Pining For Romania

I pulled my old mission address book out this last week to get some addresses of friends in romania. It's too late to be sending christmas cards, so they are getting new year cards. Going through my mission stuff, looking through photos, and reading letters, had me hankering for Dmn. Victoria Gorzo's hot ciorbă (soup) and cheap romanian bread.
Also, last week at Brother Wirigs house for dinner, McKay started telling stories of when we visited romania last year after christmas. She's a good story teller. The stories made me miss being over there. Romania is wonderful. I love everything about it. When I think about my mission I have a colossal feeling of gratitude. I don't know why I was so blessed to go there, and to meet the people I did, and serve with the girls I lived with, but it really is one of my greatest treasures. Romania runs deep in me. I need to think of her more often.

Here are some of my favorite pictures yoinked off my friend Lindsay's facebook, because I don't have any of my own mission pictures on the computer (nuts that I used film on my mission). This first one was taken at my convert, Constantă Drăgănescu's, court yard. She was in my last area, and I love her SO much. Her feet are the ones with red sandals (I also love it because she is wearing my old jody dress here), I'm standing next to her. These are her dogs:

suchi & mona

(I can still hear her voice calling after them, she loves these mutts)

this is my companion and I:

(we had to wear these every day)

these pictures were taken of a game that sora şimon invented at a relief society picnic:

(who can kick the tree the highest)

Her and I were kindred spirits. I love her. We laughed way too much together.

Christmas time makes me think of friends all over, and especially those in romania. My Christmas wish is that everyone is happy and warm, and with their loved ones. I hope Christmas isn't so rushed that we forget to ponder and think of our Savior. I love Him, and I'm grateful for the time I got to spend as a missionary teaching about Him. Christmas in Romania was one of my favorite times ever. I was so filled with joy and wonder. Amazed at the blessings and peace that come from His life and His death. I hope you all feel that joy and wonderment as well this season.

La mulţi ani means 'to more years'. You say it at new years and birthdays.. and all the time if you want. so . . . I love you, and la mulţi ani! Merry Christmas!