COLD...But I Shouldn't Complain

12/31/12

Subject:  Cold But I Shouldn’t Complain

Mon.

12/31/12

Hi Elder Dees!

How is my favorite missionary  :)?  I hope the work is continuing to progress for you all.  You sound like you work hard and I couldn't be happier.  You have such great potential.  I'm thrilled you have read the Book of Mormon 5 times on your mission.  You should write down the date you finish it in your scriptures and keep up w/the times you have read it.  Of course, you have to live it or it is really read in vain.  I'll start mine tonight.  I did read that article you committed me to read about exercise in the Ensign.  Now I have to "DO" something about it.  Thanks for telling me about it.  I stay so very tired but I know exercise will help curb the tiredness.  (eewwww, Pippin is under the computer desk in the kitchen and he stinks to high heaven)  He still follows ME EvErYwHeRe!!!!  Drives me nuts.

Don't be overdoing on your exercising.  Moderation is a good guide in anything we do.  You had said you were going to see about your hips.  Anything?  Did you go?  Hopefully things have self corrected and there is no need for any treatment.

The new year is upon us.  Write down a few resolutions.  I will to.  Of course we don't have to wait for a new year to come around to set a goal and work toward it but the new year is here and so time to pen some goals and work on them until we need to reevaluate and strenghten our commitment.  What is a goal of yours?

Well 2013 is the year you will come home in but you need to be diligent in working hard these next 8 plus months.  Don't be a slacker.  I'm sure your mission already has those.  Don't be one of them.  Elder Bennett Maxwell has already been out for 1 year---crazy.  

I'll be sending you a few articles and letters in the next day or so.  Just for you to read and learn.  Just stuff I've come across and love.

We are a bit cold here but not as cold as you I'm sure!

We are still not having much progress on the house.  We are S L O W but I can't take it much longer.  Just going to set it back up and move on.  

I hope you are increasing your testimony.  It is nice to see you mature.  I hope some of your gaming and playing habits before you left will be minimal when you return.  Anyway, I guess I'm saying I think you are more focused and that is a nice change.  

Your brother turned 22 a couple of days ago.  Seems weird.  He is still at Melissa's till maybe next Sunday.  His classes start on Jan. 7  as well as Madison returns then too.

I have to go met w/ Sister Patsy Davis.  She was released and I was called as the Second Counselor in the Stake Relief Society so I've got to go and meet.

Please don't do anything you shouldn't for the new year eve.  

Be sweet.

I do love you Elder Nicholas Dees.

I'll drop a letter to you this week.

Love, Mom

THEY CALL ME "QUAIL SLAYER"

8/20/12

Monday

They call me “Quail Slayer”

Hey everyone this week has been insanely busy.  We taught 32 lessons this week so we were just running from appointment to appointment and taught a few new people for the first time. WE had 5 investigators at church just in one ward which is pretty insane! Today for Pday we are going to the trampoline place in Meridian and then going fishing, eating dinner and having a lesson with a family we are teaching, The Borens, they love us so much its awesome! Been getting into great shape by running like 2-3 miles every morning but my right leg has been giving me some severe pain and my left leg feels completely untouched so I will be going to get it checked out later this week, hopefully they can figure out what the deal is. Well I have to go.  I'm at the public library and they only give you thirty minutes if there is a large group, hopefully next week I can write a longer email )=.

-Nick

 Oh and about the title, I literally hit probably 4 quail in the car and shot one with a slingshot from like a mile away it seemed like, dont worry i repented.

Elder Dees

NO EMAIL / BUMMER

8/13/12

No email this week L

MATTRESS IN THE ROAD

8/6/12

Monday

Mattress in the Road

Hey everyone, this week has been an interesting one for sure. And it has gone by so fast, its hard to believe we are starting week 3 of this transfer now! The title for this email came when we were helping the Berrymans go get a mattress from another house to their house and we put it in the back of the truck and us 3 men said it won't fly out. Jessica begged to differ and long story short, halfway home it fell out on the highway so we had to flip around and get it and to make sure it didn't fly out again Elder Larsen and I rode on the mattress back to the house for like 15 minutes on the highway! We got some interesting looks considering we were in our missionary clothes! Also this week we stayed really busy teaching which is always a plus. We were able to find 3 new people to teach but we had to drop a few people they just weren't putting any effort into it sadly. Today for P-day we are hanging out at the Clovers and playing on the playground and stuff then we are going fishing and teaching and eating with a new investigator family tonight so that will be super fun! I haven't been fishing in forever. We also got news this week that we will be getting a new car within the month which is awesome because our Malibu is crap! Other than that when we went shopping last week somebody paid for our groceries which was super nice! Other than that not much else I can think of kinda pressed for time today.

Nick

GETTING SHREDDED

7/30/12

Monday

Getting Shredded

Well like the title says that's what I'm up to. Me and my new companion are having a competition to see who can get in better shape so I have been getting up early and working out longer and harder and I must say I'm feeling like a champ and my weight isn't changing because its burning fat but gaining muscle. We are looking at all the Nutrition Facts now when we eat and go shopping haha its pretty lame I know but you find stupid stuff like this to keep you entertained on your mission! We stayed super busy this week so I'm excited that the work is still great and that time is flying by.

Today for P-Day we were walking to the library and I saw a little old lady in the road in a wheel chair and I said mam where are you going, would you like some help? That little old lady was so happy I asked her she had another two blocks to wheel herself and she was moving at a snails pace and she asked if I could wheel her so I said of course. So while I wheeled her and talked for a while and then we ended up running into one of our investigators that works at that retirement center and who we have been having trouble getting ahold of and he asked if we could meet with him this weekend and we told him no.........just kidding we said yes and got a solid appointment with him it was awesome because if I didn't take that chance to help that lady we wouldn't have been able to run into Braden, biggest blessing yet! This week we went over to the Clovers house and had dinner with them and they let us play on their kids GIANT indoor playground and fed us some giant huge steaks! Other than that everything is going great.  I did well on my first DM (District Meeting)  so I' not to worried about it anymore. Well thats all for now until next week! Oh and get people to send me mail- I'm tired of my greenie still getting mail a week after he has left!!!!!!!!!!!

email conversation w/Elder Dees:

Mom: - hi son--are you there?

Elder Dees:  yeah I’m here

Mom:  how is your knee?

why so late on the emails today???  just wondering what y'all did for p-day.

need anything?

one of Madison's classmates was killed in a single car accident yesterday up by Crystal Lake---please be careful for me!

I'll mail you a copy of how we are kin to Elder Bednar so if he comes your way you can call him Elder Cousin!  :)

Did you still want the "mormon" game?

Elder Dees:  yeah just been busy, my knee is doing ok, don’t send the mormon game but a little cash is always nice (= and thats cool about Elder Bednar! How is the family doing?

Mom:  Didn't you get my long email earlier????  I sent it this morning.

I'll try to get some cash your way.  I never have any---imagine that.  Your dad and I will work the polls for a week next week.  John is bossing everybody.  Madison is sad school will start soon.  She skyped w/Gabbi yesterday and Sydney is home till Jan.  She misses Idaho already and wants to go right back.  

Your dad and John are over at grandpas.  He (grandpa) bought grandma an ipad3 so they are helping to get it set up or something like that.  

The Clover's home sounds like a lot of fun!

Haven't seen Michael in forever.  or Chris either.

Mom always ask about you.

I just learned right now that one of my classmates, a  cousin, just lost her girl--she was maybe your age or a few years older.  I'm sad.

The gospel helps.  

I love you Elder Nicholas Dees.

Elder Dees:  gotta go.  will send pics tomorrow since we get to do our shopping tomorrow since they didn;t give us our monthly allotment today >=/

KEEPIN' IT ON THE DL

7/23/12

Monday

KEEPIN' IT ON THE DL

Well we got transfer calls this Thursday, that is right, Thursday.   We got them a day early because on Thursday we also got word that the Boise Idaho Temple will be having its open house from October 13th - November 10th! So to celebrate President Cannon sent us out transfer calls a day early and it was pretty shocking what happened. I didn't know we were getting the calls that day until Elder Larson called me and said, "Dees! I'm coming to Payette with you this transfer!" I was so confused I told him to stop lying and wanted to see what he was really calling about and sure enough a voicemail came through and said Elder Dees you will be staying and Elder Larson will be coming from Meridian and you will be the District Leader O.o not what I was expecting. My companion Elder Stone wrote President and told him he was nervous about his Spanish so he left me )=. It was a shame but I'm glad he will get to go and practice his Spanish in Boise. So we spent some time going around letting him say bye to people and stuff and they were all saying "you two can't separate! your the best ones we have had for quite a while! It was sad but people are really glad that I'm staying so that's always a plus! 

But thankfully we had a baptism together and it was an amazing baptism.  It was a guy named Paul M. that we started teaching when I first got to the area and he finally had his baptism and he was so excited for it and has such an amazing testimony for 3 months. I think in the whole time he was investigating (3 months) he missed church twice because he was extremely ill one week and had a death in the family another but it was really awesome for him to be baptized and for Elder Stone to have a baptism his first transfer! On the topic of baptisms, the Elders in New Plymouth had a baptism that we attended on Friday night and it was awful. They made no programs, no pianist, didn't have their suit coats, and for a while they didn't know they had a member of the Bishopric present. It was a disaster. I was sitting with our Zone Leaders in the back and we were just laughing silently because they knew how bad it was and they were trying to improvise but they failed hardcore hahaha. But other than that we had a really great week. My knee has been giving me some issues though so in the morning when we go and run the track after about 3 laps its in serious pain and it has been for this entire transfer I'm starting to think it might be a side affect from the car accident so I may need to go get that looked at soonish. Also more cool news! We won the cleanest appartment award across 3 Zones! so it was pretty sweet, other than that not much to report on this week.

NO MORE OF THIS TEENAGE BUSINESS

7/16/12

Monday

NO MORE OF THIS TEENAGE BUSINESS

I'm 20 NOW!!!!!! Whats up everyone. It's the birthday boy sending off an email. My birthday was great! First of all I gave a talk in sacrament meeting with a young man who is leaving for the MTC next Wednesday so he gave his farewell.  It was a very good sacrament meeting! This week was nuts though! We castrated 2 cows and a bunch of sheep using the bander. It was a ton of fun with the sheep because we had to chase them around and then catch them, tackle them, and then hold them down! No video though sadly )= but we got down and dirty and it was a ton of fun! WE have a few pictures that the neighbor (Sister Baker) took so I will include those. We have a baptism this weekend hopefully so I'm pretty excited for that. We are staying nice and busy so no complaints. We get transfer calls this Friday but I'm 100% sure that I am staying. Other than that no plans for P'day today so far. Trunky moment for the week, today for breakfast we made smoothies (using the exact measurements and stuff from Tropical Smoothie.  It tasted exactly like it.  I was super Trunked. Well thats all for now.

WENT TO THE ZOO

7/9/12---5:07 pm  (Pics, 3 at Zoo)

WENT TO THE ZOO

Hey everyone not much this week. Had a hard time getting in to see people due to the holiday weekend. Had a meeting on the fourth in Boise, finally get a day off and I have to spend it in a meeting! But other than that things went ok.  We began teaching a new part member family and they are LOADED, they litterally have a giant jungle gym INSIDE their house and they fed us dinner and gave me a steak like the size of my face! But other than that kind of a slow week. Some news though is that I have to speak next week on my birthday.  My greeny volunteered me not knowing it was my birthday, greenies don't know anything!!!! Just kidding its ok. Today we went to the zoo in Boise and it was so much fun! Got to see all kinds of animals and fed a giraffe! The video is to large to email though )=. Well you can see it in 14 months I guess. Other than that not much to report, hopefully this next week is better. I'll be awaiting a birthday package here soon! Bye!




Email from Mom:  pics

Monday

7/9/12

Early HaPpY 20^th BiRtHdAy SoN!!!!!!

Hi Son!

Son you are growing up and having another birthday!  UnBelIeVaBlE!!!!  I recall the day you were born.  You were a precious little boy---well, not little--you did weigh in at 10 lbs 6 oz!  :]  You were 22 inches tall and you've kept up the growth spurt all your life.  So much time has passed-you are now a grown man.  I'm proud of you.  You've accomplished many good things in you life, the most important being baptized on July 15, 2000, becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was looking at that picture of you and Ryan S and Logan and Jordan C were standing outside of the church and now look-Logan has returned from his mission and you, Ryan and Jordan are serving your missions at present--I find that pretty cool.  Keep the faith.  

I want you to know we love you and I have enjoyed many wonderful moments with you as you have grown up.  Wish I would have been a better mom for you and I will try harder to do so.  

I had a strong impression in Sacrament Mtg yesterday to pray for you and I immediately did so, a silent yet heart felt prayer asking Heavenly Father to watch over you and keep you safe and strong in doing good.  I pray for you often.  I pray things are well w/you and that you are continuing in doing good on your mission.   Overcome evil thoughts and actions.  We all can w/the help of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and our love for them and ourselves will motivate us to do so.

From your last email I seems you and comp have been busy w/teaching appointments!  That's awesome!  

How are meals coming along?  We feed our missionaries this Wed night.  What to fix?????

Had a prank call on my cell last night.  My heart sank because I wasn't sure if it was you.  I hope not you or any of your friends.  Such ugly cussing.  I just hung up.  So uncalled for.

We have spent some time in Bristol this past week since Melissa and family were down.  Mark and Savannah and children are at Cindy's as well.  They may move to our Lynn Haven area.  Some have been swimming in the Springs.  Not me though.  Too mossy---I just walk the dock and do "gator watch" patrol.  

JOHN AND MADISON DEES

Grandma Gentry is doing ok.  Her memory is still poor but she ALWAYS remembers to ask about you and ask how you are liking your mission.  I told her she should write you but her penmanship has diminished and I think she feels embarrassed about it.  She seems to have arthritis in her right hand.  I causes her pain, as well as her back.  

The ward is growing.  Have I mentioned we open the overflow curtains?  They still haven't asked John to give a return missionary talk.  Two plus months now---he's a bit disappointed.  Oh well.  Sister Cornelius did ask him to come into RS yesterday and share on "how to prepare for a mission".  He did a nice job.

"GEORGIA THUMPER"?  ON Grandma's screen.

The house is a wreck---been trying to clean out this garage.  Overwhelming.  Your dad keeps threatening to get flooring.  We shall see.  Way overdue but funds are slim.

Pippin is still doing well.  Seems to hear better since John got some medicine for him.  Your dad's phone has a high pitched "ding" when someone calls and it always sends Pippin into barking mode.  aaarrrrhhhhh

Well, I'll get you a pkg off soon for sure this time!!!!!!  

Madison goes to Youth Conference this week.  They don't need your dad to go this time----BUM  - MER   !!!!!!!  I could have used the break!  :)

I have to put some quilts together up at the church (for youth conference) so I may not be around when you get on but if you could let John know you are on I would like to ask a question or two.  But it you don't want to---well I'll have to understand.  (tears)  

I love you----really I do.

Live your testimony.

Love, Mom

****    *****    *****    *****

7/12/12

Cousin Wade G.:  Did I fall off the email list or did Nicholas stop writing?

Gretchen:  Hi Wade---I am behind on sending out his emails for like a month now but I have plans to get them out soon.  Thanks for asking.. :)

WE'RE EXPECTING!

7/2/12

WE’RE EXPECTING!

I'll explain it in a minute!  Anyways not much time. Things went well this week. Met with a ton of people,26 lessons too! We met with this guy named Joe and man he was drunk out of his mind! It was sad but so funny! He freaked out (we were teaching him outside) and a butterfly flew by and he belted out every cuss word under the sun to show how scared he was of that butterfly haha! After a few more freak outs from him we decided it was best if we left, nothing was getting accomplished! This fourth of July is going to be super lame. Me and my greeny have to be at a meeting so there goes my day off!!!!!! Now for the title we were at a dinner appointment and there were 3 people in the house 2 elderly people and like a 30 something year old woman. We are sitting there eating and out of no where the 30 year old lady says we are expecting. I thought she was gonna say they are expecting company nope she proceeds to tell us her and the 74 year old man are married and they are expecting a child. OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH MMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYY, seriously. Well other than that set a few baptismal dates and that’s that. gotta run! Bye!

-Elder Dees

Elder N. Dees:  ummmm I don’t know – I’m good on clothing and stuff, money is always nice! but also some other fun stuff like party hats etc!

Email from Mom: 

BUSY WEEK….

Monday

7/2/12

Hi Son!

How are you and your comp.?  Is the training going well?  Tell us what your day is like.  What are your p-day plans for today? I have been fasting and praying for you.  I pray Heavenly Father will aide you in your missionary work and testimony.  As my son I want you to have many righteous successes and grow in the gospel but it will take willingness and obedience on your part.  You are a fine and capable young man.  I do love you.  

Seems we both had to give talks last week.  Twins.  hahaha

We had two baptisms this past Saturday.  They had asked John to play the piano, which he did, and he did a great job.  He had improved his talents while on his mission.  

Today is your dad's 50th Birthday.  I think he will go to his mom's since Sherry is still down.  John and Madison rode out to Pier Park w/Aunt Sherry this morning and maybe the beach this evening.  I asked them to be very careful as a 50+ man drowned last Fri/Sat during yellow flags and the person that tried to rescue was in the hospital.  It's important to heed warnings.  They are for our safety.  Whether it is physical, temporal or spiritual warnings, we have to listen.  

I am doing ok.  My day for mom's falls on the 4 of July so I'll be in Bristol for that.  What are your 4 of July plans?  Have any members invited you all to eat or are there some community events you all will attend?  PLEASE do not fall into the temptation to do fireworks.  I'm pretty sure it's against mission policies.  

Are you all getting feed?

I still did not send a pkg due to the fact that I don't know WHAT to send so I am open to specifics or do you prefer $$$ instead of the pkg expense?  PLEASE LET ME KNOW!  :)  How are you on socks?  shirts?  do you need shoes?  the shoes in last weeks pics looked shabby-but it wasn't a clear pic.  

Well, gotta go to an Election Mtg.  Seems we will be working the early voting next month to make some $$.  So many expenses.  

Write Madison and tell her to be sweet.  Sometimes she is not so.....  I hope you are being sweet and not “drama”.  :)

John's mission president went home last Friday---it was time for the new pres to arrive.  Poor mission pres have to go through so much---Please, Please, help President Cannon and don't be one that causes grief!  These are good men trying to serve in their callings and that is difficult enough w/out all kinds of DRAMA!!! 

Well-I'll close for now.  

Love ya lots.

Mom

I SAW A UFO!

6/25/12   

I SAW A UFO!

Well I didn't see it so i'll explain that later. Well another week that just flew by I don't see how/why time is going by so fast but hey I’ll take it! This week was pretty good for doing missionary work, a ton of people cancelled on us so that made it bad but we still taught 26 lessons? So with all the rescheduling and such this week should be jam packed! We started walking to save miles on the car and so we could talk to more new people during the day, so we would walk to appointments etc and to set up later appointments and if they didn't work out we would tract and street contact people. But we didn't just go knocking on random doors as a matter of fact we knocked on 5 doors one day and 4 of them said they would want us to come back and the other no one was home at. The coolest part about it though is that there would be all these different houses and we would both pick the same one at almost the exact same time! Tracting by the spirit yo! Which brings me to the title of this email. This lady that said we could come back said that she believes in God and Jesus Christ but that the Bible is just a book of myths? And she also proceeded to tell us for 15 minutes about the UFO that she saw when she was in her mid 30's and we asked for her name and said you guys can just call me old granny haha and that she is! We went to an Less active members sisters wedding at a Catholic church and boy did we stick out but everyone was super friendly and wanted us to stay longer but we had appointment to go to so we left. The less active has a boyfriend that is interested and we have been teaching him and had a great lesson with them yesterday and we bought pizza the day before from papa murphys (you buy the pizza then take it home and bake it yourself) so we had dinner and a lesson with them! Also I spoke in sacrament meeting yesterday on member missionary work and it was awesome. I got on to the members just enough to get the point across and they all came up to me afterward and said that was the motivation they need and a bunch signed up to feed us saying that they will have someone for us to teach which will be awesome! Well other than that just your typical week. Well actually we went and did some service for some random people and they were really into guns and one of them has a .50 caliber which is a huge gun and bullet and he gave me two bullets for helping him, they are SO HUGE! Gotta love red necks!

Elder Dees

.50 caliber and ?

?????  playing again  ?????

To much time on his hands

-

MOM: Hi Son,

I enjoyed the email.  Glad you are working hard and trying to motivate us lazy members to share the good news.

I hope your teaching appts are good for this upcoming week.

Do you need anything?  Mom

Elder N. Dees:  PS:  yeah send me some packages or something- my greenie is getting tons of mail and its making me look bad!

Mom:  Hey, I just reread my last email to you.  It came across like I was being mean but I didn't mean it to be mean, I wanted it to be encouraging.  I just think you are better than that- How about a pic of your completed tooth.  It they did a poor job have them redo.  It cost thousands and needs to look great.  Lv mom

Elder N. Dees:   I don’t care if you get onto me I’ll just ignore it - we both know that (= but the tooth is done great I’ll send a picture next week.

Mom:  ok, sounds good.

EMAIL FROM MOM:

RAIN, RAIN, HERE TO STAY

MONDAY
JUNE 25, 2012

Hi Son, AKA:  Elder Dees,

So much going on around here.  How about there?  How is the missionary work coming along?  We actually have a baptism or two this coming Saturday!!!!  One of the investigators had started with the sister missionaries and really missed them when they left the area but still attended regularly.  The elders have been teaching her and finally said a couple of weeks ago that they had a baptism coming up and would she like to be baptized?  She said, "yes, I think I'm ready!".  They were thrilled as am I.  She and her husband (who was less active till some months ago) are excited.  I still haven't placed a Book of Mormon.  Gotta do that!  Gotta start rereading it myself.  Been a slacker in that area.  How is your reading coming along?  Are you reading the Bible ( Old or New Testament) or the Book of Mormon or other studies?  Our spiritual growth and testimonies grow and become firmer when we do.  I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true!  I love the spirit I feel when I read of the teachings found within.  The Bible as well.  I just wished I could understand it better.  Hence, Sunday School, Sacrament Mtg, Gospel Doctrine, RS, etc. oh and prayer, don't forget prayer, helps me to understand the truths better.  I pray often for you Elder Dees.  I pray you will find comfort and happiness in following the teachings of Jesus Christ and God, The Father.  Don't be fooled that life can bring fulfillment with living these teachings.  

I had to give a talk in sacrament yesterday.  It was on repentance.  I know as we repent we can have a sweetness of spirit in our personal lives.  The love of God is why we should repent, not because we get "caught", but because we love our Heavenly Father so much and that we want to once again return to his presence. That is why we should repent!  Daily!  And then, attend our mtgs, especially Sacrament Meeting, in order to partake of the sacrament and renew our baptismal covenants.  I want to do better.  I hope you will forgive me for not being a better mother at some times.  I love you and am so very proud you are serving a mission.  Elder Dees, I know it is not always easy.  However, thank you for developing you faith and testimony to go out and serve.  "Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss."  Doctrine and Covenants 80:3  Sound familiar :)  .

So tell me how your training efforts are coming along.  We received the letter that Pres. Cannon wrote to you stating that he has full confidence in your dedication, obedience, success and work ethic for this critical and important responsibility in the mission.  I hope you are being "exemplary in every area of missionary service."  Set aside everything else and use the remainder of you mission to serve---righteously!  Use patience Elder Dees.  Be compassionate.

We are having a tropical storm, Debbie, at present.  We've had some good rain, high winds at times with more to come.  I think tomorrow or Wed it will actually come on shore---RIGHT IN BAY COUNTY.  It may even hit hurricane status.  The southern part of Florida has had a fatality or two and some tornadoes, flooding, etc.  Keep us in your prayers.  I hope we fair well.

We are busy with cleans, mostly saturdays now.  aarrrhhhh.

Haven't seen Michael in a few weeks.

Please let me know how you are and can I send you anything?  Are you and comp getting meals?  

We had our missionaries over last Tues.  John wanted us to try a dish he had on his mission and perhaps you have too since it seems to be a western dish.  Hawaiian Haystacks.  The were great and our missionaries are from Utah so they are familiar with the dish and loved them.  Yeah.

Well, I best close.

I love you and pray and fast for you!

Love---GRETCH~~~~  hahaha   Thought you would like that but don't call me that!  As I always tell ya, I'm you MOTHER,  not gretch.

Love, mom.

** **  **  ****   *****

GET A HAIRCUT

Mon.

6/18/12

Hi Elder Dees,

How are you doing?  How is the training coming along?  I'm proud you have the trust of your Mission President to "train" a new elder.  Please uphold that trust and be a fine example of the missionary program.  I especially enjoyed the picture of you and Elder Stone and President and Sister Cannon.  Hopefully you have made it to get a haircut---a bit long for a missionary LOL. 

So, now that you have a new companion how are the teaching appts working out?  We need to give our Elders some referrals but I just don't know who---then after the RS lesson yesterday I should share it/the gospel, with everyone I know.  It is our duty and obligation to let others know that the gospel has been restored.  That we have a living prophet right among us, President Thomas S. Monson, and there are covenants that are to be made and lived by in this life time.  The Atonement is effective if we do all we can to live the teachings of Jesus Christ.  It is not just enough to "accept" him but we must live as he did and taught.  Our actions and thoughts must be inline w/our Savior, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, God.  I've got a lot to do!  How about you?  I'll try today to strengthen my actions in doing those things we should be doing such as repenting, forgiving, living righteously, serving my fellowman, reading the scriptures, praying, fasting, and going to my church meetingS especially to partake of the sacrament---worthily.  See, so much to do!!!  :) 

We were going to go to Leslie's for a get together on Sunday evening.  Melissa and kids (Tyler coming later next week) and Mark and Savannah and kids are down.   It was great to see them.  Mark and Savannah may settle this way. (PC area)  Yipee Yah!!!!  Anyway, as I was saying, we were going to Leslie's so we were going to try to leave church right after the meetings but I stuck around talking and then as I was leaving I was called back in by Brother Cope.  I was hoping I was getting a calling of Assistant Librarian--but he just said, "no, there is a line for that"  LOLOLOL!  He just wanted to ask me to give a talk on this upcoming Sunday, on Repentance.  Of course your dad and John said, "how fitting".  I gotta get to writing my talk.  Any suggestions?  

Saturday was Tropical Smoothie Flip Flop Day.  The buzz of the blenders was SSOOO LLLOOOUUUDDDDD!!!  How could you stand that !  :)  There was a lengthy line but it went fast.  They were working hard!  I know you were a hard worker too.

Cleans are pretty much Friday and Saturdays for this summer.  Everytime I go to clean I think---"I gotta get a different job"!  We fuss and fight because, well that's just what we do---cleans or no cleans.  I hate it.

Madison completed camp.  She said she had a good time.  I didn't get anything accomplished around the house.  All I ever hear is, "I'm hungry" so I have to stop and cook or go get something.

Son, I have you on my mind  and prayers constantly.  I pray you are developing your testimony.  Search out those things you don't understand.  Pray and seek guidance in all good forms.  President Cannon will assist you if you will go to him.  Use Heavenly Father's servants to assist you and you be a good servant for your Heavenly Father.  

I love you. I pray for your success.  Allow your will to be in line w/ God's will.

Love, Your mother

Gretchen

ps:  I sent a pkg last Thursday.  Did you get it Sat.?  If not it will be today.  The cookies are best the day they are baked so by time they get to you they may not be as good.  The random papers in your pkg were from the Post Office indoor trash~~~~LOL.  The pkg contents were shaking around so I needed some space filler to keep the items stationary.  You know me--trash lady!  :)