Youngests

I missed blogging about it when Chris came home from Argentina. It was January 23, 2013.
I had the "gombu flu" which took most people down for 2 weeks, he returned on my 'day 10', so we grabbed a friendly airport wheelchair due to my attending weakness, and was certainly less than a welcome sight for all.

Thankfully the others really picked up the pace, and made it quite an event for family, and Collin. Chris's best childhood friend.
The whole family did their "best" and with lots of "extra's" to help Chris feel welcomed warmly. No home celebration due to germs! So Julie did a restaurant search near the airport and emailed us all.
Steff's and Pete's art skills created a huge an Argentine flag. And towed it to the 'port. And with the grandkid's faces popping in view all along the flag, thanks to Jake's ingenuity, it Became a Big Wow Welcome home from us, and thrilled me as we as greeters finished strong! No more mish. for 8 years! Unless it's us.

FINISH STRONG.....has always been my goal in any endeavor. Finish strong with callings, projects, et.al.; a personal goal of mine, to do well right to the finish.

Chris has not let us down in this. He served a great mission and has kept busy ever since! He too finished strong and hit the ground running when he got back! It seemed like several months later we finally had an evening when all three of us were home with time to sit and just relax.

I notice that some "youngests" are at a disadvantage. Think about it. They seem to often get more and give less.

What Chris will do to shake off that 'baby of the family" stuff is really up to him now. I know by watching him he will finish strong again. For that I am grateful. And "I cannot know beforehand the things that he will do".... but I trust he will do them as he did in Argentina, and have no regrets as he lives up to who he was sent to be!

Much earlier he revealed himself as a marvelous young 'man'; who when asked, let someone else come first. Cecily, came and he hence became the 'last'. (If you don't know the story, when he was about three he told us one day, "Cecily wanted to come next really bad so I let her".)

We all know what it can mean to be last.... what if we'd left him off, and decided 8 was enough? His was a valiant favor, and he will prove this in his lifetime if he chooses. And then "the last shall be first". We're excited to see the 'man' Chris, as he chooses 'that good part' and remembers who he is. I hope as all gather around him years from now he'll have the assured feeling "well done", as he finishes his course. And I hope I'm allowed to watch, and cheer!