Busy Week

July 19, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

Time is starting to fly faster these days, probably because we have so many things we are doing. I took a quick trip to SoCal this past week and managed to get a lot done with grandpa. We had a meeting with the attorneys. Grandpa is doing well, but he's really starting to slow down. It's hard to see him that way. He always asks about you and tells me that he reads every letter.

While in SoCal I got to see Toni, Patrice, Sunny and Susan. The weather was wonderful as usual and it was even a bit humid, my hair got kind of big. haha Patrice and Sunny are living with grandpa, so I stayed at that same motel where we stayed for grandma's funeral. I have to admit, it was kind of weird staying in a motel room by myself…I much prefer my family around me!

On my way home to Boise, I flew from Orange County to Seattle, so I flew right over you!! It was very green in your area and it was so brown coming into Boise, but I was happy to be home.

I spoke with Sheila Hansen today about Michael. She said he's really having a hard time emotionally being home after 11 months. He's getting an MRI this week and he'll learn if he has to have surgery or not. If he does, he will need to stay home for another 6 months for physical therapy and he really won't be happy about that. I told Sheila that Leah and Michael can get together and play checkers or something. haha Michael is absolutely determined to get back out on his mission though. This will just be a bit of a trial for him.

Here are some pics that dad sent me while I was away. They always seem to have so much fun when I'm gone.

At the Village

At the movies

At the Village with the local police

At the golf shop with dad

I was driving by the temple and took this shot

My poor car is getting so old! haha

So this week we are going to Utah to celebrate Addie's first birthday!! She has the cutest personality and I can't wait to see how she is with her birthday cake and all her presents. Sarah's parents and sister Renee with her kids are all coming too. I'll be sure to take lots of pics to show you next week.

Today at church Justin Langford gave his farewell talk. Both talks today were on testimony and how to gain a testimony, etc and afterwards, Leah said, wow, those were such great talks. She said the same thing last week and I love that she's really listening now. She has been humbled a lot. I keep praying that her heart will continue to soften. I asked the missionaries if they would come over after we get back and have a lesson prepared for the girls in particular. The Samoan elder said he'd bring another elder with him that has come here straight from Western Samoa. He thinks that will be good for the girls. I just love the spirit I can feel around the missionaries. I know that you're carrying that same spirit wherever you go and I love thinking about it.

Tomorrow Leah goes to see her surgeon for the first time since the surgery. I'm anxious to hear how her bones are healing and I'm so hopeful that she'll be able to get a walking boot so she can move around a little bit. She's being pretty patient with her leg and not being able to do things, but I can also see her getting so bored lately. I totally understand that. It's a huge lesson for her and she knows the healing may take six months. Of course, I pray more fervently for her emotional health, that's what I think about every day. Thank you for your prayers.

I'm loving that dad is working closer to home now when he does shifts at Emmett. The girls and I try to get over there during his shifts and have a meal with him. He says it really helps break up his shift when we come and visit. He's working in Emmett tonight.

Today the Beehive advisor asked me to come into her class and share some thoughts about covenants made in the temple. Of course, I took our family picture when we had the girls sealed to us and I told them that story, but I also talked about how wonderful it is that Heavenly Father has us make covenants as individuals. We're baptized alone, we take out our endowments alone and only then do we get to kneel across from our husband and both make a covenant together with Heavenly Father. But it is up to us as individuals to keep those covenants, our moms can't do it for us, our friends can't keep them for us, but us alone with our Father. I talked to them about the linking of families and to picture a really big strong chain link and how strong that link is and that Heavenly Father will never break that link because He keeps His promises and wants us back with Him, only we can break the link by choosing not to live and keep the covenants we make. I haven't taught the youth for a long time and I really enjoyed it! Nikki's class has around 18 girls in it, can you believe it? Our ward has been growing this summer. New families I haven't even met yet.

Hope you have had some success with your investigators and that they are following through and showing up to church. It's such a change for them in their lives and sometimes it just takes more time than you think for them to feel comfortable enough to show up in a church all by themselves. If you're ever expecting someone on Sunday, be sure to tell at least one member so they can be on the look out too and be there to welcome them. I would love to have that opportunity.

Have a miraculous week, enjoy the beauty around you and remember to keep a good journal of your thoughts, impressions and things you are grateful for.

I love you soooooooo much!

mom

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo