Ciao mia Mamma,
How are you feeling?
I did find out Sister Monson died. I'm not sad because death brings eternal life. I do feel sad that President Monson will temporarily be without his companion, but he knows the plan so I'm not upset about it or anything.
ok....here's the thing. I sent you a super long letter yesterday that I wrote on Monday. It's 6 pages long. So this letter will be mostly of the things that have happened in the past 2 days and the little things that I always forget to share but are really important.
First, I'm sick...I have/had a nasty cold and cough. I feel so much better today but now I have allergies! Yay! I'm just glad that I can breathe. I'm still alive so there isn't much to complain about.
I got the package with the pretzels. Our family sure loves those pretzels! Thank you, I love the carrot picture too! It was great. I love hearing about Eva and her modesty and the cool things she does, like getting her varsity jacket to say Shortstop. YOU ROCK WHITES!
Eva, thank you so much for writing Sorella Gross. She actually gets a lot of letters and stuff now so she's not too upset anymore, but she said she loved your letter. I told her you were a hippie and she says she's glad because she's one too. She also said she'd write you back so hopefully she will. She is amazing.
Eva, I also wanted to let you know that I can't open the link about the temple because it was a FaceBook link. I did kind of get the gist of it and my teacher kind of explained it.
Tanner, thank you for sending me all of the things that I asked for and all of the extra things. Thanks for the sunflower pen, and the pretzels. Thank you for writing me. I can't write letters except on P-Day, you were right. I didn't realize that until Sunday, so I won't be writing them anymore, unless it's P-day. How is the EMT Program going? How is school? Are you feeling overwhelmed at all?
Mommy, I'm so sorry about the school denying your application. I want you to keep this experience in mind when you receive my letter. Read the part about the Indian Chief quote while you think on this experience. There is a purpose to all things even though it doesn't seem like it. I thought I was going to be called to Russia remember? I received revelation. All that ended up being was a sign that I needed to have a ready heart to serve anywhere. It doesn't make the revelation unreal, it just means you don't know its purpose yet.
I'm so excited to hear all about the things you tell me about. Seriously, the little, "pointless" things make a difference. I'm so sorry for making you feel guilty about the written letters. I don't need them. Please don't stress. I realized that I need to be a big girl and give all to the Lord and not complain about everything. There is a reason for this communication rule, I need to accept it and be willing to not speak to you all again for the next 17 (!!!!!!) months and 1 week, if that is what the Lord wants from me.
Mommy! A 4.0 while taking 12 credits!!!!!! You rock! You got a 4.0!!!! Hopefully, you're not too surprised. You're so smart and you work hard! How do you feel? I hope you feel accomplished. You're just the best.
Sorella Gross and I have been sick, she had pneumonia and I had a cold, so we received blessings from Anziano Baker, who had never given or received a blessing before. The only blessings he had received were when he received the Priesthood, his Patriarchal blessing, and his setting-apart.
I've been sharing a lot of faith-building experiences that I've had like living with my LDSBC roomate and surviving my senior year. This Tuesday, we heard from Marcus B. Nash & wife. His wife said something that prompted me to write down this phrase:
My senior year was a tender mercy from the Lord.
I pondered this after I wrote it. I read my patriarchal blessing again last night, and I discovered something interesting. it says:
I bless you with the GIFT OF WISDOM. The gift of wisdom will help you always in your life as you go forth for further assignments in the church.
Every single thing that I have struggled with, that I have done wrong and repented of, that I have survived...everything, to some extent was necessary. I needed ....I was blessed with that gift of wisdom so that I could serve others. My life is watched over. Although I do not believe God wants us to sin, I do believe He wants us to get something out of it when we do, otherwise there would be no point. He wants us to ...what?...gain WISDOM! BAM! KNOWLEDGE! I have lived a life that has led me to this point, and in some ways, I am wise. I have a lot to learn, but I know how to battle the adversary and I now know how to win!
As Marcus B Nash spoke, I felt prompted to write this down:
Without my faith, I have nothing. At times, I have lived an empty life. I will not live that way EVER again.
Because of my wisdom-building experiences, I have sometimes lived life without faith. I have felt empty, weak, and acted upon. Through that experience, I have learn the importance of faith and what it really is.
Faith is the air in my lungs and the blood in my veins. Faith is in my skin and it pumps my heart. Faith is my thoughts and my actions. When I have no faith, I am spiritually dead and empty.
Now that I know what Faith means, I know how important it is to have faith. Now I know WHY all must be able to exercise faith. Without faith, our spirits sleep. I now have the privilege, honor, calling, and duty to awake those spirits and guide them to find their faith. What a calling!
---
Today we went to the temple and acted as children in sealings. It was lovely! The blessings talked of in sealings were also addressed to me in my patriarchal blessing that my beloved Grandpa pronounced upon me. They were right there and I didn't even know!
Many talks here have addressed our connection to the "other side". The angels sing with us when we sing, they watch over us as we teach and travel, and THEY pray for US! My Liam, our Liam, watches me as I serve. He's a missionary too! I think it would be appropriate if we prayed for the souls that he teaches to accept the truth as well as those on this earth that I will teach.
---
If you have not seen the Testaments, the Book of Mormon/Bible movie where the Americans wait for Christ, I command you...(just kidding, he he) to watch it. like now. I was so touched as Christ was atoning for our sins, but I was even more touched as He descended and I was able to rejoice in our Resurrected Lord! What an amazing powerful movie.
I had so many spiritual experiences this week. We have Temple Walks on Sunday. As I was sitting outside the temple this week, I looked into the sky and there were individual rays coming down through the clouds...I was reminded of the First Vision...
"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head ABOVE THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SUN." The brilliance of the sun is nothing compared to the Glory of the Father and the Son! But He created all these glorious things here on this earth for us to enjoy, yet they are nothing compared to Them.
---
Tell Grandma and Aunt Cynthia that I love them and I think of them often.
Don't tell them this, but I put their names on the temple prayer roll every week because they deserve blessings. Especially Aunt Cynthia, she needs to know she is loved.
The language is coming along and I've been learning a lot.
I feel that I am really progressing.
I wish I could go to Italy....but what I really wish is that I was ready to go to Italy and that I would be worthy to be there.
I love you and I miss you.
Be good.
Work hard.
Love God.
"whenever it feels like I'm so far away, remember my love remains"
(listen to that song, My Love Remains -Jonny Lang, think of it as me singing it to you...then picture Heavenly Father singing it to you...it really is more of a religious song than it seems)
Know that I love you...I may be far away..well not for Tanner, but we have been SEALED for time and for all eternity~ there is no end to us. There is no time apart from one another, not even death can separate us. Not even this 17 months and 1 week. Although what's-his-no-face (aka Satan, you'll understand when you get my 6-page letter) wants us to believe that we are apart...we never will be.
I LOVE YOU!!!!
Sorella Carlock
No comments:
Post a Comment