Friday, December 19-Friday, December 25. Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 19 Ray ironed shirts; I prepared Christmas for Quenie and family; scripture candle.
Saturday routine, washed eggs, Ray writing missionaries, I did mine yesterday😇.  Baptism at 9:30, then all day with North Stake--1st Relief Society, then Trade Fair with those who have graduated from "Starting and Growing My Business".  There were about ten businesses represented.  At 4:00 was the start of a cultural show.  (Pictures). It was so fun.  Sister Cagape brought food for the three of us.  She said that there are so many people to eat.  She just brings her own.  We were glad.  See pictures of Christmas dinner.  We went to Mang Inasal after for chicken.  Home 8:45. Scripture candle.  Bed.
Sunday mission fast.  Quenie didn't come to church, so after sacrament meeting, we went by her house.  Her house help was just leaving, so we were able to talk with Brakie.  House help said Quenie was asleep.😟. We are worried about her.  This time is so critical that she not jump out of the ship because she is having struggles.  Brought all the missionaries home.  At 1:30. Attended San Miguel group.  Then we received an invitation from President and Sister Aquino to join their family for the opening of their daughters mission call.  Of course, we went.  They were expecting her brother off the plane at 5:30 but the plane was delayed and he didn't arrive until 9:00 so they had also invited a few friends and their bishops family and struggled with how to entertain us all besides feeding us.  Yes, they had a great meal with a fruit salad, ham, noodles with crab and shrimp.  Whew!  I almost had some, even had dished it up on my plate.  I had a feeling so I asked Ray to taste it.  There was shrimp.  I passed mine over to his plate and typical of my childhood, no foods were touching each other😆.  Saved me some calories anyway.  So...entertainment, we sang some carols and in-between I told stories,  It was nice that it was a different crowd this week than last week, so I told the Christmas Oranges and then I read the abridged Mansion.  Then Ray was starting to tell Abram and Zimri brothers story and they arrived from the airport!  So guess where Sister Jasmine Aquino will serve her 18 month mission, English speaking, entering the Provo MTC March 29?  Twin Falls, Idaho Mission!  I jumped up and down screaming.  My birth place.  I could tell them lots about it and that she will get to meet some of my kids!  And I showed her a picture of the Perrys.  I said I wanted to bring some of the Philippines home with me!  It couldn't have been more exciting for us.  President and Sister said they will probably come pick her up and we can tour them around.  How sweet is that!
Monday routine, did wash and it even stopped raining long enough to dry the clothes.  We went shopping, paid the phone bill, and returned to the apartment for lunch then at 1:30 we went to the center.  So here is what I have to say about the BYU/Utah game:  Utah beat one quarter/BYU beat three quarters😜
I've been so sad about the loss of the coach but excited for Sitakis opportunity.  I believe he will be exceptional and especially good at recruiting.  4:00 we left the center to walk the Esplanade 5:00 home.  Went to the sisters apartment to see Sister Miggins Christmas box stuff.  She is from Hyde Park.  Back to our apartment, snack, read, scripture candle.
Tuesday district meeting in our apartment 10 of us in a very small space.  After meeting we fed them bacon, 2 kinds of sausage, pancakes, bananas, oranges, and four seasons drink.  They stayed and talked until 10:30.  It was nice.  Then clean-up and go.  Went to center at 11:15.  Returned to apartment about 2:30.  A man came to fix the leak from upstairs to our c.r. And replaced the light receptacle.  Then we picked up a pizza to take to Brakie for her 12 birthday and took them Christmas gifts and food:  ham, rice, oranges, bananas, Tostitos, peaches...  Then we walked the Esplanade, crossed the bridge and walked the other side of the river, and then crossed the bridge at the other end to return back to finish the full length.  There was a great breeze and it was wonderful!  After the Esplanade, we went to SM for a Christmas wonderland of lights and music, and ate chocolates and churros.  7:00 returned home.
Wednesday routine, washed eggs, cleaned; Ray ironed and worked on washing machine. These are days never to be forgotten.  I wanted to serve a mission as a senior couple to give back to the Lord and His church some bit of my own gratitude for my great life.  But it turns out, a mission is for seniors as it is for the young,--another immense blessing!  I love my life with Ray in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The sealing power can be a great teacher of self-discipline and can help us cross the obstacles of self-deception and the so-called wisdom of the world, of men's philosophies.  All the commandments and covenants we make are opportunities for increased blessings.  My cup runnerth over.  Five new shingles but they are more and more mild and are most bothersome for only three days. 10:00 we went to SM and I tried the beauty shop again--I got a haircut; it looks better, feels better, and it's not too short.  Then we got a ham and cheese waffle, then a buko juice.  We went to the center and stayed until 2:30.  President Insigne gave us a different key to the front door to use while there is Christmas break.  Then we came home and ate squash soup and fajitas in a spring roll pastry sheet.  We walked the Esplanade in a warm breeze then returned to the apartment and had Swiss miss with orange chocolate and whip cream--this is my comfort food when I'm missing my kids.  Scripture candle.
Thursday routine, Molo to send payment for caribou; picked up Cushings at the wharf, stopped by Jalandoni to use the Internet, went to apartment and played Rummicube, ate chips and six layer dip, then went to Arevalo to pick up package from Bacolod.  Then we went to Tatoys and ate blue Marlin and halo halo; at 3:30 we let them off at SM and went home to prepare a dish to take to Sorilla's dinner party tonight.  I took a Filipino version of chicken tikka masala.  Then at 5:15 we went to Sorilla's.  There we played to 5,000 Farkle, then dinner and dessert. 9:00 back to apartment, scripture candle.
Friday MERRY CHRISTMAS!  I'm sure all of our children are remembering us today and our family traditions.  I was reading in 1 Nephi 18:2 ". Nephi built a ship-- not after the manner of men but after the manner which the Lord showed unto me".  If a ship was that important; how much more a family--built after the manner the Lord shows us.  But how do we know the manner?  The Lords words--in scripture and modern-day prophets.  Have ye inquired of the Lord what manner to build your family?  :3 go oft (scriptures) pray oft--wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.  :7,8...after we had prepared all things...we were driven forth towards the promised land(celestial kingdom).  North Stake had a "White Christmas" at 10:00.   There were only 11 baptisms but they seem to be quality baptisms.  They each bore testimony after the baptism and when the service was over, President Suya had the newly baptized members stand in front where all those who attended could come by and shake their hands.  It was very classy.  We took Elder Gomez and Elder Villanueva with us.  They are serving in San Miguel.  12:45 it was all over.  We gave the two elders a ride to Robinsons Mall to skype their families.  Then we went to the center to type this and send it off.  Love to all!  Sister Robinson III, Grandma, Mom