Happy Valentines Day

Hello to all of my favorite people!

Can I just say that it is fantastic to be enjoying a taste of spring this February? I love it. The past few days have been balmy. Warm enough to not need a coat, but windy enough to need a coat. Does that make sense? I am so grateful for the sunshine. It makes life so much more tolerable.
What can I share with you this week from the missionary adventures of Sister Bryans? LIKE EVERYTHING!!!
So on Tuesday the 11th, we taught Kevin about the Word of Wisdom. It went sooo well. He wants to live it, but he know it will be hard because he smokes and drinks and has a couple cups of coffee each day. We set a goal with him to cut back to three cigarettes per day when we met with him today. Hopefully, he will chose to accept that goal. I know he can do it!
And yesterday, he came to church with us! GYAH!!! WAHOO!!! YAY!!! We were so excited. He only stayed for Sacrament meeting, but he came. And that is a big step forward. We were so proud of him. When we talked to him today, he said he wanted to come to church again next Sunday. How awesome is that?!
Wednesday was an awesome day. We had Zone Meeting in the morning after we had Zone Breakfast. Yay food!!! there are so many really good cooks in this part of the vineyard. I love it. We ate at Sister Gates house, and Sister Zvirzdin and I helped her make french toast. Holy moley was it good. She used freshly baked bread and in her batter she added cream cheese. Mmm! So tasty! I really love food. She also made an egg dish that had a brown sugar, oatmeal crust, eggs and cream cheese and then a brown sugar, oatmeal crumble on the top. Yum! It was really good. Of course I was trying to figure out how I could make it better, but I haven't made any decisions yet. She also made us homemade hot chocolate that might have been better than Grandma's. (Sorry Grandma) It was so rich and so dark. Ooooh It was good! (I feel like I talk about food a lot in my letters home. Ooops! Sorry if that makes everyone drool all over the keyboard.)
Our Zone Meeting was really good. We talked about the Atonement, Humility and Obedience. (Talk about a cry to repentance.) It was amazing though.
We volunteered at the VA Hospital and the Habitat for Humanity this week too which was fun. While we were at the VA, I met Dave, Gene and a volunteer named Eva. They were fun to talk to.
So, I've decided that I need to get a recipe for yeast rolls (Southern Virginia Universities famous Crack Rolls). They are everywhere here. I think I've eaten them three times this week. So, instead of buying them which is what "normal" people do, I want to learn how to make them from scratch. Ona that is your mission to find/develop a recipe for Crack Rolls!!!
So, on Wednesday night before mutual, we visited with the Moore Family. They are a nice older couple that we tracted into. They're not interesting in learning about the gospel, but they are very hospitable in letting us come into their home and talk with them. Anyways, so we stopped over at their house because we wanted to give them the Family: A Proclamation to the World. And they invited us in. Their granddaughter Sarah was there, and we talked with her. She is an amazing woman. She is my age, and has worked overseas as a Nanny with the Au Pair program.  Anyways, we gave her our number because she said she might have a friend that would be willing to talk with us. Check YES!
Friday was the celebration of Saint Valentine. That was fun. We were in Fort Collins all day for the second transfer training meeting. It was awesome! Sister Z and I drove up early because we carpooled with another set of Sisters from Laramie who needed to be at the first transfer training meeting.
We got to see the temple site for the Fort Collins temple which was awesome. (That's what happens when you're early, you get to go on adventures.) Then we came back and studied. We went to Noodles and Company for lunch. Very tasty, I might add. I tried tofu for the first time. I LOVE IT!
After our meeting, we went to the Dobson's house to teach a lesson to Kristina's friend MaQuela. I love that girl! She is a junior in high school, and she's curious about different religions because she feels like something is missing. We taught her the first lesson, and it was amazing!!!!! We don't have a return appointment yet, but hopefully soon.
Then, we went to the Hall's for dinner. Hawaiian Haystacks. (I haven't had those since I lived in Virginia.) But before we could eat those, we had to help her test try some hors d'oeuvre's. It was baguette bread with goat cheese and sugar pears. Or, it was baguette bread with ricotta cheese and cucumber or radish slices with dirty salt. They were sooooooo yummy! (I love food; I love the creativity of cooking; and I LOVE trying new things.) So we ate a lot of hors d'oeuvre's before we had dinner.
Then Sister Hall took Sister Zvirzdin and I to the stake center so we could help clean up after a Valentines Day party/dinner. We weren't there long because most everything was already cleaned up.
Then, she was kind enough to take us to Baskin Robbins for ice cream. (I love members who love to feed us.)
That was the end of our Friday because then we turned in for the night to do some planning and sleeping for the next day's adventure.
Saturday was another awesome day. We heart attacked some of our families that we have been working with. It was fun trying to be sneaky and failing. We also had an awesome surprise lesson with Emma O. about the Plan of Salvation. Pictures work! I need to make a fun plan of salvation cut out. (Mom maybe you can send me one that I can color?!?) Anyways, it was really cute. We made it into a game after we taught it to her, and then, she started teaching it to her little brother Gabe. (I like teaching youth and primary age kids.)
Sunday was awesome like I said because Kevin came to church. It was also really good because we got to talk with our Potential Investigator Paula. She is such an amazing woman. We are going to try and visit with her on Wednesday so we can invite her to a Relief Society activity on Thursday evening. Also, she said she wants to go to church with us, so we are going to give her the proper address. :D I love missionary work!!!
P-day yesterday was good. Sister Z and I stayed at home. We did some shopping, and I cooked. I made us chicken salad. YUM! We also wrote letters and played Life. Then we went to get our dinner from a member who was going to their families house. A giant sub sandwich that tasted amazing! (We still have leftovers.) Then we went out visiting people. It was awesome.
After we came in for the night, we planned, did facials and I did my nails. (Nude nail polish is really fun - just sayin'.)
I love the gospel and all the blessings we receive!!!
As is appropriate for Valentines Day, I have a scripture for you: 2 Nephi 1:15. It is one of my new favorites.
I love you all! I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that he loves each and everyone of you. He wants us to come to him "one by one" (3 Nehpi 11:15). I wish you all a fabulous week. Stay Strong and Be of Good Courage!!!!
Love,
Sister Bryans
Ps. I would love to hear of your missionary experiences if you would like to share them with me in either a letter or a quick email. LOVE YOU ALL!