It is funny, for the past 2 years I have missed my son, Elder Matthew Helm, as he has served his mission in the Pocatello, Idaho mission. At times I have missed him so much it has been as a ache inside that nothing would abate. Only the knowledge that he is serving the Lord has soothed that ache.
As his mission draws to a close, I marvel that it is finally here--that in 9 short days he will be home (for a bit). I know that he has served with great honor and has blessed many lives. As I listen to his brothers and sister pray for him daily, I know that his service has blessed their lives as well. They have been shown that serving the Lord is a blessing, not a drudgery.
Matthew's mission has been a difficult one. In the area where he has served, the people either love the church or hate it--there are few who have never even heard of us. The opinions are tough and outsiders are not trusted easily. Yet through these challenges, and others he has continued to serve with not only honor (I expected this) but with great joy as well. He is like a light that burns brightly not only for those here at home, but those who he comes in contact with.
I am proud to be a missionary mom! I know that I have been strengthened greatly while he has been gone--our entire family has. I know that the work he has been doing is important to our Heavenly Father. I know that God lives and that His son Jesus Christ died for us--he loves us that much. I know that he restored His Church here to the earth. I know the scriptures guide us, comfort us, and sustain us each day. As my son has delivered this message to those who he has come in contact with, I have found myself testifying of these truths almost daily--something I was too afraid to do before. I am blessed to be a missionary mom, and even though my arms have ached for 2 years to hug him, it is a small sacrifice for the good he has done.
That being said MATT COMES HOME IN 9 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!
Tonight for the first time ever, I went to a football game with the intent of actually watching football. Weird right?? As usual I took you, my precious knitting expecting that soon I would begin to be bored and you and I would begin our traditional football regime of knit and purl. However that part never came tonight. I watched the game, yelled and cheered for the players and was excited when we won! However don't dispare, knitting, I was watching a special person play tonight, one of my former cub scouts, and so had a vested interest in the game. I am positive that we will get tons of knitting done tomorrow while waiting for the band to play at half time.
This morning as I was driving to school, the world was shrouded in a blanket of fog. Most people I know hate the fog, but I love it. I am reminded of the mists in the Gothic books I read as a teen. Everything is so mysterious, and yet if you look--look really carefully, you can see the seasons changing.
Over the years I have told stories to children about how the leaves get painted. Stories about the fairies who flutter around painting the leaves one by one. Other stories were of the great painting masters of the past, coming back to earth as angels and painting a wondrous delight for us to see. In biology I was taught what really happened. It is boring. So I will keep my stories or wonderful creatures, angels or fairies who come to earth each fall and paint our leaves--one by one--brilliant yellow, orange and red.
Last week I saw a tree that had a vine that was wrapped around it. The vine had turned a vibrant red while the tree was still green. It looked as thought fire was wrapping lovingly around the trunk of the tree. It was amazing to see.
Look around you.....take time to see the wonders Heavenly Father has given us....see the beauty we are surrounded with. The world is decorated to give us joy! Please don't let it go to waste in the vast speed of everyday life. Take time....be thankful...find joy!
