Friday November 7, 2008 Grandpa Peter and Grandma Renae returned back to Provo, UT after serving a mission in Southern France for a year and a half. I was so excited to finally introduce my wonderful husband Chad to my favorite Grandpa and new Grandma. When I really started thinking about it, it's crazy how much things have changed since they left in May of 2007. Before they left, they tried to set me up with their French tutor from the MTC and when they got home, Chad and I have been married for almost 6 months now! CRAZY.
Grandma and Grandpa spoke in their home ward on that Sunday (which is when we got to see them) and pretty much rocked it. Not only did they both speak in church, but they also had friends they had served with from their mission sing an interlude hymn and the closing hymn in French! Now that's what I call overachievers. It was so fun to listen to them talk about the stories from their mission, their trials, their successes, the miracles that happened. I'm so happy they were able to have such an amazing experience serving the people of France. One of my favorite things they talked about was their struggle with the language. Prior to their mission, they were tutored at the MTC for a couple of weeks and then the first six months of their mission they worked in the mission office which allowed for a little extra time in getting used to French. After all that time though, when they finally went into the field, they still could not get the hang of it. They were a little dismayed, but just worked harder at it, and prayed to receive help. At the very end, they were still not fluent but by then had realized that their incompetence in the language was key to their success in the mission. It was because they could not speak the language that they really had to rely on the members of the small branch to help them teach their investigators. This reliance forged a bond between the members and their investigators and was a blessing for both parties. Way to go Grandma and Grandpa!
After they spoke, all of the families from the Myer side and all of the families from Grandma Renae's side headed back to Grandpa's house for some food and mingling. I felt so at home with so many members of my family around: grandpa, cousins, aunts, uncles, and my adorable second cousins!
My adorable second cousins: Halle, Brighton, and Hunter (hanging out underneath Grandpa's kitchen table, of course)
Grandpa chatting it up with all the cousins...
Cousin Tasmin holding the newest second cousin, Matthew Walker (my cousin Kayla's baby boy). Okay, so he is only 3 months old and look at how much hair he's got! It's quite impressive.
Jenna and Jeff Wilson (cousins)
... and their newest baby Houston.
Eating some yummy food with Aunt Danae and Tasmin.
Overall, it was an awesome Sunday morning. I love my family and I am so proud of my grandparents for the sacrifice they made in serving the Lord. I know it wasn't easy for them, leaving home and family... while they were gone, there were 2 weddings, 2 grandchildren born, and 3 great grandchildren born. But they knew they were in the right place at the right time and they were able to bless the lives of many people they met. I can't wait until Chad and I are older and have this same opportunity to serve the Lord together.
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