OOhhh I Believe There Are Angels Among Us!

My lovelies,

Prepare for a looong entry. I'm sorry, but I've got a LOT to say.

I have two events I wish to speak of. I shall start with the graver one, cuz I like to end up happy.

My sister and I got into a car accident today. It shouldn't have happened, and I watched the whole thing happen. She a new driver, and is headstrong anyway. Well, my family was in town basically the whole day with soccer games and such, and MaLee and I went to various places in my car. My mom asked if I would drive and I did for the first half of the day. Later, I asked MaLee if she wanted me to drive again to our last destination, and she declined the offer and so I became the passenger. During a yield green light, MaLee made a move to turn, and I warned her of the OBVIOUS HUGE car coming towards us. Hey, he had the right of way. Despite my warnings, she pulled out, having an odd, dazed look on her face, and the man hit us passenger side, back seat. We spun and landed in the opposite direction from where we had turned. Totaled car. The 78 year old man that hit us was extremely rude, and cussed and yelled at me for several mintues. I felt like the most mature one of the bunch as I calmly called 911and did what I could to control the situation. God stepped in there, because I would normally have flipped out. As we were waiting for the police, I noticed our missionaries running towards us from across the street. Elder Holt and Heldt waited with us until my dad and the police came. "We JUST came through this light, then felt like we needed to turn around and come back. Then we recognized you, Mariah, and knew why," Elder Heldt said. "We didn't want you alone with that creepy old man. If I had daughters...yeah. I'd be very angry if I knew they were alone with weirdos that THAT," Elder Holt said. It was funny. But, yeah! That is my third accident. I have never been the driver. I am now called "Jonah" by my family because I have always been in the passenger seat during these wrecks. Bad luck, I suppose. The hits have always been on my side. I should have been severely injured every time...but I have walked away from each one with only seatbelt lash and bruising. God has been protecting me. I always wonder why. Listen to your parents if they ask you to DO or NOT to do something. Something as simple as switching drivers can make a difference sometimes. My poor sister is in shock, and is humiliated. I hate left turns. I have much to be grateful for though. Life is fragile, guys. Please be careful out there. I love you.

NEXT....ELDER SCOTT! it has been 36 years since an apostle came to my town. Sick, huh? Well, he is amazing. He spoke at our single adult session for conference, and really gave me such a boost of comfort. He was so sweet and grandpa-like. But then, at the end of his time, he suddenly proclaimed himself as speaking as an apostle of God, and his whole demeanor changed. It was incredible. He suddenly spoke boldly and powerfully and there was no way anyone could deny the spirit that was felt, nor could they deny that the words he spoke were absolutely true. WOW. I had been feeling so alone the last few days as a serious minority in religion...and he reminded me that it was all worth it. I got to sing in a trio for the meeting. It wasn't my best performance, but I guess we sounded alright. Elder Scott called us beautiful young women that sounded like angels. Ummmm, THAT went straight into my journal! I shook his hand last night, and tonight I went again and said, "Is it selfish that I want to shake your hand again?" He smiled and said, "If you keep that smile like that, you can shake my hand as many times as you like." A few people later, he walked straight back to me and grinned and shook my hand again. "Look, you got to shake it again." He winked, then was gone. AHH!!! AMAZING people. I have been so blessed. I have met two apostles within two months. What. the. heck. I don't feel worthy. How stinkin' grateful I am, though.

God is real and mindful of you. Keep doing what you are doing--being strong. You guys are the best, and I miss you so much. I think of you every single day. Keep me posted on YOU. I want to know everything about everybody! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! SHOOT!

Til the tree barks,
-Crouching Tiger