Email from Mom

From: Mom!
To: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2021

Hey! How are you? How was your first week back in Kpalime? I have been thinking about you extra this week and wondering how it is going. From the photos you have uploaded it looks like you are happy and that maybe (hopeful?) that his stay is going better?

Things here are cold. Cold. I am sitting at the moment in my office chair, minky blanket on my lap, socks on my toes, and a heater blaring at high behind me. And it is still cold. The temperature on my computer is registering at 29'. I wake up cold and stay cold most of my days. I miss Summertime and being in the pool or by the pool.

We had a semi quiet week again and I won't lie, it was nice. Especially with the weather that came in. We did go to dinner last night with the Thornell's. That was different. They are just weird. :) We went to some sort of hole in the wall place and it wasn't good. Sushi/steak, but not really steak, weird salad...anyways...I ended up so sick and Tyler was the same way all night long. Needless to say we won't go back there again. The Thornell's could not speak anything but amazing and so good about this place but we disagree. I think when it comes to Chinese food I will stick to the Fortune Cookie, for a steak I will stick with The Wild Rose, and for a salad I will stick with Chili's. Ha ha ha

Today I took Katherine Chelius to a cookie class over at Natalie's. She has started to try to do cookies like I do at home and she obviously has a love/hate with it. Just trying to get the consistency of the frosting you know? Anyways, I thought it would be fun for her to go to a class plus it gets her out of her house and away from any crap her ex husband throws into her life. Turned out great and she loved every minute of the time we spent together. It was fun to watch her really love what she was doing and she was so excited to go home and practice a little more. I loved just sitting down to do cookies I didn't have to bake and use frosting I didn't have to mix or bag. I came home and thought I would make some more cookies but instead my eyes have gotten heavy and I found myself logged on to send some emails out instead.

This next week should be a good week. B gets her braces off first thing Wednesday morning! Don't tell her I told you though. She seriously is so excited and cannot wait. I have a cookie party here at our house on Thursday night with the Relief Society presidency, the Young Women presidency, and the Primary presidency. I am hopeful it will be a good night. Then on Saturday I am going to go meet up with Kaden Whites Mom, Heather, and just check in with how she is doing and make sure life is good for her.

Brooklyn only has this last week of school left and then she if off for Christmas break until the 3rd of January. I cannot believe it is already end of the year! I swear it is going by so fast. Now I just need Winter to go by as fast!!

I hope this week has been good and I hope you can find each day small reasons of why you are there in Kpalime. I hope you have been able to feel the love of the Savior in all things and that you are happy and thriving as a missionary. I miss you and love you and am so proud of all you are doing. Keep being you and I can't wait to catch up with you and hear how your week has gone. Have the best day tomorrow at church and know I have you in my prayers always.

I love you for forever,

Mom