S*N*O*W*!

I woke up with that song in my head and looked out the window to S*N*-Y*E*G!!!!!!!!!! (That's SNOW!) It made me happy. I love snow!!!! Right now the weather is like what we usually have in January back in Utah. I will buy a new coat soon though for the winter... Just haven't had time to yet! Yesterday we were in Peter because Elder Domanskiy had a meeting for all the district leaders, and I was on a split with Elder Justin Jacob Way from Casper, Wyoming. He is a redheaded, cowboy version of B.P. I miss B.P.!(Even looks a little bit like him. Ha ha!) We went and tried to have a meeting with a guy in his area, but he dogged us, so we just contacted. Elder Way is a funny guy! LOVES to tell stories and has a story for everything.... So I heard you met Yana... She says she sees you comment on a lot of stuff and she "thinks you're a cute mom." She is a nice girl here in the branch who speaks almost perfect English. She helps the missionaries out a lot. I love it here but still miss home. Sometimes people can be gruff. Russian culture- don't say please or thank you or "will you", it's always, hurry up, speak up, give it to me, etc. (Welcome to Russia) VERY direct, demanding people, but they don't think anything of it because that's how they grew up... I hope I don't pick that up here though...Still they can be wonderful and I have great friends. I got your Thanksgiving card! Thank you so much! It feels like forever since I have seen something Holidayish. I know I'm going to miss Thanksgiving and Christmas this year back home! Russian Christmas is on January 6th (because the Russian Orthodox Church said so), but the Church here still celebrates it on December 25th. Please don't send me too stuff to Russia for Christmas, as it is expensive. I want you all back home to do something fun instead of worrying about sending stuff to me! I already have the greatest gift of the Spirit with me right now. My emails have been getting shorter because President wants us to include more in our letters to him, because missionaries aren't giving him enough information. My emails home are still 3 times longer than Cody's. ha ha! That's GREAT to hear about Dad with the (potential) job(s)! Also it's cool to hear that Code is district leader! Millie was hungry, wasn't she? ;) How are Lee and Cole and KB? I just wanted to say thank you and a hello to all the people who have helped me before my mission. Special hello to Sandy Mustell in Alaska! Oh rats, time is almost out dang it! Gotta run!! Love, Blake