The times, they are changin'...literally!

Mama, Daddy, and Chris...hey y'all!!!

First...Sarah, I hope you're reading this!!!!! California Oakland/San Francisco Mission, woohoo!!! When I read your note, I felt that same feeling when I opened my own mission call--you'll be serving in the perfect place for you! I've also learned that, not only are you called to serve in the right place, but your mission president and his wife are perfect for you, as well. I'm sooooo excited for you!!!!! San Francisco is such a cool city, and the Oakland Temple is one of my favorites! And you'll be speaking Spanish!!! How cool is that?! Oh my goodness, you are going to have to send me your addresses so that we can share all our missionary adventures! I can't believe you enter the MTC next week!! I absolutely loved the MTC! Yayyy, sooooo exciting!!!

Anywho, everything is still good here in Mars Hill! Apparently, this is a harder area than some of the others in our mission, since it's a little more well-to-do. (I guess you could call it Atlanta's Scottsdale? Only much more Baptist.) We've been going through all of the former and potential investigators in our area, to see if they're still interested in talking with missionaries. We'll also be doing a "blitz" with our whole district tomorrow--Sister Fine and I have picked out some streets, and each companionship in our district (there are four total companionships) will tract on about two streets each. Hopefully we'll find someone who is prepared to receive the gospel--we just need to have faith! Not only faith in Christ, but faith in ourselves, as well!

Guess what?! We're only two hours apart now! It feels sooo weird...we got up this morning to exercise, and the sun was coming up and the birds were singing, when only two days ago, it was completely dark out. Crazy!

Last p-day, we went grocery shopping right after e-mailing, and the first thing we saw when we walked into the Walmart was a giant Christmas tree...it made me happy! And Sister Fine and I have broken out Josh Groban's Christmas CD to listen to in the car, yay! (We make sure to skip over "I'll Be Home for Christmas," though...) I love Christmas!!! I'm getting excited for Thanksgiving, too! Sister Fine and I will be eating with a family in our ward, the Mills'. They're a really fun family, and we're also going to try to stop by Dee Dee's (one of my favorite people!) for some sweet potato pie. :)

The weather here is crazy! It was freezing all last week...it was in the 40s and 50s most of the week, and I think it got into the 30s a couple of days. I've pulled out my winter coat and my long skirts, haha! It's supposed to be warmer this week, though (keep your fingers crossed for me!). Sister Fine laughs at how I am with the cold...she was talking about how it gets into the teens in January and February, and I must've had a really weird look on my face, because she just started cracking up at me, haha!

This past Saturday was the ward's Relief Society "Super Saturday." It was a Christmas craft day, and Sister Satterfield came to speak! She talked about finding peace in the holidays--how to simplify things so that we can focus on the real message of Christmas. She's so amazing, I love her to pieces!

How is everyone doing?! How are the kitties? I miss y'all sooooo much!!! Thank you for the package!!! It really brightened my day! I loved everything! Mom, you read my mind--I was going to ask if you could send me the seminary study guide! And that paper with all the quotes about faith was so neat!!! Thank you, thank you!!! Sorry, I feel like this e-mail is everywhere today, haha! But I'm doing really good--trying to stay warm! I'm so happy, though--I know this is where I'm supposed to be! There are hard days, but I remember what Dad always says: "Accentuate the positive!" :)

Love y'all!!!!!

Sister Crowe
xoxoxoxoxo

P.S. Chris! I've been meaning to tell you! We drive a silver 2010 Chevy Malibu named Shillings, and we have a GPS named Maggie. :) Just thought you'd like to know!