Elder Casper (last one i promise...until he returns anyway)

I realize all of my posts have been on Tanner but here is the last one for awhile.  This morning around 5:00 am Tanner left to Utah to spend  one last day with family until he leaves for the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah. He will spend 10 days in the MTC then leave to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sending him off has been so hard for me....maybe it is because he is my baby brother. I never thought I would miss him so much, especially after being held hostage so many times and yelling "DAAAAAADDDDD" so he would come save me from tanners tight grip, or being hugged so tight your back pops in places you never thought were possible. The point is I love and miss him very much.

I have done a lot of thinking with fathers day just occurring, and Tanner leaving on his mission. I kept thinking about Missionaries having to sacrifice 2 years of their life. They give up all of the worldly things that some of us cant even think of living without. They give up friendships, maybe a girlfriend/boyfriend, family, cell phone, regular clothes, school, first name; this is just a tiny list of some of the things they no longer have once they enter the MTC. Some people only think that the missionaries that serve are the only ones that sacrifice but what about their families? I think about my Dad and Mom, its their baby boy, and they are trusting that the Lord will return him home alive in 2 years. They only get to talk to him 4 times throughout the mission. My parents have the faith to send their youngest son, they know the importance of him going to tornado alley, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I compare this to the Lord. He sent his only Begotten Son to earth knowing his fate. The savior as well knew what the outcome would be, however, he loves each of us so much, and knew the only way for us to return to God was if we were perfect...which none of us are...we needed him to perform the atonement . We needed him to suffer all of the pains, sadness, disappointments, griefs, and every miserable thing we have ever felt, so we could find that happiness. Like the savior, Tanner is sacrificing so much, so others can find the light of Christ and find joy. A mission is the most unselfish and Christ-like thing you could do.

I love you Elder Casper see you in 2 years.

Shout out to Brad Casper! Happy late Fathers Day. LOVE YOU!

1.5 weeks left :(

So last Friday Tanner graduated from High school. It was definitely a bitter-sweet moment. I am so proud and happy for him that he is done, but I know that means he is that much closer to leaving on his mission. only 1 and 1/2 more weeks :(

So funny story. The girl next to me is Rashae, Tanner and her were both on the Connell track team. One day when Briar went to eat lunch with his mom at the high school (she is the secretary) Rashae went to the office to talk with Jennifer (Briar's Mom). She visited with Briar and Jennifer and later had a private conversation only with Jennifer in the hall saying that Briar was cute and she didn't know Jennifer had a son, also that if Briar and his wife didn't work out, she was available (This was all jokingly said). That night there was a track meet, Briar had told me the story previously, which I thought was funny, and I also felt complimented cause my husband is hott and he's all mine. Coming home from the meet I told tanner the story and he thought it would be funny to text Rashae "I heard you were hitting on my brother-in-law." Poor Rashae had no idea who Briar's wife was until that text went through, and she was probably very shocked and surprised when she learned it was her track buddy's sister. Rashae is  so sweet and funny, and a wonderful runner, seriously watching her run is like watching a professional ice skater glide across the ice....sooo smooth, and fast!

At seminary graduation

My husband is seriously the best and hardest working husband ever! He works all day and then comes home and does homework until it is time to go to bed, which is usually at 8:30 or 9:00pm, and wakes up again, which he wakes up at 4:45am, and does the same thing all over again. I appreciate everything he does for me, even if sometimes I don't show it. Briar if you read this I love you very much.