February 3, 2025
From Abby - Just Fishing of Men :)
Hiiii everyone,
I'm currently coming to you after having the strangest dreams (still contemplating them)
and sending my beautiful darlingest friend Megan a vlog that was very much overdue. Always thinking about that girl I LOVE YOU MEGAN
Anyways
This week has gone treacherously slow and yet here we are AGAIN. Make it make sense.
truly one of the things I'm most excited for after I die is grasping the concept of eternity. What do you mean theres no beginning or END?! but then it BEGS the question if there truly was a beginning, what was before THAT beginning!??!? I hope some of you share the same qualms about eternity my tiny human brain regardless of its infinate capacity can't seem to grasp God like concepts (Its almost like I'm not god.)
Moving on :)
Last Pday we went shopping "Mega early" -Elder Cease, at 8:00 AM And the only thing I forgot to get was maple syrup (Inspo from my beloved friend Nikkei and her cottage cheese recipes)
For our activity we went to Classic skate and rollar bladed around in circles for like 2 hours. My legs were in pain :)
It was SUCH a vibe though, giant disco ball in the middle of the room, Apos music, and memories of the sketchy rollar blades my family owned and that were much too big for me :) Iceskating kinda translated and I figured out how to go backwards in an awkward waddly fasion, it was so fun...I miss Ice.
Dad shared this quote with me this week
"Never let a problem to be solved, come before a person to be loved." never ending insights from my dad :)
Last week I also got to talk with my precious little sister Mia and EMMA DRIESSEN who happened to be over at Mias apartment. she reassured me that she was sending a replacement pen (The one her mom ada sent with me dried out and DIED like 2 weeks ago and I've been mourning its loss ever since) it was so good to reconnect with my dutch woman shes the slayest <3
We talked to this member who said if you took every Book Of Mormon ever printed and layed them down, they would encircle the WORLD. he called it his "Thin Blue Line" AKA the line the prevents society from descending into Chaos! I thought it was an apt observation.
On tuesday our mission president introduced this challange where every day a question would be sent into the mission wide group chat and at the end of comp study (10:00 AM) A random companionship would be selected and they would have to teach/ discuss that question with someone who knocks on their door (Aps usually). Sister Atwood and I haven't recieved visitors yet but its Genius because we're studying VERY diligently. This might be too much and much too boring but i'm putting one question/ My answer for the next ten emails :D it'll be awesome.
This week we got to go to the TEMPLE. and OH how joyful the temple makes me. We got to go to Orem which is much smaller and felt a lot more like temples at home :) In the Celestial room I felt like reading in Moses 6, when I got to vs 32 it says the phrase "For all flesh is in my hands" and THEN I felt like reading in D&C 101 and in vs 16 it says: "Therefore let your hearts be comforted concerning zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; Be still and know that I am god"
two completely random passages I felt like reading in and I discovered the same phrase which essentially means "don't worry." It was comforting and I felt the spirit :) I LOVE THE TEMPLE.
We knocked on this one door whos timeline (record of past interaction with missionaries) very much suggested past tension with the church.. but we decided to knock anyways: A guy answeres and stands back in the shadows while conversing with us through his sketchy screen door :D > we did our usual greeting/question as to when we can come get to know him and the first thing he says is "You're doing much better then the elders" and then SMACK talks Elder door greetings in the past> He proceeded to tell us they probably werent interested but didn't say no to us stopping by again in a couple weeks so thats probably a win? *Shrug*
We also met this old guy who had a letter from the general primary presidency thanking him for being the primary pianist for THIRTY ONE YEARS. Brother Bawden an absolute legend and kindrid spirit, he also likes carrying around a little disposable film camera in his shirt pocket but takes up to a YEAR to fill one up. Such a crazy cool guy who loves to yap <3
Got a birthday package from mom and dad this week and nearly CRIED. Something about handwritten notes :)
One evening Sister Atwood and I exited a message at like 9:03 (PAST CURFEW) we did not think we'd be in there that long and therfore our bikes were like a five minute walk away.. as we're SPEED walking we get a call from Elder Guerra and Elder Villanueva telling us to come pick up something they got from a RS activity (They live in our area) BRUH. First of all we couldn't find our bikes, and then we got LOST on the way there. All the hastle for a pair of socks in the shape up a cupcake :|
We were talking to this mom who's going through a possible divorce and is going THROUGH it with her 6 kids, I asked her how her relationship with the church and gospel has been through it all, she took a second to respond and then looked at me straight in he eyes and said "I think I would DIE without the Gospel" It took me by suprise and we were able to laugh together about how much Jesus Christ can support lift our burdens when we turn to him :) It was awesome.
We also went on a blitz zone exchange (Tons of companionships throughout the night) And I went on one exchange with Sister Zuniga whos a spanish sister! At one point we were sitting in the car and she sees these people and says "They're definitely Latino" and I'm like "Should we run after them?" And she was like "YEAH" so we RUN up to these people who are about to enter their homes and Sister Zuniga enteres into this entire spanish conversation and I'm just standing there like "Umm Hii~" It was awesome we gave them an El Libro De Mormon and we were glad we ran after them:)
When we got back at one point Sister Atwood and I were waiting for other Sisters to show up and I taught her the beginning of one of Josh Burtons songs (Cardston connection) It was so fun to sit there on the piano and see her peice it together! and then MEMORIZE It! Shes like a mini me but actually better at playing the piano because she can sight read XD
It was really sweet. nothing like connecting with your trainee to help you feel like a succesful missionary :) >We also discovered that we Both LOVE downton Abbey (Thanks mom for helping me inherit this obsession) i'm pretty sure we spent almost an entire Pros Time trying to remember characters names
Quotes from this week
Anyways
This week has gone treacherously slow and yet here we are AGAIN. Make it make sense.
truly one of the things I'm most excited for after I die is grasping the concept of eternity. What do you mean theres no beginning or END?! but then it BEGS the question if there truly was a beginning, what was before THAT beginning!??!? I hope some of you share the same qualms about eternity my tiny human brain regardless of its infinate capacity can't seem to grasp God like concepts (Its almost like I'm not god.)
Moving on :)
Last Pday we went shopping "Mega early" -Elder Cease, at 8:00 AM And the only thing I forgot to get was maple syrup (Inspo from my beloved friend Nikkei and her cottage cheese recipes)
For our activity we went to Classic skate and rollar bladed around in circles for like 2 hours. My legs were in pain :)
It was SUCH a vibe though, giant disco ball in the middle of the room, Apos music, and memories of the sketchy rollar blades my family owned and that were much too big for me :) Iceskating kinda translated and I figured out how to go backwards in an awkward waddly fasion, it was so fun...I miss Ice.
Dad shared this quote with me this week
"Never let a problem to be solved, come before a person to be loved." never ending insights from my dad :)
Last week I also got to talk with my precious little sister Mia and EMMA DRIESSEN who happened to be over at Mias apartment. she reassured me that she was sending a replacement pen (The one her mom ada sent with me dried out and DIED like 2 weeks ago and I've been mourning its loss ever since) it was so good to reconnect with my dutch woman shes the slayest <3
We talked to this member who said if you took every Book Of Mormon ever printed and layed them down, they would encircle the WORLD. he called it his "Thin Blue Line" AKA the line the prevents society from descending into Chaos! I thought it was an apt observation.
On tuesday our mission president introduced this challange where every day a question would be sent into the mission wide group chat and at the end of comp study (10:00 AM) A random companionship would be selected and they would have to teach/ discuss that question with someone who knocks on their door (Aps usually). Sister Atwood and I haven't recieved visitors yet but its Genius because we're studying VERY diligently. This might be too much and much too boring but i'm putting one question/ My answer for the next ten emails :D it'll be awesome.
This week we got to go to the TEMPLE. and OH how joyful the temple makes me. We got to go to Orem which is much smaller and felt a lot more like temples at home :) In the Celestial room I felt like reading in Moses 6, when I got to vs 32 it says the phrase "For all flesh is in my hands" and THEN I felt like reading in D&C 101 and in vs 16 it says: "Therefore let your hearts be comforted concerning zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; Be still and know that I am god"
two completely random passages I felt like reading in and I discovered the same phrase which essentially means "don't worry." It was comforting and I felt the spirit :) I LOVE THE TEMPLE.
We knocked on this one door whos timeline (record of past interaction with missionaries) very much suggested past tension with the church.. but we decided to knock anyways: A guy answeres and stands back in the shadows while conversing with us through his sketchy screen door :D > we did our usual greeting/question as to when we can come get to know him and the first thing he says is "You're doing much better then the elders" and then SMACK talks Elder door greetings in the past> He proceeded to tell us they probably werent interested but didn't say no to us stopping by again in a couple weeks so thats probably a win? *Shrug*
We also met this old guy who had a letter from the general primary presidency thanking him for being the primary pianist for THIRTY ONE YEARS. Brother Bawden an absolute legend and kindrid spirit, he also likes carrying around a little disposable film camera in his shirt pocket but takes up to a YEAR to fill one up. Such a crazy cool guy who loves to yap <3
Got a birthday package from mom and dad this week and nearly CRIED. Something about handwritten notes :)
One evening Sister Atwood and I exited a message at like 9:03 (PAST CURFEW) we did not think we'd be in there that long and therfore our bikes were like a five minute walk away.. as we're SPEED walking we get a call from Elder Guerra and Elder Villanueva telling us to come pick up something they got from a RS activity (They live in our area) BRUH. First of all we couldn't find our bikes, and then we got LOST on the way there. All the hastle for a pair of socks in the shape up a cupcake :|
We were talking to this mom who's going through a possible divorce and is going THROUGH it with her 6 kids, I asked her how her relationship with the church and gospel has been through it all, she took a second to respond and then looked at me straight in he eyes and said "I think I would DIE without the Gospel" It took me by suprise and we were able to laugh together about how much Jesus Christ can support lift our burdens when we turn to him :) It was awesome.
We also went on a blitz zone exchange (Tons of companionships throughout the night) And I went on one exchange with Sister Zuniga whos a spanish sister! At one point we were sitting in the car and she sees these people and says "They're definitely Latino" and I'm like "Should we run after them?" And she was like "YEAH" so we RUN up to these people who are about to enter their homes and Sister Zuniga enteres into this entire spanish conversation and I'm just standing there like "Umm Hii~" It was awesome we gave them an El Libro De Mormon and we were glad we ran after them:)
When we got back at one point Sister Atwood and I were waiting for other Sisters to show up and I taught her the beginning of one of Josh Burtons songs (Cardston connection) It was so fun to sit there on the piano and see her peice it together! and then MEMORIZE It! Shes like a mini me but actually better at playing the piano because she can sight read XD
It was really sweet. nothing like connecting with your trainee to help you feel like a succesful missionary :) >We also discovered that we Both LOVE downton Abbey (Thanks mom for helping me inherit this obsession) i'm pretty sure we spent almost an entire Pros Time trying to remember characters names
The mission veil is STRONG.
TWO divine timings this week:
1)Two weeks ago we were asked to go visit this one family. When we got to the house there was a MASSIVE gate (Chain link, uncute, stay out vibes.) we left them a sticky note but thats all we could do without breaking and entering...Fast forward to this week we HAPPEN to be passing the house and we see two kids playing soccer on the yard, after talking with them and hyping up there soccer we ran back to our bikes, whipped out a pass along card and ran back to them with our number on a picture of Jesus, the kids name was Geo and he was super cool
You never know if it actually does anything but Sister Atwood and I like to say "SEED PLANTED" and after all we can do hope that its on gods hands (Which.. it is.)
2) We recieved a referral randomly one day (Usually we take forever to get to online referalls because they never are succesful) But for some reason we were ON IT (Which is how it actually should be) anyways we biked all the way there for no one to be home so we left a sticky note saying we'd be back later! > The evening rolls around and we show up again to discover someone leaving the house as we walk up. He seems VERY aloof and uninterested in talking with us, he says that he was heading somewhere and that he was houssitting for his parents and that they would be back tomorrow.. Its probably accurate to say that we were somewhat put off and low in spirit.
TWO divine timings this week:
1)Two weeks ago we were asked to go visit this one family. When we got to the house there was a MASSIVE gate (Chain link, uncute, stay out vibes.) we left them a sticky note but thats all we could do without breaking and entering...Fast forward to this week we HAPPEN to be passing the house and we see two kids playing soccer on the yard, after talking with them and hyping up there soccer we ran back to our bikes, whipped out a pass along card and ran back to them with our number on a picture of Jesus, the kids name was Geo and he was super cool
You never know if it actually does anything but Sister Atwood and I like to say "SEED PLANTED" and after all we can do hope that its on gods hands (Which.. it is.)
2) We recieved a referral randomly one day (Usually we take forever to get to online referalls because they never are succesful) But for some reason we were ON IT (Which is how it actually should be) anyways we biked all the way there for no one to be home so we left a sticky note saying we'd be back later! > The evening rolls around and we show up again to discover someone leaving the house as we walk up. He seems VERY aloof and uninterested in talking with us, he says that he was heading somewhere and that he was houssitting for his parents and that they would be back tomorrow.. Its probably accurate to say that we were somewhat put off and low in spirit.
As we're reporting this underwhelming interaction this member walks up to us and greets us! I'd shared a message with the family before and rediscover her name is Sister Kilger :) We asked her about the referal which she shrugged off and said they've never been interested (We're still gonna go try to meet the parents) and THEN she mentiones someone moving in across the street whos a less active family that wants to start coming back to church! She told us that a moving truck would be back in 20 minutes so we stayed in that area and when it came we spontaneously asked if we could help! We found ourselves in an assembly line moving COLLOSSAL amounts of food storage to the basement. my arms and back are WEAK but its so joyful to serve. As we rushed out to our next appointment the lady whos good friends with the new move in stopped us and said they'd been praying for extra help and were super grateful that we stopped by. BRUH.
It's probably the most fantastic feeling when you can see maybe the tiniest glipse into Gods so beautifully orchestrated plan. It was really cool.
JOYFUL UPDATE
I HAVE ANOTHER NIECE
Its been such a wonderful adventure peeking in on the family group chat which has been a never ending wonderful update of Baby and Bowie and JOY ON JOY> throughout the week and dotted between my efforts of missionary work (Criminal)
I can hardly marvel enough at the fact that I'm an aunty of two beautiful Nieces.
It's probably the most fantastic feeling when you can see maybe the tiniest glipse into Gods so beautifully orchestrated plan. It was really cool.
JOYFUL UPDATE
I HAVE ANOTHER NIECE
Its been such a wonderful adventure peeking in on the family group chat which has been a never ending wonderful update of Baby and Bowie and JOY ON JOY> throughout the week and dotted between my efforts of missionary work (Criminal)
I can hardly marvel enough at the fact that I'm an aunty of two beautiful Nieces.
And a twenty year old woman, and on a mission for the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. Everything is just wonderful, don't you think?
my GOODNESS the rants are crazy, theres more and they're all from Memory because I'm so behind on journaling.
WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH (Question that's put in the chat every day)
Jan 29 Q: I'm a spiritual person and I pray Daily, Do I really need to attend sunday church service?"
A: YES
my GOODNESS the rants are crazy, theres more and they're all from Memory because I'm so behind on journaling.
WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH (Question that's put in the chat every day)
Jan 29 Q: I'm a spiritual person and I pray Daily, Do I really need to attend sunday church service?"
A: YES
When we're baptised we make promises with God. Our covenant is that we will always remember him, take his name upon us, and keep his comandments (One of them being to keep the sabbath day holy and to set it apart)
-In turn we're promised to ALWAYS have his spirit to be with us and we are cleansed from our sins!
-to help us be faithful in these covenants he commands to meet together Often (Weekly) and partake of the sacrament
-In turn we're promised to ALWAYS have his spirit to be with us and we are cleansed from our sins!
-to help us be faithful in these covenants he commands to meet together Often (Weekly) and partake of the sacrament
-This Ordinance (Symbolic Act) RENEWS these covenants (Promises) and therefore renews the blessings!
-The bread represents the saviors sacrifice of his body for us and the water represents his blood which was shed for us!
SCRIPTURES:
- Moroni 6:5-6 "And they did meet together oft to fast and pray... to partake of the bread and water in remembrance of the lord Jesus"
- Moroni 6:5-6 "And they did meet together oft to fast and pray... to partake of the bread and water in remembrance of the lord Jesus"
-Mosiah 18:25 "and there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together...As often as it was in there power.
-D&C 101:22 "Behold it is my will that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel should gather together and stand in holy places."
Yesterday Sister Atwood and I were sitting in Sacrament and testimony meeting and she turns to me and says "Do you want to go up with me?" I was NOT planning on it > one unfortunate outcome of going to a bajillion meetings is that I get so used to just listening ti other people I forget that I myself can contribute. We both were able to bear our testimonies and I felt Gods love for me and everyone in that congregation. it felt good to declare something I know to be true with every portion onf my being :) may have gotten a tad emotional..
-D&C 101:22 "Behold it is my will that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel should gather together and stand in holy places."
Yesterday Sister Atwood and I were sitting in Sacrament and testimony meeting and she turns to me and says "Do you want to go up with me?" I was NOT planning on it > one unfortunate outcome of going to a bajillion meetings is that I get so used to just listening ti other people I forget that I myself can contribute. We both were able to bear our testimonies and I felt Gods love for me and everyone in that congregation. it felt good to declare something I know to be true with every portion onf my being :) may have gotten a tad emotional..
Quotes from this week
"GPS is not God"
-Elder Mayo
"Forget Jesus... Do you know Downton abbey?"
-Sister Atwood during wide open pros day
Elder Bye: "I think I bought a fishing pole with it *the money we got for winning cleanest apartment*
Me: "Have you gotten to do much fishing?"
Elder Bye: "*Laughs* Just fishing of men!"
Elder Bye: "I think I bought a fishing pole with it *the money we got for winning cleanest apartment*
Me: "Have you gotten to do much fishing?"
Elder Bye: "*Laughs* Just fishing of men!"
With that I feel like theres abolutely too much so feel free to skim read and sift throughout
How wonderful it is to exist and experience
I'm so grateful for all that surrounds me, this life Is precious :)
With all the love and only a little stress
-Sister Smith
From Mom - Baby Fever
Dear Abby,
The new baby is the only thing filling our brains at the moment, for obvious reasons. 
But she’s perfect in every way!
But she’s perfect in every way!I spent the night at the hospital with Steph. The doctor says there are a few milestones that need to happen before she can leave: walking, eating, a bowel movement, urinating, no fever, and a couple of other things that I can’t remember … but the point is that she’s accomplished those milestones and she’s doing great. Tyler got her through the hardest 24-hrs. So the doc said it’s her choice if she wants to stay another night, as insurance will cover it.
The baby is, obviously, the cutest baby on the planet since Bowie. She certainly does not mind telling you all about her troubles and has the cutest little faces. Her expressions could actually be a whole new set of emojis. Her name is still pending. The struggle is real. (Steph and Tyler might be persuaded to show the birthing pictures for those not faint of heart.)
Dad was here a couple of days bonding with Bowie before she got sick. Boooo. No school for her today. Tyler was home with her and helped her through a rough night. But Steph is getting better really fast, and the work of adjusting to another family member can begin soon.
More news later!
Love, Mom
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