Hey Bud!

Hi Elder Penrod,

I hope that you are doing well and have been able to settle into your new place with your new air fryer. 

How is the new companionship? What have you learned about your companion? Does he have any unique talents and perspectives? What things have you learned so far about your area?

This week seems like it went by way too fast. It was just the normal routine with work, school, and after school activities. The temperatures were in the 0 to -2 with a high of 19 and 20 this last week so going outside was not so fun. I kept Colt in on those days (it's recommended not to walk your dog below 20 degrees because they can get frostbite on their paws in extreme cold so we didn't have our usual walks and he was getting a little stir crazy, haha. The YM/YW still planned to go sledding on the coldest day of the week so we bundled up Cameron and Beth the best we could and Curtis went to drop them off but I had the time all wrong and we were a half hour late. So they came home and we went out for ice cream instead. Dad and Curtis hung out in Lehi over the weekend for a wrestling tournament as you know.

They also dropped by and saw Mason and his little girls and my Dad. I hadn't gotten my Dad his Christmas present. He has a collection of drawings I did of bears when I was younger. It is 2 polar bear drawings and a panda pencil drawing. So I decided would draw him a grizzly to go with it.

Cameron had his last Chess club meeting. They were not able to do a toumament this year, which was sad. He is still enjoying playing D&D with your cousin Joel and was able to go over there on Sunday and partake in some cake as well from Joel's birthday.

While Cameron was at D&D, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's for a visit. They had Dave and Emily's kids. Beth and Josie are actually becoming really close cousins. Ethan had a bubble gun that wasn't working, it was just blowing air so Dad took a look at it and was able to fix it and the bubbles started flowing.

Ethan was soo excited! I am not sure how Grandma felt though with all the bubbles flying all over the house, haha. Definitely more of an outside toy, lol.

Bethany is struggling with Young Womens and Sunday school. She enjoys going, but she is really attached to talking with Madelyn at those events. Madelyn and Kate are becoming really close friends though and she is starting to feel a little left out. I am not sure how to help her through that. I can relate, sometimes when you are on the quieter side, it is hard to get a word in with people who are more vocal, like Kate. But I hope that she will learn to just be friendly with anyone she talks to, it doesn't always have to be someone that shares the same interests to be able to get along. l also remember you going through a phase where it was hard to determine who to hang out with and where you stood with friends. It just took you a couple years to sort it out.

Mia is home from her mission and she was beaming ear to ear on Sunday. She stood up and bore her testimony and said that maybe she could get out of giving a talk next Sunday if she did, but Bishop Green just shook his head, haha.

I have been taking a challenge from work to finish the Book of Mormon before the April conference. I don't usually like those types of challenges because I like to read at my own pace and I feel like it is always a rush reading for these. But ! do love the Book of Mormon and the spirit that it brings. Even though I am speeding through it, there are things that are still standing out to me that touch my heart. Like when Ammon is teaching King Lamoni with simple truths about our Heavenly Father, the redemption of Alma, Alma the younger, and even Zeezrom. It also made me happy to know that even though you all make fun of me for my long prayers, that in Alma 34:17-27 asks that we always pray. And then in 28, he asks that we serve.

I am so proud of you and all that you are doing. I am glad that you chose to sacrifice 2 years and serve the Lord. I can see trom our phone calls and from your letters that he is blessing you for the service.

Your testimony shines through your

emails and the people of Washington can feel the spirit when you bear your testimony to them. I realize that there are ups and downs, even with a mission and that serving in the United States can be very challenging. But I am proud of you and what you are doing and who you are becoming.

Love you tons!

Mom