Tuesday, May 20, 2014

          The temple was closed for maintenance and the “down time” allowed us to travel to the U.S. to visit family.  The last post, April 27, described our journey to and arrival in Utah.  The trip was so rejuvenating and we have returned to our work in the temple and our time in Honduras with new energy knowing that our family is doing great and the things that we left behind are still there! 

         We were able to see two beautiful new babies and hug kids and grand children who are growing up and making us proud.  Glade traveled during the break and visited most of the family while I stayed close to the babies!!--and visited with everyone who came to Logan.  Every day my emotional cup was filled and the trip and the visits were a major blessing to me.

         We shopped for things difficult to find in Tegucigalpa and stocked up on clothes and pharmacy items for the remaining ten months of our mission.  We soaked up the joy of each visitor and savored the time.  Glade mowed our lawn in Garfield and spent a week in Reno getting new crowns.  He traveled to Boise and Salem and had fun with the families he visited and loved the activities he could be a part of. 

         On our last day, Sunday, lots of family traveled to participate in little Emma-Mae’s blessing.  We loved the time with family, both at the beginning of our visit and at the end for the blessing.  These were precious days and it makes us realize even more how much Heavenly Father has blessed us and our family during the last year.  We are grateful for families, jobs, education, successes, security, missionaries, baptisms, Priesthood ordinations, baby blessings, a sealing, answers to prayers, safety and protection, and a temple-worthy, covenant-keeping family who love and support one another.  All these things lifted us, filled our hearts, and allowed us to return renewed.    

         It felt good to be back in the temple although it took some genuine mind-work and concentration to recall all the Spanish learned last year.  It came back very quickly, however, which was a great thing since it was a very busy day with the number of workers fewer than usual.  It is so nice to feel needed.

         Good night, everyone, and keep striving!! J