Sugar Cookies, Fevers, & Being Together - Christmas Week
Sam, Ken, Elaine, Alice & Hannah Francis with Grammy & Grammy (Sister & Pres. Quinn)
Our Christmas week began in a wonderful way when we drove to SFO to pick up our daughter Hannah and her darling three children, our grandchildren, Elaine, Sam, and Alice, who had flown in from Dallas, Texas. Her husband, Ken, arrived the following day. We were so happy they could come and spend Christmas with us. I had been looking forward to their visit and was especially excited to bake and decorate Christmas cookies with Elaine and Sam. I had learned some fun cookie-making and decorating tips from our bishop’s wife, Ann Brown, who owns a cookie decorating business, and I couldn’t wait to use my new decorating supplies. I also looked forward to playing games, wearing matching Christmas pajamas, and singing carols under the Christmas tree. And we did it all.
Grammy decorating sugar cookies with Sam and Elaine Francis
Some of our decorated cookies. The kids had a lot of fun!
On Christmas Eve, we had the missionaries from the Rincon Valley Ward over, and it was a lot of fun. Everyone shared a talent and we acted out the Nativity in Luke 2 and sang by the Christmas tree.
Sisters Pilling & Weller, Elders Bracken & Parish, Sister & President Quinn, Elaine, Alice, Hannah, Ken, & Sam Francis . The Sisters wrote a poem, Elder Parrish played the recorder and Elder Bracken did a card trick.
Angels, Shephard, Joseph, Mary, Wisemen and Donkey
Santa Rosa Missionaries caroling at our door. - So fun!
On Christmas Day We had more missionaries over for our traditional sausage souffle’ brunch. Unfortunately, I became ill. I felt terrible that I couldn’t be the hostess I wanted to be. I had to check out and into my bedroom. Hence no photo of them.
Comedian Brian Regan describes the stomach flu perfectly when he says, it feels like “everything on your insides wants to be on your outside,” and that’s exactly how I felt - miserable! It is no fun being sick as a dog on Christmas Day! Sadly, everyone got sick—everyone except, thank goodness, President Quinn and the missionaries!
It’s been. a few days of lots of high fevers, coughs, and, well, that everything-on-the-inside-wanting-to-be-on-the-outside kind of yuckiness. I’m grateful for priesthood blessings of health and rest. We’re especially worried about our little Alice who has been so sick.
Christmas Eve talent - Elaine has memorized the entire “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” story. Sam also joined in!
Even with fevers, coughs, and stomach aches we’re glad to just be together, drinking Fresca, taking Tylenol and trying to play some games. BYU won their Pop-tart Bowl game, so that was something to be happy about. There has been rain and wind but tomorrow is supposed to bring sunshine, and we’re hoping we’ll feel well enough to get out of the house and get some fresh air.
I hope this terrible flu bug has missed you and your family and that you had a merry Christmas.
Rain, fevers, or Holidays missionary work goes forward! Always! - Baptisms, lessons, and miracles.
Here is our “Coming to Know Him” journal prompt #25
I wanted to say that I love and admire President Holland and I will greatly miss him! He has always been a favorite speaker. I will always be grateful to him for speaking up about Major Depressive Disorder in General Conference and helping to eliminate the stigma associated with Mental Illness.
