Christmas in July! 7-7-14

 Hello hello mi familia! I hope your celebration of America's Birthday was 
> stupendous! Ours was pretty good. We got to know the entire Bradenton 
> police force pretty well. Haha they had this Fourth of July event that we 
> went to go see and try to talk to people there and the member that came 
> with us knew all of the cops because her husband is a sergeant. It was a 
> blast, but we had to leave pretty much right as the fireworks started so we 
> could get home on time. We tried to get permission to be out later and 
> this is the response we got, "woah woah woah! Sisters! That's borderline 
> APOSTATE!" Haha our ZLs are weirdos. ;P 
> 
> 
> Speaking of weirdos... All of the people here, including the 
> missionaries I serve around, think I NEVER EAT and that when I do eat, 
> I eat "delicately". Can we just take that in for a second? I have 
> heard a lot of different words people have used to describe my eating 
> habits, but delicate has never been one of them. They clearly aren't 
> paying close enough attention at the dinner table... My whole life I 
> have been told I eat too much too fast!  Clearly I belong in the 
> south! These people know how to eat! Another fun fact... The mission 
> doctor thinks I may be lactose intolerant. You know how I have been 
> saying I haven't really been feeling well? I started keeping track of 
> when it happened and what the symptoms were and it kind of seemed like 
> it was mostly happening after I had a glass of milk. After an hour or 
> two I would be fine again. So he told me to cut out dairy for two 
> weeks.... That has been a struggle because I typically go through a 
> gallon of milk a week. I thought it was crazy when he suggested that! 
> I have never had an issue in the past! Apparently turning 20 means 
> everything about life changes too? I do have to say though, I haven't 
> felt sick all week... 
> 
> Ahhhh man, happy July everyone! I can't believe the year is half over! 
> Oh hey it's July 7th...happy 11 month birthday to me! One of the 
> elders that was in the MTC with me is now in my ward here, (well we 
> have been serving in this ward together since March) but anyway... He 
> always tells me the stats on our missions. It's kind of fun because I 
> feel like I  have a limited understanding of how time works out here. 
> I mean I am not positive, but I am pretty sure every once in a while 
> we have a few weeks that are shorter than a day and days that are 
> longer than weeks. If that doesn't make sense... Well then I'm not 
> surprised so.... Moving on. 
> 
> A few weeks ago we went to the hospital to visit a member. She is One 
> sweet lady, but was pretty out of it and didn't feel much like 
> talking. We decided to sing her a few hymns and she just lit up. 
> Sister Skeem and I both love a song called "Master the tempest is 
> Raging" so we saved that one for last. If you have never heard it 
> before you should look it up because it is so powerful! It is a 
> desperate call for the savior to calm the trials in our lives, yet 
> there is still so much trust that all things are in His control. This 
> sister asked us to sing it 3 times in a row. I am sure the entire 
> facility wanted to kick us out, but she closed her eyes and soaked in 
> every word! I've never seen music touch someone so deeply and trust 
> me, it wasn't our singing that touched her. Haha a few weeks after 
> that we went to see her in the nursing home where she is now. As soon 
> as she saw us she asked us to sing that song. After we finished we 
> asked if there was another song we could sing. She thought for a 
> moment, "well with Christmas just around the corner how about a 
> Christmas song?" I couldn't help but smile. We didn't bother to 
> correct her. So we sat and sang Christmas songs... In July. 
> 
> I thought about that a lot this week. Her frail frame and her soft 
> voice saying, "Christmas is just around the corner." It brought a 
> smile to her face as she said it. I thought about what the Christmas 
> season should bring; joy, excitement, and a closeness to our Savior. 
> With those things in mind we should always be preparing for that 
> holiday season. We should be close to our savior year round. That is 
> sort of my new motto whenever I feel down, "Christmas is just around 
> the corner!" It cheers me right up! I love the people here and I am 
> excited to be staying in the area for at least one more transfer! 
> 
> Oh ya, I forgot to mention transfers are this week and I am staying! 
> Whoo I have never had a comp longer than 2 transfers (I guess I scare 
> them off?) so this is kind of monumental for me! Haha I love you mucho 
> have an amazing week! 
> 
> Love, Sister Upshaw 
> 
> P.S. Welcome home Dyliedoo! (In two days) It is super weird/ exciting 
> to think that two years ago Dylan and Randy were on missions while 
> Kels and I were at home and now it's reversed! Who would have guessed? 

Sarasota Missionaries

She is trying to find a way to bring this dog home with her

 Chelsea has always been the jokester in our home.  It's nice to see that

she still finds ways to "entertain" herself.