I love nice people

Ok folks. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining when I say this because I think that having the opportunity to live in Italy (or any Foreign country for that matter) is absolutely amazing. I believe it is a once in a lifetime experience and I love the adventure BUT I'd be lying if I said there aren't days where I get pretty homesick. I don't know if it's because I'm so far along in the pregnancy which makes me want more family/friends around or if it's because I have way too much free time on my hands that I find myself longing for home where I'm busier. There are lots of weeks that fly by but there are also days that seem as long as one week. Today is the first day that Ryan has been gone on a road trip from this new city. Let's just say I am still completely lost. I know my way to the grocery store and home. That really is all. All day yesterday I would ask Ryan what I should do when he leaves. I'll be honest, I've been feeling clingy to Ryan lately. Poor guy is probably sick of me! He just kept saying take some good naps while you can because before you know it the baby will be here! So after he left I did exactly that. I took a nap. Then I was so bored so I got out on a nice walk. It was beautiful outside and it felt so good to get my big body moving. I am definitely starting to slow down the bigger I get! What used to be easy is now feeling like a marathon. When I was out on my walk I found myself beginning to feel sorry. I was feeling like the time can't go fast enough for our families to start visiting. I can't wait to have them here to see faces from home and to enjoy their company! Pretty much I started moping and thinking I have it so hard which to be honest isn't like me. I was being a baby. I was really enjoying being outside and getting exercise until I let myself start complaining about how far away I am from all of my family and friends. I finally felt like I needed to say a prayer. As I was walking I just asked Heavenly Father to help me remember all of the many blessings I have been given and how I really just needed some comfort in this time of feeling so alone. I went home and remembered that I needed to call the mission home to get the time and address for church tomorrow. We wanted to go to church last week but plans were changed when Ryan got a really crazy virus which kept us locked indoors for about 4 days. I called the mission home and this sweet lady answered. Immediately I was feeling happier! The sound in her voice just when I heard her say "Hello! This is Sister _____ how can I help you this beautiful day!" I don't even remember her name. I started telling her who I am and what I needed help with which led her to ask me more questions which then led us to a conversation. I ended up telling her that I'm pregnant and that we just barely moved here to this new city and our little life story. She was so kind and it was exactly what I needed. She kept calling me "dear" and "sweetie" which just made me want to give her a huge hug. She kept telling me how happy she was that we were here and that she just knew everything would work out great for us. She was so relieved when I told her my mom was coming from the States to be with me for when the baby is born. She told me if she wasn't coming then she wanted to come from Milan and help me. She was so helpful and tender. I know she has no clue that our little conversation actually completely changed my day. There were even times when my eyes were filled with tears because I knew she was a tender mercy from the Lord. This all happened in the early afternoon when it's way too early to call someone from home to cheer me up. I got off the phone with a completely changed attitude and was actually thinking to myself how silly I was for being negative earlier. What a waste of energy to be negative! The point of my story is we really don't know how much we can change someone's day by just being kind. I could feel her patience and love through the phone. I also know that Heavenly Father heard my prayer in this small time of need and He knew she was exactly what I needed. If she only knew how much her sweet spirit changed my day! Hopefully I can take advantage of opportunities as simple as this to help someone through their day.