You know you are home when....

Side of Hay with your Big Mac?

Honest to goodness, no digital retouch-
this is what we saw at our first stop in Montana.
Oh how I love this state!
Yes....We are home!!

Mission accomplished

When I started this blog, I intended to use it to share our missionary experience. In the end I have shared some glimpses of life- during our mission. Subtle difference, yet different still the same. I wonder how anyone can really share a mission through pictures and words. As I review the posts from the last 18 months, I have a sense that I did not quite succeed with what I set out to do. So I will make one last post from our mission before we start our trek home in less than two days.

This mission was about love! That's it plain and simple.

Never in my life have I been more sure of our Heavenly Father's love for His children. All of His children. My heart has been softened time and time again as I see the effect of the atonement of Jesus Christ in my life and in others. I have never before grown to love so many people so quickly. We have read from the Book of Mormon daily with the focus of lifting others. I can not adequately express how my love for the words from this sacred volume of scripture has grown. My love and appreciation for church leaders at all levels has been strengthened. I have gained a deep sense of gratitude for the Priesthood and those who honor it. My prayers are sweeter as they are often expressions of love. Separation from our family has only proved to increase my love for them and gratitude for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that binds us. Fred and I have grown closer in every way. We have had sacred experiences which have not only enlarged our testimonies, but have connected us in a way that is impossible to explain.

Yes it is hard to leave. Yes it will be hard to be released as full time missionaries. But I have not one regret. The time has come. Our mission is all but over and I can feel it. My mind and heart has turned to home and family. I am anxiously anticipating many joyful reunions. We will bring home many keepsakes from our mission. Pictures, gifts, letters, and more. We will have cherished memories to share. Above all we will have the gift of Love.

CES Broadcast

Sunday night we had about a dozen Young Single Adults and a few "oldsters" to our home for dinner and a Church Education System Broadcast. For us this has been a regular event over the 18 months of our mission. We love it! We fix a LOT of food (consider it an added incentive) and we seldom have left-overs. Together we watch an inspired message from a church leader on the BYU channel. Afterwards we have dessert and a discussion on the topic. This time we learned about the importance of choosing and being good friends and mentors. Then we socialize and maybe play some games. We love these fine young people. We will miss them. We will miss so many things. Just like we missed so many people and things at home while we were gone! Thus is life. I am just happy we are blessed with good friends in two beautiful states!

So there you have it. Another last for our mission. There won't be many more because we are running out of time. Nine days to go!