Day 8: Wooly Eyes

I lived with my brother(s)-in-law/Calaway cousins in various combinations the first three summers of my married life. (small aside--bless their hearts every one of them for putting up with a clueless newlywed girly like me--i love those boys to death).

Living with teenage/young adult men taught me a lot. (to say the least). Two words for ya people: air freshener. No, not really. Okay, yes I am serious.

The words I meant to say were: wooly eyes.

My time spent in belch, fart and wrestle mania mode helped me gain a keen, almost sixth sense for any preconceived, newly formulated, or recently accomplished shenanigans those boys might be up to. Thanks to them, my own boy(s) won't easily pull the wool over these eyes. I am grateful for it really. I got an in-depth look at the mind and manners of today's male formula young adult. It was an honor. As I related to my father-in-law, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger".

I say all of this because we fed two sets of missionaries dinner tonight. I love having these Elders over. It makes me feel like I am back on the farm, cooking and cleaning up a storm for the boys after a long, hard day's work.

And I thought tonight, here are these 19 years old to 20 something guys who've put their lives on hold for two years to serve the Lord, denying their very nature (burp, fart, wrestle) to share with total strangers the good news that the true church of Jesus Christ is on the earth once again and that the relationships we have here can be perpetuated into eternity through the saving ordinances of the gospel. Heavenly Father could have given this task to anyone--but he chose these young men. Further confirmation for me that the church is true.

I am filled with gratitude for all of the missionaries out there serving, but especially thankful for the members of my family (past, present, future) who do this most important work. We missed sending off the most recent, my brother-in-law Devin who will be serving the good people of Philadelphia. We're so proud of you Devin--we love you! Go help them 'feel the light'. (inside joke)

Devin Thomas Calaway
'Called to Serve'