Well, It's been over a year since my last post. It's been a busy eventful year. Our grand kids have hit milestones that are forever embedded into memory. We celebrated our youngest in football, lacrosse, seminary graduation and high school graduation. It was a year of adjustment with one of our family members serving a full time LDS mission in Korea. Family dinner was less eventful, sporting activities, family vacations and everyday activities were just as hollow. You would think that with only one child missing it surely can't be that big of a change. But believe me, life is not the same. You always feel this little tinge of something missing, longing or just plain sorrow. By the first of the year we started the whirlwind of preparations for our youngest child to serve a LDS mission. Papers were turned in, doctor appointments were performed, vaccinations, luggage and all the necessities were purchased. Then the day came when Jeremy opened his call to serve. The letter read that he would be serving in Nuku'alofa Tonga. The country of his fathers home. You can't imagine the tears that flowed, the shear magnitude of this calling was overwhelming. You can say it was almost unbelief that registered in our faces and hearts. The gift for one of our children to serve in Tonga is almost incomprehensible. To know this calling was issued to Jeremy immediately brought us to our knees in gratitude. Jeremy is the youngest and with that being said. Jer has always felt a little shafted. He is the one with all the hand me downs or the leftovers from his siblings. He always gets to choose last and when no one is listening its because the older kids have usually come first. He is always waiting for his turn. He is also only 15 months behind his brother Simi making it hard for Jer as being known as Simi's little brother and nothing more.... Jeremy going to Tonga was the first time in his life that he got something that his siblings didn't! This is the one thing that can never be taken away or out shined by one of them. This is Jer's blessing, one that he probably thought was well overdue.
The next months that passed weren't those of a funeral but a change in family relations. Instead of me dreading the last of things to come, the last meal together, last day of school, last goodnight, it was one of delight in his independence and excitement to leave for Tonga. His joy was contagious and it radiated throughout the family. Preparations for Tonga were much different than Korea. We bought flip flops and skirts, short sleeve shirts and locks for his bags. And then it was the time to leave. Bags were packed and off we went. His demeanor was sheer excitement. It wasn't until we pulled into the MTC that he said, "I'm a little nervous!" We said our goodbye and gave big hugs and he was off. With a smile on his face and a huge wave above the cars he left us. I cried. Simon cried. the girls cried. We all cried, except for Jer!
Since Jer left the house has been a ghost town. His loud obnoxious voice can no longer be hushed. I am no longer needed for last minute emergencies, like typing up a paper at 11pm, or making breakfast, or washing his jerseys. It's a weird feeling to have your youngest leave home. We count our blessings that Falisha and Olivia live with us. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have the little pitter patter of feet running to my room and the sweet little voice saying "Meema look at this!"
