When They Get It

I got a letter from my missionary son, Andrew yesterday.  Within the text he wrote something that he realized.  He was preparing for a talk and said this.  "If Ammon wouldn't have gone on his mission we wouldn't have the 2000 Stripling Warriors.  And if there were no stripling warriors, the strongest army of the Lamanites would not have been destroyed.  And if they were not destroyed, it would have possibly changed the outcome of the Book of Mormon.  So, because Ammon went on his mission he saved a lot of people from destruction.  It makes me wonder how my mission will affect generations to come." 

It is the recognizing and internalizing the Book of Mormon that thrills me as a mother.  I don't know whose life he will change.  I do know that his mission is changing his life and his future family's life.  His sons will be able to look at him and know that he did what was asked of him in serving the Lord.  They will know they have a responsibility as well.

Erin gets it.  I think she's always gotten it.  Next week we will have the opportunity to be in the temple together.  That thrills me as well.  I wish we could all go together as a family, but that day will come.  It just isn't yet.

My husband attended a CCM (coordinated council meeting) on Sunday in Neenah with the other Wisconsin stake presidents and the area authority, Elder Scott.  He came home with some information that he needs to teach his unit leaders and have them in turn teach in their council meetings.  From there it should trickle down to the family.  The subject is the Sabbath Day.  I love the Sabbath day!  I have come to appreciate it more and more as I work harder to try to indeed make it different than the other days of the week.  One of the brethren said in the video he brought home, "It is time to give the Sabbath back to Christ."  Wow!  What a statement!  It is His day and we as a people had no right to take it from him.  I ache as I see the blatant disregard for this special day.  I think I'm getting it.  I pray for my children to get it as well.  They have a good start.  They've been taught well.

Last week, a former member of my track team took his own life.  As I pondered over why he would do this, I wondered what was so horrible in his 22 years of life that he thought he would be better off dead.  He didn't get it.  I ache for his family and friends.  I spoke with the funeral director as I left the visitation this morning.  I said, "Babies and this circumstance have to be the hardest for you as a funeral director to deal with the families."  He agreed and said unfortunately there are too many of these.

Each time I observe one of my children do something positive that shows they understand the Lord's plan for them, I secretly do the happy dance.  They get it!  They get it.  One day, all will have the opportunity to "get it."  That gives me great hope!

Mother's Day 2015

 Anyone who has spent any amount of time with me knows that I'm not a huge fan of made up holidays such as Valentine's Day, Grandparent's Day, Mother's and Father's Days.  That being said, since having a daughter and now a son on a mission, Mother's Day is pretty special.  I get to talk to my missionary!!!!  Totally worth the made up holiday.  Here's a screen shot that Erin took of us on FaceTime with Andrew.

He is doing so great.  I cannot express my gratitude for his desire to be a missionary and for sacrificing his time to do this worthy thing.  He's learned so much and will continue to learn as he has another 14 months to go.

 All my grandchildren were here over the weekend and so it seemed like a good time to take a new grandchild photo.  Sammi and Clare did their best to get them to sit nice and look at the camera.  Believe it or not, this was the very first picture.  The rest are not nearly so good.  Love these little people!

 Sammi took this picture of us while we talked to Andrew.  I love this photo more than I can express.  Thanks Sammi!  I looked at a bunch of "incredible missionary" photos today and I think this one fits with those that I looked at.

 My children surprised me by getting me this necklace.  I love it!  Thanks girls for picking it out!

Once again, look at that smile.  He's radiating!  I received an email on Tuesday in which he said, "I am so glad I chose to come on a mission it has opened my eyes to things I never thought of before. I understand the bigger picture in life and I now feel like I have more purpose and direction. I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had and the things that I've learned for anything."  
 

What more could I as a mother want than to be able to talk to all of my children in one day when they are spread across the country?  I look forward to the day when we will all be together in one place.  That's just going to have to wait for a bit longer though.  At least 14 more months.