Tchau Elders Johnston and Johnson

We heard 5 missionary farewell talks on Sunday. Good luck to Elders Allred (Mexico), Miller (South Africa, White (Maryland, Johnson (Brazil) and Johnston (Brazil) 

(L-R: Cali H, Brooklyn H, Luke H, Eden P, ?, Logan B, Landon W, Lainne P, Elder Johnson, Neal R, Avery P, Marcus, Caleb M, ?, Elder Johnston, Dashell H, Annalise F,  Roman M, Eden M, Kellan W, Brody S, Jack P, Elder Allred, Dan H, Richard A, Sydney G, Noah H, Ariana D, Elder White, Bruce, Corbin, Aaron) 

I got a couple photos of Corbin and Ammon’s goodbye. She said no tears have been shed in their house until that moment. It got everyone. Corbin is experiencing a new-ish-to-him form of grief and carrying the burden well. This good work takes courage. And I am so thankful Corbin knows this depth of love and friendship and companionship to be able to feel such a loss in their absence. I am so proud of all of them. 

My younger kids have been the lucky beneficiaries of having these two knuckleheads around so often. I have done a lot of conversation censoring to help things stay age and topic appropriate over the past few years, but the goodness of these boys far outshines in influence. Two more great examples for my kids to look up to is wonderful, and a handful of little siblings around has been a good balance and check for Ammon and Hyrum, too. 

Esme and Sloane made cards for the elders with the nicest little notes in them. Ammon and Sloane have a sibling-like love/hate relationship. It’s all in jest and entertaining for everyone. Ammon teased that he wasn’t going to keep her card, and Sloane said, “Hey! I put my whole heart into that card. Are you careless with people’s HEARTS, Ammon?!”  

They aren’t even my kids, but I felt emotional on Sunday.  

If anything, I hope I’ve taught them to love big.