Deegan: Always be cheerful on your saddest days
Carson: Don’t get mad
Ashlyn: Darkness can’t beat darkness, only light can do that. Hate can’t beat hate, only love can.
Dad: NO REGRETS!
Mom: Let go and LET GOD. Let go of your ways and let Heavenly Father lead you. Follow His will and plan for you. Trust God.
Then, we had our last family prayer together (totally in the airport!) because we realized that we didn't get to do that like we wanted since we hurried out the door to the airport (parenting is like herding cats sometimes.) We all walked together to the security check and I swear saying this goodbye was way too bittersweet. We were all so happy for and proud of Sister Vehar, but so sad and miserable for ourselves. Would she really even have time to miss us? Each of us gave her a teary hug, some of us fought over who would get the last hug, and then we really let her go. We went upstairs and waited...and waited, and waited. How long does it take to go through security? Oh, the scarf, the boots...don't forget your three bracelets and all your jewelry...the bag! Don't forget the bag! It was a good thing she had us all laughing by the time she finally made it through and put back together to offer us her final wave goodbye. If it weren't for Ryan's humor, there would have been a clean up needed on isle wherever-we-were. Wednesday, January 31, 2018 will go down as one of Ryan and my most proud parenting days for sure. And then the waiting game began again. We waited all day with notifications turned on Mom's phone for her much expected, small email letting us know she arrived. As we were crawling into bed, defeated, we finally got our email at 9:31pm:
Both Kaeleigh and Mom had received an emailed "gift" from a missionary app that Mom signed up for. This gift was a story that of course is amazing, but when you are about to send your missionary off at the airport in just a few days, this wasn't very "gift-ish" but it is oh so true. Worth keeping, and I am so grateful that our daughter was willing to take her own "Longest Walk" today:
THE LONGEST WALK
Last night after a long stretch of meetings I got in my car and headed over to a townhouse in a nearby neighborhood. When I got there I was greeted by a small group of teenagers preparing to say goodbye to the 18-year-old young man I had come to see.
This would be the last night he'd spend at home for two years.
After visiting for a few minutes I gave the young man a hug and shared with him how I felt about his decision to sacrifice 24 months of his life to serve others. I invest a great deal of myself in these young men. Witnessing them decide to go is gratifying. Saying goodbye is incredibly difficult.
This morning this young man's parents, sisters, and some close friends took him to the Phoenix airport. They helped him check in his suitcases and walked with him to the deepest spot in the terminal that security would allow them to go with him. There they waited until the last possible moment before his flight departed before they said their tearful goodbyes.
It is at that moment that most young men and women in the LDS culture fast The Longest Walk of their lives.
As they turn to head into the security line and eventually make their way down the concourse to their gate they leave behind those they love, the place they call home, their hobbies, their jobs, their possessions, their schooling m and every comfort of life.
These are the hardest steps they have ever taken.
No friends or family will accompany them on this journey.
They must do it alone.
Nothing is scarier. Nothing is more intimidating. Nothing is harder.
These young people are, literally and symbolically, turning and walking away from everything and everyone they have ever known.
The Longest Walk is the rawest emotional experience of these teenager's lives.
It takes every ounce of faith they can possibly muster to move their feet and continue to walk.
And yet every step the transformation deepens.
The focus on self fades.
The dependency on deity grows.
The discovery of courage previously untapped is made.
The distractions of the world dissolve.
There is no moment in these young people's lives when they feel weaker than when they begin The Long Walk.
There is no experience that could make them stronger than those steps.
I am grateful for my decision many years ago to make The Longest Walk. It changed me. Forever.
There have been other Long Walks since then in my life.
I am certain others await me.
I have come to realize these Walks are in many ways the defining moments of the mortal experience.
It's no wonder the ultimate examples throughout history were tasked with making The Longest Walks in places like the wilderness of Sinai, the garden at Gethsemane, and on the dusty roads of Carthage.
I do not believe we were sent to Earth to sit and be comfortable. We are here to be refined.
The transformation our maker desires in each of us happen when we have the faith, courage, and commitment to take The Longest Walks.
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| Look out Ukraine, here she comes with all the excitement in the world! |
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| Hanging out at the airport squeezing every last minute. |
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| Last family photo |
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| Ashlyn insisted on carrying Kaeleigh's luggage for her. Her last act of service (in person) for 18 months. |
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| Lots of tears were shed, but through the tears, smiles prevailed. |
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