The People In Your Neighborhood

Best things this week were the people we got to be around. Of course.

1. We went to a Christmas concert for Lutheran High School so we could see Travis (red sweater) and Mia (gray sweater) performing handbells. We have known Travis and Mia since they were tiny. Mia was a Sunbeam when I started as Primary President in KC first ward. Now she would like her friends to call her Max. But we are grandfathered in to calling her Mia since we have known her as that for so long.

2. This is actually from November, when general RS president was in our "neighborhood" and got pictures with Kara and Marta. Kara married Alex Ramierz and now has 4 kids. Marta, her mom, still lives down 83rd street from us and always has things to say. She has drama in her heart. We saw her with Jerri Peterson (Doug Winningham's grandmother) at O'Neil's when we took the kids there yesterday for dinner. (Doug is fine. He likes working retail at Nothing Bundt Cakes and then coming home to play video games.)

 

3. On Monday we went with two Briarwood families who make our lives better to the Ice Terrace and Giving Machines at Crown Center. These people are just so very good. These ones in particular, but they represent to me the goodness of the people who are raising good kids to be friends with our kids. Kansas City is just full of them.

The DalBello-Stengers at the Giving Machines

Dan McCall, Oliver's dad, at the Giving Machines

 Us with Elder Hancock, who used to serve in KC First Ward

Hattie, Opal, Oliver, Orchid, Griff and Eve. Such great kids!

4. I spent quite a bit of time supporting a project our stake helped with donating and distributing toys, socks, underwear, hygiene items, food and prayers to families in need in South KC. The best part was gathering together with all the helping people. Our missionaries and volunteers from our stake were shoulder to shoulder with volunteers from a mostly white mega church (Forerunner Church, associated with International House of Prayer) in South KC, a mostly black small church in south KC (Bethel Family Worship Center) and people from KCPD South Patrol all working together with great joy and camaraderie. It was wonderful!

Matthew and Catherine Mountford, from our ward. Their mom Emily is in the back. So much goodness.

Miss Tonesa and her 5 kids. Willing to have their pictures taken in line for gifts.

Giant lineup of volunteers from all the organizations

Pastor Dennis Lester (Bethel Family Worship) and Pastor Lenny LaGuardia (Forerunner Church)

Julie Hanson (KC Stake) and Athena Runyan (Forerunner Church)

Janet and Roy, staffing the Mobile Market food bus

A volunteer pastor praying out loud for healing and peace with one of the families

5. The kids in my family are also in my neighborhood. 

That Eve Wimmer. What a fun goofball!

Griffin was sick this week. He even missed church.

Wyatt was great this week. I love talking to him.

Willa finished her finals and classes this week, got sick and got a lot better and is a huge help to me!

Eliza, my sweetie, with Buddy Keller, who turned two years old yesterday!  Eliza is awesome and gave Buddy that doctor outfit and called us to show her dad Buddy in a white coat.

 Mariah also was sick this week. And trying to deal with the adorable two year old on Eliza's lap. And also trying to take care of a sweet newborn. And also trying to move. We pray for her a lot.

6. And my book club. It was at Carrie's house and she let Griff and Eve come over and watch a movie in her basement because Alan was at a work dinner/meeting. And my book club friends are all just the best! This time we had a book exchange because it is December. You don't have to read anything. Just bring a book you have loved and are ready to give away, then everyone takes a new one home.