Forever

Today is the anniversary of the day my mother (at 5 yrs old) arrived in Salt Lake City after emmigrating from Switzerland.

Today Jenna, Lauren and Phillip went through the Mt. Timpanogos Utah temple to receive their own endowments. I got to receive instruction from the temple matron with my two oldest daughters, and Phillip received instruction with his Dad and 2 new big brothers. (Jeremy and Mike)

Can I describe what it's like to stand in the Celestial Room with your husband and watch each of your 3 oldest children enter through the veil? No. Words have not been created that could ever begin to express what I felt. To top it off, watching my daugthers embrace the men they will marry - and knowing they are beginning a new cycle of faith and new eternal families was exquisite. Val Jensen, Kris Ross, Angie and my Aunt Ruthi attended the session with us, and it was glorious to have them there.

I love my family - and we WILL be a family FOREVER!!!

Today

Phillip will be serving in Munich, Germany/Austria! He reports to the MTC on March 10. His mission is right on the border of Switzerland, where my mother was born, and later served her mission. Her father, my Grossatti served his mission in Germany. And...today is my mother's birthday.

Happy Birthday Mom! Your grandson is heading out to serve in your homeland. I'm sure you are thrilled!

Tomorrow

Phillip will get his mission call either tomorrow or Thursday. Wow! I remember when the nurse put him in my arms the day he was born. My first son. The first thing I thought about was how I could possibly prepare him to serve the Lord one day. How are you supposed to do that anyway???

He was born in December. There was something really special about rocking a new baby boy under the Christmas tree, and thinking about His Elder brother whose birthday we were celebrating. Phillip grew to love trucks and dinosaurs. He loved cracking jokes and making people laugh. But he had a really quiet and serious side, too. His still waters truly did run deep.

When he was in 1st grade he wrote a paper in Miss Kunz class about how he wanted to one day grow up to be a Dad and a Bishop. I'll never forget the time when he was about 10 and he came to me and said, "Mom, I know why Jesus walks on the water. It's because Satan rules the water - so Jesus just walks right over the top of him."

Slowly, while raising him, Randy and I came to realize that it wasn't so much about preparing him to be a missionary ourselves, it was more about allowing the Spirit in our home, so that He could encourage Phillip to prepare himself. (Long sentence - sorry!)

When I look at him now, I can see all his versions. I see the new baby with chicken legs and "Spock" ears. I see the roly- poly chubby 6-month old - the toddler in red overalls - the new Kindergartner - the 5th grader. I see him in Junior High and High School - performing in the plays he loves and making friends. What's strange is that I can see some future versions of him too. The missionary, with a super short hair cut - (He said to me last week, "I don't care where the Lord sends me, Mom, I get to preach the same gospel wherever I go!) the giddy young man with a beautiful fiance on his arm - the newlywed - the father.

One day - a nurse will place a baby boy in his arms and a new cycle of faith and joy will continue. I can hardly wait!

Happy Anniversary

Hi Honey!

Hope you're sleeping! I've just finished writing the Primary program - whew! That's a relief! I'm looking forward to a wonderful, relaxing day with you and our family! I just looked at the date and realized it's our 24th anniversary!

Wow! Happy Anniversary sweetheart! I can't believe we've been married this long! I remember kneeling at the alter with you in the temple, standing in the reception line and looking forward to our honeymoon ;o) - and as wonderful as our wedding day was, I could never have imagined the blessings in store for us.

Yes - we've had our fair share of challenges, but I feel so blessed to know that I'm walking through this life with my very best friend.

I have no gift to offer to you today and that makes me a little sad, until I remember the eternal gifts we share. Our son will be ordained a priest today. Our other son will be able to stand in the circle to ordain him, along with 2 new sons who will shortly be marrying our daughters for eternity.

There will be other years when we can go out for fancy dinners and exchange wrapped packages, but this year I am overwhelmed with the gifts Heavenly Father has given us, that will last forever.

I love you! Thanks for choosing me 24 years ago, and every day since!

Em

Dear Jeremy,

I've been meaning to write this for awhile - tonight seemed like the right time. I've been looking back through our family pictures and you have a funny way of showing up in many of them! I found a picture of you the day you were a witness for Becca's baptism and of course, there are a myriad of CSYP pics. You wrote letters of recommendation for Phillip and for Nick for their Eagle Scout awards and you have been there, for my family, for a long time. Courtney will have no recollection of not knowing and loving you - she's adored you since she was a baby.

I don't think I'll say anything here that you don't know already - it's a pity - I'd love to have some witty phrase or comical anecdote to include!

Something told me 5 years ago, that you were very special. This is no revelation - I don't know anyone who knows you who would not concur. About a year later, that same something told me that you would have a very special place in my family. Weird! It didn't make much sense - and trying to make sense of it hurt my head.

When you and Lauren are sealed in a couple of months, I know you won't really be "joining" our family - you will be creating your own! Nevertheless, I hope it's okay that we love you as much as we do - that we consider you a part of us.

This mother-in-law thing has me worried - I have to confess. You've been my good friend for so many years and I don't want to do anything to mess that up! You have such a wonderful Mom - and she seems to have the mother-in-law thing sewn up! I'll watch her from afar and try to follow her good example. I guess the most important thing is that I hope you'll always feel safe enough to tell me the truth - to let me know when I need to back off and give you and Lauren the space you need.

I have so much joy in my heart for the blessings ahead for you - I like it when you're happy! I love how happy Lauren is with you. Am glad there's an eternity of happiness in store for you both!!!