Wow! The weeks go zipping by so quickly. This past week was Nativity Week. We did something with that project Mon-Sat. Many of our YSAs were right there every day/evening too helping our Branch President's wife pull off this major event. Monday was "transform the cultural hall ceiling" day. We helped install a huge white parachute to the center ceiling with 14 strands of white lights on top of it and lighted "Tangled" lanterns and other decore hanging from it. Gary climbed up and down the ladder so many times hooking up ropes and wires to the

walls and draping tulle along the ropes that he could hardly move that night. Brenda was in charge of check-in of loaned items - for decorating and for display. She had lined up helpers too. She spent 4 evenings at the church doing that. Brenda had no time to prepare lessons, so Gary taught everything this week - the Institute class Thursday evening and both of the Munch & Mingle lessons! He did great! Brenda made those M&M lunches, the lunch for our missionary district meeting and refreshments for Institute.

Friday night we slipped away to the "Luminaria Walk" on the street (and in the gardens) where the historic Ball Brothers' homes are located. Two of the homes were open - and all decorated for Christmas. The floors were inlaid wood - beautiful. We enjoyed the walk, the lights, the music, and the museum - and the Christmas feeling despite the warm weather. Saturday we spent from 9am - 11pm at the church - ushering as people from the community and LDS members came to see the displays and hear the musical numbers. It was a delightful day - with about 700 guests. The ladies with decorating skills did an amazing job transforming church rooms into wonderlands.

Even the bulletin boards, hallway alcoves and foyers were dressed for the occasion. The young Elders showed the Luke 2 video and gave copies away to each family. Many non-members came for the children's piano event, the interfaith (First Baptist Church Bell Choir, Soprano singer, Lutheran Church Organist) and Ball State University (harp quartet, choir, saxophone quartet) concert. The evening

concert was an excellent 90 minute program put on by members of the Muncie Wards - music, narration, video background, etc. Afterwards we met together in a classroom and one of our 19 yr old young ladies opened her mission call - to Guatemala! She is our first missionary to be called with the new lower missionary age change - and is thrilled to be going now instead of two years from now.

Sunday morning was an early trip to West Lafayette to attend church with Kevin, Dacia, and family. In the afternoon we watched Kaitlyn perform in the Purdue University Music Organization Christmas Show. She was one of only 15 children that auditioned into this event. It will be on PBS next December so they don't allow photography - but they caught Kaitlyn in their promo photo. See it at http://purdue.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Purdue-Christmas-Show-2012/G0000g7MWViFkK3M/I00006IOv8BVkgcI. She's on the right in the red velvet dress - with the big smile! She did great - and can now sing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus! We enjoyed the evening with Kevin & Dacia and the kids. Despite weather in the 60s, there was fog on our drive home. We missed the First Presidency Devotional while driving home but caught it on lds.org the next day. Great! We love that every year and were happy that Ryan & Chelsea got to attend in the Conference Center. We slept for 9 1/2 hours Sunday night! Caught us up - and we are doing great.