day forty-three: fox trot, and rising from the ashes
Tonight we went to SLC to be with my nephew as he opened his mission call. It has been a bit of a long haul for this darling guy, and so it seemed appropriate that he would be called to the AZ, Phoenix mission. The Phoenix being a symbol of rising from the ashes. It is a rebirth. And it certainly is for my nephew, who is as close to a son as possible, without actually being one.His dad, my brother-in-law, is in Michigan for law school (comes home every few months to be with the fam) and he watched from a laptop, through a video chat, which was set up on the counter while the envelope was sliced open and the letter read. It was so great to be there.
There was soon food put out on the table and people hugged and back-slapped the new missionary. Apple cake, ginger cookies, tuna-filled croissants, lemon water.
And then my BYU freshman son announced he has a test in his social dance class tomorrow on the fox trot. In a half-second my niece was jumping off the couch, away from her conservative dentist husband and into the arms of her red-headed, quirky cousin. A cha cha and a fox trot ensued, and the crowd (about 15 of us) clapped and laughed. There was a small snapshot moment of a family that loved each other and wanted the best for each other. There was joy in that room, and I felt it twirling me around on a dance floor.
7 comments
What a fun-filled family moment! Congrats to your nephew and I hope "A" gets an A in his dance class!
Opening mission calls is always so exciting!! Congrats to your nephew-I used to live there and he's gonna die of heat:)
How fun! I miss those moments of family gathering together and enjoying each other's company.
Congrats to your nephew! Our Paul will be sending his papers in within the month...you'll have to counsel me how to be calm and supportive and not bawl like a baby for the next two years. (Wait, what am I saying?? I bawl like a baby all the time!!)
I always remember these simple moments way more than some of the less stellar ones and I'm so grateful for that blessing.
I think happiness just leaked out of the monitor.
Yeah Phoenix! I'll keep an eye out.
It's so wonderful that you have such a close family in Utah...it's a good feeling for me to know that you are loved out there as much as you are here in Virginia. My love to that fantastic Burton family. I loved watching Adam dancing..he's a riot..
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