Tom is still gone and has been for almost 3 weeks now. This is the longest we have ever been apart since we have been married. I makes me appreciate what we have had and what others sacrifice. He is still waiting for his resident card. We are all hoping to receive word any day that he has received it so he can book a ticket and return home to us. We miss him, but are trying to stay connected in spite of the distance and time difference. We have a morning ritual that the little boys pretend to feed him their breakfast and ask him to show them all the things he has showed them before–the black and white cars parked in the lot out the window, the children playing outside, Daddy’s fan, his noodles, the dark sky. They know they are talking to their wonderful father and can feel the connection despite being physically distant. Hyrum still wants to “hold you, Daddy” and Jackie still will cry out sadly after saying goodbye and hanging up, “Daddy’s bye-bye in Mongolia!” We hope to see him within the week. We better. All I want for my birthday is for him to be home.
I was released from my calling as a counselor in the Relief Society presidency in our branch today. I knew it was coming, but it has been difficult letting go. I have loved serving in this capacity and trying by best to bless and love the sisters within my reach. I have learned so much. I know there will be other callings in the future. It is hard to know what that will look like in Mongolia, mostly because of the language and I am not sure which ward/branch we will be attending there. I do know there will be a Relief Society of sisters there and I will feel a part of something bigger and we will all be working toward similar end goals. I love that about this church. You can go all the way around the globe and the principles and doctrine and structure will be the same. We are led by a prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks who receives direction directly from Jesus Christ himself.
Tom is still being a wonderful father and doing his best to talk to and reach his kids. He made a video for us for our home church study about an experience he had in Mongolia this last week and taught many poignant lessons through it while also entertaining them. We felt his presence and influence through it and and his wonderful sense of humor.
This week we also got word that there is no contingency on our house and our close date is August 14. Trying to get all the things done in preparation for that. I feel like this is slower work than I want it to be. So many little decisions of what to take to Mongolia, what to sell, etc. It isn’t as easy as packing all your belongings and putting them in a moving truck. Definitely a different twist. How many things can we fit in the luggage allotted to us and will we need to use all of the available luggage? What things should we store and not take? Do we really have to only take 3 stuffed animals per person? These are some of the hard questions that are coming up. I am finding out that there is very little that we truly need. It is just a matter of taking things that will be useful and not just take up space. There has been a part of me that has always wanted to be more of a minimalist. This is me embracing that part. I must be thinking about the large task at hand a lot, because I woke up last night and couldn’t stop thinking about the list of things I need to accomplish. I couldn’t go to sleep until I did a brain dump. The list is still as big, just more visible and doesn’t keep going around and around inside my head. Lots to be done. Somehow it will get done.
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