Through Christmas & Beyond "

Happy New Year from Wales

You know you are in Wales if there is a Red Dragon lurking somewhere. 

We are looking forward to this next year that we will spend in Wales. We are so enjoying the misty mornings and the green all around, even though it is winter. 

We have enjoyed getting know some wonderful people here who have made us feel like we have a home away from home. They are already like family to us.

Christmas Eve we gathered at Brother and Sister Pengilley's home for some festive food, Carols and the book,                                              "The Three Trees."

 It was a lovely evening!

On Christmas Day we had a Carol Service at the church where we read the Christmas Story from Luke 2 and sang some Christmas Carols intermittently. Afterwards we had a meal together and played some games. 

Lots of Food

Amy Nunn, Xin Wei, Sister Herdt, & Choo Maulchaisong
put together the Christmas Dinner. 

Fun at the dart board

Elder Mecham practicing his skills. 

Later Christmas Eve we go together with Sister Heo and Sister Dixon and watched  "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

Christmas Day, we watched it again with Sister Apaza and Sister Collier. 

Dinner at the Ivy

For Christmas our children comped us a dinner at the Ivy in Cardiff. 

Great night out. 

Yep still in Wales!   "Dragon"

                                       Scallops                                Cheese Soufflé

                           Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts & Sour Dough Bread

England Bristol Mission Merch for Christmas

Thanks be to President and Sister Mayall

Cardiff Bay

After dropping off a package to an Elder in our zone we stopped off at Cardiff Bay to look around. 

The Bay

Old Scandinavian Church on the Bay where the writer. 

Ronald Dahl worshipped. 

Unique art piece. 

Enjoying just spending time together. 

The Old Welsh Parliament Building on the bay. 

First train trip!

We've wanted to try out riding the train so our friends Colin & Christine showed us the ropes on a trip up to Pontypridd. 

I haven't seen this too often, the Red Welsh Dragon and the White English Dragon 

We had a walk through Downtown Ponty and around the park which had recovered from the flooding.

"Tada" Good bye to 2024

"Croeso" Welcome 2025

It promises to be an eventful year!

Enjoy ringing in the New Year everyone. Be Safe:)

Christmas Adam (The Night Before Christmas Eve)

In the past my kids would call this night, 

"Christmas Adam" the day before Christmas Eve.

In the scriptures we have been told that the day before the Savior's birth there was a day and a night and a day where there was no darkness. In the past I have left the lights on in the house in remembrance of that prophecy that was fulfilled. 

Helaman 14:3-5

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day. 

4 Therefore there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of it setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there sha be two days and a  night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened and it shall be the night before he is born. 

5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld and this also shall be a sign unto you. 

I started collecting Nativities several years ago and then as I was clearing out things I decided to keep my favorites and pass on the rest. I did purchase one when we visited an Amish town in Ohio last April and brought it to the UK since I hadn't had a chance to use it. It is one of my favorites. 

It is interesting to note that there are nativities from all cultures and walks of life. The Savior is truly the Savior of the world! What a wonderful time to take time to celebrate his birth and life. 

Wise Men Still Seek Him!

I had fun making snowmen for the Elders and Sisters in our zone. We just wanted them all to have a little something from us. Just a Chocolate bar and some socks. 

For other friends, a bottle of Shloer (sparkling cider)

"We 'Shloer' hope you have a Merry Christmas"

We had several Missionary Flats that had their hot water and heat go out and some have been under the weather. 

We were busy dropping of heaters to some and some chicken soup to others. 

Sunday

I sang in church. "Peace is Born on Earth"

Cardiff Stake Christmas Carol Service

"There are Angels Hovering Round"

I had the opportunity to sing in the Stake Choir for their Christmas Carol Service. 

I had a wonderful time joining all these wonderful Welsh Saints!

http://www.youtube.com/@cardiffwalesstakenews6809

Everyone, Have a Merry Christmas!

Busy week: Zone Conference, Bath, Ward Party

 Busy Week ! Nov. 10th-16th

Zone Conference

Tuesday was our Christmas Zone conference with the Cardiff, Merthyr, Bristol and Cheltenham Zones. The morning started out with a video of "Twas the week before Christmas" done by the Senior Missionaries & Mission Presidency. It was quite hilarious. 

Each zone did a gift exchange game. 

Scripture Chase Game

We had a wonderful meal of Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed potatoes and fixings. Brownies and ice cream for dessert. 

Santa and His Elves showed up to pass out presents. 

We had a great time!

After Zone Conference we drove 30 minutes on the other side of Bristol to Bath to spend the day. There is so much to see in Bath.

We stayed in the Hotel Indigo which was about 175yrs old. At the front desk they had displayed bells that used to be used before telephones. 

Christmas Markets

 

The Christmas Market stalls are located all around the magnificent Bath Abbey.

We spent the evenings visiting all of the Christmas market stalls. I have found I'm not very interested in knick knacks anymore. They are just things to clutter. There were also a lot of Food Stalls. yum! I did find a few ornaments that I liked. 

                

I found this two sided Welsh Dragon ornament in a Welsh store in Cardiff.  

Early the next morning we set out to walk around the downtown area. 

We first came upon the Parade Gardens. This areas is set next to the River Avon. People would use the garden to parade around to be seen by others in 1800's. 

It's a beautiful park. I can imagine it being more stunning when all the trees and flowers are in bloom!

King Bladud is acknowledged as the founder of Bath 1000 yrs before the Roman occupation. A famous legend says that Bladud was the rightful king but could not inherit because he had leprosy. He was cast out as a swine herder and roamed the countryside with his pigs. Close to the place now known as Bath his pigs were cured of scurvy and other skin conditions after rolling around in the hot mud. King Bladud did the same and was cured too. 

The first pay toilets I've seen. 

Citizen in Bath erected this statue for King Edward the VII.

"Edward the Peacemaker"

They even had a pet cemetery. 

Across from the park boats are parked along the river as lodging. 

Up from the park is the Pulteney Bridge and Weir. 

A Weir is like a small dam built to control the water level on the up side of the river. A weir lets water flow over the top of it. 

Next stop was the Roman Baths

So much history here that goes back thousands of years. 

We toasted to drinking the healing waters from the Roman Baths. 

Looking out from the top of the Roman Spa to the Christmas Market Stalls around the outside of the Bath Abbey.

Bath Abbey

They don't allow pictures inside. We took a tour that told of the history of the Abbey. I am glad they are keeping some of these great buildings in repair. 

Angels climbing up and down Jacobs ladder on the outside of Bath Abbey. 

We also stopped by the Assembly Rooms where they would hold various dances and balls. It was closed to the public when we were there. 

Jane Austen House

She didn't live here but it is made up to show how she might have lived in Bath. 

The Royal Crescent

Walking back down from the Royal Crescent. The buildings and all made from the same golden stone. 

We walked around for about 7hrs.

Ward Christmas Party

Plenty of food of all verities!

A great turnout!

Elder Lawrence, Sister Herdt, Sister Lunt, Sister Dixon

Jean Bentley reciting her poems

Pam Fitzpatrick reading Twas the Night Before Christmas

Sofi Nunn playing her flute

Sister Pengilley playing her flute with Elder Lawrence on the key board

Elder Mecham, Elder Lawrence, Santa, Sister Dixon, Sister Lunt

Adiaha and Santa

We feel like the Pontypridd Ward is our family:)