We are officially missionaries

July 3, 2017

 This was our last Sunday before we report to the MTC in Provo tomorrow morning.  It all seems surreal.  We don't feel any fear, just a little numb about going.  We have been busy packing and preparing.  It is hard to say goodbye to everyone, placing them in the hands of the Lord as we go so far away from those we feel need us. It kind of splits the soul.

Serving a mission together has been our goal and dream since the night we were engaged.  We feel it such an honor to serve the Lord.  We have been so blessed in so many ways that we feel a great desire to do our part and hope the Lord knows that we love Him and that our hearts are full of gratitude for all the gospel has done in our lives.

We spoke in church last week and it was a special day.  So many came and we felt great love from everyone.  Our whole family was in the meeting - our 13 children, 12 in-laws, and 60 grandchildren.  It is probably the last time we will all be together for some time as our granddaughter Megan leaves for her mission to Leeds England in October, and the missionaries will start to leave from then in a regular manner.

Myself, Will, and Grandpa

Being fast Sunday, we were fasting as a family for our little Will who was recently diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa or RP.  It is a genetic disease of the eyes.  We all thought he had lazy eye and he has been being treated for that but his eyes weren't improving.  He had a surgical procedure at the Primary Children's Medical Center because his eye doctor was concerned with what he saw when he examined will.  He has lost all sight in one eye and has only tunnel vision in the other.  It was quite a blow to all of us who love and adore Will.  Alex and Tiff are full of faith but it has been difficult.  I texted Tiffany the other day asking how her heart was.  This was her response:

 It breaks our hearts to give you this news. Thank you for your love. Our hearts feel broken, heavy, grateful, comforted, a little frightened, at peace, love for Will, loved from others, and exhausted. Kind of all over the place 🙂 We feel the love of Heavenly Father and the Savior and their love for Will and know they haven't left us alone. We are so grateful for the gospel and the many people that love Will. We went to the temple on Saturday and there is a beautiful painting of a woman handing her child to the Savior. That brought us peace and we know Will is the the Lord's hands. We love you ❤️

Will is totally unaware that anything is different in his life and is his regular happy, delightful self.  I find myself hoping that I can have the faith of a child as I watch will.  His life is full of joy and he is content with it.  He giggles when he sees his mother and father.  All is right with the world according to Will.  Thanks to everyone who joined in the fast.  They will learn more this Friday when they meet with the doctors at the Moran Eye Clinic.

The thought of leaving Aaron and Lorraine with their challenges has always been difficult.  Aaron has stage 4 lung cancer and has been given miracles that have kept him with us the last two years.  Recently the treatment he was receiving in Sacrament California quite working for him and he started on Chemo.  The Chemo seems to be working and helping his lungs but the side effects have been miserable.  It was a joy to have him well enough to be with us last week and He, Lorraine and family came tonight as well, to see us set apart.  He called his dad a few days ago to see if Dave would give him a blessing before we left.  Lorraine also wanted one.  They arrived at the house before all he others and we went into Aaron's old room where we found some peace and quiet for the blessings.

Lorraine, Aaron, and Dave

It was a sacred time. Love filled the room.  We talked of the past and all the miracles and blessings of when Aaron found Lorraine and they fell in love.  We spoke of all they have carried and remembers the Lord's strengthening power and tutorship through it all.  We don't know the future but wee now the Lord and we trust Him.  As Lorraine said, "His plan is of course the best plan and will result in the most happiness and joy.We are leaving Aaron and Lorraine in the hands of the Lord, there are no better hands to be in.  We also know that family members and friends and ward members in Farmington will shower them with love.

After Dave was set apart as a missionary by our dear Stake President, President Acevedo.  He asked all the Melchezedek Priesthood holders to join in the circle.  Aaron, Joe, Mark, Kent, Alex, Murphy, and Matt were all in the circle.  It was quite a feeling to see so many of the family there supporting us.

                                        Hugs all around after I was set apart as a missionary                                       

I think President Acevedo was impressed with all the family members there.  We told him we had been fasting for little Will and he asked them about his condition.  Those in the High Council Room were; Aaron, Lorraine, Kaitlin, Maddie, Davey, Brig, Ella, and Lily, Melissa and Joe, Alison, Mark, Emily, James, Stephen, Josh, Michael, and Rachel, Kent, Katie and baby Thomas, Alex, Tiff, Emma, June, and Will, Murphy, Matt, Jennie, and Gideon, and Anna.  Andrea had stayed at the Manor with her boys and Katie's boys so Katie could attend without the worry of keeping the boys in tow.

After the setting apart we returned to Paradise where so much family ate, visited, and loved being together.  It was so good to have Cody back from Winnemucca.  He left Katie and boys home this week so we could enjoy them before leaving for the mission.  Boy those boys missed their dad.  It as like a breath of fresh air to have him back.  He is such great help and so fun with the boys.

Jonny, Cody and baby Thomas

Our capable, helpful Greg helped me print out family group sheets that Dave and I are supposed to take with us.  It saved us hours that it would have taken to write all the information into the 'My Family' booklet we needed to fill out.  My brother Brad also sent me all the life stories that he had prepared when he started his mission along with all the pictures of those in my 4 generations.  Greg has also helped set us up with Skype and get our computer working and helped with phones and this blog.  I spent a lovely morning a couple weeks ago with Kerrie Peck who gave me instruction in doing this blog.  I loved her blog about her son Brendan.  This is my first entry and any mistakes are my own not Kerrie's or Greg's but they have been such help to me.

 Our grandson David Howell who very well might have left on his mission before we return home

Aaron and Lorraine's children, Kaitlin, Maddie, myself, David, Dave, Brig, Lily, and Ella

                     

Andrea and baby Ray enjoying little baby Thomas Kendrick Bayles

Dave, Will, myself, and Alison holding Silvie.

We had a scare with Silvie who was riding a little bike and was almost hit as Emily was driving out of the driveway.  She was very frightened.

It was a perfect day.  We are so blessed.  It is hard to understand how we will be able to leave all these dear ones.  It makes us marvel at our ancestors who left homes and families to serve missions in my harder circumstances.  As my sister Janice says so beautifully.  "We are still trying to show with our lives our gratitude for the blessings of the gospel."