Merry Early Christmas!!

Hey Everyone!

Merry Early Christmas!!! I am super excited to get to talk to and see my family this week and I am so grateful for their love and support. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Holiday with the spirit of Christ in its Center. The Spirit of giving, serving, and loving. Enjoying the gifts you get and the happiness that comes from those you give away.  Making sure the ones you love know it so that their worries can melt away.  That this day of Christmas is, as that of the first, glorious and bright for all the earth!

Ok so I got moved this last week and I am now in Gray, GA.  It is a nice little town, but fits its name very well.  Since I have been here every day has been grey, but only overcast and not rainy, so that is the better of the two deals and I will take it!  I am with Elder Jole.  He and I came out together and we get along pretty well.  The Members here are just how a small southern GA town should be, all super friendly and all related in some way! It  is bigger than Cusseta were everyone one knew everyone. Here it is everyone knows everyone, but if you don't know someone your neighbor does.

Alright the best thing of this past week was the Christmas Parade!  I just got here and it was not super well advertised so neither Elder Jole nor I knew of this.  We were just biking by the Ingles(grocery store) parking lot and saw floats getting lined up. We rode up and were checking out some of the floats as we were approached by a staff member.  We got to talking and we shared a short Christmas message about the #lighttheworld initiative. She loved it and we talked a little longer when she told us that they could use a few more bikers in the parade and asked if we would like to join in?(is that even a question)  Of course we were happy to, especially when they provided lights for our bikes, and did not make us pay a fee like the other entries since it was on the spot and they asked us to participate. So Wednesday night we got to ride in the parade of lights and spread Holiday cheer!

Another Christmas Spirit event that happened is that in Macon there was a Christmas Concert last night.  It was an all faith community event with performers in acting, singing, and instrumentalists. Plus there were refreshments at that end which never hurt an event.  The music and presentation was beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable!

Ok so there is a member we do service for.  Elder Jole tells me that we help him in his garden.  I am thinking pulling weeds or something?  I was thinking oh I got this not a problem I grew up doing this.  Well I get there and gardens here are a little different than back home.  This one looks like a straight excavation site.  In the GA red clay it can be hard to get things to take root and grow through it.  The way to combat this is to dig a trench for every 20 yard row about 2 feet deep and 3 feet wide with pickaxes and shovels. Then go get chicken or horse manure, leaves, and limestone dust. You refill the trench one layer at a time. First leaves and manure for fertilization. Then the limestone dust and dirt.  The limestone dust helps to counteract the acidity of the red clay.  And you do layer after layer until the hole is refilled.  It is hard work but I like it because we do not get to do much of that kind of thing. I especially liked when we got to go and get the horse manure because we got to go hang out at some horse stable for a bit while doing it!

Mom:Yeah I am sure it is packed somewhere but I have no clue where? (ugly sweater for contest at school) There was a snow day?? Wow things must be pretty snowy and Icy out there then? I did get the pictures and the videos and what the noodle with the hair? (we girls got new hair styles/colors) Dang everyone is keeping close tabs on me! (Carilyn tracked his new address in Gray down for us to mail Christmas packages, and Terry Jones texted me about his move) I am glad everyone is keeping warm here the weather is not sure what to do?  It was low 40's high 30's one day and 82 the next?  When it gets cold here though it gets COLD.  The humidity make the heat hotter and the cold colder.  It eats right through layers it is awful! Funny thing, no I have never been to a Waffle or Huddle House and they are all over the place down here and lots of people talk about them but I just have never gone? No we do not have the skype setup so just send me your skype and facetime info and so I can call y'all. Then with whatever member we are with we will call you as we get ready to do it. We will not be skyping here though until at least 2 maybe later? We may do it at the Perkins? The one who sent you my address or our ward mission leaders. If the Perkins it will be closer to 2ish? If at Jonny's it will be closer to 5 or 6? Whatever you come up with I am sure it will be great becasue no one down here has cooked as good as momma yet!Have a good week and enjoy the fun I will talk to you soon! Love you mom!

Tay: haha havent you and Hunter watched all of Scoobydoo before?  And good luck with finals man study and try hard!  Poetry now that is a talent!  It makes since though Travis always liked to do that and could whip a poem out, and I definitely did not get that skill, so I am glad you did because it is beyond me and and good thing to have and will help with all sorts of things! I am looking forward to talking to you soon too man have fun this week and eat lots for me!:) Love you bro!

Tali:  12 YEARS OLD!!!!!:D and still breaking glasses what are you doing with your life girl?;)   Dagum your Bday sounds like it was amazing!!!!!  Hair, presents, party, and everything!!:) What got you into old record players? I love the hair by the way! You know what I still have never been to The Cheesecake Factory and that is like my favorite kind of cake!  I have had cheesecake from there but never gone! and that is super true!!!! we NEVER did!:p (get as much party as the younger girls) I almost had a member take me while I was here but turns out the closest ones are in Atlanta and Tallahassee. Not even in mission boundaries so not possible!:p  Man I wish I was living your life right now you got it all!:)  I am glad you had an amazing Bday week!:) and I hope you have an amazing Christmas week!!:) I will talk to you soon! Love you big girl!

G4: What the freak alley (a graffiti art alley in Boise) and freaky blue hair all in one week??? I do not know if I can handle all of this!!!!!:p Ok it doesn't look to freaky I guess!;)  but I'm with you,I can not believe mom or dad let you!:p  Is everyone making you make it by yourself or you wanted to do it by yourself? (gingerbread house)  Either way it will have the G4 touch and look great!  Love you sister Talk to you soon!!!:)

Dad: haha yes I can imagine waiting on the girls for hours for them to get their hair done could have made for a long day.  Sounds like Tali loves her present from you so good job on that one!  When does she get to take hunters ed?  haha oh no the heated hose wasn't told it was Idaho huh?  and that it needed to be HEATED.  Who does what chore now?  haha that is some cold temperature if it was that over here I would die!  I am going to miss Phoenix this year too!  Grammy and Grandpa gave me their Holiday card and it had last years pictures and I miss it! I cant wait to talk to you soon! Have a great week! Love you dDad!

Sister Perkins told me you got our address so I hope you did.  I have not gotten any mail yet but it might get here today? Oh so I have a present for Trav and Tay but am shopping for stuff for the rest of you today are there any requests I can try and look for, for you dad and the girls?   I haven't gotten anything for G4 yet due to the shuffling. (he's her Secret Santa) I hope to get all  my shopping done today! And send stuff tomorrow?  Oh one good thing came of this Gray is close to Dublin so Bro Jones is coming up tonight to feed us!  Idk where we are going to go into Macon, but yes Gray has a DQ, Mcdonalds, subway, pickle barrel, chevy's pizza, a couple bbq and mexican food places and more.  I was looking at tshirts and long sleeves and hoodies the other night what sizes would you recommend for dad you and the girls? Elder Phillips said he got your package and that he cried when he did because he was so happy and missing me.  Thank you so much for sending him something! Yeah I wouldn't be to surprised if an early departure happened? I have a new bike and it is a nice one so no worries on that is should hold up the rest of my mission even if I bike at all? New to me new one. But it is some like specialist brand bike? It was left behind.

Love you all
Elder Legg

The boys got back together again on
Elder Phillip's Bday
Turning 20 on the 20th

It looks like the right one! I am the right side. 

However, there is never a car there in the driveway anymore. 

Gray is a bike area and there is no boat there anymore either.

It is just a sweet old lady for our neighbor.

(Carilyn had called and gotten his new address and then

Google Earthed him and found this picture, she sent it to me,

I sent it to him & that was his response to the picture)

A very nice surprise for them....

AND.......

A very nice surprise for me....

Mail to Gray, GA

Sister Legg,
We had the Elders over for dinner tonight and I got to meet your son.  He was delightful and we look forward to having him here in Gray.  He seems to enjoy his companion Elder Jole who is from Utah and also loves vocal music.  His companion was in the MTC at the same time he was, but they were in different areas and never met.  We have a son who is a junior in high school and will be spending time with your son learning the ropes for his mission.  Thank you for him, we are always grateful for good examples.
A woman in our ward (in her 50s) lost her husband, surprisingly over the weekend.  Tonight is the viewing.  This area does not have a car, but we do have delightful senior missionaries, also from Idaho, Brother and Sister Macomber, who took the missionaries tonight.
Gray is a small town 20 minutes from Macon, Ga.  It has no major industry, more of a suburb to Macon.  It was originally a railroad town, with surrounding areas rich in Civil War history.  We have 5 stop lights, and 2 grocery stores.  We are full of loving people in our ward.  We are also a part of the Macon Stake which he has already served in when he was in Dublin and Warner Robbins.
Finally, As a family, we have a little tradition of surprising missionaries at Christmas time with a special dish from home.  Something that is traditional for their family at the holidays.  We've made desserts, appetizers, mac and cheese and even bruschetta once.  Just something that he knows I could not have possibly guessed was a favorite.  Any ideas?  And then a recipe so I get it right.  We'd love the help - just keep it a surprise for him.
Sister Malyn Perkins

Hold the MAIL!! Part 2

Hey Everyone!

Ok first things first, I am being Transferred! So if you have anything to send me, WAIT! If you have already sent something that I have not gotten do not worry too much I will have the missionaries here sent it to me.  So do not stress I will get everything.  I will get my new address out as soon as possible! (I told him my package went to the post office that morning...I ran at lunch & got it before it left town headed to Cusseta without him there..... & why) Ok yeah Elder Phillips will get it to me.  So why, because Elder Smith Called President because he was not happy with the companionship. So we have been in contact with President all weekend and he came and interviewed us at church and stuff and he has decided to change us or Emergency Transfer us (ET). I get picked up by the AP's tomorrow morning to go where ever they tell me they are taking me?  I am with Elder Phillips and Mortensen for today. And tomorrow I will be shipped somewhere else with someone else? And it's not a big deal about the names on the gifts, my new comp will just be happy to get stuff I'm sure! (I told him I'd already addressed all of the presents in the package to him and Elder Smith........ugh!!!) I love you Mom!! Thanks for being so great!
As far as Mail I have gotten for those who are wondering: I got Lance's letter, Cindy's, carilyn's ties, and my dads travel gift, and my Secret Santa tree (see pic below)

Happy Birthday Talia! (12)

Ok so I know Talia's Birthday is this week but I got excited and decided to celebrate it a little early by honoring her memory of loving Babies.  This last Saturday we as the missionaries got invited to go to a baby shower!  It was a blast! and I know That Talia would have loved it since it had to do with babies and there were lots of little girls she could have played with and entertained!  So since I can't be at her party that was my party for her!:)

Also this week we got to go to a nursing home as part of the light the world and we hooked it up to where we got to sing carols to the residents there!  even with unrehearsed songs and a rough sound.  The People loved it and so many were grateful for us bring them the Christmas spirit!

Ok so the junk food for the week!  Well first off there is a restaurant called Cheddar's down here.  It is a nice place. Probably similar to an Olive Garden in comparison, but not Italian.  Well they have for an appetizer croissants smothered in honey butter that are divine!  Also though I got to try a fried food legend.  I have heard of this item since I have been out but never had the opportunity to try it.Drum roll please...brmmmmmmmmmm...A Fried Oreo.  And you dip it in powdered sugar and wow they are so good!  A member made them and invited us over to partake and I would say,it is in no way good for ones health but, this is something to try at home!

Mom: I got both packages. For my Secret Santa could you do the dishes please. And soon I will be trying to get a gift to send home for them. (Long distance Secret Santa is a little more challenging) For the videos of tomorrow just film it and put it in your drop box and share the link with me or in your google drive and share that link with me!:) haha that is awesome that Aunt T is so tricky!:)  no I did not get the video of hunter?  try sending it like I suggested the concert ones! Love you mom! Get some rest!

tali: Cat and dog sweaters?  What is this craziness?  ened me a picture of them ok?  Sounds like you had a wonderful meal! I miss Aunt Ts fried chicken!!!! To be honest I like it more than any I have had down here! Happy Birthday stinky! I love you!

Tay: Dude I have not been sledding in the mountains in forever!  Dude you guys take any tubes?  When I get back man we should get a band of friends and family and head up tubing in  the mountains!  That is jank that drama just thinks they run the stage or something!  Good luck tonight you will do awesome! I love you Bro!

Dad: I got the singapore package it was wonderful! thank you! The Belt looks even better when I wear it!  Yeah I sized the belt already and it works great! yeah the shirts are awesome for the humidity. I will have a better test when it is summer again though. wow dad that is fantastic that you are doing so well. I thought you were like plateaued so it is really good to hear your hard work is being noticed and acknowledged!  My prayers are with you and hope that time will work its self out!  Yeah I think Family history work and a Temple trip would be amazing for all of you!  I remember some of the crazy times we used to have going tubing in the mountains!  and as long as it was only her breath and not her teeth knocked out!   Dad you cant be getting old you are barely a day over 30!  I love you dad! have a great week and work hard!

G4: Did you go on any runs or just make your snowman? Oh my why are you cuteifying the men of the house (sweaters for the pets)?  :p  and yeah that movie sounds weird.  I am glad that fat cat will not be cold any more!  haha I love you G!

Love you all!
Elder Legg

Santa's favorite elves!!
Elder Phillips Elf Driving and Ty riding

Naughty or Nice??
(Definitely nice)

The Christmas tree his Secret Santa sibling sent him....it traveled
well and takes little to no room to store....and if his Christmas
package ever catches up to him he has something
to put his gifts under

Hold the MAIL!!!

Tyson is being transferred tomorrow.  He said to hold off on mailing anything until he gets his new address.  As soon as I get it from him I'll post it on the blog.  Luckily the post office in town still had his Christmas package from me when I ran over at lunch time!

Light the World!

Hey Everyone!

Alright so just for anyone who is unaware our church puts out a Christmas initiative.  This years can be found on "mormon.org".  It is called #LightTheWorld.  The whole idea behind it is that Christ is the light of the world and he spread his light through simple acts of service.  Christ no longer walks the Earth but his light can still be spread through each one of us. So basically Christ did this and so can you! There is one roughly 2 min. inspiring headliner video that outlines the whole ordeal.  Then for each day there is a theme of what Christ did and an advent calendar for simple suggestions of what you can do!  Also there are short 30 sec. videos for the theme of each day.  I am doing my part to spread Christ's light to the world and I challenge all of you to get started too!:)

A Christmas Message from Mormon.org #LIGHTtheWORLD ...
mormon.org
Jesus Christ is a perfect example of serving others. We invite you this Christmas season to #LIGHTtheWORLD and to serve others as Jesus did.

Everyone here is getting ready for the season. Decorations and lights are going up.  Since we have nice members we have been able to help put up Christmas trees with their families since we are missing out on it with our own families.  I love this season because not just the Gifts that we receive for family and friends but The gift of our lord and his spirit that comes in Jubilee.  Everyone is loved for God so gave his Begotten son and there is no greater love than a man doth lay down his life for friends!  Christ's sacrifice was for all and encompasses every last one of us!  We are more than just his friends but we are his brothers and sisters and family is a bond that knows no bounds.  God is our Loving Heavenly Father yesterday, today, and forever. Hope is in the air every moment but especially thick in the season of our Lord.  Seek to give and seek to help(#LightTheWorld) and this year I can promise will be your best Christmas Ever!  For Joyful and Triumphant are those who serve!

Mom: That is crazy about the car accident! are the roads Icy or snowy there or what do you think happened? (a high schooler died yards from our driveway)  Also noted I will not name any of my daughters Ashtyn!  Buckles save lives I will testify to that Fact! (He was in a car accident with his buddy Dylan & they rolled a car and walked away) Yeah Sister Fazure(Bill's sister) was telling me that Bill was retiring!  that is way crazy! haha there are not to many goats here but I have had a companion who only drank goat milk that was weird!  Being part of secret Santa is fine with me I think I can handle that!  Do I always get Gracie? It is like you read my mind I knew Jake and Hunter were the 5th and 8th I just didn't know which was who and I was going to ask!  So with Taylor I was listening to a great talk on depression from Holland. I do not know the name but try looking up Talks by Holland on Depression and see if you think it might help?  Oh Cindy sent me a Thanksgiving card. I sent her a thank you note already could you follow up on that and make sure she got it?  thank you oh and she mentioned she wishes you would take a moment and send her pictures of the wedding or fill her in on how it went? She is also going to send you my annual Ornament and me the card.   With Christmas coming up I do not know if you remember but for Trav being gone we put up his Babies first Christmas ornament so could you take care of that for me on the tree too please?:)  Oh and something I was thinking about that I do not know why but we have never been on a family temple trip!  Tali will be able to go soon and so Trav is not there and neither am I but could you do that for Taylor and Gracie and Tali? you and Dad take them to do Baptisms together I think that would be awesome! I love you mom!

Dad: well I am glad that you were able to start getting back on track with work after you r trip and time off!:)  I really liked inception so I am looking forward to getting to watch dr strange!  so the play house is owned by the girls parents of whom Elder Downs was dating before he left on his mission. fun fact.  sounds like a pretty awesome way to watch the christmas carol though! haha yeah I like plays I miss going out to the starlight mountain theatre!  yeah I had a great time with Grammy and Grandpa and am happy they could stop in to see me!:)  I love you dad!

Tali: what the I never got money for doing any babysitting, EVER!  Everyone has gone soft since I left!;) that is super cool that you got to experience a little of dads travels!:)  I love you sister!

G4: why are you and your friends all so dark!?:p that is scary stuff girl the melting witch from wizard of Oz still haunts me!  why is fat boy so huge do you feed him to much? (her cat)  do you not walk him? I am glad you had a good weekend! Love you Girl!

Tay: no worries man I will always forgive and love you!:)  especially over little things like an email I am just glad you are ok!:)  dude boxing is rough stuff! you can get muffed up in that junk dont you remember watching Rocky in the Fifth or sixth one where he is all sorts of messed up from his career!?  seriously though where has time gone cause that means you are right around the corner!  I can not wait to see the videos!:)   I love you man! Take care of yourself!

Love you all,
Elder Legg

Elder Legg with Flat Phillips
(A Christmas project from Phillips' Mom Jenny)