Corpus Christi Corless Christmas Connection

Dear Family,
Thanks to your phone calls, letters, gifts, prayers and some very special missionaries, we survived our Christmas away from home.

Monday night, we went Christmas Caroling with Bishop Workman & family, two other families and the missionaries, to six families in the 2nd Ward. We were chilled by a windy, cold drizzle-rain, but our hearts were warmed by the reception of the families we saw.

We enjoyed the Three Zone Conference and Christmas program on Tuesday the 23rd. The inspiring program featured the musical talents (vocal, piano and organ) of several of the missionaries of the Laredo, Corpus Christi and Sinton zones. We specially enjoyed our reunion with Sister Durrant and Elder Salazar who had been transferred to Laredo from Corpus Christi and the Law's and Hinckley's and Rodriguez', senior missionary couples.

For Christmas Eve we were invited to the home of the Adams family. Brother and sister Adams have 11 children, + a total of more than 100 in-laws, grand children and great grand children. They weren't all there, but there was a lot of people and kids running around having a good ol' time. They had many tasty dishes to partake of, including tamales, which as everybody here will tell you, is "THE traditional Christmas food". We brought a tin of Sam's fancy cookies and shrimp cocktail, which was classified as high class food, and it was quickly consumed; so we felt good about bringing it.

Christmas morning we celebrated "Jesus was born and we are having a party!" by hosting 8 Elders with their Christmas gifts, to open together. Of course, Mom had the toothpaste, tooth brushes and deodorant wrapped up to fill in for those who had less than the others to open. Thanks to Rachel we also had a bar of soap, socks, lip balm, etc to open as well. :) Our hearts were filled with joy and gratitude! We then had the pancake with strawberries and blueberries, eggs, sausage, bacon, cheesy potatoes and orange juice breakfast to fill our stomachs.

We enjoyed Elder Corless' (Michael) Christmas call and, thanks to Mom's perseverance, he was able to talk to most of his brothers and sisters via the wonderful three-way calling feature. It was great to hear everyone's voice and feel the enthusiasm of the moment. We are so grateful!

Christmas evening, we took a spinach salad and Mom's trifle to share at the Christmas turkey dinner at Bishop Workman's home. We were able to enjoy the company of their girls, the Thompson family and the missionary Elders as well as a great dinner! It was not the same as being with all of you, by any means, but it was wonderful still, because we knew we were where we're supposed to be, trying to the best of our abilities to do the will of Him whose birthday we gratefully celebrated.

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Thanks to you we did.

Love y'all, Mom & Dad