MALIGAYANG BATI! :D for Maree' and for me!

HEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! How are you, dearest family and friends??? I'm fabulous, thank you! I really hope you are, too! I'm loving life and my mission and--of course--the Philippines! :D Couldn't be better!  Except of course that I wish I could teleport you all here for my birthday and then again for Christmas!

Speaking of... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAISY DOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy sweet 19! Haha it's your last year of teenagerhood, so soak it up! ;) Have fun and be a kid! And love life! We love you, so remember that every minute! I hope your birthday is the bestestest ever! You are such a sweet woman and an incredible human and a talented child of our Heavenly Father. He has given you SO MUCH and I hope you feel the importance of your mission in this life! You mean everything to me and I hope your day is extra special!

Mom, before I forget, i have a special assignment for you :) are you sick of these, yet? it's a way off, but i thought I'd give you a heads up. i feel like a really REALLY want to be an EFY counselor when i get home! i don't really care where, or if i need to be a counselor for one of the other programs like OFY or something, but i want to do it! and i think you can apply in the spring time when it starts to get closer. could you find out about that for me? i think i'd prefer at byu-i because it's my favorite, but i would be willing to do an area one instead if needed--wherever. if i need to talk to President when it gets closer to get permission to apply online, i will do that. or if you could do it for me, that would work, too. If my packet is right that they gave me in the MTC, my release date is about Aug. 22. But i'm not 100% sure and that will differ with your plans to come. by the way, when are you planning flights and stuff? i'm not trunky ;) i just want to know so i can make sure the office knows and everything. because it needs to be worked out well in advance, i believe. and right now happens to be well in advance haha. 9 months, to be exact!

HAHAHAHHA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dad... I love you! WE love you! You made us laugh hard core with that Stromberg stuff you dished out :D I hope Maree's feast was fabulous. Mom is very talented, as we all know! And that dear Becca of ours... hahha i love imagining how and what she would say. it makes me grin ear to ear! THat's really cool about the sunday school lessons. I will love being a part of that, even though it will be somewhere in the middle by then. I love revelation. That is such a powerful thing.
All is well here in the Philippines :) haha for the most part, as usual. the funny thing is, it's ALWAYS dark at 6 pm here. it makes the last few hours of work a little difficult and it is kind of strange, but i've kind of accepted it. i mean, what else can you do? :)

Wow, Maree' picked strombolli?? YUM!!!! I miss cheese. a lot. I will have to pick... decisions like that are really hard because i miss a lot of food. Especially yours! Depending on the weather, I might pick a soup (homemade chicken noodle or cheesy potato), or maybe sour cream noodle bake or homemade burgers. i do miss real burgers. and the cake... i love banana sour cream cake!! so much. and better than anything cake actually sounds super delicious as well. definitely cookies and cream ice cream or some good ol' superman (play-dough)! i never was very decisive, was i? but hey, it would depend on my mood! there are so many good things to eat!!!!

Our Thanksgiving was funny :) We had a delicious lunch at Bishop Soleta's house. He's the most recent former bishop. We ate some special mashed potatoes, green beans, and roast! Roast from a crock pot! Bishop is soo cool. He is a very good cook, too. and we also ate dinner at Bishop Montemayor's house :) He was the bishop before Bishop Soleta, I think. His son is our ward mission leader and his daughter works with us a lot. John and Joyce are their names. We love them a lot. and Bishop is the sweetest, most giving guy in the world. He is very quiet and very kind. He bought us super yummy pancit and fried chicken and lumpia from Lydia's restaurant (a local place close to our place and the church). we were very happy, needless to say!

Wow, it sounds like the Richardsons are experiencing some really high highs and very low lows. THat is all wonderful and difficult to hear. You are all in my prayers and i will double my efforts on their part. How I ache for Jonathon and Ashlynn and all those suffering from Satan's attacks on their family. I know he tries really hard on all of us and sometimes we take a hit. but i do know the power of the Atonement is real. THis is the Living Christ's Living Church and He will not fail. He will not let us fail if we will stand firmly on his side. and we can strengthen ourselves and those around us in this battle. we know who will win.
and i am so happy for Jerrica and Darrin and Jory and Morgan :) WHat beautiful and blessed families. Heavenly Father will help us all to obtain the deepest desires of our hearts, which are fulfilled in the eternal family. even when it seems far away, i know it is really very near.

Mom, you are outstanding. My family is a very blessed one. I know that none of us are perfect, but there is holiness in striving. There is a holiness in the day-to-day things that bring us just a little closer to our heavenly home.

THank you for all you have shared with me! know that we are happy and your faithful prayers are needed on behalf of those we teach--both members and investigators. we want them to partake with us in the joy we experience because of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

THat's a great hymn! let's sing these, too! How Firm a Foundation! and I Feel My Savior's Love. I especially like this part: He knows i will follow him, give all my life to him... I hope he knows.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! best of wishes this week! and thanks for ash's love and address!

love, sis. r and s!

Lots of love from your missionary!

HELLO, FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW ARE YOU ALL????? I hope this week will be a really good one for each of you! and i hope the Spirit will carry my love to you! You are in my prayers and always in my heart, every minute!

Quick note to S. Gupta: SALAMAT! kumusta ka na??? not lots new here... just loving life as a missionary :) kumusta yung bf mo?? masaya ako talaga para sa iyo. maraming nagtatanong tungkols sa iyo. kinukumustahin ka nila. astig ka kasi!!! mahal na mahal kita! siyempre, susulatin kita! love, your anak, sis richardson

Wow, Aaron, that is a great story. I know there are angels all around us, to bear us up in times of trial and to surely take note of every action. THank you for sharing :) I love the power of fasting and prayer.I know it's real.
do you know if that song is popular there, or is it just in asia? the one that's korean and has a dance and is called ______style? i can't tell what korean word is there haha. something style. i really like payphone by maroon 5. they play the songs they like here A LOT. and the "call me maybe" is only cute when Bishop Rebosura's grandson, Kenzo, would sing it. otherwise its just annoying.


Dear Mother, I am so grateful to have received such delicious and happy surprises, and i thank you and all who participated in it!!! Sis Stromberg and i have been enjoying it all we can! the skirts work splendidly! i have a cute top that i got cheap that happens to match the brown one and i like the black one, too!  i really love the milk straws, boodle! they are delicious! you and i are birds of a feather... or cows of a tail, if that's more fitting. I'm not sure about the money... maybe just in my account? that was so sweet of them :) i'll try to find my list in the emails... i think it was...

vanilla pudding"lots of lashes" great lash mascara (3) so i can give 2 away... hehee please use my money for that!
mini PMG
suggestions about camera... should i buy it here like s. stromberg did? hers is great and pretty cheap.
gold bond body powder (i can also just buy and use baby powder here, but the healing gold bond is nice, if not too expensive.)
hair wax (like styling wax, like bedhead or garnier, but it can be whatever is cheap)
invisalign... just a top one, if they still have my latest mold, it should still be the same. the one where they made an ugly fake tooth to put in it. i still have the fake tooth, but the invisalign is wearing out.please also use my money for this. it's okay, trust me. :)


My dearest mother, in small ways, i am learning now what you meant and WHY you felt it when you said to me so many times that my burdens were yours. i couldn't understand why at the time. but i am just beginning to. I feel the weight of the struggles of my dear loved ones who have come, in recent events, to feel such a burden. i don't want to wish this from you because i know what president Stucki told me is true, that the trials that we experience that aren't from our own poor choices are meant to refine us. they are. and even when we experience trial because of sin, it can be refining in the process of repentance. at least, that's my personal addition to his. we are in the refiner's fire.and our God will make us into something we never imagined of ourselves. something fit for his kingdom.

Today, i choose I Need Thee Every Hour. it is so simple and beautiful. and so true. a couple elders and i, with s. stromberg at the piano, sang it for our stake fireside last night and i feel it was meant to be shared in our hearts today.

we have mission tour on wednesday, and i'm SO excited! it is sure to be a wonderful experience. i pray the Spirit will teach us great things.

Dad, thank you for your gratitude and uplifting spirit! you are just a positive guy and i'm so proud. there were not many who came this week that we saw last week at church, but we saw a few come who have not come in a very long time!!! and we were so glad. i love this ward and the people here. it's  such a good place to be. sis. stromberg and i would both love to spend Christmas here. we'll see what Heavenly Father has in store for us.

we enjoyed a couple trips to the temple last week! we had temple day wednesday and then we took investigators to the temple on saturday. we did that as a zone, as  all of the province missionaries go on the same day and we have a set tour. we hope that will be a big influence in the lives of the couple we're teaching. they are such good people. and one of their daughters and her husband are also investigating and we want them to exercise their faith and gain a firm testimony.

how are maree and ashlynn? could i get ash's addy? and maybe craig's ulit and sam's? and aunt teri's? and all my aunts'? you're the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, dear ones, i've got to run! thank you for who you are and who you're becoming! i love you more than words can express!
love, your sister richardson

I Can't Believe You Have Snow!

Wow! I can't believe you have snow! that's so cool! and weird. i'm in the eternal summer here. i both love and hate that i'm beginning to hear Christmas music everywhere. you know how i love Christmas lights. they make me super happy. but hearing the music is almost a little too much sometimes. it just makes me wanna be with you. but i know this Christmas will be a great experience! Teaching sweet Philippinos about Christ and our hope thru his gospel. p.s. on that note, our dear former bishop has offered us a delicious traditional Thanksgiving dinner!! needless to say, we're beyond excited, as an american companionship! i'm so super blessed!

i got lots of letters! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THE 5TH, YVONNE! I REMEMBERED YOU :D and got hers and craig's dearelders. and.......... I GOT YOUR PACKAGE!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, MOMMY!!!!!!!! AND AARONICUS! we have had an insanely wonderful time eating the goodies you sent! they are manna from heaven! Br. wilmar and john liked tasting the cookies, too ;) you're SO GOOD! and the oils.. i'm now applying the one to help with warts bc those two i got rid of came back for some reason.

and can i just say, Jason Nesson, you've really outdone yourself this time! now my only goal here is to weave even a comparable piece of literature to that treasure which i have just devoured... and will print before i leave this computer screen! THANK YOU! LOL!

Ay... hehee. cute buddies, aaronicus! :) what an arteest! keep up with your great schoolwork!

i am pleased to report that my hands are, indeed, back to normal :) cute daddy. and the weather is... still hot and humid. but it's not always as hot as when i first got here. i think this is supposed to be kind of a cooler part of the year. basta (which means whatever). it's still hot. dad, what'd your teacher say that made you think you would want to teach? it must have been good. do share!

OhhhhhhhhBama. haha i love the text sis. stucki sent after she told us he won :) she's so cute. how does joseph feel about the election?

sarah, i LOVE your dearelders! i need to write you! what's your addy?


mom, once again, you are so right! what an incredible book we have... with all the answers we need inside. and i am so grateful to know my family is still well and strong :) i shall count blessings with you. i could use a good dose of that!

can i just say we had the most incredible outpouring of blessings on sunday??? (we had temple day btw today, so Pres. also made it our pday, so we didn't have one monday.) we had SO MANY attend church!!!! 21 less-active members!!!!! and 16 investigators!!!!! we were filled with joy for these wonderful souls and i cannot express the feelings that lighted my heart when a sister approached us saying that there was a man downstairs in a wheelchair looking for us.. we looked at each other and squealed, "TATAY TSEODORO!!!!" we RAN to him!!!!!!! he has no legs, this Brother Jerry. He has one leg until just after the knee and one leg until just before. and it took him all morning, but he cleaned the wheelchair he hasn't used in years and his son brought him to church! he was late and missed the sacrament, but we feel he'll keep coming! he's reading the Book of Mormon and researching and just... he's so good. i love this man. and his gray hair was all combed and everything! and we had another investigator come whose story is also really amazing. both of these people were found because we have a very faithful and diligent mission president who is ALWAYS reminding us to open our mouths and speak with everyone. great things happen when we do. i have a strong testimony of that. 

we'll pick Come Come Ye Saints today. because it's so good. how's that?

Alyssa, how golden you are! ah, your words are like cotton candy to my soul ;) gosh, you are so cute! and i'm so proud of you  and all your womanly glory! i'll search for ponies with you! and ...'"Keep on maarchin' in!" heheee

I've got to sign off! What's ashlynn's current address--and sarah's--and how long will she be there?? thank you so much! and aunt terri?

is the korean song somthing-something "style" that's a weird dance thing really popular there in america like it is here?? it's insane here! i heard there's a tagalog and english version as well. plus that song "call me maybe" is super annoying haha. but it's so funny to hear the philippinos say things from song like: "teach me how to dougie", "hey, i just met you" and stuff. haha! they're so funny! i need to write a list of all the funny things they've said to me! :) i love them.

i love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! loads!!!!!!!!!!!!


your favorite sister richardson

Weekly update

Dear loved ones,

Sister Ronquillo emailed S Stromberg and...... our dear Lea Mateo was BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sooooooo excited and happy for her!!! I love her so much and i'm so glad she has come into the fold of God. It's an incredible feeling. She was the one i told you quite a while ago that was insanely prepared and eager to learn and diligent in seeking a testimony. WOW! :D i'm so happy for her!!! and i want to name a daughter after her :)

i'm learning a lot as i slowly allow the Lord to stretch me in new ways. we go on splits weekly to be able to teach all the people who are available on sundays and we did that again yesterday. it helps me build confidence in teaching and also to trust more in the Lord. it is so important for me to remember that my successes are not mine--they are His. and he's helped me so much in situations where he was the only one in whom i could trust! he has given me much-needed inspiration and guided me to know what to do and say to further the progress of these, his blessed children. it's very simple, but it's a miracle to me. i am nothing of myself, but i know that he can do all things and will help me do all he requires of me.

i love my area and i'm so glad that s. stromberg and i are together for another transfer! and guess what??? Sis. Bloxham is IN MY ZONE! she's being trained by one of the super coolest sisters in our mission, s. Pacinio! (best friend of S. Ronquillo!) crazy, no? i'm so excited, i get to see her at zone meeting tomorrow!

we have some close upcoming baptisms on november 24! Jennalyn is one :) and Khaycie is another. Jennalyn needs a lot of support from the ward, as she'll be the first member in her family. we're praying she'll get close with our ysa because they're awesome. she's just a little shy. and khaycie is, too, but she has tons of friends and support. we also have John Mark, who is incredibly cool. he is so persistent, even with his exhausting job. he just needs to be consistent in coming to church. he's so cool! he is really good at understanding the scriptures and understanding the principles we teach.

our focus as a companionship for this transfer is to help those who have wandered off to return. we are excited to find those who have been prepared to come back and be really strong, adding their spirit and talents to the Noveleta ward.

Mom! don't worry! :) i was able to withdraw. i was making an incorrect selection in the process and when i changed it, it worked! :) now i can get a few of the things i've been hoping to for a while. sweet! is everyone okay? rae emailed. that was some rough stuff, mom. she thinks waaaay too much... she's so hard on herself. why is that? they are in my prayers as well, mom. don't worry. i know it will be okay. S. stromberg's parents are douglas and maren. :) sure they'd love to hear from you!

Dad, i love your notes! thank you thank you! and a big hug and kiss from me! i love the things you're learning and that you share them with me. i'm excited to apply those true principles to my own teaching. i've been so grateful as i've thought of the miracles that have been brought to pass in the last few months--and all because the Lord prepared the way for them with trials. it's neat, huh? you would not be receiving this education and have the kind of job you do and be able to spend these hours at home if you hadn't lost your job at la-z-boy that summer. and i'm just so very grateful you did. i'm so grateful we had that struggle so we could have these blessings. he knows. he just does.

Aaronicus, thanks for the gorgeous pic and for the cute... and creepy buddies :) hehee the clowny one, we feel, is a little on the creepy end. i mean, i'm not sure he's MY buddy... but the others are cute and they can stay a while :) salamat! please know i haven't forgotten you and i'm really trying to get you another letter! and it takes longer when you're in the province. and remember that you're super cool!

Craig, DUH! of course i remember that hike! it's only a really great place to hike! :) salamat sa email! i'll be responding, shemps, asap. no worries! and CONGRATS on the major! way to go! knew you could do it! that sounds like a fun adventure ahead. that's close to what my dad's doing. did you know that?

Ashlynn and Maree, i have a million things i want to say, but it's a heart full of feelings without words to express them. you are constantly in my prayers. i love you. i love you. i love you. thank you for sharing what you're learning. you are sooo right. Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for you. and better things are coming. and he's there for you more than any normal human being ever can be. Because He is your Father and you are his daughter. i love you.

i need to go :( how time flies! i loved hearing from you again! i always do! mom, don't stress about the package. it will get here :) promise. i'll love anything you can send. is there some way that the ortho could make a new invisilign from my last mold, the one with the fake tooth that i just stick in there. the one i used for whitening? i'm being super careful with it! anywho, you're THE BEST! i hope you know that!

thank you for your love and encouragement! big hugs!

love, sister richardson

...I think WE got YOUR rain...

WHEW! And the rain rain rain came down down down...(2x)...(make that 80x)... GRABE! That was insane rain, I tell you! ..And the rain rain rain came down down down in rushing, rising rivlets... and the river crept out of its bed, and crept right into Piglet's! haha we sure got a lot on Thursday. It was raining pretty hard all morning while we studied and still rained as we went out to work.We were grateful for cool weather, but I prayed it wouldn't be too much rain, but just right, so we could do what we needed to do. Well, just right was A LOT. And pretty soon we were swimming home! ...basically. we still taught a good handful of lessons, but it got dark extra early and we walked through some big puddles to get to our last appt.. The really big surprise came when we came out of our second to last lesson and the drainage...river thing... had risen probably a good 10ish feet!!! Yeah, surprise! it was inches from overflowing!!! YUCK!!!
then when we went home, we nearly burned the motor out on the tricycle, getting thru the water in the streets... it was smoking something awful. and smelled nice and burnt. but we made it to where we needed to continue on foot. eventually we picked our route and headed out on the adventure! there was a house right by where S. Stromberg and i waited for Br. John and Br. Wilmar to test the waters. literally. they were really nice and wanted us to come in. we almost taught them. we need to go back to them. they gave us plastic bags to put our proselyting bags in. we began our loong deep journey in the mists of darkness... joke. but we seriously had to carry our bags on our shoulders with one hand and an umbrella in the other. the water got up past my stomach! it would have been higher had i not been on my tip toes :) it felt SOO good to shower! don't worry, the water didn't get in our apt. they keep it out of our housing area pretty well. we did get to help some members clean up their house. i was singing the rain song while we bailed water :) hehee.

It's been a good week and the work still is wonderful! But I feel President Stucki is very right in the email he sent us all this week. He feels most of us need to aim higher. He is asking us to set higher goals, pray in faith, and act in faith and diligence to better fulfill our purpose. He feels that for many of us, our purpose is not yet deep enough in our hearts. I know I have some faith to exercise and a lot more work to do--starting with prayer. That's actually been the hardest of work lately. I ask that as you pray for the missionaries, that you might pray that our prayers--and the prayers of all who are praying--may be strengthened through our faith. We're all in this work together, after all :)

That's FANTASTIC news from work, Dad! At Vulcraft :) I'm so happy for you and our family! And aren't kids the greatest???? I'm going to hold a million of them when I come home--just because I can!!!! I miss holding little ones so much.

I'm super bummed I don't get to finish my letter from mommy this week, but I'm printing it off with the rest so i can respond and appreciate more! I love you so much! I'm so glad boo had a good birthday! i'll be thinkin of joj. What a good kid! And my hymn for today will be ... wow so many good ones to choose from! this week i was thinking If There's Sunshine in Your Heart... and today I'm thinking Did You Think to Pray? maybe the second one's more for me.

Please tell Rae, Lou, Craig, and Aaron, that I will be working on their responses asap. How i love and appreciate them! Congrats to Lou on her race! Rae, I love you and I'm so glad you love and trust in our Father. It's all in his perfect understanding.

To Sis. Gupta: I got your email! Salamat talaga! Dun ka parin sa prayers ko, shemps. masaya ako na masaya ka! s stromberg and i are great! having a blast! our area is wonderful and we have another baptism November 17. mahal kita, dear nay! love, your anak

...

gotta go so i can be exactly obedient. that's my biggest goal this week :) I L)OVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love sis kylee richardson


oh! mom, my top invisaline is falling apart.. can something be done about that? i still have the fake tooth i set inside when i wear it. do they have the mold? i'm careful with it... sorry for the favors!

also, if there's room in a small/reasonable package, i wouldn't mind either texture paste (like bed hed stuff for hair) or some gold bond body powder. very handy here. go figure. neither one is something i'll die without. there are alternatives :)

xoxo!

I'M A LEOPARD!!!

...Or, at least that's what S. Stromberg thought I said earlier today. I really said, "I'M A LEPER!!!" ...Because all my skin is falling off. Well. kinda. My hands are just peeling like CRAZY! And out of nowhere! But it's okay. today's only day 2 of that and S. Stromberg said that happened to both her and S. Dyer last transfer and it was only for about a day. let's hope it's the same deal. i can't honestly imagine it lasting long. it's not because my hands are dry... there's a different kind of feeling when they're dry. it's weird. but... it's the Philippines :)

Kumusta naman kayo??? I LOVE YOU! This week went by pretty quick and I can't believe we're starting week 5 in the transfer!!! next week is transfer day again (on thursday) and we hope we're both still here. i can't see why i wouldn't be. it would be strange for me to transfer so quickly. but S. S has a history of only 1 transfer w/ companions... i don't want her to go!!! but hopefully we'll just both be here the next 2 transfers--right thru Christmas =) that would be happy!

*NOTE: Please forward email to S. Murdoch as well! :)
That's so cooool that your first contact was from that very city! No accident for sure! Wow, I'm so happy for you both! I am sure you're doing really well with the language. I've found that the only way for me to be successful in Tagalog is, of course, to rely on the Lord. I still feel I should be way better than I am. But I just need to give it my best and trust and He makes up the difference.
I look forward to this time for you and I'll be praying for your safety and success in it all. Yay for adventure!!!

Wow, it sounds like you had quite the meeting, my dear ones! Dad, I marvel with you that we have been blessed with such a family as ours. I know that what you said is true: As we draw near to the Father through his Son, we will also draw nearer to our family. (and of course spouses, be they future or whatever :P). so true! and that none of our sacrifices are sacrifices in the end (Mosiah 2:21-22.. and the whole chapter, really...).


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOOTLEE DOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE THE BIG 9 NOW--WOOHOOO!!!

That doesn't surprise me a bit that she's been counting down! You ROCK, BOODLE! I hope she has a SUPERB birthday!!! :) What a cutie! Haha we don't have any free candy to look forward to on halloween, but we do get to maybe visit the cemetary and hand out lots of Plan of Salvation pamphlets--and maybe even show Man's Search for Happiness if Br. Wilmar gets his way--on Nov. 1! That's Day of the Dead and everyone is in the cemetary all day... That's also transfer day, so it'll be an adventure. oh, adventure! and.. mermaids are just really cool, so i don't blame her. in tagalog, mermaid is sirina and merman is siyokoy. haha that's funny i learned that before a lesson one day because some mermaid show was on and they love teaching us random tagalog words, so the family told us what those were.
akjshdkh

sorry that's not tagalog, i was testing bc there was an issue and ...nvm. but i ran out of time, i'm so sorry! I've got to email president and hit the road to get groceries. but i want you to know, mom, how much the things you shared touched my heart. your faith and prayers inspire me. i want to pray more like you do. that's part of my goal for the week. thank you for your example!!!!

i choose hymn #...?

We Are All Enlisted!!!!! it goes right along with what you shared from E. Summerhays! What a glorious blessing it is to have such faithful servants as our leaders!

please tell aaron that he's awesome and i super appreciate the info he sent!!! and i'm really hoping what you said of sam is true, that he is changing on the inside. that's the part that counts most.

i love you all more than i can say!

MARK AND MARYANN were BAPTIZED and Mark is worthy to receive the priesthood! He's now a priest :) he's a sweet 16 yr old and maryann is 13. their testimonies were superb and i'm so excited for them! mark made a lot of changes and i lov e that about the gospel!

love, sis r

:D

Wow, what a sweet pumpkin! that's how you spell that, right? woooeee! way to go! does it quack, too? how long did that take? I'm sure gonna miss pumpkin pie this year! and candy :)

Dad, you're so right! I shan't complain, as i know email is soooo much speedier than snail mail! one more reason to give thanks!
Plus that new job sounds great for you! I couldn't think of a better one myself! Isn't it amazing how such a great blessing came from what we first thought we wouldn't survive.. when you lost your job at La-Z-Boy just a few years ago? What a plan our Father has for us!
Yeah... that's pretty disgusting about our furry infestation. But i'll include that in my prayers. At least they're prob a heck of a lot cuter than the big dead rats i see often on the roads... and cuter than cockroaches. i never thought i'd find something i hated so much as i do spiders... cockroaches about take the gold there. again, i LOVE permethrine!
As for the Philippino food, i'm doing just fine! but i sure do eat plenty of american food with my current kasama :) you wouldn't believe how deliciously familiar a McDo burger tastes after more than 6 months! haha! we ate with our hands earlier today. rice and chicken and some fried fish and a fried vegetable. i discovered something i super love! it's cucumber dipped in pepper and vinegar. and that's tasty on rice! milk fish is really mild, so i can handle that, too. i was born a seafood hater, like my mother before me :)

Douglas and Maren Stromberg are her parents, speaking of mothers! she says you should be friends!

YES, Mom!!!!!!!!!!! GC was an absolutely filling experience! I felt wonderful. I loved it all. We are indeed so blessed.
Thank you so much for that beautiful and simple revelation and understanding you received. That is truly the purest essence of our communication with a loving Heavenly Father. And my communication could stand a lot of improvement.
You know, I have just been reading a little about the Atonement, too. I love Isaiah's poetic words in chapter 14 of Mosiah. At the time I read it, I desparately needed His forgiveness and it filled me with a peace and gratitude that I cannot express. I love HIm. and i know HE LIVES.
I'm SO EXCITED for that lil box, Ma! And excited for Aunt Teri! How is Aunt Barb and Shelby? And Shauna? All your sisters have been on my mind lately.
Oh how my own siblings warm my heart! Their accomplishments feel like my own. I'm so proud of them!

I so love that hymn! It makes my heart happy, but it means so much more to me now than it ever did before. I will choose this week We'll Bring the World His Truth. :)

Please tell Aaron that i'll have to print and read his email now and send a bit of a reply next week :) and how i appreciate that he's so good at doing that! it is so nice to hear from my friends. the memory card should be on its way.

*Note, please forward to monica.gupta@myldsmail.net : SALAMAT sa sulat mo sa akin!!! Gusto ko yung lalake na namention mo sa email ngayon... hindi yung sa sulat... :) if my vote counts for anything! haha shemps ikaw ay sa mga panalangin ko. alam ko na magiging ayos lahat, nay. :) magaling ka! huwag ka magalaala. at naiintindihan ko na busy na busy ka. congrats talaga on the special na oportunidad na gawin yung HINDI TRANSLATION! grabe! astig talaga iyon! excited ako para sa iyo! mahal kita, sis!!! ingat ka!

i love you alll sssssssssssoooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope you feel it!

love, sis r