Welcome Lance and Margie Willis and changing of the guard at the La Moneda

So here we are 21st of January and our new couple Lance and Margie Willis have arrived. They are from Mesa, Arizona and as it turns out we lived in their ward a short time in 1976. Margie was very good friends with Millie's sister Pat in Mesa as they lived in the Mesa 8th ward. Such a small world. We are excited to have them. She was a temple worker in Mesa, Arizona temple and knows Spanish for the temple. He was just released as a Bishop in a Singles ward. He has been a mission president in the Ecuador Guayaquill South mission. He replaced one of Philip's mission presidents. He has not been a temple worker but will learn quickly as his Spanish is excellent and he is quite personable. 

Welcome Margie and Lance Willis

Margie and Lance Willis

Margie and Lance Willis and Perry Roberts at the La Moneda

Margie, Lance Willis, Perry, Frances Roberts Joe Bowler at the La Moneda

Millie and Sister Fisher

Horses for the changing of the guard at the La Moneda

Salvadore Allende in the La Moneda

Salvadore Allende at the La Moneda

Pomp and Ceremony at the Changing of the Guard at the La Moneda

Millie at the La Moneda

Joe and Dixie Bowler at the La Moneda.  Their last Monday in Chile

Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard

We had a fun day downtown Santiago at the changing of the guard.  Joe and Dixie's last Monday in Chile.  They go home next Friday.  We will miss them but will go to Bunkerville, Nevada to visit them.

 

Hot weather, good friends and good food!

We are so blessed to have so many good restaurants so close by.  Steak, seafood, Peruvian food, Chilean food, American restaurants are all in walking distance well taxi distance for sure.  We love eating out with our good friends the Bowlers.  But we love going to their apartment as well for the great cakes, cookies etc that Dixie cooks.  Add Millie's cinnamon rolls and Texas cake, I am not wanting for goodies.  Of course there are no less than 4 bakeries in short walking distance as well.  I am starting to gain a little of the 25 pounds back that I have lost.

I have been called to be the trainer in the temple.  A daunting task but I will do my best.  We are seeing our friends the Bowler's going thru the realization they go home next week after 18 months.  As Millie says it will be really hard to say goodbye to our Chilean friends.  Not thinking about that right now.  Just enjoying each and every day giving our time and talent in the service of the Lord.

We really enjoy so much when the kids call and skype with us.  Wish we could do it more but we are all so busy and it is 5 hours difference from the west coast. 

We are trying to take care of ourselves physically and spiritually.  They seem to be intertwined.  Working in the temple is demanding of both.

No new pictures but will take some this week to post!

Today is January 1st, 2013 and I am thinking where did 2012 go?!!!  2012 was truly a very blessed year for us.  First and foremost it was a safe year for our family.  A few bumps along the way, but a very good year.  Highlight for Millie and I was the birth of Reagan Hope Gonsolis.  We are so happy for Nellie and Paul.  Reagan is such a joy to see on Skype.  Her chubby little cheeks and legs.  Grandchildren are such a blessing in our lives.  And now Rachel will be having number 3 in June.  I wonder how my grandparents felt when I was born?  Grandma and Grandpa Layman lived in Toppenish just a few blocks from 504 South Alder.  Grandma and Grandpa Vanderbeek lived in South Dakota probably but not sure.  It was goes without saying that I miss mom and dad.  But I have just a greater appreciation for my grandparents now that I am one.  While I was only 10 and 12 when my Layman grandparents passed away, I have unique remembrances of them.  First and foremost was Thanksgiving day dinner at their house.  All the Layman boys and their families came.  Grandma Layman made her special applesauce with red hots so it came out red.  I so looked forward to that.  Dog Race games(Chinese checkers).  Grandpa made the boards for everyone.  I wish I still had the one me made for us. 

Grandma and Grandpa Vanderbeek were so unique.  My Grandma Nellie was the consummate Grandma.  She was short probably 5 ft 2 inches and just as wide.  She was Irish by lineage and had a temper at times to go with it.  But she was so good to me.  And I loved her so much that there was never any question my first born daughter would be called Nellie.  Grandpa is of Dutch lineage from the 1600's.  He had a twinkle in his eye that was such a great blessing.  But there were many times when he would be the stern grandpa that scared me too!  He could do and fix anything from houses to cars etc. 

Millie and I with our dear friends Dixie and Joe Bowler

So I hope that my grandchildren will remember that their grandparents love them so much.  We miss them and think about them everyday.  We ask Heavenly Father's blessings be with them each and every day.  We hope they will remember that we served as missionaries in 2012-2013 for the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Chile.  Our most sincere heartfelt desire that they would want to serve and preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ one day as well.  And would want to marry in a temple that can seal them for time and all eternity.  Looking forward to a great 2013!