New Year's Eve Night!!

Tonight we are actually going out for New Year's Eve.  How exciting!  Actually we have too many plans and will have to play it by ear - as to what we can do.

1.  Marissa has to work 6:00-12:00 midnight
2.  Robert has the Stake New Year's Dance
3.  Devon, Mark and I are invited to the Jammin' in the New Year at Crestwood 1st Ward
and
4.  We are invited to join our neighbors for dinner at FUJI Japanese Steak House.

So Marissa left around 5:40 pm for work.  We reminded her to be extra careful driving home because of drunks on the road - especially after midnight.

We got read and headed out around 6:15 for our dinner. We met the Green's (Harley, Maureen, Aaron and Alex) at FUJI Japanese Steak House for dinner!  There was about a 20 minute wait (which will mess up getting Robert to the dance on time, but that's okay).  We also met up with our other neighbors the Heagy's - they were eating there with Chris's mother.  We had a wonderful visit with them.  Once we were seated the fun really began.  All 4 boys ordered the Ribeye Steak … so did Betsy.  Mark ordered teriyaki salmon and chicken, Maureen had the teriyaki chicken and I'm not sure what Harley ordered.  We had such a good time talking and being entertained by our chef.  He did a great job!

Since 2 boys don't like photos we had to sneak some:
Devon, Aaron, Robert and Alex at the table

Robert intently watching the chef cook our meal with flair :)

the onion volcano steam

the onion volcano on fire - it even spit out lava

Devon had white rice

We enjoyed delicious soup, salad and fried rice.  He then served delicious vegetables and our dinners.  

Alex and Robert intensely watching

Dinner is almost served - look at those Ribeyes

Betsy is so excited!  She loves Hibachi grilled food!  The dinner was excellent and the company even better.  Maureen is like my best friend even though Aaron goes to St. X and Alex is at middle school, we have remained close!

Once dinner was over we took Robert to the dance, and then dropped Devon off at the Greens to watch the Hobbit.

Mark and I went home to enjoy a movie of our own.  Vicki and Rusty O'Brien picked up Robert and a bunch of kids from the dance to take them back to their house for a New Year's Eve Party.  Robert had a great time there.  Marissa was able to get off work 30 minutes early so she came home and changed and then went to the party as well.  She and Robert stayed until 1:00 am.  They had a great time. Marissa and Meg are best friends and hadn't seen each other much over the break so this was good.

We toasted in the new year when everyone got home - that is Robert, Marissa, Devon and mom did - Mark had already gone to bed.

2013 was a great year!  We have much to be thankful for!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR.  May 2014 be our best year yet!

Week 34 - After Christmas

Hey guys!!!

How was your Christmas?? I hope you all got everything you wanted haha :) I sure did! 

It has seriously been such a fun and rewarding week! It was Sister Casaol's birthday on Monday so President Querido and his family took us out to a nice restaurant outside of our area! It was so nice and super good food. (perks of having a companion who is family friends with your mission president haha ) 

So for Christmas Eve we got to eat at a members home in our area and it was so good! Filipino style spaghetti (yes there is a difference), fish, adobo, minudo and a whole ton of rice haha. Then we had to come home early at 6 because there are a ton of drunks on the street Christmas Eve so we had 4 sister missionaries who live next door to us come over and celebrate christmas and have a sleepover! It was super fun. 

Christmas Eve Dinner

At a members house for dinner

Then for Christmas we had no one to teach because all our investigators were out of town or busy obviously so we went around to our members homes and shared messages about the Savior and, of course, ate tons of food! Every house we went to had food and made us eat it! I was so stuffed by the end of the day.  I absolutely LOVE it here in Lubao and would not mind staying here for a while, haha. Lubao is more city than Hermosa was and there are actually a couple restaurants and a grocery store here!! Jackpot haha. But the reason I really love Lubao is because of the people here. 

Jessica with a member

Jessica opening Christmas Presents

Jessica and two sisters sitting on a tyrke 

1. I love my companion Sister Casaol and we get along so great. We work hard but we also play hard haha and are always smiling and laughing. 
2. My housemates are hilarious and we just enjoy everyday together and work hard together to bring more people to christ. 
3. My Zone is amazing and we are all so close and if anyone is struggling in there area or homesick we help one another and pick them up- it's really like we are a family now. 
4. My Branch here are such hard workers and their focus is always on the missionary work and helping us to achieve our goals. And last but definitely not least I LOVE my investigators here. They are so open minded and willing to open their doors and their hearts to us so that we can help them receive the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. We now have 8 people who will be getting baptized within January and February and they are all so excited! Its amazing to see how much the Lord's hand is in this work. When we got here we opened the area which means we started from scratch. No investigators and only 5 members who live in our area. But with faith and the help of Heavenly Father we are finding much success here and helping others improve their lives and be happier through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jessica and Sister Calhaun - her first companion

The Lubao sisters

Mustache anyone?

I love it here, I love my mission- I cant imagine my life now without it, and of course I LOVE YOU ALL! :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Make this one the best one yet!

Love ALWAYS,

Sister Lowe :)

Christmas Day

CHRISTMAS MORNING!

This morning was amazing!  The kids actually slept in - it felt so good.  I couldn't believe they slept until 9:00 am.  Such a contrast to when they used to wake up at 6 or 7 AM for the festivities.  

ANTICIPATION!  At the stairs waiting to come down!!!

Marissa was in LOVE at first sight!  Just a month before she dropped her iPhone 4s on the bathroom floor and shattered the screen.  The phone still worked but the glass top was broken.  Amazingly Santa brought a iPhone 5s for her.  She was so happy she fell over on the floor...

Pure Joy

She's so happy!

Robert really REALLY wanted Sperry Top Sider shoes.  He didn't really tell anyone what he wanted for Christmas but Santa knew - Santa brought him the exact pair he wanted.  Pretty amazing!

the perfect shoe for Robert

Devon had a huge smile when he saw that Santa brought the newest Poke'mon game "Y" for him.  

A kid all over again

Christmas was filled with wonderful presents … from fun food ones like … Devon getting CocoPuffs and Robert and Marissa getting Bisquick and Chocolate Chip Morsels. 

2 boxes of CocoPuffs - Devon's favorite

Bisquick to make pancakes (Chocolate chip pancakes) YUM!!!

And Dad got his fruit mix that he loves!  Everyone is happy

A special treat was that Jessica wrote a letter to each of the kids.  It was so special!

Devon brought big surprises from BYU.  He gave Robert a BYU Soccer ball!  Oh- joy!!!

brothers!  Robert loved his present

Devon brought a BYU Basketball for Dad all the way from BYU!

Mark liked his basketball

The D men - Devon and Dad!

the BOYS had a BALL!

Devon bought Marissa a sweater from American Eagle.  She loved it!

Mom so happy Devon is back home!

Devon got mom a new book and lots of chocolate!  He doesn't know that she is trying to give up chocolate … she can't resist.

Next it was Marissa's turn.  She gave mommy a $40 give card to Ann Taylor and some chocolate!  More chocolate!

Big Hugs for the girls

Marissa gave Dad a gift card and book!

Dad loves his Baldacci books!!!

Marissa gave Devon the 3DSi game "X" to go with the "Y" game Santa brought!

Robert - Marissa - Devon!

Marissa gave Robert lots of cool new clothes from American Eagle!

Robert got a BYU Sweatshirt from MOM!

Robert got Marissa a cool pair of pants from American Eagle that go perfect with the sweater that Devon got her … and the boots that Mom got her...

TWINS - Robert and Marissa

Robert got Mark $50 to Olive Garden - more YUM!!!

Mark and Robert

Marissa was thrilled!  Look at her face

Mom got Marissa the combat boots - she loved them.

Christmas Eve

We waited all day for tonight's activities … Marissa had to work at 9:30 am but she got off at 5:00 pm so it worked out perfect.

The day started out slow but quickly picked up.  Devon had to have blood work done at 12:00.  Mark took him there while Betsy took Robert had some shopping.  We went all over … Target, American Eagle, Walgreens (for passport photos)… and then we delivered cookies to friends … Zimmermans, Denahy's, Craigs, Golds, Olson's, Rolfes, and Greens.

We didn't get home until 4:00 which was perfect for getting things ready for tonight's Shepherd dinner.
Betsy prepared grilled salmon, shrimp cocktail, teriyaki chicken kabobs, crab legs, mediterranean vegetables, rolls … YUM!!!!

After Marissa got home everyone got dressed up in their shepherd's costumes and met on the foyer floor for our candle light dinner.

Like Father Like Son
Mark and Robert

The Victorian Christmas Tree

Dad and Mom

Marissa with Jasper, Devon and Robert

Everyone loves to dress up in the shepherd costumes.  We have been doing this for 13 years.  Who would have thought that it would turn into a tradition.  I dressed up the kids just once back when we lived in England and it stuck.  The kids loved it!  Who would have know something like that would make such a big difference.

I'm so glad that the kids love this tradition.  Hopefully they will be touched by the true meaning of Christmas and not focused on presents under the tree.