October 1, 2009 "Lovin the Temple!!!"

FAMILY!

Well- life is good. I honestly can not believe that this time next week I will be in NEW JERSEY!?!?!? Crazy huh?  But! I am so so so so so so so SOOOOO excited! Nauvoo has been just an awesome experience, but I would be lying to you to say that I’m not excited for my next 6 months!
So! For the very first time on my mission I went tracting last night. Sister Goodrich and I went out with the Carthage sisters. It was SWEET!!!! It almost felt surreal. I mean, I have been on a mission going on 7 months now so the whole missionary part wasn’t that different but I have never stood on someone’s porch and talked about the gospel. It was just- wow. Interesting. But SO good! We spoke with one lady whose family had been RLDS and now she’s Methodist. That was interesting to hear about her history. My first door I was able to get a return appointment. A girl answered the door so I was like, “Is your mom or dad home?” and then she went and got her mom and her mom came out wearing an Illinois sweatshirt so I go, “the fighting Illini!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love them!” and she just warmed right up to me. See- sports knowledge comes in handy She told me I’d have to come play basketball with her daughter sometime and show her a thing or two. HA! It was so cool though. It was such a great experience. I was amazed at how easy it was to love people. It could also be really awkward. And people could hate on you. So- win some lose some. Definitely a cat was following us around all over. That was kind of annoying. I almost wanted to drop kick it over a fence, but I thought that wouldn’t be something good for other people to see. Not very Christlike or missionary-ish
I’m trying to think of other exciting things going on. We leave on Wednesday morning to our field assignments. AHHHHH!!!!! Crazy. I honestly thought that this time would never ever come. It just loomed in the future and never felt like it was getting any closer. I just have to tell you that I feel so at peace with where I’m going. Granted, I had never even heard of Morristown, but I know it’s where God wants me to be.
I’m really trying to think of something good or interesting or funny that has happened lately. I got nothing. I made healthy muffins for all the sisters this morning for breakfast since it was my prep day. Sister Alexander called them “nuffins” because they have “nuffin” in them
I only get to watch Sunday Conference and only part of it. I am serving in the 70’s Hall all day Saturday. “Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven………”  But! I figure I’ll just get it in the November Ensign. I’m SOOOOOOOOO excited for conference though. Make sure and watch it. Love it. Live it. I don’t know where I was going with that really. But! Crazy that it’s October huh?! Almost my birthday time…. Not really. Well- I’m just rambling. Best get to gettin. LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep being good! Thanks for all your love and support. That sounds cheesy- but I really mean it. LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

Sister Picard


PS!!!!! I just remembered something that is REALLY exciting that is happening tonight!!!!! We get to go and help clean the Nauvoo Temple. Half the sisters went last night and we get to go tonight! I'm SOOOOOO thrilled! I'll tell you how that goes next week. From New Jersey. AHHHHHH crazy.