So Long, Farewell!

My parent's departure has come. They had their farewell in May over Memorial Day Weekend, so Andrew and I could attend (our Alaskan cruise made a June Farewell impossible). I'm happy we were able to be there! Jill flew in for the event. Because it was a holiday weekend, lots of friends and family weren't able to make it. Fortunately, watching virtually was an option. Though, there were technical difficulties. They finally got zoom to work about 3 minutes into my mom's talk, and by that point we had all worked up a sweat and were stressing. 

Last J5 dinner Saturday, May 28, 2022

All of the J5's (Jeff, Jill, Joel, Jenna, and Jessica) were in town for one last time before my parents left, so we did a Brazlian dinner at Tucanos. 

Farewell Talks and Luncheon Sunday, May 29, 2022

Sunday, May 29 is my mom's birthday. I'm sure it was her dream come true to speak. The spirit was strong during both of my parent's talks. My mom said her talk was written for her thanks to her miraculous cancer experience. Jess and I performed, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" for the musical number. She played the violin and I accompanied her on the piano. I was in charge of the food. Several of my mom's friends volunteered to help bring items in addition to family which was nice. We picked one of my dad's favorite things--cookies and one of my mom's favorite things--pizza and went with it. We purchased 10 Papa Murphy's pizzas on Saturday. We also had watermelon, fruit skewers, veggie trays, chips and dip, salad, soda, and a cookie bar. I made over 100 cookies! There was so much food! We ate leftovers all week. Jessica was in charge of the decorations and was in her element. My parent's place looked beautiful and unfortunately the pictures don't really show the full effect.  Jill had the creative idea to made a farewell book for my parents. People wrote notes on vintage Brazilian postcards to fill the book for my parents. I definitely got a workout cooking all the pizzas. I ran back and forth to the basement oven and the other 2 ovens in the kitchen many times. At one point, the fire alarm started blaring loudly. It was the perfect welcome to everyone who was just arriving.

I made these invitations and was pleased with how they turned out.

Chocolate cake--of course! It's her absolute fave. Funny story-- I bought the cake at Costco and I dropped the first one in my cart. I was very embarassed.

Making these fruit kabobs was time consuming, but they sure were beautiful and tasty! 

Only some of the pizza.

Setting Apart by President Eyring Tuesday, June 21, 2022 

Andrew and I didn't attend the setting apart in-person because I had Covid. We were grateful we could Facetime in and could hear most of what was said.      

MTC Departure Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Final Goodbye Sunday, June 26, 2022

It has been an emotional week. It was not the week I was hoping for or expecting because I was in quarantine and missed out. My mom did drop by some food from her pantry and stayed outside, far away. She said goodbye the morning they left to the MTC. She got choked up and after she left, I had a good cry. It was hard to hear my kids ask her, "Nana, where are you going?" On the phone, my grandma and I both started crying while chatting about it. 

I helped myself feel better by playing some church music on the piano. I could feel the spirit while I played which brought me peace. I know that my parents are going where they are needed and that the Lord couldn't have called a better couple. That doesn't mean that seeing them go is easy though.

My parents got out of the MTC Sunday afternoon. They were on a spiritual high after their time there and got to meet many apostles. We were able to have one final get together before their Monday morning flight. Sunday, my tears flowed on and off throughout the afternoon. I was supposed to host the last meal together, but sickness changed that, so Lindsey hosted. (Unfortunately, Jeff is out of town for work and wasn't able to be there.) Lindsey went all out and we had a spectacular meal. Due to sickness (what a week!), James and Andrew weren't able to join us. It was a big bummer and again, not what I wanted. Izzy had 4 days of a stomach bug and apparently James got it too, but to a worse degree. (Surprisingly, nobody else in our house got Covid and trust me, that wasn't due to lack of testing.) James was very emotional that he wasn't able to come with Izzy and I. Kudos to Andrew for staying home with James. I couldn't miss another event with my family this week.

The girl grandkids

Not the goodbye I envisioned, but I'm grateful Andrew was able to bring James by for a 1 minute goodbye from afar.

My Dad offered to give us Father's Blessings before he left. Wow, I will never forget the experience I had. The spirit was palpable and I cried many times throughout the blessings. My dad was very emotional (which is unlike him) and the blessings were longer than our usual father's blessings. My blessing was very personal to me. I'm not quite ready to share details on here yet, but maybe in a future date, I will be. It was such a neat experience that I will treasure forever. I can definitely tell my dad was set apart by an apostle this week and is close to the Lord. After the blessings, I felt much more at peace with the fact that my parents are leaving.  My Dad gave little Daisy a blessing (she will be 2 in September). She was exhausted after traveling during bedtime and not getting much sleep. We didn't think she would be able to sit still for even a one minute blessing. Well, she did and when the blessing ended, she asked for more! It was the sweetest thing! How could anyone say no to that? My mom then offered a prayer after that, so Daisy could have more. The prayer resulted in Daisy saying, "more" again. The spirit was there and even a 1 year old running on 7 hrs of sleep could feel it.

When I returned home and shared my experience with Andrew, I told Andrew that my dad had offered to give Andrew a blessing as well. Andrew jumped at the opportunity and rushed to my parents,so he could get a blessing too. I was able to listen in over the phone. I have never seen Andrew so emotional before. He was told that, "His dad is cheering him on from the other side of the veil." My dad got choked up as he spoke those words.  What an amazing final experience to have with my parents. In my dad's words, "I'm ready to rip the band-aid off and am sick of goodbyes." We're all cried out and ready for my parents to serve.  Although I didn't want this day to come, I am glad to put this tough goodbye behind us.

I still feel like I was robbed of my last few days with my parents (I was heartbroken to miss out on Cafe Rio Monday night and the setting apart/luncheon Tuesday), but I cherish the time I spent with them yesterday and the powerful experience I had. I'm hoping we get to see my parents in 2023! So long, farewell to my best friend and mother. Our goodbye was teary and I couldn't say much. This much I know-- my parent's call was inpsired and watching them step into this role and give their all has been an honor. 

Love this gift from my parents! Counting down the number of days until their return is quite sad, so I'm glad we're counting down the months instead which seems less daunting.

They left for the airport at 4:30am this morning.

Monthly Temple Trips

Awhile after my parents received their mission call, we decided to start going with them to the temple monthly. Why not go together since we are all going anyway? Spending quality time with my parents and sister and husband has helped ease my broken heart. Of course, food is a given when it comes to these temple trips. We've had Cubby's more than once, The Chocolate, Mi Ranchito, La Hacienda, Tonyburgers, Texas Roadhouse, and more that I'm forgetting. Give me all the food.

Temple attendance is important to me. I've noticed the blessings that come from going to the temple regularly. A few years ago, I was struggling with someone. She bugged me and I had to spend a fair amount of time around this person. I prayed and prayed to try to figure out how to be around her and see more of her good qualities. My answer was clear: go to the temple. Me:.... "but I already go to the temple!" Go more! I started going to the temple every week. I believe I was able to go 6 weeks in a row before having Izzy. It's hard to explain what happened, but the girl started bothering me less and less. In fact, I could even start to see why so many people like this person. We didn't become best friends or anything, but being around her wasn't really a burden anymore. I can attest that my heart changed because of my temple attendance.

I think part of my desire to attend the temple stems from my parents and their faithful example of attending the temple frequently throughout the years. Andrew and I recently went on a date and Isabelle asked Andrew, "Are you going to put your Oquirrh Mountain clothes on?" It was super cute and made me proud that our children notice our efforts to go to the temple.

Draper Temple (May)

We started the monthly temple trips with my parent in November 2021. We went to the temple together on November 20, 2021, December 23, 2021, January 8, 2022, February 19, 2022, March 22, 2022, April 16, 2022, May 17, 2022, and June 4, 2022. We've done a mix of sealings and endowment sessions. One time, when we were doing sealings, we were asked if we would be willing to do some of President Nelson's temple names. What an honor that was. We've gone to a variety of temples too- the Draper Temple, the Jordan River Temple, and the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. 

Some months it was surprisingly difficult to find a day/time to go together, but we always made it work. It was especially tricky to schedule temple trips after my mom's 2 surgeries and during her radiation treatment. Unfortunately, we didn't get a pic with Jess and Chris, but I promise they were with us many times! My mom has enough family names to keep us busy for eternity. I'm sad to report that we went to the temple with my parents for the last time this past weekend. A soft peanut butter cookie from Cubby's helped soften the blow.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple (June)

Last October, President Nelson emphasized temple attendance in General Conference. In his talk titled, "The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation" he said: "The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead." I really felt the urgency to attend the temple as he spoke. I have definitely felt like I need his strengethening power in these divisive times and go to the temple more than my goal when I have the chance.

I know in July when I attend the temple, I will notice my parents absence. I also know that there is no beter place to be than in the temple. I have felt the peace within the walls of that sacred space. In 3 years when my parents return, I think they'll join us again on our temple trips and oh what a happy day that will be.