Catey's Christmas Call Home - 12/25/2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Today was such a blessing to finally be able to get to speak to Sister Cathryn Stroud. While we know that Catey is where she is suppose to be, it is not easy to go 6 months without speaking to her.  We truly feel blessed this day to hear her voice and listen to her share her excitement about the people in her mission.  We are so grateful for her, especially today, as we know she is sharing the message of the Gospel and her Savior, Jesus Christ. 

It was interesting to me (her mother) to watch her father speak to her.  Only minutes before, he lacked color in his face (he hasn't been feeling well) but as soon as he spoke to his daughter, color returned to his face and his eyes had a sparkle in them.  Catey's mission is something that she has in common with her dad.  I think he is able to relive some of his missionary experiences, as he listens to her share her experiences.

Sister Stroud was able to talk to her grandparents, her brother - Preston, and Scott a family friend.  She was also able to spend Christmas day (most of it) with her brother James, his wife DeAnn, and DeAnn's kind family.  We are so thankful to them for having the missionaries over.

Sister Stroud did share with us that she was in a car accident on Tuesday.  The roads were icy and their car went into a ditch.  Even though Catey is pretty obedient, she was not wearing her seat belt.  When asked why, she replied, "I usually always drive and wear my seatbelt, but I was in the back seat and didn't have it on."  Her mother and father, along with Sister Sonne, her mission president's wife, are not to happy with her decision to not have her seat belt on.  Because of that she injured her shoulder - it has approximately 100 tears in it.  She is having to take some muscle relaxers and pain pills. We are hoping and praying that Catey will be able to finish her mission and ask that you keep her in your prayers.

Catey is loving her mission; she loves the people she teaches and those she works with on a daily basis.  She is so grateful to her family and friends who have played a part in her life and who continue to pray for her.  As her parents, we too want to thank you for all of your love and support.  We hope your holidays are wonderful and that you especially remember the Savior at this time of year.

Love,

Randy and Cathy Stroud.

Catey's weekly email 12-8-09 - 0 degrees in Utah

Dear Family,

Your email made me cry as usual..:) Man, I am such a crybaby.  You will see when you come to my departing testimony.  I will bawl like you would not believe.

By the way, um... can you drive up here instead of flying?  I... um... am going to have a few more bags than I came up with...:)  I have gotten some pretty sweet things from different countries that members/investigators/companions have given me... Thanks. :)

So, let's see... To answer your questions:

Yes, I am reading the scriptures (on the gifts) before I open them.  I have loved every single one of them.  It was really funny, because just the other day, Sister Yamashita and I were like "Man, we need some mugs to make hot chocolate..." Lo and behold, mugs!!!! :) It's the little things in life that make us missionaries extremely happy.  Of cocurse, the book "The Last Straw" made me cry as I thought of all of the amazing memories that I have had growing up.  (Just in case you didn't know, I cry every time I write out an email... Yes, I am crying right now.) :) I hope that someday after I get married and have kids (someday in th FAR fufture), (Mother's note: I hope not too far, I want to see all my children married and lots of grandchildren while I still have my eyesight). :) my kids will be able to have good memories like I have.  I know that they will have good memories of their extended family (especially their grandparents). :)

Haha...Yes, patience is a very hard trait to develop.  You know how I am... :) It's been tough, but I think that I'm getting the hang of it.

I was hoping that Dad would see the email (the last email she wrote) and not let you (her mom) read that part.  Yes, I still get headaches.  I think it's just due to lack of sleep, and trying to adjust to the 3 degree weather.  Literally, it has been 3 degrees.  It even got down to 0 degrees Sunday morning (Tooele is colder than Salt Lake).  A lot of missionaries have been having trouble sleeping, and when they go to the doctor, they just give them sleeping pills, which I don't wat to mess with... :) So, I think that I will just pray... :)

I haven't started counting down to my birthday, although I did celebrate my 1/2 birthday with myself. :)  I am counting down the days till I get to talk to you on the phone. Maybe I'll get a voice recorder and record my voice for Little Princess Codie.  Of course, I will teach her piano lessons. Yeah, so I'm chopping off my hair today, again.  We have zone conference on Friday (we will be seeing Sister Sonne), and since my hair grows like a weed, Sister Yamashita and I are going right after this to get it chopped off. :)

I can't wait to see a picture of my baby girl. :) (Mothers Note: Codie, who is Preston's daughter - her oldest brother)

Yeah, the mission minimum of lessons that you have to teach a week is 20. My first transfer we really struggled to get that many lessons.  Last transfer, I decided something had to change.  It has gradually increased and now we sometimes have to give up some of our P-Day just so we can teach everyone. It has been amazing to see the Lord's hand in the work as we do our part and work like CR-AZY...

The members here are awesome!  Last week, we received 16 referrals.  It was pretty awesome.  Don't worry, they are feeding us... a lot. :)  My last 2 transfers before I come home, I am not going to eat at all.  Otherwise, I will come home .... chunky. :)  We have already gotten a few invitations for Christmas dinner.  They are really good about taking care of us....

Daily Dose program??? That's so sweet! We have Daily Dose missionaries in our mission.  No, I don't teach in Spanish. (I asked President Sonne if he would switch me to Spanish speaking, and he said, "No, I don't want to take a good missionary and change them to Spanish speaking/" (Mother's note:  We think that President Sonne didn't want to take Catey from teaching to learning lessons in Spanish - we know without a doubt that he loves and appreciates both Spanish speaking missionaries and those who speak only Spanish). But, we do run into a lot of Spanish speaking people, and it really helps to be able to commnicate with them.  That is why I am working on learning Spanish... I'm definitely learning.  I can understand it pretty well, and I read it really well, but I struggle speaking it... Hopefully, when I get home, we will be able to speak to each other in Spanish. :)

I am trying to write in my journal as often as possible.  Sometimes, it is hard to find time, but I'm working on that... I can't wait for ou to read it!

Hopefully, that answers all of your questions. :)

So let's see, the work  is going really good. It snowed a lot the last few days, so I am trying to learn how to drive in the snow. It has been quite scary, especially driving on the Interstate, but I am learning ...:)

Well lastly I just wanted to tell you... thank you so much for sharing your missionary experiences and testimonies with me.  It always helps me be strengthened.  (I don't know if that's proper English.  Sorry, my English gets worse and worse.) :)  I love you all so much!  Again, I cannot express my gratitude for you all.  I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed us with so much.  You are so right; we have so much to be thankful for.  I am so grateful for the Savior, Jesus Christ.  I constantly strive to be the best I can be, but I stumble a lot along the way.  I am so grateful that I have a way to overome those stumbling blocks.  It is only though the Savior's Atonement that we can overcome these and be strengthened.  I know that this is the true Church, that it is because Heavenly Father loves us that He restored His Church on the Earth today.  He wants us to b happy and it is through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we can accomplish this.  I pray that each one of us will be able to remember the Savior this time of the year.  Heavenly Father's most precious gift that He could give us is His Son's life.  That is what this time of the year is all about... In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Again, thank you so much for everything!  I really do appreciate it.  Hugs and kisses to all of you.

Love,

Sister Stroud

Catey's weekly email 12-3-09 - Thanksgiving with the Law Family

FAMILY!!!

How is everyone doing?  I just want you to know that I miss you tons!

First of all, I wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Christmas presents.  You really didn't need to get me that many presents.  I seriously would have just been happy with a Christmas card.  I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do for me.  I will be sending a thank you letter that is more personal, but I wanted ou to know that I got the packages and that I am so grateful for them.  My companion also says thank you.  It's hard not to open them all right now. :) One of the biggest Christlike attributes that I am working on and learning, on my mission is patience. :)  This is definitely helping me develop this particular Christlike attribute... Thank you so much, Words really can't express my gratitude.  At times, I don't feel worthy to have such an amazing family, but I hope that I can make you proud as I serve the Lord with everything that I have... (Her entire family is always proud of her)

Yes, I do leave all the negative experiences out of my emails.  I always try to stay positive.  Sometimes it's hard, but one thing I've learned on my mission is that sometimes those negative experences, if handled with faith, hope and optimism, become some of the most amazing experiences of my life.  They have built my faith, and have helped me learn to rely on the Lord.  I know that these experiences will help me be a better person, and someday a better wife and mother.  And hopefully, they will make me a better daughter.  I know that I haven't always been the most fun person to be around, but I can see that my mission is changing that.  I'm still learning, but I think that I'm starting to realize what it takes to be more Christlike.  I know that we are going to have a lot of fun when I get off my mission, because I can even see that I am becoming a different person, a better person.  It has been a rough process but it has been worth every second of it.  I know that I will continue to learn and grow...

By the way... I'm not trunky AT ALL (seeing as I still have 13 months left), BUT I just want to see if you can start planning to come up January 2011, because we have a huge departing testimony meeting for all the missionaries leaving and I really want you to be there... So... Could you maybe start plannning for that??? Thanks. :)

Anyways, I'm glad that your Thanksgiving was good.  Ours was really good.  It was really hard to be away from you all, but we had a lot of fun with the Law family.  They are so amazing  So, you heard I got to see DeAnn, James and Princess Codie? (Mother's note: DeAnn was saying hello to her siblings through computer technology when Catey was at her house) Yeah, I was like, "Who is that baby DeAnn is holding?" And then it dawned on me, "Oh my goodness, that is CODIE!!!!"  She got to hear my voice for the first time.  She is soooo stinkin cute, and chunky.  I can't wait to meet her.  Oh, are you going to have her for Christmas?  I was just wondering if I was going to get to talk to her.  It was really good to see DeAnn and James... I hope I get to see you all in a few months.  Hint, hint. :)

Oh, I almost forgot... Transfers were yesterday.  My companion and I are staying together in Tooele! We are really excited... We had 3 baptisms last Saturday, and spoke in 2 different sacraments on Sunday.  It was a crazy weekend.  The work has been amazing.  I'm excited to tell you all of the amazing experiences that I have had on my mission...

By the way, Dad I spent like $9.00 today at Wal-Mart for medical purposes.  I have been getting really bad migraines, so I bought some Advil Migraine.  I think I might just be trying to adjust to the cold (this morning when we went to zone study at 7:50 a.m., it was 15 degrees).  I think it's probably that along with stress... But I just wanted you to know.  Don't tell Mom, I don't want her to worry. :) (Mother's note again: Yeah right, like I am not going to worry!!! Also, does she not think I read her emails - what a silly missionary).

Anyways, I think that's pretty much it.  I can't believe it's almost Chritmas.  Time flies!!! Tell everyone I said hi and that I love them.  I pray for you all every day.  I will write you a letter this week.

I am so proud of everyone.  It seems like everyone is doing really good.  I am so excited to see the progress that everyone is making, and I can't wait to sit in the temple with my family.  I know that this is what Heavenly Father wants for us.  That is why I'm on a mission, to help others be with their framilies forever, through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that this is where Heavenly Father needs me. I know that He is proud of you all as you strive to come closer to Him.  I can feel the love that He has for each one of you, His children.  Don't ever forget that you are a child of God and that your whole purpose on this earth is to be able to become like He is and to return to live with Him again.  In the name of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.

I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!

Love,

Sister Stroud

Catey's weekly email 11-25-09 - Taught 40 lessons in one week

Dear Family!!!!

HAPPPPPYYYYY THANKSGIVING to EVERYONE!!!  So, I am soooo sorry I am not able to email/write all of you.  Lately we have been giving up part of our P-day, because we are soooo busy.  Last week, we taught 40 lessons... in one week, plus spoke in sacrament, are planning 3 baptisms for this Saturday (at which I get to speak), and we get the privilege of speaking in 2 sacraments on Sunday.  (As I am typing this for Catey, I am tired just thinking about her schedule :)). I know this shouldn't be an excuse.  I am trying to be better so please forgive me and please be patient with me.  Also, know that I am thinking about each one of you.  I am grateful for your support.  I LOVE reading your emails and letters.  I feel so much gratitude for each one of you and your support.  I hope you all have an AMAZING THANKSGIVING!!!

So... I haven't gotten the H1N1 vaccine.  I'm not really too fond of needles right now, seeing as the last 2 times I went to the doctor they have poked and prodded me with needles the size of Texas. :) I probably should get it though... It's time to conquer my fears, one fear at a time. :)

We are really excited to spend Thanksgiving with the Law family (Mother's Note: Her brother, James' in-laws).  I just love them.  I am so grateful for them.  I think it will make being away from you all a little easier.  We are not allowed to proselyte at all tomorrow, so we are going to spend a good chunk of our day with them and then we are going to go visit members and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. :) (Another mother's note: The entire Stroud clan is so grateful for the Law family.  Even though we missed Catey immensly, we had a feeling of peace knowing she was with family).

I'm sorry to hear that you all have been sick. :( It's definitely not fun.  Thank you SO much for working on my Christmas package.  So.... Guess what??? Transfers are NEXT Wednesday.  Insane, right?  Yeah, so this Monday, the 30th, will be the last mail day of the transfer.  My companion and I are hoping that we will stay together.  We feel like we still have a lot of work to do here.  She (my companion) got her Christmas package this last Monday.  Her parents got me this really cool coin purse from Japan.  I thought it was so cool that they got me something, so I know that she will REALLY appreciate that you guys got her something.  THANK YOU for doing that. :)  We really appreciate it.

I hope you ALL know that I appreciate all of your support and prayers.  I hope you have a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Please tell everyone that I love and miss them and am VERY grateful for them.  Give everyone a hug for me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESTON!!!  I hope you got your birthday card.  I was trying to figure out how old you are.  Yeah... um... 27, right??? HOLY CRUD, you're old yo!  Just kidding.  I hope you have an amazing birthday.  Give your daughter lots and lots of kisses for me.  I just can't stop staring at her picture.  She is SO stinkin cute... Just like her Aunty Sister Stroud. :) Haha.  I crack myself up. :)

Dad, I am so glad that you are having those (missionary) experiences.  I love when members come to lessons with us.  It really helps our investigators.  I know that you have some amazing experiences to share.  Mom, I know you will be an AMAZING grandmother to my future children.  After all, your are an AMAZING mother.  (Mother's note: Catey was so easy to raise - she gives her parents way too much credit).

Y tambien to quiero decir que te amo, feliz dia de gracias. (From Elder Schleske)

I know that this is the true chcurch of Jesus Christ on the earth today.  I pray that we will all think of the many blessings that we have, and thank our Father in Heaven for everything we have.  I thank our Heavenly Father for each one of you.  I know that our Savior lives and loves each one of us.  I am so grateful for His Atoning sacrifice for us.  I know that it is only through Him that we will be able to live as eternal families with our Father in Heaven. In the name of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Oh, and P.S. I will TALK to you 1 month from today!!!! :)

I LOVE YOU ALL, Please don't forget that!

I really hope this made sense.  I am sooooo tired and a little "discombabulated." I am not exactly sure what that word means, but that's what I feel like. :) Missionary life is CR-AZY, but I LOVE it!!!! :)

Love,
Sister Stroud

Mother's Note - December, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

To all of you who follow Catey's blog we want to thank you and let you know that she is doing great.  She loves missionary life - I am not sure she will ever want to come home.  We appreciate your prayers in behalf of Catey and our family.  We also appreciate all of your love and support.  We hope you have a Merry Christmas and remember our Lord and Savior at this time of year.

Love,

The Stroud Family

12/01/09

Just so everyone who reads this knows.... Catey was allowed to go 

and have Thanksgiving dinner with my family, and I got on Video Chat 

with my family on Thanksgiving. I wanted to see everyone and talk to

them all (because I miss home a lot) and Catey was in the room when I said 

hi to everyone. Her companion and she waved and said hi to us. I wasn't 

trying to break the rules I just miss home and it was a plus that Catey was there. 

Mother's Note: DeAnn is like Catey they are very obedient and I love them both so much.

FAMILY!!!
 
How is everyone doing? I just want you to know that I miss you tons!
 
First of all, I wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Christmas

presents. You really didn't need to get me that many presents. 

I seriously would have just been happy with a Christmas card. 

I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do for me. 

I will be sending a thank you letter that is more personal, but I 

wanted you to know that I got the packages and that I am so grateful

for them. My companion also says thank you. It's hard not to open 

them all right now. ;) One of the biggest Christlike attributes that 

I am working on, and learning, on my mission is patience. :) This is 

definitely helping me develop this particular Christlike attribute...

Thank you so much. Words really can't express my gratitude. At times,

I don't feel worthy to have such an amazing family, but I hope that I

can make you proud as I serve the Lord with everything that I have...
 
Yes, I do leave all of the negative experiences out of my emails. 

I always try to stay positive. Sometimes it's hard, but one thing 

I've learned on my mission is that sometimes those negative experiences,

if handled with faith, hope and optimism, become some of the most 

amazing experiences of my life. They have built my faith, and have 

helped me learn to rely on the Lord. I know that these experiences 

will help me be a better person, and someday a better wife and mother. 

And hopefully, they will make me a better daughter. I know that I haven't 

always been the most fun person to be around, but I can see that my mission

is changing that. I'm still learning, but I think that I'm starting to realize

what it takes to be more Christlike. I know that we are going to have a

lot of fun when I get off my mission, because I can even see that I am 

becoming a different person, a better person. It has been a rough process

but it has been worth every second of it. I know that I will continue to

learn and grow...
 
By the way... I'm not trunky AT ALL (seeing as I still have 13 months left),

BUT I just want to see if you can start planning to come up January 2011, 

because we have a huge departing testimony meeting for all the missionaries

leaving and I really want you to be there... So... Could you maybe start

planning for that??? Thanks. ;)
 
Anyways, I'm glad that your Thanksgiving was good. Ours was really good.

It was really hard to be away from you all, but we had a lot of fun with

the Law family. They are so amazing! So, you heard I got to see DeAnn, 

James and Princess Codie? Yeah, I was like "Who is that baby DeAnn is holding?" 

And then it dawned on me "Oh my goodness, that is CODIE!!!" She got to 

hear my voice for the first time. She is soooo stinking cute, and chunky.

I can't wait to meet her. Oh, are you going to have her for Christmas? 

I was just wondering if I was going to get to talk to her... Speaking of,

I will let you know soon what time I will call you on Christmas. I'm 

assuming I'm calling Dad's cell: 480-272-4148, right??? If that's right,

I can't believe I still have that memorized. ;) It was really good to

see DeAnn and James... I hope I get to see you all in a few months. 

Hint hint. ;)
 
Oh, I almost forgot... Transfers were yesterday. My companion and I are

staying together in Tooele! We are really excited... We had 3 baptisms

last Saturday, and spoke in 2 different sacraments on Sunday. It was a

crazy weekend. The work has been amazing. I'm excited to tell you all of

the amazing experiences that I have had on my mission...
 
By the way, Dad I spent like $9.00 today at Wal-Mart for medical purposes. 

I have been getting really bad migraines, so I bought some Advil Migraine. 

I think I might just be trying to adjust to the cold (this morning when we

went to zone study at 7:50 am, it was 15 degrees). I think it's probably 

that along with stress... But I just wanted you to know. Don't tell mom. 

I don't want her to worry. ;)
 
Anyways, I think that's pretty much it. I can't believe it's 

almost Christmas. Time flies!!! Tell everyone I said hi and that

I love them. I pray for you all every day. I will write you a 

letter this week.
 
I am so proud of everyone. It seems like everyone is doing really 

good. I am so excited to see the progress that everyone is making,

and I can't wait to sit in the temple with my family. I know that

this is what Heavenly Father wants for us. That is why I'm on a

mission, is to help others be with their families forever, through

the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that this is where Heavenly 

Father needs me. I know that He is proud of you all as you strive

to come closer to Him. I can feel the love that He has for each 

one of you, His children. Don't ever forget that you are a child 

of God and that your whole purpose on this earth is to be able to

become like He is and to return to live with Him again. In the name

of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.
 
I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!
 
Love,
Sister Stroud

Catey's weekly email 11-17-09 - Catey off of death bed :)

Dear FAMILYYYYY!!!!!!

First of all, I just want everyone to know.... that I am ALIVE and OFF of my death bed.  I am completely recovered, off that nasty steroid crudola, and am almost done with my antibiotics, HALLELUJAH!!!  Now... Let's just pray I stay that way, because I do NOT like being sick.  So, now I am back to my spunky, CR-AZY self (completely obedient, mature missionary crazy of course).  :)

So... about Christmas. I seriousy have everything that I need.  And I don't NEED anything for Christmas.  In fact, I don't really WANT anything for Cchristmas.  I have your love and that is all I need.  HOWEVER, since I know you soooo well, and know that you will probably get me something regardless of whether or not I need/want something.... DO NOT feel like you have to get me anything.  A letter with a picture of Codie would make me the happiest person in the world. :)  So, what I have really been wanting is a set of Spanish scriptures with "Hermana Cathryn E. Stroud" printed on them.  I don't know if they have them in blue with silver  pages.  The burgandy with gold pages are really pretty too.  That is just what I would WANT if I could have anything. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO not spend a lot of money.  I don't know how much they cost and I DO NOT want you to spend a lot of money on me.  I know that money is really tight right now, and I would be so content with anything.  That is just what I would get if I could get anything. :)

So, I bet you that Destanie (note from mom Stroud - this a family Catey taught) would LOVE to hear from you. In fact, PLEASE email her. They are the most AMAZING family.  She is the one that gave me my flu shot.  I haven't had a chance to email her back yet, because I only get so long to email, but I will email her next week.  Will you tell her that? Thank you!!!

I have to admit that I did start crying when I got your email.  I miss you all so much.  This will be my first big holiday away from my family (other than my birthday this past year).  I'm not gonna lie... I'm thinking it might be a little hard, but I know that I am where I'm supposed to be.  I was so psyched when DeAnn's (Catey's sister-in-law) mom called and invited me to Thanksgiving.  I think that it will make it easier to spend it with people I know well.  Plus, BreAnn (DeAnn's twin sister) is a lot like DeAnn, so I will get close to a "DeAnn fix." :)  It would be so wicked awesome if James and DeAnn were there, but I know it's kind of far away. :)  But, Sister Yamashita and I are really excited to go to their house.  They are so sweet to have us over, and I am so glad that I have good friends/pretty-much-family close by.

So, I'm sorry to hear about Aunt Kay (she is losing her job).  I will be praying for her.  Dad, I'm sorry to hear that your bids didn't go through, but I know that you will find a job soon.  You are such a hard-worker.  You are definitely an example to me.  Mom, I know that you are an amazing teacher.  (After all, you did teach me and look how I turned out. :) Jk  (I'll work on that humility). :)  I am sooo jealous that you get to be with Codie so much.  I can't believe how much I already love that little girl and I haven't even met her.  Don't worry... She will be nice and spoiled to me in about 13 - 14 months (oh yeah, ps... they might make me go home December 23, 2010, instead of January 26, 2011.  They are doing that this year with the missionaries that are suposed to go home in January.  Just so you know). Anyways, she will LOVE her Aunt Sister Stroud.  :)  I am glad to hear that Preston is doing well.  I bet he is such an amazing dad.  I know that both of my brothers will be awesome dads because they are such amazing brothers, and we have such amazing parents.  So... about that, are... um...James and Deann getting close to that yet? Just wondering If I need to be expecting any more nieces ore nephews.  Can you please let them know that I would much appreciate it if they held off for about 5 - 6 months, that way I can be there when he/she is born?  Thanks a heap. :)

So... now about the work.  We are definitely seeing many miracles happen in our area.  We are working hard and I am EXHAUSTED, which is precisely how I like it.  The hand of the Lord is truly here in our area.  We have three baptisms coming up on Novemeber 28th, which has really been a miracle.  We are really excited.  I love teaching the gospel and feeling the Spirit so strong on a daily basis.  My testimony has grown so much.  It has been amazing to see this growth.  I LOVE this work.  I am so happy to be here serving the Lord.  This truly is His marvelous work.

Oh, so we ran into Sue, Aunt Marci and Aunt Marie's sister.  She is in one of the wards that we cover. She is sooo sweet, and her family is just adorable!

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true chcurch of our Heavenly Father.  I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He loves us.  He wants us to be happy.  One thing that I have seen in my life lately is that as I have been actively and prayerfully working on becoming more like the Savior. I have come to know Him more, and my testimony of His Atoning sacrifice has been strengthened.  I know that this is because I am striving to live according to His will and His teachings.  I am by no means close to perfect, but I am trying and striving for that, and because of His Atonement and through repentance, He strengthens me and helps me to become the person that I want to be and that He KNOWS I can be.  I know that this applies to each one of us.  As we strive to live our lives in line with His teachings, we become more like the Savior and we know Him, and are happy because of that knowledge.  I love Him so much and am so grateful for Him.  I am so grateful for His church.  I am grateful for parents, grandparents, brothers, a sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who taught me how to be a better person.  Because of you, and because of our Savior, I am who I am today.  Thank you so much for everything you have done for me.  I LOVE you ALL.  I know these things are true, without any doubt in my heart.  In the name of our Beloved Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.

With all of my love,

Sister Stroud