12-28-09 "Reunited and It (Will) Feel So Good...

I know you're all sitting by the computer in breathless anticipation, wondering if I'm being transferred, so I might as well say very first that I get to stay in Tomball! Sister Kemp will be going to Katy, trading spots with Sister Hoskins, who will be joining me in Tomball on Wednesday. We are going to "tear up Tomball," in the words of Sister Hoskins. I'm really excited to be her companion again. We'll have a lot of fun together, and time on the mission is really starting to fly, probably more for me than it is for y'all at home. Therefore, any mail you need to send in the next six weeks (until approximately the first week of February) can be sent directly to our Tomball address, if you so desire. 29807 State Highway 249Tomball, TX 77375 (I think that's the zip code. Not positive, though. It might be 77377. Look it up if you can. You can access much more of the internet than I can.)
In the next six weeks, my goals are to: 1. find out about the "Jesus is Coming" song. 2. get a haircut, so my bangs look better from the Walmart disaster and so the length isn't dragging down the curl any longer. 3. complete a deep reading of First and possibly Second Nephi, which I have been working on for a few weeks, but I've been distracted by trying to read the entire conference Ensign. I figure those are some good goals, just like your goal to do one endowment every week, Mom. I'd make the same goal, but I'm in a slightly different place in life, so, maybe next year. But that's a whole year away.
I'm not really sure what to tell you, since we already chatted for so long on Friday night. I kind of shared all my news then, and I can't really think of anything too incredible that's happened since. Cassidy, I wanted to buy you a gift today, but, well, I didn't, because I thought you might already have one (a calendar) and I couldn't figure out how to send it. We were at Target, buying me a new journal this morning, and we saw a Jonas Brothers calendar. It was called, "Rock and Roll Royalty." Very natty. Very dorm room. Very us. Alas, only in my dreams did I purchase it for you.
Speaking of which, I had a rather strange dream last night, at least partially involving the family. We were all shopping at a greeting card/bookstore, only most of the greeting cards had already been written on, with personalized notes and everything. We were going through stacks of them, trying to find the ones meant for us. I remember thinking in the dream that some of them were hilarious, but I can no longer remember what any hilarious parts were. Perhaps it'll become some strange part of a story I write someday. Perhaps it's my calling as the Birthday Card Philosopher coming back to me the only way it knows how right now. Who knows?
And speaking of Rock Royalty, who has Beatles Rock Band? The Johnsons? I couldn't get the pictures to open on the computer I'm using today, so if it's obvious from the photos, I apologize. Long story short, our regular library is closed, and we're at the Barbara Bush library today. Actually, I think it's just A Barbara Bush library, but the computers don't do as many things here. Sounds like fun. Can't wait to try it, but until then, just have Eli learn to play the drums and watch the "Band on the Roof" episode of Even Stevens frequently for me.
Thanks for sending the hookarm story. You're right, though. It's not as cool when you're not around a campfire at girls' camp. It satiated my curiosity though. All the time now I just get these random memories coming back to me, so I'm trying to write them down in my Great Pumpkin journal so I have them all in one place.
Now, to the literary business of the day. Yes, I did meet Shannon Hale at a seminar. She is mostly a young adult fantasy writer, and the only things I've read by her are her Newbery Honor winning "Princess Academy" and a graphic novel about Rapunzel in the old west. She had a very dynamic personality, and she is a member of the Church. She also has a series, but I have not read any books in it yet. I had a hard time with "Princess Academy" because all the characters have weird names. I think it comes from my desire for all children to have normal, correctly-spelled names. Anyway, she also has two adult books, neither of which I have read, but which might be worth looking into. "Austenland" is I think about a lady who escapes to a theme park based on Jane Austen novels, and "The Actor and the Housewife" is new and is about, you guessed it, an actor and a housewife having a mail correspondence, although I think without the "You've Got Mail" romance angle. There. That paragraph stands as evidence that I haven't entirely forgotten my English major wealth of knowledge.
Hmmm, this e-mail feels so short, but I have nothing left to say, so I'll say "goodbye," since I know what that means about what you'll say next week. As for me and my first Texas Christmas, I'll use the words of another Beatles' classic. My favorite actually. "There are places I'll remember, all my life." That is one of them.

Love,


Sister Whitney Sorensen


P.S. I love y'all! (Do you think that would be a good twist on the Beatles' "P.S. I love you"? Think about it. The band could be called The Southern Beatles, or, more aptly, The Cockroaches. Blech. Nevermind. Too gross for words.)

P.P.S. Did you further know that if you accidentally misspell "blech" it comes out "belch"? Grosser.

P.P.P.S. I've got it! Let's call them "The Oneders!"

12-21-09 "Captain Barbossa, Louisianna Gumbo, and "Trouble" With a Capital "T" (and that rhymes with "P")

Sister Kemp nearly scared the wits out of me this week when she started rolling down the car window on Saturday. A spider was crawling on it. I thought the spider was going to get inside, and the moving window surprised me so much, that I moved about a foot down into my seat trying to protect myself. False alarm. The spider did not get into the car. Phew!
It's funny that you bring up "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" this week, because I was actually thinking about that this week, too. Let's just say I was getting a little, well, a lot, overwhelmed about the fact that we have no investigators right now. And last Sunday, (over a week ago), the zone leaders were asking us about it, and we had to look them in the face and say, "Yeah, we have none right now." It hurt so badly. I felt like a failure. So I went through all the stages of grief very quickly, and then again, and slowly got over it throughout the week. What really snapped me out of it was Elder Holland's talk, "Remember Lot's Wife," which I read on Saturday, and another one by President Eyring from the May Ensign, which we read yesterday. But on Sunday night I was thinking of the title song from that children's animated classic: "I've had a terrible, I've had a horrible, I've had a terrible, I've had a horrible, I've had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." All better. No worries.
The food at the work party sounds delicious. Did you like the green bean casserole? If anyone can make, I'm sure it's Miss Deen. You, soon, will be taking a leaf out of her entrepenuerial (sp?) handbook when you become the founder and proprieter of "Ready-made Conversations for the Reticent." Okay, so the title's not perfect yet, but I just had to use the word reticent. I was thinking, "Mozart for Misbehavior" and "Wagner for the Vicious" and "Jazz for Cats." ("Now, it's not just for humans!" Bingley, you make me laugh.) You can go into that business about the same time Cassidy and I get famous for making our own DVD commentaries you can purchase separately to ensure good conversation while watching great, and not-so-great, films. And please do save the great Southern story for me. Although I'm not so sure about the names.
THE PHONE CALL: We are allowed to call either before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. (Texas time) because that's when they have free minutes on the cell phones. So, since Sister Kemp and I have no desire to call in the wee, small hours of the morning, expect a call from me about 7 p.m. Texas time, which is 6 p.m. Idaho time. We can talk for an hour. I am looking forward to it, too, but for the record, I did remember our phone number. I will be using it in less than one week. Until then, I'll do my best to practice my "Mark Wahlberg talks to Christmas animals" voices. That was hilarious.
Which reminds me. We saw some goats this week. We got a referral from church headquarters for a Cesar Barboza, so Sister Kemp was calling him Captain Barbossa. Not actually a pirate. And he was a little evasive when we tried to drop off the DVD: I'm sick, I'm busy for the holidays, now's not a good time. But hey, I got to see some goats by his house. It was a very hispanic neighborhood, so we sent the Spanish elders there to see if it has any other potential investigators. We'll try Cesar again at the first of the year, just to be sure. I find it's better to assume they want to learn, pretending you're naive to the fact that not everyone wants to meet with missionaries. It keeps you cheerful, and gives them an opportunity to be more straightforward about making a choice.
Also, we had gumbo this week. I know what you're thinking, Mom. Yuck! Okra! But this gumbo was completely okra-free and totally delicious. The Chalk family invited us over to their house because their neighbors, Orpha and Allen, wanted us to be there! Orpha and Allen had dinner at the Chalks with sister missionaries before and wanted to do it again. So Orpha and Allen, both Louisiana natives, make gumbo: just a tomato roux broth with shredded chicken, hearty sausage, and a little shrimp. Serve over rice and top with--get this--creamy mashed potato salad. Sounds weird, but the creamy, cool potato salad makes the dish. Delicious. When we gave the lesson, we read the Christmas story from Luke and then the Christmas story from 3 Nephi and gave Orpha and Allen a copy of the Book of Mormon. She was excited to found out what was really in it. She had been to Temple Square years ago and loved it. Her husband thought she was going to convert on the spot!
And just to round on the references in my subject line while I'm at it, last night we had dinner at our ward mission leader's house, and played a little pool. I held my own on the first game, but by the second game Sister Kemp was the one making all the trick shots. I was tempted to rebuckly my knickerbockers below the knee, but I realized I was wearing a skirt.
Packages have arrived from both parents and grandparents. Love the talk from President Eyring. It nearly tore my heart out when he was talking about the humble soldier who stood up and said he treasured that letter his mother had written him, even calling it scripture. It sounds like tugs on the heart strings are going around the Sorensen ladies lately, what with violins in the Christmas program, and putting the "mas" back in Christmas, and reactivating recent converts. Speaking of which, Sister Kemp and I watched "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" with a family we are reactivating this week. I forgot how much I like it, except for maybe the cheesy tagline at the end. What the announcer says is true; it's just said in such a sentimental way...
"Santa just YAMMIED in your handbag." Who said this? "I don't remember reading about the angel Dudley in the Bible." Who said this? "I'm eating junk and watching rubbish. Better come out and pound me." Who said this? "More breakfast joints should serve their meals right in the skillet, like Denny's." Who said this? "A waitress gave you pajamas?" Who said this? "God bless us, everyone." You KNOW who said that, I hope. Fun game. Thanks for playing with me.
Our agenda is quite full for this week. The entire mission is getting together tomorrow for mission p-day. Wednesday we get an extra trip to the temple this transfer. Thursday we're having dinner with a great family. Friday we're probably watching "A Christmas Carol" with our district before going to another member's house for dinner and festivities. I'll be sure to play cards if the option is open. And then we get to call home, in case you weren't aware.
And Saturday we find out if we're being transferred or not. Busy, busy, busy. Okay, I'm really all out of things to say, except, I forgot the hookarm story, and I was trying to tell it to Sister Kemp last night. Please tell! I remember the names are Peggy Dawn and Billy Jean (not to be confused with the late king of pop or the version by the new king of pop rock, not to be confused with pop rocks, which are gross). And I love the Snoopy gingerbread doghouse. Fab. U. Lous. All you need is the Christmas Queen and Linus with a blanket on his head.

Say hi to your mother for me,Shining like the Christmas star,

Sister Whitney Sorensen

P.S. I just realized I didn't respond to Cody. Sorry. Eddie Cahill took up a lot of time. When you write me a real letter, I'll respond.

P.P.S. I didn't write a card to Merrill yet. Should I address is just to him, or to him and Julie? I'll ask you when we talk by phone :)

12-14-09 "Wonder of Wonder, Miracle of Miracles"

Every time I start an e-mail home, I remember Meg Ryan sitting at her computer in "You've Got Mail," typing to Tom Hanks that, "I like to begin my letters to you as if we're already in the middle of a great conversation." That's what it feels like every time I write home. As to mail, I did get a small package from Sister Johnson, but not yet from Sister Griffiths. I'll do some checking. Please do not panic and call the mission office. On Monday night, one of the senior elders (who was manning the mission office while all the sisters were playing at sisters' preparation day) came up to me and said, "I've spoken with your mother TWICE today about packages." Isn't that just the way things always happen? Because if the regular office ladies had been there, they would have known that my packages had already come through and were on there way to me? Because it was waiting for me at home that night? Oh, well. Also good to know that the shirt was never, in fact, delivered. Now that all the mission leaders have been accused of confiscating an orange women's shirt. Yeah. Might have to do a little apologizing on that one. Just kidding, about the need to apologize, anyway.
I also find it ironic that you tell me this week is so totally uneventful, and then proceed to tell me about like 12 mission calls and 3 marriages (and even some sad news). Rachel's in the MTC. Sister Young! And Amanda's going to Prague! A sister in our ward right now served there, as did Sister Davis's brother, and another elder in the mission's sister. I will need her address if you can find it, (ditto with Rachel's) so I can send my congratulations! Karly Walker is going to San Jose. California, right? Embarrassingly enough, I just had to ask the missionaries around me if San Jose was a country. Yeah. Not really sure where my mind has gone. The encyclopedia brain has been shelved for a time, I'm discovering. You have to concentrate on other things as a missionary.
And MAEGAN'S HAVING A BABY!!! Yes, I'm aware that I just used the pornography of punctuation, and yes, I'm aware that using all caps is screaming in e-lingo, but: MAEGAN'S HAVING A BABY!!! Too exciting. Luckily, I already have her address, so I can send those congratulations myself without delay.
And just in case you were wondering, no, I've never tried hummus, nor have I ever wanted to. Actually, that's not true. I tried it last year at the Writing Center clip and dip. Don't recall having good feelings about it either. So I hope you're not really getting hummus for Christmas. But if you do, I recommend reacting this way: "a jar of hummus?!?", as if you were saying, "a lump of coal?!?" Priceless.
Not sure exactly how the whole calling home on Christmas things works, but I know we get about an hour. I will be sure that it doesn't occur during your soup kitchen service time. I can think of nothing better to be doing on Christmas than serving at the soup kitchen. You'll love it, and you'll be blessed. Our Christmas schedule is probably fairly open, so I think we can call whenever we can find time, and I'm pretty certain we use our mission cell phones, so no phone card required.
I loved all the pictures, and the evidence of Eli's burgeoning (sp?) vocabulary. "Embroidery" AND "we couldn't afford it." Double priceless. I was about to send my worries that maybe you couldn't afford it because my x-rays cost so much, which apparently they did, but through a Christmas/mission miracle akin to the USA Hockey team defeating the Soviet Union in the Olympics with Kurt Russell as head coach, Blue Cross actually paid some of our bills before we met our deductible. It's one of those laws of nature that I don't need to understand. I'll just accept that it works, like the Theory of Relativity.
Many thanks for the Christmas cds. The one from David Glen Hatch is okay, the one from Marshall Macdonald is quite good (he used to be a hand double on "Everwood"), and Sister Kemp has now fallen for the beautiful sounds of that dancing champion, Donny Osmond. She promises that she's never heard his voice before, but now she LOVES it. Holiday joy and cheer continues to be spread by everyone's favorite Osmond.
The other pictures from the package were nice. ANNIE looks amazing, and I wish I could have seen it, but, as Lenny says in "You've Got Mail": "I was unavoidably detained." Or, as Marcia, Marcia, Marcia would say: "Something suddenly (six months ago!) came up!" Your hair looks good dark, Mom. And while we're on the subject of hair color, you'll be surprised to know that mine is actually being lightened by the Texas sunshine. I have quite a few natural blonde streaks. Not really my favorite, but it doesn't look bad. Just kind of random. I can't wait, however, to go back to being full brunette with dark lowlights. Love them.
Cassidy, are you in the midst of finals? Are you surviving? I'm sure you're doing amazing, even in your hard math class. Just keep swimming, and who knows? Maybe you'll end up with eight gold medals. I've never been through finals as BYU-Idaho, but Sister Kemp says they're fine, and I have no worries that your great mind and your Grace Kelly charm and wit will carry you through the days. Also, good luck to Brother Cody.
The elders loved the Christmas funfetti brownies. We made them for district meeting on Saturday. A-maze-ing! They send their thanks. Sisters' preparation day was great. We tied quilts, made gingerbread houses, and wrapped the Christmas presents for all the missionaries from President and Sister Hansen. After that, we had a special sisters' conference, where the wives of all the mission presidency spoke on the subject of a virtuous woman, as described in Proverbs 31. So enlightening and uplifting. One of the speakers was even quoting President Kimball and said something about, "Keep shining." I instantly thought of "Please shine." I am. I assure you. :)
Navidad en el Barrio was great. We left bright and early, and by virtue of accidentally taking one exit too soon, we got to drive through other parts of downtown we wouldn't have seen. Some nice. Some not so nice. There were two elders with us. No worries. We saw the baseball stadium!!! And the service project was great. At one point, this semi truck filled with playground and soccer balls drove up, and all the missionaries had to corral them into a little barricade. Chaos, but quite fun chaos. We spent most of our time wrapping the literally thousands of gifts. I loved every minute of it. I hope I get to experience downtown Houston later in life, too.
We also had the ward Christmas party this week: a luau. Very well done. All the groups did different Polynesian dances, including the men and young men doing the Haka. Yikes! And one sister had amazing poi ball skills. You should have seen it, Cassidy and Grandmother. Just like the PCC.
Last but not least, yesterday I thought I'd lost my wallet, but then it turned out to be in the elders car from the day before. Phew!
I think that's all. Love, love, love!!! In fact, "love, love me do. You KNOW, I love you."

And you're sensational, Frank Sinatra in "High Society." You're sensational. That's all!

Sister Whitney Sorensen

P.S. Still trying to find investigators. They might have to combine our area with another after this transfer. Transfers aren't until after Christmas.

P.P.S. And we went to the temple this week. Always good. Love it, like always. Love you, like always, too.

12-7-09 "Snow, Snow, Snow"

Just imagine yourself on a train, headed for Vermont, with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney (aunt of George), Danny Kaye, and that beautiful blonde dancer-sister. You are singing: "Snow! Snow! Snow!" Then, imagine your surprise and shock when you discover that Vermont is completely snowless--the winter wonderland, decimated by sunshine. The look on your face would be about akin to the look on mine when I discovered the opposite to be true in Houston, the "winter-less wonderland." Don't get me wrong, I love snow, but I was kind of looking forward to a snow-free winter. Even so, it was a nice surprise. We'd heard about the weather predictions from a member on Wednesday, and she assured us that if it snowed even a flake, they would close all the roads and shut down the city. We were worried very little, due to the mixture of my skepticism that it would actually snow and our confidence that Idaho and Utah girls could drive in snow with no problems. (Of course, maybe it's the other drivers you need to worry about...) Anyway, every Friday we drive about twenty minutes out into the country for our district meeting, and all the way out there all four of us were laughing about how the "snow" had already come and gone, what seemed like five or six TINY flakes that could hardly be called a flurry and melted the moment they touched anything. But on the way back we discovered that it actually can legitimately snow in Texas. Granted, none of it was sticking then either, but the wind was blowing fiercely, and there were a significant amount of little flakes coming down. So, I've seen it with my own eyes: snow in Houston. Al Roker wasn't the only one surprised. On the bright side, no road closures, and an Idaho girl, aka YOURS TRULY, does know how to drive in snow without a hitch.

We had zone conference this week, and it was the best one I have been to yet. It was all about how we need to use the Book of Mormon more in our mission because it is the most powerful tool of conversion we have. I already know and love the Book of Mormon, thanks to the great example of my parents, but it's always good to have a reminder, and, in this case, to receive a charge to use it as a missionary tool. The Spirit is always present at zone conference, but it's presence was especially strong and steady at this one. I know that's just what happens when you talk about the Book of Mormon.

And while I'm telling y'all about my life, this week is busy, busy, busy. Today we are having a special sisters only preparation day and zone conference. For the first half of the day, we are going to the mission home (President and Sister Hansen's house) to spend time with Sister Hansen--quilting, wrapping presents, girl talk, etc. Then in the afternoon we're having a special zone conference for the sisters only, with lunch and dinner provided. So no letters will be mailed off this week, but I'm sure I'll take plenty of pictures. Wednesday is our transfer temple trip, which I always look forward to with great anticipation. And, on Friday, we are driving to Houston--downtown Houston, the real Houston, outside of the Texas Houston mission and into the Texas Houston South mission--that Houston, for a special service project. "Navidad en el Barrio" is a yearly event where the city of Houston buys thousands of toys for children who otherwise would not have a Christmas, and apparently missionaries go every year to help them wrap them. This will be an all day event. We'll be commuting with the commuters both to and from, and spend all day giving service. I can't wait! Pictures of downtown to come, including perhaps the baseball stadium, aka Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros (although from the sounds of it, I should be getting more excited about the Rockets, since my brother will one day be playing for them! Way to go, Eli. 6 points! And learning to pivot. A very important skill, I'm sure. Did the coach play for the Tarheels? If so, WOW! We're talking basketball legends of a school. I'm pretty sure their men's team took it all this year. And Michael Jordan played there. If not, the Tarheels, then certainly still a tough conference, and a great school nonetheless.)

Let's take a moment to remember Pearl Harbor, for today is Pearl Harbor day. "December 7, 1941: a day which will live in infamy." Cassidy and Grandmother, we can remember it especially vividly, with the sun shining over the blue-green water and the flags waving proudly.

I did get to watch the First Presidency Christmas devotional. It WAS amazing. I told Sister Kemp that the song I wanted to hear most was "For Unto Us a Child is Born," and there it was, the second song they sang! I just love that one, and maybe it's me, but the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sounds even more amazing than usual recently. I love that song in particular whenever they sing it, because it sounds like Christmas fireworks whenever they get to the names part: "WONDERFUL! COUNCILLOR!" etc. "O Holy Night" was also lovely, and I just couldn't stop looking at President Monson when he was using his spiritual gift for storytelling. That was a very touching story about the soldier in the airport, and told in such a typical, perfect, poetic-prose President Monson way. Loved it all.

Now to comment on recent events in Idaho, where I'm sure the snow sticks. First things first:

DAVID ARCHULETA! That boy keeps getting closer and closer to our family. Next time it'll be he and Cassidy crossing paths, no doubt. Maybe she can take the picture of Grandma Ricks and photoshop her face in...except that then she would be sitting in a wheelchair, and that might be awkward. But what a nice Christmas gesture, and it does not sound like just a publicity stunt. Not to me anyway. Who saw him at the temple? All I can say is, as older sister to Cassidy, and therefore someone who gets a big say in who's good enough for her or not, he's climbing the ladder.

Eli, Grandmother said you got to be all three wise men in the Christmas pageant. Did you have to wear all three beards? Did you look like a goat? Was it heavy to carry all three gifts? She also said Tyson came. Did both he and Cody come, since they ARE family? What did everyone choose as their name in the Christmas basket upset game? What were the weirdest gifts in the present game?

Grandmother, thanks for the e-mail, and don't worry about not getting snail mail off. I haven't written you very recently either, and I feel bad about it, but my preparation day time always melts very quickly. Know that I appreciate very much the Thanksgiving package and the nativity scene. It looks wonderful atop our fridge and will bless missionaries for many years to come. Also, congratulations to Grant and Jeanne on a mission call to London. They will LOVE it! Are they working in the office? The prettiest building is the Houses of Parliament; the best tour is the extra one at Westminster Abbey; and the best museum in the Imperial War museum. I was just thinking about them this morning, so I must have known somehow I would receive great news about them. Of course, you and grandpa are doing a fabulous job serving as Mackay's unofficial missionary support system and in all your callings there. Mackay really needs you. I'm sure the missionary sisters will love and appreciate their scarves on those cold Idaho winter days.

Business notes: I'm not worried about the doctor thing either. I'm going to tell them that I feel very strongly that it is unnecessary, and hopefully the records from Dr. Mathews will convince him that I do, in fact, just have RA. I'm going to my primary care doctor this week, and he'll give me advice on the whole situation. If worse comes to worse, I'll just find a new rheumatologist who doesn't think I need a nerve conduction study.

I have not yet received the Christmas package, but I'm sure it'll arrive very shortly, so do not worry.

Last but certainly not least: a nine-foot pre-lit Christmas tree! Charlie Brown went all out this year! Way to go! Are our ceilings even that high? I'm sure it's lovely. Sister Kemp and I put our creative minds together and made our own Christmas tree out of two pieces of green posterboard. It looks rather Charlie-Brown-y, but also like a Who-ville Dr. Seuss creations, especially with the funky paper snowflakes we used to decorate it. Come to think of it, maybe that's some kind of weird snow beckoning ritual in Houston...

In any case, merry Christmas! And keep shining like the Christmas star, becasue I know I am!

Love,

Sister Whitney Sorensen

P.S. Mom, could you send a copy of the picture of me and Eli sitting on the kitchen floor eating popcorn? If you can find it of course. I was just wishing I had a copy for no real reason. And for clarification purposes Shia is commonly known as Elder Inkley, and Cedward is commonly known as Elder Bell.

P.P.S. I'm trying to think of my favorite Lucy quote from a Charlie Brown Christmas...Which, come to think of it, we overheard someone say President Obama does NOT want shown on TV, although we didn't hear the reasons. YUCK! The whole idea just makes we want to shout, "I've been kissed by a dog!" Well, I think my favorite Lucy quote is when she's asking Charlie Brown if she can be the Christmas queen in the pageant. Or when she's talking to Schroeder and cannot figure out that he's playing "Jingle Bells." Or when she's giving Charlie Brown advice about being depressed at Christmastime. But my favorite part of course is the Charlie Brown dancing. Do it for me just once. I've already shown Sister Kemp my skills, and she was rightly impressed. As everyone should be. P.P.P.S. "You're my sweet baboo!" (That was just for you, Eli!)

11-30-09 "Better than toast and popcorn"

Happy Thanksgiving! We had a fantabulous one! First we went to lunch at Brother and Sister Brewer's. Every year they have a huge feast for their friends from the community and the church. We sat across from this couple that lives on a big acreage. They own goats. Apparently, Brother Brewer also used to own goat. What is it with me and goats? Mostly traditional fare, but all fabulous. The only thing really different was green bean casserole, but I at least think that's a Southern Thanksgiving tradition. Not too shabby, but not something we need to consider adding to the full meal. Plus, she sent us home with most of the leftovers, which we are still enjoying. Mmm. Mashed potatoes. Stuffing. Turkey. Mmm.
From there, we stopped by the church potluck. Not to eat, naturally, since we were full to bursting, but just to socialize. They did end up having it inside the church, although Sister Kemp and I both questioned the actual occurence of Thanksgiving since there was no snow to be seen anywhere and the temperatures were around 60 or 70. Eventually, that turned into a two-hour game of volleyball, which is a good way to work off the excessive Thanksgiving calories, and just plain fun.
The next day we also had quite the adventure. Every Friday we drive about 20 miles to a little town for our district meeting. It's on this one lane highway both ways, sort of like the old highway between Idaho Falls and Blackfoot. We got there just fine, but on the way back into town, we got stopped in traffic for AN HOUR because of an accident between a red sedan and an RV pulling another vehicle. It was kind of an adventure, but kind of boring, too. Luckily we had the company of each other and the Spanish elders, plus the small herd of cows out my window. Which reminds me. Have I told you about the game, "Hey, cow!" yet? Well, here it goes. This game was taught to us by Elder Bell. While driving down a one-lane, pasture-lined highway, you roll down your window whenever you approach a group of cows, yell "Hey, cow!" at the top of your lungs very quickly, and count the number of cows that look in your direction. I am NOT GOOD at this game, but Elder Bell always gets at least one cow to look. We're pretty sure Sister Kemp got one the other day. I'm determined. After all, I'm used to playing "Beaver," where you don't actually have to get a reaction from the tractor. Much simpler.
On Saturday we had a zone meeting. We played a difficult Book of Mormon trivia game as the activity. You'll be glad to know I held my own, but could not name the eldest son of the brother of Jared. Can you? Other than that our week has been somewhat slow. All of our investigators live in the old area that is no longer ours, so we're having trouble keeping ourselves busy, since this area has already been tracted to death. We'll find something to do, but what it is, I'm not sure at this very moment. We do have plenty of service opportunites (although none as great as the Idaho Falls soup kitchen), and zone conference is this week which takes care of some of the time. It's not about just spending time either, but keeping yourself busy doing what the Lord wants you to do, and that's the hard thing to determine.
Ditto on the mail. I've been writing letters, but somehow they haven't been sent in two weeks. I just bought a cheap mailer to send you a lot of pictures, so keep your eyes on the mailbox. I'd say send the Christmas package to the mission office, just to be safe. And sadly, I never received the orange shirt in the mail. I don't know why...
Glad to hear y'all had a great Thanksgiving, including clam dip, which I am jealous of, but I can wait for, "The Blind Side," which I am more jealous of, but can also wait for, and Sir Paul, which I am not as jealous of but still kind of jealous of. Also, no fear about me missing the sappy Christmas songs. While we were visiting some members at their quilt shop on Saturday, I overheard "The Christmas Shoes," to my great dismay. And to think I had the perfect excuse to escape without it this year. But to be honest, I am MOST JEALOUS of the Thornberrys seeing WEST SIDE STORY. On. Broadway. To. DIE. For. Ooh! Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
Not so amazing: Max Hall making unsportmanlike comments about the win that saved his tail. I could hardly believe it yesterday when I overheard the bishop say the Y won their game. I knew it would have been the rival game. And now I'm happy for the team, but ashamed of the QB. Congrats to Erin Knutson! And that's all!

Turning the Christmas lights on with her smile,

Whitney, AKA Sister Sorensen

p.s. Just so you know, as I'm sitting here writing my e-mails at Tomball Community college, this guy next to me keeps asking me for advice on his paper. Something about me must say, "writing tutor." Or "cute, college-age girl." Or both. I'm thinking it's both. Plus, every week when I sit here, this British lady is working as a writing tutor. Talk about making a girl homesick for school. And Mother England. Just thought you ought to know.

p.p.s. Also, Mom, Grandmother sent me this really nice nativity scene, but I'm really hoping she's willing to donate it to the mission. I have absolutely no way of transporting it around with me. I only have two suitcases and a backpack, and they're already full. I'm right on this, correct?

11-23-09 "Cornucopia, meaning 'a lot of'..."

Today's message is brought to you by the Donny Stevens Vocabulary Building Program, in honor of Thanksgiving. Actually, I just wanted to say "cornucopia," and now I have, but I do have A LOT OF news. The top story of the day is the split yesterday of the Tomball ward. We'd heard rumor that the ward would be split in stake conference, but that was last week, and it came and went without even a whisper. So we figured we were safe, but that was carnal security. When we got to church, the program listed the speakers as "to be announced." And then we saw that the stake president and one of his counselors was there, and someone from another stake presidency, and the bishop of a different ward in a different stake. And they split our area, basically in half, taking away the area where most of the less-actives and all the investigators we've been working with live. Yikes. But I still see the Lord's hand in it, although not clearly yet. We still have a few less-active families that the Lord has definitely guided us to. One of them only yesterday did we get in for the first time after another appointment fell through. So while there's plenty of work ahead, it should be a great adventure. Brace yourself, Nancy Drew: here it comes!

Now for our Mouske-minute! Today is (not) Tuesday! You know what that means: we had some special guest stars. Cody, it's so good to hear from you. I love to have a surprise note from you, and I especially loved the quote about the crown. If I could use facebook, it would be my status. However, I must remind you that, in the words of my girl Beyonce, "don't you ever get to thinking that I'm replaceable." And you should then remind me that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So Sarah Whoeveryouare, you, too, can be queen for the day. Just not the same day as me. Queens are possessive like that.

Eli (and Tyson). You are lucky to see Harry Potter, and now you know for certain that Dumbledore dies. I'm sure it is very sad, but not quite as sad as being guarded by a foul player and an even fouler father. But when nepotism is involved "Fair is foul and foul is fair," as the witches in Macbeth would say. I agree with you, Eli. NOT. FAIR. Thank you for the note about meeting Elder Bednar and President Clark, but you never said WHERE you met them. Were they just wandering through our church? Did they want to meet all the recently baptized children? Also, you have a very good memory about the lesson taught by the missionaries. I sense a future missionary in you already. Thanks for the picture, you look so handsome and you're growing up way too fast. Try to stay a little young for when I see you sooner than you think.

I did get your package and a plethora of other mail on Friday. I also got two from the Grandmother/grandparents. The nativity looks very nice in our house and adds just the right Christmas spirit. I will be feasting very well this Thanksgiving, thanks not only to your packages and treats but a family that's invited us over for Thanksgiving and the ward Thanksgiving potluck. I'm excited for Thanksgiving, although based on the weather it doesn't really feel like it should be here. I do not, however, want any nut cups. Not really my favorite ever!Congratulations to Conor! Lithuanian! He is a genius for a reason! I had some elders in my zone in the MTC who were going to that mission to speak Estonian. He will love it.

I'll definitely be thinking of you all a lot this week, but especially on Saturday at the temple. That is so great about doing Uncle John's temple work. I know it's the right time and the right thing. Congratulations also extended to Jason, my favorite cousin. Any news on whether he's serving a service mission soon? Is that why he'd going through? Just wondering. I know he'd said something about that to me one of the last times I saw him.

Okay, I've taken way too much time, so just one more quick story to put you in the holiday mood. We have this less-active lady who is very old and originally lived in Spain. She has a chihuaha, and last time we visited her the dog was sick. This dog is her life. If it dies, she'll probably die. So we went back to check on her, and the dog was feeling better. She was telling us to be careful about petting her too much, because she gets really excited and tries to kiss you. Like literally: put her tongue on your tongue while you're talking. It didn't actually happen, luckily, but I kept thinking about Lucy in Peanuts: "I've been kissed by a dog! I've been kissed by a dog!" Yuck. Is that from the Christmas special? or the Halloween special? or both? I can't honestly remember. Gotta go, but a cornucopia of good thoughts your way,

Love,

Sister Whitney Sorensen

P.S. Buzz, your girlfriend! Woof!

P.P.S. We saw a racoon rooting through the garbage bin by our apartment this week. Ah, Texas wildlife.

11-16--09 "If You Have to Say It, Say It in a Song"

Both Cassidy and Mom sent me e-mails this week that reference/are song titles/lyrics. Which is good, because I've been saving some fun music references for y'all. We've been traveling to and from our weekly district meeting with the Spanish elders in the area, and they have quite an abstract selection of music. One of the CDs features LDS artists that sound much like David Archuleta's cousin and James Blunt's brother. Weird. One of the songs had a lyric something like "disconcerted circus clown." I'd be disconcerted, too, if I were a circus clown. Not to mention a circus freak. But the best one of all is one of those highly sentimental numbers you just shake your head at while you're laughing uncontrollably. I like to call it "Stillborn Princess." (Not to be confused with a stillborn sloth.) It's a ballad about from the perspective of a mother who just knew her first child would be a daughter, "but the day came too soon/ and in a hospital room/ the word that I feared/ was the word that I heard/: Born still..." You get the tune. Try to look up the lyrics on google, because they will have you in stitches. I'm thinking this song straddles the line of appropriateness for missionary approved music, but hey, at least it's not the Even Stevens theme song. That would not be acceptable. At. All. Although just as hilarious. Sister Kemp said her family once sent her brother a contraband CD, disguised as MoTab. The first song was MoTab, but the rest of it was a band called, "They Might Be Giants." What a surprise. I can't imagine what that feels like...Wink. Wink. But thanks for the CD. And the pictures. Frank and I have been admiring them all week.
And speaking of the Spanish elders in our district, each one of them has a strange celebrity resemblance. One of them, Elder Inkley, has the personality of Louis Stevens. Very quick witted. Very talkative. Very energetic, almost all the time. And he likes to make movies. I haven't asked him if he made one called "Three Eyes Wide Shut" yet, Cass, but I'm sure his are just as good. Second, the other one, Elder Bell, has often been told that he looks like Edward "The Vampire" Cullen. It's hard to tell for certain, because he still has missionary hair, but there's definitely a small resemblance in the face. Nothing like "Oh, he looks just like Ed/Ced," but just one of those glancing resemblances. Judge for yourself. I'm sending some pictures of recent escapades home this week.
We had transfer calls on Saturday. Sister Kemp and I are staying together in Tomball for this one. I'm glad. I really like it here, and I still need to find out the detail about "Jesus is Coming." Will do, Mom. We moved last Monday for a very undramatic reason. The senior apartment coordinating missionaries wanted us to move because missionaries had been living in the old complex for 16 years or something. Plus they'd recently had a rat in the apartment. (Story forthcoming, Cassidy. Just you wait, Henry Higgins.) So now we are in a nice new apartment, complete with stacked washer/dryer unit, which makes laundry really nice on Mondays. At least it has so far. Our address here is: 29807 Tomball Parkway #376, Tomball, TX 77377.
I'm so glad to hear that ANNIE was a success. Particularly a $25,000 success! Does that include after theater commissions and everything? AND "Forever Plaid"!?! I'm jealous, but not green. Eli will love it. Maybe he'll be motivated to get those spinning plates back out. And I'm glad to hear he's swimming. I had a near run-in with swimming this week. After district meeting, we went out for lunch, of course, to the restaurant that was showing the World Cup of swimming. I knew we HAD TO LEAVE when Rowdy Gaines announced, "Michael Phelps will be swimming in about five minutes." Not good. I would lose all resolve to focus. It was hard as it was. But keep playing basketball, Eli. That's great that you scored! And just keep swimming.
It's also good to hear that you are being blessed, despite nearly burning your finger off at the soup kitchen (ouch! I feel your pain, after having gotten a blister burn on Valentine's day from baking red. velvet. cupcakes. to. die. for.) Cassidy, gross about your bladder infection. Get better soon. That's an order from your older sister. You're in my thoughts this week as Cameron and Mark head off to the MTC. Sounds like you're doing great at school, and I promise a letter soon just for you. Don't get too sad about being off track in the winter. Just think, that'll be perfect when I get back because you and I can spend tons of time together!
Time flies. I wish I could write more, but we have a few other things to take care of today, and the e-mail wasn't quite working this morning, so we are here for the second time now. Love you all! Oh, I also went to the other doctor this week. Very nice. Bills were $150 or so for his office visit, and about $50 for lab work. Please let me know if that's a hardship, although I don't know what I'll do about it except just pray. It sounds like our family is being richly blessed in many ways. And while we're on the subject of money, that's something I'd like for Christmas. Just a little in my checking account, (plus to know my current balance would be great). Foundation from Miss Peg would be DEEPLY APPRECIATED. I just bought some Cover Girl stuff, but it's really not the same. I wear the same color as Cassidy. Okay, best of luck and love!
The always shining,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen
PS Look up "fainting goats" on youtube. Apparently, it's hilarious.

11-9-09 "Why Make a List Anyway?"

I have this habit of writing down all the little moments and sites I want to tell y'all about in my planner, but now I'm realizing that my planner is in the car. And I can't remember anything on my list, except that I read something about Kamas last night in an Ensign, and when I did, I thought, "Why do I know the city of Kamas? I feel like I've been there.... Who lives in Kamas?" And ten minutes later I remembered: the Andersens used to live in Kamas. And let's just say I wouldn't brag about having been there, but I read about it because someone years ago was called to be in the stake presidency of the Kamas Utah stake. So at least he would brag about it. Don't get me wrong: Kamas was always fun. I'm just glad I never lived there.
Now to finish off the medical business before I get to anything else. I actually got an appointment with a doctor Sister Hansen recommended after I e-mailed you last week. Yes, they accept our insurance, so I guess I'll just call the College Station doctor's office and see what I need to do to get my records sent to my new rheumatologist.
In the words of Sharpay, "Fabulous." That's how I would describe ANNIE. It sounds Fab. U. Lous. I'm glad you are already aware that you've made a profit, so everything else should work out. I absolutely believe that your Annie will be able to take the stage tonight. The show must go on. Plus, I'm so happy to hear you're going to become a Colonial regular. I love that place. Way better than the Civic Auditorum, although the Civic does have its purposes. Like it seems more suited for concerts (cough: David Cook) and beauty pageants (gag: Junior Miss). Anything exciting on the fall schedule. I always wanted to be there for something they had years ago: "A Night with Gary Sinise." You never know, maybe he'd bring his friend Stella to give hair tips, and his friend Eddie to give--I don't know, whatever's appropriate for a sister missionary to say. Winks or something with those handsome Irish eyes. (And while we're on the subject of plays, Cassidy, I'm so jealous that you got to see "Tartuffe." I read that play in one of my classes last winter, and it was hilarious. I bet it was even better onstage.) And lastly, the acursed title of another musical, featuring Shoeless Joe and Lola "Always Get Her Man" Lola, seems appropriate in light of the outcome of this year's fall classic. Some teams just don't know when enough is enough.
You'll be happy to know that my shoes are fine. Holding up just like they should, even with all this unexpected Texas rain. I have not yet received the sweet potato pie shirt, but I'm sure it's on its way. It might even be here today; we haven't yet visited the mailbox. I'll be sending no mail this week probably; we'll probably be unpacking most of the day. But I will be looking for the Frank Sinatra mailer. Old blue eyes is just what a girl needs to brighten her life. HMMM...Christmas gifts...Well, it hardly seems like Christmas could be coming, since the temperatures are still very warm here. People were talking about having Thanksgiving dinner outside in church yesterday, under the church pavillion. And I totally believe them. They had their trunk or treat from their actual trunks: who knew you didn't have to do it from the cultural hall? So Christmas. I'm going to go ahead and say that I won't need a winter coat. A cardigan under a rain coat seems to be doing a trick. The only thing I can think of that might be nice is a set of general conference cds, from either the most recent conference or the one before that, something we can listen to in the car or the apartment. Maybe a calendar? Surprises are always my favorite thing about Christmas, and while we're on the subject. Yes, Virginia/Eli, there IS a Santa Claus.
News from the Tomball ward. Alex was baptized on Saturday. It went off just about like any baptism would. He at first didn't tell his baptizer his full name, and he didn't make it under the water completely, but by the third time it was all right. I had to play the piano, also, and let me just say that "True to the Faith" is now on my list of Songs I Never Want to Play Again. (Which reminds me. Mom, do you remember that show they used to have on VH1, "The List," where celebrities would come on and give their picks for the best music in certain categories: Songs You Never Get Sick Of. Best One Hit Wonders. That kind of thing. Once Hanson came on, back in their single and still wearing long hair days. Good show.) Honestly, it probably wasn't that bad, but it's just weird because it has that big fermata after the verse and I've never been very confident about following really precise conductors. No sweat, though. A baptismal service is not measured by the accompaniment. My talk was just great, and guided very much by the Holy Ghost. Which is appropriate.
And I'm really wishing I could remember what's on my list right now, but I'm just entirely drawing a blank. I'm sure I'll be sorry I didn't tell you when I read the list, but I'm sure I'll find a way to get the information to you somehow.
Love, love, love,Your always shining daughter,
Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen
PS I've been doing this project with reading the Book of Mormon, highlighting every reference to the Godhead--either God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost. It's really interesting to see how much of a focus they really are in the Book, and doing this allows me to read faster and get more of an overall perspective on the Book of Mormon. I started doing it because I really wanted to know that the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, maybe prompted a little too much by the anti-Book of Mormon sentiments in the area. But I really caught the vision after hearing Elder Holland's words in conference, and I've since stopped reading to look for evidence that could be used to convince others that the Book of Mormon does complement the Bible. I figure that once I have a testimony of that deeply within myself, the Lord will help me testify by the Spirit to those who need to hear that.
PPS Just keep sending mail to the mission office for a few weeks. We get transfer calls at the end of this one, and you never know. Plus, I don't know my new address yet.

11-2-09 "Water, Water, Everywhere...and other literary illusions...

First of all: Mom, I am so sorry I freaked you out. Please do not be crying ANYMORE. I completely figured that you were having a busy week with Annie and Eli's baptism and Halloween. I had no idea you had to take care of soup kitchen assignments and a 2nd grade class party. Good grief! I'm surprised you got all that done. NO BIGGIE! And I probably received your e-mail about twenty minutes after I sat down at the computer. It probably just took a while to come through with all the picture files. Which, sadly, continue to not open, maybe because they are too big or something. Oh well. I look forward to the hard copies you send, whenever you get the time. NO RUSH! Okay, rant over.
Thank you for informing about the story of the 3 Billy Goats Gruff. I figured Mark Wahlberg would want me to know. And I guess I could have just asked any goats I encountered. After all, talking to goats is one of my favorite pastimes. Sorry you had to tell me that Donny Osmond is (cough) getting old. Yuck. Well, the man is a grandfather. As long as he doesn't do any puppet impersonations, we should be okay. Has he done the cha-cha to "Soldier of Love" yet? Or the foxtrot to "Puppy Love"? Those dance tempos probably don't match those songs, but I was giving it my best shot. Maybe the Pasa Doble, my personal favorite, to "Crazy Horses," another personal favorite. Just an idea... While we're on the tangent of fetching me information, would you do me another literary favor and look up the poem by Robert Burns, "To a Mouse." There is a really famous line in it, but I cannot for the life of me remember what it is. Something and home or God, or God providing all creatures with homes. It could be tricky, because the poem is written in English with a Scottish accent. All I can remember of it is "something, something tiny beastie/Such a panic's in thy breastie." Dad, maybe you know? I feel like all my English major knowledge is vanishing away slowly. I hate to think what I've already forgotten, but like Neville Longbottom with a Remembrall, "trouble is, I can't remember what I've forgotten." Tricky, but universally true (and remarkably sucinct) statement.
But, just to prove that I still have some literary knowlege stored upstairs, I will tell you that this week we had occasion to think of the famous lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Thursday was a very rainy day, but somehow southeast Texas, with all it's rain, hasn't quite figured out how to efficiently siphon the rain into the gutters. Maybe there are reasons why evenly distributed rain grates are a rarity, but I don't know what they are. In any case, we took Alex to a convert baptism in another ward that night, and it poured the whole time we were there. Thunder was even commenting on the speakers' talks and such. As we drove towards home, the highway had very large puddles on it, but that was nothing compared to the three lanes that were underwater in front of the Walmart by our apartment. As we drove to our parking lot, we noticed a police car with it's lights flashing right before the entrace. Our parking lot was flooded! Well, kind of. If by flooded, I can mean 5 inches of water at the deepest points, making it impossible to park. We had to park at the hospital across the street and walk home in the rain. Not too bad: we had our umbrellas, but Sister Kemp was a lot more into it than I was. She took of her nylons and just waded through the puddles. I was more of a "look for higher ground" kind of missionary. And in the morning, all traces of flooding were gone. But no rainbows either, with signs leading to leprechauns, which are less creepy than trolls overall, although case by case comparison is sometimes required. As in the case of "LEPRECHAUN: A HORROR FILM (featuring Jennifer Aniston)."
While I'm on the subject of the hospital, I may as well report my medical happenings. I saw Dr. Khalaf this week. Very nice. I paid $150 for a new patient fee. He also wanted me to get a primary care physician. I've made a few calls on that but no luck. Maybe you could look on-line and see what leads/possibilities you find nearby in Tomball. He suggested someone who is fairly far away, and I just found out this morning that that doctor is not accepting new patients. Too bad: his name is David Nelson, and you know what that makes me think of. Ozzie and Harriet, the greatest pre-reality TV family ever. Dr. Khalaf also wanted me to get some x-rays of my hands and feet. We went ahead and did it that day. I gave them our home address, so they should be sending the bill. I hope this does not create too big of an expense. I also still need to get my blood work done somewhere, since Dr. Khalaf's office does not do that in house. Sorry. I hate having all these expenses. Finally, he requested the records from Dr. Mathews's office. His address is: 8320 Louetta Rd. #198, Spring, TX 77379.
Phew. Well, I'm almost out of time this week, but I will inform you that we made it to the baptism of Charles Marshall. Wonderful! I was so pleased to see him again. His brother who converted a few years ago is now getting back active, and their other brother is learning with the elders in Bryan. Big deal. This whole Baptist family might just be baptized into the true church before the whole thing is through. Glad to hear Eli's baptism went well. Congratulations, Buddy. You are still my favorite brother. It almost made me cry with joy to hear that Mark and Cody were the witnesses. Too perfect. As for Halloween, we had a very good one. We went to the ward trunk-or-treat, which can be held outside because it's still very warm here. The best costumes were one of Cody's cousins as Nancy Drew, and another little boy as Houdini, complete with handcuffs and chains. Sadly, I only got a picture of the Houdini costume, but Nancy Drew is universally amazing. Duh.
Alex will be baptized on Saturday, and I have to give a talk about the Holy Ghost. Pray that everything goes well.
Love you all, and hoping I'm not forgetting anything,
Sister Whitney Sorensen
PS Good luck with your busyness, Mom. Please shine, too.
PPS Cassidy, Sister Kemp's sister has swine flu, too. But she's in Ogden, no Rexburg.
PPPS "My, oh my. I love sweet potato pie!" (Alan Twitty on Bakin' with Twitty and Beans )

10-26-09 "Celebrity Sightings and Other Coincidences"

First things first: Thanks for the reminder about Adam Lambert. I did remember halfway through the week, but it's still nice to know that you're keeping me in the loop. Also, Sister Kemp and I have been wondering if you could give us a brief synopsis of the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. And not because we want to talk to them. I just can't remember it, and I remembered that I couldn't remember it when we walked across a little bridge the other day. Please, my literature reputation is at stake!

Now, I have a few random celebrity (sort of) stories to tell you.

ONE: Have you been watching Dancing with the Stars? Because everyone down here is talking about Donny Osmond being on it, and I don't recall YOU mentioning it, which stuns me, to say the least. Is he any good? I get kind of mixed reviews from different sources, but I know your opinion and mine would certainly be the same.
TWO: We had a service project on Saturday, helping out with someone's Eagle project in our ward. They had us come, and also had us recruit any elders in the area who wanted to come and help. They made it sound like there would be a million non-members there, plus a camera crew from a local news station. In reality, neither of those things were true, but ten elders plus two sister missionaries did show up to help. Sister Kemp and I arrived first with some Spanish-speaking missionaries, even before the prospective Eagle Scout. We're talking 7 in the morning. And while we're standing around waiting to be put to work, Elder Inkley starts laughing and says, just loud enough for the four of us to hear, "I didn't know Billy Ray Cyrus would be here." And sure enough, about thirty feet away from us, stands a man who looks just like Billy Ray Cyrus of the "Achy-Breaky Heart" years. If you think you're having a bad hair day, well, he's having a bad hair life. But people keep telling him it looks good. What's worse? Elder Inkley also said, "Where's Hannah?" AWOL, that's where she was. In the end, Sister Kemp and I ended up doing mostly odd jobs due to the fact that no one wanted the sister missionaries helping to remove the old tin roofing and replace it with shiny, red, new roofing. At first we felt like secretaries, because they assigned us to check people in when they arrived. Only the entrance was really confusing, not to mention I hate just sitting there while there are like thirty men working like crazy right by us. Eventually, we abandoned the permanent secretarial post and became more like wandering secretaries, finding odd jobs to do here and there, like gathering acorns, washing a million dog dishes, removing plastic covering from the new tin roofing, etc. In the midst of our wanderings, I discovered a connection to Idaho Falls. Apparently, Cody's mom's cousin is in our ward. When she found out I was from Idaho Falls, she said, "Do you know any Jardine's there?" "Well, I know a Cody Jardine. He's practically my brother." "Oh, Cody's my cousin. Actually, his mom, Deedra (sp?) is my cousin." I don't know her first name, but her last name is Keck. Also at the service project there were huge--HUGE--spiders everywhere. Yuck. Cassidy, do you remember when we had to get changed in that bathroom at Weimea Falls and there were spiders in the corners? They had a bathroom kind of like that. EW!
THREE: Last but not least, I discovered that there is a shop on Main Street in Tomball that sells odd pets, including Ron's Rats. Too Harry Potter, eh? The owner's name is Ron, and he sells rats; thus, Ron's Rats. It could also easily pass for a shop on Diagon Alley. I tell you this in honor of Halloween. There's also a really funny story about Ron's Rats that I cannot tell here, in order to protect the innocent. But remind me about it later. I wrote it in my journal this week.

Sadly, Main Street Tomball also has what I call "the ghost of a Sonic," or "the graveyard of Happy Hour." Apparently, there used to be a Sonic on Main Street, even this summer, and then one day the sisters got a call from the elders saying it had closed. Permanently. And sure enough, it was all painted and boarded up, and now it's just a boring grey color. I'm even sorrier to hear about the one in Idaho Falls, but I'm guessing it's some kind of symptom of the recession. Every time I've been to Sonic recently, they ask if I want to buy something else, like Jalepeno poppers or some of their other greasy weird side dishes. No. No, I do not want fried string cheese. Not even once. But maybe no one else does either. Where will we get the ice for my wedding?

This has been a wonderful week, although it's had its ups and downs. One of our investigators, the Vietnamese lady, can no longer meet with us because her husband wants her to go to his Vietnamese Catholic church and not ours, even though we can tell she is feeling the Spirit at ours. That's hard. BUT--our other investigator, Alex, is back in town and eager to be baptized as soon as possible. We're meeting with him a lot this week. His first contact with the Church was twenty years ago in his home country of Venezuela, although he is now a U.S. citizen, having served ten years in the Navy. Unfortunately, he technically lives outside of our area, so we're not sure if he'll be able to be baptized into our ward or not. Either way, right now November 7 is the day.

Also, on Friday we get to go to College Station for Charles Marshall's baptism! I'm ecstatic! He is just one of the best people I've met since being in Texas, hands down. The sisters in College Station even said he's been asking about me, and can't quite grasp the concept that I moved. So, if everything goes according to plan, three of my favorite people will be getting baptized in the next two weeks. What joy!

A few quick tidbits from yesterday. They had the primary program, and the kids sang this cool song called "Jesus is Coming." It almost sounds like a Southern spiritual. I felt like I certainly was in Texas, and I almost wanted to stand up and say, "Hallelujah!" I refrained, but the temptation was present. Also, during our Relief Society lesson, the teacher was telling a story about some of her kids doing something on-line, and she was saying, "I can't remember it exactly ever. I call in MyFace." You know, a mixture of MySpace and Facebook. Too hilarious. Too clever.

Okay, now to respond to your e-mails. Dis.Gus.Ting. about Sister Hill having a spider bite. Ev.En.Worse. about Cassidy having swine flu. GET BETTER! That's an order, and congratulations on being an American history genius, even in a state of sickness.

Any music you could send would be greatly appreciated. Jenny Oaks Baker sounds amazing. More amazing than the Cougars this year. But maybe they can finally escape the Las Vegas bowl by virtue of going to no bowl game at all. Doesn't sound like that big of a sacrifice to me.

I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday morning. Hopefully the expense won't be too high. His secretary also informed me that he likes his patients to have a primary care physician, so I'll be making some phone calls on that one based on some recommended physicians from Sister Hansen. It's wonderful to hear that your car insurance expenses decreased. Truly, the Lord is blessing our family. There's no other explanation for it.

The final question: What is Eli going to be for Halloween? (Besides an eight-year-old boy being baptized.) I NEED to know. Send pictures.

From the girl who's going to make it after all,

Sister Whitney Sorensen

P.S. Thanks for the $10 in Halloween money. We bought some stuff to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and I guessed at the recipe from scratch. Not too shabby. Just call me Paula Deen.

P.P.S. Is that Elise's full address? There's not an apartment number or anything? Just want to be sure...

A small clarification about "Meth"

I realize when people read these letters from Whitney you are only getting one side of the conversation. When she responds, it is usually to things we have previously e-mailed to her. Lest anyone think our son is heading in the wrong direction, let me elaborate. Eli has been sick. With a HIGH fever. The other night he was wandering deliriously about the house, mumbling about 'not taking meth.' When I questioned him about it the next day, he told me he had been dreaming about it all night long. Ahh fevers.

10-19-09 "Amos Quito"

Do you remember that knock-knock joke we used to tell? Knock knock. Who's there? Amos. Amos who? A-mosquito bit me! Well, that's very applicable this week. It was a very rainy week last week, but it finally mostly stopped by Tuesday. Unfortunately, that means greater humidity, and an even greater concentration of mosquitos. Especially at about 4:30 in the afternoon when we did some tracting on Tuesday. Especially at the entryway to every house on the street. So it went something like this. Knock knock. Wait five seconds. Look down at your legs. Slap the mosquitos away from your nylons. See if anyone answers. Leave a pass-along card. Walk to next house. Repeat. After one hour of that adventure we had plenty of bites, about 15 on each leg. I tried to take a picture, but you couldn't really see it very well. Weird, because it was totally obvious and gross. I was itching horribly the next morning.
Tomball is in big time finding mode right now, which means a lot of tracting. And yes, even into people that haven't been visited by members. I don't know. I see the need for member missionary work, but they can't do it all. Tracting is there to make us humble. Not that it's my place to say, but the Idaho elders should know by now that everyone in Idaho Falls has had some contact with members. Maybe not members who were saying, "Hey, do you want to have the missionary discussions?" but, it's Idaho Falls. I love it here when people acknowledge some type of association with members. Even if it doesn't mean they're interested right now, it at least gives us a time to have a thirty second conversation, instead of me just giving a standard, boring, ineffective door approach. My new goal since yesterday is to maintain a smile while tracting, especially when someone's turning us away. Of course, just after I mentioned that to Sister Kemp, a devout ex-Catholic atheist answered the next door, convinced that since he stopped believing in Jesus Christ as even being a real person he's been so much happier. As we walked away, Sister Kemp said, "That one HURT." I just kept saying, "still happy, still happy." But it did hurt. Ouch. That's something I've come to realize in the short time I've been here in Tomball. I already love these people. I didn't think I would love them this quickly. And I didn't realize it up in College Station because we didn't do that much tracting. But here, it's like breaking my heart every time someone closes the door. Every time. It's especially hard when people already have a church and don't want ours. Which is most people down here. So close and yet SO FAR. And so not willing to hear our point of view, most of the time. And I still love them. But President Hansen shared some wisdom with me that I'm trying to apply with the happiness thing. He said President Eyring has two ways to know if you are a successful missionary: 1. Speak in such a way that you can convey the Spirit, and 2. Love the people with your whole heart. So those are my new goals.
Sorry everyone there is sick. YUCK! This week we had dinner with a family that all had the swine flu recently. Not anymore, of course. Actually, they just moved here from Vancouver, BC, and they have the coolest stories. He works for US Customs, so he gets to go into private jets and clear them when celebrities land or leave. Plus he knows a lot of famous people that film their shows in Vancouver. Like Tom Welling from Smallville. Wow. When he showed us the signed pictures they have from him for their sons, I felt just like a fifteen-year-old again. I was suddenly in 9th grade. They even said they once took some sister missionaries up there to meet him. Talk about distracting. Plus, they know someone who works on the set of PSYCH. Amazing! They keep getting all this cool stuff from them: PSYCH water bottles, bobbleheads, etc. I'll keep you posted on any more cool celebrity sightings.
Oh, and I'll try to get a flu shot sometime in the next two weeks. It should be less than $30. I'm okay to just use the medical VISA on that, right? As for prescriptions, I think I'm just going to get them refilled at CVS from here on out, so I've saved some bottles to show my new doctor. And that's another thing: I'm going to call around today and see who can take me down here soonest. I'll keep you posted.
Eli, wow! It sounds like you're having a crazy week. First of all, Meth: Not even once. I know you wouldn't, but in this family, we're direct with stuff like that. Dont' do drugs. Ever. However, turning 8, getting your first real scriptures, and writing haikus and limericks are very good ideas. As is playing basketball. I can't wait to see a picture of you all in uniform. Center is the best position actually. My favorite player from years ago on the UConn basketball team, Emeka Okafor, was a center. Probably still is, but he went to some no name professional team and hasn't been heard from since. I don't know of any cool basketball phrases like "pitcher's got a rubber arm" and such in baseball, but I do know there's a really cool episode of Even Stevens where Louis tries to be a basketball coach. Of course, the other half of the episode is about Ren wanting to kiss Bobby Deever, but I still think you'll like it. Don't hit anyone with your Wii lightsabers. And don't see TOY STORY 3 without me! It doesn't come out until next year, right? Andy in college, eh? Good stuff. Sounds hilarious. Toy Story is the original Pixar movie, and Toy Story 2 is still the best. By the way, "Work your height man!" And it's good to know you like the Jonas brothers okay. Feel free to copy their sense of fashion, but keep your own hair. It's the best.
Good luck on Annie. I'm sure it will be fabulous, with or without JPL. (Random American Idol question: who lost to Chris this year? I CANNOT remember. Help! I'm losing my trivia mind!) And it sounds like you have plenty of projects to work on afterward. Maybe you could work on getting the Nobel Peace Prize next year. I'm sure you've done more for world peace than a recent winner. I'm sure the news media is just soaking it all up though, praising him for his (lack of) accomplishments. At the very least you could become a chia pet.
Please do send the Dallin H. Oaks talk. I know he's right, and that's probably why people are calling him wrong. Sister Tanner is great, and her husband is actually one of the vice president's of BYU. I've never heard him give a talk, but I'm sure he's great.
Okay, I think that's all for this week. Enjoy the winter. Here it's just starting to be fall, 60s-80s all the time. And flowers are still blooming. I could get used to this, for sure.

Love,

Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

P.S. Ed-E and Lu-C=NOT EVEN ONCE!

10-12-09 "That Darn Cat!"

Greetings from Tomball! So far a great place to serve as a missionary. Tomball, or the Tomball ward boundary at least, is more like three towns attached to the same highway in one town. We have main downtown Tomball, where our apartment is located, Greater Tomball to the south closer to the Houston metropolis, and an area up north called Decker Prairie and/or Pinehurst. Sadly, from looking through old ward records, it appears that my German class acquaintance's family has actually moved out of the ward in the last year. Oh well. From church yesterday the ward is wonderful in any case.
Also from looking through the ward list, I have discovered that this ward is full of detectives. Two men work for the FBI (perhaps similar to a certain possibly secret operative in our home ward), someone works for border patrol, and there are one or two police officers. So although I am no longer working in the CSI ward, I am still among the compadres of the Hardy brothers. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Zeke Kelso of the movie "That Darn Cat" lived somewhere nearby, and I'll tell you why. Our apartment has a short-haired grey cat who constanly hangs around, looking for food and causing general mischief. I'm convinced it's D.C. from "That Darn Cat!" although I can't prove it and the cat has quite a different coloring. By general mischief, I mean it's always trying to get into our apartment. I will have to tell Sister Kemp to "shut the front door" unless we want to get ourselves involved in a little mystery. (Which maybe we do. Don't tempt me.) I can't decide whether to be the Hayley Mills character or her older sister in this little subplot. The sister seemed so much more graceful and mature, plus she got to date the detective in the end, but the Hayley Mills character was more fun and adventurous and had the quirky fun boyfriend with the weird name--Canoe, I believe. Of course, since it's all a fantasy, who's to say I can't be both? Plus, it's been rainy ever since I got down here, so I've had plenty of occasion to wear my rain jacket, which makes me look just like a detective. Too fabulous. I'll send a picture (and others) as soon as we take some. (By the way, some of your pictures aren't opening up. I don't know if its just the computers I'm using, but maybe send another round of actual copies sometime. No rush.)
Right now we are working with two main investigators. The first is Jennifer (although her real name is something else). She is from Vietnam, has an adorable little boy who's almost two named Ricky, and has been learning with missionaries for a while. She partially allows us to come over to teach her English--which should work out really well since Sister Kemp is an elementary education major from BYU-Idaho (any questions Cassidy, you can send them our way, as long as they're not too pressing) and I'm an English major. We also are teaching her about the Restoration of the gospel, but slowly because it takes a while with the language barrier. Her husband is Catholic, and she's concerned about having two religions in the home, but she loves reading from the Book of Mormon and is very accepting of the teachings we have for her.
We're also working with a man named Alex, whose life is a bit of a mystery. His family is from Venezuela, he's been in the navy (although for which country we're not exactly sure), he lived in Spain for five months, and now is looking for a home in Tomball because his kids live here with his ex-wife. He attended LDS services for years before he lived in Spain, but didn't realize that our church is all over the world, so he started going to the prettiest Catholic cathedral he could find over there, until he got back here and found the church again on his own. He's already set a date for baptism, and the ward members are doing a very good job of fellowshipping him.
Oh! And I got word this week, the very day after I arrived here, that Charles Marshall has also set a baptism date! November 1! Pray for him! I want to go and see him get baptized. Nothing would make me happier, although the happiness would be on par with knowing Eli will be baptized at the end of this month. Happy Birthday, Bubby! I love you, and I'm so glad you're excited about getting baptized.
Speaking of birthdays, I did get the shirts you picked out and they are WONDERFUL! Shut the front door! They could not be more perfect! And thank you for having so many people send me birthday cards. In addition to family, I have them from: Donna Griffiths, Aleisha, Miss Peg, The Dells, and Mallory Hart. So fun.
Thanks for the info about the shooting of the moon. Last week I had a less active member give me the whole schpiel about how the moon landing was all faked because he'd read up on it on the greatest and truest of all sources: the internet. That's also where he discovered the truth about 9/11 being an inside job. As if. It's good to know the space program continues despite their crazy naysayers who accuse thousands of people of being liars. Sadly, I also discovered this week that the Johnson Space Center in Houston could not be farther away from our mission, and is practically not in Houston at all. Oh well. And we may have seen as we were leaving our nursing home service that Obama apparently won the Nobel Peace Prize...? Why? Is the war over? I don't mean entirely to sound like a naysayer, but I am almost totally uninformed about current events. Surely one doesn't receive the NPP for giving a speach to elementary school students?!? Okay, that's about all for this week, except to say, I'm glad you enjoyed Rebecca even if you don't think you understood it all. Let's just say I thought it was ironic that I'd asked you to read it around the time my apartment burned down. Does that offer any insight? It's been awhile since I read it myself, so I can't give you any more clues than that.
Also, thanks for all the Lawrence references. The only one I thought of was Laurie Lawrence, but your list went above and beyond. Dad, thanks for the facts about Tomball and the magical birthday card. Cassidy, sorry you have a cold, but glad to know you're doing well at school. All the best to Mark from me. He'll love being on a mission. Grandmother and Grandpa, don't get to cold. Here its been colder--in the 60s. Try not to be too jealous, and I hope you stay feeling well. Get your will taken care of, too, I guess.
All the best and all my love,

Sister Whitney Sorensen

PS Eli, I'll send you a birthday card today, so look for it!

A few photos from the field...

I am finally getting around to posting some of the pictures we have received. (thanks Kim for your fabulous scanning skills!)If you're going to eat barbecue in Texas, go with a name you trust. The name we trust is J.Cody. And we're not ja-kidding!
A beautiful Texas sky line at sunset!

A photo from the now famous Sabbath day apartment fire!

Arriving in Houston and meeting President and Sister Hansen

Final day at the MTC with District Elders and Sisters...and awesome traininer Sister Folkman.

Sisters from the MTC district. I love how they coordinated their outfits!

Elders from the same district. In Whitney's own words, "I am proud to call them all my brothers!"

Whitney and this sister worked together in the writing lab at BYU. She's on her way to Tonga!
Taking time out from a busy MTC day to share a few smiles!

One of Whitney's best friends in the whole world. Sister (Hermana) Good....on her way to New Mexico, Spanish-speaking. They were happy to have several encounters AND HUGS while they were both in the MTC!

10-5-09 "Coincidence...I think not"

First of all, thanks to everyone for the birthday gifts and surprises. I love the grey skirt. And the shirts are beautiful, Grandpa and Grandmother, although I did exchange one of them for a smaller size. The scripture case is great, the stationery is fun, the jumping spider is frightening, the balloons are tough to blow up (but it's the thought that counts), and blow-ups are perfect, the CD is already being put to good use, and we all know what the Red Velvet cake is. TO. DIE. FOR. Which I won't, but I considered it. I hope I'm not forgetting anything. If I am, know that I appreciate even the things I did not mention, I just have a poor memory and feel so generously blessed that I can't keep track of all the blessings I'm receiving. Oh. Eli's Snoopy notebook. Good grief! You're still my sweet baboo. Maybe on Halloween you can sit out in the yard by your very own great pumpkin. What are you going to be for Halloween? Harry Potter? A ghost with eight eye holes like Charlie Brown? Someone from the Titanic? All good options. But I know what you're really going to be, Eli. BAPTIZED, the best thing of all.
Speaking of which, only one of the two baptisms actually took place, and I wasn't at it. One of them, the one that was supposed to happen between sessions on Saturday, got canceled because the investigator got cold feet. I hope it will happen at some other time. The other one did take place on Friday evening, but I didn't go because I had been sick all night. Let's not get graphic or anything, but let's just say I threw up all night long, rested all day, had only a half a sleeve of saltines and some ginger ale (thanks to my generous zone leaders), and absolutely no energy by the time the baptism was to take place. So we didn't leave the apartment at all that day, except to go to the mailbox and get my birthday package. Sorry to hear you were also sick, Cassidy. Yuck. It's the worst, but at least it was on the weekend when you could lay around and rest all day.
And listen to conference, which was amazing like always. My favorite was, again, Elder Holland. What a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon! Somehow his talks get better every time. I also really enjoyed Elder Christofferson's talk, and I can see him becoming something of a cross between Elder Oaks and Elder Holland. Elder Callister's talk on Saturday was aimed right at many of the kinds of questions we often get from investigators about the godhead, a living prophet, and the Book of Mormon. Very exciting about a temple in Brigham City. You never can have too many in Utah. And Mark's mission getting one too? Perfecto! All in all, fabulous, uplifting, enlightening. Charles was there for the Sunday afternoon session, and Pai-Shan came to the Sunday morning session. Wow. Her life is so changed by the gospel. I just love to see her countenance shine with the light of her testimony.
But, unfortunately, I won't be seeing it very much longer. I'm being transferred. Actually, I'm excited for it. President Hansen says it'll be a new "adventure," and you know I'm always up for one of those, being the Nancy Drew girl that I am. Wednesday morning I leave for Tomball, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Actually, I know someone from there. Maurie Moline and I were studying German together at BYU. Now she's on a mission in Germany (Berlin, I think), and I'm serving a mission in her hometown. Small Mormon world, just like you said, Cassidy. My new companion will be Sister Kemp. I've never met her, but look forward to it. I'll keep you posted on my new address and everything. Until then, the mission office is the best bet for mail and other forms of correspondence. (By the way, Grandmother and Grandpa and other family, feel free to e-mail as often as you like. Just know that my reading time plus my writing time are limited to an hour, total.)
Love the story about Tyson dressed like Abraham Lincoln. It reminds me of several movies. First, isn't there a part in Kindergarten Cop when Arnold's entire class dresses up like Lincoln and recites the Gettysburg address? Of course, not probably the best movie for Eli to watch if his fear of fire drills is still alive. Also, it seems like there's a part in Little Rascals when the boys dress up with Lincoln-like beards and try to get a loan from Mel Brooks. I hope he's watched that movie by now. Of course, if he's busy reading Harry Potter, all other forms of media can be put on hold. Good for you, Eli. Reading Harry Potter. You are my brother, after all. I always knew it, though. Only a few more days until you are 8! I can hardly believe it.
Housekeeping items: I finally got my medicine this week. Let's just say it took many phone calls to get everything faxed to the right places. Also, the purchase ended up being for like 18 months worth of methotrexate, so you'll not have to worry about buying that again while I'm gone. That's also why the bill is a little steeper than usual. I'm not sure what happened, but I won't take more than my appropriate dose anyway, so everything should be fine. Also, I had to pay a minimal lab fee using the credit card. It was something like $34, so watch for that to come through.
As far as clothes go, everything is holding up well. I finally got to wear my rain jacket this week, and it makes me feel just like Nancy Drew in a stylish yet functional trenchcoat. I have plenty of preparation day clothes, so no need to worry there, and so far the weather here is barely like fall. It's about 70 today. So sorry about the snow, but not really jealous. Not one bit, in fact. Stay warm. Sit by the fireplace and enjoy some hot cocoa.
Did I call it or did I call it about Brazil and the Olympics? It should be historic, and Chicago really should wait until the U.S. economy rebounds before trying to host the most expensive sporting event on the planet.
Okay, finally some news from Texas. Other than being sick this week, we've been fairly productive. Some appointments were canceled by virtue of people not showing up for them, but because of this we were able to teach a man from Africa about the Book of Mormon. He seemed skeptical but interested, unlike some people who seem skeptical and argumentative. It's really important to learn to use the gift of discernment when deciding who really wants to know and who just wants to waste our time.
I had some excellent Southern experiences this week, both of them yesterday actually. First, we were at dinner with some members after the closing session of conference. They live out in the country and have a large, open backyard which is visible through many long windows from their dining room table. While we were eating dinner, the dad noticed a skunk wandering slowly across their lawn. From the safety of our indoor vantage point, we all watched intently as this critter skunked its way. It kept stopping and kind of walked in a zigzagged direction, as if it were disoriented. Then the dad said, "Maybe it has rabies." Ooh! Just at that moment, I felt like I was IN To Kill a Mockingbird. Calpurnia needed to get on the phone and say, "Missah Finch, Missah Finch. There's a mad dog down the street a piece, comin' right for us." In the end, we're not really sure if it had rabies or not, and no one shot it because it fell under their trampoline and was only a baby. If it did have rabies, it would probably die. No need to create a stink over something that turns out to be nothing.
And, maybe the best thing of all this week. I saw a blooming field of cotton! We were on our way out to visit a recent convert who lives WAY OUT IN THE COUNTRY, we're talking beyond the farm land. As we're zooming past the fields, I notice that many of them look like they have white flowers all over them. Closer inspection reveals them to be not flowers, but cotton puffs. We took some pictures with the beautiful Texas sunset in the background. I felt so truly Southern to finally see a field of cotton, but so truly foreign to the South to think it was something of a sight and not just a commonplace occurence. Oh well. I thought it was amazing. And it made me want to read Mildred D. Taylor books and watch Gone With the Wind. Two things for my TO DO list (along with the Corbin Bleu motocross movie...)

Much love,

Sister Whitney Sorensen

PS I'm starting to get used to the Sister Sorensen thing. Now it seems weird to be called Whitney. Is that really my name? I vaguely remember people calling me that in a past life...Oh well. I guess that comes with the territory also.

9-28-09 "Chocolate Soup"

I'm sorry to hear that you had to spend an entire day cleaning black paint off the garage floor. Yuck. But the moment I read it, it reminded me of a scene from Even Stevens. When Louis and Twitty are competing to see who can sell more chocolate bars, and Louis cannot seem to sell any so all his chocolate melts in the garage because Donny turns the water heater up super high so he can create a steam room in the bathroom, and all the chocolate comes seeping out like a chocolate river, (minus Willy Wonka, thank goodness). I hope it wasn't like that. Also, for future reference, chocolate chips do not stay chocolate chips when they are mailed to Texas in 100 degree summer weather. But at least Hershey's chocolate soup knows how to stay in the bag. Thanks for thinking of me. The cookies will be fabulous when we get around to making them--with some new chocolate chips.
Olympic news: No surprise that Bode Miller is tooting his own kazoo once again. Don't make me regurgitate the fact that, although you may be the "most decorated skiier in U.S. history," you were also a big flop at the Torino 2006 games. Medal-less, fan-less, dignity-less, Bode Miller (if I remember correctly) gave a sad interview from his decked out trailer (since he was too special to stay in the athlete's village, which is crazy since its one of the most top secret amazing place in the whole world: only athletes and occasionally Katie Couric get to go there!) all about how sorry he was for being arrogant. I also remember that he'd watched "Miracle" since his tragic demise and wished he'd had more of that attitude. Maybe this year he should watch it before the games. A. LOT. I don't begrudge the U.S. team for taking him back, but I just hope his head fits into his helmet at the top of the slopes. Also, how is the flying tomato gearing himself up? Has he had a haircut yet? Not likely, although I don't know how his helmet fits on, or even how he can see through that maze of red hair. I always thought Shawn White was some kind of American Weasely (sp? AHH! I've only been gone three months, and already my Harry Potter knowledge is kaput, Cassidy!) cousin, and his magic was what made it possible for him to do all those cool tricks. AND CHICAGO! Yes! I knew they were making a bid for the 2016 games, which I fully support, but I'm kind of nervous that they won't get it. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is also in the running, at least as far as I know, and I'm sort of guessing that if their proposal is even half good, they'll get them because the Olympics have never been held in South America. (Of course, they've never been held in Chicago, either...) Anyway, with America's kaput economy and almost total lack of government funding for Olympics, it would take Mitt Romney to pull it off. I think it could work.
To conclude the sports section, I begrudgingly acknowledge the loss of the U.S. Open by Roger Federer to Fernando del Potro. Isn't that the same guy that he wallopped in the French Open? Oh well. What's done is done. Now Andy Murray must feel really bad because he still hasn't won a Grand Slam title, and most of the other big name players I can think of have. Of course, only one of them has 15, but who's counting?
As far as your e-mail questions, first I want to say that you never have to feel guilty about taking too much time with your e-mails. Second, as far as I know, we are not supposed to send or receive e-mails from anyone other than family. Who's asking? And as far as printing them off goes, we go to several different places to e-mail. Some of them have printers, some of them do not, so that would be an off chance that I would get to read them all or even print them off. Thanks for the appreciation of the James Marshall story, but I must offer one small correction. His name is Charles. Did I write James? The saga continues this week. While I was on campus one day this week with Sister Lieber, Sister Davis and Sister Boren went to see him again, and he really had a lot of problems about preachers just preaching for money and everyone at his church arguing with each other and just plain not being Christian. So they invited him to church, and he was very excited to accept. Yesterday morning, there he was, thirty minutes early, all dressed up in a grey pinstripe suit, complete with waistcoat Cassidy, looking his best for the Lord. It was a miracle, and my heart just soared to see him. It reminded me of Remember the Titans actually, so it's funny that you bring up Gary Bertier. Remember when Denzel says, "If you don't have a suit, then borrow one from your old man... (etc. I can't remember it exactly, but it's when he first meets the team)" Never before have I seen someone understand so inherently the need to present ourselves well when worshipping the Lord. As I was sitting next to him in sacrament meeting, I was overwhelmed by his humility, especially for one reason. He can't read. Sister Davis and Sister Boren discovered that while they were teaching him, but sitting next to him while he tried to sing words to unfamiliar hymns... Oh, it just tore my heart out. Maybe because I've been reading since just after I started breathing I take it for granted--and now I know I do--but oh, my heart just ached. I wanted to stop the singing right then and do what they do in To Kill a Mockingbird when Jem and Scout go to church with Calpurnia. "Linin'," she calls it. Someone sings one line, and they everyone repeats it. But in any case, my heart soared to see him there under any circumstances. And the best coincidence? His brother, Joe, is a recent convert of about a year and a half ago. He now lives in Bryan, and is less-active, but it's amazing how family connections arise. This weekend we got the blessing of going with Pai-Shan to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. President Hansen gave us permission, and an engaged couple in the ward drove us, Jessica Beus and Spencer Behling. Jessica served her mission in Taiwan, so she often helps us with our Chinese-speaking investigators, and was instrumental in helping Pai-Shan. We had to leave at 5:30 in the morning because there were so few of us, but it was all worth it. Pai-Shan just radiates light. She loved every moment of it. Afterwards we stopped by the distribution center, and she was looking at everything eagerly as if she were buying the fruit of eternal life (which I know has no price, but certainly your first set of scriptures and hymnbook and Tabernacle choir cds are contributing to your enduring conversion). Oh, just so much light in her eyes! I'm super excited about general conference this weekend. The other sisters have a baptism on Friday night, and the university elders have one between sessions of conference, so between that and general conference it should be the most spiritually uplifting weekend ever! The Relief Society broadcast was great. We actually had another investigator come with us to that: Ira. She's learning slowly but surely, too, and I think she enjoyed the fellowship of the ladies at the pre-broadcast social. You were exactly right in saying I lit right up as Sister Thompson started talking about the Tube and "Mind the Gap." And I suspected that you would be delighted by President Eyring's words. Were you jealous of Sister Beck's still amazing hair? What do you think about the discontinuation of the title "Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment" in favor of the simple, straightforward, "Relief Society meeting"? And I was about to ask you what they called it before Enrichment, but then I remembered: homemaking. Thank you for both of the talks by Elder Holland. Amazing. His words are just so filled with wisdom. Yes, I did have the special privilege of being present for both of those talks. The Liberty Jail one was edited and put in a recent Ensign, but I think it loses a lot without the whole thing. And I just remember the "Remember Lot's Wife" one being exactly what I needed to hear at that moment--and it still contains wisdom for now. Lastly, in case you're wondering, I forgot to tell you last week about why our preparation day was moved. We had a special zone conference with Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy that day, so everything got moved around. There are more details in a letter, but that actually hasn't even made it to the mailbox yet. I'll send it today.

Love, love me do, and do mind the gap!

Sister Whitney Mikell Sorensen

P.S. In case you're wondering, you, too, can see the movie about the three witnesses. There's a whole set of Church History DVDs, which includes not only that fabulous creation but "The First Vision"--featuring Stuart Peterson--and "Zion's Camp"--featuring, I can only assume, the same wonderful movie I remember vividly from seminary years ago.

P.P.S. Last quick story. We are actually teaching someone now who lived in our same burned down apartment building. Through some service connections, we found her and she feels that God has guided us to her. We agreed.