No interesting title here.

Monday night I became a jungle gym...not on purpose, but the Newman kids just started climbing. They are so adorable.

Tuesday we learned some of life's biggest lesson's from Mary. She said: Forgive people, everyone wants someone to be nice to them, and don't argue with anyone over 80 (they've had a lot of experience with life). She also said that we can't have sick people going around giving people prayers and that you kill more flies with honey than you do with a swatter. Such great words of wisdom!! I love her to pieces. 

That night we were planning on having a lesson with JR, but because he was leaving town things didn't end out lining up. We texted a bit throughout the week and tried to help him out with a couple of questions he had. JR is pretty awesome...I've gotta say.

Wednesday morning at the end of companionship study Sister O and I took a break and laid on the ground. I ate some fruit snacks and I said, "I don't know why I ate that, but I did."

Sis O replied, "what did you eat?"

I said, "Fruit snacks."

"Oh...I thought you were talking about a pencil or something."

(Insert laughter here)

We visited the Rogers and turns out it was Sister R's birthday!! I got to play the piano for a bit and Sista O helped find things for the kiddo's to do. We had dinner at the Fike's and got to have IBC root beer. It was really good :) That night we met with a less active who wants to come back to church. I am so excited to see her progression! :)

Thursday Sista O got another round of sickness. I wasn't feeling well either so it worked that they were all on the same day.

Friday (the 4th) we got to meet our new mission president. He is so cool!! He truly is inspired and called of God. he is going to do a great job here in Texas. Sfter that, Momma Ro took us to lunch. It was really good! She dropped us off at bingo.  We played our game of rummy with Norma and then played some bingo with everyone else. We shared a message at the end with norma and another lady (who's name slipped my mind). The other lady responded to one of our question's and said, "without prayer, I wouldn't be". After bingo, we walked over to the Farnsworth's for dinner.  We got to hear some more of Bro F's awesome stories of growing up. they were great!! When we got home all the kids down the street were lighting fireworks. They were awesome...the fireworks were awesome.

Saturday we went to cottage gardens and tried to stop by a few potentials. we got in with the Fish's. We got to visit with them and share a song with them. when we were all done, we went to the bells and waited a little while. It started to get real cloudy and spooky and we didn't want to get hit by the doom and gloom. shortly after we got inside, the rain started. We went to the children's baptisms that night and had an awesome first lesson with a non member who was there!!  She had such a glow and was ready!

Sunday we had early meetings and church. Dinner was at McLane's and we had some crazy fruit: Dragon fruit and "hairy grapes"

Well i'm running out of time. I hope all is well for y'all!!

God Bless from Texas!!

Sista C

--Sister Carling

He's getting baptized!!!

Mission's are one of the best kept secret's in town...or in the LDS community. To really understand what I mean by that you kinda have to go on one. "It'll be hard" they tell you...Of course you realize and know this...but you don't really understand it until you are thrown into the mix of things. I mean, my cousin, Ryan, tried to tell me this and explain this to me...Ryan, I now understand. Looking in retrospect, thanks for the attempt to warn me. Like I said, I really didn't understand until I got here and got going like you told me I would.

On to this week!! 

I don't even remember what happened this week...

Monday...I know we had dinner at the Blackhursts...so far that's all I got. I also had to go to the bathroom...that's always an adventure. We tried like 5 houses until we found one with people home.  That was a relief. Yes, they were members. That's all I got for Monday.

Tuesday we had an awesome day at the temple. Because President Pingree goes home tomorrow (July 1) he did a specialized training in the temple. So we got to spend 5 hours in the temple. We did a session and then had the opportunity to talk with and ask questions to the temple president, Crane, and our mission president. It was such a wonderful experience.

 Sister Carling & Sister O at the Houston Temple!

"Most of our pictures end out this way...I love her though!!"

Special Training at the Temple

That night we had our lesson with JR. JR taught us the Plan of Salvation. He's so great!! He did such a great job! Nailed it right on the head (with lot's of construction analogies)! I was able to learn quite a lot. It's really quite awesome to have someone teach you the basics. It was a great reminder for some things I need to do in my life.

Wednesday we had dinner with Sister Pearson and Sister Garrison. Old people: I will, in a lot of ways, never understand them...but I LOVE THEM to pieces.

Thursday we returned Sis Wahlen's bike to mission office. After, I got to mail my BIG box of letters home...it's great that I don't have this big box...but it's hard because I can't go back and read them!! I guess I will just pray for more letters.

**Wink, wink**

**Nudge, nudge**

**PUNCH**

My bad...sorry there...went a little crazy.  (Sister O's humor is rubbing off on me...we just try to have fun.)

We had dinner at the Hammers. After that, we had ANOTHER lesson with JR. JR plans to be baptized by a close friend in Richfield Utah on August 16. I am so excited that he I going to do this...even if I don't get to be there. He's doing awesomely and will continue to do so.

Friday was exchanges, so I went up to Tomball 2 ward with Sis Jeppson. While I was there the A/C on the truck officially went out. Needless to say, we made an appointment for that. We also were able to meet someone who would possibly be interested...while standing there I got bit by a mosquito...NINE TIMES!!! Also, needless to say, I fought the desire to run away while being bit. Another thing we were able to do, was to visit a member who Sis J hasn't been able to meet yet. Miracles always happen on exchanges...lemme tell ya.

Saturday when I got back to Parkway, we scheduled a service opportunity. Dad...I got to lay pavers with sand and everything!! For a first time job with 5 people who have never done it...you'd be proud!! When we first started it was like a million degrees because of the humidity. but then we saw the clouds...and started working faster because these clouds were "don't-mess-with-us" kinda clouds. By the time we were almost done and the sand was in the grouts...it started to down-pour...but not a huge Texas down pour. I didn't know what it was like to sweat until all your hair was wet until that day. It was interesting. It's made me reconsider growing my hair out...Once there was a break in the storm, we headed home and got ready for the day. Sister Rushing picked us up and we went to her house and helped her out. I got to play the piano and I am getting better!! *happy dance* That night we went to the Rogers for dinner (cereal!) and somehow I found a bag of Nerf darts, Bro R and Sis O found Nerf guns and the kids picked sides in giving darts to each team. NERF FIGHT!!!! It was SOOO enjoyed. We laughed for a bit after that and had a good message for them about listening to the Lord.

Sunday we didn't have meetings so we were able to study before church. During the 3rd hour we had a good chat with Bishop and filled him in on things. After church we came home and prepared a couple things, stopped by Mary's for a quick visit and went to the Ure's for dinner. Being able to talk with her was quite refreshing. We ended out playing with Ethan and somehow he managed to pop my toes. I've gained a friend no other sister missionary has...Ethan. He is so funny and he asked if he could "pop my toes at church...privately." Sis Ure thinks someone might have a crush. We still laugh about that one.

Today we did shopping early. We went to Sprouts this morning, then over to the Ure's to play some games and now we are emailing. First thing Ethan Ure asked when I walked in the door was if he could pop my toes. He's adorable. I made him read me half a book before he could.

 Sister Carling w/ Ethan Ure--the Toe Popper

Our new mission president flies in like...right now. I am so excited!! We get to meet him on Friday, the Fourth of July!! I have such great feelings for this week. It's going to be awesome.

God bless from Texas y'all!!

--Sister Carling 

New 

Boots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This will probably be short...

Dear family and friends,

This week was pretty uneventful because i was a bit sick...so I imagine this email might be a bit shorter than usual.

Monday we had dinner at the Newman's. Sis N is such a great person!! She does such a great job in sharing the gospel.

Tuesday, we found out Sis O's bike had a flat in it...this makes a great start to the week. I wasn't feeling well and so we stayed in a little longer. We went to go visit Mary and we took the dog's with us because, well, they needed a walk and we knew Mary would enjoy it. well...we ended out getting caught in a wonderful Texas downpour. I luckily had my umbrella and ended out carrying Martin (He's so close to the ground he would have been a muddy mess if I didn't). We got to Mary's and ended out visiting on her porch. she gave us and umbrella and it didn't rain a drop on the way home. That night we had dinner with Sister Rushing. She is the sweetest!! We had Jumbalaya (Louisiana traditional) and baked veggies. SO.YUMMY!!! I got to play the piano after dinner. That was a happy moment :)

Carrying Martin

After the rain at Mary's

Wednesday we got to do service at the Kunz. It's always refreshing to be able to serve others. It kinda puts you in your place. It's one of those things needed in life. It was pouring earlier, we had a flat tire and we both didn't feel well that morning...so it was good to do something for someone else. We started walking home and Sis Newman passed us and stopped in like the middle of the road to pick us up. I just LOVE the member's here!!!

Thursday I still wasn't feeling well. BUT!!!!! We got this AWESOME text from JR that made us pretty happy. JR wanted to meet with us AND he want's to be baptised!!! HOW COOL IS THAT?! He is so awesome. So that night we met with him at the Malo's. We taught him the rest of the Restoration and talked to him about how he came to find his answers. He likes to do a lot of talking and so we gave him a different assignment than normal (Directed by the spirit of course). We asked him if he would teach us the Plan of Salvation. We gave him a pamphlet and told him if he had any questions to call/text us or the Malo's. We also gave him the assignment to pray on a baptismal date since he wants to be baptised in UT because his best friend is there and able to and he also want's his son (3) to be there. We scheduled another lesson with him for tomorrow. I am so excited!!

Friday we had district meeting. I am still the oldest member of the district. I am the only one who is not a teenager(until tomorrow! Sis Ririe's bday is tomorrow). This is weird to be the oldest...needless to say I don't feel like I am. After the meeting, we had lunch with the sisters and then walked down to the old folk's home. I love that place. We went early to play Rummicub with Norma. So great!! Then we called for bingo. After all that, we shared a scripture with Norma and another lady, Virginia. This week we are going to play Rummi again.

On Saturday, we finally were able to figure out this whole bike situation...kinda. We went to Walmart to get the tube. While Sis O was working on the tire, I took the leisure of taking a razor to my hair. It was starting to look choppy...now it doesn't. :) I am loving it. We had dinner at the Hoff's that night and enjoyed a good few laughs.

Sunday was freezing cold in the church building (as a side note). JR came and stayed the whole time! It was so great to see him there. That night, we had dinner at the Bakers. WE HAD WAFFLES!!!! YUMMMMM!!!!!!!! and instead of whipped cream...we put ice cream!!!! SO GOOD!!

So this email ended out being longer than expected. Looking back, it made me feel better about this week. Right now we are emailing at the Farnsworths. These 2 are characters. I love them :)

​Keep on keeping on!!​

--Sister Carling