Vacation Prep

Aug. 9, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

So how was your week? It was so fun hearing about your investigators last week and how many of them came to church. That was awesome and just so you know, extremely rare! I hope your Sunday this week was great too.

I had to visit a couple different wards today and the Hullingers were in the 3rd ward. That's the ward they moved into. So their Ali is coming home in two days and they are so excited. They also wanted to know if you've talked with their relatives in Petaluma yet.

I went to different wards today for a presentation from the Stake about the Justserve.org we are trying to get up and running here in this area. It's been in your area for a couple years now and we hear it's going great. We're really hoping to get it going here too and that it catches on with the community. It's such a great idea to find ideas for volunteer work.

Marcela facetimed me today. She's always so fun to talk to. She was wearing the Bronco's t-shirt that we had given to Bruno. They're waiting for Mara's mission call to come. They can see that it's been assigned, so they're expecting it within the next couple weeks. Can't wait to hear. There are lots of people coming and going on missions in our stake. It's hard for me to keep track. Today I heard that Chandler Phillips gave his farewell. I also heard that he mentioned you in his talk and said something about your positive attitude. Myles told me but couldn't remember exactly. Anyway, he said it was very nice.

Dad is working tonight in Emmett. I hope he gets to sleep a bit tonight. He needs the rest. He's working hard so he can take off next week so we can go to So Cal on vacation. Alex and Savannah are coming here this Wed. She's doing a camp in Twin Falls and Alex will pick her up Wed then keep coming here. They'll fly out with us on Friday to Calif. Right when we get back from vacation, the girls start school. They're not too happy about that. It's going to be so weird having both girls at the high school. I hope Nikki likes high school and starts making some good friends.

I'm getting everything done this week to prepare for the start of school. The girls have dentist appointments, dr. appointments, getting backpacks, registering at school, etc. Leah's leg is healing more and more. At least it seems like it.

Saw this at Albertsons

I was really hoping that she'd be almost walking by the time school started, but I'm not sure if that's going to happen now. At her doctor's appointment this week she will get an x-ray and that will tell us if the bone has started to heal. If it's healing, the Dr. will tell her to start putting more weight on it and using it, which will be wonderful. She is so tired of the crutches. Last week we had to give back the wheel chair, which she loved especially if we were walking anywhere far. She can always use more prayers though. :)

We also facetimed with all the brothers at grandma and grandpa's and Addie is really walking a lot now. She's no longer a baby, she's a toddler! I told Kirk to send you videos. I hope you can get those. Grandpa has been in the hospital with pneumonia. He's getting better each day, but has been in for a week now. The boys go over to grandma's to help her with things. Hopefully, grandpa will be coming home this week.

So I noticed that your old facebook page is no longer around. I went to tag you in a post last week so I could link your most recent letter and you're no longer one of my friends-that just doesn't sound right. haha But is it because you started a new facebook page? I just thought your old one would still be there. When Alex had a mission facebook page, he still had his old facebook too. anyway, I'm at least sending your letters out to everyone each week.

Hey, did you ever get a postcard from us? It's a new app that takes your cell phone pics and lets you convert it to a postcard. I just wanted to see if it actually worked.

Yesterday was Alex and Savannah's first year anniversary. Can you believe it's been a year? It went by so fast. I ran into the Cameron's in the mall. They said Tori is thinking of going to med school in the military (that doesn't make Melanie feel very good), Claire is still going to school-hasn't really mentioned anything about a mission at this point. She's not sure if she's supposed to go. They said to say hi.

Our yard is looking gorgeous like it always does every summer. I love just walking around our yard, picking the tomatoes and eating them, picking the raspberries, and watching the beautiful sunsets just about every night. In fact, I'll send you a pic of our front walkway. The plants there have grown so much that it looks like you're walking through a jungle to get to our front door. I love it! haha When Myles came over today he asked what we're feeding our plants. Maybe I just want it to look as pretty as northern Cal. ;)

Here are a few missionary tips for the week:

1.Upon arriving in a new area, find a good bakery.

2.Cook bacon weekly, just for the smell of it.

3.Read to and talk with all children--in homes, on the street and at church.

4.Take a copy of an old talk to sacrament meetings; if the bishop calls on you without warning, you'll be prepared.

5. Get to know the missionary couples well.

6.Read the Book of Mormon every day of your mission.

May you have a week full of tender mercies!!

Love you very much,

Mom xxoo