Final Post
Dearest Children, Grandchildren, Family and Friends,
It is with sadness....and great joy.....that I write this final post of my mission. Sadness that it is over and joy that I have returned to my beloved family and friends and the next phase of my life.
We left Zion's Camp, Palmyra and our mission behind on October 30th at 6:30 in the morning. The night before, about 3 in the morning, I woke up feeling very worried about whether or not we should leave because of the high wind and rain. I started praying about it and then said to myself. "How do I know if my answer is from the Lord or just mine." Then, the words from Sister Lee's talk the day before in Sacrament meeting came clearly to my mind. She quoted Elder Bednar and I can't remember word for word but this is what came to my mind. "Continue in the path you have chosen and the Spirit will tell you when you need to change course." That was my answer!! I went peacefully back to sleep and when we got up at 5:15, I shared that with Dad. Then, it was my turn to choose the scripture for our devotional and I felt I should choose D&C 106:15,"Therefore let your heart be comforted concerning Zion for all flesh is in mine hands, be still and know that I am God." That seemed to us to be a second witness. We prayed and felt calm about leaving. As I was driving out of Zion's camp, I felt so sad. I prayed, "Heavenly Father, this is so hard." Then, the voice of the Spirit came into my heart and mind, "You have your beloved companion with you and you are just being transferred to your next field of labor." How sweet that was as my sadness became joy. I am the Lord's and I will do whatever He asks of me!!! Our day of travel was very long, with the wind slowing us down slightly, but uneventful. We were truly blessed!
We stayed at Matt and Cathy's house and had lots of fun visiting. We were very sad to leave knowing it would be several months before we would see them again.
They came along with us for the first hour so that the kids could ride in the RV. It was fun....but the sad goodbye was inevitable!!
Our day of travel was uneventful and we arrived in Meridian, Mississippi for our first stop. This is the sunset along the way. The electrical hookup was broken and we arrived after the office closed so we spent a very hot night. Our lights would run off the battery but not the AC.
We survived the night BUT double whammy....Central time zone and the end of daylight savings time. We woke up at 4:40 am!!! We left early and went to church along the road in Clinton. It was a sweet testimony meeting but we were missing our little branch in Oneida!! Our next stop was in Weatherford, Texas, but we had AC!!! Our bio clocks were still off and we woke up before 5. One more day of travel through Texas!!
Cotton fields in Texas
Texans make their own exit and entrance ramps!
Oh how I have missed the wide open skies of the West.
Big sky, desert mountains.
We finally left Texas and stayed the night in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but now our bio clocks were three hours off!! The next morning, we were on the road at 6:00 am!!
Sunrise over Las Cruces.
The next two days were so wonderful!!
Coming into Arizona
They began in the Tucson temple with Initiatory work. We hadn't been in the temple since our shift ended on Oct 28th and it was now Tuesday, November 7th! It was too long after being in the temple 4-5 days a week!!
After that we continued our trip to Phoenix and got in about 3:30pm It was great having some time to relax after 4 hard days of driving across the country!!
Wednesday was a glorious day!! We began in the Mesa temple and met the Laytons, one of our temple missionary couples. It has been my dream since leaving Arizona to return to do an endowment session in the Mesa temple. It holds such a special place in my heart for many reasons. I was sealed to my parents there but, before that, it was the beginning of my testimony. As my parents were searching for the true church, we went one day to visit the Mesa Temple. I told my parents that I wanted to go inside that church, indicating the temple. I felt something that I now know was the Spirit. I felt safe and warm and happy. A bit later, missionaries visited our home and the rest is history!! In addition to being sealed to my parents there, I went twice to do baptisms. In the font area, you could see the windows of the upper rooms in the temple and I longed to go there. As I entered the temple last Wednesday, I couldn't hold back the tears. It was so overwhelming to realize that I was in this place where my parents had spent so much time. There was such a sweet Spirit in the session. My heart was filled to overflowing especially as we entered the second room and I realized that it looked as it would have when my parents looked at it. I felt my Dad close to me. When we finished, Elder...well Brother now...Layton, who is a sealer, took me to the room where I would have been sealed to my parents based on my 8-year-old memories. Unfortunately, we couldn't go in because there was sealing session going on. It was okay, though, because the memories of that place came flooding into my mind. It was so amazing to relive that time. I returned to the Celestial room and contemplated what the results, in the lives of so many, of that day, that moment in time were....all the descendants and all of the ancestors whose work has been completed. I know beyond a doubt that my Dad is laboring diligently to teach his family on the other side of the veil. Such an amazing, precious temple experience.
My journey back in time continued after we had lunch with the Laytons. We went north to revisit some of the places from when I lived there. I found my house... (We had a beautiful lawn and a pretty shade tree in front when I lived there!! And orange trees where that weird looking tree is now. I don't know what the cinder block things are in front...they weren't there when we lived there.)
...and visited the high school. It's like this weird-looking college campus now....so many new buildings.
...and drove around but things have changed sooooooo much!!!! Where there was desert, there are now houses and stores and.....CITY!!!!!It just didn't seem like it was my house until I looked at the mountains. THOSE are what made it feel like home again. It was a happy time.
Camelback Mountain
Superstitions
Camelback again and North mountains
More mountains
And yet more...
In the afternoon, my precious temple experiences continued. We met the Laytons again at the Gilbert temple where we did sealings. I had done the work for a many-greats grandmother at the Mesa temple...Emily had done the baptisms for her. I had found her on my mission and it was fitting that she was my last ordinance on my mission before returning home. As I did her sealing to her parents, I was so touched! She was being sealed to her parents, just as I had been so long ago, and I felt such a kinship with her. We have both entered into the same covenant relationship and received the same eternal blessings as those children who are born into that covenant. It was such a sweet, indescribable experience!
That night we had dinner and visited with my cousin, Karen, and had so much fun catching up and renewing our love and friendship!!! We definitely want to get together again soon and often.
We left very early the next morning so that we could get home in one day!!
Sunrise over the Supersitions
We made it in about 12 and 1/2 hours. We were so blessed!!! Home, sweet home!!! It was so sweet to have my John Coxson grandkids come running across the lawn to greet me!! They had made a sign as well but I couldn't see it very well till the next day. Ty was in the house and he warmed up to me a bit. After all, for me to leave when he was 8 months old and return when he was 15 months....that is a huge amount of time in the life of a little one. Many of the ward members came over as well. It was so good to see everyone!!
The next morning, we actually slept in till 6:15....we were exhausted!! There is also a bit of let down that happens when you get home, I have decided. Rob and Laura came over to help us unpack the RV and clean it in the morning and it was good to be busy. In the evening, we went to do a session at our Payson temple during our old shift. It was fun to see everyone.
Saturday we slept in again....all the way till 6:20....we are just so tired!! John and the kids came over and then James and crew showed up to spend the weekend. It was fun to see another batch of grandkids. In the afternoon, we met with a member of the Temple Presidency and had a wonderful chat. He asked us questions about our mission and it was fun!! We then talked about us coming back to work and there was room on our old shift...happy day!!! We will begin this coming Friday if all the paperwork can be completed....with the approval of the bishop and stake president.
Then, after that we met with our Stake President to be released from our mission. That was such a wonderful experience. I thought I would feel sadness, and I did to a certain extent, but I also felt a deep sense of completion, relief. The predominant feeling, though, was one of great love and approval through the Spirit. Gratitude was also in there at having had the great privilege and honor of serving a mission. The Spirit was so strong during the meeting and President Marshall challenged us....charged us really....to share our mission experiences and to bear testimony as opportunities arose. I felt the Spirit bearing witness that this was indeed the Lord's will for us. He also spoke of the great blessings that come to children and grandchildren when grandparents serve. That was brought home to me when later that evening, one of my sweet grandsons said, "My missionary Grandma!" I asked him if he liked having a missionary Grandma and he said, "Yes!" I then asked why and he said, "Because it means our family is strong in the Church." He then added, "I can't wait to go on my mission." What a sweet boy!! My heart filled with gratitude that we had accepted the call to serve a mission!!!
Sunday, we reported to the High Council and that was another spiritual experience. We went home on a high note but were a little lost when we didn't need to go to church until 11:00 am and we didn't have a lesson or music to prepare. Then, as we were getting ready to leave, Richard noticed that his phone was ringing...he had turned it off during our meeting with the High Council. It was the Executive Secretary and he had been trying to get hold of us since 9:00!! We hurried to the Church to meet with a member of the bishopric and....drum roll....we have callings again!!! Yay!!! We will be teaching a Primary class together and I will be serving as the Visiting Teaching Coordinator and Richard will be the Scout Committee Chairman. We are so excited to have service opportunities!!
In the evening we spent sweet time with Utah kids and grandkids. Can't wait to see the Idaho grandkids at Thanksgiving!!! Wish our NC grandkids could be here as well!!
Well, dear ones, this brings my last post to a close. I have dearly loved serving this mission and sharing it with you. It is my humble prayer that something I may have shared during these months will have touched each of you in some way. May the Lord shower His most precious blessings upon each of you.
All my love,
Grandma/Mom/Sandy
It is with sadness....and great joy.....that I write this final post of my mission. Sadness that it is over and joy that I have returned to my beloved family and friends and the next phase of my life.
We left Zion's Camp, Palmyra and our mission behind on October 30th at 6:30 in the morning. The night before, about 3 in the morning, I woke up feeling very worried about whether or not we should leave because of the high wind and rain. I started praying about it and then said to myself. "How do I know if my answer is from the Lord or just mine." Then, the words from Sister Lee's talk the day before in Sacrament meeting came clearly to my mind. She quoted Elder Bednar and I can't remember word for word but this is what came to my mind. "Continue in the path you have chosen and the Spirit will tell you when you need to change course." That was my answer!! I went peacefully back to sleep and when we got up at 5:15, I shared that with Dad. Then, it was my turn to choose the scripture for our devotional and I felt I should choose D&C 106:15,"Therefore let your heart be comforted concerning Zion for all flesh is in mine hands, be still and know that I am God." That seemed to us to be a second witness. We prayed and felt calm about leaving. As I was driving out of Zion's camp, I felt so sad. I prayed, "Heavenly Father, this is so hard." Then, the voice of the Spirit came into my heart and mind, "You have your beloved companion with you and you are just being transferred to your next field of labor." How sweet that was as my sadness became joy. I am the Lord's and I will do whatever He asks of me!!! Our day of travel was very long, with the wind slowing us down slightly, but uneventful. We were truly blessed!
We survived the night BUT double whammy....Central time zone and the end of daylight savings time. We woke up at 4:40 am!!! We left early and went to church along the road in Clinton. It was a sweet testimony meeting but we were missing our little branch in Oneida!! Our next stop was in Weatherford, Texas, but we had AC!!! Our bio clocks were still off and we woke up before 5. One more day of travel through Texas!!
We finally left Texas and stayed the night in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but now our bio clocks were three hours off!! The next morning, we were on the road at 6:00 am!!
The next two days were so wonderful!!
That night we had dinner and visited with my cousin, Karen, and had so much fun catching up and renewing our love and friendship!!! We definitely want to get together again soon and often.
Sunrise over the Supersitions
We made it in about 12 and 1/2 hours. We were so blessed!!! Home, sweet home!!! It was so sweet to have my John Coxson grandkids come running across the lawn to greet me!! They had made a sign as well but I couldn't see it very well till the next day. Ty was in the house and he warmed up to me a bit. After all, for me to leave when he was 8 months old and return when he was 15 months....that is a huge amount of time in the life of a little one. Many of the ward members came over as well. It was so good to see everyone!!
The next morning, we actually slept in till 6:15....we were exhausted!! There is also a bit of let down that happens when you get home, I have decided. Rob and Laura came over to help us unpack the RV and clean it in the morning and it was good to be busy. In the evening, we went to do a session at our Payson temple during our old shift. It was fun to see everyone.
Saturday we slept in again....all the way till 6:20....we are just so tired!! John and the kids came over and then James and crew showed up to spend the weekend. It was fun to see another batch of grandkids. In the afternoon, we met with a member of the Temple Presidency and had a wonderful chat. He asked us questions about our mission and it was fun!! We then talked about us coming back to work and there was room on our old shift...happy day!!! We will begin this coming Friday if all the paperwork can be completed....with the approval of the bishop and stake president.
Then, after that we met with our Stake President to be released from our mission. That was such a wonderful experience. I thought I would feel sadness, and I did to a certain extent, but I also felt a deep sense of completion, relief. The predominant feeling, though, was one of great love and approval through the Spirit. Gratitude was also in there at having had the great privilege and honor of serving a mission. The Spirit was so strong during the meeting and President Marshall challenged us....charged us really....to share our mission experiences and to bear testimony as opportunities arose. I felt the Spirit bearing witness that this was indeed the Lord's will for us. He also spoke of the great blessings that come to children and grandchildren when grandparents serve. That was brought home to me when later that evening, one of my sweet grandsons said, "My missionary Grandma!" I asked him if he liked having a missionary Grandma and he said, "Yes!" I then asked why and he said, "Because it means our family is strong in the Church." He then added, "I can't wait to go on my mission." What a sweet boy!! My heart filled with gratitude that we had accepted the call to serve a mission!!!
Sunday, we reported to the High Council and that was another spiritual experience. We went home on a high note but were a little lost when we didn't need to go to church until 11:00 am and we didn't have a lesson or music to prepare. Then, as we were getting ready to leave, Richard noticed that his phone was ringing...he had turned it off during our meeting with the High Council. It was the Executive Secretary and he had been trying to get hold of us since 9:00!! We hurried to the Church to meet with a member of the bishopric and....drum roll....we have callings again!!! Yay!!! We will be teaching a Primary class together and I will be serving as the Visiting Teaching Coordinator and Richard will be the Scout Committee Chairman. We are so excited to have service opportunities!!
In the evening we spent sweet time with Utah kids and grandkids. Can't wait to see the Idaho grandkids at Thanksgiving!!! Wish our NC grandkids could be here as well!!
Well, dear ones, this brings my last post to a close. I have dearly loved serving this mission and sharing it with you. It is my humble prayer that something I may have shared during these months will have touched each of you in some way. May the Lord shower His most precious blessings upon each of you.
All my love,
Grandma/Mom/Sandy
I think Joy is great, as well
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