In just ten days we will pack up our few belongings and head to Utah. We speak in church on June 10 and the next day we leave.
While in Utah we will pick up our Mexican Visa's from the consulate (Hooray!! They came on time!:-) help take care of Kristen and her twin babies that are expected to make their arrival any day now, bless three grandsons, go to the temple with a daughter for the first time, celebrate (a few days early) our 30th anniversary with our children, be set apart for our missions by Elder Oaks, and attend four days of mission president's training . . .
And then we will come home, spend the night and fly out the next morning to begin our mission.
So I cry a lot. Not the bawling your eyes out while curled up in fetal position in the corner of the room type of crying. Just the kind where your eyes fill with tears and then spill down your cheeks. I cry when I am eating lunch with a dear friend for the last time in three years, I cry when I am boxing up cherished memories. I cry when my daughter calls to tell me about her doctor's appointment and I know I will miss out on the first three years of her children's lives. And I even cry when I am at the store and a clerk asks me if I want to join their reward program and I have to say no because I am moving out of the country.
But, all my tears aside, we have had some very good things happen in our family this past month.
1. Michelle graduated from High School. She was 11th in her class and so got to sit on the front row. We are so very proud of her and know she will have a great time at BYU in the Fall (hopefully not too great a time though, as we do expect her to maintain those high grades! :-)
2. Michelle also was asked to speak at seminary graduation. It is nice that neither Wes nor I are involved in the seminary program anymore so our kids can speak without it looking like nepotism. :-) She did such a great job!! It was fun to hear her, and we appreciated all the family members who came to support.
3. And in other big news . . . our daughter Kathryn received her mission call to the Guatemala City North Mission! We are so excited for her!! She enters the MTC on October 3, so she will be able to spend a couple months with us in Mexico before she leaves. I am so happy for that. A fun "coincidence" is that her former roommate got called on the same day to the same mission and they enter the MTC together. How nice to go on a mission with a friend!!
4. We have been able to spend some sweet time with good friends and family members. I have been "collecting" mental memories these past six months to take with me. I am grateful for the love and support of so many. Having such dear friends and loved ones here at home makes it hard to leave, but on the other hand, I have realized how blessed we are that we have people in our lives who we love so much!
And of course I know that the next three years will bring many more wonderful people into our lives that will bless and enrich it and so I am looking forward to that . . .
Now if I can only finish getting the house packed up! :-) (Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Susan for your help yesterday!)
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8 comments:
well, this made my own eyes water up a bit. I've never actually thought about the specific sacrifices mission presidents and their wives make to serve.
It is different than young missionaries make for sure...leaving behind grandchildren (born and yet to be) IS a sacrifice!
That must be why the blessings that come from such a consecration are so great and abundant!
I hope you will be able to continue blogging from your mission. I want to live vicariously thru you, Lori!
Congrats to Kathryn on her mission call!
We're still waiting for that white envelope in the mail to come any day now.
hooray, such amazing things happening in your family. Can't believe it's happening so fast. Good luck.
wow It's really time. I feel just like Dawn, such sacrifices. Blessings yes but sacrifices too. Your family will be blessed for your service.
On a personal note- when I had my twins many years ago my mom lived across the country. She couldn't come and help out much. During that time my relationship with my husband really strengthened and bonded us together as a couple like nothing else could. Your daughter will be just fine. Use skype and blogs- you'll be here and your help and comfort will be instant.
Thank you Lori for your wonderful example. I'm really proud of you and so happy I've met you.
I know you and your family will be blessed for the sacrifices you are making. And you will have wonderful, wonderful times, as you know.
But it can't be easy. And all of you will be in my prayers.
=)
wow, it is so awesome that you have such a great experience to look forward too. I know that it will be hard to leave family but the blessings will be wonderful. I can relate to leaving friends and loved ones too. We were in the Northwest for 17 years and then moved back to Utah and it was really hard to leave all my friends and especially my youngest daughter who still lives there. We had so many wonderful church opportunities and experience there. It's hard to make the step into the next phase of your lives; but you are going to just love the missionaries so much.
Blessings to you! I do hope you will keep a mission journal for us to follow.
Wow, I just feel for what you are experiencing with so many things happening in your family. Your children will always appreciate and celebrate your example of sacrifice as it blesses their lives. Whenever I get homesick for my grandkids I realize they pretty much are looking to us as an example and don't mind that we're gone serving the Lord.
I wish we were there to say good-bye! Looking forward to hearing reports of your work and hoping you can find time with all the exhausting schedules you will be piling on for the next 3 years!
Safe Journey, we love you!
Good luck to you.
As I write this, I know you are in the middle of all those exciting plans. You are an inspiration to me and I know the Lord will bless you for all your service and sacrifice. It has been such a pleasure to be a teensy part of your life and what an amazing coincidence to be connected to your family! (Deeny being Wes's cousin) my only selfish hope is that you will be able to have a bit of time to share your amazing experiences with us on your blog. Take care!
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