Paul and Mar Jean Lewis: Week 26 November 22

Heading into the holiday season and also our last week on the evening shift at the temple. We have grown to love the coordinators and ordinance workers on these shifts. On Tuesday nights we served with Brother and Sister Duffy, on Wednesday Sisters Ko and Volk, Thursday Sister Kristensen, who is moving a having a baby in February and Sister Wilcox, Friday Brother and Sister Hocenjak and Slaughs and Saturday Sister Lopez, Mahamad, May, Gibson and Russell.

Wednesday we prepared for Thanksgiving by taking a bus ride to Costco to get our pies for dinner. Always an experience when we try to bring things home on the bus. Our pies did not fit into our cart so we pout them on their side until we realized they were shifting. Our hope was that whipped cream would save the day and it did. While at Costco having hot dogs and pizza we met five Spanish missionaries from the area. We invited them to lunch and had a good visit with them.

Spanish Missionaries Sisters McDougle (South Jordan), Vasquez, (Weber), Cruz (Mexico), Elders Jagnesux (Orem), Elder Allen (Texas). It was their Pday. We sent them home with pumpkin pies

Checking out the parade route for the 4 am setup

At 4 am Paul got us up to take chairs down the street to the parade route along with Elders Mumford, Holloway and Dransfield. We carried the camp chairs down in the grocery cart and the folding chairs on the cart in the lobby and then I came back to bed until 7:30. Paul and some of the other guys were back and forth saving our seats. We had about 40 chairs and we had excellent seats for watching the parade. It was lots of fun. Sister Mumford brought hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls for everyone.

These three kids stood behind us and shouted the names of every balloon that came by. They were so cute.

Parade route beginning

First horses we saw in the parade

Parade beginning

Lots of trombones, keep playing Robbie

Santa

BELIEVE

Last Monday I went to Sister Mumfords apartment and learned to make rolls. I came home and made some of my own so I would know how. Hers are delicious. They are from Clifton, Utah and he is a sealer here.

After the parade we walked around the area and then at 4 pm we went to President and Sister Bench's for dinner with about 16 of us. President Bench made the yams, dressing and Sister Bench cooked the turkey breasts and everyone else added to it. Even Sister Wilson left some frozen strawberry jam for us.

Thanksgiving Dinner Group

Melba Grimley with a plate full of desserts

Saturday we coordinated the evening shift for the Russells. It went well even though we were short a few people. We had some fairly good groups come to the temple so it was a wonderful way to finish out this 3 month session. We love President and Sister Nixon. They worked with us and everyone is so helpful Sister Orser, Mitchell, Peterson and Hahn were so willing to do whatever I asked and there were lots of changes. Of course the missionaries are the best. The Harris's were last out and the Grimley's were tied up in being guide to a family who were being sealed but came to the temple without the correct recommends so that took several hours to straighten out. Life is good and the Lord is in charge and miracles occur all the time when involved with the Lord's work. We are just happy to be some of His hands in this great work.

Our friend Dan Wilson passed away last week from pancreatic cancer. He and Shelly put up a great fight over the last year. He was a good good man we knew in Camarillo. He had gone through a divorce and was raising his two younger kids when Paul was Bishop. He met and married Shelly from North Carolina and they were sealed in the LA Temple. After Sarah had graduated he finally moved back to NC and then contracted this horrible disease.

We came home Saturday night to a "you have a package" notice. So Paul went down to get it and a big surprise from Debbie. "Merry Christmas" Mar Jean, Thank you for all you do for me and my family. I saw this and it reminded me of you so I hope you like it and I hope you have a very merry Christmas. Love Debbie". So sweet and thoughtful. I am truly blessed by a wonderful family. Mom and Dad did good.

Merry Christmas from Debbie & Mike

A wonderful time of year to stop and reflect on the many blessings we have received from our Heavenly Father. Our children all had wonderful Thanksgiving day with their in-laws. We are so very blessed by their generosity.

We spent Sunday evening attending a interactive discussion on Israel and Jewish migration. Very interesting and informative by the Altmans.

Monday Paul did the laundry and I walked to the post office and bank to send off missionary Christmas boxes. Tonight is the Winter Festival at Lincoln Center with the tree lighting.