I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!


Just figured I should start with that this week, because it's true! :)  How do y'all always know what I need to hear? Thank you so much for your emails, I love them ❣️

So yeah, I'm training! I absolutely love it!! Sister Martin is my new companion, she's from Bakersfield, California. Well, she was born in Virginia, raised in California, and her family lives in Utah now, but she doesn't really consider that to be where she's from. She's super nice, and funny. I think we're going to get along great! She came out ready to work, and for the right reasons, which I'm so thankful for. I was honestly so concerned that I was going to get a sister who was lazy or wasn't here for the right reason, but sister Martin is awesome! I know I've only been training for a few days, but it's great. It's definitely harder in some aspects than I thought it would be, but at the same time easier. Isn't that how it usually is? It's always better to just jump in and actually do it, rather than try to anticipate what's going to happen. Anyway, it's great, and I love the fire she brings to the field!

On a different note, Denise and John dropped us. They accused us of killing people (because of transfers) haha! I don't hold it against her, because I know it was just her medical condition speaking, but it makes a good story! Really, she just said that she needs time to study for herself, though she hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon even with meeting with us. We told her we wouldn't do lessons for a month, and we hope she will (and John of course) be able to come back after the month, and I pray that was the right thing to do. We're keeping in weekly contact, and I just hope she and John will be able to progress again in a month. Everything really started deteriorating after the law of chastity lesson, which is hard because we thought the lesson went really well with them. Oh well, I put it in Gods hands as I continue to I love them.

Both of the people at church last week that said they were interested told us this week that they actually weren't. So, that came to nothing (for now) but we hope that they will be interested again sometime in the future.

Did you hear about the changes for missionaries? Isn't that awesome! The new missionary schedule has more freedom for us to do what we need to do, when we need to do it, which is a huge relief. Though, to be honest, it's not much different than what president Whitney already had us doing. He was ahead of the game! Haha, I love him so much. ☀️️

Well, that's about it for me this week! I love the work, and I love the precious time I have to be a missionary! I'm doing my very best, and though at the end of so many days, I feel overwhelmed with all that I'm supposed to be doing, and often inadequate, I know that I'm truly not. I know that the Lord wouldn't have called me out here if there wasn't something I was bringing to the table. I mean, Heavenly Father has chosen 18-21 year old kids (for the most part) to share his gospel. That means that he must be pretty good at working with shortcomings, and he must have a reason to do it. I think He's pretty smart ;) haha. Anyway, I just have to remind myself that Heavenly Father doesn't expect me to be a perfect missionary, but he does expect me to give a perfect effort. I know I have shortcomings in a lot of ways, but a perfect effort is not one of them. Which is interesting actually, because my perfect effort may be different on different days (and I have to remind myself of that on days when I'm down on myself). However, at the end of my mission, I'm going to be able to say that I gave it my all. Partly because I don't know any other way to give. God has called me to be here, and I told Him I would be. Therefore, I will give everything I can, never give up, and when I step off that plane in 15-ish months, I am determined to be able to hold my head high, with no regrets about how I served the Lord for the last year and a half.

I love you both so much! Thank you for being the best parents I could ask for, and amazing examples.

All my love,
Sister Erika Marks ❤❤

I got home from e-mailing, and checked the mail, and the Gnome Ranger
was here! Oh my goodness, I love him! Thank you so much! 😎 I was so
surprised to see a package from y'all, and even more surprise to find
a gnome! I love these little guys so much, and I think they're such a
fun reminder of home. If you really are sending one every month, by my
last companion, I'm going to have a lot to explain, haha😂 I love you!
Hope you have a great week :)

❤️sister Erika Marks ❤️

Hey!

So first things first, I got called to be a trainer next transfer! I don't know who my greenie is yet, I'll meet her Wednesday. However, I'll tell you about her next week. I'm super excited to have this chance to serve as a trainer. Though I feel the responsibility on my shoulders, I'm really not nervous because I know, from experience, that the Lord qualifies whom he calls, so obviously I'm ready. Otherwise I wouldn't be a trainer after only 12 weeks! ☀ I'm still in Azle, so you were right mom, no change in address yet! Sister Poulton is leaving, and I'm excited for her. We've had a good three months together, and though I'm going to miss her, I also think we're both ready for a change up. It'll be good to move forward.

So yesterday we had two members of the ward bring people church, both of which said they wanted to meet for lessons to learn more! I'm super excited to be able to teach these two women (both probably in their early 20s) and look forward to learning more about them as well.

As far as Denise and John, she's in her late 30s, and he's in his early 50s. I think they're dating? ... They've been taking lessons pretty regularly for about 5 months, but they're pretty "hot-and-cold". One week they understand the lessons and are progressing, and then the next week they don't like us and don't understand why church is important. ... It's actually really hard because I obviously love them, and want them to be baptized in February, but I don't know if they'll be ready.

I’m sorry to hear you've both been hit with the bug! Ech :( hopefully it'll pass quickly, and you'll be able to breathe again!

I'm sorry I don't have much to tell this week, I just really have nothing noteworthy past what I've already shared. We've been struggling to get lessons scheduled, so that's hard. We have a huge teaching pool bough, which is actually a very unique type of stress, as you have people, but they just don't seem to be making the discussions a priority. I'm excited to get the new blood in here, I think it'll help boost the work forward again! Hopefully she gets here ready to work and hit the ground running, because that's what we'll be doing.

I'm so excited to train!!! :) I'm happy to hear everyone is doing well. I actually got an email today from everyone, so I'm going to sign off early so I can respond to them.

I love you sooooo much!!! ❤ ❤
Sister Erika Marks

So every week, we email the ward a spiritual uplift email, and I wanted to forward it on to y'all this week. I love you! And I hope you have a wonderful week. I wrote this weeks, though I used the plural for everything because the ward doesn't know who wrote it.     ☃

Master the Tempest is Raging

Howdy y'all! (Look at that, you're rubbing off on me)

We hope you had a wonderful week, and may the next one bring joy in its wings. Something that's been on our mind a lot recently is staying true to the testimony and conversion you already have, no matter how much or little it may be. There are two great quotes that we feel sum up our thoughts pretty well on this point, one is from Joseph Smith, stated when he was merely a 14 year old boy, and the other is by Elder Holland.

Joseph Smith wrote, "I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." (Jospeh Smith - History 1:25. emphasis added)

Then Elder Holland declared, "In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited.... When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes" ("Lord, I Believe" April 2013 General Conference)

Throughout our lives, we will each have storms rage, tempests churn, questions arise, and hail beat down. These storms, tempests, questions, and hail can at times make us question the testimony we have. However, as Elder Holland promises, as we hold fast to what we have already learned (however little it seems to be) we will receive additional knowledge. It may not be much, it may not be a lightning flash of understanding, in fact, it probably won't be. However, the assurance will come as we show Heavenly Father that we are willing to act on faith when that is all we have left to act on. When the world tries to persuade you that it's not worth it, and that your faith is vain, remember the experiences you've already had. I love the idea given voice by Joseph Smith when he said, "I knew it, and I knew that God knew it". Once you have a knowledge of something, stand like Brother Joseph and refuse to let anyone take it from you. After all, God himself knows that you know, and you must behave accordingly. The great mercy in all this is that when we waver, when there are storms we feel we cannot conquer, WE ARE NOT ALONE. As the beloved hymn, "Master the Tempest is Raging" states, "the winds and the waves shall obey thy will, peace be still". We do not have to overcome our hard times alone. If we have wavered and maybe even strayed, there is a way back, and there is strength to stay on course. That strength is our savior and redeemer, our brother and master, even Jesus the Christ. He loves us each with a perfect love which will enable us each to return home again as we do our very best to do what Heavenly Father would have us do.

We love you each so much,
Sisters Marks and Poulton

Hey!

I'm so happy to hear you're doing well! I loved getting those pictures, it almost brought a tear to my eye, thinking of all he great times we've spent on the organ coast. I think it's so great that you helped that man that was stuck. That's the type of service that the Lord would do. He looks for the little things that others would just pass by.

Denise and John have a date for February 18th. We're really hopeful they will be ready for it, though there's definitely still a ways to go. Joe Warren is the other man we're mainly working with right now, and he's going to be interviewed for baptism in early March. ... Joe is one of my favorite people though, he is super sincere. His wife's a member, which is why he is taking lessons.
 
Other investigators we're working with are also good people. However, we've had quite a few first lessons, and we've scheduled times to come back, but they cancel on us. Most of the excuses seemed legit, though you have to wonder with some of them. We have high hopes though! As they progress, I'll tell you more about them. It's nice just to have people to work with, even if they're yet to be fully committed. You honestly can't expect them to be. After all, they don't have a testimony yet. I definitely haven't found any "golden" investigators, though I've met many amazing people who do seem sincerely interested. Not much more I can ask for there.

With all the canceled lessons, this week was actually on the harder side of things. It was partly because last week was super awesome, we were on fire! Then, this week was on the harder side of things. That contrast was real! We actually had a few investigators and recent converts yell at us. I don't blame them, and I'm not upset at them. I know it was because they have a lot on their plate, and we just ended up being the people that got their frustration. However, it was still pretty lame to have people I love so much accuse me of stuff. Oh well, they obviously have stuff to work through, and I pray they will be able to. I just want the peace of the lord to be with them.

Despite it all, I'm actually super happy with this week. I'd be lying if I said it was all smiles and sunshine, but I really did love it. It's easy to be consecrated on days when your lessons work out, and people are asking you to come teach them. It's far harder, and I'd say far more important, to be consecrated on the days where it seems the world is against you, and the only one that understands is our Heavenly Father. The days that will count most for our good, are the ones that at the end of it you are worn ragged by doing everything the Lord has asked, even when it would have been easier to just curl up into a ball and give in for an hour. Those are the days we must make our stand, call Satan out, and get to work! I honestly love weeks and days like these because it makes me remember the amazing missionary heritage I have, and I feel honored to walk even one rain soaked mile in the shoes of so many past Saints.

Speaking of rain, we had an awesome storm yesterday! And now today I'm sitting outside in a tee shirt writing you. The weather is beautiful and unpredictable. I love Texas. I love my mission. I love these few precious months I have to serve the Lord! I love you! :) ❤


All my love,
Sister Erika Marks ❤

p.s - Transfers weren't this week. They will be next Wednesday (the 25th) though I'll find out Monday morning what my fate is. If I train next, I'll find that out next Sunday night. Also, the office can no longer forward anything for free, so I have to wait to get it if it's sent there. Will you please put my up to date address in the ward bulletin because of that! Thanks!

Love you ❤

I love you sooooo much!!!! ❤

I'm so happy to hear y’all got back from Oregon safely, I can't imagine that drive taking so long! It's so weird to think that Garrett will be graduating so soon, that's probably even weirder for you! As far as the Oregon trips go, you can feel free to take me next year when I'm home. J

I'm sorry I'm going to keep it short today, there's not really too much to write about. The Law of chastity lesson went well with Denise and John, so it looks like we're on the right track! I'm excited for them.

This week we did meet a ton of awesome people! We now have a few families we're teaching! If everything pans out, you'll hear more about them next week. Right now though, it's still too early to tell.

And guess what! We got snow on Friday! I have some pictures I'll send. I loved it sooo much! Then on Saturday it was absolutely gorgeous. About 40 degrees, totally sunny, and a bit of snow hiding in the shadows. We went tracting that morning, and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face! The snow was a little late for Christmas, but beautiful nonetheless.

Anyway, I love Alma 26. It's when Ammon is rejoicing in God, and I just love the joy that Ammon feels. It's totally how I feel as a missionary. Even when days are hard, there is so much joy to have in God and the gospel. I encourage you to read it. It really is one of those chapters that just makes your soul want to sing.

I love you so much!! ❤❄
Sister Erika Marks

Happy New Year! 

I love hearing from both of you so much! Thank you for your awesome letters and those pictures! It's true, Texas BBQ is NOT done in the snow. I think if I even suggested that to them, they would shudder at the cold. That's awesome though, and very classic for our family, I feel. It cracks me up they were out there in tee shirts. I'm wearing tee shirts here, but it's in the 70s/80s... grandma wrote me, and was super grateful for all your help with the snow. It's crazy you had so much snow you had to cancel church! It must have been in honor of the day I received my baby blessing:)

I had a cool experience this week. Before I came out, Dad, you gave me the advice to never allow anyone to engage me in an argument about the facts of the church history. We were out at a part member's home, and the non-member husband tried to do just that. I remembered your advice to remember that if I did engage, I could win the "bash" but that it really wouldn't do any good. So I bore testimony, and knew that it wasn't worth it. It actually took a lot of self control, especially since he was being very careless in the language, and I could have so easily caught him in his own words. It was a very cool experience though, because it strengthened my testimony, and made me so grateful for the way you raised us to be able to think for ourselves! I've actually seen that a lot out here, as I talk with people that really cannot stand for themselves, but just cave to your words and ideas. "That's what I meant..." no it wasn't! Anyway, it was cool. And thank you for that!

Also, I found out I like Texas chili! That would be because apparently, though they eat beans with everything, in chili they don't! They always have no-bean chili. So, go figure, but it tastes really good! Also, I've seen rats for the first time here, but they're HUGE! Probably about 3 feel long, and I'd guess almost 20 pounds! Ew!! Makes me think of ROUS's from The Princess Bride. It's gross. I guess everything really is bigger in Texas. [Parental note: Really Erika? We need to see a picture! At first we thought more likely an armadillo, but you would know that. So how about a nutria? Just thinking!]

The other cool thing we had was we set a baptismal date for Denise and John! They're the ones that wanted to drop us a bit ago, and then decided not to. They still have a long way to go (law of chastity) but I think they're sincere, and can be ready for February.  

I can feel the angels here buoy me up. And I definitely believe that Brian is one of them. I feel so blessed to walk in the footsteps of so many valiant missionaries, pioneers, and saints who have gone before me! It makes it so even the hardest days seem wonderful as I feel myself maybe making a small dent in the history of some of these families, or maybe just the sidewalk... but seriously, I love my opportunity to serve. This week Sis Poulton and I were thinking a lot about New Years resolutions because we've been talking about goal setting with the ward members, and the main thing that's stood out to me is the need to decide every day what you want to do. It's not enough just to decide on New Years, but you have to make the conscience choice each day to be successful in your goals. For instance, I decide every day to be happy. I pray every day to be more consecrated in my performance, and to have an increase of love. As I ,are that choice each morning in my prayers, it gives me something to rely on throughout the day, rather than just something I said on January 1st. There's a lot of apostolic quotes and scriptures about that, but I'll let you research them yourself. I just want to bear my testimony of he power of daily choice. God really does help you through even the hardest of trials or life-changes as we allow his atonement to take full affect in our lives, and even just try to trust him. Alma 32:27. All we really need is desire.

I love you so much! I hope your next week and year is wonderful! I believe that you can do it!
All my love,
Sister Erika Marks ️

Hey y'all!

I am so happy I got to talk to you yesterday! It was so nice to be
able to take a few minutes to talk to everyone, though I so wish I
could have talked longer! It was awesome though, and just right. Give
everyone my love again, and I hope you each have a fantastic new year,
I know it'll be great! Just think, in a week I can say I'll be home
next year 😄😎

So yesterday was almost 70 degrees, but we got a blizzard today!
....... from DQ.... it's still 70 degrees outside.. 😂☃️❄️ I'm happy
to hear that you enjoy that Texas stuff. It's fun to have, and I'm
sure I'll come home with way too much of it! And say hi to Kristina
for me also!

Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and support and
love! I totally would have made you hot chocolate after plowing, but I
guess for the next two winters you'll just have to follow "Erika's Top
Secret Hot Chocolate Recipe" and think of me when you drink it.❄️ Thank
you so much for that awesome hot chocolate kit, I loved that mug, and
am excited to try the huckleberry hot chocolate!

That actually reminds me of a funny experience the other day! You know
how I was pretty much the only one that could get you to come in from
the shop when you were working hard on a project, dad? Well, I got to use
those same skills here! We were talking to Don (a recent convert) and
he said he couldn't come in for a lesson because he couldn't leave his
dad (who's probably about 88) alone in the shop. I told Don that I bet I
could get his dad inside, and he bet me I couldn't because he was in
the middle of a project. Anyway, I went out, and needless to say, 10
min later we were having a lesson as his dad sipped some of my hot
chocolate! 😂😎 it was funny to see Don's reaction when his dad said
he'd come in. He accused me of cheating, the reality is, I just have
a lot of practice! Haha! Reminds me Dad, don't work too hard back
there! Remember to take some time to allow yourself to stay healthy,
and don't get hypothermia in that shop! Even if I'm not there to talk
you inside.

My other question is, what was the name of our ancestor who was in jail
with Joseph smith? And was it in liberty or Carthage? Thanks!

I love you so much! I hope you have a fantastic week!

All my love,
Sister Erika Marks

Hey!
 
It's so good to hear from y'all! I can't believe how snowy it is! It must have all hit in one fell swoop, cause you were saying there wasn't any last week (or was it two weeks ago?) Anyway, I'm so happy you were able to drive down for Kylie's graduation and back in safety! I can't believe how cold it has been there! It's been quite cold here actually. On Sunday they had record lows for a few years. I think it was about 14 when we went to church. Sis Poulton says its my fault, that I brought the cold with me. I think I may have, and that gives me hope that the snow got the hint and will be behind shortly. Until December 25th is officially over and there's no snow in the air, I'm not giving up! :) haha. The main problem here is the wind. I'm sure it's not as bad as Rexburg, but when you're in a skirt, it's pretty killer! If it's still outside, then the cold is nothing this Idaho girl can't handle!
 
That's so weird y'all don't have any missionaries right now! Especially if that one sister just came in, she must have been transferred halfway through her training. That's one thing I'm grateful for, president tries not to transfer anyone halfway through training. It appears that the Spokane and Fort Worth transfers are at the same time. So I'm still in Azle, and I'm still with Sister Poulton. We've actually developed a much better friendship recently, rather than just a companionship. If that makes any sense?
 
I can't believe you haven't decorated for Christmas yet! I hope Kylie fixes that as soon as she sees it! At least put up a nativity or something! If I was home, I would have had that stuff up right after Thanksgiving, or as soon as you would have let me.... haha!
 
Thank you both so much for your words of encouragement and support. Your messages are always timely and I appreciate hearing your advice and love. It's definitely a weird experience, dealing with so many people so intimately. I feel like as soon as we understand one person and help them, someone else comes along and we have to start at square one again. Only this time, I have a few more tools in my belt to help the process go smoother and quicker. But I think that's really how the Savior did it. He never tried to create a "one size fits all" solution. Rather, he suffered for each of us individually, and so can succor us each as we need. We've been sharing Amla 7:11-13 a lot recently. It's interesting because that scripture has never particularly stood out to me before, though I've heard it a thousand times. But it truly is incredible that he knows each of us so perfectly that even our weaknesses, mistakes and shortcomings, which in the world's eyes are not that bad, he knows and can help us overcome. What I mean by that is that if you ever feel inadequate, the world will tell you not to worry about it, that you're doing fine. Christ will tell you you're doing fine, but to continue to try your best, but then he promises that as we do that and call on God, then our inadequacies can be swallowed up in His mercy. We never have to settle. Ever. And that is a huge blessing! :)
 
Give Garrett my love! Also feel free to guilt trip him into writing me again... hahaha! No, don't do that. I'm just joking. He wrote me a little bit ago, and I'm sure I'll hear from everyone in the Christmas package:)
 
As far as Destiny goes... we had to drop her. She seemed really interested and when I wrote last week she seemed really sincere. But she rescheduled our lesson Monday night to Tuesday, then Tuesday to Wednesday, then never showed up on Wednesday... That night Bishop told us not to try to contact her anymore. I don't know why, but if she contacts us, we're to refer her to him. He's the one that told us about her anyway, I think she was asking him for financial help through the church. Anyway, of course we still hope for the best, but I haven't heard anything in a week from her. I really hope for her daughter, especially. She was 8 and absolutely loved the Book of Mormon we gave her. I think she'll find the gospel when she's older if Destiny never follows through now.
 
I can't really think of any cool CHRISTMAS stories, but I did have a cool experience yesterday in a lesson! We're teaching this man named Joe, who has been struggling to read the Book of Mormon every day and ask God if it is true. His wife's a member, and he wants to be with her for eternity which is why he's taking the lessons, but we've been missing the last piece to get him to know for himself if this is true. So on Sunday we just spent the lesson using passages from the Book of Mormon to help him overcome his concerns and excuses he's made about why he's not reading it. We talked with him about praying to know if it's true, and not "procrastinating the day of his repentance" and he actually prayed in the middle of the lesson about if the Book of Mormon was true! It was a little unorthodox, and quite unexpected, but the spirit was so strong! I don't know if he identified it fully correctly, but he was crying when the prayer was over and said he felt peace. We told him that that peace was the spirit, and he said he'd keep reading and praying to find out for himself. It was soo cool! And the spirit was so strong in that lesson as we just followed it as to what scriptures we should read and what to say to help him overcome his concerns about reading.
 
I'm so excited to talk to everyone on Sunday! I'll call probably around 5 my time, which should be about 3 your time. I'll probably call from a member's phone, so it should be an 817 number. I'll call dad's phone. 
 
I love you sooooo much!!! I hope this Christmas is one of Joy! Enjoy the snow for me, and make sure you go sledding at least once down the Roos' hill for me:)
 
Love forever, 
Sister Erika Marks :)
 
p.s. "Where are yoooouuu" .... because it's the only quote mom knows... haha! Love!!! :)

p.p.s - The ward is super great, they gave us these awesome Christmas baskets
last Sunday! They take super good care of us, and I love them sooo
much! I couldn't ask for a better ward to train in ❤️

That awkward moment when I could actually say, "I don't know if there'll be snow" and mean it... haha! I sure am praying for snow, we've been told to expect miracles, and I am! All I really want for Christmas is to have a white one. I can't believe how cold it's getting at home, but at least you finally have snow! That'll help. And I'm sure Garrett loves being able to plow again. Make him some hot chocolate for me? Make some for yourself while you're at it, too! It really doesn't feel like Christmas here, with how warm it's been, but I guess it did get cold last week for a few days, though it's starting to warm up again. I'm still dreaming of a white Christmas though. :)

I sure loved getting your letters this week! I mean, I always love them, but this week they just really brought a smile to my face. Thanks for the pictures! I love getting those so much! Speaking of pictures, I just realized I didn't take any this week, weird! So I promise I'll take some to send you next week. I've been thinking about everyone a lot this week, and feel so blessed to be part of our fantastic family!

I love hearing about the Christmas party! I can totally see Garrett doing that, it cracks me up! And it's cool to hear about Chelsea's concern for me, I'll have to take time to write her soon. I'm so excited for Kylie and happy to hear she finally decided what to do in the spring. Did she get that job at Bonner General she applied for?

I can totally imagine Buddy just chilling by the fire right in the middle of everything. He's so funny. He never would move, but just stay right where he got it in his head he wanted to be. And it sounds like Wookie is getting into the schitzo years of his life. Hopefully he'll take a chill pill and just come in so he doesn't freeze! And the story with Caesar made me smile. He's such a good cat, and I'm happy to hear y'all are getting along now.

It actually occurred to me, that overcoming any weakness is quite the same as overcoming smoking or alcoholism, or these other habits I'm trying to help people break. What it really comes down to is allowing Christ to help you, and if ever you are feeling weak, turn to him and he will help! I love his atonement so much, and the more I learn, the more I stand amazed at all he's done for me.


The woman who dropped and is now back is Denise. She's pretty hot-n-cold, but I think that as we work with her, she will be able to be converted for herself. She just will take a bit more time than I was initially thinking, and I have to remember that it's all in the Lord's time, not the missionaries.


This week we met a woman who is super sweet and sincere though! Her name is Destiny, and she's a single mom with 6 kids. She said that she just wants an increase in her faith by meeting with us. We met on Friday, she came to church Sunday, and we're seeing her again tonight. I'm so excited to teach her, and her two oldest kids are over 8! I'll keep you in the loop with her. I already love her so much.


So that Bro. Calaway who emailed you the other week is actually teaching me how to BBQ! He's awesome, and I've already learned a lot. I think that when I get home I'll do a big, proper BBQ for everyone, but we'll have to buy a smoker, because that's he secret behind Texas BBQ. :)


A few weeks ago I just decided to be happy everyday. And it works! I was going through a time where a lot of my days were just "meh" they weren't bad, just not great. And I don't like "meh" days. I'm a naturally cheerful person, so I just decided that I would love more in accord with my natural disposition. It's amazing what an impact a simple decision, like being happy, can really make in life! I challenge you to make that same choice. :)


As far as my shoes, I'm not really picky about the color, so whatever you think. I just know I really like the style. But it's hard to match mint shoes with an outfit... so if you don't think it'll be good to get those. Then don't, but if you think they'd be good, then please send them. As far as my Christmas package, if you send it, I swear I won't open my gifts till Christmas. :)



All my love,
Sister Erika Marks


P.s. Y'all are the best, I love love love you sooooo much!!!