The Turano Adventure: December 2024

Princess Brooke,

I think for a long time I was in denial that you would be going so far away to Utah State for college, and then once it happened I kept trying to not dwell on the fact that you are not just on a six-month trip but on a four-year and maybe living outside Texas from now on kind of journey. I was trying so much not to dwell on that sad thing for me..... that I didn't even write about it to you in your book.

Since you just came back for Thanksgiving and will be coming back for Christmas in a few weeks, I can dwell on you being at college for a moment while I remember you will be right back.

It is a miracle that you are at the school of your choice Brooke and I don't want you to ever forget that miracle in your life. Heavenly Father allows hardships to happen because that's mortality, but He does take and use those hard things and uses all things to work for our good. ( Romans 8:28 one of my favorite scriptures )

Your Dad's life events caused lots of hard things but out of that you received the chance to go to the expensive school that you otherwise could never have gone to if you didn't qualify for assistance. You did do your part Brooke, which is why I know God went before you. You are a hard worker and you also found scholorships on top of your assistance, but the Lord's hand can not be overlooked. If we had a regular income like we would have, you would not have had parents that could say we would help pay for you to go to this expensive out of state school.

I hope you always see the little things Heavenly Father and Jesus are doing for us. If we don't take a moment to think about the good things happening we might miss miracles right in front of us.

I saw a miracle or tender mercy when we dropped you off at Utah State this August Brooke. The miracle may have been at first for me, but served you later as well.

I was so worried about dropping you off at college so far away because I had no way of rushing to your room to get you up for church on Sundays anymore Brooke. As painful as Sunday mornings have been for the last 18 years in trying to get us out the door with baby brother having been nursed, changed, packed and your hair curled and your mouth fed, I now know how much I was in paradise to be able to pack you up and take you myself to church. I was not worried about anything else as Grandma and Grandpa Pack and Will and I were leaving you at your apartment to say our goodbye; only worried how you'd find out the time you were supposed to go and where it would be to go, where those living by you would be, and not a random ward.

As we had hugged bye I suddenly noticed a paper on your apartment door that was not there even one hour before we went for our last meal together until you came back to Texas. I ran over to the paper on the door as you yelled at me, " Mom! You can't just take papers off the door, its not just my house!" Well, how glad I was that I did go get that paper because it was from your ward. The paper had the address, time, plus an invitation for a linger longer that would happen the next day.

Had I dropped you off even 2 hours earlier, I would have never seen that paper.and I would have left Utah still worried.

The moment I read the paper, I was reminded that in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we are organized. God is organized, and of course He would have an organized church; not to say He doesn't work in the other churches because I know He does work with people where they are and in all lives and churches; but there is the highest order and highest power of the Priesthood in His fullness of His church which you can see even down to each auxiliary and calling.

Yes, it was just a piece of paper but it allowed me the peace to know that you knew where your building was on the first Sunday away from home in your new ward and without a car, and walking!

We were blessed to be able to drive along the side of the road to show you how you'd walk to church the next day and I took a picture of that paper which allowed me weeks later to help you know how to join the group chat which we all apparently didn't think of telling you to scan the QR code that day.

Brooke, I am grateful for your testimony building moments.

A month or so into classes I received a nice text from you that made my day because you told me that in your Human Development class you are learning about how children go through stages and what they need. You told me you thought about how I did all the things your class taught you parents should do for best development, yet you knew I didn't take that class or any parenting classes and that you had the thought it was the Holy Ghost or Spirit that taught me how to do all those best methods.

I knew that was true. The Holy Ghost did help me and does help me, and you.

You got your wisdom teeth out a few weeks ago and you were in Utah! Not here where I could take care of you, but let me remind you for when you read this later that you had a car full of girls, your roommates who wanted to be there to pick you up and took care of you with getting you ice cream and whatever help you needed, which made me happy for you!

You told Grandma, Grandpa Pack and me that while you were about to be put under you felt the comfort of the Holy Ghost and you knew the prayers were being heard.

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to hear you were changing your major to nursing and I hope that it sticks but either way, I felt grateful that some piece of your experience maybe going with me to take care of my patient Jeffery and watching me feed him through his feeding tube or maybe going to visit my patient Al in the hospital touched your heart to be loving in sickness and to our fellow travelers in need. You told me you don't remember watching the wound care on Al's feet I did so that actually might be a good thing you can't remember that right now, since you do have some apprehension about trauma.

When I hear you and your roommates are doing funny and your silly things, I try to give thanks in my heart you are there where you finally live with your best friends Maddy and Aly, but we do miss you so much Brooke!

Will said, " Its amazing Brooke found a house full of girls that want to do all the strange things Brooke likes!"

Will and you got to do some things together when you were here and I hope that you know that he also prays for you and that you will always stay close to Will, because just like you wanted to follow him around as he was a baby, so he didn't fall, he also thinks about you too and I know because he tells me.

You are so loved Brooke! Your Grandma and Grandpa Pack, your Dad, Will and I are constantly praying for you and loving you.

Love,

Mommy💝