Elder Johnson's May 2, 2011 E-mail - A request and a response

Hi Mom,

Thanks for the e-mail and the package. We gave the handouts and the candy on Tuesday--while we were tracting. Went to houses and said Happy belated-Easter, here's a gift.

For Easter, we ate at the Harman's for lunch and the Babcock's for dinner. One of the Harman's sons married a Babcock daughter, so we saw Jordan and Ashley Harman for both dinners. The Harmans house is sitting on about 70 acres of land.  The Babcock family is great. Sister Babcock is really cool. She kind of reminds me of you.  Brother Babcock is a pilot (In Sarah Palin's Alaska, he was the pilot flying her around.) He's very well known for his tour flights, very nice guy. Sister Babcock owns and runs a big dance studio that is very popular. She was the YW President, but her calling just changed to Ward Missionary, so we work closely with her.

I don't know any plans for Mother's Day. I don't even know when it is. But if I don't get to talk to you until then, I can have Jake text you and let you know.

I hope you enjoy talking to Jake. You can enjoy talking to him when you get the chance and not feel bad. I am not breaking any rules by letting him talk on the phone to you; if I was, I wouldn't let him call. I'm always in another room doing missionary stuff, completely beset from the conversation.

We had the best week since I've been here. Danielle Davis and her two children, Troy and Sierra, are on date for baptism on June 4. And Elizabeth Coleman is on date for May 21. We're really excited about their progress.

Request: 

Will you please go up to my room: on my desk, on the shelf to the right is a sunglasses holder, inside is a voice recorder. This is a very expensive device and needs to stay in its protective case, maybe even wrapped in more TP for protection. Will you please send me the voice recorder? When we do role plays, I want to start recording me and my companion, so we can playback what we say, hear how we sound, and improve our teaching.

Also, I understand that Lauren is spending a lot of time in my room, and I don't doubt that Ella is also in my room often, probably even sleeping in my bed for extended periods of time. I have no control over this, but I would ask that you make very sure that they respect the things in my room. Don't let them damage my books, don't let them pile their own stuff in my room and shift around the order that I have to the place. If people use books, they are not to leave my room. I can imagine someone walking in and thinking: He won't be back for two years, I'll just borrow this and return it when I'm done. One thing I've learned: when books are borrowed, books are lost. People don't return books: the books collect dust, get buried and are gone forever. I greatly cherish my collection, always have, and I cherish it even more now--I have a greater appreciation for the Gospel and for learning in general. I will use every book in there and taking one away is like a lost sheep to me, like cutting off an arm. Please do not get lax on your oversight of my room.

Love,

Elder Johnson

Mother's Response to Elder Johnson's Request:

Bradley,

No worries about your room.  In fact, Brittany has slept in your bed for the past two days since hers is filled with clothes.  However, no one touches your books (Sugar sleeps in front of them on a basket of your clothes - she is the sentry and lets no one get near that bookshelf - really, you can't reach that bookshelf because of her basket and a basket in front of her that has your football pillow in it.)  Secondly, your other shelf can't be as well protected, but no one that I know has ever borrowed, looked at, used or thought about using any of the books on that shelf.

Having said that, your father goes into your bedroom to work on his lessons.  The only person who might ever think about using one of your books is him, so I will make sure that he sees your letter and feels your concerns for your collection.  Have no fear, my dear son, you have not lost, nor need you fear the loss, of any of your precious babies.

Ella has slept in your bed, as well as Uncle Sean, Uncle Russell,  Derrek, Brittany and Chandler (at the same time) and Lauren and Ella (at the same time).  If Jake comes down and needs somewhere to stay, he will be sleeping in your bed as well.  It is currently the guest bed (but not the guest bedroom) as it is, and always will be, your room.


I'm glad you wrote your letter, however, because your concern for your personal items and book collection make me even more vigilent and I will protect your stuff with my life, which probably won't be necessary, but I would.  (You might want to make that an official request, otherwise, I will just protect it to the best of my ability).

I love you.  You are awesome.  Keep up the good work.

Your mom forever,

MOM

p.s. no one uses your blankie.  It is protected and untouched