Letter #27 "Friends are relatives you make for yourself." ~Eustache Deschamps

Dear Becca Baby,
Thank you for being the bestest friend ever. I miss you so much and I wish that Alaska and Provo were right next to each other :) Thank you for keeping me sane during football. I don't think I would have stayed as long as I did if it were not for you.

When I first called the equipment room to see if the job was still open, you answered the phone. I could tell you were annoyed that a girl called. You told me later that I sounded like a snot and you didn't want some chick to come and work for the team because she thought football players were hot. You gave me very obscure directions and I'm pretty sure I showed up late for my first day :) Thanks for giving me a chance to show you that I am not a snot and I don't think football players are hot. In fact I learned that most are kinda stupid. You taught me so much! About football, about boys, life...you were my go to girl. Thank you for being there for me during a time when I was beginning to figure out who I was. Thank you.
Thank you for asking me to be one of your bridesmaids. I loved coming up to AK. It is beautiful there. It was cool getting to know "Alaska Becca". It was fun to see where you worked, lived and to finally meet your family and Robert! You have an awesome family! You are a really cool aunt and I know you'll be an amazing mom!

Thank you so much for being there for me on my wedding day! You were such a huge help. You did so much for us including following us and our photographer all around Temple Square with water bottles. I love you so much! I feel that I must apologize for taking you for granted. I didn't thank you enough when you were in Utah and now that we aren't around each other all the time I see how much you did for me. Thank you. I love you so much and I miss you. I'll have to start saving all my pennies so I can bring Calin up there and visit.

PS. Those grocery bags and heat resistant kitchen tools are amazing!!! I use atleast one of them a day. Every time I go grocery shopping some one always comments on my bags and asks where I got them. I always say, "My best friend brought them to me all the way from Alaska." Thanks!

Letter #26 ""It is by chance we met . . . By choice we became friends." ~unknown

Dear Ai Yu En,
I miss you so much! Thank you for serving the Lord in the Philippines. The people over there are so lucky to have you in their lives. You are such an amazing person and I know you are an even better missionary. Did you know that the Philippines were not open until 1961. President Hinckley met with a small group of members in the suburbs of Manila. He offered a prayer invoking the blessing of the Lord on the missionary work in the Philippines. "What we begin here will affect the lives of thousands upon thousands of people in this island republic, and its effects will go from generation to generation for great and everlasting good"

"We invoke Thy blessing, Father dear, upon the missionaries who shall come here, that Thy Spirit may touch their hearts, that their lives may be clean and virtuous, that their examples may be marvelous before the people, that they may be blessed, as it were, with the ‘gift of tongues,’ that they shall speak the language of the people, that they shall work with singleness of purpose to Thy name’s honor and glory, that they shall go forth without fear, that none shall stay them, and that they shall declare with teaching and testimony, the restoration of Thy holy work for the blessing of Thy children. Father, give them joy and courage and faith and satisfaction in their labors, and make them fruitful.
“We invoke Thy blessings upon the people of this land, that they shall be friendly and hospitable and kind and gracious to those who shall come here, and that many, yea Lord, we pray that there shall be many thousands who shall receive this message and be blessed thereby. Wilt Thou bless them with receptive minds and understanding hearts, and with faith to receive, and with courage to live the principles of the gospel, and with a desire to share with others the blessings which they shall receive. We pray that there shall be many men—faithful, good, virtuous, true men—who shall join the Church and who shall receive the blessings of the priesthood, and who shall accept and grow in leadership, that Thy work here shall be handled largely by local brethren, under the direction of those who hold the keys in this day and time, according to the law and order of Thy church.” (Gordon B. Hinkley, “Commencement of Missionary Work in the Philippines.”)
You are apart of that! I am so proud of you!

I wanted to write you a thank you letter for all the things you have done for me. I started writing letter's this year in a blog...365 Thank Yous in 2011. I am about 20 behind but, I think the letters are helping. They help me realize the amazing people around me and help me see things that I am grateful for. Today, I am grateful for you!

I remember getting to know you in the Los Angeles airport. We both got hungry at the same time so we went on an adventure to find over priced deli sandwiches. You were so funny. You had your money belt down inside your pants and you had to reach down them to get your money to pay for your sandwich. You were super embarrassed. You, Tammi and I were inseparable in china. Joy Mart trips, late night reenactments of Wicked, clubbing...china style :) Man, we had a ton of fun.

It was hilarious to watch yours and Tammi's face as we followed a china man down a dark alley to shop for fake Prada bags. I don't know if I am too trusting or had the "been there done that" syndrome but, you guys were so funny! Thanks for being such a good friend. You always had the right things so say. I think my favorite time was when we were on a blanket in the middle of the soccer field in China planning lessons and we decided to move to Provo together and go to UVU. Best decision I have ever made!

You were an awesome roommate. (note the picture...that was taken after we were all in the family room of the apartment and we heard a huge crash. All the drawers from our dresser where strewn about the room. We declared it was a ghost.) You never really moved all the way in. You had half your stuff at home and half at the apartment which left tons of room for me. Thank you. Thank you for keeping me grounded. I treasure each late night conversation. I can only hope that I was half as helpful to you as you were to me.

Thank you for turning the car around even though we were almost to the freeway on February 10th. I forgot my temple recommend and we were headed to Timpanogos Temple. I insisted that I could just wait in the waiting room while you and Katie did baptisms but, you would not accept that. I remember we were already running late because we had a fireside to go to right after the temple. That was the same night i prayed and got an answer about preparing for a mission. That made the biggest difference. It is cool to look back and see how different decisions influence your future. Because I moved to salt lake in 2007 I met Carlie who told me about China where I met you and decided to move to Provo. There I received personal revelation to prepare for a mission which kicked Calin's butt into gear and made him ask me out and now I am married to the love of my life. You had a huge impact on my life's course. Thank you. Thank you for being so sweet to everyone. You are the best example. I dont know anyone else with as much love and patience for others than you do. I love you so much and I know you are in the Philippines for a reason. The Lord needs you and so do the people over there. Even though it is more than a year from now, I am so excited to see you again! I love you Ms. Erin Paige Osborn!!!

Letter #25"Revelation comes on the Lord's timetable, which often means we must move forward in faith, even though we haven't received all the answers"

Dear Timpanogos Temple,
Thank you for being so beautiful. Thank you for being a refuge and the house of the Lord. As I reflect back to one year ago from today, February 10th, I start to cry. I wrote in my journal a year ago that I will remember this day for a very very long time. I know many of you (mostly family members) have heard this but, today this is what I am grateful for.

One year ago...
"I just wanted to let you all know that I have been filled out my mission papers and plan on turning them in March 16th (after I get my physical and dental exams). I am so excited to go out and serve the Lord!
I decided to go on February 10th while I was in the Timpanogos Temple. I was waiting in the chapel to do baptisms and confirmations and I usually pray for those I am about to do the ordinances for (to open their hearts and their minds). At this point I was unsure about what I was going to be doing during the Fall of 2010. I had many options including go back to the U, stay at UVU, possibly attend BYU...you see my dilemma =) As I prayed for each of these things I didn't feel anything. Without realizing what I was asking I asked if I should go on a mission (which I have never seriously thought about before) and all of the sudden I felt so warm inside. I felt every good thing anyone could feel at one time...peace, joy, happiness, love (you get the picture!) I knew in that instant that I was supposed to prepare for a mission and that is exactly what I am doing!!! I immediately met with my bishop and started filling out my papers (which are now done!)
I just wanted you all to know that I love the Lord and this gospel! I have a testimony of personal revelation and that if we pray and communicate with the Lord daily we can be blessed and he definitely answers prayers! I am excited to share the gospel with those who are searching for the truth. Thank you for being great examples to me! I love you all! Family Forever!!!"

Looking back I am so grateful and humbled. Obviously I did not go on a mission and I know why. It is sometimes difficult to completely interpret personal revelation. When I prayed and asked if I should prepare to go on a mission and got a clear, "yes", I immediately thought that meant I was going on a mission. Little did I know that while preparing for a mission I was really preparing to go through the temple and be sealed to Calin. Everything happens for a reason and although it may be hard sometimes, if we listen to what the spirit is trying to tell us we will be happy. Being happy sounds so simple but, it is something that I strive and work for everyday. Calin and I slacked off on reading the scripturers the last couple of weeks and recently started up again and already I can tell a difference in school, family life and work. I am so grateful for the temples. I don't go as much as I should. It is so easy to come up with things I have to do instead. I want to testify to all of you and more importantly to myself that I know the temples are a house of God. They are sacred and holy places that if you have the right desires anyone can receive personal revelation. I am so grateful for this blessing in my life and I will try my best to not take it for granted. I know that thanking the temples sound a bit odd but, thank you.

ps. my letter quote came from Robert D Hales Oct 2007 conference talk. read it!

Letter #24 - I thank you 20 nickles

Dear Nickel City,
Thank you for providing such a cheap date! Who knew that a plastic bag containing $5 worth of nickels could slap a smile on my face for a whole night?! Calin always knows when I need a pick me up and this was the perfect way to start a weekend. We played skee ball, Calin won. We played air hockey, I won. It was a perfect night. I guess it doesn’t really matter what you do but, who you are with when you do it. 570 something tickets later we traded it all in for a back scratcher, laffy taffys, a slap braclet, and fake moustaches (as seen on my letter #22). Thank you Nickel City for a night out and thank you Calin for finding ways to make me smile.

Letter #23 "A sister (OR COUSIN) is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." ~Marion C. Garretty

Dear Taylor Perry,

Thank you. Thank you for being my best friend. I think of you as a sister. We have gone through so much together. Growing up is hard to do but, you made it so much better. I know this may sound cheesy but, I am who I am today because of you. Seriously, although you are younger, I looked up to you and still do. You were always so cool! I remember tagging along with you to your gymnastics practices. I’d watch in amazement and wish I could do that. Some days I’d go home and lay pillows all over the ground and try to do what you did during practice. I never quite got it though :) My imitation of your round-off-front-hand-spring was a somersault. Thank you for teaching me what hard work and dedication can accomplish. I soon realized that gymnastics and tennis was not my cup of tea but found drama and singing instead. I used what you taught me to excel my talents.

Thank you for being so gosh darn funny! I know I will always have a good time with you! We can always find something to laugh about! I think my favorite moment ever was up at the cabin. We were upstairs making songs up about everyone in our family. When I say we I meant YOU. You were so funny! “Marsha Marsha she has short hair, she walks around in her underwear. She says ‘Hello’ she says ‘Good bye’ …mumble incoherent sounds that rhyme with bye…” You even had props to go with your songs. I wish I could remember the rest of Grandpa’s song because his was my favorite. “Grandpa Grandpa, he’s such a man. He digs up rocks with soiling pans.” Thank you for making me laugh.

Even though we went our separate ways for college, you up north at Utah State and me…well, I’ve never really been in one place for very long, we have always stayed good friends. Thank you. It just goes to show that family really is forever! Thank you for writing me a letter while I was in China. I never thanked you for that. It came at a perfect time too. It was near the beginning and we had just returned to our school from vacation in Shanghai. I was stressed and completely broken. I was having zero luck with my kids and I missed my family like crazy. Our mail was always delivered to the guard station and every day I would walk a little slower than normal when I passed it, hoping there would be a letter for me. The day your letter came I was so excited I yelped and ran towards the guard who held my letter. Not realizing what the guard was seeing (a tall white chick running towards him screaming English), I grabbed the letter and opened it right there. Thank you for your encouragement and for helping me push forward.

I love you so much! Thank you for everything! Thank you for sticking to the LW Syndrome and making sure Calin was the right guy for me, you and the family :) Just so you know I have not forgotten our deal that I would not get pregnant until you were married. You have a little over 2 years to find Mr. Right! Better start now! I miss seeing you every Sunday. I love you and I hope that you are happy!