Hello!

So, some totally sweet stuff has happened lately! Rick's baptism is this Saturday! Yup, after nine long weeks of waiting...it's finally here! Paula's whole family is coming down. This is a huge thing for them, especially with how long it has taken him to get to this point in his life. It's even cooler because Rick wants to get the priesthood as soon as possible, in other words, the Sunday of his confirmation, and will be ordaining his son, Nick, and giving him the Aaronic priesthood. Yup, everything is going swell there. We're going over there tomorrow night to have fish, try frog legs and.......burn my tie. I picked it out. It's a slightly ugly tie that I found back in Lacey. I wore it a few times but that's all it deserves. We'll see how the burnination works out.

Stacy came to church! Even better, her member boyfriend, Andrew, also came...and his two sons and her son. Mom, the whole crew came to church. Yeah, they didn't stay, which I think that would have been great for the kids to go to Primary but we'll see about next week. I hope they like it! They've been the ones pushing Stacy and Andrew to come to church and our nagging finally got them there. It's going to be hard to get them to commit fully to church but with urgency and love and the Spirit, I know we can do it! And I know that they can do it!

Holy cow! It was thundering today. It never does that...EVER! My pre-game alarm went off at 6:20, and then, just a few minutes later, there was this bright flash, and the loudest thunder I have ever heard. Talk about the best alarm ever. The whole house shook and Kerr and I shot out of bed, thinking something had fallen. I was so shaken, I couldn't go back to bed. I was up and awake. It thundered a few more times, very loudly and I do say, it scared the crap out of me. Personal study has been going great for me. I've been looking for something to keep me awake (the Book of Mormon just isn't cutting it right now) so I pulled out my Preach My Gospel and started to study it...rather than just read it. I'm still working on chapter one, my purpose, and just having a blast. It's been nice, because I've been learning a lot more than I thought I would. It's really a great book.

Anyways, I've been doing good. This six month celebration has been trunking me out of my mind though. It's hard knowing I've still got 18 months to go, but I shouldn't look at it that way. Our motto says: "Faith is the Power, Love is the Motive, Obedience is the Price, the Spirit is the Key, the Restoration is the Message, the Members are Means, Christ is the Reason, Baptism is the Way, and Joy is the Reward." After studying Preach My Gospel, I've seen that obedience is not the price we pay, but the privilege we have. It is the opportunity to be more Christ-like now then we ever will in our lives. Yeah, I miss movies and video games...still, but the fact is, they'll be home when I get home. Seriously, what am I worried about. Nothing.

Transfer calls are on Saturday, and I'll find out what's going on. I have a sneaking suspicion that Kerr and I will be doubled out. Hey, maybe I'll go District Leader. The reason why I think I'm leaving is because I believe I've learned what I was supposed to learn while in Olalla. Relax, take a deep breath, and don't freak out at every small thing. Stop whining for sympathy and just get out there and work! That's what I've learned, and I believe that I'm leaving because I've learned it. But will see.

Well, I love you all. Thank you for your support. Hugs and handshakes to you all.
--
Elder Courtney Casselman

Still Alive