"Forget me Not"

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     We’ve enjoyed another very full week here in Long Beach.  Our newest missionaries arrived on Tuesday, they are going to be great!  We also got word that we have three Elders (visa waiters who will be here until they get their visas to go to Brazil) coming to spend some time in Long Beach, including our very own West Bountiful friend and ward member Elder Folland, they arrive tomorrow!

     Scott and Cristy surprised us with a visit.  We were wishing there was something we could do to make Ben’s 16th birthday special and the Smith’s visit made all the difference.  Scott and Cristy decorated the mission home and made Ben a delicious ice cream cake. We celebrated Ben’s birthday with dinner at fun restaurant in Seal Beach.  Ben completed his online driving school which means he is ready to take six hours of driving lessons with a professional driver so he can have his learner’s permit.  Ted and I had a speaking assignment in another stake on Sunday and the next couple of weeks there is more of the same, so Ben’s ordination to be a priest will take place on October 16th.

     Wednesday I enjoyed going to “Back to School Night”, Los Alamitos High is an outstanding school and Ben and Mari’s teachers seem very dedicated to helping their students succeed.  Before going to meet the teachers in their classrooms several of the High School’s performing groups put on a little show for parents.  There are so many talented students in the school, the choir and band have won numerous national awards.  We’re grateful that the mission home is in an area where the kids are able to attend an exceptional and safe school.

Saturday we held a flu shot clinic and were able to get nearly all of our missionaries vaccinated (a few were exempt).  An amazing sister in our ward helped organize the event and the Area Medical Advisor ordered the vaccines and came from Los Angeles to help out.  Everything went smoothly, it feels good knowing that our missionaries are going to be much less likely to get influenza this flu season.  Last year a few missionaries in California ended up in the hospital because of influenza.  We have the most amazing, supportive members which makes events like this possible!

     I really enjoyed the General Relief Society Conference.  They showed the broadcast at our Stake Center and it was really well attended.  Of course my favorite talk was by President Uchtdorf.  Hopefully everyone will get a chance to read it when it is printed in the Ensign (it’s already available online).  President Uchtdorf used the five petals of the Forget Me Not flower to remind the sisters of five things we should never forget:  Forget not to be patient with yourself, Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice, Forget not to be happy now, Forget not the “why” of the gospel, Forget not that the Lord loves you.

     President Uchtdorf said, “No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love.”

     “You may at times feel a little like the forget-me-not—insignificant, small, or tiny in comparison with others,” he said, noting: “I hope (the forget-me-not) will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet.”

     What beautiful, loving, reassuring words.  Relief Society Conference made me really excited about General Conference coming up this weekend!

       We love you all!

The Long Beach Buberts