Dear Daniel,
I have so much to say I dont know where to start. I got your package on Monday and then the letter meant for the week on Wed or Thurs.. I dont remember which. Either way, the letter later in the week was a pleasant surprise. Thank you for loving me.. and thank you for everything. I've been feeling very mushy all week so I'll try my hardest not to make this a mushy letter. Thank you for the package.. the tape and the pictures.. Oh, and the CD. (I got a new car!!!!... so I'll be able to listen to it while I drive. I'm excited.) Anyway, you apologized for being a bad boyfriend and told me how bad you felt about a million times.. well, you're forgiven a million and one times. I feel bad that you worried and felt so bad about it. Just in case it happens again (which it better not), know that I think I took it better than you think I did. Yes, I was plagued with questions and "what if's" but overall, I was generally content. Perhaps that was just a result of trust in The Lord, but nonetheless, I think I handled it well. Know that I hadn't given up hope and I still trusted you.
I wish I had written you after I listened to the tape.. its now been almost a week since I listened to it. I loved hearing your voice and I was glad to hear everything you had to say. I'm EXTREMELY glad to hear that I'm adding to your mission and not taking away from it. That is my goal, afterall. I cant help but wonder if President Hobbs asks you those girlfriend questions when he senses that something is going on.
Dont give up hope, Hooney. I must admit that I was sad to hear that you had resigned yourself to not baptising anyone and only sewing. Have hope, be happy and optimistic, and know that The Lord is in control. Dont resign yourself to anything, just do the absolute best you can and devote yourself to the work, The Lord, and bettering yourself.
I'm sorry to hear that Elder Estaban is sometimes difficult. I was very impressed with Elder Larsen by the way you wrote of him.. make sure to be the kind of senior companion that Elder Larsen was to you. Know that I'm thinking of you and you're in my prayers. I love you so much and I hope all is well with you. Be confident in your abilities and.. here is a great place for that cross reference I mentioned last week. The bolded words are what impacted me when I read it.
Joshua 1:5-9
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with aMoses, so I will be bwith thee: I will not fail thee, nor cforsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good acourage: for unto this people shalt thou bdivide for an cinheritance the dland, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very acourageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: bturn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest cprosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the alaw shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt bmeditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the aLord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Cross Reference: D&C 38:7
7 But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine aeyes are upon you. I am in your bmidst and ye cannot csee me;

While we're on spiritual things, I'll tell you some thoughts I wanted to share with you that I had at church today.
In R.S., we were discussing how parents can teach their children to sustain and follow Church leaders. Sister Broadbent mentioned that it is absolutely prohibited to murmur against church leaders in their home. If they hear it for a second, they stop it, and talk to that child about it to solve the problem. "If you are constantly saying good things about the branch presidency, the district presidency, the mission presidency, and the Presidency of the Church, your children will grow up to love the brethren." -Pres. Kimball. Not only do I want to put forth an extra effort to pray about the leaders in the church and talk of them in a good light, but I want to prohibit murmuring in my home. This could very well be extremely hard.. even for us as parents.. because not all leaders are perfect and even disagreeable sometimes.. but its something virtuous to aspire to and I want that.
One of the talks in sacrament was about making good choices and how if we make good choices, The Lord is with us. He will protect us, help us, and be with us. It was comforting to be reminded of that.
There are plenty more thoughts I could share, but I think I'll leave it at that since this letter is getting kind of long. Suffice it to say, I cant wait to talk to you in person whenever I want about all this. Which reminds me, I'm SOOOO incredibly nervous and EXCITED to talk to you on Christmas! Dont worry, I'll be there for sure. Christmas this year is at Chris and Porsche's house so I'll be able to just run over to your house anytime. Let us know when youre going to be able to call as soon as you know.
Speaking of Christmas.. I need you to answer these questions asap. Do you need anything this time of year? Gloves? Socks? More shirts? Hat? Beanie? Paper? Envelopes? Food? Snacks? Money? Hmm.. toothbrush? Anything at all. Dont be afraid to ask.. I want you to.
On Wednesday night this week, Helen came over so I could help her with an essay. She read the story you wrote for me (about us) so long ago.. and I let her read the story I wrote for you. I also got out the CD you made me (v xaib mah) and listened to it. It was a night full of memories and reminiscing. In addition to that.. you are SOOO INCREDIBLY HANDSOME in the pictures you sent me.. especially the one by yourself with Charlotte behind you. Thank you for sending the pictures. I made doubles of the film and gave a set to your parents. Anyway, it was so wonderful to be able to look at a recent picture of you and reminisce. I dont want to be too mushy, but I want you to know that you make me happy. I couldnt be any happier right now doing anything else or in any other situation. I'm glad you're the missionary I'm waiting for and I'm glad you're the one I can experience this with. It was overcast tonight so I couldn't look at the moon directly, but know that I thought of you. I often look at the sky and think of you.. it makes me feel closer to you to think that perhaps youre looking at the same exact sky I am.. or that youre even under the same sky.. I feel like its the one thing we have in common right now.
While we're on the topic, I wanted to say one more thing and then I'll say good bye. I have no grounds for saying this, I only feel that I should. I am in no way reprimanding you, only lovingly and softly sharing my thoughts with you. Dont lose focus. Love and enjoy this time in your life. Let serving and working be what you absolutely want to wake up for. I know that its the holiday season and tis the season to be with family, but know that youre never far from our minds and hearts. We constantly talk about you and think of you.. you'll have presents under the tree like everyone else. Work hard and give it your all. Dont spend the time you can devote to the work, the Lord, studying, or meditating, thinking of me. Of course, I would be sad if you didn't think of me at all.. and I certainly want you to think of me.. I just feel that we've been on a sort of high (at least, I have) since I started getting letters again ;-D and I dont want that to take away from your service. There will be a time when I come first, and oh, how I look forward to it in such anticipation, but for now, your work comes first.
One more thought I wanted to share from church today (not related to the previous paragraph):
"If you put your complete faith and trust in the Savior, nothing will ever be permanently wrong in your life." -Howard W. Hunter
I love you so much. I cant wait to talk to you. You have no idea how incredibly proud of you I am. Keep it up, Hooney. ::MUAH!!!::

So very proud,
Peaches

Bookmark: