First train ride!

Dear Family,

This has been a great week with an important first . . . Our first train ride in Russia! It happened because the weather has become so cold that when we went out on Wednesday to start the car, it would not start. We had not put it into "the dungeon", our underground heated parking cave, because so far it has been so easy to remove any snow that may fall with just a swish of our windshield wipers, and have the convenience of parking at street level. But Wednesday we discovered that the dungeon is a blessing that we have not appreciated enough. The temperature outside was -33 degrees (Fahrenheit) but with the windchill it was -44. Our car engine would not even turn over. It wasn't the battery, it was just frozen. We called Viel, the new mission driver, and he came in the van and brought jumper cables, which didn't work. So we called Alexander at the mission office and had him get us train tickets to Kurgan. We are traveling with the Assistants, which has a great benefit: they help us carry luggage up and down long staircases! ( the Voxall or train station is huge and it is a bit amazing to me that Russia has not made any effort to accommodate handicapped people, not saying that's us, but seriously, an escalator would be nice in a couple of places!). We knew that because we had purchased tickets at the last minute, we had tickets to the most basic type of car: each holds 40 people with two people facing two people and a small table between them. The Elders were apologetic, but we found it quite comfortable. Maybe next time we can get a "coupe" car which is apparently much nicer, private, and includes a sleeping bunk.

Just as the train started to roll we were surprised to get a text from Aaron that they had gone to the hospital. We got several updates and talked once during the ride. Until it got dark we were able to enjoy the view of the Russian countryside: tall pine forests surrounding snow covered meadows, occasionally punctuated with villages of wooden homes with smoke curling up from the chimneys. Siberia is beautiful in the winter and we decided the comfort of the warm train and relief from not having to drive the icy roads made it a good choice. We arrived a little after midnight, got a taxi to the "Family Hotel" and arrived just in time to welcome little Tommy by Skype. What a beautiful baby! Once again I found myself feeling so thankful for the amazing technology we are blessed to have now. We were able to see him up close just minutes after birth. Probably faster than if we had gotten a call and driven down from Bountiful! Friday the Internet at the hotel didn't work at all, so we were grateful we had been able to connect

We stay at this hotel because it is so close to the church. We can easily walk the two blocks, even in the Siberian temperatures. But every time, we decide this will be the last time we stay there. The Internet is more off than on, the breakfast is barely mediocre and exactly the same every time (not quite "bread and gravy" but close!) But the room we got this time really caught us by surprise. It was furnished in bright bubblegum pink Princess Style! We wished we had all our granddaughters there to enjoy it with us and have a Princess Party! They would have loved it!

We are so happy for Aaron's family! What a precious baby he is. We feel so grateful for the safe arrival of these two little cousins this month and look forward to Amie's little daughter. What a blessing it is to have these sweet spirits join our family. We feel so keenly that they are valiant, noble spirits who have waited such a long time to begin their mortal lives. They come "trailing clouds of glory" that are easy to feel and rejoice over. They were so recently with our Heavenly Father and Mother and have been prepared through Their teachings to begin this mortal experience. New babies bring such a special spirit into a home. We feel it and rejoice, even at this distance.

I hope all of you read Dad's letter to our missionaries this week. We have been talking together and teaching a lot about this. I know this sounds like doctrine we know well. But it is critical to teach it to our children and I believe that the more we learn of the gospel, growing in understanding line upon line, the more we will comprehend and rejoice over these doctrines and feel motivated by them to consecrate every moment of our lives to living the gospel and keeping the covenants we have made. The test of mortality is to become like our Savior in perfectly submitting our will to the will of the Father. We may think this is a sacrifice, when actually it is the very thing that brings the greatest happiness and joy to each moment of our lives.

I love this Gospel and know it is truly the Plan of Happiness. I am so grateful for each of you for your desires and efforts to live righteously.

Hugs and kisses. Especially to Lucy and Tommy!!! And their wonderful mothers!
Mom

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