A week + One more

Hi Family!

 

I sure do love you all! It was SO SO great to be able to hear all of you being loud in the background of trying to hear dad. I don't remember a whole lots...just Ry asking if I was stoned, yep I was. Dallin doing his Darth Vader voice for me. Did Ryker call me something silly? I just remember him laughing. And Charley blew me a kiss on the phone. And I believe Maryn said something about her writing me and I haven't written her back yet, sorry Mar, I love you and I'm working on it. Good thing I have lots of time now! So I've been here in the mission home for a week. I saw the doctor today and she said another week of resting and I should be good to start getting back out into the field! Woo!! But you'll never guess what the best part is...no bikes for 2 months!! Virtual high 5's all around ya'lls!! I think it's a blessing in itself. I keep coming up with silly reasons why my situation is what it is. Like I tried Thai food today for the first time! - there is a reason. :) And this last Saturday I went to the aquarium in the heart of Houston with President Ashton and his family! That was just so fun! I slept well that night, let me tell ya. Before that all happened it was a serious treat to go with Sister Ashton to the grocery store, time out of the house is just so precious! Sister Martinez, the medical advisor, is just wonderful! She took me to my doctors appointment today and we got Shiply's Donuts, which is HUGE in Texas, and we took our sweet time getting home. She totally gets me, I love her! And she bought me a Dr. Pepper...sweet, sweet nectar of life. :)

 

I have really appreciated this last week though, I have been able to read and study so much for myself. I have read a couple books from President's library, but the last one I read was To Draw Closer To God, by President Eyring. I'm pretty sure we have it at home, I've seen it around somewhere. I think my favorite part in it was how it talks about the Holy Ghost as so many things, The Comforter, A Teacher, A Testimant, ect. But my favorite one was A Reminder. The Holy Ghost helps us remember so many things, when he teaches us, it's really us remembering what we have already known. In Mosiah, When King Benjamin is preaching(more like really laying it down the chastize potatoes with a slice of humble pie) to his people. He reminds them that they are nothing without God and the dust of the earth. I think this is all in Chapter 4. After he is done telling it plain it is recorded that his people were stirred up into rememberance and praised God with one voice, that they remembered all they have been given, that their fathers were lead out of captivity because of God. Now, the rememberance part of this is so interesting to me. Because it was the Holy Ghost that stirred them to remember. And he can do that to us as well. The Spirit helps us remember all that we have been given and we know that when we are grateful and show our gratitude, that God will be generous in His blessing for us. In the book President Eyring challenged the readers to say a prayer of gratitude and notice what happens. So I did. And it was one of the sweetest prayers I have said, I said sweet because I felt the Spirit so strong. And as I said my prayer I started to remember thing after things, situations that I now look back on as blessings, and people I am grateful to have met that i havne't thought of in years. We are given SO much! We don't even realize it. It is that time in our prayers as we thank Heavenly Father for things that we realize how truly blessed we are. So here is a challenge for all who read this! I hope I have friends that read this too, that'd be cool, I like friends. :) PRAY WITH GRATITUDE!! START your prayer with things you are grateful for, don't be selfish and start with things you need. I know that I'm definitely guilty of doing that sometimes, good thing I'm not perfect. I think it's in Doctrine and Covenants, the scripture that says "the song of the righteous is a prayer unto God". I've always thought of that scripture as a song of gratitude to always be in my heart. I've notice as a go about my day and simple say, "Oh I'm super grateful for that!" the day becomes sweeter and I enjoy everything so much more. The ghetto I live in has even become somewhat charming. Yikes. Entonces, mis familia y amigos, tengo muchisimo gracia por todos ustedes! Gracias for todo de su oraciones y pensimientos. Yo siento su amor por me cada dia. Keep being good and remember that you all are so loved by me, Heavenly Father, and your Savio, Jesus Christ. If you somehow have forgotten how loved you are, say a prayer, and your friend the Holy Ghost will help you remember. :) Be good! Be safe! And be member missionaries! We need you. :)

 

Todo mi amor,

Hermana Florence

 

P.S. Sarah and Lucas, I got your letter today! I thought it was a wedding invitation and just about peed my pants. Then I laughed really hard because no doubt that was on purpose.But... Thanks you for writing me! I'll write back very soon!

 

P.P.S. Sara Jenese Curtis, WHERE ARE YOU?? I miss your face and I need to hear from you!

 

P.P.P.S. Mike Cooper, Oh hey. :)

 

P.P.P.P.S. Kid and Camille, I really miss being super freaked in the car on the way to Jason's in the morning when you two would jam to rap music. Love you guys!