Lemme tell you about Allie

Every so often, but not very often, you happen upon friends that just click. Like the "exactly-right-size Lego that you didn't even know was missing" kind of click. When they first came down to meet the new neighbors, we learned that their youngest is about the same age as our oldest, they had just recently sent a son off on a mission and married off a daughter and they were totally cool about the Becca thing. Now, that last one was something I was obviously dreading. Moving to a new neighborhood and having to describe all that goes along with Becca is daunting. Not only is it daunting to say (it's a LOT of info!), but there are no guarantees about the recipients' reaction either. I remember being mildly surprised how they just took it all in and asked questions and were so nice about it. They didn't even run screaming down the street! :D

Fast forward to now and their missionary is home and married, their oldest daughter is expecting her first baby, their second daughter is getting ready to leave on her mission THIS WEEK, their second son still says Hi to me even though it probably isn't considered very cool and their youngest daughter is still about the same age as our oldest and is one of my funny, bright, smiley, beautiful Activity Days girls that I will get to see in about another year in Young Women!

Can I just tell you how much I enjoy time spent with this family? They have let me tie quilts and mend clothes and embroider fun things and hang out and eat and just have so much fun. And did I mention that even the Hubby loves them? We all love them! And getting Allie ready to serve her mission has been the awesomest thing ever. Granted, I haven't spent hours shopping with her and then hours returning things and getting the right things for the climate and truly, I've done very little. But to bask in her glow is amazing. She's been reading all kinds of uplifting books and praying and preparing. She is SO excited to go that I can't help being SO excited for her!

A couple of weeks ago, we had a Young Women's activity where I invited Allie and another cute girl in our Ward that has been back from her mission a couple of years and one of our YW leaders who has been back for quite a while to talk to the girls. It turned out better than I ever could have imagined! I hoped that we could put the idea in the girls' heads that missions were amazing opportunities and maybe give one or two of them an 'Aha!' moment. I was so impressed by the Spirit that was there and the wonderful teaching moments the pre- and returned- missionaries were able to share with us. Most importantly that missions are not just what you do if you're not doing anything else at the moment, but that they can be great preparations for everything you do in life... career, family, friendships, education... everything.

I am thrilled for the people in Panama to get to share my friend Allie. They are going to be blessed to be taught by a beautiful, very enthusiastic, Christ-like servant of the Lord that I love very much. Good luck, Allie! Have fun! And may the Lord bless you and keep you safe, happy and healthy.