A Surprise Wedding

I need to apologize for falling off the face of the planet for the last two months. A lot has been going on. The last week of June we got a surprising phone call. William is our single son who is currently living in our house while we are on our mission. He joined the single's ward choir for the first time ever because he was interested in the ward pianist. They had gone out a few times before we left, but we assumed it would be a slow-growing relationship. WRONG!

William called us and said he and his wife-to-be, Sophie Rowley, had decided to be married in ten days and could we come home from our mission to attend. By the next morning the mission president had congratulated us and given his blessing. We had our tickets that day and were on the plane a few days later. Shockingly, we were headed back to Idaho less than three months after leaving to come to this happy occasion. 

Now as luck would have it (or mini-miracles), Anna's family was already in the area for a family reunion and her whole crew came to attend. Sarah Moss came all the way from Arkansas, and Camron, Sarah, and baby RaeLynn came from Texas. Even Brian, our oldest, missed the beginning of his wife's reunion to come to the wedding. Soon cousins were meeting for the first time and we were together again for a season.

On the wedding day, the sealing was the focus which was beautiful. Afterward Sophie's family and our group met at a park and enjoyed pizza and cookies. Simple and utter joy! William and Sophie are amazing together. She is kind, thoughtful and so godly. I'm in awe.

The next day, I got to work. We had thought going on a mission was like going on vacation. Since our son would be living in our house in his room, we simply took our mission clothing and left everything else in place. Now, Sophie and William would be moving into the master bedroom so while they were on their honeymoon, we hustled to get everything ready. 

Brian's children helped and the last day we all celebrated at the completed job by a trip to Rigby Lake. Yes, I went swimming on my mission!  Albeit, with my grandchildren and I was home.

Then our very last night was a wonderful treat and another miracle. George, a high school English teacher working in Driggs, Idaho, was in a Shakespearean Parody. We never thought we'd be able to see his performance. Because of the wedding, we were there on opening night! It was fabulous!

We returned to the mission field feeling so blessed! Grateful to serve and grateful for the way our children are thriving without us. How we love them and the Lord.