Date
November 4, 2016
Area
Mexico MTC, CCM
Companion
Elder Matthew Baker
Nov. 3 Letter between Mom and Parker
wow sounds like an eventful week for you guys. hope that kids ok. i hope your doing well too. i love you mom. you are doing incredible work and i know that through your example you can help a lot of people. dont worry about the sheet music for now. we can worry about that when i get out there. Mexico is really weird, and I'm kinda missing the comforts of home. but still, i know that i need to be serving the lord.
ok that package you sent was awesome. the spicy chips were super weird but that ok cause my companions loved them. but i love all the letters you send and all the love you send with them. they mean so much to me. thank you for that wonderful message as well. i need to remember that miricles dont have to be big but can be the small blessings that come in life. thank you so much for helping me learn even now. everyone looks awesome in their costumes. so much fun. sounds like it was a pretty quiet halloween though. also mom could you send me jordans email. idk if im getting his. that would be awesome. thanks. but anyway. i love you so much and i hope you can feel the love I'm sending with these emails. you all are so incredible and awesome. i love you guys. and i hope this week is wonderful. ill be praying for you guys
your missionary
elder smith
On Wed, Nov 2, 2016 at 10:46 PM, Tiffany Smith wrote:
fitany@comcast.net
To my very favorite Elder!
So happy it's p-day again! Look so forward to hearing from you. Can't wait to hear how things are going. I had a long email all written about the weeks happenings, and then I moved away from the page and it all erased! So sad.
So, I will share this message with you:
In the book of Matthew in the Bible, we have another account of gratitude, this time as an expression from the Savior. As He traveled in the wilderness for three days, more than 4,000 people followed and traveled with Him. He took compassion on them, for they may not have eaten during the entire three days. His disciples, however, questioned, “Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?” Like many of us, the disciples saw only what was lacking.
“And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And [the disciples] said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
“And [Jesus] commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.”
Notice that the Savior gave thanks for what they had—and a miracle followed: “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.” President Thomas S. Monson
That popped up on my memories today on Facebook. Still one of my favorite messages ever. I just love that idea. I also love that November helps us focus more on being grateful. I try to be grateful all year, but I love the focus of it, especially right before Christmas. Focusing on my blessings always helps make even the bleakest times look better.
I hope you are doing good, and don't forget to count your blessings!
Oh, I was going to tell you about the little boy on the swing! He is a little Hispanic boy, and for some reason, many of them aren't used to swinging, or haven't really swung before, so he asked for a push, and I had been pushing all of these other kids, and they always want a big underdog, so I wasn't really thinking, and just gave him a big underdog, then I looked back and saw him flying out the back of the swing!!! He got scared I guess and let go! It was horrible. He landed on his back and hit his head. Oh, my gosh! So glad there are lots of wood chips down. He seemed to recover ok, but I don't think he will be asking me for any more pushes!
Not sure if dad told you, but Teagan got cast as Bob Cratchit in the Hale Jr. Christmas Carol. He is very excited. He is also loving driving your truck all over. Unfortunately he quickly forgot about the no driving friends rule, and now is grounded for the rest of this week. :]. Kennedy had auditioned as well, but the Jr. High play just provided too many conflicts, so she didn't get in. Mr. Rad was very kind though and let her know that it was just because of conflicts. She is getting tired of the very long rehearsals, I think we will be glad when this play is over.
Milo and Kennedy had their piano recital on Saturday. They both did really good. Milo is very excited about his Christmas music and is hoping we can record him and send it to you somehow. We will have to figure that out.
Sure love you and miss you. I think we are adjusting to this new life, but we never stop thinking about you and we pray for you all the time. Love, Love, Love you!!!
Mom