26 Oct 2008

Oct. 26, 2008
Dear Elder Sean,
Hallow! That's how Sister Aleki from Samoa writes hello to us. She got transferred and she sent us a letter the other day. It's fun reading how she writes things in English.

How are you this week? Did you have a good Sabbath? I hope some investigators made the decision to come to church. How is Maria Cristina doing and Maxi? We had a packed house today because the Purnell's had their farewell. They did a great job and will be good missionaries.

Dad's had some time off this week because I was supposed to have been in Houston for quilt market this week, but Jan hasn't been well with her rheumatoid arthritis, so we decided to sit this one out. With all of dad's free time, he's managed to redo the front planter. Mike and Patrice came over to help and bring the big equipment. It looks great. I'll have to take a picture this week. For a while we couldn't find the battery charger for the camera and I was really missing using the camera. I use it a lot to take pictures for my blog, but all of a sudden it appeared in the cupboard where we had looked a million times before. Go figure. So now I'm back in business.

Alex took the ACT again on Saturday. He's trying to up his score. I hope he does so he can get a scholarship. It would be helpful since all 3 of your will be going to college next fall and will need financial help. He said it went ok, so we'll see.

Dad and I went to a temple sealing yesterday for Diane Manning (Travis Perry's mom-by the way, he asked about you and said to tell you hello). She started dating this guy in the Star ward and it really clicked. They both seem so happy. Diane had her daughter Katelyn sealed to them too. It brought back wonderful memories of having the little girls sealed to us. It seems like a blur now. I wish I could go back in time and see it again.

Football update-BSU(11th in the polls now) won, BYU (17th in the polls now) won and EHS won. EHS won their division title and will now start district playoffs next week.
Baseball-world series-Phillies lead 2 games to one against the Tampa Bay Rays, and they are ahead tonight 6-2 in the 7th.

All is well here. Lots of political jabbering going on with the elections in less than 2 weeks. I'm getting tired of it now. Obama has a pretty serious lead over McCain at this point. They don't seem to be in touch with the average person. Many people are suffering with the depressed economy and there doesn't seem to be one clear answer. We all have received a wake up call to live within our means and get our houses in order (sound familiar?) We have such an advantage having a living prophet, but we've learned that just listening to him without action means nothing.

The girls are starting to get pretty excited about Halloween coming up. Nikki's going to be a renaissance girl and Leah wants to be Dracula. Kristina is going as part of a rainbow with her friends. She's the green part.

Dad had to work tonight. He worked all day at church and now he has to stay up all night at work. I hope he does ok. Today we sustained Stewart Jensen as a member of the high council. they've officially moved to the 8th ward now and we miss them. Cody Larsen took his place with the Priests.

Kirk sounds like he's doing ok at school. He's struggling with his chemistry class and he's thinking of changing his major from Biology to Health Science. He's going to talk with a counselor first. He likes the classes that are required for Health Science much better than Biology.

I'm plodding along, trying to be a good mom and a great wife. Quilting is still my sanity along with piano and mandolin and now I'm feeling a renewed surge for photography (which was my major at BYU). I'm almost done with Leah's baptism quilt. I work on it every Sunday while I listen to conference talks. I'm going through them for the second time now and loving it. My family makes me happy and I love seeing all of you happy. I wish I had the energy to do everything I have in my head to do for all of you. Sometimes a hug, a smile and an encouraging word is all we really need. As Sis. Beck said at the Oct 2007 conference, "Women who know do less". "Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world's goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord's kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power."

I love that talk and it's so motivating for women. If there are any women in your ward who could use encouragement and uplifting, this is a good talk for them. You said in your last letter you could see how Satan is attacking the family in your area. It's true everywhere and I wish women everywhere could hear the wonderful talks given to women in particular lately like Sister Beck's and Pres. Uchtdorf's at the last General Women's conference.

Here's some missionary tips for the week:
1. Develop a scripture marking system that's personal to you and not too messy.
2. Don't fast longer than 24 hours--even for special investigators or challenges.
3.As a senior, include your companion in the planning process, especially when training.
4. Include childhood memories in your letters to your parents.(I like that one)
5. Make sure there is proper ventilation for all gas appliances.
6. When asked what your name tag represents, tell the person it is a reminder that you are to give him/her a copy of the Book of Mormon.
7.Sneak into another companionship's apartment while they're out and clean it.
8. Cross-reference your patriarchal blessing to the scriptures.
9. Send thank you notes after dinner appointments.
10. Stretch before playing sports on P-day- it's been seven days since you really exercised.

Stay well and happy this week. Live your life so the spirit can work through you and stay true to your covenants. The Lord will take care of the rest.

I love you very much,
momxoxoxoxooxxoxooxoxoxxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxooooooooooooo