December 16, 2025

From Abby - I'm DREAMING of a white Christmas

Weekly email who?
Hi guys, i'm currently curled up on my couch contemplating my life choices. (Scroll to bottom for what that looks like)

I just ate a bowl of honey comb cereal and am wondering if that was the correct choice for the busy day ahead of me. (2g of protein )
I'm not even sure if I'm going to finish this email as I anticipate not being home the whole day. And when I am home I will be calling my family!

It feels wrong to neglect them for an email but sometimes It happens :D

Anyways

Last Pday our whole district painted eachother! I had to paint Elder Tacchi and his final commentary was "I look like a pilgram". 

Elder Howard painted me and put two huge red bars on either side of me to symbolize the Canadian flag which was absolutely solid. It was fun to mix things up.. #notsporty

This week I was eyeing the phone mount for my bike that my father sent me (Bless him) Sister Ortiz notices,looks at me and says:

"You should ask my boyfriend to do it"

*One second later*

"Sister Ellisss" 

BEST believe she put it on for me. I realised the tragic fact that Sister Ellis is leaving in february and wont always be here when my bike is the worst.. I should probably start figuring out things for myself :D 

Tuesday we had a member message with a family (The Mclellan fam) and as we're conversing it dawns on me that Brother Mclellan looks EXACTLY like Clark Kent. 

He has smartly cut dark hair parted a little to the side, glasses, a very strong chin, and absolutely the attitude I would imagine for super mans alter ego. He's a photographer/Artist type guy and clearly intelligent, sits with his legs crossed and kind. ETC. it was a strange moment to allow my imagination to carry itself away enough for me to actually get excited as if I was actually meeting Clark Kent. I asked him if people compared him to Clark Kent to check my delusion and he said that he has gotten that before (score) 

The missionary brain is REACHING for entertainemnt and its honestly getting a little bit scary... Anyways

Sister Ellis and Sister Ortiz invited us to join them for a Senior singalong! We enter the care center and walk into this room where theres alll the old folks and a couple at the front each holding a guitar. The woman had  a gold sequin shirt and bellbottoms and boots (ABBA :)) They played and harmonized and sang until my soul was elated. We danced with the old folks and clapped our hands smiling and laughing. I LOVE live music. I can actually feel my soul rise a little bit higher as it interacts with the joy of song and rythym. I don't know if that makes sense but yes :)

In Zone council this week we were chatting about how sometimes you just get stuck in members homes, no matter how hard you try you're just gonna end up conversing with them and our District Leader Elder Hromiko says "Well yknow, part of getting too know members..is getting to know members" 
trust me it was absolutely hilarious Sister Ortiz and I were laughing up a storm. 

Missionary Humor is terrifying.

On thursday Sister Heaton and I decided to heart attack Sister Ellis and Sister Ortiz! We're just sitting there and Sister Heaton goes:

 "What if we heart attack the Sisters?" and I go: "Bruh with what resources" 

Sister Heaton: *Whips out entire stack of construction paper, scissors, and tape* 

It was so fun to write out inspiring scriptures, quotes, comments, lyrics knowing that they would discover it later that night > We took the back way (so they cant see us out their window) Which is a straight shot and a slight downhill. It was SO FUN zooming there. It's one of those moments where you must verbally exclaim because of the joy you feel in your chest. (I did) 
We felt so sneaky it was the best. 
They called us when they got home and thanked us it was so sweet :)

The Sisters decided to do a "Morning workout" and walk all around this lit up park (the same one they do farmers markets in) the one morning we chose is was SNOWING YAY

Strange being in public in my pj's but it was 7:00AM so no one was about.. except for ONE KID who swang on the swing the entire hour we were there.. in the snow :D (main character Aura girl queen slay). We didn't get much of a workout but the photoshoot devoured.

The snow melted within the day :D

We went on exchanges at the end of this week and I lead out my area with Sister Ellis. Crazy. Two months ago I had ZERO courage to make all the decisions and coordinate for my area but now its becoming my existence so SLAY
in the space of TWO days I hit 4 Christmas parties. Insane. 
I'm starting to recognise people which is so strange, I've gotten used to swimming in a sea of stranger members which I think has started a minor identity crisis :D

I realised I was guided by the spirit as I looked back on the experience. We almost didn't go to one of the morning breakfasts but I felt like the extra bikeride was worth it to spend some time in that stake (Cascade stake a bit neglected) when we got there, bunch of relief society gathered around and were talking with us and one of them says "You texted me earlier this week" and I realise its this mom we've been TRYING to get in contact with, she knows someone whos interested in being taught! We chatted a bit and talked about a time we could meet all together.
I was SO thankful we showed up. A cool lesson on how the spirit works in our subconcious as well as in our big convictions. 

Its a small thing but by small and simple things are great things brought to pass ;)

We were able to attend the baptism of a little girl Sister Ellis and Sister Ortiz were teaching.

 I saw the glistening turquise water surround them as they both intered the font. The grandfather got emotional as he begain "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ.."

"..In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen" i watched her precious blonde hair and white bow lowered and fully emersed in the sacred waters of baptism and witnessed the hug of grandpa and grandchild after it was finished. I felt gratitude as I remembered my baptism and the feelings I had on that day as I covenanted with my Heavenly Father. How warm and happy I felt for my family and their example to me. Above all I felt thankful for the Holy Ghost, my buddy <3

We did a farmers market BLITZ this week the hope was to find new people but we mostly just got SPOILED. We walked out with Lemonade, pizza, 3D printed animals, two loafs of sourdough bread, cheeseballs, reeces etc 

CRAY. IT WAS SO FUN. SO SPOILED. 

Sunday Night we had the chance to join this swedish family celebrating Lucia! They welcomed us in and told us all about Lucia and how it brings light to the christmas season! I felt happy because I have swedish ancestry and because they sent us home with swedish meatballs so you cant go wrong with that.

Theres bits and pieces here and there I would include but they don't seem to be quite good enough to give them the time of day

5-9 Pros has become fridgid

but not deadly so #Countyourblessings

Today I hit two months of being in the field. I can't believe I got here October 16 just a scared little greenie. (still scared and green, just less so) 

With that I proclaim myself as content with my ramblings
Last week the google Photos link didn't slay so here it is againn 

️https://photos.app.goo.gl/XUXT8gMVvExvkJb9️

Have an amazing week
I will be praying for a white christmas all the way up to dec 25 trust. 

Your Canadian, 
Sister Smith

Email composition view ^

To the left is a Lego advent calendar what about it 

From Mom - Need Christmas Spirit? Add some sparkle.

Dear Sister Smith,

Your emails really get me laughing. I’m one of those people sitting in my car, giggling to myself and passersby possibly think I’m watching random cat videos or old Friends clips but NO … I’m reading my hilarious missionary daughter’s emails. 

You definitely have a knack for writing, and in a way I can hear your voice and see your gestures. But I wasn’t in my car today! Ha! I’m gloriously at home with nowhere to go and super happy about it!

In fact I woke up to a bright hoar-frosty day, the best sparkly kind. Obviously, I have to go out and capture, which is almost always a dismal failure, but I can’t seem to help myself. 

It was -19°C (-2.2°F) so it was a short-lived photo shoot anyway.

Mia absolutely refused to out with me quoting that she has PTSD from waiting at frigid bus stops. Her last exam was on Friday and she is home for the holidays, anxiously awaiting for the sibs to trickle in. 

Happily, she didn’t have to wait too long as Josh, Madison and Sam came home yesterday to bring some Christmas spirit. Good thing too! Dad and I spent the weekend in Hinton and Mia was all alone. And besides, I’ve been the Grinch so far this season as I’ve worked almost every day OR I’m out with Dad somewhere. I get super miserable if I’m so busy that I’m never home … then when I finally do get home, I’m too worn out for any Christmas spirit.  But I do turn my twinkle lights on and that’s not nothing.  When we got home from Hinton yesterday, we arrived to find everyone in the kitchen cooking up a storm. They made a delicious spaghetti dinner on top of ginger snaps, peppermint sugar cookies, shaped sugar cookies to decorate and chocolate dipped pretzels. I was kind of out-of-it, to be honest, and didn’t take any pictures! Boooo! But Sam saved the day and put some on the family chat.  I’m so grateful for my kids (and their amazing spouses) who continue to enrich our lives and each other’s lives continually. Truly, my heart can’t hold it in sometimes. 

But here’s one of the finished products We had a lot of fun with some edible sparkle I bought at Target when Mia and I visited Steph in November. Look closer at the star shaped cookies. Oooh, sparkly! Thanks to Madison for bringing some Christmas Spirit to the Grinch household.  Josh caught her under the mistletoe, which was a good laugh (see Facebook).

I wish I had something good to share from last week, but it was mostly work for me. Full-time hours are good for the paycheck but that’s about it! Dad and Mia made it to LCHS’s production of Grease on Friday though. Mia reports that it was very well-done. Aika took my ticket last minute (I really mean it when I say I’m too worn out to do anything extra) and Mia connected with a lot of old friends. I’m glad they made it! 

****pause to take Abby’s call as well as UPS****

Starting today, things are looking up though. Aliyah is finally back from Bali, where she did a six-week turtle conservation project.  She was finally accepted into the ultrasound tech program at NAIT so she needs to work as much as possible to pay for that and I’m happy for her to take all my shifts, haha. I have a glorious three days off this week and catch up on all the many things I’ve neglected. Like, decorating our wild tree across the road, hanging the big Christmas balls along the driveway, setting up the banister swag, etc, etc, etc.

I shouldn’t complain though. While we were in Hinton, we went to the hospital to visit the old Branch President. His name is Marlon Bennett and he’s 72 years old. He tells us he was crushed by a vehicle when he was 14, so his body doesn’t always work the way it’s supposed to. Whenever he has more stress, he experiences debilitating pain that sends him to the hospital. This past summer they opened him up to rearrange his insides to work better so he’s still recovering from that. The crazy thing is, he still goes to work until he gets hospitalized again! Dad gave him a priesthood blessing and it was remarkable to watch and feel the stress melt away from him. His wife told me they almost always spend some part of Christmas in hospital. 

So I’ll count my blessings and be grateful for 90% good health, a happy family, beautiful sparkly weather and a little dog who keeps us all company. 

Have a great week baby girl! 

Love,

Mom