2020 - Winding Down

 Once again, we anticipated snow, and once again, it was COLD.  But no sign of the feathery white stuff falling from the heavens.

We had a district council meeting today over Zoom.  Our district leader sent out the agenda yesterday, and it was comprehensive and lengthy.  But we still managed to finish in an hour.  It was all handled so officially and almost professionally that it - even after months of meeting with them - leaves me in awe of these young people.  We go over all the business of the day, there is a training session, another kind of a training session, and finally we account for the tasks we agreed to last week.  

One of the training sessions is called a GAP.  If you have ever traveled by train in the UK, you know that as you get on and off, you are reminded to "Mind the Gap."  That means watch out for that few inches of space between the platform and the train, where, if you misstep, you could cause serious injury.

I don't know how that related to the training session, but a companionship is assigned a GAP, which is actually a five-minute discussion with someone they are teaching.  They role-play how they will teach this person, each companion taking the role of teacher and teachee, alternately.  Today, our young elders taught a valuable lesson on prayer, using scriptures and personal experience.  

They have to go to the church for internet, and it was obviously cold in the building!


When they are finished, the rest of us are invited to say what we liked about it, and then any gentle suggestions for improvement.  The atmosphere of every one we have been a part of is always very positive and building.  

I continue to marvel at these 20-year olds.  I've been in more than a few council meetings run by leaders from bishops to stake presidents, and these young men and women could lead out with the best of them.

COVID numbers are continuing to climb with around 5,000 new cases being reported daily.  Despite stringent measures leaders worry what lies ahead.  Most of the new cases are the newer strain of COVID, which is no more deadly, but so much more contagious.

We walked to the town center today, stopped at the bank for some cash, walked through the covered market (for old time's sake!), and found that our favorite little chocolate store was open! - but only today.  We are not sure how they got approved as an "essential" store, but if you know me, you know that I certainly would consider chocolate essential.

I never tire of snapping pictures of our backyard castle.

The street outside of a normally very busy mall.

Melissa sent this last year and I put it in the entryway.  This is perfect for New Year's Eve.  It's SK and me!


There were a lot of people out and about, but the only places to go were the grocery stores.  I'm sure, like us they were preparing for New Year's Eve.  Not much to prepare.  I will make SK his favorite cookies and we have some popcorn and a bottle of sparkling apple juice.  We don't have goblets, but we'll make do.  

It will be a sweet little celebration.


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