Dear Sam,
This has been the coldest February weather on record. Steph was here last week during a cold snap ... and it's still going on! I've taken to wearing fleece tights and Merino wool sweaters as an under layer to stay warm. We try not to leave the house unless we absolutely have to. Luckily, Dad can work from home. Unluckily, Josh is doing snow removal and has to leave early on most days. Happily though, our vehicles are working! Ha!
Steph left is with a new way of making hot lemon and honey from Tyler's arsenol of cold fighting remedies. Simple ... we use fresh lemons instead of bottled ... and it's amazing. A very comforting drink while cold fighting ... which we are doing. Especially poor Abby, who's nose is chapped from all the nose-blowing.
The other weird thing that happened recently was someone broke into the green mailboxes three different times. They took bolt cutters and snipped all the locks and scattered the mail. We're they looking for something? Or was it just vandalism? We don't know, but the only thing we could think of that might've got taken from our box was Abby's birthday cards. Yet on Friday, (three weeks after her birthday), weirdly, she got a super late card from Benson. A small happy maker and a tender mercy. Who doesn't like to get stuff in the mail?
Josh and I have been mudding the stairwell. My goal is to have the stairs finished by the end of the month. Slowly, slowly, our house is getting completed. It's teaching me patience, which is something I need a little more of. Mudding, sanding, priming, painting, then sanding and staining the wooden stairs tops and painting the risers. A little work every day will get it done, right?
The Bonnell's are also learning patience getting their house done but soon they will be in the neighbourhood. Ben and Dad went over Saturday to help put together their kitchen cupboards.
So this is a week of big news! Last week it was the announcement of Steph and Tyler's baby being a GIRL (whoop!) and this week, the church's announcement that we can talk to you every week if you want to (what? what? what?)! Details, please.
Also, another change in our home Ward yesterday was Graham Lambert being released as Bishop and Tim Purnell being called. His counselors are George Pomerleau and John Olsen. I like change. Change is good. You taught us this in your last email. How is YOUR change going? New area, new language, new companion. What else is different? And how is everything going?
Dad and I have been focusing on Joy lately and I learned something important this week. Joy is something deeper than happiness or fun. This is something that David Bednar said in a recent devotional...
"Joy primarily is spiritual; fun primarily is temporal,” he said. “Joy primarily is enduring; fun primarily is temporary. Joy primarily is deep and rich; fun primarily is shallow. Joy primarily is whole and complete; fun primarily is partial. Joy primarily pertains to mortality and eternity; fun pertains only to mortality."
Russell M. Nelson says that joy is a spiritual gift. Spiritual, enduring, deep, rich, whole, complete and eternal. I decided I want more of it. But how? Hebrews 12:2 says:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
So, if I'm understanding this right, the Savior was able to endure the pain of the atonement by focusing on the "joy that was set before him." I suppose that joy was knowing His sacrifice would save all of humanity and also knowing He was doing the will of the Father. It makes me wonder if focusing on joy helps us to endure hard things now? Like a mother in labour, enduring the pain of it because she knows a baby is coming. It's something to think about anyway and I like where this train of thought is leading me. I love the Gospel and all the trains of thoughts I get on because of it. It certainly adds a dimension of light I couldn't get in any other way.
Sure love you, Sam. Sometimes when I'm really missing you, I think about all the life experiences you are having and what it will be like when you are home, telling us all about the details. That joy helps me to endure your absence. So maybe there is something to this joy thing after all. 
Have a fantastic week! And maybe we will talk to you? Keep us updated.
Mom
P.S. Here is a picture of Sunday afternoon Dutch Blitz. Oh, and Gary and Sheilah Boyd came for supper last night. It was a good visit.
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