20 Jan 2008

Jan. 20, 2008
Dear Elder Sean,
Well, we had another snow storm last night. We woke up to about 3-4 inches of snow here. The farmers should be very happy about the upcoming season.

Today was ward conference. Dad did a great job with his talk on family prayer and Pres. McCauley spoke to us about prayer also. Then President spoke to us in SS about the same subject, but it more of an open forum of comments and questions. Then I went into YM/YW to see Alex and the APC present their mtg. Alex's video (which was one of five) was so well done and very funny. Bro. Pinder says he really has a comedic sense of timing. We'll try and make a DVD for you so you can see it. Alex also got asked to speak, so I enjoyed being in there. Sis. Jarvis came up to me afterward and said she had been so impressed with you and now she's just as impressed with Alex.

So how are you doing this week? How's your weather been? We'd love a little of your heat right now. Kirk just called and they're really having a cold winter. They got snow yesterday and today, but you know Kirk, he doesn't really complain about it and says he's keeping warm. He got to go through the Rexburg temple on his semi-private tour last Friday and said it was great. They got to go into rooms where the usual tour doesn't get to go. then he went to a catered dinner. AFterward he had a date. Yes, he's actually dating. He has another date already set up for next weekend too.

Have you received our latest boxes yet? Just wondering.

Yesterday we went to the Nampa Civic Center and watched a group of Polynesian dancing. The teacher was the lady I had taken Leah to when we very first adopted the girls. The teacher is Samoan, but she teaches a lot of Hawaiian dancing. Only a small portion of the dancers were actually Polynesian but it was still very entertaining. Both Leah and Nikki say they want to take lessons. It's just so far to drive to Nampa once or twice a week for lessons.

Alex Erickson's girlfriend got baptized yesterday and confirmed today. She's a wonderful young woman and wants to be in our ward, so I think that will be great.

The kids all have off school tomorrow for Martin Luther King day. I'm taking Nikki in to the ear doctor. Seems like she's having a hard time hearing again, so we'll get it checked out. Alex is over at the Yorgason's for his Sunday evening scripture study time. I'd like to be a fly on the wall and see if and how much they actually study. They also make cookies. I think they actually do study because he always comes home and tells me about some of the things they have talked about. Sometimes Bro. Yorgason steps in and helps them out with their studies. But Bro. Y is out of town. I hear he's looking around in Texas and Arizona for some business opportunities. The housing market is still in a slump. Foreclosures are everywhere and anyone in the building industry has had to look for work elsewhere. So far there's no sign of the market making a rebound yet. It will be interesting to see what happens this year.

Here are some tips for the week:
1. Remember, the harder you work on your mission, the better looking your spouse will be.
2. Sing hymns while you tract, and try to harmonize.
3. Carry a pen.
4. Save one new white shirt for the halfway point of your mission.
5. Leave at least a quarter tank of gas in the car at transfer time.
6. Create trivia questions from Church videos.
7. Record the most creative rejections you receive in a separate section of your journal.
Dad wants to add a few things on this letter, so I'll close now. I just want you to know how much we pray for you and think of you. I have this mental picture in my mind of where you are and what you're doing and it makes me happy. I see you being so busy and so anxiously engaged. Keep it up.

Have a miraculous week and remember always whose side you are on.
I love you,
momxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxoox

Hey Sean Dad here hoping all is well and you are enjoying the Southern Hemisphere. I had fun talking in church today. Meetings went well and now I'm tired as I have been up since 5 am this morning in one meeting or another. I'll be at work most of the week so i won't be around in the am to talk to you so have a great day and Mom and call me if you have any questions. I just checked the internet and the Giants just beat Green Bay and Patriots beat the Chargers earlier today so it is the Patriots vs the Giants in the superbowl in 2 weeks. I thought that Green Bay would win but they lost in overtime against the Giants. I'll try and start on old fashion letter to you and get it finished in a couple of weeks when I send you your next package. Let me know if you need anything. Grandpa Thompson wants to know which spice mix you liked and if you need more yet. I talked to Grandma and Grandpa earlier tonight and they are well and trying to survive a Utah winter. In the 8th ward today, Joe Kjar reported his mission as well as one of the bingham brothers. Joe's down at BYU, I told him to work on Kirk to get him down to school in Provo by the time you get back to school. Well Sean, I'm going to go play with the kids. I Love you and am so proud of you. Have fun, obey the rules and work hard. Enjoy talking to Mom in the am. Love, Dad