Christmas and visitors!!!

Christmas morning we were on the base by 0700 to prepare for a Christmas program put on by the Mission presidency along with about 20 Elders and Sisters.

They sang together, played violin, and some sang solos. One of my favorites is shown in this picture. It is Elder Mylar, an AP and one of the eight Elders that come every Sunday to help us at MCRD.

The concluding speaker was our mission president, President Schmitt.  It was amazing!  He taught about how many times in the scriptures many were told to "Fear Not!" and he had the recruits participate by yelling "Fear Not" every time he came to it in his reading.  The recruits are taught from their very first day in training to respond loudly to their Drill Instructors, so when you hear about 60 of them respond "Fear Not" you really feel it.  He told us that for us we can also interpret, fear not as "Have Faith".  It was a wonderful, spirit filled Christmas program.

Suzy, Taylor, Camden and Eric came to share Christmas with us.  After we returned home from the base, we enjoyed our traditional waffle breakfast.

In the afternoon, we decided to go to the Pacific beach. It was pretty chilly, 65 degrees but Taylor was determined to go all the way in... the rest of us just got our feet and ankles wet.

Some pictures of the gift opening....the traditional pajama pictures, of course!

The picture above shows the air mattress Suzy and Taylor used. We stood it behind the couch when not in use.  This apartment is so small, it is amazing we could all stay together, but it worked out, especially sharing one bathroom!  

Suzy, Camden and I went wedding dress shopping the day after Christmas and Camden found a dress she loves.  Obviously, I can't post pictures yet, but the wedding is March 6th and we will be returning to San Antonio for it!