Mele Kalilimaka! This week it will be Christmas and although I enjoy having new experiences and even new adventures, this is one time of the year when I am feeling a little homesick. Dennis and I spoke in church today and I was asked to share a favorite Christmas tradition. Of course, I told about our Christmas Family Home Evening. I explained how everyone gets to choose their favorite "pupu" (appetizer) and then we have our Christmas Eve program, complete with the acting out of the Nativity by the grandkids. I love seeing them in their bathrobes and towels. Most importantly, I told our branch members how we end the evening by giving each person the opportunity of sharing the feelings that are in their hearts. Love is expressed for one another and for being an eternal family, for having the gospel in our lives, and especially, for the gift of the Savior, His life and mission. The Spirit fills our home as well as our hearts and we go to sleep focused on the things that matter most in our lives. It is a sacred time of reflection and time for expressing gratitude for all that we have. So anyway, today has been a nice Sabbath but there have been a few moments too.

Last Sunday Dennis went Home Teaching to one of the boy's in our branch. He wasn't home but this is a picture of his family. The boy in the picture is Roman and he is the ward clerk in our branch. The mother in the family is from Tahiti and his father is a Howlie from Boise, Idaho. His younger brother, not pictured, just returned from his mission three weeks ago. When we went to Church today, we learned that his borther, Joseph, whom they went to visit had gotten married on Wednesday. Roman called it a "peanut butter and jelly" wedding. I interpret that to mean it was no muss-no fuss, just get 'er done.

On Thursday night we went through the temple with Jennifer. She was in our temple prep. class and was ready to take this step. She is such a nice girl, but today was her last Sunday in our branch as she is flying to Utah on Christmas day. She will live with some of her relatives, find work, and hopefully, be able to go to school there. She wants to go to UVU. I gave her my email so hopefully, she will stay in touch. It would be great to see her when we return home.

This is a goofy picture of Matsi with his girlfriend, Mel. They came to the temple on Thursday as well. I am hoping they get married as Mel is really a nice girl. She served her mission in Salt Lake City. Matsi also served a mission, but I can't remember where. I keep telling him he is so lucky to have her for his girlfriend. He is the new Elder's Quorum President as of today.

Dennis and I worked at the Christmas Lagoon last week. We directed guests where they should go to stand in line. One interesting observation we made is that nearly all the guests were local people with their families. It is a big local tradition to come through the Christmas Lagoon, but hardly any outside visitors went through. At the end of our time, we slipped in and took the canoe ride just to see what all the fuss was about. It was pretty much that: way over-hyped. Still it was ok. The first half tells the story of the Nativity and the second part is supposed to show how Christmas is celebrated in other lands. When we "visited" the North Pole to see Mr. and Mrs. Santa, there was a snow making machine. It malfunctioned and so we were pelted with a blizzard of sticky, soapy snowflakes. We were covered and drenched! And if once wasn't enough, they didn't have music playing and so they took us through a second time - more blizzard! More goo!
But we are having a great time, and enjoying many new and wonderful people and experiences!