Thursday June 26, 2008

THE LAST GOODBY ---FOR NOW.

Yesterday Merrill and I went to the JSMB as usual, but ask if we could leave an hour early as our daughter and her husband would be coming home from the MTC and would be leaving in the morning for Romania, and we wanted to tell them goodby. We didn't really want to tell them goodby, but as they would go whether we did or not we thought we'd better.

Actually things went real well. They were already there when we got there. Laurie was in her cute satin pjamas that Brigham and Kristen had given her. The bedroom was full of suitcases, clothers, books etc. It seemed like they had been packing for weeks, but there was last minute things such as material they had received at the MTC, clean laundry of things they had worn at the MTC, what should go in the carry ons and what in the bags, that could only weigh 50lbs.
Justin, Lars and Kameron would weigh the suit case and then Laurie would either take our or add to. She finally decided they could take one more bag. I took three tries before Scott found the one that they both agreeded would be suitable. It got filled with medicines and toilitries. (Eric discovered that the eight bottles of calcium for Laurie expired in December.)

At ten thirty we decided that they were getting close to being finished, so we felt we should have our goodbys and take leave. Laurie and Scott were both so excited and so full of the Spirit that it make it easier to leave. Scott had read us a part of Elder Hollands talk at the dinner last night and got quite emotional reading it. They had loved meeting the missionaries that would be coming to them in Romania. They had visited with many of the General Authorities as well as being in classes with them. For me saying goodby to Joshua was perhaps the hardest. He was very sweet and gave us big hugs and kisses. He is very excited. I just thought how changed he would be when he returned.

Of course telling Scott and Laurie goodby was hard, but there were no big tears on either of our parts. Life is so interesting. You marry and bring these wonderful children into your lives. You love them so much, and you educate them, and teach them the gospel and pray that they will be good successful individuals, always active in the church and in their careers. And then all of a sudden they are gone doing just exaactly what you had wanted them to do and being just what you had prayed for them to be. I think this is just one of the tests we are given here on earth to prove our worth. I hope I can meet the challange for three years.

A few years ago I heard in church a lady say "You can't depend on your children for your happiness." The bottom line is that your relationship with your companion is the most important thing in this world. You must work on it being good every single day. I'm so grateful that Grandpa and I still have each other to go through these tests together. I'm grateful for my children and the joy and happiness they have brought and continue to bring into my life. I'm grateful for their mates. No mother could ask to have her children marry better, nicer, sweeter people than my children have. I love them all. I appreciate their parents so much just as I appreciate the parents of my husband. I can truly say that I loved Grandpa and Grandma Hymas as I did my own parents.

So today I start a new part of my life. Waiting for e-mails and blogs. Never did I think I'd see the day when I would be blogging. Life is wonderful and good. Know that I love you all. Grandma Hymas