The story of our mission probably begins when we first met and married. We always talked of serving a senior mission but it was something that was always in our future. A day far off. Little did we realize, that these plans were set in motion on a warm August Weekend in 2011 when we celebrated our oldest granddaughter's marvelous wedding weekend. Four days that would change our lives.
It started at the temple on Thursday night when Danielle attended the temple for the first time before her wedding. On that same night, our grandson Bryce, Danielle's brother was also attending the temple for the first time in preparation for serving a full time mission. It was such a sweet night. Two grandchildren at the temple!
On Friday, my family all arrived in town. My handsome brother Milo, my beautiful sister Jo Ann, my sweet niece Donna and her husband Greg, my youngest daughter Stephanie who lives much too far away, and a few of my grandchildren who also live far away. They all came. Family!!! That is the most important part of our life!
The wedding on Saturday was perfect. Truly a magical and spiritual feast. And to greet MY family waiting outside the Temple just touched my heart so much. I have no words to express how much having my brother and sister there with us meant to me. The festivities continued late into the evening at a beautiful reception.
Sunday was yet another magical and spiritual feast for me. Attending Church in Ashland to hear our grandson Bryce give his missionary farewell talk was exciting. Little did I know that it would be one of the most spiritual feasts I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. For there on the program was not only Bryce as one of the two featured speakers, but there sitting beside him on the stand was our son Scott. We got a bonus!! I got to hear two of my most favorite fellas talk in Church. And they were both so wonderful. Oh my goodness, it didn't just stop with those two. Mark, our son-in-law, was there sitting on the stand in his capacity as a Stake High Councilman to conduct some Stake business which was to have the congregation sustain our son Scott to the Stake High Council.
And the blessings continued...As I looked around me on that Sunday there were abundant blessings everywhere. There was our grandson Mitchell sitting on the stand to honor his Priesthood by blessing the Sacrament. And Connor and Tanner, two more grandsons honoring their Priesthood by helping to pass the Sacrament. All of my sons and grandsons were actively involved in this Sacrament Meeting we were feeling truly blessed. With my sweet husband Lee sitting beside me my heart was so full that I thought it would burst!
While the Sacrament was being passed I had time to reflect on the happenings of the weekend and this magical Sacrament meeting and my feelings and my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the sweetness I felt and the goodness of my family and their love, like mine, of the Gospel. I felt so truly blessed at that moment. I expressed my deepest gratitude for these sweet blessings:
Heavenly Father, how can I ever thank you for all the blessings that I enjoy? How can I ever repay you for all you have given me?The tears flowed. Truly a sweet sweet time.
Well, now go forward just two short days to Tuesday. We get a call from the Stake executive secretary asking us if we could meet with Stake President Wright that evening. Of course we could. Both of us then wondered what the meeting would bring. A new job in the stake? We both hold ward positions, but the Stake needs positions filled there too. Oh my goodness how we wondered. But neither of us were prepared for what the Stake President had in mind.
He asked us if we would, with faith, prepare ourselves to serve a mission. A full time mission just like our grandson Bryce is now serving. Oh my goodness! If I had been a denture wearing lady...I would have swallowed my teeth!!!!! I think President Wright got that "deer in the headlight look" from both of us. Then he explained the mission he was calling us to serve. It would be right here in southern Oregon in the Oregon Eugene Mission. We would be serving as Senior Couple Missionaries. We would be assigned to a ward somewhere in the boundaries of the mission and ours would be the responsibility to love and serve the members of that ward in any capacity that we could. We would love, teach, activate, and help in any way we could.
Could have knocked us over with a feather at that call. We both told President Wright we had to think about it and we would get back to him. But as soon as we got in the car, Lee looked at me and said, "We need to do this!" And I agreed. What timing! The Lord gives me this most wonderful weekend and fills my heart with so much gratitude.... and then He asks a little favor of me. How could I tell Him no? His timing is so perfect.
So we are going on a mission. We have talked with the Oregon Eugene Mission President, who is thrilled to have us come. We told him that we were going to bring our trailer and be living in that and so we preferred not to go where there was snow and really cold temperatures. But that we would serve whereever he felt we were needed.
He called last night and assigned us to Bandon, Oregon on the coast. We are going to Bandon for a period of 12 months. As Senior Couple we have much less rules to follow than our grandson Bryce has to follow. We can come home for special occasions and family things. And family can come to Bandon to visit us. We can even take naps during the day!
It is all a new adventure and we are excited and scared all at the same time. We told President Young that we will report to Bandon by the 15th of October. So, we're about to be a full time missionaries!! The Lord knows what a chicken I really am. He knew His timing had to be perfect to get me to say yes to this calling. He knows me. He knows my fears and my shortcomings. And He loves me. I am so grateful for that knowledge.
Bandon, here we come!
