We are home !!!

I can't believe we are actually back with our family around us once again.  Coming down the escalator at the airport and seeing them was such a treat.  We have been so blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren and are looking forward to two new babies who will be coming to our family in the coming six months. Rachel will be having her new baby son in the next few weeks and Alison our oldest grand-daughter will be having our first great-grand baby in March and we are thrilled

Walking into our home was such a great experience.  I guess you really don't know what you have until you are away from it for a while. I have to admit that it felt so good to sleep in our own bed again.   We have been waking up in the middle of the night and working on little projects for a while and then heading back under covers for some more ZZZZZs but at least this bed is comfortable.  Our Stake President came over last night and officially released us from our mission.  It was a bitter sweet moment but we both feel like we completed our service there and are ready to go on with the rest of our life.

We left behind some marvelous people in the Netherlands and we will miss them terribly but thanks to modern technology we will be able to keep in touch and I know we will go back to visit when ever we can.  It was good to rekindle some old friendships and make new ones as well. 

There is such a need for the gospel in people's lives but some just don't want to see it .  It's difficult to watch people struggling and missing out on so many good things when we know that all would be so much better for them if they would just wake up. Following that in-born Light of Christ and listening to the spirit can lead them down the right path of happiness. I suppose we will just have to be patient with them and hope and pray that some day they will listen to their hearts and grasp onto that iron rod.

Missions all over the world have really had a shot in the arm because of the announcement made by Pres. Monson about lowering the age limit for missionaries who want to serve.  Our mission more than doubled in the last year. We received some marvelous young Elders and Sisters and we could really feel the energy they brought with them.  It is no longer the missionaries taking the lead but now they are our there to support the members in their Stake, Ward, and family mission plans. Such a great idea because many people had been converted to just the missionaries and not to the gospel, then when the missionaries leave they no longer want to participate.  With the new plan we are hoping they will bond with the members and want to be part of that ward or branch family. Then their testimonies will grow and they will be ready to share what they truly know and feel with others around them.



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