There's No Place Like Home For the Holidays.

I'm finally at home!! Home sweet home.
I must say, it feels a little different coming home. Knowing that I have two "homes". I talk about all of these people that no one here knows and I have to explain who they are.. Like my FHE brothers I call my brothers and Mom says, what? Your brothers? I'm like my FHE Brothers??? Duh. haha Little things like that, like the way that I budget my money or how I do things now, it's just different I guess to have someone else tell you how to do things when you have your own ways. But it's not too bad.
I love being home and getting to see all of my cousins again. It was a little weird going back to Decatur Ward today, I'm not used to talking to a million people in one day!! But I love being back home in the South, the hospitality, the humidity... haha
My ears were really sensitive to southern accents. I haven't heard them in a such a long time I recognized when every person had one. It was like I was somewhere totally different in Wal-mart. When you grow up down here, you don't hear them they just sound natural. My goal by the end of the two and a half weeks that I'm here is to get my full accent back, and not be able to notice when someone has a Southern accent. I think I can do it.

Today was a really good day at Church. The choir and Jr./Sr. Primary sang. The ward Choir did really well. I can tell they worked really hard on it and it definitely paid off.
I just wrote a Christmas card to my cousin who's off on a mission in California. I sure do miss talkin to him on Sundays and just listening to what all goes on in his life. He's such a great example to his brother and sister. He is probably a great missionary and will continue to grow as he heeds the promptings of the Holy Spirit and develops his testimony even stronger as he teaches others.
I have another cousin who's about to leave to go off on a mission in January . He gives his farewell talk this coming Sunday. Then he's headed off to the MTC on January 7th, and then to Milan, Italy! Isn't that so exciting!?
I also have a cousin who is off on a mission in the Uganda, Kampala mission, he's currently serving his mission in Ethiopia. We get to read his letters every week that his Mom sends out to all of the family. You can tell that he's grown a lot already and he's really trying to get to know the investigators and do the best that he can to serve them. He seems like he's had really good mission companions-- which plays a big part out in the mission field.
Then I have another cousin out in Uruguay, he should be home sometime in February. So I've got two out in the field, one that is about to go, and one that is shortly to come home. Then I've got one that will be putting his papers in soon.

Look at all of this missionary work going on!!
I am so thankful for the service and the sacrifices that they have made to go on missions. They are not only helping their fellowmen, but they are doing the Lord's work. Heavenly Father watches over these young men and women who of their own decision, take two or one and a half years out of their life to teach those who do not have the gospel in their lives. What greater service is there? To bear your testimony to everyone you meet, to teach those who don't know about the Restoration of the Gospel little by little until they feel the Spirit and recognize that they know the truth.
I testify that our Heavenly Father loves us. He knows us by name, he hears and answers our prayers. He is our Father and he knows me better than I know myself. He knows my potential. I am grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ, who willingly followed Heavenly Father's plan and came to Earth to be our Savior and Redeemer. He walked the streets healing, teaching, and loving all of those who came in contact with. He is our exemplar. He loved us enough to sacrifice himself for all of mankind. I love him and I am trying my best to be like him. I am grateful for my parents and for their testimonies. I grateful that I was taught since I was a child that I am a Child of God, I was taught to walk in the Light. I am thankful that I have never forgotten who I am. I am a Daughter of God, and we are all his Children. I say these things in the Sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.