Life Moves Pretty Quickly

A very smart friend said to me one day, "as fast as kids arrive in your home, that's how fast they leave". I figure she knows what's she's talking about considering she have birth to 10 kids and was blessed to raise 9 to adulthood.  

When I started this blog I had one child living in New Caledonia, serving a mission for our church and the rest living at home.  Since then our oldest and only daughter has married and moved on, our missionary has returned home and after living with his grandparents for a year is finishing up his schooling at BYUi in Rexburg, Idaho, our middle son is now serving a mission in Xalapa, Mexico and my second to youngest will be leaving home next month for the MTC to learn French then he will be off to serve his mission in Paris, France. If you're keeping count, that leaves one child at home, a situation I experienced last in 1991.  I get asked (criticized) by people not of my faith quite a bit on how I can send my kids out on the world and not see them for 2 years. I tell them it's easy and truly it is.  I love The Lord, I believe in his gospel. I know that if you believe and have faith in Him then you will be blessed by following Him and sharing His gospel. My boys feel the same way and know that the 2 years they serve will bless our family and their lives in countless ways that will manifest throughout their lives. In the grand scheme of eternity, 2 years isn't even a blip. 

The best part about them serving a mission? I can't speak for others but this moment is pretty good,

this is all of them together again after 2 years, this is the day we picked Andrew up at the airport.  The extra kid in the back is Megan, I consider her one of mine too. 

Also it didn't bother me to trip over these well worn ugly sandals the next morning! 

All of this happened in June of 2012, it seems like yesterday, but the son I got back was the same yet different. For one thing he was no longer a boy, he was a man. He had been refined by the experiences he had living in a different culture than the one he was used to. He learned that even though we're not rich, he had it better than most. He learned to love the people he served, he learned to turn the other cheek, he learned how to catch, prepare, cook and eat a bat! He also came home with a thorough knowledge of French and can speak the island language of Bislama. These are experiences money can't buy.  

In October of 2013 our daughter Ashton married. I'll post more about her wedding later. 

My new son-in-law is geeky in a cool way. This was a day filled with love and laughter.  For example, the wedding selfie:

And the photo booth: 

But most importantly, family.

I can't stress the importance of family. I was telling my husband the other day that I was so grateful to a God in Heaven that is so much smarter than me and knew although I was happy with my two oldest kids, He knew I needed more in my life so He gave me as I called them for much too long, the little boys. Never mind that they all tower over me now. Without those three our lives would not be as joyous as they've been these last 20 years. 

Born in February of 1995 was Jordan, Jojo to the family. He is now serving a mission in Mexico and like his brother before him, went off a boy. He's had to learn a new language, then teach in that language, learn that plumbing isn't always reliable and that in Mexico they use more of the chicken than his mom does and corn tortillas come with every meal, every meal. The best part for me is knowing that when he returns he will be a better version of himself after all those experiences. Here he is just before baptizing this lovely lady, she's 101 years old, can you imagine the joy this brings? 

I look forward to his return eagerly, I can't wait to have him speak to the Mexican side of our family! Again this is something no amount of money can buy, these experiences are priceless! 

Then there's our second to youngest, Cameron, he's 19 months younger than Jojo. Cammy as I call him, has been called to serve in Paris, France. His mission encompasses the area that his grandmother is from the Alsace-Lorraine region. What are the chances that I would have 2 sons that serve French speaking missions? No chance at all because truly there is a God in Heaven that knows better than me. 

Cameron making a face because I insisted on photographing him:

So very soon, he will be off on his own adventure and he will have those experiences that will enhance and enrich his life in untold ways. And as for me, I will write him and his brother every week and look forward to Christmas and Mother's Day when I will get to skype with them. The house will be a little quieter and a little neater because only the youngest will be home. But soon, very soon Jordan will return and then Jonathan, Bubba to you and me, will graduate and be off and we will be empty-nesters. It happened in the blink of an eye. 

Taken in February of 2014. Left to right: youngest to oldest, the last picture of them all together for 5 years. 

Is it worth it? You bet! 

Terri