First SnowStorm '08

Dec. 14, 2008
Dear Elder Sean,
This storm kind of came out of nowhere, but the kids are loving it. It's supposed to snow on and off for about 3 days, which is kind of weird for this area. Luckily Kirk made it home just before the snow hit. He brought Jan and Jeff with him since they came up to Rexburg for Mary's graduation (yes, she finally graduated after 6 years of college). Actually, she's not sure if she'll pass one of her classes, but we'll see. Mary and David drove straight home from Rexburg and Jan and Jeff came here for the weekend so Jeff could visit with his dad. They'll be here until Tues and will fly home from here.

The kids spent the Sabbath snow shoveling for our home and for some of the neighbors. It turned into a bit of a neighborhood snowball fight however. Tonight we played games together (always remember that the family that plays together, stays together!) We read scriptures and discussed Amalakiah and Lahonti and read from a Christmas book where I read about one Christmas virtue each day before Christmas.

Today at church we had a return missionary speak (he was from another ward and his family had recently moved here from Missouri). One thing that stood out for me in his talk was what he said his mission president told them. Their president told them to not look at the people they were teaching dressed in white for baptism, but rather they should look at them dressed in white ready to go to the temple. He said that that really made a difference in the way he taught when he thought of it that way. It didn't become about the numbers then, it became about saving an entire family and helping them prepare to get to the temple.

Friday night dad and I went to a white elephant party at the Shaw's. It was very fun. They had about 8 couples there, most of them from the 2nd ward. We played some other games too, ate, talked and laughed. The Shaws are such a great couple and I've often thought how fun it would be to live next door.

Yesterday was the EHS Christmas concert. They had 2 performances because the crowds are so large. I worked the snack table during the first concert and our family went to the 2nd concert. Kirk and Jan and Jeff managed to get there halfway through and joined us. We have reserve seats this year, so we sit front and center 4 rows back. I love it!!! Well worth the money. Alex had a solo this year and he did an awesome job. He sang Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas with Premium Blend behind him. My heart was pounding so hard when he stepped out front and forward to sing, you would have thought I was performing. It was a difficult rendition and the range he had to sing was from low D to an A and he hit it with perfect pitch. We videoed the whole thing and have put it on Youtube for the world to see (ok, most likely just our friends and family). We also put it on our Trumbo blog. It's fun to be able to show the family even when they can't be there.

Dad's been a little busy with tithing settlements still and we have a few more events this week to attend. Tis the season. I need to start baking for our cookie giveaways too. We've got all the packages sent to you now. There should be 5 in total. Only one says Do not open til Christmas, but the other 4 are to open now and have many things to give away. Let us know as you get them and which one it is, etc. We send these out in faith hoping they get there in tact and into your hands. We had a lot of fun putting them together for you. Hope you enjoy them.

It was great hear about your mission conference. Can't wait to see your customized jerseys too. I'm sure the whole thing was very motivating for all involved. We passed your letter on to Bro. Shaw so he could read about your ideas of using the Book of Mormon in contacts and teaching. He said he really enjoyed the letter and was definitely going to use it in Missionary Prep classes.

How are the Villegas coming along? It's made me think about adults joining the church coming from a lifetime of habits, both bad and good, coming from families who taught them with love of other and often times very conflicting values and traditions, and then I remember how here in our ward how dad is always telling the young men to make those simple "deacon decisions" now that will carry them through their whole lives. As a beehive, my teacher asked us to do the same thing and I can even remember her giving us a few moments of silence to make a commitment to the Lord and His gospel. These adults didn't have the opportunity to make those beehive/deacon commitments, but they need to make that same type commitment now in their lives, a commitment that will carry them through to the end, one that doesn't have to be remade at every crossroad of life. The phrase that sticks in my mind is, now you don't have to make that decision ever again, you've made it now move forward in faith and hope. Even though they are adults, it's still a plain and simple decision. Somewhere in their soul they hear the whisperings of the spirit testifying of the truthfulness of the restoration and say to themselves, no matter what happens from now on I have made a decision to stay on the Lord's side because of what I have felt and I can't deny it. It also seems almost imperative that the new convert should bear testimony, no matter how simple, because that will become such an integral part of the conversion process. Saying and making a commitment out loud, bearing testimony, always builds testimonies. The bearing of testimony solidifies the physical act of baptism by immersion. I hope that new converts everywhere are given opportunities to put voice to what they are so powerfully experiencing and feeling. I know that you as a missionary must hear many beautiful, heartfelt testimonies of souls as they have experienced the spirit for the first time in their lives. There is nothing more tender to my heart than hearing the first prayer of a friend taking the lessons.

You sound great in your letters and I can't wait to talk with you on Christmas day. Nikki says she loves Christmas the best of all but why does it take so long to get here. Her pure joy of life and her natural love for all people has taught me much needed lessons. Continue to learn, Sean, no matter how old you get. There are lessons everywhere.

Have a spirit-filled week.
Love you,
momxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo