Oh My Dear Family...(A peek into the heart of Lindsay)

Dear Readers, 

This week Lindsay didn't write the traditional weekly email.  She wrote personal notes to everyone at home.  This gives you a little peek into the person Lindsay is and the relationship she fosters with each of us.  This is real. She is very loving and kind and GRACIOUS!  You can see why we miss her so much!  

Merry Christmas!

Lorene Williams

Ah my dear ones where do I begin?!  I feel like that is what I say at the beginning of every letter, but it stays every time!  Crazy, right?  I love reading your letters SO MUCH.  They are such characteristic boosts that give me a peek into what you are experiencing and learning and I LOVE it.  Thank you.

Christmas call questions!  So, we have 30 to 40 minutes to talk through Skype or on the phone.  While google hangout sounds like a dream, I`m thinking that Skype is the best way to go for us, and we can call anytime from the Monday the 23rd to Friday the 27th.  I was thinking of calling on the 26th here so that it would be Christmas for you all.  As far as time goes, I think I will call around breakfast time here so like 7:15 am our time, that means 5:15 pm your time on December 25.  I know thats kind of an awkward middle of the day time that  means you have to wait basically all day for a call--sorry!--but I think that would be the best thing.  I am SO excited! 

Steph, you survived!  WOOT!  I am so looking forward to learning more of your study insights and having jam sessions with you and our musically inclined family when we reunite.  It`ll be pretty great I think I am excited to talk with you!!!!!  And the letter is coming...soon I hope!

Samacus! (that's what the Greek/Romans probably would have called you :) ) I have been thinking about you today.  Thanks for being your awesome self.  I miss your enthusiasm and your spunk; your dedication and your silliness :); your brilliance and your kindness.  And SOOOO many other things about you!!!  Thanks for being an incredible brother who I can learn from.  Thanks for your lovely valentine!  It brightens my day to read it.  I know that you can persevere through whatever challenges you may have--you are one optimistic and determined fellow!  Stick to it bro, you can be the star of the show, even if on the ground there is no snow, you'll have fun-this much I know, even if your tooth decides to grow slow, you can still sing a beautiful middle do!  Whenever I hear the song Pie Jesu, I think about you!  :)Anyways, I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH SAM!!!!!!!!!  YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
P.S. Prayer really is powerful!  Its awesome.  Have a fantastic day Sambo!!!!!!   

   

Josh, I am doing great.  I am kind of cold, but opened a Christmas present a little early and found some great Hello Kitty slippers that help keep my feet super toasty.  It sounds like you`ve had a pretty great Christmas celebration so far.  I hope that you continue to enjoy it! 

Sadie, I had no idea that you were on the second book of Harry Potter!  You speedy reader you!  That is awesome!  Merry almost Christmas to you to!  In Japanese, Merry Christmas is merri kurisumasu.  It sounds the same!  To say almost I think you would add sugu ni merri kurisumasu.  :)  It sounds like you had a lot of fun at school getting ready for Christmas break.  Yay!  I hope that you continue to enjoy the Christmas spirit.  Its pretty special isn`t it?  I am glad that its only two days until we talk too!  Kind of crazy! 

Mom, same.  I know just how you feel.  Thank you so much for expressing what has been going through your mind as you`ve contemplated this season and what it means.  When you don`t have a lot of fluff time, you really can see the big picture and why it all matters.  I love your insight and effort and just love you.  I am grateful that we are connected even though we are in different countries!  The power of the Spirit is wonderful.  I am grateful for your attentiveness to it and how you have taught me to love and seek after it.  Lately, I have been thinking a lot about what the Lord asks of us.  Training is really hard--I fall on my face daily!  In my patriarchal blessing, it reminds me that challenges are a part of life and must be mastered by me.  And as I thought about it this morning I realized that is only through challenges that we are able to grow and rely on the Lord.  And how much I need to rely on Him!  I am learning about the power of faith and obedience and diligence.  That was a focus of our most recent zone conference and I have learned that the Lord doesn`t expect us to be perfect but He does expect us to be diligent and work to be obedient.  I am so grateful for this life and the Lord`s way.  I am grateful to be sharing His gospel at this time--I feel like it is really a blessing to me; more than for anyone else and that is mind blowing.   

Hello Dad!  I love you!  Time is crazy fast isn`t it?  I love your testimony and focus on what truly matters.  Music truly is a gift and blessing and way for the Spirit to touch and teach us.  I am grateful for its power and influence and that you were able to receive the Spirit through the gift of others.  It is beautiful. 

Kia Kaha Poppa.  I love you.  So much.  I feel like words don`t really cover it.  :) 

Jake`s mission call sounds perfect!  I am excited for him to serve.  Thank you for sharing the news! 

OK, I gotta head but I love you all dearly.  Enjoy this Christmas season and the especially the gift of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  He is the reason that we can celebrate and have joy.  I know that.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that through it He can speak to our needs and help us answer our questions.  I know that.

Love,

Williams shimai