goodbye Forrest Frank...

 Another week, another email! I hope everyone saw some little miracles in their lives this week! This week was very long and very up and down, but we definitely saw miracles! 

Highlights:

️ mini exchange! I got to go up to Rio rico again for a day with Hermana Ayres! It was so fire even though we had a flat tire for a bit... we were still on the grind. And we got wingstop! 

️ this week Hna Woodbury and I smashed our finding goal! We really wanted to nurture people and teach them actual lessons (scripture, testimony, invitation, return appointment) before putting them in our area book, and we still found 11 people!! And the days that felt long got better when we actually went out and shared the joy of the gospel with other people! (Who would have thought) 

️ There are two awesome young women in our ward who are getting ready to serve missions soon!! One just put in her papers and one just got her call! They are both going to be amazing missionaries 

️ I know everyone has been worried since I told the story of my lost mac n cheese, but worry no more! My family sent me an awesome package with stickers, mini Jesuses, and... TWO boxes of mac n cheese!  the good kind too! 

Lowlights:

Gospel Library only........ yup our mission president nonchalantly announced in our Sunday night zoom call that we can now only listen to gospel library music  so goodbye Forrest Frank and other Jesus bangers and hello Strive to Be  i'm still in denial 

Bug of the week: we have a bush outside of our apartment that attracts all kinds of butterflies and bees - this week i saw a cool looking giant moth-butterfly-thing that was almost the size of a hummingbird! I looked it up and its a hawk moth! It was very cool.  

Spanish word of the week: tocar 

Tocar actually means to touch, but its used in a lot of contexts! You can tocar el violin, tocar puertas (knock doors), or it can mean its your turn (toca). I like the thought of tapping/touching the doors - although some people say "golpear puertas", or hit doors. Which is sometimes true. 

 Spiritual thought: we had an awesome district council yesterday (Mondays are my favorite) and we talked about giving people the ingredients so that the Spirit can cook. Which for missionaries means testifying of an eternal truth even if the person at the door says theyre busy - share some truth in 30 seconds! As wise Hermana Black said, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain! It might be awkward for 5 seconds, but if it means giving someone a chance to know about the joy of the gospel and ETERNAL LIFE, I think its worth it. 

We have this cool paper that our mission president gave us from Elder Renlund that I'll attach - its called the Missionary Menu and it has a bunch of options of how to get involved in missionary work!  Because members are also missionaries and deserve the blessings of missionary work too! So give it a look and maybe pick a breakfast, lunch, and dinner from this awesome menu! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! 

Also we have our two young friends Aneth and Belize who we're hoping to teach about baptism this week  please pray for them!! I hope you all know that you are making a difference to the people around you and that is awesome! Lots of love, 

Hermana Morales 

Emma Grace is 15!

Oh my goodess we love anticipating Emma's birthday every year! And this year she hit up her first day of marching band camp with this clear message- it was her birthday!! 

But first we definitely started the day off with some presents- 

15 going on 50! 

And some mid-day fun! Adam loved driving this car around... 

and Noah loved being the passenger in this one that says, "birthday girl!" 

We got to take Emma out for lunch! 

And then she was back to the colorguard grind. 

We still had time for pedicures in the afternoon

I'll skip over the picture where we're both getting jostled by our massage chairs! 

Oh wait- we got jiggled!

Love these still-summer toes!

After that, we had a ultimate girly dream come true- THE HAUL!! Some friends of ours were helping a shopaholic neighbor with her overflowing closet, and Emma and I spent a few fun hours picking out ALL THE THINGS! Prada, Dolce and Gabanna, Polo Ralph Lauren and so many more fancy brands and beautiful clothes- it was literally a birthday dream wish! We are both now rich with clothes that we probably never would have purchased for ourselves. 

Breakfast for dinner sounds perfect after a Chick-fil-a lunch! 

We can't really choose which memories stand out over the years, but Emma's birthday party this year will definitely be a top contender in my mind! 

She wanted to do a bloom bar and garden picnic, and it turned out SO magical! 

Recognize the dress? Leah gave Emma her graduation party dress, and Emma is quite a whiz at the sewing machine these days, so she made it her own!

Emma has such doting brothers- they treat her right! 

School friends- 

Church friends- 

All the friends! (And probably the only thing that kept this group from being three times this size was my insistence that she limit the invites.)

Emma made me a thank you bouquet! 

This was such a fun party- and a miracle that it came together so nicely, considering that I was out of town until about 18 hours before it started. Emma had a great vision and it came together beautifully! 

Traditional birthday pics! 

And the birthdate at The Chicken!  

I don't usually record the birthday compliemnts that we share around the table- three times around plus a bonus round!- but that is easily my most favorite birthday tradition of all those that we try to uphold. It is always so sweet to hear how relationships are growing and friendships are solifiying and just how much we love Emma (and each person, on their respective birthday). 

Since I didn't record those compliments, I'll keep on with the theme of the year- what the birthday baby doesn't like- 

Emma doesn't like being late. She is a pro at figuring out how much time she needs to get ready and out the door each morning, and I rarely have anything to do with it!

Emma doesn't like looking the same every day. She does an excellent job of styling her hair, her clothes and her jewelry in a way that switches things up daily! 

Emma doesn't like to be left behind or left out. That pushes her to try hard, practice more, and, ultimately, excel. She works hard and it shows!

Emma doesn't like to share without consent. At the very least ask, but don't expect that she'll oblige. Don't touch her mozarella sticks, her popcorn, or her ice cream. It's not for sharing. I'm confident that that will change when she becomes a mother, but if not, grandkids you have been warned! 

Emma doesn't like being seperated by so many months and miles from her best and only sister Leah. At all. Thank goodness for weekly video calls, regular voice memos, and daily emoji messages. 

Emma doesn't like to stay up late if she can't sleep in. She is a sleep hygiene queen who gleefully dives into bed at reasonable hours most nights!

Emma doesn't like the carrots in her chicken pot pie. Childhood me completely understands. 

Emma doesn't like the slightest hint of unfair. Like all of us, she wants everything to be fair (and who wouldn't say no to a little extra fair in their favor?!).

Emma doesn't like strangers- she walks into a room and always walks out with a batch of new friends. Whether it's at school, church, marching band, or pollinting, she makes friends easily just about everywhere she goes. I get stories about her new favorite friends on the daily- what a lucky world of people to get to know her! 

Emma doesn't love any food as much as she loves popcorn. Microwave popcorn in a pinch, but the good stuff with real butter and salt whenever possible. And, recently, she learned how to make fudge, so she is a delighted 4th-generation Sunday night maker of fudge and popcorn. 

In a family discussion, church conversation, or some of her classes, Emma doesn't like quiet. She jumps in and makes comments, contributes to the discussions, and makes meaningful comments on the conversations she is in. Emma doesn't understand why it's so hard for some people- her siblings included- to just dive in and make meaningful conversation and connections with literally anyone- her teachers, her classmates, her parent's friends, or visiting general authorities in our house. She doesn't realize just how good she is at it!

Emma isn't afraid to ask questions. If she doesn't understand something, she is willing to ask and clarify until she understands. 

Emma doesn't like girls (like that, ha!). She definitely likes boys and is counting down the minutes until she can start dating. And the options are plentiful because she is just so cute and friendly- see!!?? 

Sweet Emma Grace, you are so fun and full of energy and life and you absolutely deserve the names you are regularly called like spunky, sparkly, and a rambuncious gal. We love you so much little muffin! Happy 15th birthday!