Catching Snow

Caught my first real snowflake this week! So exciting!

Give a big hug and kiss back to Gram as well for the sweater and jacket :)

This week we've have a "warmer" 60-70's weather. teehee Its been nice.

I'm way excited for Halloween tomorrow! We will be out and about working so I know we'll be making lots of fun memories. hehe We haven't looked at our goodie bags yet. We will some time tonight or tomorrow but we are excited!

I'll be going to the mission doctor today to have my foot checked out. I've been getting a pinch in the ball of my foot after walking a while and I was told it might be something called nuroma so since we'll be less on bikes soon I just wanted to have it checked out to see what stage it's at and stuff.

Actually, I was praying yesterday to have the courage to make the call to Sister Moffat when our doorbell rings and there comes in President and Sister Moffat to check our apartment and our Area Book. So there she was and I finally just spit it out and asked her and of course the doctor was in today. hahah But we also found out that our apartment wasn't as tidy as it should be and spent more time cleaning this morning, (mostly clearing out old missionaries stuff that had been left...)  

But know that I love you! And that things are going well. We are so excited for a Baptism this saturday and hope to be able to  help her parents come back to activity as well.

Love you,

You're missionary daughter,

-Sister Young

PS Anna is getting so big! I can't believe it! What a cutie! I'm so happy to see her again soon!

Happy Monday P-day

Well, I am so excited for next week when I recieve twice the emails. Just like your last letter about roadsigns I've been all confused this month missing the roadsigns. I almost missed Jen's Birthday, I thought this week was Halloween, and then I forgot they had told me one week we were going to have a P-day on Monday because the General Authority over Missionary Work is having a conference with our mission on Tuesday and Wednesday. I was reminded last Wednesday and felt so stupid that I forgot it was this Monday! So anyway back to normal p-day next week on Tuesday.  Sorry for the confusion but happy surprise for you today I bet! :)

So here's some fun pictures!

1. Fall leaves, they're everywhere! People are talking snow this week. I hope I'm ready!

2. Our nice warm heater. :)

3. Study time in my new sweater.

4. A new halloween "friend". Frosty the Ghost Head. hehehe

5&6. And our Book of Mormon reading schedule for anyone that wants to follow along and read together with me. :)

 How are things going back at home? I've had to be careful this week becaues I've easily become distracted and depressed thinking of home, all of you and Ojai itself.  Yet it's beautiful here and well sometimes I'm just still to hard on myself. Ah, I need to stop that.  I know our actions do reach out to people I just need to stop being scared and believe in the simplicity of it all. Especially when the people we're talking to try to make it so complicated.

Thank you so much for the ballot I am excited to vote and am having fun laughing and thinking of home as I read some of the measures. "Only in Cali" I keep saying to myself. :)

I can't believe a year ago this time I had just finished helping watch the Ashton boys while Charlene and Trevor were out of town, I got my glasses, and was preparing to get my wisdom teeth taken out. How time flies, eh?

Well, I love you so much!  I'm sorry again for my confusion. But I love you, love you, love you!!

Love,

-Sister Young

Follow Every Prompting

So Sunday I was having a bad day. I don't know why and it made me more upset that I was feeling so upset. I sat there in Sacrament meeting trying to sort through my thoughts when I looked down at the program. In there was an Ensign story about Family Home Evenings. We've been pondering of having a family home evening lesson for a family in the area so I began reading it. The story was sweet and simple, almost familiar. Then I get to the end and the tears started flowing. Who was it written by but the one and only Sister Brandolino. I thought of her and her great influence on me, my family and others. I thought of Lindsday and the time that we went through together after she had passed away, and how she is still a great strength and friend to me today. I was reminded just how small the world is and how much God is thinking of all of us. How everything we do matters and the influence we have on others is lasting into this life and the next. The program maker had no idea that I needed that piece of home at that time, as she wrote it years ago Sister Brandolino didn't know it would help me in that way, but Heavenly Father did know. And I know it was able to help me because they both followed His promptings to do such simple things as write a sweet story and use a sweet story.  Just as Elder Ballard's talk in General Conference tells us never let yourself believe that any act of kindness is too small, follow every prompting. I love you all at home and miss you so much! Not a day goes by where I don't think of one of you and the great influence you've had on me and know that I am out there everyday  working my hardest to be a great representative of the Lord and of you back home. I claim Ojai proudly. :)

 Thank you always for your love and support!

-Sister Young