The 30th Chronicle

Holy cow! I can't believe #ChristInChristmas is THIS week! I'm seriously super pumped to see all your wonderful posts on Saturday. I think it's cool we are able to use technology (and social media) to connect while making a lasting impression on the world. You may not know who is going to see what you put up on your page, but I can guarantee that many will read your post and be uplifted. It all comes back to this week's theme for #LightTheWorld which is in fact "Light the World". What a perfect way to share the light of Christ!! By inviting those you know to join in on the #ChristInChristmas event, you can even take it a step further. So with that smooth transition, if you haven't already looked at the event... THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE. If you haven't marked yourself 'Going'... RETHINK YOUR DECISION. If you haven't invited your friends yet... INVITE THEM! *steps off his soap box* See y'all on December 8th (Saturday)!

What are your favorite Christmas traditions? I'm trying to think of what Elder Norman and I can do to make this year special (as it is both our first Christmas in the field). I will say that one of my favorite traditions as a kid was dumping mattresses, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and such in the family room, and then having a sleepover with all of my siblings (after we watched the Grinch and played Mario Kart). Another favorite tradition and memory of mine is having "stocking hunts"! Every year we wake up to a clue next to where our stocking had hung on the fireplace. We would then spend the next hour romping around the house looking for our stockings. Alas, I cannot do either of those this year =( I will be able to participate in one tradition though! That is to give my "Gift to Jesus". My family always gathers around the tree on Christmas Eve to write on a slip of paper our "gift to Jesus”.  We then put our slip of paper in a pretty little gold box to place next to the manger. What we write down isn't a material item, but rather a service we can render or a change we can make for the better. What will your "Gift to Jesus" be this year?

Elder Norman's birthday was awesome! He received all his packages last week and has already opened them =) He got a few more letters from family this week too. Multiple missionaries and members wished him "Happy Birthday" including the Mission President's wife, Sister Ence. I gave him a signed tie, we popped balloons with tack-tipped nerf-darts, and last but not least... Miranda (someone we are teaching) pulled 19 candles out-of-the-blue to see if Elder Norman could blow them all out (see picture). One reason I share all of that is the fact that every companion I've had since Day 1 on the mission has had their birthday when I was comps with them. Elder Sharp in the Missionary Training Center, Elder Durocher my trainer, Elder Foran my first born, and Elder Norman my second boy. Kinda fun!

Kia Kaha!

Elder Brady