On to Women's Conference

Jan. 25, 2016

Dear Sister Kristina,

How are you??? I hope you had a wonderful Sabbath and a great week. We are well here, just plodding along. Each day seems to bring unexpected things, sometimes miracles, sometimes hardships, sometimes just a twist in events, but I try to roll along with each thing. If it was anything else, I would probably be bored. One thing is for sure, I’m not bored.

This past weekend was our Stake Conference. My presidency and I got to prepare and serve dinner for the visiting authority, Elder Sexton. We served about 30 people at dinner. Dad made the tri-tip steak and au jus. We have lots of leftovers so the girls are very happy. Tonight we’ll turn the meat into pulled bbq sandwiches. I think they’ll be happy about that cuz anything with meat and Sweet Baby Rays is always a hit with them. haha

Dad and I ate at the dinner too, so it was nice having dad there with me this time. The Saturday evening meeting was wonderful. I especially loved all the missionary miracles Elder Sexton talked about when he was mission president in Huntington Beach, CA.  He says he definitely learned that there are no coincidences. When we live close to the spirit we are where we need to be, where we should be and people will be placed in our paths for a reason. He had lots of great stories of missionaries listening to the spirit and being led right where they needed to be. It’s my goal to always live my life that way.

I actually got a pretty good night’s sleep that night even though I was speaking the next day. Here’s the order of who spoke on Sunday-first Pres. Stafford, Pres. Shaw, myself, then they called Bro. Cameron unexpectedly up out of the audience to bare his testimony, then the temple matron, then the president of the Boise temple, then the rest of the meeting was for Elder Sexton. Elder Sexton had assigned 3 of us to speak about keeping the Sabbath day holy. On Saturday night, Pres. Jeppeson of our Stk Presidency spoke on it, then Pres. Shaw and I both spoke on it the next day. I have to say, I was a little worried about so many of us speaking on the same subject. Pres. Shaw and I even told each other what some of the details were in our talks so we could make sure they were different. But each one of us had such a different take on it. Then I understood why we were all asked to speak on the same thing. In Elder Sexton’s talk on Sunday, he told us about his meeting last year with the first presidency and the 12 apostles. He said it was a training meeting and 11 apostles were all asked to speak at it and all 11 apostles spoke on keeping the Sabbath day holy. Elder Sexton said that really made an impact on him, so he felt he needed to get that same message out to us.

Once I spoke, it was a very relaxing meeting. You know how that goes. Dad and the girls managed to actually get seats in the chapel, so it was nice seeing them there. It was an odd feeling to look out and see the entire room filled all the way back to the stage and to see the little camera there also that reminded me there were two other buildings filled and listening. I’ll send you a copy of my talk. The hardest thing was trying to keep it around 8 minutes and still make it interesting.

After church we invited Myles Mckell over for dinner and we had breakfast for dinner. It was so relaxing and waffles never tasted so good. We also got to facetime Kirk, Sarah and Addie last night which is soooo fun. I could sit there and just watch Addie for hours. She is so funny and changing so fast. Her hair has soft curls in the back now, she’s trying to say new words all the time and I can always make her laugh just by pretending to sneeze and throwing my head back and forth to make my hair go wild. She then mimics me by sneezing and throwing her hair around. Simple joys are the best!!

Sean called me last night and he’s been super busy getting two stores ready to open and his lab. Not only is he learning how to make eyeglass lenses, but he’s also learning all about building. Blair is only working two days a week at the zoo, so she’s really hoping to find a job that will keep her busier. 

Over the weekend, Alex called and asked if I would help him with his website. He’s getting ready for his big interviews this next week with advertising agencies around the country. They are all coming to BYU to interview the seniors and he needs to have a website for them to look at. So I enjoyed helping Alex with that. I know he’s going to do great with his interviews, and it will be fun to hear where he gets an offer and where they will be moving.

Leah and Nikki both had finals last week. Nikki said she thinks she did well and tends to get all A’s and B’s now. I’m very proud of her and her efforts. She’s struggling a bit with some anger issues, but I’m trying to help her through that. I think she’s learning some of her habits from her sister, but she loves the gospel, still loves cooking and food, and all her leaders just love being around her. Leah didn’t seem to really care how she did on her finals, but she gets help all along the way from all her teachers, so I’m sure they’ll get her passed from each class. Some days, Leah gets very motivated to do well, makes plans and organizes everything and I see where her heart is, but she just has a hard time carrying it through. I feel for her and her struggles. I am learning so much in trying to help her, but I also realize there are so many things I cannot help with or change. I look forward to our meetings with the psychiatrists so I can get help too. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and rely on my faith, my Savior, my Father, dad, my family soooo much. Thank you again for prayers.

I’m excited to plan for our Women’s Conference this weekend. I’m really looking forward to attending and hearing the speakers. I’m not really worried about the little details because I know all the men and women we’ve asked to help out will do a great job. We have such awesome talent in this stake. I know I’ve sent you the flyer for our conference, but here’s a handout we made with a little more info:

So how was your week? Did you have investigators come to church? I’m anxious to hear how Camilo’s kids are doing and if the Fefita family has made any progress. I think it’s always hard to understand the Lord’s timing especially when it seems like someone should join the church right now so they can start receiving the blessings of a changed life and heart, but I also learned from our Stake Conference that we need to remember that our final chapters of our lives will not be written here on earth, that there is still another chapter coming and some people will make awesome changes in that final chapter because they will be free from some of the heavy burdens of this life. This was really good counsel also for parents who struggle with wayward children.

Sorry, I don’t mean to sound preachy…maybe I’m still in the talk writing mode. haha but I love to share what I learn sometimes.

At Stake Conference Sis. Steele came up to me and told me that she and Sis. Wright grew up together and she is a good friend of hers and just loves her. She was excited to know you were in her mission and wants you to say hi to her for her. Also Breck is coming home from her mission in just 3 months. I can’t believe that. Seems like she just left. Sis. Steele said she’s going to be so lonely when she comes home because all her friends are still out on missions.

Here are a couple more pics from Sarah this week.

I love this one of both of them getting pedicures!! It makes me happy.

I hope you’re having a wonderful day. I’m sure if we go to Wal-Mart today we’ll get to see all the missionaries from the area and I love it. Thinking of your during my day always brings a smile to my heart. Keep up the good work. You have an awesome light about you, just share some of the light with everyone you meet, help them smile, lighten their burdens and your day will be even more joyful.

Let me know if you need anything. 

Love you, love you, love you,

Mom xxoo