12 Oct 2008

Oct. 12, 2008
Dear Elder Sean,
It's been a very chilly weekend, winter type weather, snow on Bogus for the first time. It looked very pretty, but making the choice to go the Homecoming game Friday and sit in drizzly 35 degree weather was a tough one. They played Boise and beat them easily. EHS is still undefeated. So are BYU and BSU after this weekend. Today the snow is gone off Bogus and it's supposed to start warming back up to fall weather again. Kirk said they got snow, of course, in Rexburg. The volleyball team that he's coaching lost in their first match last Saturday. Looks like he has some work cut out for him.

Today we had a birthday dinner for dad since he has to work tomorrow. I made roast beef, roasted potatoes and carrots, gravy, bread cubes and steamed broccoli with a cheese fondue and a chocolate cake for dessert. Kristina had a special frosting for it that was tasty. It hardened a bit after we frosted the cake so it had a nice shiny look to it. Dad says all he wants for his birthday is dirt. He wants to finish off the bed in the front yard in the northwest corner. So the kids have all said they're just going to give him some dirt. Should be interesting. Kristina's birthday is this Saturday. She will be 13 and a teenager!

Alex went to homecoming this weekend. Here's a picture of he and Dani Beckstrom. They had a lot of fun. He was in a good group of friends. For their day date they went to an indoor black light miniature golf place and then a fondue lunch at the Yorgason's. I made a cheese fondue for them. For dinner they went to PF Chang's, then to the dance, then back to Yorgason's for games afterwards.



Last night our ward had a baptism. A 20 something young man, Josh. I think I told you about him before. He went to the Twin Falls open house and he said the feeling he got when he went in the celestial room was so strong that he wanted to feel that again and called the missionaries to learn more. Look what Cordoba has to look forward to when they have the open house for the temple. Josh is divorced and has a 4 year old son and he was confirmed today at church. He's very excited to be a member and it's so fun to see and feel his enthusiasm. I hope dad puts him to work right away. I suggested to him that he ask him to tell his conversion story and his experience with the missionaries to the priests.

At the baptism, we got to see Sister Aleki again. She's the Samoan sister, but she got transferred last week to Boise. She called me before she left and said she'd back for this baptism and said she wanted to see Nikki and Leah again. We took lots of pics at the baptism with Sis. Aleki and the girls. She gave me a piece of paper with her Samoan home address, her mission email and her mission physical address. I told her she is like family to us now and she feels the same way. So I thought I better send another picture of your new cousin to you :) She wants me to write her and keep in touch.



I'm happy to read about Hmo Villa and his sloppy joe experience. We have some more mixes set out for your next package, so feel free to give them all to the Villa family if you want. How is Maria Cristina progressing? Nikki is still praying for Fernando to go to church. Do you get any updates on he and his family?

Dad sends his love. He shared your experience about hearing about the new temple in Cordoba with the ward today in his testimony.

I ran into the Westerberg's at the football game on Friday night. Austin is in the drumline, so they come to watch him. The band is really small this year because they got a new director and there was some kind of questionable departure of the last one, so lots of kids dropped out. They're starting to sound pretty good though. They took 2nd at the Caldwell competition. Terri Westerberg said that Jared is thinking of waiting out one semester when he comes home so he can practice trumpet and get back into the music program. They're hoping he'll want to get back into school in the fall instead of waiting. She said maybe you can talk him into it. They want me to bring the girls over so they can wear out Badger by running with him and playing with him. Remember Badger, quite the bundle of energy still and so are the girls, so that would be a good match.

Cameron Dumas got home from his mission this past week. His whole family went over to Portugal to pick him up and said it was a great trip. As soon as you know the exact date of your release, let us know so we can start looking at flights, schedules, etc. We don't want to book something now if your dates aren't secure.

My dad just called. He sends his love and says he's going to write you another letter since it doesn't sound like you ever got his last one. He reads all of your letters though.

Last week I called my dad thinking he'd be on the road to Utah with my mom. He was in Las Vegas where he met up with my brother Chris, yes Chris. Chris's wife Ann's son was getting married, so my mom and dad went to Vegas to meet up with them. When I called they were having breakfast with Chris and Ann, so I got to talk with Chris. It's been years and he sounded good. He wants to have a little reunion with the Rocky Mountain siblings (Steve, Allen and me) next summer, so I hope we can make that happen. We exchanged cell numbers so we can keep in contact. When we were getting off the phone, we both said "love you" and it felt great to hear that after many years. He seems to be finding peace and happiness in his life and I'm very happy for him. Sometimes the foolishness of our youth is easily forgotten and other times it takes years and years to repair what took place in such a short time. But that's why we're here on earth and why we're given time. I'm thankful for a patient, forgiving and loving Heavenly Father.

Well, that's about it for around here this week. You mentioned in your last letter about wishing you could just call home and talk in person about all the experiences and believe me that's my hardest thing too. I'm so grateful for email though and love our letters each week. I am with you every day, my thoughts and prayers. I want the people in Argentina to hear the gospel and to hear your testimony and to feel the strength of the spirit bearing witness in their own lives. There's nothing better, so I know you are where you should be.

Love you much,
momxoxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxooxoxooxox