November 24

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope your holiday season is kicking off well! I know it has been great here. On Saturday they had a Santa Parade that we were able to help out with and it looked like it was fun. Santa came too. They gave us hats for helping which they called tooks. 

This week's biggest miracle happened yesterday. I have mentioned Caeri and Patrick and how we have been trying to get them married. Things just haven't been working out. They went to get a marriage licence and it was $100 more than they had planned for. So they didn't get one. While that has been going we have been teaching Caeri and we have taught tithing and the law of chastity. We told her that since she is a member she doesn't have to pay tithing yet but she could use the money for tithing towards a marriage licence. She liked the idea but said it wouldn't happen until the end of the month when Patrick got his bonus. And with the law of chastity since we have taught it they have been living it, which has been really hard but they are doing it. 

So yesterday in ward council we mentioned them and that the wedding would be off because of the wedding licence. We also mentioned they were living the law of chastity. The R.S. Pres. heard this and thought it was amazing. When she went home she decided to call some people and get a collection going so Caeri and Patrick a licence. Within an hour she had $250 and the new stake president said he could marry them and use his house (which is huge and gorgeous). So the 3 of us went to tell Caeri and Patrick the good news and Caeri was overwhelmed. She didn't know what to say. She is rarely speechless. Anyway it was amazing! I thank the good and awesome members of this ward for helping out!

Prayers going out to my extended family and Paula Madsen's family. May your hearts be light at this time. Because of the knowledge that comes from the Gospel we know we will see our loved ones again! 

Don't worry about the weather here. All the snow has melted and it is very warm today. I haven't needed to wear my coat or snow boots yet. Hopefully that lasts for a little while!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love you all!

Sister Gardner

Letter to Carol

Carol sent her a couple of thoughts about prayer.  Sister Gardner responded:

Thanks for the thoughts. In my personal study I have been reading the Book of Mormon and there has been a lot about prayer this past week. Basically it says to pray anywhere and to pray for everything. So really we can talk to God about anything and everything. Everyone has the right to pray. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from or what you have done. That is a gift H.F. has blessed all of his children with. It's amazing to think about it. God always has time for us. We're the ones who don't make the time. Powerful things right there!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Dad emailed me and his kids have all week off. Aren't you jealous?He still has meetings and such but he doesn't have to plan for the week. Well at least this week. He goes to Puerto Rico on Friday so he has to make lesson plans for his sub and that's never fun. But hey at least he gets to go somewhere warm for a few days. I will be at a members home for Thanksgiving. They are feeding us a typical turkey dinner but it will be lower key since Canadian Thanksgiving has come and gone. It will be fun. Are you going to Monroe? If you do say hello for me.

As far as weather it hasn't been too bad. The snow has all melted and it is raining instead. Today is really warm. I hope it lasts for a little bit longer! Don't get me wrong I do love the snow, it makes things look pretty but I don't want it to be freezing especially since I don't get to wear pants. Either way it will be good. :)

I hope school and everything goes well for you this week! 

Love you lots!

Cassy