100% :)

Happy happy holidays ya'll!!

I am so excited for the holidays!  I know that Thanksgiving is still a week and a half away, but I've just been in the mood this past week!  We visited a member in the southern part of our area and as soon as we walked in my heart melted and rejoiced!  I felt so much joy!  Her house was already decorated in Christmas decorations!  She had three trees, a whole village like my Grandma Knighton's, and a long table full of nativity pieces.  I felt so at home walking in there, it was amazing.  It is definitely going to be weird to not be home for the holidays, but I am so excited to have all of the decorations up because it will help to bring some of home here :)  Awe, I just love the Thanksgiving and Christmas season! :)

So I am all recovered from my wicked cold I had!  It really was a tough one that took me out for a couple days, but it's gone and I am happy and well! :)  Also, my ringworm is almost gone too!  I'll send a picture to show that it's fading, although it's still visible.  In about a week it should be completely gone.

The exciting news with people we're teaching this last week is that [one of our investigators] accepted the invitation to be baptized!  She is the girlfriend of a less active [brother] in the ward.  It's awesome!  She came to the Relief Society activity this last Thursday and had a great time!  They didn't make it to church yesterday becasue of sickness, but we are visiting them tonight and I'm so excited for them!  This should help [her boyfriend] to get back up on his feet in doing what he knows is right.  [This woman] is a very very sweet woman and I think she will soak up the gospel and really be the driving force behind [her boyfriend].  Love the gospel :)

Also, an update on [another investigator who is contemplating baptism].  I haven't talked about him much lately becasue the other sisters (Sister Meek and Ray) are teaching him, but he is doing well.  Our mission president and the bishop have both advised to take things slowly, mainly because of his family situation. They don't want him to get baptized while his girlfriend is deployed, just because it's the easy way right now, and then have to deal with how to work things out when she gets back.  Families are important to our Heavenly Father, and he would rather us work things out than take the "easy way out".  He still has his choice, and he could still get baptized while she's gone, but we're not going to pressure him right now.

He did come to church with his kids though!  And they loved it!  The ward loved him, and they loved the ward, so good things are still happening for sure!  I have no doubt that [this man] will become a strong and faithful member one day, and that he will stay on that path.  The timing of it all is uncertain, but in the Lord's way and timing it will happen.  I honestly see a lot of leadership potential in him.  He still has things to learn, for sure - like we all do - but he will be a great addition to building the Kingdom of God and working in his vineyard.

For some fun I wanted to share a few more Southern Sayin's with ya'll.
Especially since my brother requested it :)  Here they are:
Cut the lights/tv on/off
Dressing = Stuffing (like thanksgiving stuffing.  They call it dressing)
Bein Ugly = you're not being nice
Showin Out is similar to bein Ugly
Tickled = makes them so happy/giddy inside
Mee-Maw (that's how you say it), Ma-maw, Ma-mo = Grandma
Pa-paw, Papa = Grandpa
So there's some fun sayins ya'll can start fixin to say! :)

This last week I have studied quite a few General Conference talks.  I LOVE them, bytheway.  Something really hit me while I was reading President Eyring's talk.  It hit me that the only way we can have Charity in our hearts is to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  Without the Holy Ghost - the spirit of the Lord - it is impossible to have charity.  Charity is a gift from God, so unless we are worthy of it, we will not have it.  Having the Holy Ghost with us is how our hearts can be softened and our minds can be open to understanding.  That then enables us to have Charity as we are able to see others as our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see them - as children of God.  Over time we become able to love them unconditionaly with all of our heart.

I would invite all of you to study this next week a talk that was given in this last General Conference.  They are modern scripture.  I promise you that as you do, you will find strength.  You will receive power to conquere your trials.  You will find peace.  I know this because that is what I have found this last week as I have studied them.  Look to the Lord's prophet and apostles for direction.

I love you all!  Keep the faith and keep moving forward!  May THE force be with you, that you may have charity in your hearts!