I'm going on a blog rampage. Two in one day:) This is Mark, or Elder Halbert to those that care--of the two of us that read this blog.
Always, Mark has been one of the funniest kids alive. Still, from Riverside California, he lays it down. His emails are full of counsel, thoughts, imagery, etc. that makes me giggle, laugh, and have to hold my side.
Here we go:


(After I told him I had surgery) From the sound of it, you seem to be recovering well, and dating already.. =/
good luck with school, study hard! if you can lift books yet that is.


(Love counsel from a missionary) go for her personality. that's what counts the most. Most of your success in life comes from the girl you marry, so be sure to pick the right one, not trying to pressure you or anything.


Sorry if this message is all cramped up, but the enter button doesn't work, haha. Well, 3 minutes left on the clock, til next week family, love you all. Elder Mark Halbert (blast the enter button)


Dear Family, No, Uncle Dave did not take me out for lunch, and they don't eat with me either, the food here is pretty good tho, I've gained maybe a pound or two if that will make you jump for joy, haha.


Companions? no, one is deaf so he's better than us all, my real companion is kinda new to it, got alot to learn. My companion is hearing, like heary hear, and the teachers ehh, kinda depends on them


Uncle and Aunt Jones says Hi to you guys, haha, I tried the glasses you sent me and it's fine, but to see far distance, it's blurry, guess that's what to be expected from cheap glasses


(Opposite homesickness: thoughts on our dog) Tama's doing good? that's great to here, i thought he'd be sick and all since i left cuz he really likes me.


(Companion info and questions answered) Dear Family, Yeah, it's the two of us now, easy? depends on what you mean, we wake up at different times, i'm a bit silent and he's talkative, blah blah blah. Heh, he doesn't really try to sign often, i worry about him. This week we are teaching in ASL so hopefully it will encourage him to work harder. Signing more? ofcourse i am! it's an ASL Class, we sign most of the time.


I bet everyone wants to hear something funny, alright, here goes. for our district meeting or whatever, we talk about how we can improve as a group, and i say we need to be more positive, and the sister who's writing translates it to Positive's only, i look at it for a few seconds then say, well, guess i'm out, i'm negative (blood type). Everyone laughed, hope you do too, haha.


darn, with me gone the neighborhoods gone too dull


(A little attitude) You opened the box i sent home?? Hello, does it say Linda or Doug Halbert? no is says my name meaning it's for me when i arrive home after my mission.. oy.. i don't like to waste the bags..they're useful. And it didn't cost that much.. if i had sent the regular box, fedex would have charged me like double the cost or more. so relax on that part.


i noticed a paper sign on a pole saying possible kidnapping, and i said, why do people kidnap kids anyway? you have to feed them and they cry all the time.. Well, you all enjoy your stay in Minnesota while i go looking for Deaf people.