Christmas 1989

BIG THINGS HAPPENED IN THE LILLYWHITE FAMILY THIS YEAR. WHILE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR VACATION TODD LOOKED INTO A JOB OPPORTUNITY WITH AN ESTATE INVESTIGATIONS FIRM IN L.A. WE HAD BEEN SECRETLY DREAMING OF MOVING CLOSER TO OUR FAMILIES. EVERYTHING WENT WELL WITH INTERVIEWS AND SUCH AND IT SEEMED LIKE THE TIME TO GET OUT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO IN EARLY OCTOBER WE LOADED UP THE TRUCK AND WE MOVED TO BEVERLY. WELL, NOT QUITE. WE ARE CURRENTLY LIVING WITH TODD'S PARENTS IN ORANGE, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR HOSPITALITY WHILE WE SAVE UP MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOUSE.

THE MOVE WAS QUITE ADVENTUROUS. WE SPENT SOME TIME IN PEACEFUL NAUVOO LOOKING AT THE SIGHTS. AILSA WAS ATROCIOUS IN BRIGHAM YOUNG'S HOUSE AND IN HER GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER LUCY MACK SMITH'S HOUSE. WE ALSO WENT TO VISIT THE LOVELY NEW VISITOR'S CENTER IN CARTHAGE. AND AGAIN AILSA WAS ATROCIOUS IN THE JAIL, A SITE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE LIVES OF THREE OF HER ANCESTORS.

OUR OWN WESTWARD MIGRATION FROM THE NAUVOO AREA TO SALT LAKE ONLY TOOK 30 HOURS. THE TRUCK HAD A WALK-THROUGH CAB AND WE HAD RIGGED IT WITH A COUCH JUST INSIDE THE DOOR SO WE COULD TAKE TURNS RESTING AND DRIVING. ALTHOUGH IT WAS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR TODD TO RELAX WITH LENORE AT THE WHEEL OF A 14 FOOT TRUCK CRAMMED WITH ALL OF OUR EARTHLY POSSESSIONS AND THE CAR IN TOW, HE DID SOMETIMES SLEEP AND IT WASN'T ALWAYS WHILE HE WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL. HE DOES HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF BEING CURLED UP ON THAT COUCH WITH HIS ARMS WRAPPED AROUND HIS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.

THE WHOLE TRIP WAS A LOT MORE ENJOYABLE THAN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. (WE IMAGINED A SORT OF A NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LILLYWHITE FAMILY VACATION WITH TODD STARRING AS CHEVY CHASE). ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT GREAT TRAVELLERS WE HAVE TO ADMIT THAT BEING ABLE TO EXPERIENCE OUR COUNTRY FIRST HAND AND SEE SOME OF ITS ABUNDANT NATURAL BEAUTY WAS WELL WORTH THE SACRIFICE.

IN THIS TIME OF REFLECTION WE ARE AWED BY WORLD EVENTS AND THE PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH WHICH SIGNAL OUR CONSISTENT MARCH TOWARD THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. WE RECOGNIZE THAT HIS LOVE IS THE ONLY POWER STRONG ENOUGH TO BRING ABOUT THESE CHANGES AND ENCOURAGE US TO DO OUR PART IN WORKING OUT THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD. AS WE CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH MAY WE BE DRAWN TO DO MORE TO HELP OUR FELLOWMAN AND SPREAD THE LOVE OF CHRIST.