It's Up to Us, New York, New York

 There was a stretch of over 700 days without a snowfall of over an inch, and I guess that stretch is over. We did get enough that the snow plows got to lower their blades last night at just past midnight. Then it rained and most of the snow went away, now there are tiny icicles on the balcony railings. I'm just glad I don't have to drive in it today. Still, it is nothing like much of the rest of the country, probably including where most of you live. (Nobody wants to hear about the weather in the US Virgin Islands, Cedric.) There is a snow advisory for tonight into tomorrow, but we don't have to drive until Thursday. As you can see, not really much of a snowstorm. Apparently, it has snowed in the past, as evidenced by the snow- shovel that has been on the balcony since before we got here. This week has been busy for us, but mostly from inside the apartment. We are preparing documents, updating reports, communicating with organizations (stake and ward), and preparing things...

 Last week I could feel a chest cold coming on and, having seen several people struggle with something similar, knew that it would keep me indoors, hoarse, and persistently coughing. We had critical meetings that required our attention last week and I did not want to miss, postpone or send Olivia by herself to the extremes of Long Island. Therefore, I prayed over and over that I would be spared. I knew that it was coming as I pondered, so I just asked that it be postponed until we could get through Sunday, December 31st. As I drove home that Sunday, I could feel the illness taking over my body. By Monday, I was hoarse and coughing. It never got to a point that I felt the need to just stay in bed, but I couldn't go far because of the cough and cold. On Wednesday morning I thought I was going to be well enough to go to the El Salvador Consulate for our English Connect class, so I prepared the lesson on PowerPoint, but by lunchtime it was pretty obvious that I would not be able to go....

 Literally, the old year went out with a bang that sounded like it should have rattled our building. It didn't, but the fireworks were exceptionally loud. Our view was blocked, so we could only hear them, not see them. We have always stayed up to welcome in the New Year, and I thought this time we would forgo that, but we did not. We stayed up and talked, looked at some posts on Instagram, but right after midnight, we went to bed. I did not feel well, and Olivia is just getting over what she shared with me, so it was probably not the smartest choice. Still, we are now officially into 2024 , which will be a year of adventure for us. We went to the El Salvador Consulate on both Wednesday and Friday. Olivia made cookies for Julia, who turned 29 the day before, Kathia whose birthday is six months away, and Inez who should have had her 1/2 birthday in October, but we didn't go into the consulate that month because of the heavy work load they were experiencing. They are always deligh...

It seems like we work up to Christmas for weeks, so when it arrives, we're finally done with it. But then you realize it's all suddenly over. I like the idea of the 12 days of Christmas as it is celebrated in other countries. Christmas is the first day, but then little reminders for another 11 days. It lets you down slowly. We liked the Swedish tradition of keeping the tree up until January 13, then dancing around it while singing, taking down the decorations with the children finding special bags of treats for them among the decorations in the tree, then throwing it out the door. Christmas in the City is a big deal, mostly for commercial purposes, but not entirely. The businesses are not greatly benefited by Christmas trees, but many have them, anyway. There is a good feeling where Christmas is prominent. In our neighborhood only a few houses have Christmas decorations, but there are some rather elaborately decorated ones. Not that many Christian homes, here. Still, we are wis...