Our Christmas phone call . . .

Christmas has a different meaning when you have a missionary out in the field.

All I have been able to think about is our phone call from Matt on 

Christmas Day.  You know,  two years without seeing your

child is a long time.  When you get to talk to them only two times

a year, it means the world to ya.  

This time was no exception!  It was wonderful to get to talk to him.

He sounded so good and it just makes me so excited to see him

in just 10 days!  I can't believe it!  Time is going so fast.

So fun to feel of his spirit and see how much he has grown.

He is so happy and simply loving serving a mission.

He and his companion sang two Christmas carols to us.

It was so neat, I didn't know Matt could sing so well.

It just warmed my heart.  

I feel so proud to be a missionary Mom,

what an honor!  

Christmas Day. . . 2012

What a fun Christmas Day we had. 

 Natalie was so excited to give Jenna her little toy.  

I think she liked it!

 Sam and Hailey giving Natalie her gift.

 Grandpa got just a little bit of Chocolate!

 So glad that Le and Erma, Aunt Pat and Mom could come spend Christmas Day with us.

We enjoyed a Christmas breakfast together.

 Hailey and Jenna.

 Jenna helping Sam open presents.

 I think Camden liked his Christmas train from Grandma and Grandpa Monk.

 Natalie and her loot!

 Playing with Jenna.

 G. G. having fun with her great grandkids.

Relaxing on Christmas night.

We feel so blessed this holiday season.

So happy that we could have our family

around us and enjoy each other.

We got such wonderful gifts. . . 

I love the picture of the temple Brooke drew for us, it means so much.

The beautiful calendar that Natalie and Hailey put together is so cute, I love it!

Natalie knows how much I love popcorn and so she got me all the popcorn

fix'ens and I can't wait until popcorn sounds good.  (Too much food right now.)

The kids gave Wynn the Harry Potter movies and so I gave Wynn a Blue-ray player.

Wynn and Sam spent most of the day setting it up downstairs.

We had such a nice relaxing day with the family.

PERFECT!

Christmas Eve at G.G.'s house. . .

Wouldn't be Christmas without cousins and food at

Grandma Hayes' house.

 This year we met at 12:00 a.m. and had lunch.

This way everyone can be home with their families

on Christmas Eve.

We had soup, bread, and desserts.

 Aunt Pat visiting with Emily.

 Grandma's Christmas tree.

 Present overload!

 Everyone brings a gift to exchange.

It can be anything!

We started at the youngest and then went up to 

the oldest.  When it's your turn you can pick

a gift or steal one you like from someone else then

they get to pick another gift.

Mom calls it the greedy game!

 So much fun just watching the kids.

 Camden still likes his Mom's iphone the best.

 Camden is starting to get so tired.

 I wish this was a better picture  but isn't

our little Jenna a doll?

We just love her so much.

 Wynn playing his air guitar with Justin.

A crash in Aunt Pat's lap.

What a fun day!  I simply love the holidays with family.

Isn't that what it is all about?

Merry Christmas everyone.

Christmas at the Lodge. . .

Every year, the Saturday right before Christmas is the Monk family

Christmas party at the Lodge.

We always look forward to a fun family get together.

 So this picture isn't taken at the Lodge, just a cute one of Wynn with our

grand babies.  I just thought it was cute and had to include it.

Wynn is such a fun Grandpa, all the kids love him.

 This is at the lodge.  

This year, Jerrica and Terry were the planners.  

They did an awesome job, we loved the Chinese Sundae's

and the Family Feud game was the best!

We loved every minute of it.

 The kids always look forward to the gift exchange.

 I think the adults like it too!

Wynn got a roll of toilet paper with $8 rolled up in it.

A pretty good gift if you ask me.

After the party, we went down to the hot pools and enjoyed a soak.

It was snowing and simply beautiful!

A wonderful day!  

From Matt

Monday, December 24, 2012

Hi Family!

It’s been a good week! I'm glad to hear Steve and Brooke are OK!  And it’s good to hear from you. I think I will save my email to tell you tomorrow, and I'll put on some pictures. We have a lot to talk about tomorrow! :) Hope you are excited.

These are the Christmas presents we are giving to each missionary in our zone. We used a lot of the candy that we got in our own packages, some hot chocolate we collected, and then Natalie sent me small pictures of Christ. I kind of felt bad giving them away, but it just felt right. Sorry Nat!! Thanks for contributing to making more than just my Christmas happy though. :) I love you all!

And this is me and elder Fullmer dressed up as Santa’s this morning. We had to go help a member move some big rocks, and Bro Hyde wanted our picture before we left. Haha! Mine has braids, it’s the only one we could find at the dollar store! hahah

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Today we are thinking we're going to go to Lompoc to share presents with the missionaries there, so that might be good. :) A lot of fun thinking about others on Christmas.

Tomorrow we don't have a dinner appointment (Or any appointments), so we are going to try to serve dinner at a soup kitchen, and i think we'll make cookies for our investigators, less actives and other people we meet. Should be good! No other way I’d rather spend my Christmas. Its so fun as a missionary. I love it!

Well, we'll talk to you tomorrow! Probably around 10 our time. Talk to you soon! (Literally)

love you,

--

Elder Matthew Monk

 California Ventura Mission

         -  Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013 -

Love this picture.

I saw this picture on facebook this morning and I wanted

to save it.  Isn't it just beautiful?  When I look at it, it

reminds me that we have a loving Heavenly Father

who loves us so much!  My heart goes out to

all those parents who lost children in Connecticut.

May they all feel HIS loving arms around them.  

Happy Birthday Emily Elizabeth Monk

This week, we got to celebrate Emily's 5th birthday.

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was born.

What a joy she has been in our lives.

We love her so much.

The room lights up when she comes in.

She knows just what she wants and how to get it.

Talent I tell you, talent!

On Thursday, I got to go to Emily's preschool program.

Ellen McKeller does a wonderful job with these kids.

Emily just loves her.

 Thursday night we had Emily's birthday dinner

and presents at Grandma's.  

I'll tell you, what fun!

I've never seen two kids share as well as these two do.

Camden had just as much fun as Emily did.

Best friends forever.

 Natalie getting some snuggles with Jenna.

 More presents. . . 

 Jenna hanging out with Grandpa!

The birthday cake!

We love you Emily, hope your day was as special as you are to us.

Three weeks from today, almost to the minute, 

Matt will be home!  I can hardly wait. . . 

His room is ready,

 all I have to do is turn the heat on. . .  

OH, the waiting is the hardest!

WE LOVE YOU 

ELDER MONK

Brooke Won!

I think it was in November that Brooke won a $25 gift certificate at

Rushes here in town.  She entered her recipe for a green bean dish.

It was delicious!  She brought it on Thanksgiving.  

I just had to share this cute picture.

Don't I just have the cutest kids on the block?

Greetings from Matt. . .

Monday, Dec. 17, 2012

Hi Mom!

Well, It was another busy week for us here. Things are going super well. We were on blitz's with some elders in Santa Barbara (We each go with one companion and tract or go to lessons with them for a couple hours or so, just for fun) and we were teaching a guy on his doorstep, and he told us about the shooting in Connecticut, and how much he loves his children and his wife, and we told him that we are ministers of the Restored Gospel, Messengers sent from Jesus Christ Himself to tell him that the Truth has once again been restored to the earth, and that his family can be together forever. He appreciated what we did, but politely declined our message. It's hard to see people in such a good place to receive the Gospel, but still ignore the Spirit and say, "No."

I got your package this week! Thanks so much. You really didn't have to send anything, but I appreciate it so much. The CD is amazing! I love it so much. I have a video for you to look up as soon as possible: Its, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," by The Piano Guys, and you can find it by going to YouTube, and looking up "TheMormonChannel." We watched it at zone conference, and it is awesome! Probably one of my favorite Christmas songs. And then watch the some of the new Bible videos the church has made, they are amazing! I love the Sermon on the Mount.

So Monday was P-day, Tuesday we did normal missionary work, and Wednesday, too, then Thursday we did our weekly planning, then after lunch zoomed up to Lompoc and did Blitzes with Elder Fuhrman and Elder Bullard, then blitzs with Elder Kotab and Elder McKinnon. Elder McKinnon talked to me so much! I think it was more than he said to me the whole last transfer! Haha he doesn't really like ELder Kotab, so I’m thinking he is starting to recognize that I wasn't all that bad, haha. It was good to go out with him though. He's still the same quiet guy. But I like him a lot. That night we stayed in Lompoc and got up and went to Zone conference in Santa Maria (About 30 min from Lompoc). It was so good! I love being with President Castro and Sister Castro and feeling their spirit. It was such a good meeting! I just wish you could have been there to feel it. I can't do it justice.

We got home from that a little late, and did some missionary work, then on Saturday we did those blitzs with Elder Call and Elder Stewart, then had lunch with the Sears in Carpentaria, then went on Blitzs with Elder Lenhart and Elder McBride. They are FINE missionaries! Haha elder Lenhart reminds me of the buds.

I think we'll be calling around 10:00 to 12:00 (11:00 to 1:00 your time) on Christmas. We can really do it anytime, but I think that will work best. :) Haha just a week away!

So needless to say it was a busy week in the CVM.

We taught Hattie again this week, she is so close! We talked about her talking to her parents in China about her joining the church. She's kind a nervous about that, so it was good to get some of her concerns resolved. Hopefully she'll get baptized soon! :) Pray for her!

The missionary work is great, and we are staying busy. We have a few exchanges this week, then Christmas devotional on Saturday in Santa Maria. Church for the YSA ward is closed down until the beginning of the year, so that’s going to be kind a weird! haha.

Thanks for your letter, the package, and your love! I love you so much, and I am excited to talk to you on Tuesday! :) Moroni 8:3

All my love,

--

Elder Matthew Monk

 California Ventura Mission

         -  Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013 -

Hi again Mom,

I just wanted to send some pics and let you know that there are going

to be a couple packages coming your way soon. The Heaths in Lompoc,

and then another family, the Moreno's in Lompoc are taking a couple

things for me. Don't worry about opening them, its just junk and we

can go thru it when I get home. Here’s some California, December

sunshine for ya! and me and Elder McBride, some condos on the coast in

Goleta, and some sunshine. Stay warm!

--

Elder Matthew Monk

California Ventura Mission

        -  Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013 -