Dec 25-31, 2022

SUNDAY

While we were driving yesterday, I got a text from Petra that she was sick. She asked if I would play the piano for church. I had not had time to practice but am familiar with the Christmas hymns. Doug gave me a priesthood blessing to help me. I felt calm about it. I just wanted to not distract from the meeting by making too many mistakes. It was a tender mercy and an answer to that prayer and blessing that I was able to play all the hymns without difficulty. Even the two Dutch hymns (one I had never played before this morning) went well. A few times, I realized that I was literally being blessed in that very moment. I feel so grateful and thankful for a Heavenly Father that cares even about the smallest details of our lives.

We were invited to spend First Christmas Day with Alja and Henk. Since several holidays in The Netherlands are celebrated twice, it makes it easier to gather with family and friends on one of the days. They are having their kids come on Second Christmas Day (Dec 26). We love getting to know of the traditions here. Even though similar, there are differences that are fun to learn about and participate in.

We had a delicious dinner! We grilled our meat at the table and had several sides as well. Alja and Henk each made their favorite traditional Christmas dessert. Alja's family always had a No-Bake (very rich!) cake and Henk made a Chocolate Mousse. Both were delicious! How we love these dear friends!

Doug, Gerrit, Norma, Henk, Alja

After we came home, we called the kids; Glauser kids one by one and a group call with the Stewart kids that was super fun! We haven't had a group call for a while and it was good to see everyone on the same screen.

MONDAY

For Second Christmas Day we were invited to go to Martin and Ilona Kleijweg's along with the VandeWal's and Elder Palmer and Elder McClure. Martin is our Bishop and they have three children, Benta (13), Mees (10) and Nomi (8). Nomi will be baptized Jan 8. We had more traditional Dutch food. Lots of breads! After lunch we played the game Keer op Keer 2. What a fun time we had with this good family!

We dropped the Elders back at their apartment in Utrecht and then on home to Gouda.

Marcia, Eldon McClure, Erik Palmer, Doug, Gerrit, Norma

TUESDAY

Doug and I made a quick trip to Sligro to get more food for the Warm Hub Initiative and to order meat and rolls for Zone Conferences next week. (Why does so much of our time here revolve around food?😂). Even though we have not had any people come to the Warm Hub nights at the Rotterdam Stake, we hope it will soon have a few show up. In the meantime, we saw some of the Elders and Sisters and gave them a bowl of soup for their dinner. Tonight we saw Elders Daniel Ornelas, Logan Brown, Benjamin Nixon and Jared Yuyes and Sisters Melody Morrise and Elise Conlee.

Doug, Melody Morrise, Elise Conlee

WEDNESDAY

We were back at the Rotterdam Stake Center again today to set up the food and tables for the Warm Hub. Again, no one from the community came, but we saw more of our missionaries. Daniel Ornelas, Logan Brown, Sophia Packard and Kalynn Allen. A sister from the Stake was there as well. So we are getting to know more people but would love to see some success with the community.

THURSDAY

A new record for the number of missionaries at our house for dinner! The office missionaries have a standing invitation for Thursdays, but the word is getting out and is also getting a little exaggerated. Today in the office kitchen, I mentioned to Sister Doyle about dinner. Elder van der Put was in there, turned and said "was I not supposed to hear that?" I said of course he and his companion for the day, Elder Cannon should come. Then Sister Doyle said, "Oh you know that the Glauser's have everyone at the office over for dinner every Thursday". I had to correct her because it is not actually an open invitation to everyone who happens to be at the office on a Thursday. We only have 8 plates and 9 forks!😂 Tonight we had already our Utrecht Ward Elders so this brought the count to 9 missionaries. I took some paper plates and plastic cutlery from the office in order to have enough dishes for dinner and then headed home to get dinner ready. Doug called a while later and asked if there would be enough food if he brought home two more Elders. Thankfully, I had already baked more potatoes and stopped for salad and plenty of Kaas Broodjes. So tonight there were 13 of us!

We absolutely love having the missionaries in our home!

Tess Flake, Richard Hoopes, Landon Thomas, Trent Cannon, Johan van der Put, Erick Palmer, Dallin Doxford, Nathan De Jong, Eldon McClure, Marcia, Kamryn Doyle, Doug, Mason Zarges

FRIDAY

Our grandson, Adam Browm was endowed today in the Dallas Texas Temple. These are the times we would love to be home and be able to participate with the family. We are so pleased for his decision to serve a mission! He begins the MTC at home on Monday, Jan 2, then goes to the MTC in Mexco City on Jan 18 before going on to the Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission.

Tonight we went to a roller skating performance of 101 Dalmations. Emmalynn Markus, a YW from the Utrecht Ward, was one of the skaters. It was held in a community Center about 20 minutes from Gouda. We were so happy to be able to support her and cheer her on!

Pamela, Emmalynn and David Markus. Emmalynn Markus, Marcia, Doug

SATURDAY

Mathieu and Annelies De Haas invited us to celebrate the New Year with them. We loved being in their home, making Oiliebollen and Apple beignets. We had a nice dinner of finger foods (traditional New Year's Eve type food), lit some sparklers and played UNO Flip. The neighborhood fireworks were going off continually. Netherlands starts with fireworks early in the day and goes all through the night, with an especially big firing between midnight and 1:00. Everyone seems to love the fireworks and this is the way they ring in the New Year.