I LOVE my missionaries

For the past few days my heart has been full! I'm so overwhelmed with the last three weeks of school approaching. Nursing School is probably the most challenging thing I've ever experienced.  Balancing my time between being a mom, wife, daughter, sister, teacher, friend, & student is exhausting.  Someday's I wonder, "is this worth it?"  I don't know.  But one hour at a time, we get through it.  My whole family has sacrificed so much these past two semesters!  We are all ready for a little break!

I am honored to have two of my siblings serving mission's for our church.  They are such a source of strength and optimism to me.  These past few days I've been missing them terribly.  I look at a picture and get a big lump in my throat, these kids are like my own babies.

I remember the day my sister Heather was born as if it were yesterday.  I was sitting on the couch with my Grandma Sharon & my dad came running into the house and shouted, "get blankets and towels, we have a new baby!"  Yes, Heather was born in the car, just about a mile and a half from our home in Taylor.  My dad delivered her, and according to my mom, she was the, "best baby ever!"  Little did I know that night, that my truest and greatest friend had just arrived!  I love my sister Heathie, she is beautiful, smart, funny, & has the most beautiful voice of any person I know.  She is serving a mission in Argentina.  I'm so proud of her.  Her letters are inspiring and help me get through each week.  We have a special bond.  I treasure our friendship and have sooooooo many wonderful memories with her.  I can't wait till the day I can give her a big hug again.  I look forward to: getting a bellyache from laughing so hard together, driving around town with loud music and going crazy, exercising together (but really mostly laughing at one another) and talking on the phone about nothing and everything!  Sisters are the best, & I'm grateful I have two of them!  The people of Argentina are so lucky and blessed to have her.  She loves it there and is truly serving the Lord with all her heart!

This is my sweet brother Hunter.  I call him Huntie or Hunter Pie.  Sweet is just the word that describes him.  I really miss Hunter coming over to eat a tuna fish sandwich with me and my little boys.  Hunter was so willing to help me in anyway he could.  Hunter is fast....he is really fast!  He ran track in HS and was a pro!  I will admit I was pretty sad when track season started this year and I had no Hunter to watch.  I think sometimes I embarrassed him.  When I saw my little bro come out of those blocks I couldn't help but scream at the top of my lungs, "GO HUNTER, GO GO!" Jake was usually on my hip and would end up screaming himself because I scared him to death!  I usually waited for him right at the finish line.  I can still see his face as he was pushing himself, giving everything he had to cross that finish line and take first place!  Hunter chopped his finger off one Friday afternoon when I was a senior in HS.  I was home with all 5 of my other siblings and ended up taking Hunter to get his finger sewn back together.  I remember watching them lay Hunter down on the table to prep his finger, & I lost it.  I had been so strong, didn't even shed a tear, but when I heard Hunter screaming, "Felicia, help me, don't let them hurt me!"  I lost it.  I was bawling hysterically and had to leave the room. Well, we all laugh about it now, but again, Hunter is just like one of my babies! I love him to pieces! Hunter is a friend to everybody.  I have been so impressed and taken back at his optimism and love for the people in Guatemala.  He is working so hard and giving everything he has to the Lord. 

I'm grateful for my testimony and knowledge of the truth.  This gospel of happiness gets me through each day.  It is a light and source of power in my life.  I'm grateful & honored that my brother and sister are willing to give up everything and go to places where they do not know the culture, the language, the people or really anything.  They know the truth & are working hard to bring families the happiness that I enjoy every single day!!!