Week of Dec. 28 2014 to Jan. 4. 2015

 Happy New Year!!! I really can't believe it is a brand new year, I know this is a cliché but where did the past year go? Some days seem to be extremely long but the weeks and months sure do seem to fly and the years pass by so quickly that we just blink our eyes and another one has gone.
We spent had an enjoyable week with some special sessions in the temple, Tuesday we had a special family session for one of the workers families, she had a brother and sister come to get their endowments, it was a really great session and most of the temple workers went on the session. After that we went with the Roesberrys to Monte Alban, it is a big ruin up on a mountain. It was pretty cool very different than Teotehuacan near Mexico City, not as elaborate as far as carvings, etc. but still very impressive and large! It was so crowded because of the holidays. We will have to go another time when it is less crowded.

This is one of the burial sites at Monte Alban, inside ate shelves where
there were funerary pots, etc. 

You can see the hill in the background, that is another pyramid, they are not as tall
as thee ones in Mexico City, but it is as large of a community.

I'm not very good at getting things in chronological order, this is New Years day
dinner, Chris Norman had friends from the States, poor John was under the weather and
has been for a week, we had a great meal and great conversation.  

Last night we got together at the Peña's house for King's bread and hot
chocolate, there was us the Norman's, Roesberry's Sister Zarco, The perez family,and her sister
and nephew. The 1bread had 4 babies so I am not sure who will host the party on the 2nd of
February or if we will just let that tradition pass. We have lots' of Kings bread left and will
have it for desert tonight as we are getting together here for Sunday dinner.

Two kinds of King's bread

 

Artifacts in the museum at Monte Alban

 

Grandpa in front of a dwelling at Mont Alban, in most of the dwellings they
buried their dead right in the houses and went on living in them.
 

This is the base for the temple, it is not as tall as as large as the ones in Mexico City, but it is still pretty impressive
 the temple itself was most likely made of lumber.
 

more artifacts

We really enjoyed talking and skypeing with so many of you this week it is great to hear and see you, we miss you and are so happy to know you are doing good. We love you and think of you all the time. You are always in our hearts thought and prayers.

This week we should get back to our normal schedule again now that the holidays are over. Today we are going to a ward in the Atoyac stake with the Roesberrys, they have a friend whose baby is being blessed. Church starts at one and then we are having dinner at five.

We are happy and healthy and are we love serving here in Oaxaca, we love being in the temple and feeling the peace there, and knowing we are doing the work that our Savior wants us to do. We love Him with our whole hearts and are so grateful for the multitude of blessings He constantly pours down on us. The gospel is true and is the way to true and constant happiness and joy. We love you.