You know you are starting to get old when . . .

 . . . When you go to the local senior citizen's center to hear your high school Madrigal sing and one of the ladies selling at the boutique asks you if you are there for the senior meal! Needless to say, I didn't buy anything they were selling! Really? Do I look like a senior citizen?

Madrigals with Santa in the middle. I am not pictured as I might be mistaken as Mrs. Claus.

You know you are starting to get old when . . . you announce in Relief Society that you are about to become a grandmother! This is wonderful news, of course. But suddenly the wrinkles around my eyes are starting to look like furrows in the grain field. Excuse my rural upbringing, but that is the best simile I can come up with. Another problem is emerging: my new handle. I don't want to be called "Grandma."  I am currently taking suggestions in this regard. Here are some frontrunners: Grammee, Nana (too Peter Pan dog-like), Grandmommy, Groovy Gran, Nan, and Professor. I like Nan, but my kids all think it sounds ridiculous.

 . . . when the lights at Temple Square don't seem to be color coordinated any more. And it felt like the lines at Disneyland walking around the Square. But we did run into our missionary's companion who was delayed getting to Poland. She was temporarily reassigned to TS, and we got to hug her and hear her about her love for our daughter just two days before she flew to Poland and hugged our daughter. A true tender mercy!

Our missionary with her companions at the MTC. Now all three are in Poland.

You know you are starting to get old when . . . you go skiing with your daughter and she is four months pregnant and you are having a harder time buckling up your ski boots than she is . . . when you are thrilled to successfully get off the ski lift and enjoy the view---pine trees displaying powder white snow against a crystal blue sky----almost more than the ski run down . . . when you are thrilled when you are still in one piece when you finish for the day and you've only made three ski runs. . . . when the large amount of snow powder scares you to death.

 . . . when you are holding on so tightly (especially compared to the free spirited daughter behind you!) that you can't straighten out your fingers until the cruise ship is back from the Bahamas, and you have flown home from Florida to Utah.

And finally, you know when you are old when your social calendar means the fun in funeral viewings. Five in two months!

Christmas in Poland

We talked to our missionary for a brief 40 minutes on Christmas Day! She sounded happy, but tired. Below are pictures taken by the senior missionary couple, the Harbers, in Lodz on Christmas Day. One of the elders received some interesting red Christmas long johns.

The sisters received scarves. Siostra Harber, Pritchett, and Steadman.When we talked to Siostra Steadman she said she enjoys meeting new people on her mission. One of her investigators, a man she contacted to on the street, said he continued to meet with the missionaries because of the good feelings he had. Of course we know that is the Holy Ghost.

After eating lots of fish on Christmas Eve (Polish/Catholic Christmas tradition), the senior missionaries fed them steak sandwiches. Yum! According to our missionary, children must recite a poem or sing a song to Santa before they can receive a present.

A Missionary Christmas

 Just one week until we get to speak to our missionary in Poland! Time limit--40 minutes. And then we won't hear her voice until Mother's Day. I hope time slows down next Saturday.

Warsaw Zone Christmas Training.



I did receive the package on Saturday! Also the "dear elders letter" from all the cousins, and the RS. thanksgiving card, and my roommate's wedding annoucement a month ago. It was funny because all of the dates said Nov. 12 and I opened them Dec. 12. So really mail takes about a month to come. I am excited to open the letters each day! I feel like I already had Christmas.



Blizzards in Poland

This week has been a snowy week. I have learned that there is no such thing as snow days for missionaries. When everyone stays home because of the weather, we are out heading to where they are at. However, I have no desire to ice skating anytime soon because we already tend to do it often walking from place to place. We have learned it is generally faster to walk everywhere than take a tram. We did unfortunately take a tram to try and contact some formers----stop reading anyone who may be claustrophobic---we were packed in there like sardines. I do believe that I could have taken my feet off the ground, and I wouldn't have moved. Then the tram in front of us broke down. So everyone had to get off, and walk through the deep snow. Tram after tram full of people had to get off. It was a great adventure!

A tram in Lodz, Poland, but the picture is taken in October before the blizzards.

Yesterday, we had an incredible blizzard to the point that all of our appointments cancelled. We went tracting all day long. I came home so tired, but thank you once again for the boots. They allowed to me walk in unpaved sidewalks all day without my feet getting wet.

After one tough tracking time, we ran into an investigator that we haven't been able to meet for two weeks. One of the first things he said is, "I love the Book of Mormon. I am on page 81." Can I just say that hearing that may the whole week a lot better? Oh, there is nothing better to hear.

Thanksgiving in Poland

This blog is out of order since I just found these pictures on Facebook courtesy of the Senior Missionary Couple, Brother and Sister Harber.  Clearly, they don't know Siostra Steadman's ability to drop things!

On Thanksgiving we got together as a district and had a two hour Thanksgiving dinner. It was fun, and of course, I ate too much and regretted  it when we were walking up the 8 flights of stairs to our appointment that night. We also had a Thanksgiving party with the branch on Saturday. It was fun for them to taste American food. It was a great success---lots of members, less actives and investigators attended.

I am not sure why the Polish are famous for sausage. They make some great food, but I definitely would not say that is one of them. However, with beet and horseradish sauce on them they do improve.

According to the Facebook entry by Sister Harber, this was taken at FHE playing Minute to Win it.

I love the members. They are great!

Pizza in Poland

The senior missionary couple and I are now friends on FaceBook! There is Pizza Hut in Poland! Thank you to all the senior missionaries who are there for the younger ones. How grateful I am for this senior couple from Las Vegas who choose to serve the Lord.

Ice Skating in Poland after the baptism. Look at the size of those flakes.

We are still working with some great people who are making some great progress. I hope I will get to stay in Lodz to keep working with them.

I think we have gotten more snow than you :) And luckily it hasn't gotten that cold yet, Dad. We have gotten to -17 C. I think that is the coldest.

Siostra Steadman's first baptism in Lodz!

Siostra Steadman in the back by President Nielson.

The baptism on Saturday was great. We did have a lot of investigators there, which was wonderful, however we only had one member. I was a little frustrated with the members for not showing up, until I found out that the Elders didn't invite them ( We had already asked them 3x who they wanted us to call, and they said that they would take care of it). I guess they are 19 year boys. But the baptism was in this amazing hotel on the top floor with windows all around. You could see the whole city (well kind of there was a blizzard). It made it even more cool because we were in this warm place watching the snow fall. It was beautiful. It was a great reminder of why we are here.

So background story on Romuald- He was the +1 I mentioned earlier in a previous email. He randomly came to church after we gave him a flyer. He started meeting with the Elders and decided to be baptized. Also, the next week his mom came with him. She investigated the church in 1995 and had a baptism date and then got scared off. However, now she is coming weekly and working towards baptism. So you never know what will happen.