It's The Final Countdown...na-na-na-na...da-da-da-da-da...

I'm dying to hear about the baptism. Praying everything went ok! Also, I'm loving Bekim and his texts...just a couple gems...After I gave him the details of your homecoming he texted "Ok excellent! I am over the moon that he is coming home." I also asked him a Ukrainian question and thanked him. His response was "Always anything for Calder." Super cute. Can't wait to meet him! I'm sure you are feeling a similar mixed bag of emotions as I am. I knew you would but I didn't expect it on this end. As you know, we are so excited to see you. My heart is bursting with joy and pride at the same time. But I didn't expect to sit on the couch with Dad and cry when we hung up last week. It was so bittersweet to end the last call. It has been an amazing experience for me and I have been changed for the better. These last two years have taught me a lot about Jesus Christ. I too have come to know Him on a very personal level. I thought I knew what faith and trust was. I've had many opportunities to exercise faith and trust in my life but it has taken it to a new level with sending out a missionary. It's one thing to go yourself, but completely different to send one of your dearest on a mission...especially a mission like yours. I have worried and cried. I have pled with the Lord through prayer and poured out my entire heart to Him. I have been comforted and felt at peace. Most of all, I've known that we could only take you so far as your parents. You couldn't have grown or become the man you are today under our roof. The mission is an amazing trajectory in life. It can spring you upwards and forwards like nothing else. I've known you were in good hands and that the Lord would watch over you. I've known that the Lord would go before your face - on your right hand and on your left and the spirit would guide you and that our ancestors would be the angels round about you, bearing you up (D&C 84:88). I have witnessed so many blessings and miracles that have come because of your faithful service. There is nothing quite like a family missionary. I hope we can have this experience again. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for serving a mission. It has been such a joy to be a part of. As I promised, here is my journal entry that I wrote on the flight home. My type of Alma 5...It was dated November 25, 1997: "Hey - remember that one day when you talked with your brother Mark on the telephone and he gave you the great idea to write yourself a note before you get released? Well, what's up? How are you doing? First real question...are you paying an honest full tith? One can tell a lot from that question. If you think about it and realize that you are having problems with paying your tithing, then you should examine other parts of your life a bit closer. Tithing is one of those commandments of a higher level and when one is paying an honest tithe then they have a good relationship with God in the fact that they are practicing their faith and know that they will receive the blessings from being obedient. "Remember that one night only days before your mission ended? Let me refresh your memory. Earlier that day the Aarau ward had a Kulturabend. As you associated with all the wonderful members, your heart began to hurt and you began to realize that you were leaving. That night when you were getting ready for bed, you had to keep yourself occupied so you didn't break down and cry - but you could only hold on until Sister Robinson went to bed. As you kneeled down to say your prayers your emotions got the best and you not only cried - you sobbed. You were so thankful for the opportunity God had given you to be with the wonderful people in Switzerland. Different scenes kept flashing through your mind and you couldn't stop crying. Needless to say, you had a hard time falling asleep. "From this experience I hope you will never forget these people who taught you sacrifice, faith and love. Don't forget how to love even when it might be hard. These people are in such need and you never know when Heavenly Father might want to use you as a blessing in someone's life. That happens even after the mission! Always be ready to serve the people the spirit helps you identify, even when you think that they are perfectly capable and need no help...that's when it is most important. "So I'm on the plane about 15 hours away from seeing the family. Wow - I am so extremely thankful for each one of them and the individual love and support they have given me. I am especially so thankful for my loving parents and the patience they have given me. I am so thankful that they loved me enough to read with me in the scriptures, to have FHE, to make us sit on the 2nd to the front row in church each Sunday. They loved me so much that they shared with me the most important things they could give me, namely the Church of Jesus Christ and a loving home filled with happiness, prayer and friends. "The question of all questions: Are you still doing missionary work? Are you prepared to invite one of your friends into your house with the missionaries for a FHE? What's your lame excuse?! Remember the rush you have had the last 18 months bearing your testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Chrsit? Well, if you have forgotten then it is time to do some missionary work! The Lord will bless you. He will prepare a way for you to accomplish what He would do. How many times have you heard that come out of your mouth? Practice what you have preached. "As far as the full marriage thing goes. I know that it seems so far away and that you are not ready. Remember when you find that man of your dreams that it is very important to have that 50/50 relationship. What I mean by that is you loved the time you spent with many companions - but especially Sister Pocock. As a missionary you are pulled and you do the pulling at different times of companionships. remember that it is very important to marry someone who has the capacity of pulling you at times when you are not strong enough to pull. And also make sure he will let you pull him if needs it. Find the man who loves God and Jesus Christ more than anything else. Make sure that your husband is also your best friend, And above all, don't worry if he doesn't come around when you expect. Take it easy and trust in the Lord. And if it applies -- good things come to those who wait! "Take advantage of the plentiful temples in Utah Valley. God often and renew your covenants. Learn and understand the great significance and the blessings we receive as LDS when we go to the temple often. Remember the Italians who cried and embraced as they were in the House of the Lord. They really had to sacrifice to get there - don't take advantage or don't take it for granted. You never know what you've got until it's gone. "Lastly and also very important...don't forget how to really pray, study and trust. Daily scripture study will help you keep the level of spirituality that will definately...." And that's where I left it...hanging! It was fun to reread this entry this morning. I've actually read it a couple of times since my mission and wrote entries after each read. There are some great points that I read in this particular entry and it helped me a lot. I'll save those entries for another time. Just a little glimpse into my thoughts as I flew home. I encourage you to jot your thoughts down as well. It's such a great thing to read...even 25 years later!! Here's just one more sweet poem I'll share from my journal: "As I stare out the window, tears still in my eyes I see the vision of those I love, as we said our last goodbyes. "The flight was long and tiring As two questions plagued my mind: Do I want the life that's ahead of me - Or the one I left behind? "You see, 2 years is such a long time For going door to door. In my reflection I thought, There must be something more. "I struggled down off the plane Searching for a friendly face When a man called President said "Elder, you've come to the right place." "I sit reflecting once again As this day is my last Please Father, it isn't fair... The time went way too fast! "As I stare out the window, tears still in my eyes, I see the vision of those I love, as we said our last good-byes. The flight was long and tiring, and two questions fill my mind: Do I want the life that's ahead of me - or the one I leave behind?" Do you remember when I told you about Stephen Covey? He explained as I left for my mission it was like Adam and Eve when they left the Garden of Eden and went into the lone and dreary world. Brother Covey told me I'd find myself walking down cobblestone streets with a stranger I would have to be with 24/7 and food that was strange. He said I'd look around and wonder "What did I do??" and he was right. He told me that sometime along the way that strange new world would become my Garden of Eden. He told me that I'd never believe it but the end of my mission would come and I would feel again like I was leaving my Garden of Eden and being thrust into the lone and dreary world. He was right again. Isn't it amazing how your mission becomes your Garden of Eden? And you had the added blessing of doing it THREE times! I love you so, so much! YOU DID IT!! I hope you hear the words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23) echo in your head if you haven't already. See you soon!!! I CANNOT wait! Love you TONS! MOM