This Life is Joyous - June 10

I feel the same way that the summer is going so fast!! What else do you have planned this summer? You are going to have a baby with you, so you will definitely have your hands full with him too! I hope I get a chance to watch him before I go to school. It totally kills me not to hold babies oh I just miss them so much. Amelia (the little girl in most of my pictures ahhaa, the Patterson's daughter) just doesn't care and climbs all over me and is just so silly and cute. I ask Sister Patterson all the time if I can have her but she won't let me... sigh. I'll keep trying.

I agree the wallpaper in the bathroom has to go haha!

Your notes were awesome btw! I think all of your emails are good though. Sister N is doing well! They actually called us last night to give us a referral and it was soooo nice to hear their voices. We've really bonded over the last month and a half or so, it's by far been the best, hardworking happiest time of my mission so far! But how I've realized it, it just keeps getting better! We didn't get to talk a ton about her health, though. I'll email her today and ask. They seem happy though!

Haha sorry for the scary feet picture, but my tan is crazy! It's been so hot here, they are all saying that its abnormally hot. We just go outside and melt, its over 30 degrees Celcius which I have no idea how much that is in Fahrenheit, but it's HOT! I think we'll live on watermelon and popsicles this summer! and about that calves haha thank you. We work out hard every morning! I run every day. It's amazing how far I can push my physical limits, mostly with working and not getting a ton of sleep. Working out in the morning is my lifeline to staying awake throughout the day! Oh, P.S. I measured myself this week, and I have almost every transfer of my mission and I haven't changed. So whew, that was one of my biggest scares! I do miss lifting weights though!

Answering your questions:
I wear the floral dress all the time! That is definitely my lazy go to dress because its so easy and comfy, but I guess it doesn't make it in as many pictures! Love it though!
I did answer the slip one, but a white dress slip would be great! It's so hot though, it isn't super fun to wear a bunch of layers but I guess a slip is pretty cool. I'm completely good on a skirt slip though! Thank you!

I LOVEEEEE those dresses you sent me on email earlier this week!! They are all so cute, I'd love any of them. Also, the story of the wrap dress is crazy cool! You can do anything, can't you?! It looks so beautiful, and I bet you made it look even prettier. I can't wait to get it! The orange skirt is cute too! I can see a little bit of the girl's knee, so I hope it's long enough. Maybe get Allison Pattberg to try it on? We are about the same height I think. Love love love it all though and I'm so grateful, thank you!!! Please do not stress though. It's not like I'm nude or anything. I'll be just fine if you end up deciding against sending things. It's exciting though, and I love that you are getting to sew and use your creativity!

I'm excited about this doll Mary Fosvick made of me! It sounds adorable and I can't wait. How is their family doing? Update with the kids?

President Johnson emailed me and told me they are moving. I'm so sad. It's cool, I mean, yeah I can visit their family, but they were such a huge influence on our stake. I really loved having their family there and they will be missed. Will they moved before Emily comes home?

Thanks for the update on the Cox family, I will definitely be thinking of them and they are in my prayers. If I sent them a letter, do they still live at the same address for now?

Speaking of which, have you gotten a letter from me recently? :)

I'm proud to say that I practiced the piano for an hour today! I love getting to play and actually wish I could more often! Some days we have lunch at the church and I just eat quicker and play the rest of the time that we have. I feel the spirit so instantly when I play hymns, I absolutely love it. I think I could definitely practice enough to play most of the hymns when I'm home. I'm practicing a couple of arrangements too!

It's super cute, we are teaching Sabrina English as well, so she came to English class on Friday also. At the end of class, we decided to sing a hymn in English! I got to play and we made a deal that she'd keep learning English and I'd keep learning the piano, and we are going to sing a song when we have a lesson hehe. I love her so much, I just deeply want her to accept the gospel, she is so sincere in searching.

I still think that a dollar a song is reasonable pshhh.

Okay that is so smart to knot your dress on the inside. I'm going to practice that tonight. Thank you for the enlightening tip!

The $20 temple dress sounds great! I would loooooooooove love love love love to work at the temple. when I get home and before I leave for BYU.  That'd be amazing.

Thanks for telling the story of Be Still My Soul! I don't think that was a coincidence at all that you heard it twice, once from me playing the piano for you and once from Christy Holt singing it. The lyrics to that song are beautiful, I invite you to just read them and ponder them! God is loving and kind and truly our Father. He is not some being, nor some scary big guy. Yes he's perfect and He does what's right for us, but He above all, wants us to have peace deep within our souls. We don't need to worry our fear. He is there. He sent His son to walk the path with us. He guides us now as He will in the future and He has in the past with prophets and holy scriptures and personal revelation. He really really truly loves us! So, yes Mom, this life is joyous! Heavenly Father wants us to have peace and He'll give it when we pray for it! I love Him!

P.S. I vote yes on the King size bed. Do you remember when all of us kids wanted to lay on the bed at night and we'd either cram or shove each other off? Haha those were such good memories, I love those.

Okay yes, the package with chocolate is for Rachel!

I love you a million beautiful piano pieces!! I hope I did a good job of answering your questions and making it seem like we are actually talking a bit more rather than just sending reports! If I missed 
anything, I can email until 6 pm so just remind me! (I think that may 11am for you?)
Love, Sister Ingalls