18 December 2016 - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

18 December 2016

Christmas in New York has brought out many friends and activities that has kept us rather busy this last week and we have had the opportunity of seeing new things and places. One of my goals was to take a walk down 5th Avenue to visit Macey's Department Store. It covers a complete square block with nine floors to see. We walked inside to see what it was like and the decorations were beautiful.

Golden across the street from Macey's Department Store

Front entrance to Macey's Department Store 

This is the Wish view of the revolving display

Diane in front hall of Macey's Department Store

Ceiling decorations in the hall and the display between the two escalators going up and down

Golden in front of Macey's Department Store

Christmas tree display up on the 9th floor

The window displays are like taking a walk through Disneyland with their quality and animation. Here are some images from their windows.

Diane in front of the Pinball display. You could actually play pinball from outside the window

Golden in from of the Window with the character seeing Santa

Book display of kids reading and hearing Christmas stories

Child's imagination with reading a book

 Not far from Macey's Department Store is Saks Department store. This is also a very popular store on 5th Avenue in New York. Here are some of their displays.

This is the light display outside of Saks Department Store that kept changing

 These following pictures are of the windows from Saks Departrment Store helping to promote the Nutcracker Ballet being shown in New York.

Scenes from the Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

Scenes from the Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

Scene from the Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

Scene from the Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

 Nutcracker Ballet being featured here in New York

 These next pictures are of the famous Christmas tree that it put up in Rockefeller Center. In order for them to get the tree in they after to cut off all of the branches before loading it on to the truck. Then they build scaffolding around the tree and drill holes to put the limbs back onto the tree after it is standing. It is a beautiful tree to see.

Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center - Diane and Golden

On December 16th, the New York New York Mission Christmas Devotional was held in Ossing, New York ad the Yorktown Ward.  President David Smith and Sister Smith's family had memorized "The Living Christ - Testimony of The Apostles" and presented it. Selected missionaries also gave a personal story from their lives and bore testimony of the Savior.  Afterwards, we had a very delicious Christmas Dinner, served by the Senior Missionaries.

Arriving early, we helped the Elders and Sisters prepare the cultural hall for the missionaries.

Ham, Green Beans, Potatoes, and Pie were served to the Elders and Sisters by the Senior Missionaries.

Elders and Sisters of The Best Mission enjoy Christmas Dinner and Celebrating together.

Sister Missionaries in front of Family History Center with Elders preparing the Christmas Initiative Campaign "Light The World - Serving in 25 Ways Over 25 Days.

These are the Elders that come and stand outside the Family History Center showing the Christmas campaign "Light The World" - Service in 25 Ways over 25 Days. "Jesus read the scriptures AND SO CAN YOU!

These are members of the Blind School that came around and did some Christmas Caroling. The Public Affairs Missionaries were giving out hot chocolate in support of their activity and everyone really enjoyed it.

There are always Security Guards just outside of the Family History Center that have become good friends to us.

This is Albert, one of our steady ones who is always there when we are

With all of the fun things that we have been able to enjoy here in New York, my most cherished memories will be of all your love and Christmas wishes. After working with so many people that do not have families, I have truly come to appreciate the great family that I have. Everyone is so special to us in their own way and I want all of you to know just how much I love and appreciate each one.

Here are the Christmas wishes that I have been able to get pictures of. Some of the pictures I have not been able to figure out how to get, but I will.

This is a Nativity picture that Melanie Made in Relief Society and sent to us for our Apartment.

This is a picture of left to right Melanie, Enoch, age 3, Jocie, age 1, and Daniel

These next pictures are  from Aaron and Lori's Family. I can't believe how everyone is changing so much.

 Cameron, age 11

Zach, age 9

Katelyn and Camille, age 1

 This is a book that they sent with a story from Russell M. Nelson along with some notes from the family.

Garrett, age 6

Aaron and Lori's family from left to right Zach, Cameron, Lori, Katelyn, Cameron, Aaron and Camille

Here are pictures from Paul and Jenny's family in Wyoming.

Jenny with Ammon singing into some music box they got for Christmas

Riley Ashlynn, Ammon, Jenny, and Kyler singing

Paul and Jenny's family left Riley, Ammon, Paul, Kyler, Ashlynn, and Jenny

Here is a PaulMark original:

These others are letters and pictures from Jenny and each of their children.

I love Christmas and the cards and pictures have meant so much to me in bringing the Spirit of Christmas into our little apartment. The testimonies shared and the thoughts that were sent from the ward back home were so special and my heart was filled with the love and gratitude even though I do not know many of them now since they changed the ward boundaries. It is amazing to me how love can touch a life when the people have never met. I give my gratitude to those that took the time to share a little something with us.

These are some of the thoughts and cards that will be a special part of my life and memories as I continue to serve our mission here in New York.

Joyce and Will Inlow

Lana Parker

Nicholas, age 5

Rick and Jody Adams

Ryan Rhodes my grandson

This is the season to celebrate and remember the greatest life that ever came to this earth, our Savior Jesus Christ. So as part of my gift to the Savior, I will leave the message that he has entrusted to me as I bear his name while serving this mission. The message is that families are forever and they are a major part of our Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness. He wants everyone to help gather Israel through missionary work and through Family History. The gathering of Israel is real. It is moving forward in ways that are staggering. As the programmers up in Salt Lake have stated, "The Lord is  hastening his work and we are just trying to keep up with him." This work is a miracle that is happening every day and what a joy it has been to be a part it.