Unexpectly surprised!

I didn't expect another letter for a couple of months! Heck! The last one took 3 1/2 months to get here!

I stopped by the mailbox to pick up what I thought was just going to be junk. I stared as I saw one of the letters.

All I saw was the small corner of the return address and the letters, "Eld. . ." But it was a stamp.

Only Jeff has a stamped return address.

I got another letter!

An unexpected surprise from my Elder!

Written 21 Marzo 2011. Received May 19, 2011.

Can you see my name?And he's using the pens I sent him for his halfway package! All three! Ha ha!

Oh my goodness! I have like a billion letters from you! :D (That's not a bad thing. ;) ) I also got your package(s)!! One had been opened, (the one with all the candy) but everything that was on the papers was in the package. So unless you put something in the box secretly. . . ;) These pens are amazing by the way!!! but. . . I'm going to stick to blue. Oh dear. . . Where to start? ;)

 

 Ok, that was fun. . . ;) I hope your interview goes [went] well! I think that's really awesome by the way. So you don't need to "think that [I'm] going to think that [you're] really funny for doing [that]." Ok, I'm jumping all around from letter to letter. . . Letter #1: Ok, I did get your Christmas package (finally) and I loved it! My companion loved his stocking too! Thank you so much! Ha ha! I don't know if you read. . . but now I'm like 11 hours from the mission home, but I may get changed before you get this. Reading my blog you probably get news faster. . . :/ So yes! I did play the cello! And I LOVED it! It was so much fun! Not a ton of people showed up to where we performed. . . but it was still awesome! I want to buy a cello. . . someday. . . but they're just so darn expensive! :(  Oh well. I'm glad you've got your car back! Please don't die. . . ;) Ha ha! Yes, the houses here are made out of brick and concrete. Ha ha! Mexicans don't eat cactus! They eat nopal! Silly! They thought I was crazy when I called it cactus. Ha ha! Prickley Pear Cactus! They eat the prickley pears too! (they're amazing actually I'm totally serious!) Ok, so I got to this area, and there in the first food appointment, there was this 11 year old kid. And I thought, and I though, "I've seen his face before. . ." but I couldn't remember. So the next time that we ate with them, I was thinking the same thing. And then, all of a sudden: ¡CORY! This kid has Cory's face! Only a little younger. . . it kind of freaked me out actually. . . ;) Then I was thinking, "I wonder how he's doing. . ." Then that led me to think, "What about cousin Mike. . . Oh! and Nick!?" Any news on the three would be lovely :) Oh my goodness! I'm so glad that you dream! Ha ha ha ha ha! ¡Ha! ¡¡Ja ja ja!! Your dreams always make me giggle! Where is your husband?! Ha ha! Ok, back to the year mark package(s)! Ha ha! Everyone was so jealous of the Pillow Pet! And all my favorite candy! Oh my goodness! Thand you SO much!!! Oh so where is Tristen going?! As I'm sure you know, Kevin's going to crazyland named country that I can't remember. . . Slovania/Croatia? . . . Something like that. . . So where's he going?! You know what I realized the other day? Out of all my family that've gone on missiones (cousins included) my mission is the closest to home. . . besides maybe my grandparents. Austin's going/gone to China?! Makay Wright also went there. Awesome! I met lots of elder going there in the MTC! last mission. . . So you hiked the "D" the famous "D" I did that once when I was like. . . 7? My grandpa took Kevin and I. Who did you go with? The way you wrote it made it sound like you went alone. Ha ha! (Oh random thought: tell Amber to write me! I haven't gotten one single letter from her since I've been out!) So you've buzzed your head again. . . I thought we'd talked about this. . . ;) Ha ha! I want a library too! In every house that I drew, there was always a library! But you're right I never thought about "stocking up the shelves" part. . . I'll have to work on that. Oh graciousness! It's hot here! I'm sitting at my desk (inside!) and it's 99 degrees F! I'm sweating a lake! I'm tempted to wipe my forehead with this letter just to prove my point. . . nah I won't. ;) but yeah, the heat here is kind of rediculous. There's humidity too. . . :/ (oh, back to Cory for a sec: Is he going to come home later now? Because he was at home? ok that's all. Play button!) I'm turning on the fan! That's a little better. . . I still have stream running down my face, but at least now there's a breeze. ;) Ha ha! Your mom wants to go to Guadalajara? I do too! I don't know if I could be the tour guide, but I could be the translator! I didn't go to the touristy places (or at least not many. . .) while I was in Guadalajara. Why does my brother have TWO phones? He'd better leave me at least ONE! ;) No, I don't think that you realize the beauty of the $0.50 sandstones all around you. I do. . . they're not all around me. . . Hey! it's April! and you're going/went to Disneyland! And yes, I have a new companion since I got your letter. I'll probably have another new companion by the time that whatever you send gets here. . . Back to Miss Utah! AMERICA!! Ha ha! Jk. . . actually come to think of it, no Jk. GO FOR IT! Do your BEST! Don't even worry about it. Just be yourself like you and Kirstie promised yourselves you would be, and don't worry about it! :) The only bad side is that this letter won't get to you until after the interview. . . oh well. ;) My sister competed for Miss Santa Clara and got 4th place (secretary or something. . .) I don't know how Miss Utah works. Ha ha! Your dad calls you beauty queen!? Ha ha! I love your family! Ha ha! I know how you feel with your nieces and nephews growing up. Alaina is going to be. . . 4? when I get home! And remember when she was the background on your phone?! and Garret was just a little round butterball and now, he's walking! He has been for a while now actually. . . Ha ha! You're worrying about the pageant again! DON'T! ;) You'll do fine! Just be yourself! Ha ha, I remember when my sister did the pageant. My mom came home and said, "I don't know how I had a daughter so beautiful. . ." Ha ha! That's about all I remember actually. . . ;) Hey guess what! I have a Mexican Aunt! Remember my cousin Jake? His dad got sealed 3 days ago to a Mexican! I'm so happy! There'll be someone who speaks REALLY good spanish! And I can practice my tu! I think it's going to rain! There's thunder outside! Maybe it will get cooler! ;) Kevin's mission has six countries in it! That's nuts! He says he think he'll be speaking Serbian! That's nuts! (too. . . ;) ) Hmmm. . . I was going to write something. . . but it seems that I've forgotten what it was. . . :/ oh well. . . . . . I'm hungry. . . I think I'll eat a pan, and when I say pan, I mean bread! ;) I don't know if I told you about the pan dulce (sweet bread) here in México. I think I did, but just in case I didn't. . . ¡It's AMAZING! and I love it, and I'm going to miss it! :( Oh, my goodness! Why don't we have it in the states!? I don't even know how to describe it. . . hmmm. . . there're some that are round with this sugary topping on it like this *picture drawn of pan dulce* This ones called a concha (shell) and it's one of my favorites! And it only cost max. $4MXN min. $2MXN. So cheap! Well, I'm going to stop talking about food, it's only making me hungrier. . . ;) Ha ha! This letter is SO random! Ha ha! Oh, well. I'll throw some pictures in it to make it more interesting. How's that? ;) Now I have to find ones that you haven't seen yet. I haven't taken many pics lately. . . There you go! Nine pictures! Enjoy! :) You might have seen some of these actually. . . and I'm also going to send some of these by email. . . So You might end up seeing them before this letter gets to you. . . Oh well! Hard copies are always nice to have, right? ;) Well, I hope all is going just dandily! ;) Sorry that it's taken me soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long to write back. . . sorry. . . :/ I'll try to do better! Well, enjoy the letter, enjoy the pictures, enjoy the money. . .? ;) Hope to hear from you soon! Don't forget to tell me how your interview went, and how Nick, Cory, and cousin Mike are doing (if you know ;) ), and have Amber write me! :D

My ten!!!

Airconditioners

Raid

frozen pudding

my companions

pictures

food

candy!! :D

popsicles

Awesome members!

Awesome Investigators

"Ha ha ha ha ha! I killed it! Bwah ha ha! doesn't this just remind you of home. . . Well maybe not your home, but it reminds me of my house! ;) but I won!" - Elder Gibson

"Welcome to Huetamo! They say that in the mountain, is a sideview of the head of Christ. Can you see it? If not, hold this up to a light." - Elder Gibson

"This is where we have our church services! On the second floor. I've never been on the roof. . . I wonder what the view's like up there. . .?" - Elder Gibson

"A river in Heietamo! There are always pigs in the rivers! We walk on the banks of a river to get to one food appointment. . . and the pigs make me nervous. . . they're big. . . ;)" - Elder Gibson

"A typical Mexican Park. They have a cement. . . Ground. . . and trees or garden area along the outsides." - Elder Gibson

"a few of the elders in my zone in the national park in Uruapan" - Elder Gibson

"Just chillin' by the river. . ." - Elder Gibson

He's wearing the tie I sent him for his halfway package! :D

"More national park! This is Élder Cuevas by the way. This was in his first change/transfer (however you want to say it) in the mission field we lived in the same house and got along great! he's a awesome elder!" - Elder Gibson

"Later that day after our weekly planning. . . The one falling on everyone else is Élder Sargent. . . ;) (Don't mind the weird facial expressions. . . E' Sargent caught us by surprise. . .) The Zone! (minus the Zone Leaders)" - Elder Gibson

I finally got it!! Written January 31, 2011 Recieved April 27, 2011

At this rate I will only get about three more letters from my Elder. It took three and a half months to get. All well!

Once again I will post that I have the solid and un negotiable right to take out some to whole parts of letters and packages to protect Elder Gibson's privacy as well as mine. I also ask NO evaluating and analyzing of his letters. Take them how they are. Any typos are not of my making, but simply the Elder's English going out. ;)

January 31, 2011
Nicole:
I've made up my mind, and I'm going to do it this time. I'm going to write this letter in a formal manner. (Or at least this page. . . ;) ) I recieved your Christmas package. It gave me great delight to recieve it all in good order. My companion was pleased to know that one of the stockings was his. Answering your question, ". . . if any of my recently sent packages have gotten to you." Since I arrived in México, I have recieved packages on: my birthday/Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now Christmas as well. If you have sent three, then I have recieved them all. I send my gratitude for each one. I am doing quite well here in my new area. My brother informed you well, and you inform everyone else very well. I am still expecting a letter from Élder Barton, as well as a letter from our dear friend Amber Schwan. I was ever so pleased to recieve the news that Élder Barton is once again Élder Barton, and not only Cory. I'm sure he's doing splendedly in Texas. Hhmnufmiffia. . . um yeah. Not what I meant. . . ha ha! ok that's enough for now. Don't freak out too much. Mike IS going to be back in a year, and I will be in a little more than a year. ( of course by the time you get this it will probably be less than a year. ;) ) I did call my family. I was going to use skype, but the family's computer where we were couldn't download it. . . darn errors! We were told that we could use Skype if we wanted to, and I WANTED TO!! but oh well it'll have to be for the next time. . . Oh! Christmas in México! Yeah the guy who hits people with a stick is in Germany. . . ;) Here, every holiday is Americanized in one way or another (the holiday that we both have) For example: Christmas: They have Santa Clause and/or El Niño Dios (the god child) who brings them presents (Santa is the Americanization) Then on the 6th of January they have the day of the Three Wise Men, who also give them presents. New Years: everyone gave us turkey, and during the whole holiday season, ¡¡Ponche!! this fruity punch stuff that's REALLY good! There's probably a bunch more, but I don't remember at the moment. My current companion is Élder Lopez. He's from Veracruz. Oh, I did get my memory card fixed. . . but. . . um. . . it's just that I take a lot of pictures. . . and um. . . I'm kind of running out of room. . . so. . . maybe. . . if you wanted to. . . maybe. . . you could send one anyway. . . maybe just slip it into a package. . . ;) SD or USB. . . either is fine. . . ha ha! I feel so lame asking you for one. . . ha ha! oh well. . . Oh! Élder Shelley wasn't my companion, we just lived in the same house, but he says the wedding's off because you don't like guns. ;) KayCee's married now too then? ". . . and then there were 8." Two down, I don't even remember who everyone else is that's left. . . You went to a random party!? with random people?!? in some random club!?!?! (Jk about the club. . .) Ha ha! I hope it was fun, fun new years! Ha ha! and you even went to denny's! Oh, please don't die in your car. . . you said your mom was with you. How did she react? she didn't have a heart-attack did she? ha ha, it's only funny because its over and nothing bad happened. I love the ward that I'm in! I'm glad you are (were) working hard at your job! More hours = bigger paycheck ;) And why are you stalking my mother. . . ? that's kind of weird. . . ;) Well that's going to be all for now if I want to get this off today so talk write to ya later!
10 things:
1. Blankets
2. Pizzas that are close to American pizzas
3. Watches
4. Clean water
5. pictures
6. running water
7. Electricity
8. chap stick
9. Mexicans
 10. Finger nail clippers ;)

 

 

My favorite stamps so far!

Easter in the 2nd year

This sent way late. I know he'll like it though. He won't get it for another month, but things got in the way and now was the only time I could send it. Here is the Easter package of his second year. That's so fun to say!

Of course the Oreos. This is the spring edition with yellow center

 

I only got to use one of these bags, they are delicious! Don't judge me! There was enough for the Elder and his comp. ;)

 

 

 

 

All the candy you've seen was stuffed into these color eggs. I ended up taping them shut, because they keep popping open on their own.

 

One for the Elder and one for his comp.

 These are eggs with Pop Rocks candy inside.

Water guns. . . Although I put plastic water squirters on the customs form. ;)

Awesome yo-yos that light up!

What's Easter without the big chocolate bunnies? Even now when I'm nineteen my mom still gets them for us. (I'm the youngest of five)

One for the Elder and one for the comp.

 I couldn't get a good picture, because they're rounded and shiny. This is silly string.

 

Kit Kats that look like bunny ears.

 

I ended up putting Easter grass, the Silly String, light up yo-yos, and Kit Kats in these. One for each. I couldn't make baskets, so I made egg thingys.

Two were used. They only came in packages of three bundles.

Can't go without a dollar store toy. He'll probably never use it, but it was supper cute.

Admittedly the uglies toy I was bound to find and stuff into this package. . .

 

There it is! All ready to ship! I will stuff in some Easter grass for the packaging. I would've taken a picture, but this package is already sent.

Just to say thanks to my mom who helped me to cram every last thing into this box. We spent a good deal of time playing Tetris trying to get everything to fit. The illusion in this picture is that everything fit. It did not. A great deal of packaging tape went into making this package seal up tight.

** I did add last minute the USB and memory card Jeff needed and asked for. Both were 4GB.**

Day Nine -- A picture of someone your can't imagine you life without

Gosh, I wonder who will be in this post. . .

 

Duh.

When I was a senior in high school I liked two guys.

One was my ex-boyfriend, the other my best friend, Jeff.

When I brought my "boy problems" to my mom she said, "years from now, when you have a family of your own Jeff will just be a memory."

This made me sick to my stomach, because I didn't want Jeff to just become a memory.

I couldn't imagine life without him.

It took years for it to hit me, but it did that day and many days after.

Day Eight -- A picture of your favorite sport

 

I have two favorite sports.

Long distance running and soccer.

I've played soccer since I was 6 and ran cross country 10th-12th grade. In 9th I ran long distance races on the track team.

My senior year is shown above when us girls took region.

I had gold race shoes. :)

Soccer is now more of a leisure thing. I only play it with friends, I'm not on a team anymore.

I was on club Spirit from age 12-16 and on club Juventus for one tournament and age 15.

I love soccer.

The sound of your foot hitting a soccer ball is calming to me.

I still remember the smell of grass on Saturday mornings,

How thick the air would get with anticipation right before the first kick off.

I played center full back and that was my world.

The only voice I would hear on the side lines was my dad's.

He was my coach most of my soccer career.

We both share the love of futball.

I love when we get going talking about soccer because it's like we're speaking our own language.

He taught me how to run,

How to head the ball,

How to dribble,

How to kick,

Everything.

He taught me to have a passion for something I love to do.

Thank you running and soccer.

Thanks dad!

Day Seven -- Someone who has gotten you through a lot

Everyone meet the guy I tend to talk about all the time.

This is my best friend of all time, Jeffrey Curtis Gibson.

Currently Elder Jeffrey Curtis Gibson.

This is him 6 months into his mission.

Jeff and I have been friends since 9th grade.

Best friend since 10th grade.

He's helped me through everything from family tragedies to self-esteem issues.

He always knows just how to make me laugh, or at least let out a smile.

It is always easier to smile around him.

I used to go to him for everything.

When he left I was a little lost, I didn't know who to talk to. This lets me appreciate him all the more.

And no matter how many times I complain and bother him he always pulls through for me, because that's just the person Jeff is. He's the most self-less, forgiving, humble person I know,

and he's gotten me through a lot!

Thanks Jeff!

Day Six -- A Picture that makes you laugh

The day I was born.

From the skinned knees to Scott's rollerblades to Tyler's doll face to Rebecca's squished face this picture is hilarious to me.

Most of the pictures that make me laugh are our family pictures.

This one encompasses our 80's/90's lifestyle. We had just moved into our new house in Ivins. I was about nine years old.

Mike is missing because he's on an LDS mission in Fresno, California.
I post this because I think it's important to remember to laugh, even if things are hard.
To find something that makes you happy when everything around you is sad.
My happy thing is, to me, my family. They are funny, sarcastic, and supportive.
But mostly sarcastic.
I love them.
They make me laugh.