The Missionary

Just received the last e-mail of the mission.

The missionary comes home in a week.

Sending my eldest on a mission was the very hardest and yet one of the very best things I've done in my life.

So far.

This picture was taken during our Christmas day phone call with him. He has the knack of closing, squinting, winking or doing other awkward things with his eyes in almost every picture we've ever taken of him. But here? Smiling big, eyes wide....and a cell phone attached to his ear.

**edited to add- when I looked at the larger version of this picture, I noticed that yes, he still has a bit of his signature squint. That's ok- it still counts as eyes wide in "bradford picture history!"

lol.

I don't see the cell phone (too much) though. I see my son, totally happy and enjoying the wonderful family who graciously celebrated their Christmas day with him.

I see someone new too- a man who has served his Heavenly Father faithfully for two years. A man who has found true joy in missionary work.

I'm so excited to be at the airport next week awaiting his return.

I'm excited to see the son I sent off- to hug him, enjoy him, and probably get some goofy pictures.

I'm also excited...actually very excited to see the man he has become.

The First Act of Simplification

image by jag@lwh via flickr

As soon as I published the last post I went online shopping to order 2010's word necklace.

I picked one out, customized it to say simplify, and was on the verge of entering my credit card information and pushing "send order".

The word simplify seemed to glow at me on the screen.

Well, it didn't actually seem to glow, but wouldn't that have been cool?

Actually, the phone rang. I have learned my lesson about pushing the final "buy" button in a hurry when I received two cameras for Christmas.

That short break gave me a moment to think about my new word. Simplify. I have enough necklaces to accessorize a small nation. Do I really need another? Is that really simplifying?

Simplify means to "make simple or easier"

Simple means "having few parts, not complex or complicated or involved"

It is painful, because I really like word necklaces.

I really like jewelery in general.

I really like ALOT of things.

But I don't really use ALOT of the things I already have. Like that second camera.

(just joking, I returned it about 10 minutes it arrived!)

Simplify

2008's word was "faith" and was a big success. I loved it and loved thinking about it and trying to understand the word throughout the year.

2009's word "embrace" was a big FAIL.
I didn't embrace many changes, and didn't embrace the status quo.
The necklace with the word "embrace" on it was cute...I'll still wear that!

I embark upon year three with a word that I need to ponder, think about, and hopefully love.
SIMPLIFY.

Now off to find my necklace for the year!
(The best part of a "word of the year")