Senior Single Sisters for Dinner

Table set for the dinner

After being made Bishop in our old 16th Ward in Layton, Ann and I started a tradition at Christmas time of inviting the widows of the ward to our home for a nice dinner. We did that for several years until we moved into what became the Forest Park Ward. When we moved into the ward, all the families were younger and there were not even any senior couples let alone widows or senior sisters. As a result, we discontinued the tradition.

Several years ago, after families had aged, ward boundaries had been adjusted, people had moved in and out of the ward, some of the men of the ward had passed away, we realized the demographics of the ward had changed. We once again had widows and senior single sisters in our ward.

We decided to resume the tradition of having widows and senior single sisters come to our home for dinner during the Christmas Season. Ann and I have always had fun doing it and the sisters seem to really enjoy it. 

Ann with the single senior sister missionaries

We were talking about how we would miss having them in our home this year while we are here in Nauvoo. Then the thought came to us that although we would miss doing the dinner at home this year, we could do the same thing for the single senior sister missionaries serving here in Nauvoo. We found that this evening was an open date for the mission, so we sent out invitations to the nine senior sister missionaries. Eight of them were able to come.

We had a nice dinner of cranberry chicken, whipped autumn vegetables, peas with baby carrots and ginger-streusel pumpkin pie for dessert. Following dinner, I read one of our favorite Christmas stories. They all really enjoyed being here and like the sisters in our Layton ward area, we loved having them. The single senior missionaries bring a special spirit and courage to the mission.

W did had to shorten our even somewhat because the mission president had decided to have an option home evening for the mission tonight which involved some of the single sisters.