Toronto, eh?: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, my dear ones. It has been quite an eventful week. I can't wait to talk to you all soon!! Woot woot!

Happy Birthday to Logan and Riley this week!!

For the details for the Skype call on Christmas...What will happen is I will give you all a call tomorrow night sometime just to make sure everything is all set. Someone add ky.woolf to skype and that is the account I will be using. I will probably call around 11:30 or 12 your time. So 1:30 or 2 my time. Be patient if it's not exactly at that time. :) Can't wait to see you all!

So, yes this past week I made a trip to the hospital. All is well.

We also had a crazzzzyy ice storm this past weekend. We couldn't even drive at all yesterday AND CHURCH WAS CANCELLED. What is up with Canada?! It's really cold here.

Sooo unfortunately, Jackie was not able to be baptized this past week because permission was not granted...So we are going to have to wait until January. :)

We met with Trevor again this past week. Holy cow, he is such a miracle. He has taken the role of my grandpa while I'm here. :) We taught him the Nativity story using a cute nativity set that Sister Woolf's mom gave her. It was so amazing. There was a glow in his eyes that I haven't seen in a long time.

From President Monson -

“Christmas is a glorious season of the year,” he said. “It is also a busy time for most of us. It is my hope and prayer that we may not become so caught up in the pressures of the season that we place our emphasis on the wrong things and miss the simple joys of commemorating the birth of the Holy One of Bethlehem.” He said that finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done; rather, individuals find the real joy of Christmas as they make the Savior the focus of the season. “Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God,” President Monson said. “His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He lived for us, and He died for us. What can we, in return, give to Him?” The celebration of Christmas should be a reflection of the love and selflessness taught by the Savior, he said. “Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. We feel more kindly one to another. We reach out in love to help those less fortunate. Our hearts are softened. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things.” To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, individuals need only drop the last syllable of the word, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ. “May we give as the Savior gave,” said President Monson. “To give of oneself is a holy gift. We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given. May we also give gifts that have eternal value, along with our gifts that eventually break or are forgotten. How much better the world would be if we all gave gifts of understanding and compassion, of service and friendship, of kindness and gentleness.”

He lived for us, and He died for us. What can we, in return, give to Him?

I love my Savior and His gospel. I love my mission. I love you all.

Love,

Sister Hardcastle

"Have Faith, Have Hope, Live Like His Son, Help Others On Their Way"