Life's Boot Camp

I received this text out of the blue the other day: "Your missionary daughter is wonderful! 

She'll be here tomorrow to do some service and I'll text you some pictures!"

After a few more such exchanges, I "met" Trisha Snow, a sweet member in Wassau where Beth is serving now. 

We love and miss our missionary so, and there was something truly wonderful about receiving this darling photo, taken just minutes before I received it, knowing she's happy and doing so well, and is appreciated and loved by marvelous people far away. 

I also reflected on what a beautiful soul Beth is and has always been, and the great blessing this missionary service has been for her thus far, and how it will continue to bless her forever! 

I recalled also my own missionary days, over 30 years ago now and something William wrote home about while at Camp Pendleton: 

"I think it would almost always be worth it to go out and do something new. You're home and family will always be yours (if you're righteous) but experiences are yours only if you go get them. This life is just one big 'Boot Camp' preparing us for our Eternal Life.... It is better to have memories of something you didn't enjoy, or something that was hard, than to remember that you didn't do anything. My biggest regrets are things I DIDN'T do, opportunities I didn't take advantage of."

(Pretty wise for an 18 year-old kid I remember thinking, but then Weed was born wise.)

Even as I write this, I can't help but think about so many opportunities that come my way every day - that come to each of us from a loving Heavenly Father. There are opportunities to learn and grow, to serve others and experience all that this wonderful life has to offer. This is the only mortal experience we will ever have! Just this brief time here on earth right now! 

I want to try harder not to miss any of these blessings.