Family Comes First

Dear Grace,

            I’m getting really excited to come home for the Christmas break. I know I just got back from Thanksgiving break, but I miss being home when I’m down at school. But, what can I do? I’ve still got two and a half years of school left, and that means I’ll still be living away from home for a long time yet.

            Thanksgiving was great. I got to go home and spend time with Mom and Dad, and Mom and I baked pies together. I’ve been watching this show called Supernatural, and I have to say, I’m four seasons in and I’m still loving it! I started watching the first season again with Dad, and he’s been liking it too, so that’s been fun for us to bond over that.

            I’m mostly alone when I’m down here at school, so it’s hard for me to deal with that. Since Mom has become the Relief Society president I really don’t have anyone to talk to. She’s so busy all the time that she just doesn’t have any time to talk, and Dad is almost always traveling, so it’s hard to ever get a hold of him.

            It’s lonely for me here. I know that everyone always says that you’re never truly alone as long as you have God, but honestly sometimes that’s not enough for me. I miss the pleasure of a good conversation—the sound of someone else’s voice instead of just my own. I miss the joy of sharing laughs with my friends every day. I’m not saying I never have anyone to hang out with, I do. But there are only three people here I would really hang out with, and more often than not I find myself alone most nights and weekends. I just hope that God sees fit to send me someone to be my friend soon.

            I actually adopted a pet ivy plant recently, because I thought it would be good for me to have something to take care of. I named him Florence. Yes, I know, Florence is a girl name, but I don’t care. It’s kind of an inside joke I have with myself and I intend to enjoy it.

            I think the thing I’m most excited about this Christmas is when I go home, Mom and Dad and I are going to make and frost sugar cookies while watching that old claymation version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Dad has always loved that old show, and over the years I’ve grown to love it too, and it has become one of my favorites.

            It doesn’t really feel like the holidays to me until I go home, because Mom always decorates the house so elaborately for each Holiday. In my apartment we had some great Halloween decorations, but we really don’t have any Christmas decorations. I can’t wait to get home and see the living room covered in all of those decorations and the tree covered with lights.

            Do you know what makes me most sad about living so far from home? I don’t get to go pick out a tree and decorate it with Mom and Dad anymore. I think it’s been almost two years since I got to decorate a Christmas tree, and it made me a little bit sad to go home last year and find the tree already set up and hung with ornaments.

I’d give anything to be home for the season again. Always remember how important family is, Grace. Especially with a mother and brother who love you as much as yours do. My mom and dad have helped me through every hard time in my life, and it breaks my heart to see how little some people seem to appreciate their families.

Rather than spend time with their families when they’re all together, they retreat and sit by themselves, like they’d rather be alone than be with their family. I remember a time when I was exactly like that, and I wish I could make people understand what I know now. Nothing is more important in life than family. Having a family to share life and laughs and make memories with makes everything in life meaningful and worthwhile. But not having anyone to share anything with makes everything feel meaningless.

So please, hear my words now—DON’T BE ME! Don’t ever lock yourself away from your loved ones. Take advantage of every minute of every day you have to spend with family and remember how precious each moment is, because before you know it those opportunities will be gone and you’ll be twenty years old, alone in your apartment regretting all the time you wasted locked in your room instead of doing something with your mom or dad.

            You’ll be like I was—locked in the basement playing video games by yourself while the rest of the family is upstairs decorating cookies together. The bottom line is: you’ll end up alone. I don’t think this is something you’ll ever have a problem with, but if you ever start to develop these habits, please just remember my words and be wise.

            I love you so much, Grace, I hope you never forget that. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately, and the pain of missing you has been surfacing because of some recent experiences I’ve had. Take care of yourself, sweetheart. Always remember who you are, and know that you are loved. Merry Christmas, Grace.

All my love,

           

Katie Jo