with a thought—or two—we haven’t had before....

"I, like you, need to remember the very plain scene, even the poverty, of a night devoid of tinsel or wrapping or goods of this world. Only when we see that sacred, unadorned child of our devotion—the Babe of Bethlehem—will we know why... the giving of gifts is so appropriate" (Jeffrey R. Holland, "Without Ribbons and Bows," New Era, Dec 1994, 4).

OK this is the garbage truck! The guy on top of the truck
is lifting up the wires so the truck can drive underneath!
A girl walks along the side of the truck ringing a bell
to tell the neighbors that the garbage truck is here.
People ran out with their garbage and as you can tell
they put garbage in every nook and cranny on the poor truck!

We found this live wire on our walk to the office!
Oh my heck!!!

We tried to go see the pilgrims walking on their knees to the Basilica!
People decorate their cars, vans, buses, everything else
with Guadalupe on them!

Friday Dec 12th - Happy Birthday to Angie and Kim Stringham!! I wish you all the best for the coming year! Today was Temple Clinic day. That means I get to drive for a long time! I am getting used to it. Maybe even a little too used to it! I got honked at 9 times today! I don't know what everybody's problem is! Actually I do ...It is Guadalupe Day! This is the day the Mexicans honor Guadalupe - whoever the heck she is!!!! This community started celebrating days ago with letting off firecrackers. It sounds like we are being invaded! Some people in this hotel didn't get very much sleep last night with all the big, huge booms!!! It didn't bother us too much since we DON'T HAVE WINDOWS in our place!
Anyway, back to Guadelupe - people start early in the morning or the day before and walk for miles and miles to the Basilica - some big Catholic church to pay their respects to Guadelupe! Some people crawl on their knees for a long stretch! Not sure why? They must love bloody knees!
We are not sure what they do when they get to the Basilica so we tried to drive by and see! Ha! Every Mexican on the planet is there!!! Plus some are dressed up and some have decorated their cars, vans, buses, etc! We couldn't get very close so we turned around ( a project of its own) and came home!
By the way, we only saw 3-4 cute missionaries in the clinic! Not sure it's worth it but we will do what we are asked to do!
We helped another missionary couple by taking them to Best Buy to buy a new TV They think the one the hotel is letting them use is dumb! We don't even watch the TV cause that is dumb! EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS SPEAKING SPANISH! Even on the dumb TV!
I am wishing that ALL of you are having the merriest of all Christmases!
I am so lucky to know you and have you in my family - as family and friends!
Be happy! Felix Navidad!
PS It is very hard to drive and take pics! I am still TRYING to train Greg on taking pics of funny things we see while on the road! He did take a few so I will hunt them down!