Amazingly November escaped us without a posting on our family blog. It has been quite an eventful past weeks, months, etc. Thus the reason we haven't slowed down enough to write.

We spent Halloween with the Wrathall's. It was a fun holiday to travel on. The kids LOVED trick-or-treating with Aunt Ann and Dallin and Allison. We anticipated Ryan doing a few houses and then coming back while he went with Ann to the rest of the neighborhood. Apparently Ryan had other plans! He and Audrey lasted as long as the big kids and we still have some (Dec 7th) candy left on top of the fridge. We saw Kayla's spook house and now know the meaning of 'Ronald McDonald on crack' . We enjoyed mostly just hanging out ~ we of course always receive such royal treatment at their house.

This past month has been full of good stress/bad stress. Early in the month we anticipated a contract renewal coming up. As time went by we felt that Kerry's job was soon to come to an end with Vesta. Our feelings were solidified when his contract was not renewed at the end of the month. We both weren't very happy about the news but quickly got over it and began to look forward. What else can you do? We revamped and updated his resume and sent it out to a few of our head hunter friends. One interview with Freightliner was good to go until the last minute they cancelled. A little disheartening, however, there is much to look to. We have been blessed with an enormous amount of peace-what a great blessing peace can be in life. This past Friday (Dec 4) Kerry had a phone interview with a company called EIDpassport. We hope for another 'real' interview with them soon. Dad Smith has given a good word for Kerry (which may be a great thing considering he is a shareholder in the little company). So, we shall see...

Thanksgiving at Alan and Mona's was splendid. Everything was delicious and it was very relaxing. Dad Smith was in town for the first time in several years and we enjoyed soaking up his time. We are grateful for our wonderful families!

I have been blessed to share my testimony on several occasions with our (borrowed - thanks Mom and Dead) neighbor. We have been praying much about this dear couple. One day, I felt impressed to drop by and lend my favorite CD to her. It just so happened that it is the Consider the Lilies CD by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Two days later, I was able to visit with her again and we talked about what our favorite songs were and I asked her about her church and how it worked. She shared a little and then the questions came pouring out about ours. I esentially shared the 1st discussion with her and asked her if she would watch a video with one of my dear ancestors in it. I told her it could help her understand why I am a member of this great church. She agreed. I shared How Rare a Possession with her later that day.

A week later, we were able to sit and talk again and this time I again talked to her about Joseph Smith's experience and the Book of Mormon being translated...I brought her a Book of Mormon. I read with her Moroni's promise and asked if she would read the intro and 3 Nephi 11. This she did. She asked me if I was trying to convert her and I laughed and said, no way...I can only share how I became converted and conversion is between you and the Lord. He has just sent me here to you. She seemed so relieved that I wasn't trying to convert her. :) I did however ask her if she'd come to church with me sometime. I told her I would love to join her at hers. (A sidenote, I have felt a very real ache for her to sit next to us at church - that is the reason I have invited her. I also know that once she comes that it will be a great step for her) She is progressing.

A couple of weeks ago she told me that she has been booked all the month of December to attend Advent with our other neighbor and etc. That being the main reason she wasn't able to attend with me. I applauded her for going to church each Sunday and participating in honoring Christ's life. We again had a great conversation about some of her misconceptions about the 'Mormon's'. I am having a ball! I look forward to the new year :)... I watched the new DVD from the church with her and it was wonderful.

This past week as we were talking about the blue sky...she asked me if I would drive to Seattle with her on a whim to watch her daughter play in a 45 min concert. I said - absolutely :) if Kerry is okay with the children. Kerry was great and so we embarked on a lovely trip to Seattle just before rush hour. 10 hours later :) we had a marvelous trip, concert, dinner, etc together. Much was shared and talked about and although I was unsure of the outcome - things were better than they could ever be. I think the 6 discussion were taught in that time. It was fun to share with her how Kerry and I met (the LONG version) and to know each other deeper. Much much good and more things resolved about her perception of 'Mormons'.

Today, I dropped by to see how she was doing and all I can say is that they are good people. Although I feel like our influence has encouraged them to be stronger in their faith and attend another church....I know that they are sensing a change--something different in their life. I am excited that they are both going to church--even if it is the Luthern Church--I know that their hearts are softening and tonight as I was praying to know what we can do in their lives to bring them even closer to Christ -- ideas came flooding into my mind. I LOVE this church. I am grateful to be a friend first and a missionary second....it has been such a great blessing to have these wonderful opportunities and regardless of the immediate outcome - God loves us, each of us and I'm grateful he has been patient with me these many years. They wont be able to join us for the Christmas Devotional tomorrow--but we are recording it and I look forward to sharing it hopefull with her sometime this next week or so.

We hope to decorate a little for the holiday--very hard to do with everything boxed up and hard to get to. The nice thing about being unemployed is that things must be simple :) and that makes a lot of things easy.

Last weekend Mona, the kids, and I made Christmas cookies and goodies for a few hours. Kerry and Alan were playing in the shop - I love brothers and Mona was a great hostess!

Well, I'm still not sleepy but I hope whoever is reading this has managed to get the sleep I seem not be able to find this lovely late evening.

Much love,
Melissa the insomniac

posted by Anonymous at 12:48 AM