Our Anniversary Trip to Oakland

Saturday, 10 Dec 2011, Oakland Temple

10 Dec 2011, Ninth Ward Christmas Party

Ken and I flew to Oakland from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on 7 Dec to celebrate our anniversary.  We've been planning this trip since we left our mission almost seven months ago.  Because we were so busy working in the mission office, usually seven days a week, we didn't get to attend many of the fantastic Christmas performances during December that are held annually on Temple Hill in Oakland.  We had a perfect vacation and are grateful to our kids, Faith and Brad, for caring for Julie so we could go.

The weather was gorgeous and we were able to stay at the Todd House, temple housing for patrons and workers, at $20 a night!  We were in the same room that we stayed in the first two weeks of our mission, while we waited to move into our apartment. The view from the Todd House is spectacular - we could see the temple, Oakland and the Bay, and San Francisco, if it wasn't foggy.  We slept late every day, worked in the temple three days, attended the Ninth Ward Christmas party, saw many dear and wonderful friends, attended several performances, including the San Francisco Girls' Chorus, piano concerts, a multi-cultural program featuring Cambodia, Chinese, Fillipino, Spanish, and Tongan groups, and Handel's Messiah.

We didn't rent a car but just walked through the mission home parking lot, down a little hill, and across the street to the temple grounds for everything we did. We loved being around the missionaries and renewing our friendship with the seniors, members of the Ninth Ward, and of course, our mission president and his family.

We were invited to the senior missionaries' monthly home evening Christmas party and enjoyed being with all of them.  They are a wonderful group of spiritual and talented men and women.  This is a picture of a few of us, standing outside the mission office, which is next to the mission home.  We took President and Sister Wade and their children a large basket filled with gifts and sang several songs to them.  They were delighted with our music and costumes!


Getting Ready for Caroling



Monday, 12 Dec 2011, Senior Missionary Carolers at the Mission Home

We left for home on 13 Dec and landed in Hattiesburg at 9:00 PM, drove about ten miles to our home, and greeted Julie and her caregiver.  The house was clean and we were grateful for a fabulous trip and to be back in our own bed.

We're thankful that we served our Father in Heaven on a mission.  It's the best thing we've ever done.  We made eternal friends and we know we did our very best.  Our whole family has been blessed.  We know that Jesus Christ lives and is the Redeemer of the world.  We know He will come again soon.  We know that His gospel must be preached to all the world, and we know that His gospel is true.  We are so very thankful for the Christmas season in which we all pause and remember the Lord's great gift to us.  We wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas!