He's Home!

Well, it's true!  After two (that at times seemed like very long) years, our boy is home from his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

Sometimes you hear that a mission is the best two years OF a missionary's life, but others swear that a mission is the best two year FOR a missionary's life.  A boy serving a mission comes home a man; with a greater love for people, a strong work ethic, and most importantly a deeper love for our Savior Jesus Christ.
 

He has learned that obedience to the Lord and his restored gospel brings much happiness and joy.  He has seen what a difference it can make in people's lives, and has let it make a difference in his own life as well.  He now "gets it."  He knows that the path the Lord has laid out for us in His true gospel is the path to "peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come." (Book of Mormon introduction)
 

It has been wonderful to have him back.  In some ways those two years have completely melted away, and it seems like he was never gone.  But he did go, and it made him a better man than he otherwise could have been.
 

I'm so thankful for his sacrifice.  In the end, what we have gained is greater than anything we gave up.  Thanks for a great two years, Elder...Welcome Home!

Here he comes!  He flew in with 3 other Elders from his mission. There are a bunch of happy families waiting at the bottom of those stairs!

I'm trying to play it cool...don't want to seem like an over-anxious mom who really missed her boy (even though I was!)  My favorite part of this picture is his feet...they're blurry, because he's on the move to come hug me! :-)








One of the best hugs ever, hugging your boy after two years!  I'm pretty sure we were both crying here. Love him so much, and am so proud of him!











Craig, Bradley and Jacob--3 of my 4 handsome boys!  We miss that OTHER Elder now!

Home at last...NOW WHAT???

My mantra for the next couple of days...

Dear Libby

A little over a year ago I did a 30 day blog post challenge that started with the challenge to write a letter to yourself and answer it a year later. 

Here’s my answer to myself.

Dear Libby,

What a year it’s been! 

The new house is still wonderful.  There are only 2 things that I have discovered are not my favorites about the house, but other than that I still love it.  One is a misplaced light switch that makes it a bit inconvenient to turn the mudroom light on or off. The second is that the dishwasher, sink, and garbage can cabinet are all right next to each other in a corner of the kitchen, and it gets a bit piled up there at meal clean-up time.  I’d definitely rearrange that if I could.  But overall I love my home, and still think it’s beautiful!  We have had a lot of family fun at our house, it is definitely a party house.  I think one of the favorite parts of the house for partying is the gas fire pit out back.  Making s’mores together with friends and family is so fun.

As for what’s new with our family...well, I’ll have to repeat, what a year it’s been!  Mel and John are doing well.  They both graduated from college in May, and John was hired for a job he’s always wanted.  It took them off to the Midwest, which they have seemed to love and enjoy.  Mel was hired as a elementary school aide as well, so they will both be busy with their new jobs and many new adventures to come in a new state!

Are we excited for Bradley to come home?  YES!  It’s been such a good two years for him, but I am so looking forward to having him back home.  He’ll not be home long—off to BYU he’ll head with many new adventures to come for him too, I’m sure.

It is definitely weird to have a 3rd child graduated.  I don’t feel very old in general, but having 3 of my 4 children graduated makes me feel like people look at me as an old person--I'm nearly an empty nester!  This past year brought a major change which affected our family.  In October of 2012, President Thomas S. Monson announced a change in missionary age.  Young men, who could previously serve at age 19, would now be allowed to begin their missionary service at age 18, as long as they had graduated from high school. For Trevor that meant he could leave as early as June (as opposed to November) for his missionary service.  After putting in his papers he was called to serve starting in July.  Sadly, that means he and Bradley will miss each other.  Trevor flies out of the country the day before Bradley flies home.  But, I figure the Lord knew all that when he called Trevor, and so we’ll trust that it is part of his plan.  Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven.

As for Jacob, he seems to be doing pretty well as the only child left at home.  His first year of high school seemed good, and he was part of the school marching band that got to march in the Rose Parade.  However, as he didn’t love marching band overall he didn’t end up doing it this year.  That’s actually probably ok...it was a very busy summer and the thought of squeezing parades and practices into that sounds like more than we might have wanted to deal with!  He did get his driver’s license, and is hoping that he’ll be able to drive to school this year.  But first we need to get the car he’ll be driving fixed!  Trevor put in his plug before he left that Jacob should have to ride the bus to school instead, but Jacob didn’t really like that idea!

As for where we are and if I feel settled...well, yes and no.  I must say I do NOT miss our old house area.  The people I may miss, but the area not at all.  I think it took Craig a little bit before he always remembered where we live now, but I would never forget.  And, driving over in the old area usually has me muttering to myself, “I am SO glad I don’t live over here anymore.”  It was a very good place for us for a time, but I definitely think it was time for a new place for us.  I have enjoyed the people here, they have all been very nice, and it’s very good that way.  But, at the same time, moving somewhere new after you’ve lived in one place for nearly 15 years is quite a change.  Where you previously knew everyone, you now know no one, and sometimes that’s hard for me to deal with.  I also think I struggle with it because it came at a time of a lot of life changes, and at times I feel like I am not sure who I am and how I fit in anymore.  I’m not sure that I wouldn’t somewhat feel the same way even where I was previously, but I think being the “new kid on the block” adds to my unsettled feeling. 

We've stayed busy with callings.  First we started out as team Primary teachers, but a few months later Craig was called to be High Priest Group Leader and I was moved to be team teachers with another lady for the Sunbeams.  I'm also serving on the Relief Society meeting committee as well.  I think that things have been good for us in our callings, and I’m thankful for the chance to serve.

So, what about the friends I've made? Well, I would say I feel like I have a lot of surface friends, but have not yet felt like I have totally made one of those deep friends that you would call at anytime for anything.  That’s probably what I’ve missed the most about living over here, feeling like I have many “deep level” friends.  Luckily for my sanity my current next door neighbor is a long-time friend who used to live in my old neighborhood, so I at least feel like I have one person I could call at any time for anything.

Overall I would have to say that the past year has been pretty good for us in general, definitely a year of changes and new things, but hopefully a year of good growth and learning.

Here’s hoping for even more good things to come in the next year as well!

Love, Me