Merry Christmas Ben, Love Nicki

Merry Christmas Ben!  It was a pleasure to serve in your name this year!  After I found out who I had, I took some time to think about how I could serve Ben.  One thing that I've thought a lot about is Ben's special experience in the temple that changed the course of his family's future and moved them back to the mainland. I try to attend the temple on Friday nights and I decided that I should try to follow Ben's example and go to the Temple with a purpose.  The next week I had few experiences in the week that made me think a lot about my two sisters in law and how I could help them.  In the temple I prayed about that.  I felt they needed me to be a better friend to them, but I feel so overwhelmed by everything I have to do in life as it is, I didn't think I could squeeze more in.  Instantly I had the thought, "you make time every week to go to the temple..."  In an instant I knew that I should be inviting them to go to the temple with me.  I wasn't sure how they'd react, but they were both very enthusiastic about it.  Every Thursday I'd send a text to them asking if either of them could make it.  Sometimes just one would come, sometimes both.   Eventually, I ended up inviting the lady who lives in my basement to attend with us.  Although I thought I was serving them, in the end it also served me.  Many times this year Erik would travel on a Friday, and in the past I wouldn't have gone to the temple.  Because others were counting on me to go, I ended up going more often!  I love the spirit in the temple and thank Ben for helping me to learn to go to the temple with a purpose in mind.  I love you Ben!