Baseball 2017

Last year Dallin didn't get to play baseball because we weren't back from Virginia. He missed it. This year he really wanted to play. He loves to play baseball with Adam Andreasen.  He was excited that he and Adam were on the same team.  They were on the Orioles team coached by Brother Andreasen.  They had a great time playing baseball.  Dallin really learned and grew a lot this year.  He was put in to pitch in a stressful end of the game situation in the tournament game.  It was a single elimination tournament.  They played  a really good game against Burlington/Otto.  It went into double overtime. We thought we were only playing an hour and a half like a normal game. At the end of an hour and a half we were ahead 9-8 and thought we had won.  But the game wasn't over.  At the end of an hour and 45 minutes it was tied up at 9. Then 10 all.  Dalllin was put in to pitch for the last batter before overtime. He struck out the last batter and we thought the game was over.  He got to keep pitching for all of the overtime.  Overtime was hard.  You started the inning with 2 outs and a runner on second base.  Dallin was pitching and did really well.   We lost 14-10, but Dallin did a good job. I was so nervous for him.

I think Dallin is our first child to really like playing baseball.  He has a good understanding of the game and loves to play.  

She's home

Missionaries really do come home. In a way, it seemed like Bethany's mission flew by and in another way it seemed like she was gone for a very long time.  Bethany came home from serving in the Texas Houston South mission on June 6, 2017.  She did a great job serving the Lord and the people of Texas.  She really loved being a missionary in the Houston area.  We are so blessed to have her home. We decided we were happy/sad (sappy) for her coming home. We were happy to see her again and introduce her to Aaron.  We were sad that it was over. She got to attend the temple that morning before she left Houston about 2:00 in the afternoon. She flew to Minneapolis and then on to Salt Lake. From Salt Lake she flew to Cody arriving at about 11:00 that night. It was a late night, but so worth it.  I had a cute onesie made for Aaron that said I've waited my whole life to finally meet you.  He was tired and didn't want to go to her that night. I didn't get a picture of them together yet, but I will.  I think Bethany may have been the last person into the airport that night. I kept thinking that maybe she missed her flight in Salt Lake and then there she was.  It was wonderful to see her!

She spoke in church today and did an amazing job. I loved hearing about spiritual CPR. The three essential things to save you spiritually are Church, Prayer and Reading the scriptures.  She also taught us about faith, diligence and patience. Missionaries grow as much as the people they teach and serve.  She also taught us that the Lord like impossible odds. Think about David against Goliath, Ammon against the band of robbers, and many other examples in the scriptures. The Lord takes impossible odds and makes it possible.  She also taught us that things will work out the way Heavenly Father needs them to.   What a great testimony she came home with. I am so grateful for the opportunity Bethany had to serve a mission at this time in her life. I am grateful that she loved being a missionary. I am also grateful that missions end and missionaries come back home. What a blessing her mission has been and will continue to be in her life.  She was so blessed during her service and so were we as a family. I love having missionaries out and being a missionary mom.

Last week when we dropped Matthew off we saw a family flying to Orlando for vacation. The same family happened to be on Bethany's flight into Cody.  It was funny to me that our kids were on their flight both ways.

Matthew at the MTC

May 31st used to feel a long way off, but it arrived and we took Matthew to the airport early in the morning.  His flight for Salt Lake left at 6:30 so we had to leave our house early.  It is always an emotional time to send a child off on a mission. I am so happy they are ready, willing and worthy to serve the Lord on earth, but I am also sad at not seeing them for so long. I am grateful for email and that we can communicate each week while they are gone.  I might miss each of them a lot, but there truly is no where else I would rather have them be.

Having Matthew set apart the night before he left was a spiritual experience for me.  He was given a blessing that I knew was from the Lord just for him.  He was told that he could make friends that would last into the eternities. He isn't always comfortable with people he doesn't know so I know that is a promise and a challenge from Heavenly Father to him.  He was also promised that he would have the Holy Ghost with him to keep him safe and warn him of danger.  I trust that promise completely.

Matthew got to Salt Lake about 8:30 and Grandpa picked him up at the airport.  They took him to the MTC at 1:30 that afternoon.  I am sure he was nervous and unsure, but he went forth with a smile.  I am looking forward to the first real email from him this week.  I keep thinking of the words to the song In the Hollow of Thy Hand. I know the Lord is keeping my Matthew in the hollow of His hand as he grows from boy to man.