Well, the freeze is on! Whenever you hear a weather report here or check on your phone they have the temperature listed and then what they call the "real feel." Yesterday, at one point, the temperature was 18 and the real feel was -6. Funny thing it that it is supposed to warm up to 50 degrees on Saturday. I can hardly wait. This has been an almost record December for snow and cold temperatures. January and February, here we come. After that we will have one winter down and two to go! We can do it! Learning to do hard things in life and getting out of your comfort zone not only builds character it shows us what we are capable of doing.

Christmas was fun. We had one of the best dinners we've ever had. Honey-baked ham, shrimp with cocktail sauce, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries and kiwi fruit platter, twice baked potatoes, homemade rolls, green bean casserole, pumpkin and triple berry pies. Are your mouths watering? Oh, and roasted almonds (compliments of me) and a two pound box of Sees chocolates. Aren't we all spoiled.

It was tremendous to see all of you on Christmas via Skype. When we see each of you our hearts swell with love for you and a longing to be with you. However, we are truly beginning to understand the sacredness of this calling. We cherish our missionaries and are learning just how difficult but how rewarding missionary work is for them. They are wonderful. Never forget how much we love you and need your prayers. You're the best family ever!

Wrapping presents today and thinking of all our fun Christmases past. I can't believe mom & dad let us all sleep in the same room. So fun!!! There are so many memories: listening to Mom & Dad bring the presents in the year we got bikes. The year we got skis!!!! Christmas morning when dad bounced off the exercise ball and nearly busted his tailbone. I always loved being in on helping Dad get something for Mom. It was so exciting! I loved the year he got her the book shelf. Remember the funny picture in front of the duplex when he gave her a bike. I felt extra special the year he let me help him pick out a nice coat (Woolwirth) from Park's.

I had the chance to share a favorite Christmas story in YW's on Sunday. I told Uncle Rex's story about the bicycle. I shared with the girls how grateful I am for the example of giving and love that my family has been. There has never been a Christmas that we weren't doing something special for another person or family, or having someone over to share our Christmas with us.

Thanks Mom & Dad for being such a great example!

I know we all do our best to live up to the legacy.

Now that I am bawling, I'll tell you all how much I love and miss you!!! It will be a different Christmas this year for everyone one of us, but the memories and the love we have for each other enhances the spirit of the season even more.

Merry Christmas!

~Molly

Tibble Fork
We just got back from a fun afternoon of sledding at Tibble Fork! It was amazingly beautiful! I thought of that dreadful day 20 or so years ago with the Mandi episode. Thankfully we were not sledding by any trees or posts and no one had any mishaps, just lots of happy fun! Merry Christmas, I love you all!!

I thought of all of you today in church. We were on the stand in a ward we have not previously visited. When the meeting started 9 darling children/adults came into the front of the chapel and sat on the first three rows on the left side. Each of them has downs syndrome. They were all dressed in red and three of the men had matching red, white and gray argyle sweaters. They were darling and sweet and clean. One of them had a "Burt" puppet doll (of Burt and Ernie fame.) The could not sing but during the hymns this sweet boy would put the puppet on his hand and move the puppets mouth as if the doll were singing. Dad and I were in tears. These "perfect" souls bought us to tears. I thought of each of you because I was wishing this was something you could see. Watching them was a sermon about love and innocence.

I thought of Mom!

Mom~ I'm listening to Handel's Messiah and was reminded of the time you performed the whole darn thing with the stake choir. I love how every now and then you say, "I'm think I want to do that, " and then you do it! You are awesome!

~Molly

"Great Was the Work"

What a fabulous week and a half we had with Mom & Dad.

All I can say is wow!

I was amazed at the life they lead. There is always so much going on, yet everything they do is personal and sincere and done in companionship with the Holy Ghost.

Mom & Dad were always amazing, but now they are Super Duper Amazing!

I am so proud of them!

I had a hard time leaving, not knowing when we would be back. I read this verse in Alma this morning and it completely summed up how I was feeling. The sons of Mosiah and Ammon are parting ways to go teach the gospel in various lands.

"....they seperated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken."

I will post more about our trip, and our sealing later.

I love you all!!!!!!

~Molly