This morning I checked out the Missionary Moms e-mail group that I am part of to see what's going on.  There are moms that communicate with each other whose children are serving in Oregon and South Washington in this group.  It's a really helpful, supportive group.  Yesterday one of the moms sent out an e-mail asking us to update about our missionaries.  I decided to write the following.  It got so many positive, touching responses from the other moms that I decided to share it with others.

Hi Sisters,

My son, Benjamin Anderson, is serving in Pasco, Washington of the Kennewick Mission. Life is always so busy but I dip into these missionary mom e-mails to get strength every now and then.  Thanks for always saying something to help me!  There certainly is strength in numbers and you can feel the spirit of the Lord through us mothers.

I just have to tell everyone what an amazing change has come over our son.  Ben is the last of six kids and for a while the entire universe did rotate around him!  When he's the only kid left at home, the only one with games or needing new shoes, or having a report due, naturally we all are interested and/or involved.  But we worked very hard not to spoil him.  That said, he was definitely the one of our kids who did the most 'kicking back."  Nothing serious, but he certainly tested his boundaries.  I seemed to be the one who got the most kicks!

When he got his call and cried at its opening, I began to realize that him leaving might be a bit harder on me that I thought.  I was anticipating a flood of relief the day he went into the MTC. Then the night the stake president set him apart all of our family got to say something helpful to him.  It was a feast for a mother's ears!  The tears started.  I was able to turn them off the day we drove him to Provo, but after he left and for three weeks after, I was a mess, crying over nothing and being mad at myself for doing it because I wanted him there!  I finally realized that I wasn't missing him as much as I realized my job was pretty much over and all of that energy I unconsciously was spending on our last child was now not being used.  A huge vacuum had formed when Ben left.  I didn't know how much of my waking hours had been spent on worrying about him, anticipating something, etc.  Yes, it was really very much like a vacuum.

He adjusted, I adjusted, and all was well.  He got settled in the field and has been there 8 months.  But I hadn't gotten that "I love you so much, Mom" heartfelt letter that my two other missionaries sent me within a month of being out.  Yes, he said he loved us, but I NEEDED that gushy, warm, sweet letter. 

Well, I got much more than that on Mother's Day via Skype.  The entire family took turns in front of the computer talking with him.  His smile was huge the whole time.  He was totally cute with not only his 86 year old grandmother but with everyone in between right down to the 21 month old niece.  At 54 minutes into the call he told us he was sorry, but he was going to have to go.  WHAT?  Our son keeping an eye on the clock?  OUR son not pushing the envelope?  OUR son trying to follow the rules without any prompting?  A tear started to form.

Then for the next 6 minutes our formerly difficult, last child, said all of the kindest, sweetest, most considerate things I have ever heard him say to all of us in the room.  Lumps formed one after the other in my throat.  I tried to keep smiling, but how do you do that when you nose is all weird and you can't see?  He told his family to love me and treat me good because you never know when you won't be able to tell your mom you love her and give her a big hug.  By this time I was sobbing.

I don't remember all of the things he said to us, but they were like manna to me.  Or sweet honey.  Or maybe it was like a miracle. 

Our son loves those he serves, just LOVES them.  He has never been happier.  He loves the savior.  And he loves us. 

What a wonderful thing to witness and it makes all the trials of his growing up years worth it.  I can't help but think how we are like my son.

We have these loving parents far away, our Heavenly parents.  We love them, but we don't communicate with them very much.  We count on them for support but we aren't always very nice back.  Once in a while we might have a good long prayer.  Since our Heavenly parents love us with infinite love, I know they accept whatever kindnesses I give back, but I need to do better "talking" to them like my son did last Sunday.  I am grateful for what my son is doing for the people in the Kennewick Mission and also very grateful that he has been able to teach his old mom way back home in Utah.