Happy 2018!

Last week we traded our email for one hour of FaceTime and it was so great to get to see and talk to this sweet boy face to face. For 564 days I have waited for 2018. Somehow it seemed if I could just get to the YEAR he was coming home, it would all be okay. And here we are. Only 4 months and 29 days left. So Happy New Year. I have a feeling 2018 is going to be a great one. -K

Hi cute mom!!! It’s me! Your boy who loves you so much! Literally it is 2018. If I could caps lock numbers I would have just there. It is 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣. There we go. Better. But literally. Remember June of 2016 and how FAR AWAY this year seemed? And here we are. Good job, us. I think we both deserve ice cream today. Wow, we are now able to say 4 months left! (And like 30 days lol) that's crazy! I think we can do that. I think we can do anything if we can be apart for 2 whole years. It'll be a good year. 

So, it's like impressive how cold it is. It gets to the point where your first thought isn't "wow it's cold outside" and more like "wow I am going to stop existing" (because when something theoretically gets to 0 degrees Kelvin then it literally ceases the exist.) that's me. But I keep warm though by wearing a lot of clothes and being outside as little as possible lol. If you try to talk to people outside then they won't even stop but if you go by people's houses then they let you in instantly because they don't want to stand at the door and let the cold invade their house. So that's pretty easy. This week this really sweet Bolivian girl sent me a message and was like "Hey Jack [people just call me Jack sometimes and I don't correct them because I mean, it's my name] you don't know me but I've been looking for a church here in Morristown and I see you go to church here and I would like to go." So that was cool. She came to church yesterday and she really loved it so I'm excited to teach her. Basically things are good and we had a good week and I'm staying moderately warm so you don't even need to worry. 

I had a really spiritual experience yesterday when I reflected on the changes I've made since last year and the year before and the year before and I just feel so proud of myself! (In a humble way lol). But I just took a little but of time to pray and reflect on how I feel now as compared to past Jacks and who I've become and I just feel like a mentally healthy, capable, and responsible person. People always ask me what's one of the biggest miracles I've seen but I think that maybe the biggest has been redemption. I quite literally and frequently "stand all amazed." 

Also, I love what you said about the excess Protestantism still found in our thinking. I've actually noticed the same. A lot of opinions are based on these really obscure views on Diety. I think we all need to take a lesson from my nice mom and see the Godhead for what they truly are: Merciful. 

Anyway, I love you. I have to go buy some groceries. 😛. I love you. So so much. Sos sososososososooosso much. 

--your boy.