Sending mail to Sr. Missionaries makes you more attractive.

The pretty little snowflakes that Shannon sent

in her Christmas box to us.

 

....We have REAL snowflakes today! We are having an honest to goodness heavy snowstorm today! The farmers are singin' hallelujah!!

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I forgot to post our happy mail shout outs to every one who sent us something in the mail last week...so here's virtual high-tens to: Christopher, Shannon, Kathy's sister DeeDee, Mark & Betsy Leitzinger, Emily Houg, Kathy's brother Gordy, Geoff & Jan Garrett, and Larry & Lorrie.

Thank you everyone who takes the time to drop us anything in the mail! We love you all!

Seriously Mormons...not always serious.

On our way to Colorado Springs last week we stopped at Oakley Kansas. We snapped a photo of two of Kansas' most famous dead people. Can you guess who they might be?

Annie Oakley & Buffalo Bill

 

 

Another Kansan that we ran across (almost literally) one day...famous for his role in the Wizard of Oz...Toto!

We think Toto looks like he's fallen on hard times...

or maybe he used Bruce Jenner's plastic surgeon.

 

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I'm so grateful to have my wonderful companion who sees the humor in the same things I do. Who will take the time to stop and smell the roses with me and who makes me laugh every single day. Sometimes the work here is tough, and I'm not gonna lie, it can be depressing at times. We don't tell everything that happens here. Not yet anyway. While we have tried to share most of what happens here, we have had experiences that are difficult to put into words. And some that must be felt with the heart. I'm sure that one day our missionary journals will be read by our children and they will know what we are talking about. We hope those of our readers who have a testimony of the restored Gospel will not hesitate to share it with someone you care about who doesn't have it.



 

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"The Lord entrusts a testimony of the truth to those who will share it with others. Even more, the Lord expects the members of His Church to open their mouths at all times declaring His gospel...Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someones life for eternity."

                                     ~ President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

                                                                   



How do you spell HONDA?

G.H.E.T.T.O.

 

 

Our poor little Honda has had its share of owies. First, on the drive down to Utah from Washington we were hit by an apple crate that fell out of the back of a truck. Then a few weeks ago we were driving (at night) through Spearville and didn't see the mother-of-all-dips in the road and pert-near jarred our teeth loose while pulling a "Dukes of Hazard" through an intersection. Today we had just pulled into the grocery store parking lot and a truck turned left in front of us while the driver was LOOKING RIGHT. Holy guacamole! The good news is we were not injured. My dear companion's cat-like reflexes and masterful Andretti-ish driving skills saved my life.
...and our car is still drivable. Ugly, but drivable. We are blessed.



We celebrate.

Merry Christmas

 

One of my favorite paintings: The Nativity by Carl Bloch.

 

This is a bitter sweet time of year to be serving a mission. Bitter because we are away from family and loved ones. The end. Sweet, because of our circumstances we are "forced" to forgo the usual trappings of Christmas with all the hustle and bustle and worry and stress. Even the decorating has been simplified eliminated, and that's something that I usually look forward to a lot. With all that taken away, I have been able to focus on the Christ part of Christmas. I love my Savior. He is the Son of God and truly my Redeemer. The little baby in this painting grew up and did something for me and for you that allows us to return to live with our Heavenly Father. Think about that. Because of Jesus Christ's Atoning Sacrifice you and I may return to live with our families ~ that same family that I am missing right now ~ and with our Heavenly Father. May the power of the season bless your lives. May you feel the Savior's love ~ every day.