From Bristol to Boise with Faith

  Original Map From Amy: A whale! Original Map From Kyle: Deep Sea Diver

Gingerbread house from Doris' brother Steve  From Doris’ brother Stuart I've been told that if you are cold, you should be in a corner. It is usually 90 degrees there.

  From Doris: The first Noel

 From Doris: Our son, Matthew, was physically protected. Friday there was a police/citizen shooting at one of his bus stops. It happened shortly after he exited the bus. The flooding currently happening in Washington is not where Matthew lives. I am grateful for cancer researchers who discovered the targeted therapy I am receiving. Paul will be sharing his organ talents this evening. He has practiced diligently. I had fewer GI side effects this past week.  We were able to watch the Tabernacle Choir’s 2024 Christmas Concert via PBS. We had many sunny days this past week. It was warmer than normal as well.  My latest blood test showed that I am not diabetic.

  From Doris: Our family has walked 1208.67 miles to Bristol. Paul has a co-worker who told him that after he quit having infusions his joint pain went away.  We successfully made a sourdough starter this week. St. Luke’s Eagle Medical Campus has Disney themed face masks for children. “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” We have two bonsai plants growing. One more seed has started to sprout so we may end up having three plants from the seeds Jeana gave us. Every piece of the Mama Says Nativity has a quote on the underside of it.

  From Doris: My joint and muscle pain have not subsided since my last infusion. 

  From Doris: We were able to serve together in the temple this week. 

  From Doris: 3 Nephi 11:10-11 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

  From Doris: Elder David A. Bednar You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out, ‘No one understands [what I am going through]. …’ No human being, perhaps, knows. But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands.” And why? Because “He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did.”

  From Paul: Cycle 7 Week 2 This Christmas season has been a blessing to me personally. In previous years I prepared some Christmas music on the organ and provided a concert at our church in my efforts to light the world a little. The last time I did it was probably in 2019. This year, Doris expressed her support and encouragement for me to do it again. That means time that I would devote to practicing – at home at our church. Until the last couple of weeks I practiced at home. I used my headphones because I recognize that listening to somebody practice is tiring. I discovered something that I found useful in the course of my preparation. I have a metronome app on my phone, which I can use to ramp up the tempo on my music, as I used to during my college days. It works even with headphones, because while I am hearing the organ through the headphones, inside my right headphone I have my Beats Studio bud in my right ear. I can hear the metronome tick and work up the consistency in...