December 31, 2012

Dear Austin! Well Happy New Year's Eve! I am sure you are having more fun there in the MTC than we are here. Dad has 2 papers to write by tomorrow, I have lesson plans to create, Logan is working and Kyle has basketball practice and I bet you can guess what Sierra is going to try to do all day today :) So like I said - I am sure you are having more fun there in the MTC. On Saturday Lana and her family came down to Ephraim and we went sledding over by the Elementary School (behind the playground). It was kind of like a birthday party for Dad. It was fun. Lucy and Langley stayed at our house with Lana because Lucy did not feel well so they did not go sledding. I will send you a picture or two to add to your photo album. Yesterday on his actual birthday after church Dad and kyle took the Rhino up the Canyon Road and then over to little mountain, by the rental house. I guess they had a good time but they were frozen when the got back home. We got dad a big Hershey's Candy bar with Almonds, a personal nose hair trimmer and a garage door opener for his truck. Logan programmed it to open both garage doors, separately. It was not much but I think Dad appreciated the efforts. Then I think the best part of his birthday was after dinner we all watched and actually stayed awake for the Fiddler On the Roof! Dad was in his glory. It was actually the first time I watch the whole movie. It was fun to watch the actors do the Russian Dance. We thought it was filmed in Russia but actually it was filmed in Yugoslavia. Anyway on to more spiritual things. I have been studying and reading in Moroni 7,8,9 and 10. It is such a fascinating couple of chapters. This time in my studies I am using the Teacher and Students Book of Mormon Institute Manuals as well as reading the scriptures. I have enjoyed it because the manuals also give reference other talks and quotes from modern day prophets on the topics in the scriptures. It has also been great because we are also studying these chapters in Sunday School. Yesterday we finished the Book of Mormon and it was a powerful conversation. One of the really cool discussion we had was what comes first, Faith or Hope? Is Hope required in order to have Faith or is Faith require to have Hope? Of course there were different options in the classroom but it was a good conversation. What do you think? Have you ever thought about that? I know I had not really thought about it before. In Moroni 10:20-22 can help understand what comes first. I really like Moroni 10:23. I believe this to be true. We also talked a lot about Charity. In a talk someone referenced in class it talked about Moroni 7:45. The lady's name was Charity that was speaking and she suggested that we all substitute our names in in place of hers "Charity" and read the scripture again. I did that and it is pretty cool. It states all that we should being. Someone else suggested that you can replace the word Charity with the Atonement not only in verse 45 but also in 46 and 47. That is really cool also. Anyway - that is what I have been studying and pondering this week in the scriptures. I truly know that the Savior came to the earth to save us. He loves us and wants us all the to the opportunity to return to live with Him again. I know that our family is being blessed because of YOUR sacrifice and obedience to do what is right. I am so grateful of the young man you have become and are continuing to become. Moroni also talks about gifts of the Spirit and I truly believe in those gifts because I have seen those gifts you have been blessed with. You did not learn languages because your earthly parents are good at languages - that blessing came because you are a SON of our Heavenly Father! He has blessed you with so much and we are so proud and humbled that our Father sent you to live with us and be sealed to our family FOREVER!!! That is such a hugh blessing to your earthly father and I. We LOVE you and all that you are becoming. I want you to know I have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that He lived so that we might have the perfect example of how to have Charity and love for ALL people. He died so that we might live again after death. He walked that bitter road for us so that we could repent and become better. I know that our Savior is there for us ALWAYS even when we are weak He is there to lift us up. If I did not know these things to be true I would not have been able to let you go and teach the people of Russia. It is only because this gospel of Jesus Christ brings me such joy and happiness that I can stand to let you go be a disciple of Christ. Go forward with Strength and a love for the gospel of Jesus CHrist and a desire to share it with as many people as the Lord is preparing for you to find. We are so proud of you and so look forward to hearing from you again soon. We love you! HUGS & Kisses! MOM