The Sweetest Surprise and a Video

Monkey she sent for Kate.  Haha! She wrote letters to each of her siblings as well.

Note from Brigette: Most of Ashley's email time yesterday was spent trying to coordinate some information she needed for an upcoming doctor appointment. I got a message from her toward the end saying that she was out of time and that there were some pictures in her "draft" folder that probably wouldn't send before her computer shut off, but that I could go into her account and get them.  Well... they didn't attach.  And I was super sad!!!  As we returned home yesterday, there was a handwritten letter - the first of those we've received from her - in our mailbox!  What a sweet and tender (and much needed for this mom!) surprise!  I love the strength of her testimony expressed here.  She has always been a selfless young woman with desires to do what's right, but it is truly amazing to see all of that solidify through the experiences she is having.  How we love her!!

Mom and Dad!!!

I write y'all every week, but I'll never pass up an opportunity to talk with you more!  Mostly, I just want to THANK YOU OUT THE WAZOO for everything you've taught us, the standards you've set for our family, and for your examples.  Seriously!  Here I realize how CRUCIAL scripture study and prayer as a family is.   How essential Family Home Evening is.  Visiting teaching, home teaching, serving in callings, making church attendance a priority, EVERYTHING!  So many things that I was so blessed to just grow up knowing, are options to people, and that is really hard.  Thank you for always putting the Lord first in EVERYTHING!  Your example is just an innate part of me, and serving a mission has made me more grateful for this than ever.

Believing isn't hard for me, and I've to a degree taken this for granted throughout my life.  Wow.  I had no clue.  Life is so simple if we just let go of the need for things, turn to the Lord, and give Him our doubts.  I don't mean simple as in the complexity will leave, but rather, we'll always have one solidity to return to and hold to.  Trust God.  Nothing else is constant.  If we can trust God, tudo vai dar certo.  Everything will be RIGHT.  This is all we need.

So yeah.  THANK YOU from the bottom, top, and all around of my heart!  Para SEMPRE!

All my love,
Sister Little

* She also asked in her brief email that we share this video with you!  The title and subtitles are in Portuguese, but the audio is in English.  Enjoy!