Saturday, June 21, 2014

We have arrived at the MTC!

June 21, 2014
We have arrived!  But before I go too far on that subject, let me share a little of yesterday.

Leaving on a mission is as hard as saying goodbye to someone leaving on a mission!  This should be no surprise to a rational person, but it did catch me a little by surprise.  When you feel such an attachment to family, the heart hurts deeply to bid farewell even if it is for a limited time!  Hardest of all were those 12-14 year old crying young men.  Maybe they were thinking of a time rapidly approaching for them!

And now we are here – they are so ready for us at the MTC.  Since they have our pictures, most of them call us by name.  All those young minds remember things better than mine does.  The cafeteria has been set up with round tables to enable conversation.  There are greeting committees, delicious food, and the opportunity to meet with amazing other people.  Everyone is happy!  We have met with the photographer, missionary medical, financial, and received an armload of stuff.  We ate lunch with a 3 other couples – and I was the only English speaking person at the table.  Tomorrow all the teaching begins.

But best of all – we are wearing the name tags!  What an honor to have “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” on your name tag.  I almost feel additional power, additional peace, and additional strength.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Can time go any faster?

June 18, 2014
Can the last 10 days even be summed up?  It’s all a big whirlwind of emotions and feelings.  Here’s a snapshot:
·         Being set apart for our new callings by Elder Russell Nelson and Elder Marcus Nash – who gets that kind of opportunity?  Why are we so fortunate? Just looking into their eyes lets you know of their purity and closeness to our Heavenly Father.  What an empowering blessing!  And my children – every one of them found a way to be there which included 2 flights and 4 road trips!
·         Giving a farewell talk at Sacrament meeting – what…..I thought only my children did that sort of thing!  Keith and I both talked, our grandchildren sang “Armies of Helaman”, and David sung “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” accompanied by Sara.  Lots of tears and hugs were shared that day!  We have lived in this ward, town, and house for 36 years….so much is wrapped up here.
·         The last three days on the lake, full of swimming, water crafts, and skiing.  What a fun time for all 30 of us.  We all ate too much, laughed too hard, and the adults (probably just me) did a pretty good job of holding back tears!
·         And tonight, Wednesday night with us flying out Friday at noon, the first bag is packed.  There are 3 more to go.  The final wash is in the works.  There is one more list of duties to be finished.  18 grandchildren need to be hugged again.  28 loved ones will take us to a tiny little airport in Chico California in one and a half days.  They will stand at the gate and watch the take-off.  The airport is that small.  They and we will see every tear!

Our family will be sending us off for the adventure of a lifetime!  Our new family, much larger, will be waiting for us on June 30th.  This last few days at home, and then in the MTC would seem to be impossible if it weren’t for those fantastic missionaries waiting for us in Mexico City!  They have been “called to serve.”  We have been “called to love!”

Sunday, June 1, 2014

19 Days left

June 1, 2014 

We are sitting on day 19-unbelievable!  How in the world do you describe these feelings?  I can’t describe them in English say nothing of Spanish!  My oh my…

With the Mission President Seminar around the corner, we received some additional study materials.  We laughed as we traveled to Folsom the other day.  I drove, and Keith read aloud some of the materials.  The subject matter was “Using Time Wisely” and here we are doing it through the downtown traffic of Sacramento.  Loved it.

I wanted to share a one of the scriptures under “How to Be a Successful Mission President.”  They touched our hearts because they are about the blessings that come to families as they send out missionaries.  When we first started this journey with all its emotional times, I found the most solace in my faith that my family would be blessed as Keith and I served.  These scriptures testify of that very thing.  Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith were concerned about their families as they were out serving a mission.  The Lord answered saying:
D&C 100:1 “Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends Sidney and Joseph, your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power.”

We used to marvel at the wonderful letters we would receive from our children as they served as missionaries.  We would say our mail box glowed when it held a letter from our first missionary, Laura.  We always felt so blessed because of their faithfulness. And now it is our turn.  We have a complete testimony of how our family will be watched over and protected.