Letters

I LOVE to write letters! I always have! I haven't always been that good at it. I hardly wrote my brother on his mission or friends on their missions, but when I am writing about how I feel, I can write for hours (and I do).

For Christmas last year, I didn't have much money, but I wanted to give Spencer something for his mission. So, I made a binder to hold letters in while he is on his mission. HE LOVED IT! He has written since to say that he had to buy a bigger binder to hold all my letters. When I gave him the binder, inside was my first letter to him. I wrote a second one the day he received his endowments (I'll tell you about that day later :)!) and gave it to him the next day at church.

A few months before Spencer flew to Utah to go to the MTC, I flew across the country for a job. I started writing his "mission letters" the day I left. I wanted him to have a letter soon after arriving at the MTC, so I mailed them before he had even left. :) Since then, I try to write him EVERY day. I've missed like 5-7 days in the past 169 days since he left. I tell him about everything! My job, my dreams, my fears, scriptures I've read, books I'm readings, friends, family, ect. I want to share my life with him, so I do, through letters. :) I estimate that I have written over 400 pages of letters! And he's only been gone 5 1/2 months!

Thankfully, I get letters too! Spencer does not like to hand write things since he doesn't have very good handwriting, but he writes me! His first letter to me was in response to the letter I wrote him the day he got his endowments. I love that letter! In the 5 1/2 months he's been gone, he has only not written 3 weeks. Otherwise, he has written every week. :) I'm learning that I'm very spoiled! I love it! I made a binder to hold his letters to me and I also keep all the envelopes since we write messages on the outside of the envelopes.

Our letters mean so much to me! Often times, when I'm having a hard day or just missing him, I'll sit and his letters. They lift me up. :) So, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite parts of them with you...

"I miss you a lot but I know that we both need this time apart to grow both spiritually and in our relationship. I hope to receive many letters from you and can't wait to get them." 3/8/12

"It is amazing that in a week I will be in the field. I really don't feel prepared, but I know that the Lord will help me. He has helped me so much already. Last week I got really homesick. It was so bad that my district leader took me out of the classroom and talked with me... I will be glad to step off that plane and start my mission because I know that in about two years I will be stepping off that plane and pick you up in my arms and just holding you for ten minutes. I love you so much and will for eternity and a day." 3/20/12

"As I was sitting in the temple today, I was thinking about us and how that is our favorite place to go together. I was wishing you were there so we could go into the celestial room together and talk about life. I can't wait to see you kneeling across the alter from me and knowing that I get to be with you for eternity and a day. I was singing our song yesterday as I was studying. It still hold true that I won't let go. I love you so much and know that you are the one for me." 3/21/12

"I hope that your love for me is blossoming as much as mine is for you and I hope it will forever." 3/21/12

"You just made our day. We now have a plethora of candy in our cupboard. ... You have definitely made best missionary girlfriend of the year." 4/9/12

"Thank you so much for your testimony. I will treasure it up in my heart and maybe share it with someone in the future. Our testimonies are one of the most precious and beautiful things we have and as we share them they grow and help others to grow." 4/9/12

"Olive you so much. My love for you has increased so much that it cannot be contained. I say I love you .. (my full name) ... every night in my head before going to bed. A lot of the missionaries out here are prejudice against girls waiting for missionaries. Whenever I say that I have a girl waiting for me, 9 out of 10 will say "oh she will be gone within the first year." I tell them otherwise. I know better because our love is priceless and we have both prayed about it. So thank you so much for being an awesome girlfriend and I can't wait to see you across the alter in the temple." 4/16/12

"I love you. You spoil me so much and I love it." 4/23/12

"I love you so much. I always love this part of the week because I get to write the most beautiful girl in the world. A girl who will always love me and stay by my side. A girl that in always in tune with the spirit. I am so grateful we met." 4/30/12

There's many more, but you get the idea. He is head-over-heels in love with me and I am just as in love with him! His mission has only strengthened our relationship and made our love magnify! Wow! If I love him this much now, I can't imagine what it will be like when he comes home. :)

P.S. Hopefully, I'll get another letter tomorrow!