May 25, 2009

Hey Mom,

I also think it's great that neither of us were transferred. I will be honest that I am NOT looking forward to either of us being transferred ever really. You know I'm just not a huge fan of change and getting to know new people but oh well. Yes, consistency is good, very good. Although I must say I don't really notice the big change that's happened since I left home unless I really think about it. I'm just going about life doing stuff, it doesn't seem all that different except I can't be lazy ;)

Yep, the duet went great and thanks for having confidence in us lol. I mentioned that you get shaky too to Elder Neeley :) I sure miss playing often and having a large variety of music to play. I think you should send me some classical stuff if there is a book that you don't play very often you should send it in the next package just so when I have a minute I can play a song :)

I haven't made the cookies yet. I will make them during a lunch break and in my hour in the evening probably Wednesday and Thursday because the thing is on this Friday. So I want them to be fresh. I'm definitely looking forward to making them and I'm sure it'll be fun. I definitely don't have any Mexican vanilla to use. I hadn't even thought of that! lol, you shouldn't have said anything ;) I will let you know if I'm happy with the outcome next week :)

I got the package. Unfortunately the Cherry Cordial Kisses were rendered useless by the heat :( I was so sad! So next time you'll just have to send me money with a post-it or something lol ;) Or none at all, that's fine. It was still a good package. Also! I mentioned that I'm on a candy diet...well I decided against it (we hadn't told our investigator yet) so don't hesitate to send candy and stuff. I noticed that there were a very small number of pictures on the memory card lol but I did enjoy seeing them. The yard looks REALLY good! Looks like you are all doing well.

I'm SO excited for Aaron! Give him my best wishes ok...I'm near tears thinking about missing his farewell and not having him at home to write. Even though we can write from mission to mission it'll be much harder. *sigh* oh well lol I'm so excited for him! Please give him a huge hug from me and tell him good luck and tell him I love him. Thanks for attending :D

That's AWESOME that Kody's concert was Wednesday. I was so bummed I had to miss it, especially since he had a solo. I'm so proud of Kody for having the guts to do a solo :D I'm sure he did amazing! I'm glad he did such a great job.

Sounds like you enjoyed teaching school. Although I'm sure it was hard like you said with school getting out but they always seem to respect you and do such a great job. I miss getting to pop in on occasion lol.

Yard work...I don't miss weeding...I do more than enough of that out here. I definitely miss mowing the lawn though lol. I saw those pictures of the house/yard and it looks really good. I'm looking forward to more pictures of that and people as well. I'm excited to see how the side hill is doing! I've been wondering how long it'd take to fill itself in.

I love you back.

Love,

Elder Jay Davis

Hi Dad,

I'm doing really well. We're teaching plenty of people. We had 3 progressing investigators this week and have plenty of other investigators that just weren't progressing this week. There are a few that we are VERY excited for. They are SO close and I'm very excited. Hopefully by the end of the transfer we'll at least have a date set for baptism.

Oh Kody :P He didn't need to tell you that I'm feeling mail deprived. I am still getting mail so don't you worry. I know you are trying very hard. You are super busy with work and I wasn't referring to you. I was more referring to my friends and people who I've written and haven't heard back from yet. Oh well, I'll be patient ;) So don't feel bad, that was NOT my intent! lol And like I said, of course I know you're trying
:)

I do have the memory card :D I'm glad to have it though I probably won't use it for a bit. I'll take a few more pictures on the first one and maybe a video of where I live and what not and then I will send it home even though it won't be full. Then you can back up the pictures at home and send me the card back with some pictures and videos from home. I definitely liked the pictures you put on it though I wish there had been more ;) The ones on it were awesome though. Things at home look great! You have Kody's performances on a card?! WOOT! I'm SOOOOO excited because I was going to suggest that but didn't know if you'd have had it recorded! That just made my day! Maybe I'll hurry and take some pictures and videos and send that card home fast lol.

I know I would have been so proud of Kody! Mom mentioned that he did well and I was just SO proud of him! That's pretty funny that you were so nervous. Even more nervous than taking me through the temple? ;) Yeah, he definitely had a stressful first solo experience. He has WAY more guts than I have! Although I guess I did sort of have a trombone solo once...sorta lol. "All of his friends surrounding him," what a powerful phrase! I SO miss that aspect of choir...ahh well lol I'm so glad they all did such a great job. I am glad Kayla's song went well.

I bet you think of your dad a ton on Memorial Day but I guess that's a good time to be able to think of him :) I'm definitely glad that Kody and I got a chance to know him as well :D What awesome memories. I remember him sitting outside of space mountain with us because we were too chicken to go. I remember feeling SO bad because he was SO bored and let down that he couldn't go. *sigh* lol

It's ok that you won't be at Aaron's farewell. I have to tell you that I am so proud of my family and how well they support all of my friends. I wish so much that I could be there to support them but I'm glad that since I'm not you guys all do.

lol, I'm not all that surprised that you got choked up at the end of your last time teaching in Elder's Quorum lol. hahaha, I'll never miss going to Elder's Quorum. I still don't like it, I spend the whole time wishing I was in primary. Oh well. You'll get to see other Elders instead...no worries.

We haven't had rain for a long time and from what I've heard we probably won't have like any again until October ish! Holy smokes! Luckily we have a car for air conditioning in this incredibly warm weather! It is SO hot here. It is very hard to stay motivated and get out there to do the work, but that's ok, we are still doing it lol. It's been up in the very high 90's here and that's probably the coolest place in the mission so I'm VERY thankful to be in Foresthill and have a car! Wow it's hot at home too. What I would give for more dry heat though lol


I could play another duet in church I'm sure but I think I may see if I can play a solo this time. We are having pretty good success with a few people and the discussions though we are still struggling to reach the mission standard of 20 lessons a week. We only got 10 today which isn't very good out here. The exchanges went very well. We planned out a full day. Most of the morning stuff didn't work out but that's typical up here on a weekday since people are working. Elder Mears is
6'8" so that was pretty fun lol. But everything went very well and we taught two very good lessons.

I don't remember what I'm being careful about but ok :) I will be careful. I definitely remember your revolver story lol! Oh I understand lol. Well I'm going on exchanges this evening and tomorrow day with a zone leader but I don't feel like I have to impress him or anything so no big deal. He's just going on routine exchanges not to see if I can be a trainer or senior companion (phew)

Thank you for your encouragement and excitement for me. I am definitely grateful for the people in Foresthill who have taken me in also!

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Thanks for the quote from President Monson and the Music Man. I love both him and that musical lol.

I have definitely come to treasure my talents more and more and I really am enjoying my missionary service out here.

Love you tons, no need to be humbled to be my dad lol You did/do a great job.

Love,

Elder Jay Davis

Dear Family (and whoever else),

I needed a haircut :D So I let my companion do it. He has a really nice clipper thing. REALLY nice. So I wasn't worried and I trust him. Well it's pretty short and it's nothing like I've ever had before but it looks good.

Love,

Elder Jay Davis

May 11, 2009

You are very welcome for the birthday and Mother's Day cards :D I hope you liked them. You sounded like you did when I talked to you on the phone. I'm glad you guys had fun listening to my tape. Interesting the things we take for granted eh? I was pretty sure you'd all think it was just really stupid. I would think it was annoying to hear my voice ;) j/k

I agree that we were fortunate to talk so close together and it is DEFINITELY doing to feel like an ETERNITY before we get to talk again but that's ok That'll make the tapes more useful ;) It will make it more fun to talk to you at Christmas for sure though.

The past few days have been SO nice out here. Today it's in the 80's! It's hot in the car but really nice when you're outside.

Alright, well have a BLAST in Miami even though you'll probably just be in meetings and dinners the whole time lol Oh and good luck with the stake training meeting at the BYU stake :D

Sounds like work is the same as always and at least the economic struggles will basically ensure that your guys do what you ask them to and the quantity of work to do is also good :)

I'm glad you enjoyed the cassette tape :D It made me laugh to try to picture you trying to come up with things to say. I'm glad you liked the stories. Hopefully I can come up with some good interesting stories again. My journal is really hurting because I'm just so worn out at nights that I don't want to write.

I am definitely happy and doing well :) I still miss home but not in a "homesick" way. I am glad that I haven't been homesick too.

We are going to play the piano duet this coming Sunday, May 17. It should be pretty good. Thanks for wishing us luck. I don't think I'll have any problems.

That's awesome that you and Grandma are still having your little outtings with each other. Well I hope that Taco Time is good again when I get home ;) Chili's sounds delicious for sure.

I love state choir competitions! I was so jealous when I heard that my friends were there! Kody told me Aubrey was there but he didn't tell me that she pretty much spent the day with you all! Sounds like you guys all had a whole bunch of fun :) HOLY COW! They didn't sing until 8:30?! Well that's unusual but cool :) Sounds like games were fun too.

Yard work...my favorite ;) Actually if it's mowing the lawn I love it. I'm stealing that back from you when I get home ;)

I think you said a pretty good amount for having just talked to me yesterday :) Sorry for the delay on my emails. Today, as you know, was when we found out about transfers so we left the house early before we had time to email. At least it's not as late as last Monday lol.

I love you back, and definitely miss you. Thank you for you constant support.

Have an awesome week. (Even though it isn't important I'm definitely looking forward to that package lol)

Love,

Elder Jay Davis

P.S. - You're probably wondering about transfers huh...well I'll send an email to all three of you at once telling you about it so that it's fair and nobody has an advantage...plus it's fun to build the anticipation...muahahaha!

Dear Family,

I'm not being transferred so the address you have is still accurate. I'll be in Foresthill another 6 weeks.

Love,

Elder Jay Davis

May 4, 2009

Well I just closed the window by accident so I have to start over. Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I really was bummed out that I missed it. You'll have something coming soon I just have to get it finished up and sent off. Sorry about the delay.

I am doing really well. Thank you so much for going out and getting me a memory card even though it didn't work. I wish that a HD card would have worked for mine ;) I'm surprised at the nice cameras some missionaries brought with them...they're pretty crazy lol Kody is one lucky duck ;) Hand-me-downs pay off sometimes eh? ;) j/k Anyway, thanks for putting in the time and effort to get me one :) I'm looking forward to the surprise of what'll be in the package lol :) The surprise is the best part I think (I know you don't like surprises but it's fun to open it and not know quite what to expect).

We are definitely having plenty of opportunities to share the gospel even if it isn't really in the way we'd like at this point, but that's ok :) I'm sure you are right that here in the next little while (in relation to my mission it'll be a little while but could be months). I will definitely continue to be diligent in following the mission rules and doing those things that'll help me stay prepared to share the gospel.

I'm pumped to talk to you on Mother's Day. Alright...I have to remember what Elder Neeley and I decided...one moment please. Okeedokey, his family is going to be out of town so he's going to try to arrange another day anyway. So we are good for any time but we just have to know SO since I won't be emailing again before then let's just say 4 p.m. your time (I have to remember that it's 3 here lol) and if you will call that would be awesome. We'll get 45 min.

I have played through the duets with the lady once. I made yet another copy that I shouldn't have but it's all I can do. Anyway, we'll perform this month sometime :)

We have unfortunately not been able to kill any wildlife with our car yet lol. Don't worry we are being safe and we won't get killed. We have learned to find ways to have fun :)

Sounds like a very crazy week at work but it sounds like despite the stress you've actually somewhat enjoyed it just by the way you talked about it. Sounds like things are going well though and I'm glad that in these hard times you have some pretty good job security :)

Miami again :D It's a good thing you aren't going to be gone for Mother's Day, I would have been very upset ;)

It's been raining a TON here too! We've gotten about 4 1/2 inches in the past four days ish! I love it. I used to hate rain, but I've grown to really enjoy it. Although I'm not a fan of tracting in it ;) I'm glad the flowers are happy lol

I'm glad that we are a family as well. I missed Mom's Birthday tremendously and have been thinking about it for the past three weeks and have probably driven Elder Neeley nuts. I missed spending her birthday with you guys. I'll definitely have to wish her happy birthday on the phone!

Definitely smiling often. I'm learning to laugh at myself even more than I did before. Things are great and we laugh a lot.

Love ya tons!

Elder Jay Davis