Dashing Through the Sand

Christmas in California is WONDERFUL. I do not miss the snow ONE BIT. people go all out with Decorations and put antlers or rudolf red noses on their cars. 

On Christmas and it's eve we plan to go caroling. we got a good list from ward members of their friends they would like us to go sing to, so it was a great way to get 15 referrals. we have two other sisters in our ward and one can sing alto, so it won't be too shabby. we also will see some investigators and less actives and elderly folk.

Ventura is by far the pretty area I've been in. for p-day today sis draney and I went to the beach that is in our ward. 

this past week we had transfers. Sis Hegstrom ( a sister who was in my district at the MTC) came to Ventura and sis draney (my awesome companion) went to Camirillo. It was wonderful to see how much sis Hegstrom has grown in these 6 months and to see her in action. She expressed the same. 

we are continuing to find find find. we had hoped that Sarah and her granddaughter Charlotte would come to church this Sunday. They didn't. but we will keep working on them! 

I am so grateful for the wonderful companionship sis Draney and I have. I had a great time on exchanges, but we missed each other. we get along really well, we serve each other and she likes my stupid jokes, so go me, go me go. 

I have been studying the prophecies about Christ’s birth in the Book of Mormon. they are wonderful. I always used to skim past them thinking, " ok I get it, he's going to be born now lets get to the good stuff, like the ATONEMENT" but this month I have realized what a blessing  Christ’s birth is!!!! 

a few lines from hymns express my awe

"I Marvel that he would descend from his throne divine."

' I believe in Christ oh blessed name! as Mary's Son he came to reign, mid mortal men, his earthly kin to save them from a world of sin."

Just the fact that Christ was born is such a marvelous wonder. it was fulfilment of thousands of years of prophecy. it was evidence that God does keep his promises and will fulfil his word. THE king of Israel was born not to be ministered unto but to minister, to serve, and to show us how to live and where to go. He simply says "Come." we simply must obey. If god wasn't god I bet he'd get so frustrated at us. He holds a treat in his hand a beckons us like an dog owner to a stubborn dog not willing to come when called. 

Nephi put it wonderfully when he said, "For thus the Lord hath commanded me, and I must obey. Amen." 2Nephi33:15

Christ came to earth and obeyed the will of his father fully. and we keep him in our hearts and minds it becomes easier to want to obey our heavenly father. rules and commandments that once seemed restricting become shields of protection and safety. 

Go to him.

and live. 

In Christ’s name.

Amen.