Things I Don't Want To Forget About Coming Home

 Dear Kids, 

We've been stateside for almost three days now and I can't believe how much my soul has missed being home. I know you all feel the same way! I want to write down some things that I'm so grateful for while it's potent in my mind - because eventually it will just become "regular life" again and I don't want to forget to write. 

-I feel so much the same as after I got home from my mission. My mind was so expanded to how blessed we are here in America. And it's NOT BY CHANCE. We did not become this blessed just "because" there is a reason. It is because of the amazing way the Founding Fathers set up this country for the WHOLE WORLD to succeed. Anyone who has done any kind of major study of the USA understands the miracle that it has been for the world. NEVER FORGET it. So many in the media right now want to paint the USA constitution and form of government as wrong. IT IS NOT. It is INSPIRED OF GOD. 

-The bathrooms ALL WORK! Wow - everywhere we go. The toilets flush so well. There's always toilet paper and toilet seats. They are clean. The bathroom stalls are SO BIG, I can turn all the way around in them. AND I can drop by ANYWHERE to use the bathroom for FREE! There won't be anyone who will be mean to me just because I ask if I can use their bathroom! The toilets flush so fast and efficiently!

-Customer service is a GREAT THING! The waitress at Denny's where we went to breakfast was so nice to us! The lady at Walmart was so kind! It's amazing how nice people are here.

-The streets are so big. The cars are so quiet. There aren't any potholes. There aren't any speed bumps. People actually obey the traffic laws. 

-The sidewalks are so clean. There isn't a bunch of litter everywhere you look. People actually use trash cans!

-I missed "my people". When Katie picked us up, it was so good to see her and feel her heart. When I saw Shirlyn again it was so wonderful to hug her so tight. I missed my family! Mesha cried when she saw me again. I missed everyone so much! I have an amazing community of people who love me and care about me and help me to succeed in every way in my life. 

-People aren't stingy about their napkins! In Mexico they never gave us napkins and when they did it was one or two really small napkins. When you ask for a napkin here, people actually give you a whole stack! And they are thick amazing napkins!

-It's so quiet. The streets are so quiet. There aren't loud motorcycles and cars and old beat up things all over every corner. 

-Especially getting back to Utah - I don't feel like I have to keep my guard up all the time. Don't get me wrong, I didn't feel "unsafe" in Mexico. The people were good and kind. But there was an element of "street guard" that you just have to have on all the time. It is the same feeling that I have whenever I go to a big city in the USA as well. You have just to be on your guard. But here in ST. George - we don't have to do that. I don't have to be on my guard everywhere I go. 

-There are evidences all over the place of how amazingly the GOSPEL LIFTS PEOPLE. When I travel to places where the gospel is very new, it is so evident how much the people need the gospel. When I go to places where the gospel has been there for generations, it is evident in the way the people ARE. In the way that we live. In the way that we interact with each other. In the light in the eyes of the people around us. The GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST is the answer to all the worlds problems! Because it changes people, in their hearts. 

I LOVE AMERICA. Kids - remember that YOUR MOM LOVES AMERICA! SO MUCH! 

We had an amazing time in Mexico - and we learned so much. BUT THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!

I love you, 

Your Mom