Sunday Best!

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“Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing [his or] her best to deal with the challenges which come [his or] her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.” -Thomas S. Monson

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Not Too Proud!

So me and my sweetie pie have had a few struggles with money from time to time in our marriage. We are very blessed mind you, wealthy compared to the world. That being said, we still have run a little short on funds from time to time when we needed it. There was a particular time in our marriage that we needed to find some income. We decided to “donate” plasma. I don’t know why they call it “donating”, because you get paid when you do it. It’s not a bad gig. Since we both were planning on doing it, we decided to call it a date and go together. Sounds fun, right? We would sit next to each other. They had TV’s and there were ear phones we used to listen, so we wouldn’t disturb others watching their show. We would always pick the same show, which happened to be Northern Exposure. We both love that show. It is not on TV anymore, but it was on in the 1990’s. One particular time, while we watched one of our favorite episodes, we both started laughing. We were laughing so hard we had tears streaming down our faces. Everyone was looking at us, wondering what in the world was going on with us. Finally, one of the employees came to check on us, and was wondering why we were laughing so hard. When we told him what we were watching he just a got a big smile on his face and said, “Oh yeah, that is a funny show.” When I look back on the days we dated at the plasma center, I am so happy we had that opportunity. It was a blessing and fun at the same time.

Check out this short clip of Northern Exposure!

Out on a WIM #6

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Emily and her companions!
#6
Heyo my awesome famawee! How are you all? It sounds like life is still going just great! It has been a month! I didn’t even realize that until someone told me on the 22nd! Crazy! Oh my blisters are better mostly. I just have tons of itchy bug bites!
Here’s a few questions:
1-What do you do on P-day? Been to the beach?

1. We went to the beach once on P-day! But we mostly just clean, email, grocery shop and hang out with the other missionaries. I love P-days they are great! I need to get some souvenirs…. I heard that people regret not getting some from the places they go to.

2-Do you walk everywhere you go? I thought you said you walked and walked? Or do you drive? both?

2. No we have a car 🙂 BUT that day when we walked and walked our car was being worked on in the shop… Usually for contacting we just park the car and walk though.. But our area is way too huge to not have a car. And it is probs not super duper safe!

3-Where does your ward/branch meet? and how many members are there? How many missionaries in your area/district?

3. We meet in a branch.. There are about 50 active members but at church there is usually less.. Church is SO different here… The doctrines are the same but there just aren’t many people and they all just give their two cents whenever they please in the middle of class! It’s just funny… It weirded me out at first but it’s chill!
4-Does your mission pres and wife have any children still at home?

4. Ummmm… I think all of their kids are older.. I actually don’t ever see them. I’ve only really spent time with them once. With the different islands here it is too hard. So we have like a senior couple on each island that we check in with. I do email President M. every week but I don’t know much about that… Sorry!

5-Do you and your companions share equally in the teaching experience?

5. Yes we have a goal to be very unified and we are doing well. We all teach great together! But Sister C. is leaving this Wednesday and so me and Sister T. will need to re-figure teaching out. I think it’ll be fine 🙂

6-How long have your companions been out? 

6. My companions have been out for over 3 months! That’ll probably happen to me.. But it’s fun! We are all learning together.

7-Have you received a letter yet? from me?

7. I have not received any letters yet! Hopefully soon!

8- What is the biggest challenge to missionary work where you are?

8. The people and their life styles…. They all have a chastity and word of wisdom problem… It is pretty rough…

9-Does it rain a lot? Is there a rainy season?

9. It does rain a lot…. Because right now it is rainy/hurricane season! I love the rain though. It is fun and it cools us down! It is still very hot and sunshiney too 🙂

10-What did you buy at the Shell station?

10. I don’t remember! OH! I bought a bottle of water but I had to spend a certain amount of money so she charged in on my card and then gave me the change back 🙂

11-Do the senior couple serving near you have a blog? email address? 

11. I’ll have to check with them and let you know ok??

12- Have you figured out how to send pictures yet? I think you should sent one now and again on the computer. 

12. I just sent some pictures so I hope you liked them. Things are not very high tech here so it is very hard. I won’t get to send them very often… The internet is really slow and it’s rough.

Hahahahaha mom…. That is so funny that you are creeping on me. I died of laughter. Sorry I have limited time and the internet is slow that it takes up a lot of time. I hope you had fun being the toothfairy! You are so cute. Sorry I am going to have to keep it pretty short today. But I love you so darn much and hope I answered all your questions 🙂

Daddy: That’s awesome about your missionary experience!!!!!! 🙂 I have those everyday 😉 I love it out here. It is hard but AWESOME to be a missioanry.

Anyway I will write a letter with things that happened this week. That is the bad thing about picture is then there is less time to email! I’m doing great. I love it here so much. Life is great! I LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

IMG_0319After a long day!

Sunday Best!

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“I urge you with all the capacity that I have to reach out in a duty that stands beyond the requirements of our everyday lives; that is, to stand strong, even to become a leader in speaking up in behalf of those causes that make our civilization shine and that give comfort and peace to our lives. You can be a leader. You must be a leader, as a member of this Church, in those causes for which this Church stands. Do not let fear overcome your efforts, for as Paul wrote to Timothy: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The adversary of all truth would put into your heart a reluctance to make an effort. Cast that fear aside and be valiant in the cause of truth and righteousness and faith” -Gordon B. Hinckley

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Angels Among Us!

DSC05542If you visit ourjoyfulnest very often you will know that life has been extra busy.

In the month of May, my oldest son got married, and my youngest daughter left on a LDS mission. Both of these events can, and usually do, require a lot of time for planning and money to make them happen. I am a firm believer that we are truly blessed, and we will continue to be blessed with the things we need (Key word: need).  We are always blessed by a loving Heavenly Father. We live in a wonderful neighborhood, and have amazing friends. We have had so much help from others. Our friends and neighbors and family have been amazing.

So during all of this planning and spending, getting ready for the wedding and preparing our daughter to leave for a year and a half, the thought crossed my mind a few times, “Are we going to have enough money?” Then I would push that thought out and think, “Of course we will, we have to!”

One day while busily going about my day, an envelope showed up on the back porch. One of the kids said that it was just sitting there. I opened it not knowing what to think. As I got to the card I could see cash peeking through from inside the card. The card says, “Just thinking thoughts of you”. On the inside of the card written by hand it said, “You’ve prayed me here, now what will you do with me.” My eyes filled with tears as I counted the money, lots of money.

An angel or angels came to our home and blessed us. Straight from Heaven. I cried and cried thinking about how thoughtful people are. It was truly a miracle in our lives. I hope to someday be able to thank those angels who blessed our family. I don’t know if it will happen, but I will most definitely pay it forward. I love you angels!

 

Out on a WIM! #5

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Hello my most beautiful family in all the world 🙂 It sounds like it’s cray cray out there in Utah! Ok so let me jump right in! It is crazy here.
Monday: We had a great P day! I’m sending pictures through the mail because let’s face it… The internet and computers here are stinkish. But it was great! P-days are the best day of my life. I have never liked Mondays until now.
Tuesday: We had District/Zone meeting. It was legit! I love getting to meet everyone 🙂 We met this awesome dude M.!!! AWWWWWW he is so solid! He’s been taking our lessons and has a baptismal date!!! July 6th. He is literally the coolest Rasta man I ever did meet. They talk so funny here… Instead of saying “her” they “she” So people say “I love she bad” Which means “I love her a lot”. I WILL NEVER SPEAK LIKE THE PEOPLE HERE. Or even understand them for that matter! It is so difficult. I’m still working on understanding them.
Wednesday: We had a lesson with this Investigator M. SHE IS WONDERFUL! She is reading the BOM and asking tons and tons of questions. Soaking it all up 🙂 Then we visited M. and M. M. asked me if I was 14……………………….………………………………………………………………………………………….. Needless to say I have been sure to wear make up the last few days, so I don’t look like I’m “14”….. Ridiculous. ANYWAY. M. she is so cute. Right in the middle of our lessons she’ll tell me she likes my eyes and funny stuff like that!
Thursday: BEST DAY EVER! We didn’t have our car for the first half of the day so we walked an hour and half to a recent Converts house and almost died of heat, sweat and blisters 🙂 We went to see E. She is the best old lady EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALmost as good as LaRee. Speaking of which will you see how my cute old lady is doing? Tell Toby to tell her hello for me and that I love her with all my heart ok??
Friday: WORST DAY YET. I was really sad on friday and no one would listen to us and it all just felt like a hopeless cause. M. wouldn’t call us back and two other of our investigators… I WAS SO TIRED I thought I would die! But it’s all good.
Saturday: Lots of cancels….. Oh wait…. That is erey day. We played cricket at the YSA activity! We went to a baptism… Which gave me hope because people here DO NOT listen and it’s good to know!
Sunday: Was great! We mostly visited recent members and had a few lessons! We are working so so so hard. And our numbers actually look fantastic! It’s the commitment that is hard and people will set up appointments and then say they are too busy or not be home at the time we go back… It is rough but I’m learning so much here and I love my companions very much. We all work great together. We have great times and laugh so much and just enjoy each other! I’m going to start driving here soon!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I also have the worst tan lines in the world. I’ll send a letter and postcard soon.
Mommy: Hello you beautiful mom! How are you?? It sounds like you are doing awesome!!! I LOVE YOU! Will you send some physical pictures to me? Some of the fam and some of me and my friends and one of me and Keat??? You can get some off of facebook and everything too! I really love it here a ton! Tell Melis that I love her so much and I’m proud of her. And not to scare you….. BUT it is pretty skecth here! It is cool I am being safe.
Daddy: Sounds like a lot of driving! I’m ssorry! I have to start driving on the wrond side of the road soon! Today actually! I hope you are doing great! Happy Late Fathers Day 🙂 🙂 I love you and I am so glad i have you for my dad.
Have a great week everyone!!!! I love you guys so much and I’m so glad to be out here working my bum off (I wish, I’m getting chunk status) Anyway thought for the week…. While we were walking and didn’t have our car we were talking about how uncomfortable it was. And I said hey that is just missionary work. If you are not uncomf you’re not being a good missionary. You have to talk to people who glare at you (everyone here). You walk all day. Sweat your guts out. Get rejected. It is very hard but such a good experience! The church is true! If it wasn’t I wouldn’t be out here! I LOVE IT HERE! Besides the hard times the good always outweighs it 🙂 Tell Colin I say hello and I think he’s awesome. LOVE YOU!!! Love, Sister Emily