{T}ender {M}ercies

I feel such a need to express gratitude for the friends and family in my life. I am so proud of the decisions that they are making and the examples they set for everyone they come in contact with. Some of my bestest friends are leaving or have left for 18 months to serve the Lord. Kate has been in the MTC for 6 weeks now and is going to the Bangkok,Thailand Mission. Erica has been called to the Indianapolis, Indiana mission and Marie has been called to the San Padro Saula, Honduras Mission. They both enter the MTC on December 15th at the same time! I am so proud of them. It has not been an easy road getting to this point and they are such great examples of faith and endurance. I love all three of them.

I also wanted to write about a little experience I had at the SLC Temple just last night when our ward went down to do sealings and baptisms. As I was waiting, I was able to start up a conversation with a girl (I still don't know her name haha) that was not part of our group. We started out with the normal questions: Where are you from? Are you going to school? What are you majoring in? I told her that I had my mission papers all finished and I was just waiting to turn them in. She became really emotional and told me that she had just returned from her mission to Dallas, Texas. She couldn't say enough about her experience and how she wishes she could go on another one. I saw a ring on her left ring finger and I asked her when she got married. She had just recently gotten engaged and her and her fiance were there to do baptisms. I tell you this story because her testimony taught me something. She said to me, "If you will put your trust in your Savior, everything will work out. You are loved and he knows what you need and when you need it. Never loose sight of what you want most." This daughter of God was the answer to my prayers. She was so full of joy and light just radiated from her. I really felt like I had known her all my life! I probably will never see her again in this life but I can't wait to see how her life goes and the things the Lord has in store for her. The Lord is aware of all of us! I know he lives and I can hardly wait to dedicate 18 months of my life to Him. This is eternal happiness.