July 29, 2015

There have been times in my life when experiences have filled me with joy to the point of it filling my whole being.  Yesterday was one of those days.  Our sweet, beautiful granddaughter Emily Bott returned home from serving an eighteen month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Lima, Peru. It is no small thing for a nineteen year old to leave her family and travel such a far distance to teach our brothers and sisters of the world that God loves them and there is an Eternal plan for them.

Emily is on the right

She has lived worthy of blessings from the Lord.  She has chosen to be righteous in a world of unrighteousness.  She has chosen to be morally clean in an immoral world; she has chosen God's laws to govern her life.  The word JOY can hardly even describe the feelings in my heart because of her choice to serve.

Emily in the Peruvian Mountains

I wanted to be at the airport to greet her coming home yesterday, but Roger and I are serving our own mission here in Vermont.  It is amazing to feel the power that comes from making the choice to serve. 

The family at the airport, mom, dad, brother, sisters,

aunts, uncles and cousins

I look forward to our homecoming next spring.  There will be JOY in my heart then. I will hug these dear ones and give thanks to the Lord for how they each bless my life.

Welcome home Emily!!!!!!!

This is Roger: "When I talked to Emily yesterday I told her: thanks for coming home in glory!"  She cried, "Thanks Grandpa.