Missions, School and Graduation

Okay, last Fall was crazy busy, so I didn't even think about writing anything for the blog.

Of course, after Jeren and Lauren’s wedding, everyone delved into school full-time, except for Katie and me.  Laurie started her last semester, full of regular requirements – plus on top of that – finishing her research interviews, transcribing all the interviews, organizing and analyzing the interview and then actually writing her thesis.  This all had to be completed by the middle of November, in order to be able to apply for graduation in December.  Her topic was how partners help or hinder the recovery and healing of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.  She did an amazing job and her adviser was so impressed with the results that he started using it right away in teaching his classes.

Atkin was back into the thick of things at BYU and Sam was sprinting to the finish for his mission.

Rebecca started her senior year of high school.  At the same time she was called as Laurel Class President and to serve as a member of the Stake Youth Committee.

In the mean time, Katie was home because she’s on the Winter / Spring tract at BYU-I.  She was looking for work and trying to be somewhat productive.  Her world changed dramatically on October 6, 2013, when President Monson announced, at the start of the first session that worthy 19 year old sisters could go on missions!  She couldn't concentrate on the rest of the session and went for a run right after.  When she got home she told us that she was going to go on a mission!  She got right on getting everything submitted.  Her mission call came the day after Thanksgiving – we were in Utah visiting family – so she let all her friends know and that Saturday we drove home so she could open her call that evening. 

“Sister Smedley, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are called to labor in the New Jersey Morristown Mission.  You will report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah and prepare to teach the gospel in the Spanish language.”  Wow, she was so excited and nervous – she thought she would be on the east coast somewhere, but was also hoping to learn a language.

 The end of November was a sad time for us.  Penny, our golden retriever of nearly 10 years, collapsed when in the backyard – her back legs failed and she was in a lot of pain.  Laurie and the girls took her to the vet and I met them there.  We were all with her and giving her lots of love when she passed through the veil.  It was somber around our home for a while.

With Christmas coming and Samuel scheduled to arrive home on December 19th, we tried to focus on preparing for his arrival.  However, Laurie was in the midst of getting everything completed for her graduation on December 18th.  Laurie’s dad flew in and she “walked” that Tuesday.  Atkin made it in town just in time for the graduation ceremony.  She was with her fellow students, who she has gone through the seven semester of graduate school with and grown to love.

 The next afternoon, Samuel flew in from Minneapolis, Minnesota!  It was the first time in nearly 4 years that we have been together as a family!!!  It was so nice to have time with him.  Ethan and Shelby come from St. George and were with us.  We all went to In-N-Out and had a great time visiting and hearing about Sam’s mission.  That evening, after he was released, we had an open house so people could come and greet him. 

The next day, we had a wonderful evening with Katie going through the temple for the first time!  She was a bit overwhelmed, but has since started going on her own and with friends at least once a week and loves to attend.

The morning of December 24th, we flew to Seattle.  It had been a long time since some of the cousins had been together – Nate Forkey had returned from Argentina a week before Sam returned.  It was fun to have everyone together and become reacquainted and hear some about their missions.

After we returned home, Sam reported in Church on his mission.  Dennis, Cindy, Carolyn, Perry, Becki and Paul were able to attend as they were passing through on their way to see the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

We had just a few days to get everything ready to take Sam to BYU-I for Winter Semester and see Atkin back to BYU.  We all went to Rexburg and stayed with Sherry and Steve’s family.  The Brownings surprised Laurie with a celebration of her graduation, with a Master of Awesomeness party.  It included a "Spa Treatment" with pedicures and a dinner of yummy Chinese food!  We had parts of two days there, helping Sam get moved into his apartment, books for school, etc.  It was hard to see Sam off so soon.

With Laurie out of school and the holidays over, she and Katie focused on getting everything ready for Katie to leave on her mission.  Getting a daughter ready is not at all like getting a son ready.  With a son, you go to one store and get suits, shirts, ties, shoes, socks, etc. – 80% of your shopping is done in one afternoon.  With a daughter, you have to hunt for stores that have the proper length skirts and dresses, then find matching tops that are long enough and have at least somewhat of a sleeve, . . . .  I went on one of the trips to St. George for this purpose, but it soon became apparent that I wasn't much help in finding what she wanted – but I could hold clothes that had been selected to be tried on.  Many more hours were spent all over the Las Vegas Valley and clothes were ordered on-line, sent back and reordered in different sizes, etc., etc., etc..

Katie spoke in our ward on January 20th.  She gave an amazing talk about the atonement and repentance.  She gave an analogy that she had thought of: “In this analogy I imagine life as a web of roads, there are some straight paths, but at times you come to an intersection of multiple roads and you need to decide which road to take next.  Times in our lives, we feel confused on what path to take, the choice is unclear.  I imagine myself holding a compass and looking down at it to tell me a direction to go, but sometimes, the needle is there spinning around in circles, just like my mind is, on what I should do.  That needle is spinning only because I am, because I am not deciding on a course to take out of fear or doubt or whatever.  That’s when I need to prayerfully decide a road to take.  I stop spinning and face the way I have chosen, and as I begin to walk in the path I have chosen, I look at my compass, and the needle stays a sure north.  But sometimes after I have taken a few steps it suddenly flips to the east or completely south.  Wherever the needle leads though, there will I follow, whether my initial decision on a path was right or wrong.  The compass represents Christ and Heavenly Father.  They know the path we should take but they can’t be constantly showing us the right direction we should go or we would not grow for our own.  They can’t tell us which way to go either if we look down and see the needle spinning, and decide it’s broken and throw it out.  They want us to decide, to be still and know that they are God, and allow them time to show us the way, not to freak out and spin in circles.  We must decide as best we can ourselves what path to take and ALWAYS be looking at that compass to see if what we have decided is in line with Their will, of if we got it completely wrong and they intercede and flip that arrow around on us.”  Then she talked about building faith in Christ.  After she spoke, the bishop stood and commented that it was more like a returning missionary reporting.  Several people commented to me that she has a mature spirit.  The boys were in town for the weekend, so we had fun visiting and spending time together – laughed through sushi, Bodies exhibit and just hanging out – the last time for 18 months.

Katie was set apart as a missionary on Sunday, February 3rd!  It was a spiritual time and nice to have some of her friends there for the occasion. 

The next day Katie, Laurie and I headed north.  We had to stop at two different pharmacies to get the last two shots she needed before entering the MTC – a tetanus shot and a flu shot.  On the drive she fell asleep several times and finally said, “Being a missionary is exhausting!”  LOL 

We stayed with Grandma Smedley in Bountiful and were able to go to the Bountiful Temple.  The Spirit was strong and there was another daughter and mother on the session who where in the same situation.  They come up to Laurie and Katie and said, “I recognize those tears . . .”

That night Sam drove down from Rexburg and Atkin drove up from Provo.  Ross, Shirlene, Carolyn, Perry, Kira and Josh came and we had a nice dinner and evening together.  Atkin drove back to Provo for the night.

The next day, we had Sam with us and drove to Provo.  We got Katie a few last minute things and Atkin met us and we went to lunch at Zupas.  There were lots of missionary families doing the same.  We drove to the Provo Temple and took pictures and talked.  Then as we were all piling into the car to drop her off at the MTC curb, Katie said, “Now time for last minute advice.”  The boys thought she meant she wanted it from them, but she stopped them, “No, my advice to you.”  She then proceeded to give them each some sound counsel for their individual lives and also to her mom and me.

We pulled up to the curb and an Elder was waiting to lead her to where she needed to go.  We all gave teary hugs and then had to say goodbye . . .

Laurie and I drove Sam back to Bountiful and had a good visit on the way.  We went shopping with him and realized it was the first time since he was home from his mission that we had had time with just him, not the whole family.  It was good.  When we had left Provo, Atkin had mentioned that we could stop by, if we wanted.  So after we said goodbye to my mom, we stopped in Provo and had frozen yogurt with Atkin and has some one on one time with him.  We realized we need to do more of that with our children, even though they are grown.  We got home much later than we had planned, but it was well worth the time with the boys.

Now to focus on getting Laurie ready to start taking clients.