Missionaries

Speaking of missionaries, we have so many faves coming and going right now! We joked at the Spears last night that it’s a good thing we were moved back into Sugar Creek Ward because we'd be visiting all spring and summer long for farewells and homecomings of so many beloved members of the Lord’s battalion. 

This week we have Trey H called to the Copenhagen, Denmark mission. 

Then Quincy’s good pal Will, was called to serve in Mexico City. 

Last night Zack, Shef, Zackie, ZShef, Elder Shefchick opened his mission call in a very packed house. He will be serving in Montevideo, Uruguay. 

We have so many friends and family serving the Lord right now. It’s so fun to have our inboxes flooded with missionary emails every Monday. Tommy, Fin, Isaac, Spencer, Tian, Grandon, AJ, Bradley, Jacen, Max and so many more are all over the world. And now my social media feed is filling up with new friend invites from the wonderful sisters and elders who serve with Reese. Former Sunday school and primary kids of mine Kenzie S, Carson D, Hannah S, and Logan S just finished their missions, this month. Cousin Ella Willardson was called to Ontario Canada, Mandarin speaking. Ethan V will get his call in the next week or two. My aunt and uncle Greg and Tami are mission leaders in Rexburg and my other aunt and uncle Steve and Lisa are working in the Provo service mission. Our friends Connie and Mark Bingham just left for a mission in Prague. It was fun to get this text with my dear friend and aunt together at the MTC! 

Yesterday I went to a Missionary Mom brunch that Tamara Heiner hosts monthly. I liked hearing updates and the experiences our sons and daughters are having in Peru, Japan, Utah, Arizona, New Zealand etc. Each mission is so unique and challenges vary but the Gospel message is the same and everlasting

We ordered big flags for some friends who just received calls for Quincy and some friends to go sneakily hang up at their houses this weekend and celebrate them. 

Hurrah for Israel! 

Happy 1 Year, Sister Willardson!

Happy 1 year on the mission to my Reese a Roo! 

Reese has accomplished many great things and developed really wonderful qualities in her life, but her choice to serve a mission is the thing I am most proud of. I know it is not easy for her (or anyone). I know she makes sacrifices. I also know she is bringing people closer to Jesus Christ and fortifying her own testimony in the Atonement as well. There’s nothing better that she could be doing with her time, talents, and energy right now. I am so happy for her growth and independence. I am inspired by her active use of faith to do something that is really hard, and fully trusting that God knows what is best for her. She really is my best little friend and I miss her pretty much all the time. We all miss her and our family truly doesn’t vibe the same way without her peaceful, funny, complimentary spirit at home. I think about her a lot and hope she is having good experiences. I pray often for her to safe, obedient, and loving. I pray that she will be led to people who need to hear the message of the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that she is a gift to her companions, mission leaders, and the many missionaries she serves with in the Los Angeles, Ca Mission, and that she stays focused on the work. 

I end every email to my missionaries with, “I believe in you”, and it’s true. I believe in all of them so much. Maybe even more than some of them believe in themselves. I believe in the work and I believe in their divine gifts that prepare them perfectly for their missions. I believe their missions have perfectly individualized challenges to refine them. I believe in the ordinances of the gospel they are called to preach.  I believe in their special ability to gather Israel. I believe everyone is made better as missionaries serve our king teaching, inviting, finding, studying, praying, and spreading the love and word of God. 

I celebrated Reese, today. 

I love her so much.

I believe in her. 

Quincy Goes Caving

2 summers ago, Reese and Quincy went caving with Fin S, Tommy H, Kristina M, and others. After caving in Centerton with the B1 boys on the snow day, Q told them about the one by lake Bella Vista and they made a plan to check it out. A few friends ended up being sick, working, or out of town, but Quincy had an adventure with the Lukes, Savannah H, and ZShef. 


The Ozarks are full of karst caves and spelunking here is no joke. It was a tight squeeze! They worked their way on their bellies and climbed and bravely shimmied though tiny cracks, tunnels and crevices of the cave system. With the help of the Lukes helping to hoist her up a few times, Quincy made it much farther in the cave than she did last time. When Charlesworth reached a point that he couldn’t squeeze through a narrow pathway, Q took the opportunity to hang back and took photos and videos of the other three exploring on through a tunnel below her…until Douglass got stuck, too, so they started the trek back.  Quincy showed me these pics they took and I couldn’t believe how daring she has become! 🫣 It makes me a little nervous but mostly happy that she has good friends who support, lift, and light each other’s way, that she is trying new adventurous things, and that she still has awareness of her comfort limit for when she’s done risk taking lol. Look how happy (and crazy) these  fun friends are:

Reese turns 20

Reese spent her 20th birthday out in the mission field. 

She got donuts and boba with Sister You, and we sent her some dresses and a ukulele. Her companion is from South Korea and made us the cutest video called Sister Willardson’s Fashion Show. We watched it a dozen times and died over the funny English phrases Reese has taught Sister You to say. Our favorites are “chat, this is real!” and “ugh I can’t even with this!” 🤣🤣. Every time Reese is on FaceTime with us, Sister You pops in and says “what up dogs” and always “hi to mom!” 

Reese is grown so much this year. I’m proud of her perseverance, her faith, and the way she chooses good  independently. She is strong willed, honest, and hard working. She seeks the Lord’s approval and gives great effort. She is continuing to learn a lot about herself. I love who she is. I love her gratitude. I love her relationships with her siblings. She is a dream first child. She is fun and brave and diligent. She is easily pleased and has a delightful personality.  Conversations with her are captivating.  She is also an excellent listener and has extreme patience. She builds others up and always looks for ways to ease tension and help people feel loved. I look up to her in so many ways. I really miss her. I’m so happy for her. 20 will be a great year. 

Happy Birthday, Pieces! 

Steezy Boys Season Opener

Everyone’s (ok mine, at least) favorite boys and girls club ballers are back for seconds. Last night was the season opener with back to back games. The Krusty Krabs at 7 and Steezy at 8. Corbin was ecstatic that the priest and teachers quorums showed up in full support of the teams. These two teams have scrimmaged and had regular pickup practices all year long. They have both rivalry and supportive friendship. 

Krabbs took home their first W of the season and most the crowd went to Braum’s. Unfortunately, that meant the cheering section for Corbin’s game was pretty small, but the boys understood and said they were happy their mates were able to celebrate. Some school/orchestra friends (Charlie C, Zoe Z, Rhett H, Emily H) of Corbin’s came to watch him play, Luke C took a bunch of video for his film class, Bishop Blake was there to cheer, and local rapper “Setpoint” pulled up to the Coleman center to watch another team play, but it caused quite a buzz in the crowd. 😂😂

Kate K and Gracie D made this funny trash talk sign for the Krabbs game and passed it along to Sloane for the Steezy Boys when they left for Braums. Sloane held it upside down half the time which made it even funnier. She was stoked to cheer for her brother. 

Corbin played point guard last night and even though they lost to Oozma Kappa, they put up 31 points, which was more than they banked in the first half of their season last year. 

Missing Tate G, Noah H, Parker H, and Coach Parker O, but here’s the rest of the 2025 Steezy Boys: Corbin, Landon W, Chase W, Ryan M, Hyrum J, and Gabe M. 



Solid fans right here 

Good Game, Boys! 

I just got the schedule, and between Corbin and Soren, there is basketball scheduled 18 of the 28 days in Feb. that’s not including any practices for the Steezy Boys. Just games. It’s going to be a good season.