Happy New Year #2

Loved Ones,

Hello! Happy New Year! Where did 2013 go? I'm not sure, but it went
there fast. I trust everyone is doing well. It sure seemed like it!
What a joy it was to see your bright faces!

I'm going to jump right into something now. I have neglected some
questions you've all had, and I am going to rapidly answer what I
remember while promising that I'm going to be better from here on out.
I have a system in place. Here we go! First, I did experience a Lox
cream cheese bagel. It was delicious! Thanks for the recommendation. I
just love bagels. They make me happy. Jase, your drawing of Link was
awesome! That was very good. Well done. Jacob, I enjoyed "Angst". It
was existential and profound. You have managed to visually represent
the teenage years. Now, parents need no longer utter the exasperated
exclamation, "What are they thinking?" Dad, it is just Elder Pulla and
I in the apartment. Having more than two elders in an apartment is
becoming a rare thing in the mission. Mom, for the rest of Christmas,
we visited several people. It was really quite nice. I've just drawn a
blank. That's all I can remember, and it wasn't much. Like I said, I
have a system in place. If anyone has had any questions that I didn't
address and you would like answered, please bring them to my
attention.

I'd now like to address my favorite Christmas present -- a Skype call!
Mom, I have to say that I am completely behind your vow to never spend
another Christmas apart. I walked away from the Skype call with a
determination that I don't like my relationship with my family to be
limited by time or geography. Don't get me wrong -- I am not upset
that we had to be apart this Christmas. That is just the way it is on
a mission. I'm actually grateful, because being apart has helped me to
understand how much I like being together. I have extrapolated my
feelings into the eternities and discovered that I don't ever want
time to be a limitation when it comes to family. If a Skype call
wasn't enough time, then a lifetime won't be enough time, either.
Thankfully, families can always be together. How grateful I am for
that!

I love you all so much! Really! Thank you so much for your prayers.
They continue to be a blessing. Keep being happy!

Love,
Elder McDonald