1 Jun 2008

June 1, 2008
Dear Elder Sean,
I sit down to write you with the sound of the Osmond's in the background (Kristina is watching a biography on them). Nothing like hearing little Donny sing.

So how are you? How was your new week at the new desk? Are you still training the new elder taking over your spot? What exactly are you going to be doing now? Are you happy with this transfer?

Did Ariel come to church again? How about Fernando? We are still praying for him. I hope he knows how much he is needed in his ward.

We are well here. Dad actually had to work today and didn't get to go to church. It's a rare thing these days for him to miss church because of work. Remember when you were young and dad only went to church with us about every other week. So I'm pretty used to sitting in church without him. I missed seeing him on the stand though.

Alex finished his movie he made for Moroni Academy and showed it to Bro. Shaw tonight. This week is the last week of school and then Moroni. Alex and the guys are excited to go. Can't wait to hear their stories. Tell Alex if you have any words of advice for him before he goes.

I forgot to tell you that we went to the end-of-the-year concert a couple weeks ago. Mr. Mc was pretty sad because this group of seniors was his first group of freshman when he started to teach at EHS. They were all very emotional. The choirs have gotten huge but they're all so good. It's pretty amazing to see how far they've come. Alex tried out and made Premium Blend which is the small jazz group for next year. He's still in sonous too. With gas prices so high, I doubt if there will be very many road trips next year. Gas is now between $3.80 and $3.99 a gallon here. It makes more sense half the time to fly to where you want to go.

Kristina is finishing up her years at an elementary school and couldn't be happier. She's so excited to go to girls camp for the first time this year too. Her friend Bailey from school who isn't a member is going to go to camp with her also. Bailey loved going to mutual with Kristina too so we're hoping she'll go with her all summer. A program that our youth are going to do this summer is called STOMP and it asks for everyone to read the Book of Mormon in its entirety during the summer. I'm going to do it too. I love reading the Book of Mormon in a short period of time. I've had such incredible experiences with it when I've done it that way as opposed to reading a little here and a little there. So I'm excited about this program and will really encourage Alex and Kristina with it.

Leah and Nikki are having their usual field days, craft days, etc as their last days of school, so they're loving getting up every morning and going to school. I've signed them up for swim lessons this summer and Nikki will be taking a chef's class for kids which she's totally excited about. Leah might be doing soccer again.

I played the piano in Primary today and Sally Larsen led the music, so we had a fun time together. She had them singing all the fun Primary standards. This past week wasn't very eventful, just kind of caught up on things since I've been away so much lately. We doubled with the Hugentobler's on Friday night and saw the new Indiana Jones movie. Not as good as the first one, but entertaining. We can't believe that Travis will be home this Sept.

I hope all is going well with you and your staff. Are you able to get out of the office on time these days so you can do some teaching?

I'm gathering some things to send to you to have you deliver to my new Argentina friends. Hope you don't mind.

Dad just got home so I better sign off so we can chat. I need to report about church today. Tyler Y. went into the MTC this past week and Phil and Corey are going in this Wednesday. Ashton is in California now and he's in his first area-Tustin. He's actually in the Tustin 5th ward which is full of lots of people who used to be in the Orange 3rd ward when I was young. It's so fun knowing he's there. I'll send someone to say hi to him.

I want you to know that I know we have a living prophet who communes with God. It gives me the greatest sense of peace to know we are not alone here on earth and that Christ stands at the head of our church and that He loves us more than we know, and He knows us better than we can ever understand. I have felt His tender mercies in my life so many times that I can never deny what I have felt, seen, and heard. I also know that every person on the earth is blessed because of the great power of the Priesthood. I also know that there is much suffering in the world today and that each of us have a mission to care for the one, to find those who are lost and lift their hands just as Christ did. I love living the gospel because it has made me grow and stretch in ways I never would have chosen on my own. I feel blessed and my greatest blessing is knowing where my blessings come from.
I love hearing your stories of caring for the one in Argentina and how your love for the people around you has grown as you have served them.
Stay true to your covenants.
Have a great week.
I love you very much,
momxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo