This week was special due to so many of you. You will never know how much the emails, cards, calls and packages meant to us. We are so blessed to have so many great friends and family.
We started the week like any other. To The Archives on Monday to work. Annie stayed home on Tuesday to make pies for Christmas and rest. We watched Christmas movies and read the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve. Our first family skype started this evening. Andrew and his family skyped with us. We were not thinking and did not take their family picture on skype at this time. Due to this lack of thought, their picture is missing from the skype pictures below.
The Paul Smart family has a tradition to always go to Temple Square on Christmas Even. .We were overjoyed to skype with Kathie and Matt and family, and Aaron and Becky at Temple Square on Christmas Eve. It was unbelievable that even while in London we could experience being there.
Christmas morning we slept in until 8:00 a.m. We did the traditional unwrapping of the Christmas gifts. After indulging on our favorite candies and goodies, Annie got to work in the kitchen making rolls. At Noon Elder and Sister Watt joined us for Christmas dinner. They quickly returned home after we ate so that we and they could skype with the families. It was just like being in Utah to be in each of your homes on Christmas morning. We sure loved this time with all of you.
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| Annie making Christmas rolls in her new apron. |
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| Christmas morning with our Christmas "stash" |
The day after Christmas was one of pure lazy resting!!! It was wonderful. It has a name -- Boxing Day. On Friday we ventured out to do a little shopping and walked around discovering parts of Richmond that we had not yet explored. Saturday was a busy day. We had afternoon tickets to the "Christmas Extravaganza" at the Royal Albert Hall. Wow! The building was impressive. The show was filled with music from the Royal Orchestra, dancing (from ballet to western can can) musical songs, and opera. I guess neither of us are very cultural because we could have done without the opera. They had fun and interesting light shows going on during much of the music. Annie mostly liked the idea that she was actually at a performance in the Royal Albert Hall.
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| Royal Albert Hall |
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| Inside the Royal Albert Hall |
We then went on a round about train trip (due to many of the train lines being down for service) to our Staines Ward for a baptism. It was an awesome experience to witness and share in this. After Jane Vera Murdin was baptized she asked Elder Smart to confirm her in church the next day. He was honored and, of coarse, did a great job on Sunday.
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| Dee, Jane (newly baptized) and Annie |
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| Spencer and Cyntha Stagg family skyped |
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| Matt and Kathie Cherrington family skyped |
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| Eli & Mikell Stagg family skyped |
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| Velynn Matson family skyped |
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| Steve and Rachelle Smith family skyped |
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| Aaron and Audra Stagg family skyped |
We are again grateful this Christmas season for our friends and family. Thank you all so much for remembering us and sharing with us.
We know the Church is true and that the best Christmas gift we can give is to serve Christ. We are grateful to be here serving.
We love you all!!!!
Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie, Elder and Sister Smart.
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