Two years since the "best one and half years of my life"

Today, two years ago, I boarded a plane at the Syracuse Airport, stunned that my year and a half mission had gone by so quickly.  I was determined to continue doing missionary work with my tag on as long as possible.  I taught the first three mission lessons to the man sitting next to me and gave him a Book of Mormon before departing.  He gave me his card and we left as good friends.  I handed a pass along card to another cute young family and shared my testimony of the importance of families.  I shared other cards and taught other lessons.

Tears sprang to my eyes when I saw my family waiting for me at the terminal.  I felt so much happiness in seeing my family, so much relief that I had done it, and so much grief that my mission was over.  I felt like I had been carrying the world on my shoulders for so long and it was comforting to be able to melt into my parents arms.

My mission means so much to me to this day.  I realized my capacity to grow spiritually.  I realized how much my heart could expand to love people.  I realized what it meant to work so hard for something and then turn it all over for the Lord to complete.  I realized how to recognize when the Spirit is talking to me.  I realized how much my family means to me.  I realized how real the gospel is.  I realized the beauty in consecrating your life to a true cause.

My mission is sacred space for me.  And I will always love the people that I taught.

Here is a little trip down my mission memory lane.*

*I know that was a total picture overload but man did I have a good time reminiscing through them.