Feb-you-ary

I promised to recap the year 2007 month by month to date, so here is February(which, by the by, seems FOREVER ago) as it was a pretty significant month for me...I (and this is the word I wish to emphasize) I celebrated my 31st wedding anniversary...yes, to the same husband...and I left my son at the MTC in Provo, Utah the same day...what a dumb move to meet Bennett Malley the self same day! Yeesh, who in their right (or left) mind would leave TWO adorable boys within hours of one another??? I put it to you...you do the math, but the equation will always be....HuH??? What were you thinking??

I'll be candid with you here, I can't remember if Chanel and Geoff went through the Portland Temple in January or February, exactly, but I know it was close...somebody set me straight if it was January, but I do b'lieve it was February....the lovely Miss Reyna flew in to be Chanel's escort, and Bishop Garrett was Geoff's...
I freely admit it was a bittersweet day.........but suffice to say it was lovely and I am grateful for children who are so upstanding and decent...my Patriarchal blessing has reference to my being the mother of a "friendly, obedient, loving family." Until just recently, I thought the whole obedience deal was meant to me....but I jut figured out it means obedience to the Lord.......huh! I guess this old dog can still be taught a new trick or two......
I was warned ahead of time that I would be called upon to offer the opening prayer when Geoff was set apart as a missionary........good thing, too! I don't think I would have been coherent if I hadn't had the chance to "steel myself" ahead of time........but I'll be doggoned if I wasn't taken completely off-guard when I was handed Geoff's name tag as we entered the MTC and given the privilege of officially turning him from Mister to Elder.......it still brings tears to my eyes...a hard hearted ol'biddy like me.......I was totally moved to tears.....can you even feature it??? Well, it was something, I'll tell ya!

Mark has become somewhat of an advocate for families delivering the Elderos in person to the MTC, no matter what...he had such an incredible experience, that he can't understand why anyone would willingly send their missionary off from their local airport.........Now, to each his own, I say, but I do agree with him that if it is at all possible, it's a once-in-a-lifetime moment...no one should deprive themselves of that opportunity if they are close to Utah...anyone got a soap box he can preach from????

Funny thing is, I was thinking this morning of last July's camping trip at the coast...and the drive home when Geoff talked at length about his indecision....whether to serve a mission, or not...and it was by no means a "done deal" at that time...bless his heart, tho.......he came to his decision knowing that no matter which way, we would support him completely and without question......and now look at him today....nearly five months into a mission that we live and breath right along with him......ah, February....when it's all about YOU, it becomes quite a month!