November letters from mom

November 2, 2024

 Hola,

Hi Em,

The wind is blowing up a storm tonight.  They say there will be snow by morning.  Last week was a good one.

Monday- I talked to my favorite missionary- that's you!  

Tuesday- work- I went to the temple afterwards.  I enjoyed being there.  I love the temple.

Wednesday- I came home at noon with a migraine- slept it off.  Amanda and Steele joined Madsen and I for dinner.  I baked bread and took some to my ministering sisters. Dad and Maleck finally came home.

Thursday- Halloween- Madsen and I made homemade donuts; I made chili and corn bread for dad.  Steele, Stockton, and Amanda came trick or treating. Dad and I watched a movie. My favorite trick or treaters of the evening were Eden and Siri Weaver- cutest witches ever, Hallie and Annie Shumway- adorable football players (she says hi- it was so good to see her), and River Miller and his two buddies (they were the CUTEST football players ever!

Friday- I dropped Maleck off at the football field at 8 AM, and I drove to Seleck and Leydi's.  I spent the afternoon visiting with Leydi and playing with Bella.  We even took a nap together.  That evening Seleck, Leydi, and Bella went with me to the state play-off game at Morgan High School to support Maleck and the Falcons.  We had a pretty good game considering Morgan was undefeated. After the game, Maleck and I drove home.  We arrived at 1:30 AM.  Dad and Maleck left at 2 AM to Arizona to finish his hunt- They are still there.

Saturday- I crawled out of bed at 11AM after Stockton visited with me for an hour.  At noon, I went on a walk with Julene- so fun.  Came back did laundry, cleaned up a bit, prepared my lesson for tomorrow, had a HOT bath.  Took a nap, went grocery shopping, stopped by gma and gpa's house, came home, worked on my lesson, cleaned the kitchen, worked on my lesson some more, and wrote you--- Hurrah!

Welt that's it for the week.  Tonight, the time changes- does that there won't be any time difference?  I don't know.  

Family update-

Seleck, Leydi, and Bella- They are doing so good.  Bella is the sweetest tempered baby.  I loved snuggling her.

Stockton, Amanda, and Steele- Getting along.  Steele's temperament is more like Seleck's when he was a baby- HARD!

Madsen- honestly, I don't know.

Maleck- I haven't seen him much this week.  He starts basketball on Monday

Dad- Grouchy except when he is hunting or holding Steele.  

Me- GREAT.  

I sure hope you had a great week, and that your friends are progressing in the gospel. I can't wait to hear and read about all of your adventures.  Please be safe and have fun.  

God Speed,

I love you EMMA

xoxxo,

Momma

Thanks for the video of you and your companions walking in the rain.

“Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

 6 Attributes of the Believers- Thomas S. Monson

1 & 2- Be an example in word and deed

3. Charity- The Savior brought hope to the hopeless and strength to the weak. He healed the sick; He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. 

4.  Be an example in spirit-that means we strive to have in our lives kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, and goodwill

5. Be an example of faith- It means that we possess and that we nourish the beliefs that will guide our thoughts and our actions.

6.  Be pure- which means that we are clean in body, mind, and spirit. We know that our body is a temple, to be treated with reverence and respect. Our minds should be filled with uplifting and ennobling thoughts and kept free from those things which will pollute

 "Life is perfect for none of us, and at times the challenges and difficulties we face may become overwhelming, causing our light to dim. However, with help from our Heavenly Father, coupled with support from others, we can regain that light which will illuminate our own path once again and provide the light others may need."

"I met a stranger in the night

Whose lamp had ceased to shine.

I paused and let him light

His lamp from mine.

A tempest sprang up later on

And shook the world about.

And when the wind was gone

My lamp was out!

But back to me the stranger came—

His lamp was glowing fine!

He held the precious flame

And lighted mine!"

November 6, 2024

Emma, you are a light- go share it with others!

Hi my sweet girl! I sure love you! It’s a good day for America- I hope the price of eggs goes down  now

Tomorrow, I am wearing a Gatsby sweatshirt tomorrow- it’s new- u would love it!  I hit my head on a table today- boy did it hurt!  The time change is kicking my booty. I miss sugar and bread- rice cakes aren’t quite cutting it. 

I hope to spend the weekend reading, writing and blogging- cross your fingers for me. 

I found $4000 in a retirement fund I didn’t know I had- cool don’t u think?

It has suddenly turned very cold here. Break out the sweaters.  

I have been sleeping with the stuffed animal you gave me- thank you!

Keep having a great week. You are always in my prayers and never far from my heart!

Heavenly has your wrapped in his arms- don’t be afraid to snuggle back. 

Love u so much!

November 9, 2024

Today it was warm after a cold spell. It was nice. This past week was somewhat uneventful. It’s the first weekend I have been home in 3 weeks. I cleaned the pantry, the fridge, and mopped the floors- super fun- huh!

Friday was my student teacher’s last day- she did a great job. I gave her an illustrated copy of the Greay Gatsby.  I know you are jealous

I only made it to the gym 2 times last week, but I did get some good walks in.  I saw gpa and gpa twice last week- one was literally a drive by hug.

Dad had the young men here for an activity Wednesday night. That was wild. I forgot how obnoxious deacons are…

Everyone is plugging right along here . Maleck spent most of the week working on his grades- he complained a lot about Mr Barton.  Madsen has decided he wants to go to law school so he is going to spend the next 7 weeks studying for the LSAT. This is good news. He is playing it super low key.  Stockton, Amanda, and Steele are all sleeping a little better- hallelujah! Seleck, Bella, and Leydi went to a big Latin culture event at the conference center today. They really make the most of their Saturdays. Dad is trying hard to be happy- my goal is to fuss over him A LOT’

I love you Emma. I know you must be feeling  anxious about the unknown, but please focus on the skills you have to help yourself. Deep breaths, tap your collar bone, Go outside and engage your senses.  I love you so much. 

While being away from home is not ideal during the holidays- what a great time to be a missionary- after all it’s the season of Christmas… its the celebration of his birth, and you get to wear his name tag- you get to share his story with others- how cool is that!  

I love you Em- let my love wrap you in a hug tonight. Sleep well best friend!

Talk to you Monday

Gos speed

Xoxo, mom

November 24, 2024

Wow, can u believe it? 10 months in the field- way to go! I hope you got my package with the new charm bracelet? 

I have loved seeing the pics of you and your new companion. You look so happy! What a special Christmas this will be for you as you preach about Jesus during his season- Christmas.

last week flew by for me. Basketball meeting, the temple, book group- the Great Gatsby. Maleck has his first game. He did great, but the team lost by two points. He did get a little playing time in JV so that was pretty cool. 

Today I  went on a windy walk with Julene, grocery shopped and then I drove to Panguitch with gma and aunt Jenn. It was Dallas fiancé’s bridal shower. Aunt Heather was very grateful we came. 

The wind is howling outside. I think it might snow

I love you Emma! Keep working hard and sharing the good news of the atonement!

Xoxoxoxxo, mama

November 30, 2024

Hermana Rigby,

Shall we call this the parable of the Christmas stocking? Today, I began yet another search of the house for the Christmas stocking. This time I enlisted Maleck’s help as we combed through the  boxes in the cold storage and the furnace room as well as closets and cupboards…. Nothing. I knelt down earlier this week and prayed that I would be directed to where I could find your stocking….. and nothing.  Yesterday, I thought for sure I might find it as I emptied the Christmas boxes and decorated, but tonight it happened. Out of the blue, I remembered I hung it in your closet  because I knew I would be mailing it to you. When I arrived home after the downtown lighting ceremony I ran to your room and ta da- there it was. I literally shouted with JOY. 

Heavenly Father answers all prayer especially for the mamas of missionaries.  I will put it in the mail on Monday filled with little surprises from the heart.

I hope you have enjoyed your week. I look forward to your letters and the spirit they carry.

It has been very nice to have some time this week to “recharge.” Tonight we celebrated Maleck’s bday as a family. I took a few pics. 

My heart missed you so very much, but it also so very proud of you for serving and grateful to you for showing me the way to Jesus.

Love you sis, 

Talk to you Monday.