August 4, 2025

From Abby - Potter's Hands

Guyssss

I'm folded in a little kneeling position on my floor as I type, listening to the ominous fan and thinking about all the things I need to get at walmart. (Theres NO food in the house... curse you MSF mishaps)

Last Pday feels EONS ago.
We went to this resturaunt where you order meat and cook it yourself and it was a STRUGGLE. We bought so much on accident and nearly burt half of it XD (Thanks Elder An's parents for paying) 
We also said GOODBYE to the Heslingtons :((((
RIP my first housing coordinators. 

Tons of missionaries were there and I was able to see my lil rat trainee Sister Atwood and my Beloved MTC companion Sister Christiansen. I don't know what it was but our conversation FILLED my soul and lifted my spirits :)
Look how cute:

We met with one of our friends (Who I haven't met yet...) and we brought this lady who was willing to come and be a fellowshipper. She was QUIRKY. It's always interesting sitting and watching the conversation unfold and being slightly worried the whole time because it's out of my control (alarm bells) But it works out in the end 

A couple times this week I've just LOVEDD biking. Specifically early in the morning and after 8:00 PM 
When i'm coasting along and the breeze of movement coasts by my face and body as I marvel at the beautiful view.. Whether it be the temple, sunset, or Utah valley stretching before me all lit up :)
For once in my life I'm starting to get a little hairtie tan on my wrist.. Slightly worried about skin cancer. 

Sister Moleni and I DESTROYED the weekly challange this week of calling as much people as possible and therefore won the prize of a cardboard cut out of president brown.. Pictured here with the ZLS Elder Jenks and Elder Johnson 

So many frustrations this week that I don't even WANT to get into. So many people we want to teach that either don't respond or are never home . It takes so much grit to keep on doing missionary work after your hopes get dashed over and over again. 

Heres us chilling halfway up a driveway of one of our potentials to escape the sun for a little bit
Lil Tongan Trainee :) 

Literally theres this one boy Tristan whos just so indifferent to learning more and whenever I ask him he's like "Oh umm, No?"What can you do 

It was LINDON DAYS this week and there were TONS of fun events. I was able to run into so many people from my past area's and it feels so good to be remembered :) 
Also crisis mode remembering being in training and thinking i'd NEVER have a past area... Here I am.
At one activity people were handing out these bracelets with little sayings "I Matter" "I Can" "I Belong" and of course "Lindon Cares" Humans are so cute. I got an "I Belong" One and now I wear it all the time :)

Peek possibly slightly tan arm 
and pockets 

Theres this one less active member who we try to meet with every week named George!! Hes been through some ROUGH stuff but somehow has a desire to kinda relearn the gospel. This week we had a criss cross lesson out on the grass by the chapel and thats me FAVORITE THING. We read 2 Nephi 29 and talked about the value of the book of mormon. I'm so grateful I can sit with people and literally help them come close to God.

on Agust 1st the Lindon Days Parade started at the temple and stretched all the way down center street. We meandered down the ROW of people and talked to literally EVERYONE. 
This old guy chatted with me (Who I supposidly met but I do NOT remember) and i say to him "Have we met before? and he looks at me and says "Well, you're too blonde so I guess not." BROOO that's too far. Its been a while since someone has made a blonde joke about me. accept this time it actually hurt because I don't remember who the heck he was (RIP).
At one point I heard "Sister Smith!!" And up stands the Elders Quorum missionary representative of the Orchard 1st ward!! (Baby Area) We had a great chat and catch up it was SURREAL to see him.

Sister Moleni and I have gotten SO CLOSE. We literally love being around eachother. Sometimes we choose to walk so that we can talk :) We did miracle hour on a little hill with a beautiful view of the mountains and my heart was SO FULL. I love her  

Literally nothing more fulfulling than a lil Trainee who likes you. I can't wait to be a mom 

Sunday we taught some teenagers in a sunday school class about the priesthood and BRO tell me why I used to be those teenagers that didn't pay attention and are shocked when they learn in later years. 

Sorry queen you WERE taught.. You just were too focused on your phone and your friends. 
anyways. Always humbling to teach teens.

Theres one lady in the ward who struggles with some MAJOR health concerns. She struggles to stand let alone walk. We'd visited with her earlier in the transfer and she shared with us that she had a strong desire to bear her testimony on fast sunday!! We cheered her on and said we'd be there:) As the testimony meeting began we watched from the stand as she made the gruelling long journey from the back of the chapel to the front, up the stairs, and up to the pulpit. She got help from two of her family members and it was the most TENDER experience to watch her with tears streaming down her cheeks, and shaking with pain, bearing her testimony of Jesus Christ.

It was beyond inspiring. even humbling. 
I was the grateful witness :)

I was able to go to a BAPTISM for my old Area in Pleasant Grove!!! Its SO COOL to see these people progress. I remember when I first learned I was entering the area Elder Cease said "Go pound on the huntsakers door." and I did!! Its so cool how God works for his children through his children: )

All day the sunday of transfer news is SO scary. 
This was my journal Entry at 10:15PM on sunday: 
"GUYS. GUYS GUYS GUYS.

Transfer news night.. 9:37 chillen on my phone and what pops down? A CALL FROM PRESIDENT BROWN. I pick up "... Hi President??" He makes some joke and I laugh an anxiety laugh.. Sister Moleni is now standing in the doorway like "Huh!?!" and he says "Sister Smith, How would you like to serve as an STL" WHAT He explains that i've been a leader a long time without the title and WOW that was good to hear. Here I am in SHOCK having finally come to terms with NOT becoming an STL. No words." 

The transfer board didn't drop until 11:31 (Emergency changes) so Moleni and I went to sleep to peek at the transfer board early in the morning :) At 5:30 I woke up and saw the board. "Molenii they dropped the board" she INSTANTLY wakes up and both of us peek through the transfer board all curled up in our beds gasping and commenting, and laughing. It was kind of super precious. I'll cherrish those early morning moments :)

Final confirmed news Is I'm serving in the Provo YSA 18th Stake, as an STL with Sister Lord!! (We came out together!!) I'm SO SO SO excited.. But also so terrified. 
Its good because it's a new thing, and it'll push me to be my very best 

I've been thinking about this scripture SO MUCH this week. It keeps popping up in my brain. 
Jeremiah 18:6
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel

I have no doubt in my mind that i'm being shaped and changed as a clay is changed and shaped by the hands of the all knowing, all skillful, all careful and kind Potter. 
"Oh Abigail, cannot I do with you as this potter? Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, Abigail"

Now put your name :)

So much love for each of you 
Pray for me 

-Sister Smith 

From Mom - Party On (or Shine on) ... whichever you prefer

Dear Sister Smith,

I’m still puzzling over Nikkei’s invitation to document my life on social media. I know there’s merit to sharing inspiring content or interesting places or actual real-life grittiness. We’re all in the same boat of humanity after all but it’s just that I love my life so much, it’s hard to put it out there for possible critique. I’d much rather live fully in absolute obscurity . I don’t know, what do you think? Bobby wants me to do another 365 picture-a-day and even my mom mentioned I have nothing for her to catch up on when social media catches her fancy twice a year. Something to ponder …

We said good-bye to Steph and family on Friday.  It was like a dream to have a baby to hold whenever we wanted to, and Bowie jumped on the fun possibilities of enchanting our forest path. She has a million ideas and it’s easy to capture childlike enthusiasm when she is around. We’re gonna miss them, as always. They were kind enough to stick around for Dad’s 55th birthday and it was actually super fun to make homemade pasta. For documenting purposes, here’s the recipe for success:

2 cups of flour dumped on the island. 

Mix a little salt in and create a big enough crater to hold 3-4 blended eggs. (We used four but maybe they were big eggs because it was super sticky, soft dough and we wondered if we could get away with three)

Add two egg yolks.

Scoop the sides of your flour “bowl” into the egg mixture until blended. 

Knead until soft and smooth.

Let it sit in the fridge to think about its problems for 30 minutes or so. 

At this point, you have pasta dough to make into any variation you wanted but we decided to do linguini in the cheap pasta machine. 

Pro Tip #1 when using the machine: 

USE ALOT OF FLOUR

The setting starts on No. 7, which, when Bowie turned the crank, yields a nice thick, even slab of dough. The numbers get progressively smaller and the dough gets progressively thinner. I think I’d like to make homemade ravioli one of these days but for the purposes of linguini, stop at setting No. 3. 

Pro Tip #2: cut the slabs of dough to desired pasta length BEFORE using the linguini setting. Sprinkle more flour. 

Did I say, sprinkle more flour? 

Pro Tip #3: Have lots of hands handy to separate the individual threads plus another set of hands for sprinkling more flour. (Nod to Madison)

Then Steph made the best Alfredo sauce ever made. It was butter, cream, garlic and fresh parm cheese whisked into the fattiest, smoothest deliciousness. We all gained 10 lbs eating that meal but it was worth it! Your Dad is honestly the best thing in my life and deserves a meal like that … filled with everyone’s blood, sweat and tears. Yum!

We were birthdayed out at this point. Earlier in the week we celebrated Bowie/Madison with a … get this … mushroom and mouse party! Mushrooms sprouted up all over our lawn in honour of these two legends. And on the inside we now have a mushroom garland from repurposed egg cartons. The mice were scarce, which I’m not complaining about, but all in all, it is so fun to get together. Josh and Madison made SEVEN trips out in that 10 day span. 

Then Steph had Madi Warrior over with her two girls for ANOTHER birthday party. I went into work that day, haha, so Steph was on her own. The house has been well used this summer, which is exactly what it was built for. Party on. 

This week … canoe trip! So we will be off grid until Aug 17. Happily, that is a weekend so at that time you’ll get a play-by-play of our wilderness adventure and when we all finally cracked. It seems a relaxed trip with more camping and fishing than paddling so maybe this one will not have any melt-downs. My mom and dad are going so I’m super excited to spend some quality time with them. 

Doctrine and Covenants 84 wins Scripture of the Week. 

88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and mySpiritshall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

I can’t help but be a practical Saint. They’re talking about the priesthood here and missionary work but for me in my life that translates into ministering. When I am on the Lord’s errand, I actually feel unstoppable. On Saturday Dad and I showed up at Trish Adamkewisz’s house to help her move. Think about if the Francis’ were moving and you might have an idea. Trish was overwhelmed and struggling to function, but there were seven other saints there and we kicked butt and got ‘er done. It was an eight hour day for us but we did something for Trish that would have been impossible for her on her own. I’ll be back today and tomorrow for final clearing and cleaning. What amazes me is the miracle of body renewal (D&C 84 talks about that) and how the power of God is made manifest through our covenants and ordinances. What I saw was a covenant making people banding together for another covenant-making person and creating space for miracles. Everyone had a part to play. Trish cried in relief (and probably also stress) but I can certainly testify to the fact that we all received heavenly help (and patience) when we showed up to serve Trish. I love how the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives our lives a glow up. 

And as for you, keep shining! 

Love, Mom