The Orange Box

Our daughter hid a box for me. A big orange shoe box full of hand written letters wrapped in black thread and a trinket box with a beautiful necklace for me. It has about 4 months worth of letters that she numbered for me to open every day. 

This is possibly the best gift I have ever recieved. Im so overhelmed with joy that she thought of me. She knew I would miss her greatly and it would ease that with these letters. What is wonderful is that she has some that are spiritually fullfilling  and then some that are so funny. Its so great! Todays letter was pretty awesome, it was all about how God has a plan for each and every one of us. If we are here then he has a path for us and its up to us to come unto Christ and be guided. It is possible and its never to late to do this. It was what God wants of us. To pray to him and feel the love our Savior has for us. 
Here's a great scripture to look up
3 Nephi 12:44 Book of Mormon

Lead me guide me

Theres a children's primary song called 

Im a child of God

I love it and the lyrics are so true and direct and a great reminder

I am a child of God

and he has sent me here

has given me a earthly home 

with parents kind and dear

lead me guide me

walk beside me

help me find the way

teach me all that I must do 

to live with him someday

Those words are just so great and meaningful

Do you realize in these short lines we are told how get thru are days here on earth. 

God desperately wants us to live with him again

To be able to do that we must endure until the end

gain strength from our trials

serve and love one another

and be faithful 

Sounds  easy right

not so much

I think its the hardest thing ever to endure and have faith

But.........

Its oh so rewarding if we do

I have found that if I faithfully study the scriptures

pray with all my heart

that I can endure with the Savior by my side

I have felt that I have been in complete darkness and so alone

I thought there was no coming back from feeling this anguish

but I know without a doubt that my Savior Jesus Christ never left me

He's always been there for me.....waiting

Look up 3 Nephi 12:19 in the Book of Mormon

Goodbye for now

Its strange having a missionary leave to serve a mission. Our daughter will be gone for 18 months and we will get to email each other and write letters and Skype for mothers day and Christmas. 

Its strange in a way that you want them to desire to serve God and get out there in the world but then when its time for them to go its very hard to let them go. 

Im so incredibly happy for Julia and I love that she made this choice. I do miss my best friend and shopping buddy. 

She made me laugh everyday and she still does in her letters. I love that! 

 Going to the Los Angeles Temple with Julia was so wonderful

That is such a special time and I will always remember the special moments we shared

Grandma Holbrook came out to share this special time

All the family that came to church to listen to Julia's farewell talk. This was a great day surrounded by love and excitement. 

A couple days later it was 4:00 am and we headed to the airport. Mike and I actually were allowed to go back to her gate to wait with her. When several other missionaries showed up to wait on the same flight Julia looked at us and said "ok if you want to go you can" So I knew that it was time.

I gave her the biggest hug ever and walked away to cry. 

6 months later...............

How did 6 months go by so fast! Wow so much has happened in that amount of time. So much for keeping up on my blog. But being a busy momma it happens. 

Our daughter turned in her mission papers and when she received them in the mail she was to report in 5 weeks. 

We took a trip to Utah to get her everything she would need for Idaho Falls. 

I love Utah and I didn't want to leave. Its beautiful there especially the mountains and there is so much to do. 

 This pizza place by Dixie college was AMAZING it was seriously so good and there bread sticks were huge and delicious.

 Yummy!

 Going to Temple Square and seeing Salt Lake Temple was beautiful and the weather was perfect. 

We were on our way home and we were at the 8 hour point when Isabelle just about had enough and entertained herself. She finally fell asleep with only a hour left of the trip. 

This trip with my girls was so fun and we got to see friends that we haven't seen in a few years. I will miss this precious time with my kids.