Craig and Murcia - a 40 Year Anniversary

Craig was one of the first missionaries in Spain, serving there in 1973-1975 when the country was all one mission. It was a difficult mission since only recently had non Catholics been allowed to proselyte, and missionaries experienced harassment at machine gun point and deportment (even though they were there legally) by Franco, the country's dictator. There were very few baptisms - the average being one per missionary per mission.

Being one of the first missionaries in a country does, allow you some opportunities later missionaries do not have, though. Craig and his companion, Elder D. Gordon Wilson, dedicated the city of Murcia for the preaching of the gospel in October, 1973.

Craig on the mountain where the city was dedicated in 1973.

These people owned the apartment that Craig and Elder Wilson rented. 

Craig's companion, Elder D. Gordon Wilson.

The Elche District missionaries (Craig is on the far right.) This wasn't for the dedication; it was a district meeting.

Beyond Fuensanta (a cathedral that pilgrims go to) is where the land was dedicated. Craig and Gordon had a hymn, a prayer, and the sacrament in their apartment, and then each gave a short talk. After that they went up the mountain by bus and by foot to dedicate Murcia.

Kyle made this meme - "Have you seen these men? They are wanted for challenging military tanks. Reward of 50,000 pesetos."

The Saints of Murcia held a huge celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the dedication of their city, and Craig and his companion were honored guests and invited to speak via the internet. A practice was held the Sunday before to make sure the technology worked, and then on October 20 at 1:00 PM our time, 7:00 PM Spain time, we celebrated the preaching of the gospel in Murcia.

I was so happy for Craig to be honored in this way. And I think he was pretty excited, not so much about the honor, but at seeing the fruits of his labor from all those many years ago.

A view of those in attendance at the Murcia 2nd Ward. At the top of the computer screen you can see Craig on the left and his companion on the right as they listened.

Craig had out old mission items

including his journal where he had recorded the events of the dedication forty years ago.

I love that you can see Craig's reflected face in this picture of Gordon.

A shot of other early and current leaders in Murcia (with Craig and his companion at the top.)

Craig listened intently - his Spanish is still excellent despite the passage of forty years  He also was asked to share some thoughts and bear his testimony.

Craig's companion read the dedicatory prayer and also spoke.

An early leader and his wife in Murcia; we are not quite sure, but we think he was the second branch leader in  the city.

We could not always tell who the speakers were, but we know they were part of the leadership of the church, past and present.

A view of the congregation as we get ready to close. The celebration lasted nearly two hours! (That's Craig in the right hand picture box.)

After the closing hymn and prayer, it seemed as though no one wanted to leave. The cameras allowed views of the other participants for quite a while.

Craig gave the congregation a last thumbs up

and a wave

and sat back, a very happy man.

Congratulations, Craig. You made a bigger impact during your mission than I think you realized, and I am glad that you had this opportunity to see just how big that impact was in the lives of the Murcia Saints.

Christmas at Curt's

Sunday evening Curt and Vanessa invited Lisa, Craig, and me over for cheese pizza and a movie. We watched two - The Berenstein Bears' Christmas for the kids, and then Home Alone for the adults. (Cheese pizza is what Kevin wants to eat in the movie and that triggers the events that cause him to be left behind when his family flies to Paris.)

Curt's home is beautifully decorated for Christmas.

Their stockings hang from the bannister - my mom made Curt's when he was a baby.

I brought Mila her Christmas pillowcase - I love that fabric so much! (She loved it, too.)

Their nativity is by Willow Tree and I gave them some of the pieces.

This door (never used) is so cute with its sign, kid-made snowflakes, and the tabletop decorations!

Curt pointed out two of his favorite ornaments from childhood - hung high to keep them safe from little fingers. My mother gave him those, and I got teary looking at them.

After the first movie, the kids brushed their teeth to get ready for bed.

Ian and Craig played a game that Ian's teeth were so blindingly white, that Craig could not look at them.

It is hard to believe that the holidays are here!

Thanksgiving 2018

My favorite holiday! I love the gathering of family together, the idea of gratitude for our many, many blessings, and the fact that Thanksgiving has not been overtaken by commercialism. Plus, it kicks off the holiday season!

This year we had Lisa, Leslie and Rick, Jenny, Steve and Cindie, and Eric in our home for the festivities.

There were cheeseballs and relishes for appetizers that were set out at 11:00.

Dinner was served at 12:30 - this year everyone could fit around the same table.

Fried turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, corn casserole, tossed salad, cranberry sauce, pierogis, Christmas jello, green bean casserole, brussel sprouts, and sausage stuffing were on the menu.

Cindie - caught in the act of taste testing as Eric carves his ham.

I love this picture of beautiful Lisa with her Aunt Cindie.

Lisa, Jenny, Leslie, and Rick.

Eric, Cindie, Steve, and Lisa.

Millie camped out by Craig, hoping for a nibble or two.

Heh, heh, heh! You spied me!

Desserts included apple, pumpkin, cherry, and coconut cream pies.

Leslie really wanted a sibling photo - Jenny, Leslie, me, and Steve - in age order.

Afterwards we watched some football while the dogs lay in food comas.

After playing games with Craig, Jenny, and me, Lisa joined the dogs on the floor.

I love this picture of Molly and Lisa! Molly is so happy living with her.

Finally, here are some photos of making Grandma Honeywell's cherry pie. The recipe has been in our family since at least the 1950s and possibly earlier, and I have been making it for holidays since the 1980s.

The canned tart cherries are drained, and some of the juice is stirred into sugar and tapioca. While that sits, I make the pie dough.

After stirring the juice mixture into the cherries, I then pour it all into the crust-lined pie pan.

The top crust is added, the sides fluted, and then Grandma Honeywell's signature mark is cut into the top with a sharp knife. (Its purpose is to vent the steam from the inside as the pie bakes.)

The finished product, and the first pie to be polished off!

Winter's-Eve at the Barn

Technically it is not winter yet and won't be until December 21st. For those of us who prefer to go by meteorological seasons (like me), then winter begins in five days on December 1.

Regardless of the actual date for winter, it's here in Indiana.  The days are getting very short and the light after 4:30 PM wanes quickly.

The skies become a pale pink color from the weak sunlight and the world seems very still. 

 The horses stand at the hayrack and munch hay

or put their backsides to the chilly winds and doze. (A few of the neighbors' horses.)

No birdsong, no cicadas, and no crickets chirping. It is very still and a wonderful time to be at the barn.

Carl Sandburg wrote a poem about this time of year that I used in my classroom and has become a favorite of mine.

Splinter

The voice of the last cricket

across the first frost

is one kind of good-bye.

It is so thin a splinter of singing.

by Carl Sandburg

On these winter's-eve visits to the barn I cannot help but think of that poem as I check the horses and enjoy the stillness as the earth sinks into winter dark.

Susie's Blessing

Craig and I made a quick trip to Tennessee for Susan's baby blessing the weekend of November 11.

It was such a lovely day being there with her, her family, and Aunt Lisa!

I had made Susan's blessing dress and it was a real treat to see her wearing it.

I am adjusting the hem of her dress here as it was tucked up a bit under Emily's arm.

I tried to get some pictures of it where you can see its length and the scalloped hem, but it just did not happen. This picture sort of shows the back and the next, the front. (Key words, "sort of." Haha!) But you can get an idea from these last two photos.

Cole, Julie, Kate, Emily, and Susan.

 Aunt Lisa came with Craig and me.

Which delighted these two cuties!

 Aunt Carla joined us.

All of us together - such a lovely day!