Merry Christmas from the Ensign's

Beloved Missionaries.,                   

We think of you often but at Christmas time, when we think of people we love a lot and that includes you.  We returned from our mission  to South Africa last year t this time and have spent a very busy year catching up on our posterity .Lots of events to go to but then you know how that is. We teach the CTR  5-6 year olds in Primary and find it a challenge. They are so bright. They call us Grandma and Grandpa and we love it. We are mentoring  at a Title 1 school during the week . The Pres. is the only man volunteer but they, too, call us Grandma and Grandpa.  We also like it when your children call us that If anyone stops by  with children, and a  with a little notice, we will give them cookies and hugs if they don’t mind.  We love to see you.! Last year we asked anyone to stop by or phone us  but I think you were too busy because  we didn’t get much of a response. We know you are busy wth work and family and doing good things so it” okay  We love to read your cards and  we can’t believe how the time flies, but we are pretty healthy and the Pres. had a lot of golf this summer with people in our neighborhood and he beat some ten years younger which put a smile on his face!

I have to tell you  that mission life is terrific, you are doing the right thing, together, and life is much simpler on a mission. Here our time is fractured, busy, busy, busy, but when a couple is on a mission you are focused on serving the Lord and others  , usually with a small apartment to clean , the cost is not very great—housing is $ 350 a month, that’s new, we paid about $1800  just for a place to live on the Isle of Man  but we were near the ocean front and it was worth it!  know you are busy and I don’t mean to rattle on but retirement can be fun. We even still like each other!

Most of all we treasure  our testimonies of the Restored Gospel and learn  everyday  more wonderful things about our church. We have read “Life  of Christ” by Farrar and highly recommend it,some of which was referred to in Talmadge’s “Jesus the Christ”. It combines the Gospels and adds so very much. We pray you, with your families, will have the direction, the peace, joy  and all the marvelous things the Gospel  gives us, and that your precious families will  have the same safety net in these, the Latter days.

We love you so very much and think of you individually and collectively. We would love to see you anytime. I have been collecting frogs for our next reunion. It will depend on when you want to have it. We are not going again –well, never say never -- that husband of mine is amazing.  r phone number is 801 9923551, address is 1012 East Eagles Nest Circle, North Salt Lake. If you come to town give us a ring.

Know you are loved and cherished and  we will continue to pray for you  always, we have such sweet memoies---

XOXO Sister E and the Pres.

To our beloved missionaries

   We want you to know that we think of you often and long to see you and learn how you are doing.  One recent wonderful experience emphasized how truly we enjoy visiting in person.  On our way to Yellowstone a couple of weeks ago we stopped in a grocery store in Idaho to discover Sister Leishman/Hanson with her cute family.  What a surprise and how we enjoyed visiting with them!  So it would be with each of you.  You have gone on to great things in your lives and we would love to hear about them first hand.  Perhaps the dedication of the Hartford Temple might furnish an excuse, unless of course, something could develop sooner. In the meantime, we will be at home in July and August and would love to see you and your families if you are  in town. Our phone number ie  801 9923551 and our address in North Salt Lake is 1012 East, Eagles Nest Circle. We hope to hear from you.

     Since our return from our temple mission in Johannesburg South Africa, we have been working on temple work for some of Sister Ensigns family.  In fact we both went into the fount and I baptized her for 12 of her family.  Wonderful experience for both of us.  Besides that, we have both been called to teach five and six year olds in Primary.  Suddenly my appreciation of Primary teachers has increased at least ten fold.  What an experience! 

     Fortunately we are both in good health considering our age.  We are so very grateful that we have each other and can enjoy our 43 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren in these golden days of our lives.  So far, 20 of our grandchildren have served full time missions and 3 others are now serving and others are awaiting their times to go.  We are so blessed.  I have just purchased a new set of golf irons and my only concern at age 85 is that I will live long enough to fully depreciate them.  In the meantime I am enjoying appreciating them although I have pretty much given up the idea of going on the PGA tour, 

     Our testimonies of the truthfulness of the Gospel and the Church keeps growing.  We read the scriptures together each day and are suprised at the number of new truths that comes to our minds as we read and reread the Book of Mormon.  We have both completed our personal histories and are basking in the joy of wonderful memories.  Over and over we have said that the happiest days of our Church service was the three years we spent with you in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thank you thank you for enriching our lives.  We love you each and every one and send you our best wishes.  

The Ensigns