Adventures and more...

So, to start us out in a jolly way, we had an intruder in our apartment last night...

Now this wasn't the normal intruders that are my mortal enemies (those super ugly gross bugs we call cockroaches), but instead a much more ferocious, monstrous, and... surprisingly cute intruder...s duhn-duhn-daahhhhmmmmm! haha it was just a little guy, but i could NOT figure out how he managed to invade our apt... but he sure gave sister Fernando a jolt! I was minding my own business while she was frying her fish, when all of a sudden, she shouted and ran across the room for the door. I was startled and asked if she got burned by the oil. she said no... and i was thinking of what could possibly cause her terror when she said the word "frog"!! haha! i turned and looked. sure enough, in the corner of the kitchen cabinets on the floor, was the little leaper. he seemed pretty scared himself :) don't blame him.  i started devising a plan for us to get him outside, but sis fernando insisted that there was no "us"... she was there for moral support only :P hahah! what a kidder! so.. i rallied my forces. i retrieved a brown paper bag from the cupboard (let me interject here and say that they actually use brown paper bags for groceries in REAL LIFE! crazy. i know. i thought that was only in the little critters books, like the one where he mows the lawn. but it's true. they are finally enforcing the ban against plastic here in Cavite. astig.) and readied my weapon. "i'll just capture him" i said in good ol' taglish. i brandished the open paper sack at him, awaiting his self-inflicted destiny: a leap into the prison that would quickly open again to free him into the wild. ....... but it didn't happen. he refused to jump. And the more i brandished, the more he tried to escape! that little booger! he even tried to pull a Houdini! he started CLIMBING up the crack in the corner, between the cabinet doors. SNEAKY, i tell you! plain sneaky. but i was sneakier! i took that brown paper bag and swiped him down the space until he was back on the floor in his little corner of doom. and at last, i filled my lungs with a breath of courage and swooped in on him! it took a few swoops, but i got him! and took a quick peek at his slimy belly before tearing across the room to the door, where i threw him out--bag and all! After all our hollering and squealing, we just stood there at the screen door, breathing for a few minutes before we returned to our lives... cooking fish and updating the area book. the end :)

thanks for indulging me in the story of the week! sorry about all that. anyway, we sure had fun! and it's been a successful week. we saw amazing blessings pour down on us from the windows of heaven as the chapel was fuller than usual-- with less active members!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D we were SO HAPPY to see them! And the ward noticed and helped us make them feel welcome! it was wonderful to see them. and such a good feeling.

Tessie was baptized on Saturday :D she's incredible. her testimony was simple and powerful. she knows the Church is true. She knows the Book of Mormon is the word of God. She knows Joseph Smith is a prophet, who restored the Church to the earth. She knows Christ is her Savior. and she wants to share all these things with EVERYONE. she's great :D hers is one of the pics i'll be sending.

Alyssa, that was incredibly beautiful. i can't thank you enough for what you shared with me. i'm so proud to call you my sister. what an inspired goal! i want to be like you and do the same. and seeing you was my best Christmas present, too :D  the Spirit always helps me feel closer to you. i'm so grateful.

Ash, you have the most beautiful daughter ever!!!!!!!!! and you're so gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow... i'm so proud of you in every way. you're such a good mom and you amaze me! more to come-- promise ;) xoxo

Mom, you ROCK! as per usual! THANK YOU for all the things you've done for me! what a wonderful blessing you are to all those around you! especially starting in our own home :D can't say enough there, but i'll leave it at that since i'm almost out of time. i hope all is well. as far as the advice, that's actually been on my mind a lot, ...unsurprisingly, since you and i are usually wavelength, especially with the Spirit. i'll keep thinking on it, dearest gorgeous blonde.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy to My Auntie Bob, to Christina the Manninghead, and to Jar.. the head. :D i loooooove you alll very very much and hope you had a super good one!
 As for you, Daddy-doo, I laughed out loud again! I think the best use for that weight set is to get Annie geared up for my return...just saying ;)love you soo!

Rae and Aaron, i'll print, read, and respond! i've got stuffs for you!

i love you all and think of and pray for you constantly.

love, sister r