We had a nice New Year's day around here, just relaxing and getting some things done. Tiffany and I got our late Christmas deliveries made to the Wendts, Ellises and Henrichsens and visited for a few minutes at each of their houses. We also went by Wal-Mart, which happened to be open on New Year's day, and got her hair cut. Yes, cut--again. Even after losing 10 pounds by getting it cut the other day, it was long again! It seemed to be almost as long as it was when she got it cut the other day. We couldn't figure it out. So, anyway, she got it cut and it feels and looks much better. Now she's ready for Greg to come tomorrow.
The big question of the day is: "Who was Valerie?" Tiffany called her friend, Kate, in Natchez and told her that we had met her friend Valerie when we were at Zion. Kate said we couldn't have met her friend Valerie because she no longer works at Zion but is in West Virginia. In fact, Kate had just talked to her in West Virginia the day before. So, who was this mysterious Ranger Valerie that Tiff and I talked to at Zion who seemed to know Kate and Nate? Hmmmmm.
Tonight Steven and I went to the devotional at the MTC. I thought it was a little strange that they would go ahead and have the devotional on New Year's day instead of postponing it until Thursday or something like that. But it actually turned out to be very nice. Elder Douglas L. Callister, of the Seventy, and his wife spoke. Elder Callister has a very eloquent way of speaking and it's interesting to see and hear him as he speaks with no notes or teleprompter or anything. But he speaks as if he reading or quoting from a book. A book in his mind, I guess. He spoke about the Book of Mormon and gave suggestions on how to read the Book of Mormon; because he said it makes a difference how you read it. He also reminded the missionaries that they have a clean slate before them with this new year, and they have the opportunity to make this one of the best years of their lives. We met with District F afterward and enjoyed their testimonies and thoughts about the talks that were given. Then it was a final goodbye and adios to Elders Skinner, Tadd and Harrison and Sisters Funk, Bostrum, and Kofford.