23rd Day of Christmas - Samantha

Introducing...Josh's friend SAMANTHA (I apologize for the poor quality of the photo, I couldn't find a recent photo of her, and this one didn't scan very well.)

I first met Samantha over 2 years ago when Josh and I went to England for our 10-year wedding anniversary, but I've known about her and liked her since Josh and I were newlyweds. Josh first met her 14 years ago when he was in England the first time, during his LDS mission there.

Josh was serving in an area along the east coast of England, and he was there for 5 months. He got to know the people in the area and the members of the ward really well. Sam's dad was in the bishopric, and he often went on splits with the missionaries, and the missionaries were invited to their house for tea (dinner) about once a week. The missionaries were very involved with the youth, and would often go ice skating with the young men and young women on P-days. After a month of being in the area, Josh started becoming friends with Sam by association through family dinners and youth activities. There was an instant connection between them, and he felt really comfortable talking with her. Josh and Sam became good friends, and he was grateful for her friendship.

Sam comes from a very large family, and she's the oldest. Her family is religious and faithful, and they are fun and jolly. They are very involved in each other's lives, and they are open with each other about their lives. Out of all the families that Josh met on his mission, he loved this particular family the most. He felt included and loved, welcomed and cared for. He didn't feel homesick or discouraged when he was around them, and he enjoyed their company. He has fond memories of spending Christmas 1996 and New Years with them and the other missionaries in his district. Even though it was one of the few Christmases in his lifetime that wasn't spent with his own family, Josh felt right at home with them.

Josh and Sam were never alone together, and there was never any inappropriate activity between the two of them. Sam has high moral standards and righteous desires. She values her membership in the church, and she holds true to the principles she's been taught. Sam is compassionate and caring, generous and kind. She is easy to talk to, fun to be with, and she is genuine. She has an amazing spirit about her, and she emits light and love.

After Josh was transferred to another area, Sam continued their friendship through letters. She wanted to make sure she wasn't breaking any rules, so she had her mom read them first, and her mom always included a letter, too. Eventually, after Josh came home from his mission, they lost touch with each other. When I first started making missionary scrapbooks for him, I read through his journals and letters to accurately write what happened as I was posting photos. I fell in love with Sam through her letters, and I often told Josh that if something were to happen to me early in our marriage, that I wanted him to fly across the ocean and search out Sam to be his wife.

When Josh and I were on our anniversary trip to England, we decided to spend two nights out of the 7 we were there in that town that he loved so much on his mission. We went to church there, and we didn't know who we would see or if anyone would recognize or remember him. That ward welcomed us with open arms, and we were so lucky to see Sam there! We met her husband, who was teaching Sunday School, and Josh introduced me to Sam. We sat by their family during Sacrament Meeting, and then after church, she invited us over for tea (dinner) at their home. We met her two little red-headed kids, who I adored at first sight! And we spent hours in their home, eating her divinely delicious food (my only home-cooked meal in England) and talking and laughing with her and her husband Karl and some of their friends. We looked at scrapbooks and talked of years gone by. I overheard her talking to her mom on the phone while we were there "You'll never guess who's here....Do you remember Elder Tolman?....And his wife, she's like a spitting image of me, it's like being with my double...." I always really liked her even before I met her, but I truly loved her once I had the opportunity to be with her in person.

Sam and Karl make a great team. I loved watching them interacting with each other, and being with them in their comfortable house. They are the parents of three children, and love is abound in their home. Sam is a nurturing mother and Karl is a funny father! They love their children so much, and sacrifice so much for them. They work hard to teach them and guide them in the ways of the Lord, and they are terrific parents and wonderful examples!

Sam is a special person. She's overcome so many challenges throughout her lifetime, and she remains optimistic and hopeful and cheerful and faithful. She is honest and open, and she improves the lives of others with her presence. I admire her and I am so grateful for her positive influence in Josh's life! Our Heavenly Father is mindful of us, and he places certain people at certain times of our lives to help us along the difficult path of life. Sam brought Josh so much happiness, and she helped him through the loneliness and homesickness that he felt occasionally while on his mission. He was so thankful to have a true friend who understood him and listened to him and cared about him, and we are so grateful to Heavenly Father for Sam and her eternal friendship.