New Family!

My daughter came home off her mission on April 30th.  Since then we have heard much about her companions.  She didn't have many as she was only really in 2 places her whole mission.  However there were those that made a life long impression on her.  They taught her and became her sisters.  They shared sacred and scary situations together.  So this weekend we have taken a roadtrip, my daughter and I.  We left our small home town of Fielding on Thursday and ventured forth to Oregon.
On our way, I was able to stop in Ontario, Oregon just outside of New Plymouth, ID and visit with a cousin that I haven't seen in 7+ years.  It was wonderful to get a hug from her and to be able to tell her how much I love her.  I'm not sure when I will see her again.  She is doing well and looked great.  She is taking care of a daughter and grandson permanently and she is always helping her other children, so her life is full.

The drive to Lakeview, Oregon was an adventure.  We saw beautiful scenery and lovely places that I didn't know existed.  Who knew that there were desert areas in Oregon?  I didn't but oh it is beautiful.  Then there were the small towns and simple ways of life we saw.  The tiny cafe's and busy little towns on our way.  I always find it interesting to watch people in these places.  They are just like in my small town.  They are kind and happy and just enjoying going about their daily lives.

Then we arrived in Lakeview to meet a wonderful family!  My daughter served with Katie McFarland and it was her that we were going to visit, but we got a bonus.  We got to meet her family!  How impressed I am.  They are wonderful people that have taken us in warmy and let us share this weekend with them.  They have been so kind and gracious.

Last night the girls (Hannah and Katie) wanted to go out and watch them burn a pond.  It was amazing.  They lit a match and threw it into this pond and it began to burn on top of the water.  The pond is fed by an artisian well and it has somekind of gas that it lets off as it comes out of the ground.  It was pretty spectacular to watch.  Then we drove around the duck ponds and listened to the birds sing before they retired for the night.

Today we are doing some cooking while the girls go and have a great time together.  I was so anxious to meet this family.  I get worried about not measuring up, but this family has taken us right in and made us a part of them.  I am so grateful for the time we are spending together.  It's amazing how Heavenly Father places people in our lives to bless and uplift.  I am so grateful to have this new family in my life.  They are special people and I can see why my daughter loved the time on her mission when she and Katie were together.

Missionary Is Back ~ I'm growing

We were blessed on April 30th to get our missionary home from her mission in Tallahassee, Florida.  She had a wonderful 18 month experience there and has been sharing those with us since she returned.  She shares her testimony of our Savior daily in the ways she has changed and the things she has learned and continues to do.  I had a hard time while she was gone, I admit that.  However, I wouldn't have had her anyplace else.  She was doing the Lord's work sharing his Gospel.  She couldn't have been in better hands or learning from a better source.  I am grateful she is home and blessing our lives in a different way.

Our sweet Hannah has so many plans now that she is home.  She is going to attend college of which she states she has 7 years to go.  She wants to get a Masters in Architecture.  And I know she will do it.  She is dedicated to her goals.

She is teaching me.  She is such a wonderful example of how we should share the Gospel in our everyday lives.  She is so willing to always help others.  She goes out of her way to do this.  What a blessing it has been to have her for a daughter.

We have kept busy doing things and going places.  We are taking a road trip in late May to visit her companion in Oregon.  I am excited to meet this wonderful woman that my daughter got to know on her mission.  This sweet sister and her family will be taking us under their wings for a weekend and I'm so excited to meet them all.  It will be fun!

So in our lives, things continue to change and I'm grateful because with that change I am able to continue to grow and learn.