Tender-Mercy-Missing-Moments

"How can you leave your family to go on a mission for two years?"

Our answer: "How can we Not?"

(Our entire lives we have been blessed by knowing that we have a purpose in life, that we can learn and grow and forgive and repent and know that our Family can be together forever because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  How can we not share such blessings?)

Is it difficult to leave grandchildren and children to be on a mission?

Our answer is: "Oh My...YES!"

Maybe it's the one-year-half-way-through-the-mission-mark?  I find myself yearning to touch the dimpled hands of the grandchildren we haven't held. There are moments when I look at the clock, figure the time differences, and have to catch my breath when a grandchild is born, baptized, playing in a concert, kicking a goal on a Saturday drenched lawn, having a Birthday!  I can hear their laughter...each one has their own.  I can see the tilt of their heads, their smiles, and remember their colors and their treasures...but I can't hug them...and they are changing and growing...and that is hard.  I already knew it would be.  We had 5 grandchildren born while we were on our mission in Brasil.  And I look at the calendar and count the days between Chemo treatments for my Mother...and I want to give her a hug...and she tells me everything is fine...and that they are praying for us!   There are not words for some stretchings...

But, on Sunday... Leandra sat by me.  (The children are sweet to do that in every branch!) And...I received a sweet email from one of our children...and I read an important scripture (written just for me it seems) and I know what to do next.  Tender Mercies just when we need them most.

And...I remembered promises I have made. And I am thankful for this time we have to serve. We are loving our time together.  We are learning so much. I know our children and grandchildren are being blessed.  And I know that Heavenly Father has asked us to share His love with all of His children.  It is easy to do that with our family...and it is easy to do that with His family when a little-sister-girl named Leandra winds her way to sit by me.  It's the sweet tender mercies, the moment-miracles that help me to know...

not only where I am at...

but why...

and that is enough.

Thank You My Daniel light-switch-everything-electrical-circuits boy!  
We are having a Happy Mission!
I wouldn't trade it for anything!
(except the thing we are hoping to trade it for...the gift of being with you forever!)