This past week has been a week of good byes. Our friends Patsy and Doug Adams have been called to the Sacramento California Mission. Years ago we said that we would go on our missions together requesting the same mission. This is when the possibility of going was still way out there in the distant future. Doug and Patsy and I retired last year leaving the youngest of the bunch (Les) still working. Well did they ask our permission or decide to wait for Les to retire to go? NO!!! We went out to dinner with them last Monday. Saturday night I made cookies and we went to their open house farewell, and then Sunday night we went to their setting apart. They were given beautiful blessings and the Stake President gave them and their children great counsel. Many tears were shed by their children and grand children. Some sobbed uncontrollably. How hard it would be to leave your home, your children, and especially those grand babies for a year and a half of your life, just when you are at a stage in your life when you can travel and do the things you want. What would make a couple do this? Many people may view it as sheer and utter craziness. But for Patsy and Doug and many other couples it is because they feel so blessed and they want to give back to our Heavenly Father by serving his children. They have already started to witness blessings in their lives from this decision to serve, let me share with you an email I received from them...Loved Ones: As we get closer to leaving for Sacramento, we are getting pretty dang nervous. This past Monday night however, we experienced yet another MIRACLE in our lives. Drew (their grandson and Cody's son) and his friend were in a terrible 4 wheeler accident in a remote part of Mona. It's a long story, but here's the amazing outcome. Darrell, Drew's friend, was driving. They hit a huge iron gate. (It was dark and no, they weren't wearing helmets.) Drew was basically scalped, broke a wrist, lost a front tooth. He required stiches in his lip and several staples to reattach his scalp. Darrell lost all of his front teeth, has multiple facial fractures and a broken arm. They placed a tracheostomy yesterday in preparation for the facial reconstruction. This is a miracle: Drew was unconscious, but Darrell, with all of his injuries, was able to call his sister on his cell phone to tell her where they were!! If he hadn't have been able to do this, no one would have started looking for some time. Cody is on the Search and Rescue Team for the county, and he would have been the one to find them. Frankly, they probably wouldn't have been alive. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL!!! I was able to assist the Doc in ER (Patsy is a nurse) - It kept me in a clinical mode, but to be honest, I was so amazed that neither boy had spinal injuries or skull fractures, I wasn't even nervous or that upset. Drew only had to be in the hospital for one night. We are all praying for Darrell as he starts his long journey to recovery, but feel so blessed that it is what it is and not what it could have been. I am so humbled by Drew's life that I really want to serve this mission. Love Doug and Pats. Patsy and Doug entered the MTC (Missionary Traning Center) this past Monday and will leave for Sacremento California a week from today.The Lord blesses his faithful. Les and I look forward to the day that we too can serve the Lord.
