Dear Elder Alex,
How many times have I said, back home, in my letters. Well, it's always true and tonight I just got in from flying home from California. Dad and the girls picked me up from the airport.
I had a whirlwind of a time in Orange County. I went down to take grandpa's life history and got quite a bit of it done. You know my dad, he has plenty of stories to tell. It will be a much bigger book than my mom's. It was fun hearing some things I hadn't heard before. I liked hearing his mission stories. My mom is progressively getting worse and really slowing down, physically and mentally. It's hard to see, but it's even harder to watch my dad work so hard to take care of her every need and not get any love in return.
While there I got to see Toni, Jan, Jeff, Heidi and her baby McKay, Cheyenne who takes care of grandma during the day, Chad who is now 13, Patrice and Dennis and their new home they are renting, Susan and Mike, Parker, Brig, Taylor, Sarah, McKenna and her boyfriend Will, Cami, Sam. Pretty good for being there just 4 days, eh? While I was there Trevor got in a big fight with his parents and left home. He didn't get far cuz he showed up at Toni's and wants to live there, but Toni is only giving him 2 weeks then he'll need to pay a substantial amount towards the rent. Always drama going on around there, more stories than I care to share. But I love my brothers and sisters and hope they always know that.
Now the hard part begins, transcribing the tapes. That will take me some time. I also have to get to work on Sarah's visa this week. Hopefully I'll be able to meet with an attorney and get all the paperwork ready beforehand and get it turned in. I think I told you that the visa will take between 3 and 9 months, so the sooner we get the stuff in, the better. It's a lot of paperwork. It reminds me of adopting the girls. Now we're adopting Sarah.
Here are some pics from my trip and Halloween:
On Wednesday, Leah has her 12th birthday. She is very excited and is still trying to earn the right to pierced ears. She'll be going to mutual this Wednesday too. Nikki and dad made a replica of Jamestown while I was gone. Kristina planned her Sadie's date while I was gone. Sadie's is this Saturday and she's counting the days. They will be serving food from Panda for their dinner-aren't you proud of them?
That Civil War cemetary tour sounded quite interesting. They don't do those kinds of things around here. That's so southern and I miss that.
I was so excited to hear your news about the Taylors last week. I hope they are still progressing well. After being in California and seeing such extremes of lifestyle, if you know what I mean, I've just been thinking so much about the gospel. When people join the church, their lives and even their very spirits seem to calm down, not that their troubles go away, but they feel a fullness of joy versus sporadic momentary highs and lows. They have purpose and best of all they have the gift of the Holy Ghost that is more key in their lives than I think most people realize. Having the spirit with you becomes almost palpable, if not palpable, at least visible with our spiritual eyes. I've seen such a starkness of difference in people's lives when they've had the spirit with them and when they have turned away from it. I knew a man in Hilton Head who had been a member but left the church and every so often he would return to hear his wife speak, etc (she was a member) and when he came through the doors of the church, our little humble church in Hilton Head, he would feel something different and if it was a fast Sunday, he said he felt practically compelled to get up and bear his testimony which I can remember him doing on at least 2 different occasions. He would break down up there and say how he knew everything was true and felt it strongly and was ashamed that he couldn't keep that feeling and dedication once he left the building. I think sometimes as long time members, we get "used" to feeling the spirit and having it in our lives and don't notice the stark difference that those who don't have it feel. That's why new members and people you teach who really listen and learn feel it strongly. I'm sure you've felt the strength of the spirit in many of your lessons with investigators. The Holy Ghost's job/mission of testifying of the truth of all things is very real.
I still pray for the Taylors, because I know how critical this period is in their lives. Do they have friends in the ward, are they being fellowshipped? I can't stress how crucial that is.
Well, between setting our clocks back and traveling to California for the weekend, it's thrown my internal clock off. So I better get to bed. Can't wait to hear from you and how your week went. All the family in Cali I talked with asked about you and they send their love. Keep up the great work.
love you,
mom xxoo
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