On the way to Women't Conf. in Virginia Beach!

Ladies Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory!

Tarryn Fairchild's daughter's photo opp with the missionaries!

Meeting up with old friends--

Anne Jacobson from the Nags Head area!

                               Peace out...until May!

The last week of April!

Hellooooooooooooooooooo :)

This week has been super good! Kinda long but good! 

On Tuesday it was fun we were able to take some of our investigators to the Family History center and it was cool to see them when they would find their family names! They would get so excited. The spirit of Elijah is real my friends! 

Wednesday was one of our investigators birthday so we decorated the inside of her trailer which was so funny! She had no idea. Yeah, we have a key....haha, jk. someone left it unlocked for us! On Wednesday night we had a really good scripture study class and its finally starting to get going! We've been doing it for a couple of months and are now starting to have solid turn out each week so that has been way fun to teach and be a part of! 

Friday & Saturday we were helping some members move which was great! We have also been working a lot with the other missionaries because at the end of May there is a huge Luau that is being put on by the Yorktown ward- there is expected to be a thousand people there, so obvi a huge missionary opportunity! With the other missionaries we have been making posters of all the missionary discussions for people to ask questions and look at while they wait in line for food. 

Saturday night we had a way cool opportunity to go to Virginia Beach for women's conference! Bonnie L. Oscarson and the General Young Women's Presidency came and spoke which was awesome! Sister Brimhall was so great to take us and one of our investigators there and out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory :)))))))) this is why Heavenly Father sent me to the East Coast. He knows that I am high maintenance and I need the Cheesecake Factory in my life. Hahaha. 

The weather has been really nice so we have had the opportunity to do a lot of yard work for members of the ward-and we are doing lots more this week which I am looking forward to! This week we also have interviews with our mission president. I am planning to drop LOTS of hints that I DO NOT want to be transferred from Poquoson in 2 weeks. We'll see how that goes :)

All my love, Sister Carlson

Historic Yorktown, Virginia!

Riding the Trolley in Yorktown.

Ben and Jerry's

Havin fun on the battle grounds.

These things that stick out of the hill so that the enemy cant get up the hill! 

They are like cement....

That awkward moment when our door handle just falls off..........

Inchy the inch worm :)

Breakfast at Owen's

some more of the view.....

The windows were super cool and all coastal like!

Wow we are haulin through April!

Como estas. This week was greeeeeeeat. Wondaful. where to start...we had lots of good lessons which is always nice. the weather has been beautiful and its hilarious because all these inch worms just started coming out of nowhere! We got back from exercising one morning outside and there was just a little inch worm at the bottom of my pony tail...of course at first I freaked out and then i was like hey you're a pretty cute little guy! :) we aren't allowed to keep pets though...so i took some pics, waited for my comp to get out of the shower, and then tossed him outside. then the rest of the week they were all over our car, inside and outside hanging from trees..they will randomly just be on our skirt or one of the Elder's ties....bahahah we are like obsessed with them they are so cute! good times. we name all of them "inchy." Saturday we went on exchanges and it was way good! I went with Sister Romney. She is from Idaho. We stayed in Poquoson and Sister Crawford went to Newport News with Sis. Romney's companion. It was super fun on Saturday morning some members took us out to breakfast on the waterfront at a place called "Owen's Marina"- we went around like 730 and it was seriously the prettiest thing i have ever seen! The sun was still coming up and the water was just like glass. I just sat and stared. I am so grateful Heavenly Father called me to labor in such a beautiful place :) Throughout the rest of the exchange we tracted and met some great people! Mostly, :) haha! Sister Romney is way cool though- we tracted into a Hispanic family and she just busts out the Spanish and has this full on conversation with them....I was just like hi....................I'm super white...........hahaha! I tried to follow. It was a fun day though! We volunteered at the nursing home and played bingo, and then Sister Romney played the piano for a little while and the old ladies were just jammin' out to hymns! I was laughing so hard. Missionary work is de best. and so is the gospel. peace and blessings!!!!

-Sister Carlson

Lots of hard work this week..

and still loving every minute of it!  

 Planting!

 Painting!

Missin' Kenny!

Making some healthy food!

And the letters begin to get shorter... :)

Greetings.

Life is pretty good here. I am tired but good. This week was a week of growth for me. Sometimes ya have those :) I started keeping a little journal where I write down what I learn each day. The highlight this week was realizing that Alma baptized himself......ya I didn't know that, haha. I also have a journal where I write something every morning that I am grateful for.........and then I have my normal journal. 

As i have reflected on growth + learning + gratitude, I just feel so happy! 

One of my zone leaders shared John 8:29 in zone meeting on Friday which says "And he that sent me is with me; the father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him." I have seen proven true in my life that if I do always those things that are pleasing to Him, I am never alone and I am pleased with myself. :)

-Sister Carlson

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!!!!!

 Cami throwing away her Born Shoes.  

They served her well, but it was time! 

 This is the Ethereal Cupcake place Cami talks about in her letter below.  

A little P-Day shopping trip.  

Easter hats and matching Easter Glasses!

No mail!  Message me or email me if you'd like her address!

A Beautiful sunny day in Poquoson!  This is their apt. complex.  

How would I know that?  Thank you Google Earth! HA!

The Easter Box made it!  With her Easter outfit safe and sound! 

This is what it looked like after the mailman kicked it to the other side of the country.  

Prayer Jars.  If you'd like to send her some slips of paper of things you need, 

maybe it helps more if missionaries pray for it! I think I'll try it!  

        The girls figured they would spread the word that Jesus lives as they drive around.  

                 It's mobile advertising.  Did I teach this girl right, or what??? HA! 

Now this week, the Elder's have the car, so I guess they will have to wash it off.  

Good thinking girls!

The Sister's hanging out with the Brimhall Family Saturday night!

                                       Easter Morning with a walk on York Beach.  

He lives!

Their neighbor made them Hungarian Sweet Bread for Easter....so good!

This was Cami's favorite meme.  She asked me to post it on her blog.  

Elder Holland is her favorite Apostle.  

HAPPY APRIL!! :)

What a blessed week it has been! It started out so great last week for Pday Sister Fairchild took us shopping and to this cupcake shop called Ethereal Cupcakes....................um ya best cupcakes I have ever eaten in my entire life. Which is a bold statement. I got the "Resurrection Chocolate" haha I was like hey how fitting for the week of Easters! and ya i about died and came back to life it was delicioso. :))))))))))) stay tuned for pics of that. Sister Fairchild got "The Snow princess" and then Sister Crawford was a little bit sick so she didn't get anything :/ hopefully she will get the chance in the future to try it though! I fully intend to go back to that place. Good start to the week. THEN, we found a new investigator which always makes life great! Sharing the gospel has been especially fun this week because everyone has been in the spirit of Easter so were able to share the Because He Lives video tons people and it was a great opportunity to talk about Jesus Christ with everyone we talked to regardless of religion! I never get tired of that video! I get chills head to toe every time I watch it. On Friday we had the opportunity to fast as a ward family for 3 members who are battling cancer. It was incredible to have such an important reason to fast because I wasn't even hungry! I don't know if it was the thought that I was fasting for someone who had trials larger than my selfish hunger or what but it has never felt so good to fast. That night we broke our fast with some members who had invited us over for dinner with a couple other families and they had a glow in the dark Easter egg hunt which was way cool! General Conference was everything I anticipated and more! I can't believe it has already been 6 whole months since the last Gen Conf.....but AHHHHHH it was so great! This morning during studies I was reviewing my notes and came up with 5 themes and my 6 favorite talks [I couldn't narrow the fav talks down to 5 so i did 6 haha!]

5 major themes:

1. Importance of temple marriage and family- This is the best way to obtain fullness of joy in     this life and the world to come

2. Gaining and maintaining conversion/Endure to the end

3. We are simply not enough without the Atonement

4. Focus on what truly matters

5. OBEY out of LOVE for HIM

Top 6 fav talks: [order has not been decided :)]

1. Kevin W. Pearson

2. Brent H. Nelson

3. Pres. Uchtdorf

4. L. Tom Perry

5. Linda K. Burton

6. Wilford W. Anderson

So yep. The church is true. Have a great week ya'll!

Your Sister in the Faith, Sister Carlson