SoCal

Dec.13, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

Well, I'm back in Orange this week helping grandpa with a few things. Every time I talk with him he asks when I'm coming to see him. I'm here until Wednesday.

Last night I had a four hour layover in Utah, on purpose, and Kirk and Sarah and Addie picked me up and took me to dinner then back to their house to hang out. I loved it and just wanted to stay there with cute Addie. Addie literally repeats words that you say to her now. It's so cute to hear her.She's soooo smart.

Had a full Sabbath. Went to church with grandpa, but he needed a lot of help dressing and walking. He said he just wasn't feeling good and I cried a little in church just watching him struggle and realizing how hard old age is. He says it's hard enduring to the end. It breaks my heart, but I hope to help him feel calm and peace by helping him with a few things while I'm here.

It's very festive around here. Lots of people decorate their homes in fun ways. Patrice even put lights up on grandpa's house. Mike and Susan have lots of lights on their house too. I'll try to send pics of those next week. It actually rained really hard here tonight, so I couldn't take any pictures. They've really needed the rain here so it was good. We had dinner with the Starrs tonight and I loved just sitting around and talking with Mike and Susan. Then later tonight David came over and dad and I had a talk with him about the future of the business, etc. Tough stuff.

Leah and Nikki had their ehs Christmas concert on Friday. It was really nice. McMullen did a great job as usual. Nikki absolutely loves singing and choir. She even wants to take voice lessons. Leah goes back and forth with it. Some days she loves it, other days she wants to quit. But she actually has a really nice voice, so I hope she sticks with it.

Did you get the package with decorations in it? Hope you've made your place festive!

How did this week go? I know it was so hard for you last week, but I loved the lessons you said you learned. Grandpa said he really loved that letter, that it was so heart felt and he knew you were really feeling the spirit of what a mission is all about. He just loves reading your letters each week!How is Camilo doing? His example will be a huge impact in his children's lives. Oh yeah, Marcela also said she has some women she'd love to set him up with in her ward. She said they are successful, hard working and beautiful. Ha ha

Marcela and I talk weekly still cuz we are still doing her pathways college classes together. This week we finished her math class. In January we're doing another English class. I love talking with her. She's a good friend.

How's your training going? Is there a plan you follow or do you just spend each day teaching her as the spirit directs? Just curious how it works.

We are doing well here. When I get home we will be making cookies to deliver. I look forward to that. Our problem is picking the few people that we deliver to. Maybe we should just make a lot more cookies this year.  I'm trying something new this year-a chocolate cookie topped with a Hershey's candy cane kiss. The chocolate cookies are rolled in a coarse red and white sugar. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Well, I hope your week is full of service. Service breeds love and love keeps Christ's spirit on the earth and Christ's spirit brings light and light will always dispel darkness.

Enjoy the season. Soak it all in. Notice everything. Help everyone remember the reason for the season.

Can't wait to hear from you...as usual. Mondays are my favorite!!

Love you loads,

Mom

Xoxo

Gingerbread house making

Playing with Addie's new early Christmas present

Out to dinner

Addie wanted to walk

Addie seeing me get in the car
House decorations