Our Beloved Family

 This is undoubtably the hardest part of leaving, saying Goodbye to our Beloved Family! We have told our family several times how much we appreciate their encouragement these past few months,  they have not held us back as we have prepared to serve a mission, but have helped us go forward. We feel very fortunate and grateful to have these children and grandchildren to call our own!

 Although there are tears of sorrow at parting, there is also encouragement, smiles,  and support given by the bucktful, from all.  We are all going to share in this mission experience together, and we pray that it will be a year of blessings for all of us ---

The five men in the back have already served missions --- they all just smile at me when I talk about being nervous to leave and go on a mission. We look forward to the time when the three boys in the front get to serve.

We will miss these precious little ones, and pray for Gods choicest blessings to be upon them.

Tender Mercies

The serious packing is well under way, and the last two days have been hectic!  But in the middle of our craziness, there have been some tender mercies, that I need to mention. As I was running around between dental and hair appointments, the spirit told me to go into the Bank right then, and deal with an errand I had been putting off,so I did, and with zero line-ups, I was in and out in 5 mins!  Then I had an impression to go to a certain store right after the Bank to look for an item I needed, and there it was, on sale, and again I was in and out quickly and able to be on time to scheduled appointments!  I felt that it was a "Tender Mercy" given to me, in the middle of a hectic day, and I am very grateful for the way the Lord looks after us. I  know that  if I will only act on the promptings of the spirit, right in the moment, I will be blessed.

The big question  now is, How much CAN we get into the van??  I am hoping for "more", but we will see!

I keep looking at the Hammock and thinking, hmmmm, will THAT  fit in the van as well??? It would make an interesting addition to the Halifax mission office, if only  I could sit in there, in the afternoon, and answer the phone as I swing in, towards the desk ---- what would the President think??

"A Gift"

 This past Sunday was a real "Gift" to us as several family members  and good friends came to church to hear us attempt to speak  -- we know that it was a busy weekend for many people, and we felt the support of all, present and or not. It meant such a lot to us --- Thank you!   Your prescence  and good wishes were the best gift we could have received!
  This little cookbook was a bonus ---- now we feel prepared and ready to go to the Maritimes --- bring it on!

Preparation

Going on a Mission as a Senior Couple is something I felt I should work toward for a long time.  We feel fortunate to be able to do this at this time.   There is a ton of little detail,  arranging home, finances, trying to move all of our bills to paperless etc.   Everything seems to be coming together and we are excited but nervous.     

We have been asked to serve in the office in Halifax for a good portion of each day. This is not what we were expecting but we are prepared to serve where the Mission President feels we are needed.   

 The fear of the unknown creeps into our thoughts. Will we do a good job.  Will our health hold up.  Will we be comfortable in our apartment.   Missing our family at home. etc.  As we have these feelings we are reminded that faith is the absence of doubt and fear and we move forward confident that all of these things will work out.

Our purpose in going on a Mission is simple.   We want to try to  accomplish some good.  God willing and some hard work  we will do just that.

The Eye of the Storm

  It has been an interesting summer this year as we were  released the end of June  from serving in both the YSA ward and in the Calgary Temple, where we have been for nearly two years, as we are preparing to serve a mission  ---- I find that I miss these good people that I have grown to love, and I miss  having a church assignment, but I am jokingly calling these past few weeks, the "eye of the storm"! Ha ha!
 We have been using this summer to go and visit family,  also took a vacation to Nauvoo to recharge our batteries, and  now we are getting the home and stuff ready to go. A lot of little details to take care of, but I am reminded over and over that the Lord is in the details of our lives! He prompts us and reminds us regularly of little things that we need to take care and we are chipping away at it.
   As we are approaching our mission farewell this Sunday and I am dealing with the nerves of speaking in public, I am reminded over and over of what has become one of my favorite scriptures, D&C 68:6, which reads, "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the Living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."     

   I don't know that I can be of "good cheer" when I think about speaking in church --- that is a stretch--- but I do feel great comfort to think of the Lord being with me, and standing by me, so I will focus on that this week.