Heat Wave!

June 28, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

So how have you been??? We are back home now and trying to keep cool. We are having some kind of crazy heat wave here and it was 110 today and is supposed to be in the hundreds for the next couple weeks!! And of course, on our way to Utah this past week, our air conditioning broke in the car. We were so sweaty by the time we got to Utah. haha We stopped at Kirk's Verizon store to say hi, but then we ended up staying a bit longer just so we could soak in all the coolness of the air conditioner. We got the car fixed in Utah, made it all the way home and then that night it broke again. :( So now dad is driving the hot black car to work each day so we can have his car to drive around in until it gets fixed again.

At church today it was Lauren's farewell. She did a great job. She mentioned how much it meant to her to have her friends on missions in Alaska, Calif, and Africa. Her grandpa, Elder Walker, even got to speak too. He talked about missions and even gave some great advice I thought I'd pass along to you. He said he once heard from Elder Packer some advice for all missionaries and loved it.

1. Declare your independence from the weather while on your mission. I really don't think you'll have a problem with this one since you're in paradise, but he said missionaries need to completely forget about the weather and just get to work. Don't worry what the forecast looks like.

2.Work hard. Elder Walker told a story about when he was set apart to go on his mission. Back in his day they were set apart by a general authority and there were 5 of them all leaving on their missions the same day and had to be set apart. He distinctly remembers as the first elder was set apart that in his blessing he was promised that he would return home safely from his mission. Then that same thing was said for the next three elders. When it was his turn, he never got that promise in his blessing and he immediately worried that he was going to die and not make it back home. So he decided he better just work as hard as he could. He said not getting that line in his blessing was the best thing that could have happened to him, because he worked so hard his whole mission.

Elder Walker also told us that missionaries may speak with hundreds, even thousands of people but very few of them may ever want to listen to you. He said it is our responsibility to share the gospel only. Whether or not they accept it is up to them. I enjoyed his talk very much. He knew it was going to be tough for Lauren, learning the language and being in Japan and wished so much that he could just give her his knowledge of the language to make it easier for her. He's really a wonderful man. But you already know that too!

One more thing I heard today in Sunday School that I thought was good. Our teacher said she loves the scripture, "many are called, few are chosen" but now changes the words in her mind every time she hears it to say "many are called and have we chosen?"

Sis. Langford gave a beautiful lesson on Freedom and Free Agency in RS today. I love listening to her. She has a great way of expressing her thoughts.

So last week, we drove to Utah on Tuesday and returned home Friday. We had fun spending time with Alex and Savannah, Sean and Blair and Kirk and Sarah and Addie. I know you probably don't want to hear this, but Addie is growing up so fast. She stands up and holds on to the furniture and walks all around. Sometimes she just stands all by herself, but doesn't take any steps. She's mimicking everything and it's so cute. I whisper little things in her ear and then she whispers back to me, Kirk taught her how to do a Tarzan thing, she says "ba" when she wants her ball and dances whenever she hears music. I'll tell Kirk and Sarah to send you little videos. Leah finished up with her neurofeedback treatments. She really does seem a lot happier and at peace with herself. Rebecca was wonderful to work with and she loved the quilt tops I made for her in exchange for partial payment. Here are some pics from last week:

Quilt wall hangings for Rebecca

Nikki and grandpa at Wild Wings

Eating ice

on the way home from Utah

Playing at City Creek

Keeping cool

Squishing in grandma and grandpa's car while ours was in for repairs

The quilt wall hangings I made for Rebecca. One for each of her six grown children. Her last name is Jolley, so that's why she loved these.

I've been having a lot of meetings trying to get JustServe.org ready for our stake. It's been up and running in your area for quite a while, so hopefully you've been able to use it to find opportunities for service in Santa Rosa. If you have any stories about that, let me know and I can share them with the wards. We're training the Bishoprics and RS presidencies this week. The missionaries are loving it here.

I talked with Emily today at church. I asked her if she had seen/talked with Braden yet. She went to his house after his homecoming talk and they talked for a little bit, but they're just working back into a friendship again. He's already in Provo working out with the basketball team, so she said they text a lot, but not sure what will happen when she gets there in the fall.

Andrea Grieve told me Kenedee told her how much your letters from the mission meant to her. She loved how positive you were about everything and it eased some of her fears. 

So how was your mission conference? I bet it was amazing and can't wait to hear. This week I'm trying to get caught up from being gone so much and oh yeah, Leah tested for her red belt on Saturday and did a great job. So now she's only a couple belts away from testing for black belt. I'm really proud of her.

We are well here, keeping busy, working hard, etc. etc. We sent a package to you from Utah. Let me know when you get it. We're always thinking of you and praying for you. Keep working hard, smile, help lift someone else's burden every day and always remember who you represent. 

I love you like crazy!!

Mom

xoxoxoxo

Father's Day!!

June 21, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

It seems odd that you weren't able to call and skype with dad today, just not right…The other kids all called in and it nice to talk with them. Sean and Blair went to Kirk and Sarah's for dinner, Leah was staying with them too so they facetimed us. For dad's present from Sean, he and Blair showed her ring. They're officially engaged!! But they still want to call people this week and tell them in person, so to speak, so we can't post anything, etc. At least there's a ring and it's really pretty. I hope they send a picture of it to you.

How was your Father's Day and your week?  I hope you had some success in finding new people to teach this week. Sometimes the people who can benefit the most from your lessons are some of the members. I love it when the missionaries come here and give a lesson. For some reason, the girls seem to listen a lot better when the missionaries are teaching and I love the spirit that they bring into our home. So always be looking for people in your ward that the Lord can send you to.

We're taking off for Utah this Tuesday and spending a few days down there when we pick up Leah. Seems like she's having a good time and she probably won't want to come back…she needed a positive experience this summer though.

Today was Carson Campbell's farewell. Dad hadn't been to our ward much lately so he wanted to go to our ward. Also, this week Braden Shaw came home. From the pictures, he looks the same. We sat behind emily at church and I was thinking about her and wondering if she'd seen him yet. Kenedee leaves this week and Lauren leaves next week. It's kind of crazy around here. Crazy good.

Say hi to Sis. Whimpey for me. She's so cute and it looks like you two will get along so well. So when do you get your new mission president? This will be an interesting experience to see the transition in the mission. Alex and Kirk both had to go through a change and it was good.

Nikki and I went to dad's work in Emmett this week and took him lunch. Turns out it was right in the middle of Cherry Festival, so there was a lot going on, including a quilt show which I made Nikki go to with me. She enjoyed it! And we even won one of the raffle baskets. The theme of our basket was a baby basket so there's lots of fun stuff in there, mainly things for a boy baby, so I'll have to wait for another grandbaby!! The raffle ticket was only $1 and we also bought some yummy Rainier cherries on the way home. Yum! I love that dad is working closer to home. It was so fun going to his work and eating with him. 

 Nikki and I were making a meager attempt at a selfie and trying to capture Emmett in the background. We were laughing so hard that it never turned out!  This was our best one. haha
 Here's a pic of the basket I won.

We ate lunch in dad's call room.

Nikki had her piano recital at Larsen's this week. Nikki did great, but once again Leah wasn't able to be there. Sally is finally all settled into her new house and her piano is there too, so now we're able to have the recitals at her house. It was fun. I talked with the Mylers there. They said they don't know how Spencer will do it for another 18 months of having Kat gone. They said he will definitely date while she's gone on her mission. I think that's a good decision. But for now, from seeing all the instagram postings, it looks like they're having fun in Tennessee together. Be happy that your decision was so clear cut.

Dad says to tell you that he loved our anniversary/father's day card. I did too. Just loved getting something in the mail! 

Alex and Savannah are finished with school and Alex is totally loving all his ad classes. He's in charge of the adlab's twitter account and loves being involved with everything. He's definitely in his element.

I tried a couple new recipes for dad's day dinner. I made a carmelized onion balsamic hummus and also a spring salad with an orange vinagarette and strawberries. Dad grilled some meat of his choice. It was all very tasty. Then later tonight I made some hot fudge sauce from scratch and we had ice cream sundaes. 

With Nikki, our only child at home. I think she's getting tired of praying on Sundays. haha

I braided Nikki's hair and it turned out great!

Loving living in Idaho where the sun stays up till late at night!

Dinner-it was more exciting than it looks. haha

With Nikki, our only child at home. I think she's getting tired of praying on Sundays. haha

Well, I hope you are doing well, enjoying the people in your life, listening to the spirit every day and enjoying representing the Savior 24/7. Excited to hear some stories from your week. Here are some missionary tips for the week:

1. Get to church early every Sunday

2. Sing a hymn after companion study…sing often

3. Invite companions, converts and others to write short notes in your journal

4. Always eat a good breakfast.

5. When your companion gets transferred, make sure you claim the best mattress and blankets in the apartment.

I love you very much!! Keep up the hard work, the great attitude and find ways to help others feel the same way you do and you'll always be happy.

Love you,

Mom xxoo

30 Years!!!

June 14, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

Can you believe it's our 30 year anniversary today! In a way time has just flown by, but in another way I think back on all the things we've done, the places we've lived, the babies we've had, the teenagers, our new Samoan family, the young adults, the missionaries, the college grads, the newly married and the cutest little granddaughter ever--It's been wonderful!! and I feel so blessed.

Dad has showered me with gifts and flowers. He's still as sweet as he was when I married him and he still thinks I'm the most beautiful woman in the world and makes me feel that way. That's why I married him. He's the best!

So how was your week? Thank you so much for you cute card. That was a fun surprise to come home to yesterday. I was in Utah for most of the week. Dad was here working and sleeping. Leah is still in Utah staying with Grandma and Grandpa. She's doing well. She was a little homesick last night after we left, but has spent a lot of time with Alex and Savannah and Chloe and then today of course they had a big dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's which has really helped her not miss home. She is doing well with her neurofeedback sessions and doesn't mind going at all since all she has to do is get hooked up to wires and watch whatever DVD she chooses. I even had it done so I could see what it felt like. I didn't feel much of anything, so we'll see if it makes a difference for Leah. It's supposed to help heal her brain overactivity. I'm going to be making some quilts for Rebecca (dad's cousin who does the feedback) in exchange for payment. 

While we were in Utah we were pretty much busy the whole time. Leah, Nikki and I stayed at the grandparents. At night we went to Sean's softball games. We visited with Sarah, Kirk and Addie, hung out with Alex and Savannah, met with Sean and Blair and the Williams who were up for the weekend and we checked out the new Noah's for their reception. The engagement is still a secret since Sean hasn't formally proposed yet. Hopefully he will do that soon so we can all talk more openly. The new Noah's is right across the street from the old one that's in Lindon. It's smaller, but it will be so pretty. Blair was really happy with it. Fabiana is meeting with them tomorrow night to take their engagement pictures. It's so funny to me that we're doing all this but they're not officially engaged! haha

Last night when I got home, I quickly changed clothes and dad and I went over to our building to get a seat to hear Elder Oaks speak. We got there almost an hour and a half early and still had to sit in the first part of the cultural hall. We saw the Camerons sitting in the chapel. They said they got there at five and stood in line outside. Man, it's difficult to get to see an apostle. I hope one comes to your mission one day so you get to meet one personally and shake their hand, listen to them, etc.

Our meeting was wonderful. Bro. Richard Turley, the church historian was also there. He was so interesting and told us how he had access to every single bit of church history that we know of and he has seen it all, researched it all and travels the world talking about it. He talked about Joseph Smith and the beginnings of the Book of Mormon. The name of their presentation to us was "Who's on the Lord's Side?" Bro. Turley spoke about how Joseph got the plates and how he had to protect them and how difficult it was. He dictated the entire Book of Mormon in less than 90 days and in one single draft! He never went back over it, never double checked it or made a better draft…just one single draft. That's just amazing! Especially when Bro. Turley showed us how difficult it was for Joseph Smith to write anything. He said the Smith family were not writers. They were oral record keepers. Jos. Smith never wrote things down until he was actually commanded to do so a few years later. Bro. Turley showed us papers on how difficult it was for Joseph to do that. He struggled with that commandment, and that's something people always question..why did Joseph wait so long to write anything down about what happened to him. He just was not a writer or record keeper.

On a big screen he showed us copies of the original manuscript. Joseph had buried those papers in the cornerstone of his house. Years later, Emma's second husband found the papers but they were all soggy and ruined. The portions he found though he gave away to people as souvenirs. Turns out most of the souvenirs were given to members and through the years those members have turned those papers in to the church where they have now been preserved. He showed us what they look like.

Then he showed us Joseph Smith's first attempt at trying to keep a record after he received a commandment to make a record of everything that happened. It sounded like a ten year old. It was so amazing to see his writing in his first journal and compare that to what he had dictated 3 years earlier as the Book of Mormon. This is the first page below.Bro. Turley said Joseph tried to write something at first, then scratched it out, then tried again. Bro. Turley said the grammar in this is horrible. haha I knew that Joseph did not have very much education, but seeing this and how he struggled to write anything was so amazing.

Then Elder Oaks spoke to us about apostacy and how gospel truths get corrupted. He said there are two basic causes of apostacy:1)Disobedience to commandments and 2)False prophets-they are most threatening to those who already believe in prophets. He warned us to always look to the fruits of those who are teaching "By their fruits, ye shall know them." then he reminded us that the Lord speaks to the church through the prophet and only the prophet. We've been having some problems with that in our area with some members who claim they received some revelations pertaining to the church and got quite a few people to follow them. Weird!! Elder Oaks also admonished us to look at the church in its entirety and its fruits and not look for tiny details that we are trying to find fault with. He told us that when we follow the prophet, we are on the Lord's side and we should all ask ourselves, who's on the Lord's side. It was a wonderful fireside and my testimony was so strengthened by their words. I loved it. 

Today I went to the gospel essentials class with an investigator who is a friend of the Cooley's. Chuck had to teach SS, so I went to class with her. She's been taking the lessons and it was so wonderful to be able to talk with her, share some thoughts with her, etc. Our lesson was on prayer. She's a single, 29 yr old from California and she's decided she's going to move up here. I told her I'd try to help her find a place to rent by asking all the RS presidents. I also told her how great the singles wards are and how much I thought she'd enjoy them when she moves up. She's going back to California tomorrow and plans on coming back the first part of July. She said she's been looking into the church and investigating without telling anyone so she could decide for herself first. I think she will make a wonderful member and I'm so hopeful for her. I'll keep you posted.

Today was also the farewells for Kenedee and Shannon. We didn't go to those, but I'm sure they were great. I've been reading Ali's letters and heard that Mallory is doing well, but just missing her family. 

How is your new companion? Can't wait to hear your stories. Here's few pics from my trip to Utah. Have a miraculous week! Miss you, love you and adore you!!!

Love you,

Mom xxoo

Summer

June 7, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

Well, it's officially summer around here, mainly because the girls are out of school and it's very hot. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 94. Leah thinks she needs to get a tan. haha

Our Sunday meetings were wonderful, as usual. I started off the day with a 6am mtg with the high council and Stk presidency. We got trained from a training video made by the brethren and sisters in Salt Lake. They're very concerned about the number of members who fall away and feel very strongly that if we would strive to make the Sabbath day more holy, more reverent, more sweet, this wouldn't happen and families would gain strength. 

I'll share a couple points they made and maybe you've already seen it since every stake should be training all their people. I thought these things might be excellent for you to use when you feel prompted and are teaching people especially less actives. 

1. Elevating the spirit and power of the Sabbath day does the most work towards hastening the work.

2. When we partake of the sacrament we agree to take the name of the Lord upon us. If you search that phrase, His name, in the scriptures it will mean several things and it's mainly "the work of the Lord". Also forgiveness comes through "His name". The work of the Lord is how we work in the gospel, how we apply it, how we magnify our callings. We're not just disciples, followers, we are active participants in the gospel. That's how we truly take upon ourselves "His name"

3. The sacrament is the only ordinance we repeatedly do for ourselves, once every 7 days.

4. Elder Bednar showed us the cycle of our lives which is very simple. Picture a clock. At 12 is the convert/child baptism. At 3 is the endowment. At 6 is the sealing. At 9 is having children and then the cycle continues. He said that the majority of people leave activity in the church between baptism and endowment. 

We need to enhance our Sabbath days and teach others the same thing so that they will move on towards the endowment in the temple. They told us don't make a list of don'ts for the Sabbath, but instead come up with things that will make your Sabbath day more reverent, more sweet, etc. It's a personal experience and different for everyone.

Then in Sacrament I was very aware of the reverance. Our ward is great that way. Then Sister Anderson bore her testimony and reminded the MiaMaids that they had a challenge to bear their testimonies today. Leah started going a little crazy because she remembered then and she was fully aware that she is the MiaMaid president. I tried to calm her and talk to her about what she could say for about 20 minutes. :)  Then all of a sudden she stood up and went to the pulpit and bore her testimony about the gifts she feels she receives from Heavenly Father-good friends, family and great leaders. Then she told all the MiaMaids that they were next to come up. I was very proud of her and kept telling her so. The only one who got up later was Maddie Tanner. Everyone told me how wonderful it was that Leah got up and they knew how much courage that took. Kelly Anderson came up to me in tears because she knew how hard that was for Leah. 

This afternoon I went over to Mallory and Ali's house to give them a little something before they leave on their missions. Ali has to change planes like 7 times and fly for 17 hours to get to Africa. Her mom is nervous for her. Mallory told me she loves reading your letters the most because they are so positive. I'm going to try to get to Christina's house tomorrow.

Engagement news-Collette Leifson is engaged to Chandler Warr (Cameron's brother). I think they're getting married the first week of Sept. This will be fun for the Leifson's.

This morning as I was going into church Tanner Mangum was walking out. He stopped and said hi to me, so I chatted a little bit with him and told him where you were. Remember how you used to just wave to him and wonder if he knew you. haha Well, I'm pretty sure he's aware of who you are now. He'll probably be heading to BYU pretty quick to start training. Leah said he looked cute.

Dad had to work today so I've been hanging out with the girls. We're getting ready to go to Utah this week, on Wednesday. Nikki, Leah and I are going and will be dropping Leah off at Grandma and Grandpa's. She's kind of nervous about getting neurofeedback, but once she has one session, I think she'll be okay. I'll keep you posted on how that goes. She's going to help grandma and grandpa with some things around the house too, but she's most excited to hang out with the brothers.

Nikki and I are coming back this Saturday so that dad and I can go listen to Elder Oaks speak here. I'm really looking forward to that meeting. I'll report on it to you next week.

Here are some beautiful pics that were taken in Canada.

That last one is soooooo cute!! Kirk said she was quite the photogenic little girl for the photographer. 

Well, better get this off to you. I sent you a flash drive so you can keep your photos on it. I hope you're having a wonderful day. I look forward to my Mondays!!! and hearing from you!!!

You're in my thoughts and prayers always. Have a great week.

Love you,

Mom xxoo