January 11, 2026

 Dearest Isaac and Lily,

This has been a wild week for me...

  • I started school... so much to say about that but no idea how to. 
  • I went to my Chem class at the BYU Salt Lake Center and really enjoyed it, BUT I am now in an online section
  • I was at the main BYU campus all day Thursday and went to 2 anatomy classes and a biology class I wasn't registered for but wanted to switch into. I got into said Biology class late that afternoon. 
  • I'm still hoping to switch my anatomy classes to a day class instead of an evening one, but at least my schedule works now and I don't have any classes that overlap each other. Whew!
  • Got to do lunch with Joseph on campus on Thursday!
  • I spent ALL afternoon and evening on Friday doing chemistry for my online class - trying to catch up since I didn't get into it till Friday afternoon. 
  • I went to the temple and did an Endowment on Tuesday despite a raging headache which felt like a miracle. 
  • Did baptisms with Emmy on Wednesday. How I love her!!
  • Went to an awesome organ workshop on Saturday!  I got to put together a mini organ, learned about how to use an iPad for my organ music, learned about how to accompany better, and went to an amazing organ concert! So. Much. Fun. 
  • Had dinner with Nani and Papa on Saturday
I've been listening to Pres. Oaks' biography this week. Some of the things he wrote when he got called as an apostle really resonated with me.  He said when he got called he started to ponder on the question of whether he would be a lawyer and judge who was called to be an Apostle, or if he would be an Apostle of the Lord who used to be a lawyer and a judge.  There was a great difference, and if he relied on what he had done and had known, he would always be the former.  So he said, "I decided I would focus my efforts on what I was called to do, not what I was qualified to do."  Wow.  Just wow. I can't think of better advice to give a missionary.  Do what you are called to do, not what you feel capable of doing.

Another thought he shared came from something he learned from Elder Packer very early in his calling.  Elder Packer taught that as time passes and we gain greater experience, we are less focused on ourselves and our inadequacies and more conscious of others and our responsibility to carry the gospel to the entire world.  Wow again!  I am so proud of how you are both striving to do this!

I love you to the moon and back!

Mom

Me and Emmy at the temple

Dad bought me flowers

Awesome AI version of a pic we took at the Harrison Family Party.  Haha!

Joseph and me on campus
AI's version of same pic

Organ concert at the U

Me at the organ we built

Dad made this awesome AI pic of Emmy that she was so mad about.  She hates AI art, and I can't blame her, but this made me laugh

In revenge, Emmy made this pic of Dad...
He does love monohorns


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