Pictures that just had to be shared!

The famous Duomo in Milan!
Not really sure the name of the places these pictures were taken, but wanted to share anyway!
Kayla is winning over many people with her famous sugar cookies!! Everyone loves them!

This is the daughter of the couple Kayla spent Christmas with.

A day away from the snow!

Who could resist listening to the message these beautiful missionaries have to share? Genova, the port city.
Genova...doesn't really need any words does it...
Makes you remember they're still just kids!
How "Italian" is this?

Finally pictures!! She sent so many I had a hard time knowing which ones to post, so I picked the ones that were most "Italian". Kayla's email was so fun this week. She is doing great! Here is some of her letter...

Here is the story of Genova. So we took a train really early in the morning (7) so it meant we gad to get up at 5. Not very fun. But worth it. So, we get our train, we talk to one man just before we got to Genova and then we met up with Sorella Harris, Moreno, Doxey, Smith and our "tour guide" Roby. We went to the royal palace there, then to their Duomo which is striped black and white and nearly every stone is stolen from somewhere. In world war II a bomb was dropped on the roof and it busted it and fell to the floor, but it didn't explode! So, we saw the bomb and then ate at the best foccacia ever made! Its famous in Genova, foccacia and ravioli. We were walking to get food and this man walks onto the street carrying a painting, huge and still wet, on his back up the street! Only in Italy. After playing in the sun (its so warm there) we came back to frigid Torino and ran to do email.
I was reading your letter (I print them off) as we were walking to the tram to get home and I sat next to this woman who looked normal and I thought, why not ask her about her mom. So I did and we ended up talking about how she had just gotten back from visiting her mom in the hospital (she has cancer) and was near tears. Then I asked her about her family here and she has a daughter with 2 kids and she talked about how her son was killed at age nineteen and showed me his funeral notice. It was about 1993 when it happened. She almost cried and I bore my testimony of eternal families and how she can be with her family forever and she was so sweet! I gave her a pamphlet and she asked me if this was my number on the back (our number is always on the back) and if she could call it and I of course said yes and then I asked if I could have her number and she game me two! I had to get off, but she was so sweet mom! She called us when we got home with another umber because she wanted to make sure I had one that worked! So, we are going to try and meet her next week, but I've talked to her twice since then. She is doing good and really wants us to come over! I am so thankful for you, I was thinking about you and your letter and because of that I was able to meet Luccia!
In Torino there are not very many Italians. In fact, its really rare to teach one. Most everyone in this area is from Morrocco, Africa, Romania or China. Its quite the mix. The work here in Torino is crazy! We had 8 investigators at church!!! Amazing, eh? I can't even believe it! I'm so grateful. Our days are packed full and I love it.

Ice Fishing at Yuba

Humans are really silly, why else would we stand out on a frozen lake, freezing temperatures, and stare down a small hole watching for our fishing line to move in hopes of catching a fish? Yes that's what we did last Monday with Kambren. It was one degrees at Yuba and no sunshine, and our mil worms froze in their cup. We could tell the fish weren't moving much because everyone kept walking around drilling new holes... So when Kambren pulled this huge perch out we really got excited! It was 11 inches long and really fat:) I took pictures of the ice crystals that covered the ice because I thought they were really cool. Luckily we didn't have to stay long after he caught his fish, but headed home and had one of Jay's awesome breakfast burritos. Kambren fixed his fish for dinner and shared a taste with whoever wanted some, quite tasty.

Jaisha Scores!

So how exciting is it when my freshman gets to play in a varsity game and she SCORES!!??!! Yep, two baskets! It was so fun and she was so happy. Even the seniors told her good game Jaish...! Great confidence builder;) Watching girls basketball is a riot! Now the boys just look boring...heehee... The girls are much more physical, they sneak in some wrestling, soccer, karate, and football along with basketball!!! Oh ya, that would be Jaisha making one of her shots!

Snow in Italy

A surprising six inches and still snowing according to Kayla. I guess it is a little unusual and her companions first experience of so much snow, so they are building a snowman on p-day! She is from California. It made the holidays seem like home for Kayla. She had a great Christmas and even had the chance to go see the Forgotten Carols performed in Italian. She loved it! The holidays aren't quite over yet she tells a little about them:

There is a couple of huge celebrations at the new year. First, the day before new years, then new years, the day after (3 days to get over the hangover;) and the the 6th is what is called Befana. Its a tradition that no one really knows where it originates but the jist is this...an old woman who looks like a witch helped the wise men find baby Jesus and somehow the tradition of stockings full of candy for the good kids and coal for the bad is incorporated. Its crazy, but Barbara our investigater gave us one after dinner last night!

Did I tell you that Lorenzo Snow served here in Torino too? Yep! He didicated the work for Italy on Mount Brigham which is in my area and if i'm here in the spring (hope so!) we can go see it! Read his story if you get a chance because the people and the area haven't changed a bit.

I love the Be Bold pins! (our Bishop Ashton handed these out last year to the members in our ward and issued us a challenge to be bold and share the gospel) If you read about Amulek and Alma in the Book of Mormon, they were the BOLDEST missionaries I have ever heard. Sometimes the people only get a split second chance to hear the gospel, thats why we talk to as many people as possible. But, if you think about it too much as a missionary it starts to weigh on you and you start to get a little discoraged. So, the trick is to use it as an inspiration to talk to everyone you can and if you can't talk to some people, thats when you little brother gets sent on his mission to catch the ones you missed!;) But seriously, even at home, use it as inspiration. The end is near, but that doesn't mean we have to run around all crazy like, just be steady and constant at working toward good. Thats what I do! Yesterday we (companion) and I were talking about stuff like this. The mission is like a mirror. We see everything we like and don't like about ourself from our eyes and from our companions and we get the chance to repent and change the things we don't like and improve what we do. I have learned alot about me and frankly, I drive me nuts sometimes! But I've learned more of my talents and the things Heavenly Father has given me to work on and improve and become happier.

So this is just a little of her last email, and I think she sounds great! She is just too slow to send pictures to me! Hope you enjoy reading about Sorella Wilcox!!

Christmas Fun!

Christmas seemed to come so fast this year! We started with the family party at Granny Thora's..
The little kids are so fun to watch with Santa! Granny's house was pretty crowded but somehow that made it even funner.


Santa found our house without any problem. We are quite blessed every year to be able to spoil our children. One of the best highlights of the season was being able to attend the program Savior of the World with our YM & YW. If any of you get a chance to attend, don't miss it!!

This program was the best way to begin the Holiday Season. I think it's great to take our youth to the temple every chance we get! They need to feel the spirit as often as possible!
The BEST GIFT EVER was the telephone call from Sorella Wilcox!! She called about 10:30 and was able to talk for forty min. I shared a few with the family but pretty much kept the phone in my hand! She sounded great and we both cried most of the time! She spent the day with an awesome family and really is happy. She spoke Italian to her Dad and he was very impressed. I will post pictures as soon as I get them. We all missed her this Christmas, but we are so proud of her. Thanks to all of you who remembered her and sent her cards!
The traditional Christmas Eve pj's! Kayla said she bought her some too! Grandma Dorothy gave chocolate and money! Oh and how can I forget to share a picture of my birthday present? King Crab Legs and Shrimp!! My hubby loves me!!