I posted on the blog, watched a couple of movies, and edited pictures in iPhoto. We met over in the dining room with about 60 other missionaries and friends of Roger and Susan Matthews. He planned a surprise Thai meal for her 60th birthday on New Year's Day. She was totally surprised and a fun time was had by all for the occasion. Sister Miller from reception prepared the whole meal including spring rolls, soup, rice, two meats, and veggies. Brother Rayton made the birthday cake and Sister Miller added Thai rice pudding for a delicious treat. What a feast it was.
Happy 60th, Susan!
January 2, 2016 was a big day for Jackson. He and Ansley were married in the St. George temple. Although we could not be there, Hanna face timed us and we were able to watch them walk out of the temple. We also greeted other family members and were able to meet Ansley. We enjoyed seeing the bright sunshine! It invoked many fond memories of home and wishing for sunshine here.
Jack & Ansley
Juliann, Kendal, Katie, and Jeanna. Jeanna had her three baby sisters there to help in the celebration. Katie made the wedding cake and cousins enjoyed playing together
Katie, Thor, Lorili, Gabe, Henry, Caleb, & Eliza
Trevor, Juliann, Adellae, Brynlyn, and Collins.
We also began the New Year in the temple on Saturday with the new yearly schedule:
We also began the New Year in the temple on Saturday with the new yearly schedule:
Thoughts from a Sabbath Day:
Sister Mann bore her testimony about goals. She commented that New Year and goal setting has never been something she has participated in. Last Sunday a brother spoke on this very subject and a comment he made impressed her. He said: "A goal that is not written down is just a dream."
I thought about that because I not a fan of writing goals down since I seem to never finish them. But, I have decided to give this concept a try. I am starting with just one goal and hopefully by the end of the year I will feel like I have completed something.
Sunday School lesson: Lehi learns in a vision that Jerusalem will be destroyed. He warns the people to repent, but they reject him and seek his life. "And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away." (1Nephi1:20)
The thought occurred to me, how do I today take what the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, says or what counsel he gives me? Do I just listen? Do I think it is good and is for everyone else or someone I know? Or do I take his words and apply them to my like to become more of whom Heavenly Father knows I can be?
I went to his latest council during General Conference in October: "My message to you tonight is straightforward. It is this: keep the commandments." He listed several of the ten commandments and continued: "God's commandments are not given to frustrate us or to become obstacles to our happiness. Just the opposite is true. He has provided us with guidelines which, if we follow them, will see us safely through this often treacherous mortal journey."
I decided I do not want to be like the people of Jerusalem during Lehi's time. I want to listen to my prophet and heed his counsel. So, I picked one of the commandments I can improve on and begun the journey.
Monday we took off for a day in London with Doug and Beverly. Our destination was the Victoria and Albert Museum. The day started off with a hope of sunshine and it did not let us down as it shone throughout the day. There were short periods of rain here and there but the sun won out most of the time.
The sun breaking through as we headed out of the lodge to the car.
George Frederic Handel. This statue was commissioned to be placed at the heart of Spring Gardens in Vauxhall. It shows the composer Handel holding the lyre of Orpheus, the mythological figure whose music calmed the savage beasts. The statue became so celebrated that it was used to advertise the garden. It is made from marble in 1738 by Louis-Francois Roubiliac.
We saw many tapestries, some large, some small. This one represents the baby Moses stomping on the crown of Pharaoh.
This music room was interesting to stand it. You could imagine a concert or recital going on in it and then maybe dances in celebration of a holiday or family event, etc. It is made of pine panelling being carved, painted and gilded. It comes from the Norfolk House, St James's Square, London, 1756.
Ships on a Calm Sea about 1658. Wealthy Dutch sea merchants often hung paintings of sea subjects in their homes. The painting reflects the importance of the see to the Republic's military and trade interests.
We were busy in the museum until about 1:30 p.m., when we were all getting hungry. Doug wanted to eat at Harrod's. He knew he couldn't afford to buy anything there but maybe lunch would work.
It was about a ten minute walk to Harrod's and we all enjoyed being out on the street, in the sun, and seeing the sights of such a large city teeming with people and automobiles. We arrived at Harrod's, an upmarket department store occupying a 5-acre site with 330 departments covering one million square feet of retail space, making it the largest department store in Europe. Well, there was no way we would be able to check out every department, so we didn't. We went to one of the food halls and determined very quickly we were not going to pay £60 for a steak! We learned later there is more than one food hall in Harrod's. I guess we will have to make another trip to Harrod's!
Beverly wanted to buy something at Harrod's so we tried the confectionary department in hopes of finding something more akin to our pocket book and decided on chocolate. Here is Beverly standing at one of the many many counters in the department. Just from the very small section we saw of the store, it is amazing!!
Well, we were still hungry and headed back out onto the street remembering we had passed some eateries. What did we do, but eat at McDonald's! How ironic is was to come from Harrod's, a very expensive shop to McDonald's, the average man's place to dine!
Barbara & Beverly with their green Harrod's bags at McDonald's.
I wanted to go to a couple of other department stores, so after our meal we headed to the subway. We misread the bus sign, thinking it was the subway, so we wound up back in front of the museum. Doug and Beverly wanted to go back into the museum so we split up and we found the underground and made our way to Liberty London.
We came out on Regent Street and loved walking in the sun. The objects hanging across the street are Christmas decorations and were all lit up the night we went to see the lights. It was exciting to recognize where we were.
Liberty London is known for its line of floral and graphic prints. I was looking for a kit for a quilt top and was not disappointed in finding one. We went to the Haberdashery Department and I found this pack of liberty lawn pieces that will make a nice quilt as a memento of our time in England. There were many to choose from along with walls of bolt fabrics, yarns, threads, buttons, craft kits of every kind, and patterns for clothes. It was quite the department.
Liberty London had five floors with an open area in the middle. We went to the top and took this photo looking down. The building is amazing inside with all the wood paneling and railings. The lifts are even paneled inside with wood floors.
We left out of Liberty London and walked back onto Regent Street heading to Selfridges. We have been there before because I wanted one of their yellow bags. So, we were going to try again to see if I could find something in my budget.
We went to the Confectionary Department and I found a clerk that was most helpful in selecting just the right item - a box of chocolate almonds from France. The cashier asked if I would like it in a bag and when I said, yes, he turned to select a little brown bag. I stopped him and said: "Oh, I want a yellow bag." He smiled and got a yellow bag. Dad told him I had only come for the bag and he then pulled out another one unfolded and put it in the first bag and said: "There, now you will have an unused one when you get home!"
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