SUPER HUGE thank you to every one who sent me birthday gifts and cards!!!

I got to ride a horsy on my bday!!! This is as close as I can get... lol

HELLO HELLO HELLO!!! Yea I'm super confused as to what has happened since we last emailed and what I've already talked about... so bare with me!

Happy New Year everyone!! I just want to give a SUPER HUGE thank you to every one who sent me birthday gifts and cards!!! It really meant the world to me.  I thoroughly enjoyed eating/using them all!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Monday was exchanges and we worked really hard!! We got tons of lessons, which was great!!! However a lot of them didn't make return appointments... so that's not great. But it felt good to work! The next day.... was super cold... and.... it was the Car Fast *dun Dun DUN*!!!!! Thank goodness for hand warmers and fuzzy socks.  It actually wasn't too bad though! He happened to have a lot of set lessons that day AND the youth member that we live with drove us around a lot! Over all no complaints! 

Wednesday night we were told to go home early due to the snow. So we did.  It continued on the next morning until about 1 where we couldn't do much. So we caught up on some records, cooked, made some calls, worked on that STUPID PANDA PUZZLE(I'm still not done... that thing is the bane of my existence! ITS SO HARD!) Then we were able to go out and have lots of lessons, so that was great! The rest of the week was literally filled to the brim with meetings.  The best one was the Young Adult Fireside that just showed last night.  We sat down to watch it at the church and the Elders came and sat in front of us.  The very first talk?- Marital Intimacy. My ears bled the whole time... jk. kinda. But hey, the next talk was amazing! We received counsel from President Nelson on how to be effective leaders and draw closer to the Savior! He invited us to do many things and promised us many blessings as we do them.  I truly felt the Spirit and am excited to see what happens as I try to heed his council!  

Sooooo my One Year mark happened this week!!!!! Woohoo!!!!!! It is a bittersweet feeling. I only have about 4 transfers left after this one... and that's really scary..... But I'm also glad I'm not brand new to this stuff anymore! Being a missionary has been the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life and I'm so grateful to be here!!! 

Sister T and I are doing so great! Shes so sweet and funny! We love it here in Parker, especially the people! Its been cold BUT this week is in the 50s and 60s! BLESSED. 

 

This week I feel it especially important to stay close to the Savior.  I was listening to the The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life talk ( https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/the-joy-of-living-a-christ-centered-life?lang=eng ) and it just reminded me How Christ went through every single thing so that he's knows perfectly how to help us! He descended below ALL things. Can you imagine? Having everything, EVERYTHING, you've ever wanted, and then coming to Earth to suffer, be persecuted, and die?  What love that shows on His part.  Whenever I am tempted to make a bad choice I always think- What tears am I responsible for? What drops of blood am I responsible for?... While all this saddens my heart, it also humbles me and helps me rejoice because He over came it all!! And because He did, I can too!!! What a gift we have been given. A perfect gift that keeps on giving. I love my Savior more than anything. He is the center of God's plan, which makes Him the center of ours.  May we all strive to make goals this year that will bring us closer to Christ, to build our relationship and closeness with Him, and to use this precious gift of the Atonement in our lives daily! 

Well folks that's all for this week! Again THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR THE BIRTHDAY CARDS AND PRESENTS!!! I wish I could email you all individually a thank you, but ya know.. no time #missionarylife.  But please know I deeply appreciate them!!!!

Have a great week everybody!! And remember, if you want to fulfill your goals and be a better person! Tomorrow you have to start today! Don't wait! Make a plan on how to accomplish your goals, don't just wish them! 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Sister Loyd