The fearful mom and the faithful four: The Last of the Four to Go

Bethany Anne Taylor departed our home Wednesday, October 9 to arrive at the Mission Training Center at 2:45 p.m. This kind of sounds like an obituary! We are not grieving, but rejoice in the adventure soon to be hers in the San Fernando, California Mission. I did shed a tear when I found her size 10 converse shoe beside my chair". Usually, I would have pitched it downstairs while yelling, "Bethany...take off your shoes in your own room!" Instead, my eyes misted over. I quickly recuperated and it hasn't been too bad. I think my initial tears last year when the boys were preparing to go were for the demise of childhood. I am feeling old! I was always the mom of young children, and now as I am forced to concede that they are grown; I had to admit my own advancing age. My brain is a bit fuzzy, my knees are bad, and I hate seeing pictures of myself because I am viewing someone who doesn't look like me.
I told myself that when Bethany left, Jerry and I were to start our own new adventure. No kids, no one baking cookies well into the night for kids who were laughing and shrieking downstairs. Thank goodness for piano kids who fill my life with fun and purpose. I have to have a little noise!!
Bethany spoke on the 29th of September, and did an awesome job. I think the word "awesome" is overused, but it was a great talk. She was assigned to speak on spreading the Gospel to "every kindred, tongue and people". She spoke about Camp Bartlett, and Philmont Ranch and her associations with the people there. She told us how every person we come into contact with can be affected by the way we live. She gave examples of great people in her own life who had impacted her own way of living, and of others she had watched with great admiration. Bethany has worked in an after school program at Club Heights Elementary School, and she loved it so much. She also taught school in a highly scrutinized Title one school and learned so much about what people needed in their lives. They need love and hope, and she will be able take that to the people she meets in California.
We had the usual "non-farewell mormon buffet" at our house and Bethany was able to share her special day with Ruby. Ruby's dad was in Missouri for five months following her birth, and he was able to finally bless her so it was truly a great day. Layne's Mom and Dad came, of course, as did his brother Spencer and sister-in-law Megan. Ruby's Great Grandma and Grandpa, Donna and Layne. We served pulled pork, Bethany's favorite, and I have the best friends in the world who brought salads and cookies. The weather sort of cooperated, and most people ate outside.
Bethany is larger than life, and her presence is so missed at our house. She is a passionate person. Passion was one of our third grade vocabulary words last week, and when I introduced it, I thought of her. When she was little, she drove me crazy because she was so stubborn and driven. Now I see it as a wonderful attribute that will take her far in life. She loves people with an intensity that is overwhelming at times, yet I know that the people in the mission field will return that love. She and I are so very close, because I think that she is the most like me out of all my children. She knows me better than Jerry does!!
She knows I like orange Tootsie Pops, and will buy me several when she goes out. She brings me Dirty Diet cokes "just because". She is in tune with all my mannerisms , and knows what I am thinking and why I am thinking it. I can't help but remember her as a

misbehaving toddler, and marvel that she has become one of my best friends! What a treasure she is, and how I miss her!!
I feel so blessed, and privileged that Heavenly Father would send me such choice spirits to raise. Frankly, I often think that Jerry and I were so incapable of harder trials that He sent us pretty good kids. We would not be very good at dealing with much more than we were given. The Taylor kids are not perfect, but we are sure grateful for their choices thus far in life.
I will try to blog more, but find it hard to turn on the computer without anyone to help me:D Seriously, we will see how this adding "pictures" thing goes! Anyone out there have extra time for a tutorial? I tried to have the kids show me, but they got a little hostile after the 86th time.
I can hardly wait to hear about Bethany and the MTC and will be better about posting their adventures!

(These pictures were really hard for me!, I will try more later when I am not muttering under my breath)

Bethany and Friends