Mark Send-off

Another one has left the nest. He called after about 27 hours of travel to say he had arrived. I was just thankful to be in service as I was in the black hole of cell reception and was so thankful the call came through. His goodbyes were more spread out. My parents came for dinner Sunday the day before their beet harvest started steady. We were glad to have some time with them. 

We forced a family picture which will quickly be outdated when baby comes but we got those that could in one spot for a few minutes. Man we are fortunate parents. 

Morning of leaving we snapped pictures as kids left for their lives. The early crew off to Willowcreek. 

My workhorse brigade. Or the ones that have never had to fly alone. Mark has provided a lot of insight, teaching, protection, and general confidence to this group. I have no doubt they will be just fine but it's always hard to split the groups. When the older three left or split due to college and missions. When John left Mark etc. It's hard on my heart. 

We rushed to do last minute errands in our town and got a call a dear neighbor had fallen out of bed and could we please go help her get up. We rushed out of town only to get there just after her husband and in-home nurse had got her upright and off the floor. Aliza and Mark said goodbye and we dashed to town to grab Greg and go see my Grandma who was at work for the day. She is a volunteer grandparent spending several mornings a week reading with and drilling kids on phonics and math facts. He gave her a hug and said goodbye. 

John sent out a picture of what he was doing for his preparation day. This is the Houston Texas Temple. It's beautiful and unique. I'm so thankful my children want to go to the temple and that they are able with so many temples across the world. 

We got to the airport with plenty of time. I of course was crying this is hard to send them off. I'm not sad he left, I'm not worried, it's just hard to be apart and this time very apart for so long. I had the thought on the drive over that things I've cried over more than once this year are the very things I know people pray for daily. Being able to get pregnant and have children, to have children leave home and go on missions those are major desires. Here I am pregnant with children  a plenty two missionaries out and crying my eyes out in public. Well my massage lady told me I'm entitled to have feelings too- which was oddly very validating so I will say this separation of being tied to your family is hard and great and so important for parent and child.  

So while we will miss him in so many ways, we are thrilled he is gone and we will survive. We have plenty of strong hands in need of work and responsibility. They will have more space and reason to grow as it is their season to become confident and capable. We will all be ok. And I haven't cried once today a day later. We are abundantly blessed.