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

Catey's weekly email 11/10/09 - Spider bite Story

FAMILY!!!!

Thank you so much for your emails! They always make me tear up.  Have I ever told you all that I LOVE YOU?!  Because I do... so much.  I always enjoy reading your testimonies.  They definitely strengthen mine.

It is so good to hear that everyone is doing well.  Please give everyone a hug and kiss for me.  PLEASE know that I am praying for you all.  Dad, good luck with those bids.  Just know that Heavenly Father is in this.  His will will be done.  Just have faith and keep praying.  Mom, good luck with those 3rd graders.  I admire you for your patience.  That is the biggest thing that I have had to work on in my mission.  It definitely isn't easy.  I bet Preston is the best dad.  I always knew he would make a great father.  After all, he is an AMAZING brother.  Keep working on the "Auntie Catey" with Codie. :) Haha.  I'm so glad that James and Deann are doing so well.  I hope they know that they are in my prayers. I am so grateful for their amazing examples.  I am so glad that Grandpa and Grandma are doing well.  Give them a hug and a kiss for me.  Also, tell Auntie Kay Kay and my cutie pie cousins that I love them. :) I miss you ALL tons, and am so grateful for such an AMAZING family.

So... This week has been crazy! We taught 35 lessons last week and are EXHAUSTED!!! Which is a good thing. :) We currently have about 20 investigators, and are prayerfully trying to get them to progress (to come to church).  It has been crazy, but I can definitely see the Lord's hand in His work here. When we first got here, we only had like 6 investigators, so the work is coming along. :)  We had interviews with President Sonne this week and he told me that I looked exhausted, which is true. :) And which is GOOD.  I would be worried if I weren't exhausted! :) So... I had to go to the doctor's AGAIN this week.  Here is the story: 

Spider Bite Story

The other day I had this little red dot right above my lip, on the right side where my top lip meets my bottom lip.  I didn't really think anything about it, but the next morning, I woke up and my lip was SO swollen, hard, red and sore, inside and outside.  I couldn't smile, eat, talk or anything.  I was pretty miserable.  Well that morning was the morning of interviews.  So when Sister Sonne saw me, she was pretty worried.  She called Mission Medical and they told her that I needed to see the doctor.  So, being the obedient missionary that I am :), my companion and I headed on over to the doctor.  The doctor told me that it was a spider bite that got infected.  Apparently my body didn't handle it like it should of.  So, he prescribed me some steroid medicine to make the swelling go down and the pain to go away.  The steroid medicine makes me REALLY nauseous, which makes it hard to sleep at night.  And it makes me really emotional. But, my zone leaders came over the night I went to the doctor and gave me a blessing, which helped tremendously.  So now, I just have a red, hard bump on by lip, but it doesn't hurt anymore, and I can SMILE!!! :)  My companion and I now have an inside joke that I got kissed by the spider, since the bite is right above my lip.  We find it pretty humorous...Haha.  The things that entertain us missionaries.

Anyways, the work is amazing, and sick or not, I LOVE being a missionary and serving the Lord.  I have a very strong testimony of this Church.  I am so grateful for the Lord, and His mercy.  I am not by any means a perfect missionary or person (in fact, I am so far from being perfect), but I know that because of

Christ's suffering, I can repent and be cleansed and purified, and feel of the joy that comes from doing so.  I am so grateful to be His servant and to give a MINISCULE of what He did for me back to Him.  I LOVE Him so much. I pray that we will all do everyting we can to bring JOY to this Christmas season.  Here's my thought this week:  The word "JOY" is an acronym for... READY???

   J - Jesus

      O - Others

Y - You

I know that as we make Christ the center of our lives and serve others, we will have so much joy in our lives.  I have seen that first-hand as I serve a mission.

I LOVE you all so much.  Thank you for ALL of your amazing support.

Love,

Sister Stroud

P.S. Last transfer, my companion and I taught this family.  After many years of meeting with missionaries, the father (Tyson) and the son (Tyler) were baptized.  They are now preparing to be sealed in the temple in a year.  The following is an email that I received from Destanie (the mom) today.  I loved this family...

Hey Sister Stroud,

I know that I should of emailed you a few weeks ago, but we have been so busy with surgery's and what not.  You know how our life goes!  I really miss you coming over and giving Tyson and I a hard time.  Tyler and Wendy sure miss you coming over too... The other sisters have stopped by a couple of times since you left, but it just isn't the same without you.. I do hope that you are liking where you got transferred to.  I hope you and your new companion are doing well and liking each other.  I know that sometimes it can be hard.  Tyson is still doing good on his non-smoking life.  It has been about 6 weeks or so since he had one.  He says its hard somedays but he likes being smoke free.

I don't ever want to loose contact with you.  You changed our lives so much in just the short time we got to have you here.  I feel a close bond with you and the teachings you taught my husband and son.  We went through several missionaries to finally get Tyson and Tyler to commit to getting baptized.   I know that Tyson said it was you that made him really want to finally stop smoking and finally commit.  I just want you to understand the kind of person you are to of helped my family get closer to God and the temple.  Thank you!  Your family should be so proud of you and what you are doing, and how many peoples' lives you have helped change for the better.

I miss you tons, but I know that God had a purpose for you to ge elsewhere.  Someone else needs your teachings like we did.  And I know that you are doing what one day maybe Tyson and I will be able to do when it is time.

Love you tons,

Destanie

Catey's weekly email 11-3-09 - Gratitude

FAMILY!!!

Since it is the first P-Day in November, and I have SOOOO much to be grateful for, this email will be dedicated solely to thanking you all.

Well first, I just want to let you know that I am... WELL. I am still trying to get over a little cough, and my back is sore from coughing so much, but I am soooo much better. Thank you for your prayers. I wrote letters today, and got pictures printed, so I will send them out in the mail tomorrow. Did that $100.00 from Uncle Jim and Uncle Gary go into my account? I just want to make sure that I got that right. I wrote them a letter thanking them today. Also, will you let me know in your next email to me how much is in there? Thank you!!!

Ok... so I have had so many AMAZING spiritual experiences these last few weeks that I have carefully recorded in my journal so you will get to read them in about 14 1/2 months. :) The work is going great! We have seen so many miracles in our area. The Lord is truly guiding His work here. We are staying soooo busy, and are just LOVING it!

But now, for what I really wanted to talk about. I got your package on Monday (oh... by the way, mail days are on Monday now), and I just started crying. Apparently, the emotional-ness wasn't just from being sick. ;) I was just so filled with gratitude. I got down on my knees that night and just thanked Heavenly Father for soooo much support and love. I pleaded with Him that He would bless each and everyone of you. It's not just the package, it's the love that I feel from all of you. Sometimes, that is what keeps me going. It's like you guys know EXACTLY what I need. The zucchini bread was delicious. It is almost gone. I can't stop eating it. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF IT, the cute little bear, the medicine, the zucchini bread, the lotion, the facial care (which by the way, I LOVE - it makes my face feel so good and it works REALLY well), the soap, and all the rest of it!!! I wrote grandma and grandpa a letter, but will you give them a HUGE hug and kiss for me??? Let them know that I smell DELICIOUS! :) I am so grateful for all of the letters, packages and prayers. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for the most amazing family ever, and for such amazing friends. I know that I haven't always been the most amazing daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, sister-in-law or friend, but I hope you all know how much I love you. I am so sorry if I have ever done anything that has hurt you in any way. That certainly wasn't my intention. Please forgive me, and please know that I love you. Thank you so much for everything you ALL have done for me, even if it was just a simple smile. Sometimes, those simple smiles were what kept me going in life. You have all taken a part in making me who I am today. I wouldn't be on a mission if it weren't for all of your love and support. I don't think that I can adequately describe the gratitude that I feel. Even as I write this email, I get tears in my eyes, because I feel the love that our Father in Heaven has for each and every one of you, and it is an overwhelming feeling. He loves us more than we can ever comprehend. I have felt a small portion of the love that He has for His children as I teach them the restored gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost. I am SOOOO grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, who made it possible for us to live with Him again, as families. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, and the great peace that I feel as I read and ponder the message that it contains. I testify that it truly is the Word of God. I am so grateful for temples, and for the opportunity that we have to go there and feel of God's love and peace, and to be sealed as families for time and all eternity. This is one of God's greatest gifts to us, His children. I pray that we will NEVER take this gift for granted.

I love the month of November. I pray that we will ALWAYS remember the amazing blessing that our Father in Heaven has given us. I humbly and strongly encourage all of you to take at least 15 minutes sometime this month to think of all the blessings that He has given you, and then to pray and sincerely thank Him for these most abundant blessings. I know that as you sincerely do this, you will see a change in your life. You will come closer to the Savior, and you will feel His love for you and for His children. I know that this change can come, because I have seen it happen in my own life these last few weeks. I know that I have SO much to be grateful for. I am so grateful for each one of you. Words cannot even describe it. I love you all so much. I pray for you all the time. I say these things as a humble servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ, in His sacred name, Amen.

With all of my love,

Sister Stroud