Dear family---(and especially 1305 27th st. ,,,like JoAnne said)   I will add to you all of our Thanksgiving happiness and fun!

 

Here we are  in Washington DC  , .Temple Visitors' Center ..our 2nd year for a DC Thanksgiving.

     Steve and  his family came up again to be with us.   It takes 6 hrs. from Charlotte NC.  Alex flew into DC from BYU. and we have Danae (Crowley) and her new husband were here also.  We had two dinners...Thurs.  9 of us   and Fri. 10 of us   because of work  and VC schedules and that made even more stuffing ( and I don't mean in the bird)  :-D!!    We had everyone here---I know that doesn't sound like many, but in our apartment 9even with 2 bed rooms that is

alot with everyone sleeping on the floor, couchs. mats, and it was so much fun.  Our little kitchen was a maxed out situation, but we did it anyway.   On our Thursday dinner we had our recent convert...Audrey Dixon...a darling black sister..we just love her, are true sisters, from way back, and we are committed to be attached to the hip and she is just wonderful and hasn't had Thanksgiving dinner with anyone for years.  She was so cute, has a great humor and keeps us laughing.  she came at  noon,  and left at 9:pm after a couple of movies at the visitors' center with all of us. 

 

Steve and Leslie and Alex came Wed. night.  Elder Tom Crowley is still in Mesa (waiting for VIsa to Ukraine) but is helping at the Mesa Visitors' Center and Elder VanWagenen is having a great time in Calif--Santa  Rosa.  They --Steve left Sunday AM put Alex on the plane here and he was home in Provo by 2:30pm.

 

Sharon (in  Omaha  and Caryn in Hawaii always have friends and that they gather  to have a great and generous times.  The rest of the Crowley gang all got together in Blackfoot ...7 families.... They turned their garage into the dining hall and decorated...each couple had a bedroom, and people and kids all over the  floors also.   They had a great time...they say they missed us and we missed them, but in all we did thank our Heavenly Father for all oour great, great, marvelous blessings and especially the great Gospel of Jesus Christ that makes us happy even through some  trials, great and small, we are so grateful.

 

We love all of you.....Thanks Elma for your sweet call..sorry I wasn't here to  talk to you in person.   Thanks for all of your great lives and efforts.

 

Tomorrow Nov. 30  The lights go on...Ambassador night  The Brazil  Amb will turn on the lights...it is a big night....the visitors' Center is all a glow and excitement.. The Diplomat night is the next night.... the Washington DC Mormon Choir perform and shows every nite --2 shows each night for all of Dec. We work everyday...even Christmas...in Dec...till Jan 1  Last year we had 75,000 people came in --not counting the ones who don't come in.  We have a great lift sized Nativity....outside....a whole room of nativitys,  16 Trees inside....a great effort... to introduce what Mormons are...what the Gospel is in it's restored fullness.  

  love to all of you.....we are so grateful for each of you....especially  the kids...love you   Elder and Sister ...grma and grpa, sister and brother      Crowley