It's May :)

May 3, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

I'm so excited to hear from you. I know there have to be so many things that have happened to you this past week, so many new things, new people, etc. It's Sunday evening now and the girls have just gone to bed. It was a good Sunday, but it was fast Sunday, so it was hard as usual for the girls, but they were handsomely rewarded with smoked ribs today. Dad bought a new bbq that smokes the meat and the ribs were on sale, so… I also made some bbq beans, onion cheddar loaf bread and banana pudding. yum, yum

Church was wonderful as usual-good testimonies, good Sunday School lesson about loving our neighbors and Sister Barker gave a great lesson on not judging others. I sat in the back with Ali and Emily. Emily showed me a picture she got from her cousin who is a trainer in the MTC, a picture with you in it. It was so fun to see and Emily said she was so surprised when she got it and so happy. Michelle Ray told me her sister has already seen your picture up at the mission home, so no matter where you go, there's always going to be someone there to help you feel loved.

Dad has been working hard as usual and we're trying to make some decisions that will help him not have to work so many shifts and so many Sundays. It was great having him by my side at church today.

This past week I've been fairly busy too. There's a new RS president in the 5th ward, so I got to go over to her house and orient her. That's one of my favorite parts of this calling, the one on one in their home meetings. Also the YM/YW had their big auction dinner on Tuesday night. This year it was like Costa Vida food. Here's a pic of what Leah wanted to make for the live auction. I told her they looked too hard, but she insisted so we spent all Monday night making them and they actually turned out pretty cute. They are Mexican Maraca cookie shakers. We put Nerds inside to make the shaking sound. They sold for $75 at the auction.

On Saturday, Nikki tested for her high green belt and did awesome. You can tell she's really getting so much better than in the beginning.

Also I've started helping Marcela with her Pathways class this week. We skype once a week and this week we were supposed to just chat and get to know each other. haha Then we were supposed to discuss how faith helps in making decisions. Anyway, it's always fun chatting with her and now we get to do it on purpose and hopefully she'll get an A in the class. She said Bruno will be coming to America in the winter of 2016, but for now he's studying in college there in Buenos Aires.

I also met with my Material Girls this week. I showed my scrap quilt I made a couple months ago. Now I'm making another one with those colors we picked out…purple, yellow, blue and orange.  I'm almost done and I love it!

The elders in our ward bore their testimonies today. The new Elder who is Samoan has such a great spirit about him. The girls were even hugging each other after his testimony, so I knew he touched them. Leah has been doing really well since her wonderful experience in seminary. She's got a lightness about her that I hope will stay forever.

In RS we talked about the power of the Book of Mormon in our lives and it really is because it's a book that was authored and put together and protected by the Savior and saved for us in these latter days. Trust in it's power. It will soften hearts, instill a desire for forgiveness and repentance and bring about that mighty change of heart. Thank you for listening to your promptings and responding and serving. It blesses us here, blesses you and best of all it blesses those you come in contact with. 

Have a great week and remember who you are, a set apart missionary for the Savior (and my daughter! :)

Love you so much,

Mom xxoo