Christmas is Coming.

Another week has passed in Elko and the Mierins family survives. After boasting of the relatively warm weather here last week, this past week we were hit with some cold days and very chilly evenings, but still no snow. It was a balmy 40 degrees today. We did have a few flurries, but nothing is on the ground.

Matthew and Nikolas continue to do well at school. They are looking forward to the end of this week which begins their Christmas vacation. The kids are out of school for two weeks. Matthew's raingutter regatta is this Wednesday and the master boat maker must get his first mate motivated to get the vessel completed. A Raingutter Regatta is the wintertime pinewood derby. The kids make boats which are then raced on a raingutter lke track. Hopefully we will have some pictures on next week's post. Nikolas went to a birthday party Friday evening for a clasmate of his. We feel he is getting to know people quite well and making fast friends.

Our past week was relatively quiet. Despite much anticipation, not one of the four trials Andy was suppose to do went forward. The first settled literally as the trial began, the next was dismissed completely, the third was continued because a witness for the State which was under subpoena did not appear and the final was given a defered prosecution, which means if the person keeps clean, the case will be dismissed in 6 months. He did get to do a preliminary hearing which he did not win, but was complimented on the job done.

Gail continues her labors at the daycare center. An unfortunate side effect is she has already picked up one nasty cold which took her out of commission Friday. We had a nice evening out last night. Our ward had an adult Christmas Party with a yankee swap. A bit of New England has now made its way into the Elko culture.

Wednesday evening we attended a Christmas Concert and yes it was a Christmas Concert, not holiday concert, done by the local high school choirs, including the one who came and sang at our Ward last Sunday. The concert was great. We learned that the honors choir which is the Choraliers are going to perform at a competition in Hawaii next year.

Andy and Gail both received new callings at Church today. Gail is the new primary pianist. Finally, after 13 years of fasting and prayer she has gotten the one calling she has always wanted. Andy on the other hand has wondered what he did wrong. He had a master plan to stay out of serious callings. That all came to a halt today as he was sustained as the High Priest Group Leader, so much for the primary lesson with dolls.

As Christmas nears, we continue to appriciate the wonderfully blessing each of our family and friends are to us. We hope you all are well.