Friday, April 1, 2016

There is just something about mission friends

Tonight I went to a mission reunion. I loved that all of the kids were invited. My kids bonded with the kids of some of the people I love the most. My mission was for sure the best thing I did for myself to prepare me for motherhood and the rest of my life. These are the people that I laughed with, cried with, prayed with, prayed for while I was doing the hardest work I had ever done (before becoming a mother.) We bonded over shared experiences and our love for the same people. Time has marched on and a lot of memories have faded, but getting together with past missionaries brings a lot of the memories flooding back. 

I didn't know very many people there tonight, I only recognized one elder and then a few sisters and I keep in contact with anyway came. Oh, but it still was great to set aside a time to rejoice in the work we did together years ago. Sometimes it is hard to come face to face with the mistakes you made, but it reminds us how human we are. Hopefully we realize how much we have all matured. 

I loved my mission and highly recommend it to everyone. In the end, it happens to be a lot more about how the people and the mission changed you than about anything you really did out there. I love Montana!

Dear Max, on your 8th birthday




















Max,
Tonight I find myself pondering what I want you to know today on your 8th birthday. I want you to know how incredibly lucky I feel to be your mom. I have spent some time looking through old pictures of you today. 

Old is such a funny term since none of these pictures feel old to me Max. You still feel very new to me as in the time since your birth seems to have passed in a flash. At the same time it feels as if you have always been a part of my life, and I can't imagine this world without you in it. This is something you will probably hear me say a million times during your life. It is something that you can't begin to understand until you have your own children, and you get a chance to watch them grow.

As I have been looking through these old pictures, My heart has felt like it was going to burst. I have have looked at the incredible boy that you are. I have enjoyed reliving some of the fun memories that we have together. Most of all I have enjoyed remembering who you are. I can't wait to continue to watch you grow as you become the person that you were put here on this earth to become.


Max, you mind will never cease to amaze me. I love watching you think, invent, create, and imagine everything and anything. You are loving and kind, but never ask for any attention. Your thought process is unique and fascinating to me. I feel really blessed that I get to homeschool you and watch those thoughts progress.

I am really excited that you made the decision to get baptized. Believing in God and going to church has always been easy for you. I love that you are always eager to go to class and be a part of everything. 

Most of all, I want you to know that you bring me great joy Max. You are an important part of our family. I am so thankful that you are part of us. I believe that you chose to be part of this family, and so I am so thankful that you did! I love you so much Max!